summer journal comics: advice for new students

Elliot starts back at preschool in two weeks… and if I’m being honest, we are COUNTING THE DAYS ‘TIL HE’S OUT OF THE HOUSE. Henry’s going to be doing one day a week at the same school, and I think he’s really going to like it.

summer journal comics: play pretend dinner

I scratched this out during a meeting at school.

summer journal comics: two versions of the same joke

Classic, right? I believe Elliot picked this joke up from Arthur’s Halloween. Henry obviously picked it up from Elliot.

summer journal comics: a little leftover

I pencilled this one panel and got distracted before I could finish the second. When I finally got back around to my sketchbook, I had forgotten what the hell this comic was supposed to be about! I inked the first panel when during some writer’s block and figured I’d slap it up here. It’s a nicer note to go out on than yesterday’s comic, I suppose.

summer journal comics: cheese rules

For the time being, this is the last of these journal comics featuring my sons. I enjoyed drawing them and still like the idea one of them might be interested in checking the sketchbook I drew them in out sometime when they are older. I like the idea so much that I may occasionally dip back into the sketchbook during the school year for an Elliot and Henry comic or two.

For the record, my goal with these strips was to get to the point where all the strips were observed conversations between Elliot and Henry, without any appearances from Ellen or myself. I found I couldn’t resist the urge to include myself… but I’m glad to end on a comic which sort of embodies what I was going after.

summer journal comics: theology

Neither Ellen or I are very religious. We don’t talk much about God in our house… which is what made this conversation all the more remarkable!

summer journal comics: ghost nap

We drive by a graveyard almost daily and it’s a constant source of conversation for the kids. You may see a comic or two more about this topic before the summer’s out.

summer journal comics: vacuum attachments

The shield is a cutting board, if you must know

summer journal comics: summer reading prizes

The boys are both enrolled in three or four separate summer reading programs: two through various local libraries and two through local businesses. Aside from plastic fish, the kids have earned coupons to IHOP and $5 dollar gift certificates to Half-Price Books.

summer journal comics: henry’s made up lyrics

A couple of new comics about my kids before I go into pre-school hibernation. I go back to my classroom VERY early compared with most other schools. I’ll be back in the swing of things before the end of August. I know, I know.

You might recognize the bin of toys from this comic a few weeks ago.

…and you WILL recognize the theme song to Animaniacs. Or art least, you should. One of the best cartoons of the 1990′s, I’ve shown the boys a couple of episodes of the show and it’s safe to say they are obsessed.

That’s fair enough, because I was obsessed with Animaniacs when I was a kid. The show’s mix of satire and classic Warner Brothers gags completely won me over. To be fair, there were a couple of less enjoyable segments in the show (I’m still not a Hip-Hippos fan) but SO many good ones.