Fun_Pangolin.2-3

Page Two

Pangolin Falls continues with a layout homage to the incredible Winsor McCay to unveil our creature, a noble little kappa.

Easter Eggs: The shadow in the biggest left panel is our hero, the kappa.

Fun Facts: The creature was originally a pangolin, but I pushed for a kappa for simplicity (and fun)'s sake, although the kappa's hair proved to be a hassle!

I'm not too handy with sound effects but took the opportunity to invent some. The middle bottom panel is based on a pose in a Yakitate!! Japan sampler. The final panel pose is based on how dogs shake off water.

Page Three

This page is Eisner influenced in the way we have seemingly identical stuff (like trees) shift perspective and usage between panels.

Easter Eggs: Loria is the name of the building our class met in, Kira's from Chushingura and/or Deathnote, Ono sweatpants.

Fun Facts: Lynn Zee's first name comes from pangoLIN, her last name comes from my collaborator's first initial. I used my gummy eraser to figure out Lynn's pose; really happy with how it turned out.

This page was probably the most fun.

Happy New Year,

Reuxben

Fun_Pangolin.0-1

Cover Page

"Pangolin Falls" was my final paper for LITR 493: Graphic Forms, Fall '08.

This was my first time collaborating on a comic, and although all the meticulous planning took place well in advance, the actual, physical drawing took place mostly in the last 24 hours; I had to budget only about 4 hours per page!

So after a couple Monsters, no sleep, and a camp out at the Davenport computer cluster on a rainy Thursday night slash sunny Friday afternoon, I finally penciled in this final page, the cover, which happily took under half an hour.

Page One

The original idea involved a pangolin, so as a testament to how radically this project changed from all our original concepts we kept the seemingly random title.

Unfortunately, my original of this page, which had the correct lettering, has gone missing, leaving only this proof version, relettered by me (we had thought it appropriate if I penciled only the non-Lynn text).

Easter Eggs: 493 is the seminar's class number.

Fun Facts: This is my favorite page so of course it is the one that gets lost.

Canadian geese, eh?

Reuxben

Fun_FallOutStrokes

These are two graffitis from summer break. First up is a Strokes piece for a Strokes fan.

This is the replayable version:

And here's a couple of Fall Out boys for someone who got to touch Pete Wentz! Their new album took a couple of listens to really get into, but it made my Christmas list. Bonus points for mentioning the Ivy League, pretty neat.

And this is the replay:

So there you go. My hobby when on break: graffiti. But more people really need to get the graffiti app...

Reuxben

Penny_LittleRedSanta

Here is an illustration for a last minute short in the Penny Dreadful's first issue this year.

Easter Eggs: "LOL" in the boa.

Fun Facts: I couldn't tell who was speaking a sarcastic sounding line in the draft they sent me so I wasn't sure how to dress the kid; they also never used pronouns so I went with a girl dressed as Little Red Riding Hood because I was writing a paper on that story for my Tales of the Strange lit 'nar (Perrault vs. Grimm).

As an added bonus, here's an updated color version I did this past Saturday night, my last night at Yale for Fall '08.

Fun Facts: I haven't used markers to really color in years, but I used every one that came in the little pack my brother got me for Christmas last year. This is also the first time I've really posted on-theme for a major holiday...kinda (the story was about Santa trying out Halloween).

Merry Christmas!

Reuxben

Fun_WhyDraw

I really don't like being so upfront like this, but I don't want to regret not putting this out there if it would lead to some personal improvement, so, regarding my reclusive nature, please consider the following:

Thursday night someone who humbles me with the amount of effort he's invested in me, asked me point blank why I draw.

In a one-line nutshell:

I draw because I believe drawing will solve all my problems.
But there's a bigger answer, too. It starts like this: Michael Gerber once came to speak to us at the Record and said something incredible. Although he was speaking to a room of writers, the sentiment extends to artists of any sort. He said,

There must be something fundamentally broken in ourselves to have a desire to recreate the world just as we wish.
As another preface, I also recommend listening to Chris Ware's intro segment on This American Life, which is incredibly relevant to me, as is his Jimmy Corrigan book, too.

So why do I draw? This is an overshare in no particular order:

-I can't talk to people, but want to, and drawing is the most comfortable way for me to open up since I don't know how to approach people otherwise
-I can't do anything else; I need to get better so I can be a pro because I'm not cut out mentally or physically to do any other kind of work
-I hope to become famous so that people will have to come to me (fans into friends into more), and I won't have to do any of the nerve-wracking socializing work
-I'm in control of more through drawing than through anything else
-I can safely be as fictitious or true as possible
-I can break ice or introduce myself passively in frightening group settings
-I can retreat behind it when I'm nervous or uncomfortable
-I can express my opinion without rudely imposing on people
-I can assert or defend my self-worth through others' approval

Whenever there was show and tell in elementary school, I always brought in artwork. That's how I used to get people to talk to me without having to start up a conversation.

I like to joke that I'm the only person who could lose a popularity contest to himself, since I always assume I'm pretty boring, but if for some reason you do want to get to know me, please know that I really dislike beginning conversations and usually need others to take the initiative.

The thing is, though, when people do approach me, it really weirds me out, and then I begin wondering why they are talking to me, which invariably kills the conversation. But please know that I don't mean to, I'm just that bad at socializing and need practice and patience. Even if it's something important to me, I'd rather write an email than talk to someone.

So the take-away here is that I am probably scared of you and have difficulty initiating and maintaining conversations, relationships, or anything else beyond myself. And so I rely on drawing to help me interact and relate with humans.

Thanks for your time, patience, and support,

Reuxben

Fun_TheSpaceRock

Here are sketches from The Space's rock show in Hamden, CT last night.

We arrived just as Goodbye Terminal was wrapping up, but they sounded great (top right guitarist).

I went for The Sandy Gill Affair, who did just great, although it sounds like they changed the intro to "Winter In Westchester" from its old "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" sounding version. Anyway, I might be a jinx for them because they always have really weird audio whenever I'm around. Their first song was really wacky, but they recovered fast and well.

Article 19 had some incredible songs (top left, Seth Green guy).

The final singer, minus her saxophonist, was a tedious listen, reminiscent of the anti-climactic finish at last year's Battle of the Bands.

Frankie concluded my drawing session, but not before getting some audience shots. The center guy was even kind enough to talk to me. He asked me a question I'll answer on Monday.

Also, many people enjoy wearing those hiker hook keychain deals.

Reuxben

Fun_GreatC

This is a sketch that didn't come out too well. With that in mind, I won't say who it's supposed to be, but you can listen to his genius here.

In personal news, I went to this psych study today.

It was the most disturbing one I've ever done.

They pointed guns at my face.

Yale 2013, come to Yale: they point guns at your face (but in a good way, only not really).

In even more personal news, jack kelly offers these bonus comics.

I don't think they'd print this in the Herald.

Everyone needs a hug, jack kelly. Everyone.

Reuxben

Penny_Jackalope

This is a jackalope for the Penny Dreadful.

Our semester finale should be out by now...

In any case, when next we meet, I'll be done with Yale Fall '08.

Edit: Hey Yale 2013 is on its way to being formed! Congratulations!

Reuxben

Fun_BoardingSchool

Finally done with that Lit Comic, but for now, here are some more whiteboard drawings, which I drew over Thanksgiving break while in the ghost town of JE.

First up is a man in black. I was really hungry at the time, and didn't know what to do for food, so I drew food in the background.

Fun Facts: I don't usually drink soda ever.

And then here's a little Zuko.

Math final tomorrow. Then a paper and then we're done!

Reuxben

Fun_Table42

This is a costuming exercise featuring our Quarters Crisis heroes, originally meant to be a restaurant scene with Ben ordering a table for two.

Easter Eggs: ELLEGARDEN and Makishimamu Za Horumon!

Fun Facts: Ben is short and wearing a jacket based on one of my Spanish classmates. Also, I bought both bands' CDs in Japan, in Japanese.

Erregahden wa doku desuka? Yosh!!

Strawberry, strawberry pie.

Reuxben

Fun_PangolinConcept

This is a sketch of characters for my lit seminar's final paper, nicknamed "Pangolin," which'll have a comics component.

If everything went perfectly, the first day of finals would also end my semester. But it'll still end shortly after that, just not before Reading Week tears me apart.

It's 4am, I'm working on my impossible math/art project; cue no sleep.

Reuxben

Herald_QC.Beginning

Last change: Ben loses everything.
Now change 13!

That's it.

Easter Eggs: Change 13 in panel 1, thanks in final panel.

Fun Facts: Ben's shirt logo means irony, the series theme (nothing actually happens).

THANKS: ロト６で３億２千万円当てた男, JAPN S-275: Japanese Cinema and Culture, Eiichiro Oda, Toshihiro Ono, LeSean Thomas, Chamba, J, LITR439: Graphic Forms.

I'm sure people simply picture-view here, which is fine, but I would sincerely appreciate feedback via any method; I really need to know how I'm doing.

Also, WRITERS: I'd love to collaborate on a comic over break; please contact me if you'd be interested in working on a comic.

..So this comic basically defined my semester week to week, a key memento from Japan, but I don't really cling to it, which makes me think it's sort of like MCR's Black Parade: admirably high concept but not as enjoyable as prior work; I didn't even feel anything after finishing inks. Next semester's a return to punk rock.

Here's jack kelly's season ender, "monopoly."

So again, Quarters Crisis feedback would be wonderful, email or whatever; everyone's a stranger to me, so I already don't know you and won't look you up.

Reuxben

Record_PokemonHunter

"The Pokemon Hunter," for the Yale Record's Sustainability Issue.

I haven't really felt too happy with my Record work lately, but this one's an improvement.

Easter Eggs: Pushing the owl on screen 1, "Wah" on screen 2.

Fun Facts: This is my second Record piece involving pokemon (Charizard was a boring choice made only for readability's sake), and only my second actual Record comic.

Reuxben

YDN_ZLM.ArtMan

No, Jack Wills, I will not buy your clothes.

<- Previous Comic...Next Comic ->
-First Comic-
Easter Eggs: "Yale" in panel 1, end of semester "Thanks" in panel 2, and jack kelly everywhere.

Fun Facts: I want to make a j< THIS?

Ok, that's it for the YDN for now.

Until next semester,

Reuxben