YDN_zlm.Homework

Gotta hit those books...

Zero Like Me #12: Homework
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-First Comic-
Easter Eggs: "Yale" in panel 1. Three heartbreaking things in panel 4.

Fun Facts: Today's setting, the Old Campus High Street gate, is actually under construction currently, but I omitted it, unlike the JE construction. I met a TD '79 on an airplane once, and he said his suite got nicknamed the "Heartbreak Hotel" because they each got dumped and some got suicidal.

So this is the 12th comic and we only need 6 comics to qualify for staff...yet I've got to wait until #15...

Don't hold your breath to hold hands on Valentine's Day,

Reuxben

YDN_sls.miNOrPRESSURE

The economy's bad, Commons never has any clean cutlery, and I have two papers due this week--time for a Sick Little Suicide. This fourth one's about minors and the women who love them.

Easter Eggs: Lou Grant, "Yale," and "FOB."

Fun Facts: It's a minor miner symbolizing a minor, get it? I'm so funny!

So...I personally hate it when people say XYZ was "so good." You go to Yale, can you seriously not come up with a better description? At least dress it up: that was "so incredible." Something. And stop saying "um" like it's an actual word--I'm talking to you, editors of any Yale publication ever. Ummm....I also hate the 70s, but dang, Mary Tyler Moore was an incredible show, from the few episodes I've seen.

Ok, well, if you have an issue you'd like me to suicide, do feel free to gmail "reuxbenart" or something.

Reuxben

Herald_mc.LittlePeepi

Last Crash: Smalltown girl Bee Farnam's mugger gets trounced by a country sprite.

Yeah. (Oh yeah) Ultra Peepi...

Monsta Crash #4: LittlePeepi
Next Comic: Here
Previous Comic: Here
First Comic: Here

Easter Eggs: Crash 4 n panel 3. Jetta. "Yale" and Emo182 in the last panel.

Fun Facts: I don't know anything about cars, but I do enjoy driving the Jetta. Also, I don't want to say he lied, but as I cowered in a corner at one of the new admit receptions in my last pre-college summer, my Yale interviewer said not to worry, that everyone meets their kindred spirit at Yale...

And back in black (and yellow) the devious jack kelly returns, promising a double shot every time he's up this semester...ugh.

First up is "jolly good."

I'm telling you, he has something against British people...what a jerk.

He also spews forth more bigotry in "benny lava."

I'd love to see you pee on him tonight.

In other news, I'm again applying for a scholarship, entering these five quite diverse picks (never really realized how many hats I wear):

Pooping
Bully
concentration
Eve
Somewhere

I hope something comes of this.

Reuxben

YDN_zlm.Please

I am whatever you say I am. If I wasn't then why would I say I am?

In the paper, the news, every day I am.

YDN won't even play my jams.

So let's play Spot-the-Difference instead!

That's better.

Zero Like Me #11: Please
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-First Comic-

Easter Eggs: "Yale" in panel 2. "West Coast Kid" brand in panel 4.

Fun Facts: I didn't think the editors would get this, but apparently they did and made me change it...sigh. At least that says something about the attention span of YDN editors versus Herald editors (as long as you don't mention anorexia, you're solid). In any case, this comic goes out to Mike Birbiglia, Bill Burr...and my brother.

I still crack up over the original and will always consider it the real version. All the cool kids do, anyway (not really).

Reuxben

Fun_ComedySketches

So a while ago, Mike Birbiglia came to perform for us and no one was looking forward to him except for me. Imagine everyone's surprise when I was right, they were wrong, and Mr. Birbiglia was a hit.

So a while ago, Dat Phan came to perform for us and everyone was looking forward to him except for me. Imagine everyone's surprise when I was right, they were wrong, and dat sham was a poop.

But I'm so freaking optimistic, I'm not here to tear down. I'm here to show you the sketches I did during this suicidal "comedy" show. Note, Corey Kahaney was actually pretty alright; great improvising when the mics kept messing up (for her, the mic kept turning off; for him, the mic kept turning on).

The above is the sham himself. At left is a girl wearing a jacket from Spanish last semester, which I've admired so much, it subconsciously snuck into one of my comics. The next pic is a girl ready to scrap.

I went to the show solo (all my friends were busy) but when the guy two spots to my right tried to cellularly coordinate his party, he was gripped with worry when he thought he'd unwittingly promised the seat between us to his phone pal, because it suddenly occurred to him that I might have saved it for someone. He got all apologetic and was ready at a word to call up his friend and tell him to beat it.

For a few solid minutes of "are you sure you're not saving this seat?" I let him keep on thinking that I had indeed reserved the seat but was simply too uncomfortable about confrontation to speak up about evicting his en-route friend.

It was he-haw-larious seeing the guy literally begging to dismiss his friend. Yeah, that's how I get my kicks at this point. To be fair, this guy's flaunting all his friends in front of me (literally like half the row was his!)...so I mean come on. Screw 'em if they can't take a joke.

But I also get my kicks drawing to entertain, so I drew for the very guy who "stole" my saved seat. The way it works is I draw stuff, nearby people notice, and we both have a (usually silent) good time as the guest tries to (usually covertly) peek at my paper, like I won't notice; it's my job to notice stuff, so it's fun all around. It's lovely when it works, sucka. But then I always wonder who the real sucka is, yo.

Also, I met this guy after the show, and of all people, he was in league with the gentleman I was messing with earlier--haha!--but he was quite nice, and I was quite nervous.

To close, here is another retrato I've been working on.



I'm eager to finish it soon.

Reuxben

Herald_mc.TheThief

Last Crash: Smalltown girl Bee Farnam gets mugged.

Monsta Crash #3: TheThief
Next Comic: Here
Previous Comic: Here
First Comic: Here

Easter Eggs: Crash 3 in snoke. Building names. JE. Rifle (the band).

Fun Facts: I wanted to make this comic painful for me, and it worked--I almost cried drawing it. Really, I'm that good.

The secret stories: one name is the messenger I'm shooting, one never spoke a word to me until running for office and requesting my vote, one was the very first person to greet me after finishing my last final sophomore year but greeted me as a stranger this year, one had a disturbing discussion in my suite freshman year, and one is somewhat familiar yet estranged.

I kind of hope I won't be able to remember the full stories when I'm older.

Reuxben

YDN_zlm.Flannigan

You should see the cruelly jovial emails from Laurence Oliver Leslie.

Zero Like Me #10: Flannigan
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-First Comic-
Easter Eggs: Harkness in panel 1. "Yale," purevolume, and Dext(er's Lab) in panel 4.

Fun Facts: My first thought when I saw this morning's weather, Cool, it's snowing! My second thought, Dangit, my comic's weather is inaccurate! I totally did not see the weird fresh snowfall plus warm weather plus rain combination coming. Also, today's setting is JE's Taft library.

So as much as I lament not being able to publish on "Reuxsdays," ZLM is officially on Wednesdays this semester, which is more convenient anyway.

Final thought: This is my 10th YDN comic, but for some reason I need to hit 6 more to make staff, after being told I'd be staff by the end of last semester...fine.

Reuxben

YDN_sls.Pooping

This is the third Sick Little Suicide, in which Harvard owns everything and the rest of the League's its pets. Take that, Yale.

Easter Eggs: Obama's growth thing, Bush's squinty eyes. Haha.

Fun Facts: I'm trying to avoid sprawling labels. Uncle Sam is voiced by Conan O'Brien doing his "keep cool, my babies" voice.

If there were such a thing as stage fright for a visual artist, that's what I get whenever I publish in the YDN, especially this series, since most humans at Yale read the YDN. I used to get nervous earlier on with the Herald before I realized no one reads the Herald.

But I feel quite insecure(r) doing these suicides because it's printed gigantically right behind the cover. I hate imposing myself on people, and rather than hide out in a comics section where you have to look for me, the opinion section just blasts me right in your face...quite unnerving.

Ironically one of my fondest comicsing memories was YDN-related: I saw someone at first smiling then audibly chuckling while waiting in line at Commons and reading this. It warmed my pathetic little heart. Yes, I actually creeped my way near him to make sure it was my feces he was enjoying.

But that fool jack kelly always makes everybody smile. I wish I could be as funny as him. Ugh, I hate him.

Reuxben

Herald_mc.BigCity

Last Crash: Smalltown girl Bee Farnam hops a train to the big city.

Monsta Crash #2: BigCity
Next Comic: Here
Previous Comic: Here
First Comic: Here

Easter Eggs: Crash 2 in panel 1. Two Mary Tyler Moor refs. Same graffiti artist. ZLM.

Fun Facts: Cardigans are for geezers. Facebook helps with posing. I got carried away with this new ruler I just got.

This comic was fun for practicing perspective and for throwing stupid(er) words into speech bubbles.

Reuxben

Fun_GreatRichardAffair

I went to a great rock show this past Sunday night, these are my sketches.

The show featured pretty much my top three favorite "Neat Yale Things" (on the left bar). These are, of course:

Great Caesar and the GoGetters
Richard Miron
The Sandy Gill Affair
As well as a band called Suitcase of Keys. They've got a really great song called "Fallen Leaves." The only downside to the lineup was that Great Caesar was short several GoGetters...

So it's always great whenever these guys perform but for once the audience is actually worth mentioning: the audience was one of the RUDEST groups of people ever assembled.

They seriously would not shut up! It's not like these were strangers on stage; these were people most in attendance knew somehow--why would you disrespect them by treating them like elevator music?

Completely unbelievable.

But in any case...I did sketch some of the nicer audience members, and even met someone who likes my artwork, which is always nice.

This girl had an interesting hat and bright red pants.

The first sketch was a girl in this cool flannel get-up with a beanie brooch or something.

The second sketch features a girl with an incredibly fluffy hood. It was huge.

Sidenote: man, The Sandy Gill Affair has some serious toe-tappers.

This is Mr. Miron, who weaved through the crowd before and after his set. I strained to hear him most of all because people just would not shut up. So frustrating.

He's playing a show in February, and I hope to make it over, so I can actually hear him this time, and maybe get a better sketch.

Although he did play THIS, which made my day!

The violinist was great, too, of course.

In conclusion, here's a Work-in-Progress of a drawing I've been working on. This fellow wasn't at the show, but he is the subject of my very first drawing of 2009, started on the 1st, and very near completion now.

Clue: it's terribly awkward whenever he's around, no fault of his, of course.*

*Technically, this means it could be anyone...even me.

Reuxben

YDN_zlm.Supernauguration

Everybody, quick--don't shut up about inauguration day!

Zero Like Me #9: Supernauguration
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-First Comic-
Easter Eggs: "Yale" in panel 4.

Fun Facts: If you know me, you know I love my sports and my politics. I use keyphrases in my head, such as "Zero Ethos," meaning "having no credibility." I have yet to encounter another chibi Harkness. Also, I had to look up who was in the Superbowl--did you know there are Cardinals in football?!

Well, I missed the cut off, but I kind of want this to run Wednesday anyway, since the people who it's meant for may very well be at the inauguration.

I may well just shoot for Wednesdays from now on, since it's actually more convenient, and was even my first choice last semester. In any case, here're the pencils, inks, and final.

I wonder why the first view of this post came from Harvard...?

Reuxben

Herald_mc.RomanceDawn

Welcome to this semester's weekly undergrad comic, Yale Herald Series 4: Monsta Crash.

Shelving a sequel to this, Monsta Crash was inspired by Houston Calls' "Elephant and Castle" and The Cure's Dragon Hunter's Theme.

Easter Eggs: "Lang" in the trees (another memorial dedication), happy/sad little trees, 1st Crash in panel 1.

Fun Facts: Ticket Hag Hillary, named for the politician, not the Fresh Prince character, is Mr. James' sister. I lived in FB01 freshman year, and it was the greatest/saddest year of my life. An old drawing influenced Farnam's design.

I hope this more heavily-comedic series works.

Next Comic: Here

Reuxben

YDN_sls.Kuro

It's been a while, but here's another Sick Little Suicide for the Yale Daily News. This one is about change.

Easter Eggs: "Yale," "pika" in the Newz, "woot" in the YDN. Also, these character designs were based on four JE people, including a Republican who I'm sure wouldn't appreciate being associated with pro-Obama sentiments.

Fun Facts: Sports and politics are totally my passion. Also, this was supposed to run Tuesday, so it was way more timely.

Gosh, it's weird to see it printed so huge.

Reuxben

YDN_zlm.Family

Nyao is light on her feet.

Zero Like Me #8: Family
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-First Comic-
Easter Eggs: "Yale" in panel 4.

Fun Facts: Screaming louder does not help you prove your point any better.

So due to a bizarre series of events, we've had to postpone Tuesday's YDN comic, but on the bright side, that allowed me to scan the main steps in making a comic.

After pencils, I just ink the lines uniformly. I also begin indicating with pencil what I want to use hatching on for a grayish color, as well as what I want to be solid black.

Finally I set in heavier lines on what I want to stand out, and fill in shades.

That's it,

Reuxben

Fun_zlm.HourlyComic1

I saw this over break and decided I wanted to try doing an hourly comic for one day.

I was planning to do one on February 1st, but someone pointed out the site to me recently, which made me think to do a sort of test run today, plus I need to practice drawing Zero.

Since this is only a test, rather than work from my entire waking day, I set a midnight cut off because I actually do have some work to do...So here's a special Zero Like Me: Hourly Comic Special, based on a true story.

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-First Comic-

As with any in-post image, click to enlarge.

Today's phrase of the day: See Wood.

I have one of the Master's favorite pieces of art, I think; it's missing from our basement display of its sibling works, and he had the series in the Swing Basement, too, so I think he likes the series, too.

I picked the same one out at the beginning of Freshman Year during the Master's art rental period.

...man it's cold.

Really cold...

And I'm hungry.

More on that in a second.

In the meantime, I'm working on a "real" ZLM.

I think it's due next week.

Oh, a note on how I made this: every hour of my day served as inspiration for one of these minicomics.

I started at 4pm and caught up by the 10pm episode.

This cold-related stuff is true.

Someone turned off the heat during break, and I don't know how to turn it back on.

It is FREEZING! in here.

I probably shouldn't have done this hourly comic...I need to get to work.

I also have to work on my new Herald series, almost done with principal character design!

...ugh...and I have to Blue Book...it's a fun chore, but I don't know how much control I have anymore as a literature major.

I just want to draw.

And have warm hands.

Reuxben

Fun_HoneyRon

Just a few more hours before heading back to Yale! Also...I'm on a tumblr thing. [Update: I'm back, now with a photoshopped banner.]

Well, this is a profile shot of R. Ronald Ronnard Ronnington V, the snobbish roommate from Blue Type: Society, and latest Milk and Honey recruit.

Easter Eggs: Ronnington brand shoes.

Fun Facts: The Y stands for Yallerby University, an ancient, rich, and powerful institution.

I googled "preppy" stuff during Thanksgiving break to help draw this guy and found some pretty funny stuff out there.

Did you know Yale and Connecticut are the preppiest?

Take Ivy,

Reuxben

Fun_Pangolin.6-7

Page Six

This is the finale for my Lit. 'nar final, a comic called Pangolin Falls.

Easter Eggs: Pokeball.

Fun Facts: This page was fun to act out. I forgot to draw the action lines in the last panel!

By the time I finished this page, I was so exhausted, and had been drawing for over 24 hours straight, riding two cans of Monster.

But there was just one page left, and there was no getting around it.

Fortunately it was supposed to be ridiculously simple...like a victory lap, I guess. I even finished with enough time to do a cover.

Page Seven

We were both wiped out from the marathon work, so no one noticed Lynn's absent final line, where she shouts from her house then is struck by a story idea.

Easter Eggs: The Kappa made off with loot from the reject mail pile before fleeing in terror.

Fun Facts: I thought it'd be cool if we could both draw, so we decided my collaborator ought not only to letter, but also draw for Lynn. Rock.

Thanks: Zoelle, Professor Bulson, LITR439: Graphic Forms, Yale, Davenport College, Toshihiro Ono, Eiichiro Oda, Humberto Ramos, Bill Watterson, and many more mentioned and unmentioned throughout these Pangolin posts.

So that's Pangolin Falls. Finally back at Yale Wednesday!

Reuxben

Fun_Pangolin.4-5

Page Four

And now the penultimate post featuring Pangolin Falls, my literature final.

Easter Eggs: 2501 (one of my favorite phrases I picked up in Japan), Dan of "Be Square" fame.

Fun Facts: This room is based on my collaborator's suite; one of this project's highlights was hanging out in Davenport all day/night/day, including an acting session for Lynn's door-opening sequence in the D'Port DMAC.

I got worried when the first few panels just wouldn't come out well, but the clock was ticking.

Page Five

Visualizing difficult poses got easier with a partner to help out, rather than my photographing myself or staring at myself in a mirror.

Easter Eggs: JE desk, DC nook.

Fun Facts: I'd hit my 24th hour at this point, so it became harder to keep Lynn on model. Shoulda dug into my Monster supply earlier...

Reuxben

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