YDN_zlm.Theory

I can't believe you fell for that, why do you keep trusting her?

Zero Like Me #76:
Stella Theory Pt.1: The Theory
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Easter Eggs: "Yale" in panel 4. Shout out to Baby Beluga.

Fun Facts: This was one of the very first comics I wrote about Alexis, from way back in May, when she was still named Stella.

Baa: I am a literature major for no other reason than that it allows me to read fiction and write my thesis on comics, and Stella Theory Pt.2 will better explain why this major profoundly sucks. But the background is that Lit Theory is required for the major, and no amount of scrubbing will ever get that disgusting feeling off of me for having taken the course while people are starving, dying, etc.ing around the world.

I don't think I executed this one as I had envisioned it (the YDN version's even rougher), but part two will nail it.

This comic is dedicated to anyone who took Lit Theory and liked it, or just took it for kicks. Especially the latter.

Reuxben

YDN_zlm.Snowmancer

Air quotes are the way of the future.

Zero Like Me #75:
Snowmancer
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Easter Eggs: "Yale" in panel 4.

Fun Facts: Today's from the OC looking upon 'Nam and Lawrence and whatever's the building after Lawrence. This is actually my second piece about Prometheus.

Baa: As I was swiping in for dinner Sunday "family" night, the nice swiper lady asked me if I was excited for the game, and I stared back confusedly, "Uhhh?" She smiled politely, like you do to a crazy person, and I hurried off to scarf food so I could make my YDN deadline. The cake in the cafetorium said something, something, "Saints," and they were serving burgers and hot dogs and fries and it turned out it was the Superbowl and the Saints were playing. I love not knowing or caring about sports because I tend to be really into whatever I'm into, so I would probably not be able to focus all day if I was into football!

But this weekend was pretty exciting. I spent Friday cowering uncomfortably in the company of other comicsers/illustrators at a YDN drawers' dinner. I remember walking to the silli-site of the meal thinking, "Oh dangit, X is prolly going to be there and will see how inept I am in front of other people." Sure enough, X was there. So that was uncomfortable especially because I was bombing when lobbed softball questions, BUT it does mean I got some new comics out of the experience, and that's what matters, that's why I put myself through stuff like this. Afterward we went to see Tom Tomorrow give a talk. Really neat. Big thanks to the YDN for putting on this comicsers' excursion. And for owning the Herald in such a charming, yet hardcore way. Haha. Herald style: "Uh...let's everybody get drunk at some bar. Funyayhipster!"

If that wasn't enough, the next day I went to my fourth of four possible JE Culture Draws, to see "Race" starring James Spader, David Allen Grier (Yale Drama), and Kerry Washington. The pre-show meal was at Scarlatto and it was the most delicious meal I've ever had in my entire life (my first trip to this restaurant for last year's Culture Draw inspired this comic, by the way). I hate my generation's abuse of superlatives, but I actually mean it: I have had no superior meal to this one. Even the bread before the meal was firing on all four. For the very first time in my life I actually wanted to eat the salad put in front of me and I actually wanted more of it, it was that good! The spaghetti was also just absolutely wonderful (I cannot even say if it was better than the salad!). And then the dessert was this ice cream deal with some pastry thing called "profiteroles" or something, all under choco-sauce. Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. You almost want to cry just thinking about how utterly perfect everything was alone and in combination. The single greatest meal I've ever had, ever, and I've won Culture Draw every year plus a bonus trip last year. Absolutely the perfect way to end my Culture Drawing career. I only regret that Master Haller wasn't there, because he taught me how to eat bread at fancy restaurants way back when. Dean Farley was an excellent host, of course, and he helped me handle the usual being-amongst-humans-jitters. Not that I was at ease, but you know, nice to have someone in your corner. All in all, a great, great event. And golly, people at the table knew I draw comics!

The play, unfortunately was quite fast-paced, so I got pretty lost at times, but it was certainly a positive experience and multiple viewings would not be unwarranted (nor cheap, dude). This was my first choice event for Culture Draw, because I wanted to see David Allen Grier in a drama, but by the time I won, they had run out of spots! I knew if I joined the alternate list, I would likely get another shot at seeing this play, and it happened! So Mr. Grier was just great. I like sad stories, but this play was more angry than anything, and the only pathos I felt was in seeing a distraught, frustrated Washington near the end of the play, but I glimpsed that sorrow for only a split second, so it was a short-lived victory. I am a sucker for sad stories, and if it isn't depressing I'd rather it be hilarious; everything else just isn't quite my cup of tea.

Reuxben

Herald_zlm.DeathBeforeDisco

Don't believe the hype!
Zero Like Me #74
Zero Romance #14:
Ransom Dan Pt.3: Death Before Disco
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Easter Eggs: Romance 14 in panel 1, Jane, shoutout to third of three YDN EICs this week (completing my collection), new challenger named after the OGs. 1933 counts, right?

Fun Facts: Today's setting is loosely based on just outside the Silliman Master's house (creepy dark skinned guy wearing all black snapping photos of your house...check!). This is based on a writing exercise I did, a fake news article about Ransom Dan's implosion (hence the heavy text).

I had this reporter character stored away in my notes and felt this was the best time to pop him out. He wears rabbit ears to get better reception because he's a TV newsman and he uses a carrot instead of a mike so he can have a snack after covering his story while remaining in theme. I thought it was a nice Eiichiro Oda sort of bizarre touch.

Baa: From what I gather, Lady Gaga is a fashion dynamo and her outrageous style is pretty neat. The Crayon had a show where they warmed the crowd up by having us sing a Lady Gaga song, and I was like the only person in the room who had no idea what was going on. Pretty ridiculous.

One of the biggest motivations to do this comic was because I love puns and I noticed that I could make a RuPaul reference, but also I wanted to try this weird news format since I wanted to kill Ransom Dan. A lot of improvised nonsense thrown in for good measure, too. I want to make higher concept comics, like how Gerard Way runs the Umbrella Academy with such high fiction. Above is the banner I ran all week leading up to the Ransom Dan World Tour, with the following dates:

Jan 30 Jonathan Edwards (Secret Basement Show), Encore - Woolsey Hall :: Feb 5 Timothy Dwight :: Feb 6 Pierson :: Feb 12 Davenport :: Feb 13 Berkeley :: Feb 19 Ezra Stiles :: Feb 20 Branford :: Feb 26 Calhoun :: Feb 27 Silliman :: Mar 5 Trumbull :: Mar 6 Saybrook

So that was a fun concept to start with.

Reuxben

YDN_zlm.Majide

Ding, ding, ding, that's the match.

Zero Like Me #73:
Majide
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Easter Eggs: Nyao zoning out, "FB01," and "Yale" in panel 1. An ugly, ugly number. Shout out to Monty and that sack of urine, the right dishonorable jack kelly via the Stiller.

Fun Facts: Today's setting is based on a building I spotted just outside of 8 Prospect (Who's marching up Science Hill second semester senior year despite being a lit major done with all requirements of any sort? This guy.). Anyway, this comic is a subject near and dear to my cold, black heart because Yale is so saturated with irony (sickeningly so, dawg) yet, it seems so selectively scouted for on some peoples' radar, especially when I use it, which is both irritating and exciting at the same time.

Baa: Freshman Year, I lived with a guy who would always call me on my blanket, uninformed statements, yet nobody would flinch when he'd say stuff like this, or any other general superlativery. This was as frustrating and as creatively crippling as my family's constant inability to understand sarcasm at all. But then again, using sarcasm does have a certain charm when people aren't on to you, you know.

Wow, as I was writing the above paragraph I got a call (wrong number, natch) and automatically launched into sarcasm mode...it's prolly cuz it's really fun being in character. Why stick to the script when there is no script in Life and you can improv, especially on the trivial stuff?

Get some, homie,

Reuxben

YDN_zlm.JohnnySalami

This comic brought to you by the letter E and the number Zero.

Zero Like Me #72:
Johnny Salami, or: Baby, I'll Be Your Minstrel
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Easter Eggs: "Yale" and "LOL" in panel 1, Godfather jamz in panel 2, Majin Buu crest, special hat and the Gaboozo Bruddas in panel 3, shout out to my oldest YDN Bwoss from beyond the tomb.

Fun Facts: Today's setting is jolly old JE, from whom I've just received a book deal! Golly, aren't you excited?

Baa: This series is called Zero Like Me, of course, so please understand if I move on and deal with stuff that matters to me now--we're back to business as usual, meaning subtly suicidal subjects shall reign supreme. For closure on recent events, I implore sports enthusiasts to read comics more deeply than mere pictures juxtaposed with words; there are things such as sarcasm, irony, and fiction in play, with only a touch of reality (same goes for what I write on this site, grrrr!). Also, as I've learned from the previous comic, it is apparently unsportsmanlike conduct to defend against an opponent's offense...really? You're the sports people, so I'mma have to take your word for it...

Finally, let me state once again for the record I do not care if you are an athlete, a member of chess club, the model UN, or the Future Gangstas of America, you're just another body in my way at Commons. But you are also just another Yalie, which means I immediately give you the benefit of the doubt that you can perform close reading. Also, unless you're football or basketball, I really have no real interest in your sport. If you are getting the impression that I have something against athletes, you have no idea what you're talking about, especially if you're going off a poorly researched Rumpus article which included as its centerpiece a comic where my sporty character's cutthroat-intelligent spice got censored. Sports/athletes do not interest me. If you are still feeling on edge, just check this out, son.

And as a reminder, the only grudges/vendettas I hold are against myself and FroCos. There was sarcasm in part of that last sentence, try to spot it.

Reuxben

YDN_zlm.ComicView

Congratulations, you were mentioned in my material, now you are famous!

Zero Like Me #71:
Comic View
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Easter Eggs: The Beatles suck, true, but the four names spoofing that iconic Beatles shirt are mentioned only with the tenderest of intentions. Also, "Yale" in panel 1. Also, also, OCD is more popular with older Yalies, but it refers to the Oldest College Daily, or the "YDN" if you will.

Fun Facts: Today's setting is kinda sorta the YDN's 2room, but meh... Anyway, I do not believe in naming names on this site or in my artwork unless it's either: mentioned in a generally positive way, it's disguised (Easter egg'd, aliased, etc.), or unless it's clearly a public figure (and tactfully presented), but for this private citizen I will make an exception.

Baa: It was pretty funny because not only did I have no idea this guy even existed until about a week ago when I saw his audition (after which I tried to tell my fellow YCC Comedy Committee members that this guy was just lots of [nervous] energy with little actual hilarity--he forgot his act on stage, the set up being his major, slippery information, I'm sure), but also as a committee member, I was in the reserved seating, just a few seats away from him and one row back! In fact, I was sketching him as he was speaking. AWKWARD.

And, assuming the jeering from the audience was trying to shut the comedian up and it was not booing my name (oh spit, son, I'm a celebrity reference!) can I just say, that was really quite nice of you? If I had friends, I'd want them to go to bat for me just as loudly and maniacally as that. So thank you, you awesome little weirdos. Now go back to your blurking...thatta boy.

Okay, I don't see any reason to pursue this subject any further since we both got our shots in through our own mediums, so we're even. However, regarding that guy's stand up act, I believe my old YDN boss, Mr. Kaplan, put it best: "This is a tragedy first and foremost, but it does present some opportunities to do outstanding journalism."

Ransom Dan World Tour officially kicks off this weekend at...Tee Dee? Dang.

Reuxben

Herald_zlm.MyZeroRomance

Do I have to give my classmate's dad a check now?

Zero Like Me #70
Zero Romance #13:
Ransom Dan Pt.2: My Zero Romance
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Easter Eggs: Romance 13, sombrero man, Pringles man, and Pink Floyd man, and special shout out in final panel; Late Night with Conan's logo in Panel 1; ?uestlove afro pick drum style, Justin Pierre layer style, Order Made Radwimps style, 3 Cheers style, Alex Turner yawn style, Mikey Way style, Pansy style, The Subways' bassist style, Tony Thaxton kit style; Shawn Harris leap style; I'm Not Okay (I Promise) and Back to the Future refs.

Fun Facts: My gosh, this was insanely fun to write, draw, and research. So much fun just getting as ridikalus as possible.

Baa: It feels like I haven't Heralded in forever...man, I miss it. What a way to get back in it, though. Wish it was always this fun.

Toldja I was starting a band! EP coming soon offa my label, Deathreux Records. It's gonna be hot like Ebola, kid.

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YDN_zlm.Multiplayer

Garry McGruder owns African-American Lotuses!

Zero Like Me #69:
Ransom Dan Pt.1: Multiplayer
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Easter Eggs: "Yale" in Panel 2; some Magic cards (prize if you can name them all, you freaking nerd) in Panel 3.

Fun Facts: Today's setting is based on Fair Haven Elementary, plus an aerial shot of 'Nam. As I was drawing this, I noticed it had started snowing outside, so I went back and drew snow onto the buildings, and then when I finished inks, it had stopped snowing and all the rooftop white disappeared, so I was doomed to inaccuracy from the start!

This has got to be the WORST, most embarrassing error I've ever let slip into a comic--okay besides this--in panel 2, I forgot to flatten the image before correcting image rotation, so my legibility-correction ended up just making it worse...doomed efforts again.

Baa: As I was writing this very post in Commons after breakfast, a herd of footballistas were huddled over my comic on the table across from me. I mozied over to find them arguing over which cards were Easter Egged in the comic! One guy tried to convince me we were looking at Brainstorm or something! I was like, "Actually it's [blah], trust me, I drew it." Oh how we laughed! And here I thought the footballas and I had a blood feud. Anyway, they seemed like nice chaps (I've only ever met one less-than-cool football player, come to think of it).

The Brainstorm guy laughed nervously, "Man, we're all such nerds," and we parted ways. Let the record show that it never occurred to me before coming to Yale that Magic could be considered nerdy. D&D on the other hand...ew.

I know they're going to beat Harvard next year. Watch.

Reuxben

YDN_zlm.YTuMamáTambién

Why would you try to tick off the one person who tolerates your company?

Zero Like Me #68:
Y Tu Mamá También
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Easter Eggs: "Yale" in panel 3. Fetal position.

Fun Facts: You can win any argument if you ignore your opponent fast enough.

Baa: I can't stand bullying--people with power ought to act responsibly. I see this issue as an ultimate expression of bullying. I can fathom those extreme cases everyone always cites, but unless it's that grave, how dare you speak for someone else (and so fatally)? It's not like there's zero chance those few cells will become a baby, if you just let it carry on, it will become a full fledged human--it's someone being sentenced to death before it can even issue a defense. I cannot understand how others cannot understand that.

You ever get picked on by a bigger kid and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it because you're physically weaker? It freaking sucks to be so powerless, utterly at someone else's mercy. But imagine if rather than punching you, he kills you. That really freaking sucks. Tell you what, I'm going to call today's subject "recreational abortion," since that gets to the point pretty well. I can't understand recreational abortion. Why would you even let yourself get into such a position in the first place? I cannot understand it--that's what Zero Ethos is all about.

Wouldn't it be funny if everything I drew and wrote on this site was just for lulz and I didn't mean any of it? Tee hee.

Reuxben

YDN_zlm.SoBad

Just wanna ram your hand straight through your skull, don'tcha?

Zero Like Me #67:
So Bad
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Easter Eggs: "Yale" and napping Nyao in panel 1. Charlie Chaplin clothes. "RC ftw," or "Arsi = ha x2" in panel 3, referencing a Yalie who got ridiculously ripped off, so he will not get to open at the Winter Show, meaning my Easter Egg'd forecast is looking pretty good...yay?

Fun Facts: Garry never actually appeared in the YDN before, but he debuted in the Herald here. As his dad and brother are off at war, he is immensely proud of his military heritage and always wears his dad's old dog tags, based on a real kid I tutored a couple summers ago.

Baa: I am dumbstruck by how strikingly dumb some Yalies' speech comes off due to their insistence on using uselessness like "so good" as if it in any way communicates anything. I wanted to do violent things to my skull when I was stuck in a waiting room listening to a feemyalie prattle on and on about how XYZ was "SO good," literally her estimation of everything positive. I also can't stand the slaughtered use of "awkward," the intentional use of "Um" as if it's actually a word, and (more peripherally) freaking vocal fry. I lose a chunk of my mind at every Herald meeting because of some combination of the above, but it's mainly the blackboard-scratching vocal fries everyone is required by law to do while they address the board.

My gosh, I'm cringing just thinking about how much this comic conjures all these gross vocalizations.

Reuxben

YDN_zlm.ScopeTrials

You smug, little elitist, you!

Zero Like Me #66:
Zero @ YDN Pt.2: Scope Trials
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Easter Eggs: "Yale" in section 2.

Fun Facts: This story sequence of comics originated last year, but was edited out at the last minute, and unfortunately that comic marked the beginning of a burnt bridge, I believe (apologies to you again, RSR).

Baa: I get seriously grossed out touching door handles, which is a reason I hate not wearing long sleeves.

Three days, three comics done.

Man...that's tough. I am exhausted.

That's what she said.

Reuxben

YDN_zlm.Bum

That can't be healthy...

Zero Like Me #65:
Bum
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Easter Eggs: "Yale" in panel 1. "Borges," stupid flipping "Borges" in panel 3...Borges. "Bore" is even in his name!

Fun Facts: Today's setting is--wait for it--Labyrinth Books. No matter how well I think I scout my locations, I always leave something out, in this case, good shots of the shops behind Laby, like the wonderful Yorkside Pizza, which I only now realize has a crystal clear picture of itself on its website...

Baa: Speaking of the Yorkside area, I went to Cutlers to pick up the new Motion City Soundtrack album, "My Dinosaur Life," and was greeted by the most ridiculously friendly cat I've ever met! Such a cute little pudgy guy! An excellent mascot and ambassador for a shop, like a dog's spirit with a cat's body.

Oh, and shout out to my old editor, who killed this comic a year ago...!

Ok, Wednesday's thrilling conclusion on Friday.

Reuxben

YDN_zlm.ShticksAndStones

Drop it like it's hot...a steaming, hot pile.

Zero Like Me #64:
Zero @ YDN Pt.1: Shticks And Stones
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Easter Eggs: "Yale" in panel 2. My darling Harkness in Panel 2.

Fun Facts: I was so happy to notice Harkness peeking out from behind all that atrocious construction stuff, so I knew I had to work it into the comic, which makes today's setting a JE rooftop.

Baa: Eye contact is overrated...and ridiculously uncomfortable 90 percent of the time.

It looks like we're finally making progress on the YDN online front, so that's great. It will also make Part 2 of this comic delightfully ironic! Since I got Monday off for MLK, I'll have a comic for Thursday, as well.

Aww yeah.

Reuxben

YDN_sls.BelieveIt

 

Trust your friends with your life, it's Sick Little Suicide #17, "I Can't Believe It's Not Better (Believe It!)" in which we talk about a story that actually matters to me.

It's like they know me!

Easter Eggs: The ties indicate how much I care about the host. The speech bubbles' interactions indicate how the hosts're related to each other. Jay Leno is not seriously bummed at all, hence "believe."

Fun Facts: I'm not very good at likenesses! Also, I got a little physically ill having to draw Carson Daly, but I have to admit, his new format is not as cringe-worthy as his old talk show format (but enough with the grainy film projector thing--we get it, you're a hip, young, and rebellious indie guy...or something).

Baa: As much as I like Conan, Craig Ferguson has definitely become the highlight of the late night scene for me. I don't dislike Jay, he's always been a comfortable opener to my late night routine, but he's lost a ridiculous amount of credibility in my eyes. Jimmy Fallon's coming along well, but he's still got miles to go before he sleeps and I just watch for the Roots and Higgins. Carson's no longer an utter embarrassment, but not worth watching if you can find the remote.

NBC never should have promised Conan Tonight until Jay was really ready to leave, so I can only really blame NBC for all the trouble, but having committed to the decision, Jay Leno now does share in the responsibility. The original version of this comic was to compare how Jay Leno previously skewered executives for not sucking it up and doing the right thing (rejecting their unearned bonus money) and how he's being a hypocrite now that he's essentially getting an unearned bonus in regaining Tonight. If he wanted to be honorable, he would stick to his word after having made the pledge and reject Tonight, solving all this controversy, although he was not the source of it at all, only an accessory. I wish Jay Leno would have put his foot down 5 years ago, so that at least all this would have went down before the transfer.

In any case, I feel sorta in a similar boat as Conan in that I recently started a new gig (YDNing 3 times a week), but feel cheated by my "network" because they aren't putting comics online competently (if ever) as they have continually promised to my face they would since 2008. It's like NBC giving Conan the Tonight Show but at 12:05am: it's not what he signed on for, it's sneaky and dishonest to the spirit of the agreement between the talent and the management, even though it's technically within the management's power.

Again, YDN Editor-in-Chief paul.needham@yale.edu calls the shots at 202 York. I wonder if half of the people in 202 are doing now what they want to do for the rest of their lives? Wouldn't it be funny if they're all working at the YDN just for kicks, to kill time between classes? Hilarious. Believe it.

Reuxben