Weekly Comic Writing Contest WINNER!

I finally choose a writer who filled the empty balloons for my comic. It's Luke Surl. His idea was something that I just felt fit the absurdity and feel of the comic.

When I drew the comic, I had no idea what was going to happen or what I was going to draw. I just came out this way.

This comic was actually done in reaction to some writer who posted an ad on the Seattle area Craigslist.org asking a comic artist to draw his novel. There would be no pay involved until the project was published and then there would be compensation. I personally felt this guy had a lot of nerve, seeing as how he wasn't asking for someone to collaborate with him on a graphic novel, he was asking someone to be his visual tool. That sort of mentality irks me to no end. And this particular occasion just got me pissed.

Firstly, what artist has the time to just draw some guy's novel for fun? It would have to be a completely self-satisfying thing to do because there's no guarantee that you'd ever see something come of it.

Secondly - what artist has just shit tons of blank paper sitting around waiting for a project like this to just give him the inspiration to create something?

And thirdly - in my opinion, a great comic by two people doesn't happen when a guy writing something hands it to an artist to interpret however he sees fit. It's a collaboration! It takes two or more people working together to get it done.

I can't imagine that drawing this guys novel would be like a job. He's your boss, because it's his writing and he's very proud of it and your the instrument that will envision it the way he wants it. Even if you were to get paid it would probably suck, but at least payment would make it somewhat worth it.

Anyway, I got irate and wanted to do something similarly absurd and ask writers to fill in the words to a comic that already had pictures. I'd offer no pay and see how many people would respond. I wanted to piss off some writers. I wanted to insult some jerks who thought they were just so great and too good to take on a writing assignment that didn't offer pay.

I didn't get a bad reaction and that's good I guess. What I got was some really funny submissions from a bunch of people who seemed to have fun.

I want thank everyone who put something up on The Comics Journal forum (Dan Lester, Cory Fuka, Andrei Molotiu, Ed Gauthier, Kletz, Stephen Burrell, and William Wray) As well as Chris Paul, Jonathan Baylis, and Luke Surl.

There's no more contest, but I'm still taking submissions if you want to give it a shot. In the near future, I'm going to put together a small zine featuring everyone's submissions as thanks.

Comixpedia.org

Dig it!! The Lair is now listed in one of the latest wiki's. Comixpedia.org. Check out the creator bio too. It's really REALLY informative.
Thanks a lot Josh, for hooking me up.

current information about lack of daily comics

OK so if anyone has even been noticing I haven't been posting a comic daily here for a few days. Obviously that sort of is against the "daily comic" code. However, I have been drawing them daily. I've just had some internet issues that I hope can been solved on their own. If not, then I'll have to adjust my ways and means for getting daily comics posted on a daily schedule. Currently I'm at a very packed cafe/tea house called Zoka. It's near my apartment and it'll serve my needs for now. So hold tight, don't get discouraged and please don't give up on me. This is my baby, and currently the only thing that I have control over. Life is otherwise uncontrolable and constantly changing.
lovies
marc "swellzombie" palm

PS: thank you Levi for letting people know what's up when I couldn't.

What Slovenians are saying about SLOTPC

So here's a blog (Kratkocasnik) that I found did a review of my blog. It's all in Slovoenian. I asked for a translation and they greatfully posted on in the comments.

I really appreciate being reviewed along with tons of other really great artists.

Thanks to Isak Kamilo for correcting my eariler incorrect post. I'm pretty ignorant and always a bad speller. Forgive me Slovenia. I never meant to be insulting.

Great Fans!

I want to again thank everyone for diggin' my comics. It's very encouraging!
I wanted to point out one fan who did a "Tribute to Swellzombie". It's great. I'm pretty damn giddy. You should also check out his cute Hamster drawings.
Thanks Luka.

DRAWN

So I'm really glad that Drawn.ca accepted me. It's really helped give me some more attention. The comments that are posted there are really flattering. Thanks everyone. I'm glad that people are getting it and feeling the right way about it. To quote one of the comments:

"It made me smile and feel a little uneasy at the same time." daniellocke Says: June 19th, 2007 at 1:12 pm

That's pretty much the way it ought to go.

Thanks

I want to give a big thanks to Levi Bailey who inspires me with his better than average support and how much he flatters me.

I also want to thank Tony Millionaire for the influence that I didn't really realize was there until recently.

As well as Anders Nilsen who I really really enjoy and has definately influenced me.

Kevin Clarke I thank you for your input. I actually do listen and appreciate your ideas. You're a very funny guy and if I can get you to laugh, I'm doing OK.

Jeff and Sarah at Chaco for the support and coffee.

National Geographic and insect/aquatic documentary film makers for letting me see a fantastical world.