The big black box
We’ve entered a run of pages I think look pretty good. I wish I always felt like I was hitting my marks but I don’t, sometimes I’m just scraping by. But this was a period where I felt like I was getting somewhere. I don’t really measure my drawing against anybody else’s, so I’m always floundering in the dark. Good weeks and bad weeks!
I love the intensity lines and canted angle in panel 1!
My father entered college intending to major in Egyptology (he was born in Egypt, so had an interest in that topic). While in college, he discovered that Egyptologists were, by and large, boring people, and that he really didn’t want to become one. He also fell in with the theatrical crowd, and so, instead, became an actor/playwright/director/acting teacher, which turned out to be a much better career for him.
Maybe your dad would be a good career advisor 😀
We should consult… JOBBY 💩
Experience with my three daughters (and myself) is that universities tend to knock the enthusiasm and enjoyment of a particular subject out of a person.
“I like reading books! I should study literature!”
oh no. OH NO.
“Yes, books are fine. But have you ever met… authors?”
Yes, if you like reading a Literature Degree will cure you.
She could become the lead singer for the Rolling Stones! It’s a valid career path
Lottie’s already forbidden her from having a music career.
I’m assuming Go-Kart Conspiracy broke up after Shauna and Lottie were only in the videos for five seconds looking sideways.
And now I’m wondering what Mimi’s up to these days.
GKC still exist as an acoustic two-piece – Claire and Lottie.
I don’t suppose Claire would be interested in becoming part of a professional full-time duo of mystery solvers? She and Lottie kind of make their own black box as it is, no? Also this page looks exceptional. High marks all around.
Ah – The Remorseless Weight of High Expectations! It bears cruelly down upon our delicate sprite, Claire. Does Lottie help her bear it, or does she try to help flip that burden off her back?
“Too cute to fail”, maybe there is some government bailout money to be had.
Most certainly. Government bailout money is how tuition gets paid. Here in the States you can get the first few hits gratis, but that’s to get you addicted and make you take out loans. In Claire’s case, I’m sure she’d have no trouble leveraging her cute to continue getting no-strings government bailout money.
In the US you can be paid to go to school forever, so long as you never stop
(I knew a few people…)
Very true – even before covid-19, if you do take student loans in the US, you don’t have to start repaying them until after you stop going to school. So if you never stop…..
(My problem is that I did eventually stop 5-6 years ago) 😛
Poor Claire, caught between two scenarios that both seem completely unwinnable. She’s excelling at the high expectations that her parents and teachers have for her, but is completely miserable for it. It makes her an interesting foil for Lottie, who is failing to meet even the modest expectations of her mum, yet seems at peace.
I thought the joke in the last panel was very funny, if a bit 2009. Then I realized that it was also a brilliant bit of world-building because the GFC is probably taught as a historical event in some of Claire’s economics classes. I also felt very old.
“Too Cute to Fail” is my Japanese girl-metal band name. Our arch nemesis (nemesese?) are Band Maid and Baby Metal.
Kind of like The Hu Band, but all prepubescent girls in yukata and combat boots.
Love that first panel, really smacks you in the face. Great work!
Utter nonsense, John! Your work is always superlative. I’ve told my daughter, who is studying illustration at university, to check out how you pose characters. (I can’t say if she has actually listened to me… Teenagers!)
Lottie and Claire have similar problems. They are both the victims of other peoples expectations.
Claire is finally having a crisis about her life. Good thing Lottie is with her and seems to knows what to say for make her feel better. Be strong, Little Clair♡.
Not at all surprised by Claire’s grievances. From the LSE event podcasts I’ve listened too, it seems like a lot of the courses are set up to make you some cog in the various global machines or some doomsday forecaster. I hope Lottie comes up with a good plan and this being The City Of London, I hope it doesn’t involve getting Claire to bankrupt entire countries. Then again making Claire a global pariah might be her only ticket back to cozy safe anonymity in Tackleford.
It reminds me of the Jobs Fair in Giant Days. Esther had some harsh things to say about the corporate world, including “This isn’t what humans were meant to do, Sebastian.”
If only someone had a certified aptitude for career advice, awarded by a big tod, they might be able to help Claire.
Yes. If only someone like that would be really near to Claire right now…
From what I’ve seen: it ain’t much fun *inside* the black box either, Claire.
As long as Claire doesn’t redirect into software engineering…
I appreciate that you don’t judge your work by other people’s, because no one else draws like you, Mr. A. That’s a good thing. Your work has its own internal clarity and consistency, your lines and forms please the eye (_not_ a sweaty euphemism for the physical appearance of any characters in those stories — although that Des Fishman, oo er, let me tell you), and you tell stories well. What more could any artist ask for?
Yes Claire, you ARE in a factory for Hedge Fund Managers and Think Tankers :{
All this stress and nothing’s on fire. Claire really has grown up.
Grown up, or been beaten down? Seems to me she’s lost her spark. I hope Lottie can help her reignite it. And hopefully that goes better for London than 1666 did.
PLEASE MAY I REITERATE HOW BEAUTIFUL, EXPRESSIVE AND INSPIRING YOUR WORK IS. I’M VERY BAD AT COMMUNICATING
Carry on floundering. (It’s my favorite English comedy.)
Ah, Charlotte — not every problem in life has the simple, straightforward solutions of your workaday murders, arcane conspiracies or supernatural events.
I really can’t think of anyone else whose artwork pleases and tickles me more than yours does, John! You certainly write good characters, but they only reach their full potential when you draw them as well. Watching your style developing over the years has been a real pleasure.
Amongst all the on-topic comments, there’s been nothing about the McCartney-lookalike ice cream vendor casting a lecherous eye on Claire.
Robbie Coltrane cameo? (if so it is darned good). Mr. Aliison, I also have to echo some of the other commentators in saying that your drawing is always fantastic (as is the subject matter, dialogue and story line) Keep having fun and pushing your mental envelope. We promise to let you know if you are flagging, but haven’t seen evidence of that yet.
On a more sombre note, sad to see that the other half of the Sweeney has joined the Big Squad in the sky. Farewell Mr. Waterman (I mean Mr. Carter).
It doesn’t look lecherous to me – just that the vendor is giving the side-eye to Claire because of her outburst.
What that ice cream booth needs is a sign that says “Psychiatric Help 5cents – The Doctor is IN”. I’m sure there’s a role for Street Psychiatry in these stressful times. Although that guy doesn’t look too sympathetic.
Or how about Street Careers Advice? Hang on, I think I’m on to something here.
I want you to know that when I read this page initially, I really liked the composition of the third panel in terms of showing a medium-sized space while making everything seem proportioned well relative to each other. It stuck out to me because it’s something I struggle mightily with.
I think going for a top-down composition (ie “showing a lot of floor”) allows you to communicate the most information about a near locality – think of forced perspective 3D in video games – you can give the same “value” to everything with a short depth of field. It’s also a hard angle to draw for that reason.
Hmm, I see. I appreciate your sharing that insight !