Erik Brooks's Blog, page 12

January 6, 2021

Build Back Better Bears no. 7 - 1.5.21

 


Roll up the sleeves and get to work bears!

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Published on January 06, 2021 21:53

January 2, 2021

Harts Pass no. 518

 


A rare instance this week where the newspaper editor gave me a little prompt for what was going on in the paper. Basically it was a summary of the year, which when you get right down to it was pretty much dominated by Covid. I chose to skip over that in this little contribution, but as per usual it is implied. Looking forward to less pandemic inspiration in 2021, but true to the life a wolverine, we're not out of the woods yet. GRRR!

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Published on January 02, 2021 10:04

December 31, 2020

Build Back Better Bears no. 6 - 12.30.20



Passing the torch. The new year needs to shine! 
 

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Published on December 31, 2020 21:27

December 25, 2020

Merry Christmas!


 

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Published on December 25, 2020 07:00

December 24, 2020

Build Back Better Bears no. 5 - 12.23.20

 



This is, I suppose my wish for Christmas eve. Looking forward to many new and positive changes for the year ahead. "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight..."

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Published on December 24, 2020 21:25

Harts Pass no. 517


For the better part of ten years, I have published a comic strip in my local newspaper, The Methow Valley News. It’s a small thing, yes, but making this simple little comic each week is a hugely important artistic act for me.

Each strip feels like the improv game “Yes, And!” I have characters, yes, a trio of wolverines that somewhat approximate my family, but otherwise I take things in from the week, the news, the actual lives of wildlife in the north cascades, and, I try to act quickly to spin out some ideas. Then I commit. I get free and total reign from the editor (accept for the occasional typo), but I do have some deadlines to keep me accountable. Each week I engage with a relatively quick and low-stakes (not much pay) creative process in order to share something with my community. It’s SO satisfying.

Humor is a part of it, but I know for sure that many of my comics are far from “funny”. I also like the writing/drawing challenge and the synthesizing current events or emotional touchstones challenge. And the “synthesizing” part is really important. If children’s books are short, then comic strips are succinct verging on terse. There is so little space and time in which to communicate an idea. It’s a game for sure, and an important part of the appeal. Some days it works, and some days it feels a LOT more forced.

I could go on for sure, but on this final week of a tumultuous year, I’ll keep this relevant with a nod to the feelings of “GRRR-Attitude” that inspired this recent strip.

Covid-19 and the global pandemic clearly inspired most of my 2020 comics. And despite hopeful news of a vaccine we are far from finished with its influence. We need the single-minded grit and tenacity of a wolverine to guide us. We need the fight. We need the willingness to adapt to our surroundings, and we need to keep going no matter what. The wolverine does this for itself and its family. We need to do it for ourselves and for our communities.

Thank you beyond words to the many doctors, nurses, front-line workers, teachers and others who have put themselves in harms way for months on end. I can say with absolute certainty that I am grateful for your service.

A new year awaits. Be safe.

GRRR!

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Published on December 24, 2020 18:37

December 17, 2020

Harts Pass no. 516


One of those ideas that started one way and then finished with something completely different. I was pretty sure that the "12 days" were leading up to Christmas and was going to create some kind of Harts Pass appropriate countdown. That being said, when I learned a little more this is where I ended up :) If memory serves, I also had to rush the Kit drawing in the final panel a bit to stay on deadline... and it shows. Aside from that I'm pretty happy with the way that this one ended up. 

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Published on December 17, 2020 18:24

December 14, 2020

Build Back Better Bears no. 4 - 12.14.20


Uhg. SO. MUCH. TO DO! And at present, the outgoing administration seems to be doing all that it can to thwart the idea of a functioning and stable government. My heart goes out to all that will deal with this nightmare. I hope that we are able to find a level path. 

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Published on December 14, 2020 16:28

December 10, 2020

Harts Pass no. 515


Sometimes when creating my comic I simply scour the news. This past week saw the death of General Chuck Yeager, an American test pilot and adventure seeker who'd have been much admired by the likes of a wolverine. GRRR!
 

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Published on December 10, 2020 16:22

December 3, 2020

Build Back Better Bears no. 3 - 12.2.20


 United we stand. 

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Published on December 03, 2020 16:20