True Dad Stories 6

The image above is a small watercolor of Gravagna. I gave the original as a wedding gift for my friends Federica and Stephano who were married this past weekend in Gravagna. In a village this small a wedding is a particularly grand occasion. The last wedding here was ten years ago.

And while we're on the subject of husbands and wives, here is a small True Dad Story about a chance conversation on a train...

This comic is a bit lumpy, I know. It reads like the opening to a longer story and then sort of drops off.

Journal comics, or autobiographical comics, are a challenge to write. Do you err on the side of the "punch line" or on the side of strict adherence to the truth? The conversation above took place in Italian, a secondary language for both myself and the man I was speaking with. I almost didn't post this comic because it was difficult to get "right" (and I'm still not sure I did), but I figured when someone sees all your kids and assumes that you might have two or more (simultaneous) wives, well, that's a True Dad Story if ever there was one...

Robot Comic #22

Money falls out of us, money goes back into us, a muffin comes out, a toothy green menace eats the muffin... it's a cycle as old as history, isn't it? A metaphor for the human condition.

Do you know what is another key ingredient of the human condition? Watching the sunset on a cliff, with your friends (and a ghost):

Sweet, sweet newspaper format!

Robot Comic #21

Well look at that. The Little Robot is back, and finding love in the strangest of places. But love is like that, isn't it? Unpredictable? "Ghostly." Rising like a specter from the scrap pile of our lives...

More Robot Comics are on the way, as well as a couple more True Dad stories. And, of course, we're starting to creep toward the release of Legends of Zita... I really am going to do a giveaway soon. Honest! In the meantime, it's summer and I've been workign on a rather large, ambitious painting of Gravagna. More on that soon enough...

YEAAAAAAHHHH!!!! Newspaper format is here!

True Dad Stories 5

Yesterday in the seaside town of Monte Rosso I sat by the park, lost in the beauty of my surroundings and watching my three daughters play on the swings. All the world was peace and light, until I realized that, in fact, I was supposed to be watching my FOUR daughters.

Panic crashed into me like a boulder flung from the trebuchet of bad parenting.

I had offered to take all four of them to the park to give Anna a moment of peace, a walk alone, and a chance to look at hats. But apparently I’m like the last person you should leave kids with. I hadn’t seen Ronia in 15 minutes, maybe 20. I had left her on the steps of a church almost a block away (in a pedestrian-only section of the town, thank God). That’s a long time to leave a one-and-a-half year old.

When I careened up the street and around the corner, my three big girls trailing behind me, I found Ronia just where I had left her, happy as could be and under the care of a little (I’m not making this up) French circus family. They had a toddler of their own and the two babies were playing happily. The parents had convinced worried tourists not to call the police. They knew the dreamer-dad would realize his mistake and come running back.

Circus people.

As the scruffy long-haired dad and the mom in her flowing colors walked off with their toddler I felt like my own tribe had been looking out for me.

Still and all, I should probably be publicly flogged.

True Dad Stories 4

I fall for this one every time.

True Dad Stories 3

I hope you guys aren’t too bored by “True Dad Stories.” I know they’re no Robot Comics. Don’t worry, though, that little guy will be back soon. I’m giving him a break because everybody needs at least a little summer vacation!
The San Diego Comic Con is this week! Oh my friends, please think of me when you see those storm troopers!
And speaking of comics, look what arrived at the door yesterday!

True Dad Stories 2

I wasn’t sure if I should post this one or not. But you know, it’s a “true dad” story if ever there was one and if I can warn you guys about the hazards of potty training, well, at least I will have done something with my life. Also, it seems like I am becoming increasingly blind and useless in the early mornings as the years roll on. Maybe that’s what this comic is really about...

In other news, I’ve started a new painting of Gravagna. This is a personal painting that, if I pull it off, will hang in our house. At 4 feet in length it’s the biggest landscape I’ve ever attempted. I’m excited and a little intimidated. I’ve only managed to do one other painting since I’ve been here. It is this little (maybe 10X6?) landscape here:

This is the second time I’ve painted this little hill. The shape of that tree at the top draws me back. I’m thinking of putting this one up for sale on Etsy to raise funds for a new palette and some brushes. Here’s a little peek at my open air workspace, including my old pallet that I’ve had since I was 12, and belonged to my great aunt:

Finally, remember there’s a Legends of Zita giveaway over at Goodreads! It ends on July 15th.