The Horrors of Noby Noby Boy

As Keita Takahashi games are wont to do, Noby Noby Boy's frightening new world inspired some late night drawing. This one was powered by a Pilot Precise V5 and assorted Prismacolor markers on a Biggie pad. I recommend clicking on the image to trigger a chain of events that eventually make it larger.

Gas Baby: Chapter 5, Page 65

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Wow, so that's Gas Baby's new move, huh? Remember this one, because it's the only time you'll ever see him use it!

Dragon Ball GT is Really Weird

Everyone always hates on Dragon Ball GT, mostly because Akira Toriyama wasn't involved, but it's plenty strange and there's enough wacky crap going on to make it fun. In a lot of ways it's more enjoyable than Z, because it mixes some of the action established there with the whimsical adventure aspects of the original Dragon Ball taken to an intergalactic level.

I wrote a big feature on the series, which should be popping up when the latest issue of Otaku USA drops. I'll be sure to mention when it's on shelves if anyone wants to check it out, but it probably won't help explain the image of Trunks carrying a queen bee on his back.

Gas Baby: Chapter 5, Page 64

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I said I was going to wait to do the next two at once, but it's tough to sit on them for long. This was actually the first one in forever that I had to do multiple revisions of. I crumpled up my first attempt after it was completely inked.

The Hoboken World Warriors

I'll start this off by paraphrasing Raul Julia as M. Bison in the 1994 Street Fighter movie. For you, the day Joseph graced your SFIV Tournament was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Saturday.

It's true, Street Fighter IV's rabid grip on the world has extended to Hoboken, NJ, and the tiny, nook-like Gamestop here participated in the nationwide tournament this past Saturday at 2pm. Having spent a decent amount of time preparing, I went to the store with Pat and Dan, each of us certifiably Tuff E Nuff to roll with the rest of The 'Boken.


Being roughly the size of my bedroom, which in turn is roughly the size of a thimble, there were only about thirty people that could safely fit in the back of the Gamestop, but each represented a crucial slice of the gaming spectrum. There was, for instance, Strange Black Guy That Talks Like Baby Huey and, for your pleasure, Meth-Addled Brian Crecente. I'll simply call my third round opponent "Fing'r Les Mittens," because that is precisely what he wore while fighting me.

Yes, The Good, The Bad and the Sweaty were out in full force, and they were the only thing standing between us and the Round 1 prize: a headband and some armbands.

Once the dust settled, we left headbandless (it's okay, I already had one) but with great enthusiasm. Dan got knocked out in round one, Pat made it to round three, and I made it to the finals only to be knocked out in the last round of the match by my opponent's Sagat. "I almost won Hoboken," I exclaimed to all that would listen, but no one cares about almosts and couldas when a Round Two trip to the luxurious Lyndhurst, NJ Gamestop is on the line.

Gas Baby: Chapter 5, Page 63

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Here's another one. I think this might be the best page of Gas Baby?

For those interested, this is the layout I whipped up beforehand on a small piece of notebook paper.

Gas Baby: Chapter 5, Page 62

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About halfway through this one I was thinking it would be the last full color page, but now I really like how it turned out, so I may be in it for the long haul. This also marks the 600th entry here, so do a little dance after you're done with the comic.

For those of you that don't give a flippin' spit about gaseous babes, I promise this won't be all I post from here on out, I've just been kind of busy this week.

Gas Baby: Chapter 5, Page 61

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It's been a few years, but Gas Baby is officially back in action with the first page of Chapter Five: Blood Brothers. This one promises the most action yet, so stay tuned for more, and everything that precedes it is available right here.

The Return of Gas Baby

It's been a few years since Gas Baby was updated, and that's a real shame. No longer, I say. Gas Baby is going to continue, because there's still a lot of story to tell, and I left it frozen on a vicious cliffhanger. I think there might be a lot more color in the new chapters, too.

So, with this going back into gear, now couldn't be a better time for readers both new and old to absorb or reabsorb the story thus far in preparation, comic sans and all (just click the pages to go forward):

Start here

You've Heard of The Thinker

But what about... The Stinker!

Early Call: Best of 2009

Why wait until 2010 when I can call it right now?

Best movie of 2009: YATTERMAN


Got to check the premiere of this bad boy last Friday. It's non-stop from beginning to end, and is definitely one of Miike's most fun movies. I'll be posting a full review on the OUSA site this week, so I'll link that when it's up.

Best game of 2009: FLOWER


Flower is mind-blowing in a lot of ways, and needs to be experienced from beginning to end in one sitting. I'm glad that Sony has been working hard to keep the press from showing off video or images from the second half of the game, because it's incredible.

Of course you know I'm not really calling the best of '09 in February, though it's just the sort of trick'ry I'd like to pull. Either way, I can guarantee these will remain among my favorites for the duration of the year.

See You on the Other Side, Monsters HD

This is already the year of all my favorite things being canceled, and it would be more than a little unfair for me to send off EGM and not my most favorite TV station, Monsters HD. I'd link you to the site, but that disappeared at the same time all the Voom networks stations were dropped from my cable service, so you'll have to live with this tiny, pathetic image.

Sadly, now a false slogan
It's no exaggeration to say that Monsters HD was an enormous help in my settling into a new city. In the year since I moved to Hoboken, the channel proved time and time again to be my go-to source for entertainment when nothing else would cut it. Sure, just like any cable movie station, Monsters HD had a lot of repeats in its lineup, but the variety represented from week to week was consistently impressive, and the movies all looked really stunning to boot.

Slasher marathons, Hammer films, days of nothing but Dracula; this is the stuff man concocts in dreams. At the very least, I'm glad I took full advantage of the service it offered while I could, but I do genuinely miss it. You hear me? I miss you, Monsters HD! I dedicate this song to you!

(edited for more appropriate sendoff video)

Astyanax!

I drew this back in Louisville over the holidays while posting about the soundtrack, but I didn't have my scanner with me. I can't decide which is more homoerotic, the original cover art with the dandy lad or my manly Astyanax that hammers enemies with his double-edged dong.


Coming up next: a very belated farewell to Monsters HD!

B-Train

While I have a slightly larger comic in the works, I want to start getting into doing "weekend comics" that span maybe a page or two tops. B-Train is the first, and I'm sure you'll all see the looming influence of Dudu Blaq & Dirty Earl in every panel.


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