Relevant Links Anonymous

There was a little bit of talk about Eric once before, back in the "Big Cheat" storyline. Did you remember that? It was only six months ago, you know. Pay attention! There is a quiz at the end of all this, and it's worth 90 percent of your mark.

-Sam Logan

Sam and Fuzzy Q & A: Tunnel Edition
Got a question you want answered? Just drop me an email with "Q & A" in the subject line!

"But Sam... slugs are hermaphroditic!" -Roo

Looks like you know more about slugs than Fuzzy! (But probably less about them than Jess.)

"I aspire to be a cartoonist, and I need a little info. Would you recommend getting a tablet-computer-thing to draw? Or should I do it the "low tech" way and just draw on paper and scan it?" -Franklin

I would recommend the low tech solution to pretty much anyone just getting started. Don't get me wrong... there is absolutely nothing wrong with using a tablet or a cintiq! But they are a lot more expensive, and not really any easier to use. You might wind up like oh-so many aspiring guitar players... dropping a few bucks on an instrument you will poke at for a month and then never play again.

I say start out with pens and paper until you have drawn yourself a few piles of comics. Once you are sure it's a project you enjoy and are going to stick with, then sure... check out tablets and other tools and see what you like best. I can't stand drawing that way myself, but many people swear by those things and produce beautiful comics with them.

"Is there a definitive ending to Sam and Fuzzy that will eventually come along, or can we all look forward to every new S&F every MWF until the end of our days (or yours...)?" -Mark

I have an ending roughly planned for our current "big story", but I'm not sure what will follow it. It could be a brand new Sam and Fuzzy story, but it may also be a spin-off focusing on different characters, or something completely new and unrelated. It's a long way away yet, so I haven't given it much thought!

"In the old comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, the artist uses the “sensible tall guy, sadistic little guy” motif like you. Also, there’s a little part involving a stereotypical (but hilarious) detective named Tracer Bullet, which I just realized uses a lot of the same shading that you do. Have you read this comic, and was the art or premise inspired by it in any way?" -Lizzy

I'm pretty sure every cartoonist my age has devoured and internalized the Calvin and Hobbes archives. It was one of my favourite comics as a kid, and I read and re-read each book collection religiously.

I don't think I've ever tried to directly evoke Watterson's work in Sam and Fuzzy, but because it was such a huge part of my childhood, I am sure it has been a tremendous unconscious influence.

That's all for this week! See you on Monday.

- Sam Logan

Swagorarium

Exciting new Sam and Fuzzy swag is imminent over at Topatoco central!
My two new shirts, along with a couple of other surprise goodies, should be launching sometime in the next week or two. What do they look like? It's a surprise! But a clue is lurking in the background of my twitter feed!

Meanwhile, here on the Sam and Fuzzy site, I am doing my best to provide folks with Skull Panda books and pretty, pretty buttons. Thanks for all the kind words about Skull Panda's first print collection... I'll be sure to pass them on to his troubled puppeteer.

-Sam Logan