Friday’s strip. Dangerous, oversimplified stereotype? Yes.

Nonetheless true? Yes.

This past weekend, my talented wife had her short film showing at the Napa Film Festival….so we of course went up north for it.

Napa, as you know, is sort’ve the beating heart of the California wine industry. And make no mistake: The wines there are magnificent. But if you read enough marketing language written on, about, and around wine…you kinda step into this alternate universe where everyone owns an Aston Martin and is trying to decide on what Christmas gifts to buy for the staff of their summer home. It’s so awkward: We don’t even *see* them around Christmas, why are we buying them Christmas gifts?

That sort’ve thing.

Looks like *someone’s* comin’ out of retirement…

http://drivecomic.com/archive/info/110804.html

Today’s strip, it should be noted, is not Arthur’s first weird projection on the continent’s future. Here’s a past one.

I’m posting this at 12:01 AM, before the strip goes live at 12:15 AM, to let you know that:

1.) I am aware that Zeeland exists, yes.
2.) Despite all the pedantic e-mails I’ll get today that begin, “Actually, Dave….” the strip was still worth it.

On a separate note: Today’s strip reminded me of this one on Australia.

Two things you need to know:

1.) I’ll be at the Long Beach Comic-Con all this weekend, at booth #515, with all the Sheldon books, Drive books, posters, and even Arthur sculptures for sale! PLUS I’m giving out free sketches and gen-u-ine, lasting friendship.

2.) I’m also giving a talk on Saturday at 3PM in room 103-B. It’ll be a great one for fans of Sheldon and Drive: I’ll be taking any questions you like on the strips, the characters, how they’re made, and more. And I’ll be giving some sneak-peak info into our upcoming documentary on comic strips: STRIPPED. Please come by! The more of you that are there, the better the talk will be.

So! Recap! Long Beach Comic-Con! Booth 515! Talk on Saturday at 3 in room 103-B!

See you guys then!

I’ve gotten the most heartfelt and wonderful e-mails, in the last week. About the move, about Gramp’s reasons for it, how it’ll impact Sheldon and the animals, about where this leaves Dante and Emily and Lil’ Butter…

It’s been this wonderful outpouring from you all. Thank you for that! I’m glad to see the storyline is really resonating for some of you. I care very much for Gramp ‘n Sheldon and the whole family…and it’s so nice to see that you do, too.

This week, Tesskans bring a new wrinkle to the “mash the keyboard” technique….

Cartooning mashups are super fun to watch happen: You take two artists who are super talented in their own right, mix ’em together, and watch great art spontaneously pop into existence. That’s what happened with my two friends Bill Barnes and Paul Southworth, whose strip Not Invented Here is super fun to read.

Tech-centered, but not tech-focused, the strip is set in a software development house, and has a brilliant one-two of great writing and great art. Check it out for yourself: The entire archives are free to read!

Orrrrr, check out the first book collection they put together for new readers. Dive right on in: It’s totally worth it!

For those wanting a refresher on the poetic side of Fillipods, might I recommend the encyclopedia entry on them…