Otter Disaster Designs on Facebook

Otter Disaster Designs now has a fan page on Facebook.

Follow O.D.D. HERE!

T-Shirts from Otter Disaster Designs at Cafe Press

I've recently opened a Cafe Press Shop to sell original graphic T-Shirts.
I was doodling a few days ago and created a lovely little brain in a jar. I present to you the original doodle and the finished design (click picture for larger):



Here are links for Sci-Fi, Monsters, & Robots, Rock & Metal, and Comics & Humor themed T-Shirts. Their are permanent shop links below the Otter Disaster header at the top of the page. Check 'em out and if you like the designs buy one! If you think someone you know would like one of the designs, pass it on (or buy it for them, Christmas is coming). I'm hoping to post at least one new design a week.

Maiden Bitstrips: The Flight of Icarus

Here's a Bitstrips version of the single artwork from Iron Maiden's Flight of Icarus:

Human Action by von Mises in Comic Form

Ludwig von Mises’s Human Action adapted in comics form...saving for future reference.

via Lew Rockwell Blog

24 Hour Comics Day 2009: Finished!

I began my 24 Hour Comic yesterday morning at 9:00 am and finished at 6:30 am this morning, falling 8 panels shy (152) of my intended goal of 160 completed panels. Using the first random track to come up once the challenge began, I ended up titling my comic 'I Don't Wanna Rock 'N' Roll Tonight'a song by the Donnas. This was a much more specific title than last year's 'Perfect Gentleman'.

It was a much different experience this time around, as I knew what to expect from the challenge, and my approach to it. Just like last year I found that the most difficult stretch was hours 9 through 12. Fatigue starts to set in around then, and you still haven't reached the halfway point, so it gets pretty grueling in that period.

I also noticed some parallel elements with my comic from last year, possibly as a result or rereading that comic earlier this week. I probably shouldn't have done that.

I have apparently missed some sort of calling as a writer of dramatic Romance Comics, as that is what I deliberately wrote last year, and accidentally did this year (in a backhanded sort of way). It's funny the way these things run off on their own. I had a little trouble getting the story off the ground this time, as I'd intended to take a somewhat episodic comedic approach, but the drama swallowed up the comedy right at the halfway mark.

There is a particularly dark and uncomfortable scene that bugs me for the cruelty shown by 'Frank'. Late at night you can tap into some pretty weird bits of the subconscious, and this stuff often flows out without much thought.

Once again a really rewarding creative experience. I will most likely do it all again next year.

Here is the first part (of 26):

24 Hour Comics Day is Coming October 3rd!

I am participating in the 24 Hour Comic Challenge again this year. Once again I will be using Bitstrips to complete the challenge, and once again I've modified Scott McCloud's parameters specifically for Bitstrips.

Last year I targeted a minimum of 144 panels (6 finished panels per hour), but I finished with about 3 1/2 hours remaining. This year, I am aiming for a minimum of 160 finished panels (which breaks down to a little less than 7 panels per hour or 20 panels every 3 hours). McCloud's web comic rules for the challenge say 100 panels, but Bitstrips allows you to copy and paste characters, props and backgrounds so many of the art chores are greatly simplified, speeding up the process.

Last year I randomly titled my comic using a song title chosen at the start of the challenge by the shuffle function of my media player. This gave me the seed for the story that would emerge. I liked this random element so much that I will do the same this year, and have already built an iTunes playlist in excess of 24 hours.

24 Hour Comics Day is next Saturday, October 3rd. I will be starting my comic at approximately 9:00 AM MT.

Stately Spoiler Manor is now Major Spoilers Adventures

I made my first Major Spoilers strip as a bit of a goof back in May (inspired by MSP Podcast #94) and posted it at the Major Spoilers forums. The podcast proved to be a great bit of Bitstrips inspiration, and I made several more, creating a series called Stately Spoiler Manor.

On July 12, Stephen, the proprietor of majorspoilers.com, invited me to produce a weekly strip to be featured every Friday at the Major Spoilers main site.

The strip has been now renamed Major Spoilers Adventures (it's just a better title).

The first strip debuted on July 24th with the second appearing yesterday. I'm very excited to be producing this strip, as I find the site, and especially the podcast a great source of inspiration, and Stephen, Matthew and Rodrigo are great personalities that translate very well into comic characters. You can read the first two strips HERE.