Mr. Snotty Sock lives!! The count-down begins… but unlike NASA this comic strip will meet it’s launch time!
A little warm-up comic for you all. The gang is sitting around waiting on their return and they bug me everyday to get back into action. Once your comic characters start talking to you, then you’ve been on “vacation” too long or that last joint was some real killer shit…
1979’s “Dream Police” was Cheap Trick’s fourth studio album, two of which were released in 1977! I’m kinda linked to Cheap Trick as one of my employees went to high school with Rick Nielsen’s daughter. What? No autograph for the boss? Damnit… But it was the “Cheap Trick at Budokan” album that really made them superstars. Who doesn’t know “I Want You To Want Me”? Well, the STUDIO version of the song is anemic at best and really throws you for a loop when it’s played on some odd FM station now and then.
Me and Snotty are more alike than pleases me to admit… The sensual scent of some nicely rolled, gory green glory was the only way that guaranteed my return from the endless fields of nightly fiction (…and perhaps it still is).
It seems you get more done during your time off than a lot of web comic artists out there manage during regular times… This hardly seems a reason to complain. However, I am a bit worried you won’t be able to regenerate enough and create the right environment for a smooth (and humane) ride after your return.
RE: Stating the Bobvious – Actually, my time off has been quite productive for the comic and associated activities. Not having to do 5 strips a week has given me a much needed break, so do not worry, I’m actually wanting to get back into the game which is why I popped this quickie comic out.
I have finished my “summer” job at that manufacturing place and being stuck inside a hot and humid workshop 30 or so hours a week made me realize how much I wanted to get back to 1977 the Comic.
So, relax, I’m fired up and ready to crank out the comics come August 2nd!!
Rock on, man…
Man, Byron, it’s good to have some more 1977. The summer just ain’t the same without it. Thanks for giving us this tease.
Great strip! I just discovered it, but I’ve got you added to my blogroll, sir!
I rather like the studio version. (Pauses while improvised missile-fire is directed thissaway).
Maybe you should work to a reduced production schedule when you come back? We can’t all be “Irregular Webcomic”s and shooting for quality over quantity is never a bad thing.
Is it?
Not that I want *less* 1977 of course. But no-one wins if you burn out in 18 months or so, retire to a UFO cult, quit drawing and start listening to Lite FM.
I can think of something else randomly popping up when you’re sleeping that might be worse. Just sayin’.
P.S. hoping to work on some fanart for you Thursday. I hope I hope.
RE: dgriff13 – And sometimes that “something else randomly popping up…” is covered with socks too, ala the Red Hot Chili Peppers… just sayin’…
🙂
Yeah Roxy, quality will get the return visitors, quantity just gets a bit website.
“Irregular” was such a smart idea for producing a comic… I hate that guy…
RE: Kevin & roxysteve – First, in true 70s fashion, I am a believer in “whatever, man…” meaning your opinion is your opinion… it causes me no harm so therefore I respect your rights to HAVE those opinions and state them freely. And that is the case here for roxysteve… no harm in his opinion and I respect that opinion. Now, will it change mine? More than likely not.
I will state this… readership went up significantly when I updated 5 days a week. Financial involvement did not.. .meaning I had more readers but less takers on offers of t-shirts, books, commissions, etc. If I do return to a smaller update schedule, it will be for the lack of sales and income from the comic. Will I shut down the comic because no one is buying? NO. Absolutely not. Will I go back to once a week updates? Maybe. But I’d be shooting myself in the foot with readers.
I know the economy sucks the big one and when the trickle down effect takes hold again and we poor slobs in the “lower 95%” of the American income have some spending money again, I know things will pick up.
The comic is an investment of mine, and I know if I stick with it, 1977 the Comic will only get better and the rewards will follow. I am also happy to do the comic just for the fans and know you readers love coming here. If I can’t make any money from it, oh well, c’est la vie…
As far as “Irregular Webcomic” goes… I respect any artistic effort, but I must admit I do not look at it as a true webcomic in the traditional comic strip genre. I’m not knocking photo-created webcomics, but I lean toward DRAWN comic strips, not those created with cameras or 3D programs. Again, to each his own and I admire anyone who had the balls to go and actually DO something, but I think you get my point…
🙂
T’weren’t an “opinion”, just a suggestion.
I wasn’t comparing the content of either comic either. As far as I am aware, IW and ’77 shoot for different results. I was merely pointing out that from MY viewpoint, regular updates beat irregular ones forced on the producer by unrealistic schedules that fail to account for out-of-webcomic-production workloads. I’d rather read an episodic comic that is well drawn, conveys a theme consistently and can deliver humour I am in tune with reliably than one which updates often, sacrificing content and “mission” (can’t think of a better term) for deadline.
This is “feedback”, not “opinion”. I only posted it because the latest recommendation you gave vis-a-vis high-quality webcomics was a thrice-a-week-and-no-weekends affair. I agree that Willow’s Grove is wonderful, by the way. Thanks for the tip-off.
As for sales from the website, I buy what the British call “tat” all the time (light perjorative term for “stuff”. Can indicate poorly made as in “I bought a T-Shirt but it was tat” or just a collective term for stuff we buy that we don’t need to survive. The US term “sh*t” is interchangeable in most cases). Whether I buy webcomic products depends on mood, cash-flow status and the nature of the items in question.
I would certainly buy (and have in the past bought) webcomic-supporting T-Shirts that feature iconic artwork that clearly defines what I am supporting. Examples of this rather slippery term include the fraternity of Zeeba Zeeba Eeta, The Linear Guild, “Die, Fatbeard!” and the like.
I generally don’t consider buying actual strips printed on shirts, cups, mousepads and so forth because I don’t want to be some sort of sandwich-board when I take the air.
I prefer understated rather than in-your-face. Putting your iconic artwork on a Golf Shirt in the same way that stupid little alligator threatened my nipple in the 1980s is more likely to prise $$ from my mousetrap-riddled wallet than a chest-covering billboard in XXL (my actual size for T-Shirts). Havard Lampoon did this with their legless frog, and it was perfect. A sick, sick joke that you had to be up close and personal to even see. Much better for me than 76-point type declaring “Sh*t Happens”.
Please feel free to remove either of my comments from the board if you feel they are problematical. I merely wanted to tell you that I would rather be able to read this strip two years from now than have it go the way of “Chainmail Bikini”, because I appreciate quality product when I find it.
Steve.
Steve – Your comments are not problematic at all, so they will stay, and I hope you do not feel they were problematic to me. And you are correct, you were making suggestions, not expressing an opinion and I correct myself on that. With that said…
Your suggestions and references for products are exactly what I’m looking for. As a cartoonist, I look at creating items for sale to your readers much like throwing stuff at the wall and seeing which ones stick. I can sit here daily and make up stuff until I find THE item folks want… or…
You the reader can say “put a tiny logo on a golf shirt and I’m yours…” This is what I really want to know. My personality is one that states “make it easy and fun” which your suggestions do exactly that.
Now, perhaps a poll of some sorts where you readers can give me feedback and suggestions on the potential items you would like to see to help support the site. With regular support, then your wish of having the comic here in two years (with quality results) will come true.
I’m sure the comic will be here in two years… as I’m having too much fun with it to go away. And as always, I appreciate every reader’s input, so please speak your minds. That’s what this is all about.
🙂
I used to do something like that sock thing when I was tired and laying about. Put my hand up like a snake and threw my voice, freaked people out, but was on purpose to get more sleep and as a gag.
Man, talk about cho macho nacho men!
Look at these Bon Jovis! Wow!
After our conversation earlier, I became enthused and very desirous of obtaining a set of mugs featuring each of the characters in glorious color. After struggling to comprehend that the webstore sign-in *wasn’t* the same as the 1977 site sign-in (pre-syndicated business model brain at work) I finally entered the last detail in the purchase order and triumphantly clicked “submit order”.
I was rewarded withthe following message in white on red:
10501 Invalid Configuration – This transaction cannot be processed due to an invalid merchant configuration.
You have a small problem with the merchandising gnomes it would seem, Byron.
Well, I would chuckle, but it’s not really funny… I’ll check out the store. You’re in the UK, yes? Then I may have an issue with overseas stuff, which it’s not suppose to have any issues, but the gnomes are at work. I’ll contact you via email to work out your purchase…
And thank you! 🙂
RE: The Joner Boners – Welcome to the comic, man! Remember, it was the 70s and we wore our hair much longer back then, and these guys being musicians have even longer hair. Even short hair still covered the ears and collar!
Nope. Bored in the USA. Lon GY-lund Nooyawk to be precise (Brooklyn during “working” hours)
Well, the studio version of “I Want You to Want Me” that appeared on In Color was tame and kinda boring. However, the original studio version – which was unreleased until Cheap Trick’s debut was remastered – was even better than the live version, at least in my opinion.
Never heard that other version. Tame and boring describes the studio version I do know very well!
You’re just full of all types of information as you make your way threw the archives! Glad to have you along for the ride!
🙂