Published Blurred Vision Stories (2005-2008): By the end of my output of “experimental comics,” I was dumping everything into either Epic Dermis n2 or Epic Dermis n3 out of a maniacal compunction to group things together. This was a clear indication that I had run out of fight for the comic page form. My attention turned next to Blender Kitty and (more productively) comic strips. Such was my disposition until Blurred Vision contacted me.
Specter of Dentistry from Blurred Vision n1.
Specter of Dentistry was the first of four comics published by the comics anthology Blurred Vision. The Significant Other was not published in the anthology, although it provided the template for the storyboards. These story-length comics were made expressly for Blurred Vision at the time they were solicited, and during my production cycle of Profiles in Confusion comic strips.
Walking-Around Zombie was the last comic to appear in Blurred Vision before the anthology ceased publication.
Dense drawing made for dense comics: My comics drawing style was always dense with details, in part because rapidiograph pen and ink allowed for densely packed marks in small spaces. In retrospect, it is hard to say to what degree the grotesque embellishments of figures and visual background gags distracted from the stories:
Bacon and eggs provide non sequiturs for Travelogue of An Unemployed Circus Pinhead. These meat products sync with the gunshot splatter in the last frame. Meanwhile, bacon and eggs again make an appearance in Now is The Winter of My Heart. Random penguins also appear to underscore the ice age theme. The last frame ropes in the Coyote and Road Runner, where the former drags a painted black hole, such as described by physicist Stephen Hawking who, as our protagonist, is never named in the comic.
Perhaps these add-ons would have worked better in animation, where they could be delayed and layered as gags. Still, my imagination and sense of humor were determined to cram as much entertainment into these drawing opportunities as could be had. I picture the fans of my work not being stressed by these flourishes. One can peruse these comics many times before tripping over every Easter egg.
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