Page 29. Welcome back! Thank you for your patience while I took a break and figure out a new work/life schedule. My plan now is to update at least once a week, with the main update on Thursdays and any bonus pages going up on Mondays.
Still a few days left in the Sleep of Reason Kickstarter, too! And there’s a four-page excerpt of my story, “Alone,” up there as well. Check it out and consider preordering a copy!
Gahh. Brendan, you adorable ball of nerves you. And Al is all chill and irritated behind him, such contrast.
I love how calm Al is even with Brendan freaking out in the background.
Poor sweet Brendan.
O my Brendan. Who would have thought.
Nice transition! Took me longer than it should have to catch that.
Funny how Brendan sees it like a rock concert of sorts
YAY!!! I’ve missed you. Welcome back :)
I just read your excerpt from the book. I’m definitely buying it (why don’t you have any in your store? Now I have to buy it elsewhere)..
I was fully pulled in by your fragment, darn it ????
PS. Some pages ago you asked how you could make the commenting easier. It’d be nice if I could up vote or “like” other comments. Also, a BIG thing is that I won’t know if you’ve responded to this comment. Thru disqus, I get the info.
Al’s a salty, crusty old veteran.
eh?
;-).
I don’t think it’s really that Al’s a veteran; more because Brendan, who really wants Sterling to succeed, has a lot riding on this presentation, while Al, who’s happy just to putter around in the workshop, just wants to get this over with with a minimum of fuss.
(i think that was a runon sentence, but i don’t even know anymore)
I’m not even sure it’s that. We’ve already seen how good Al is at putting up walls between himself and his vulnerable side. It’s why he’s a bit slow to understand people’s feelings, including his own, but this is one instance when it’s coming in handy. We’ve already seen that he’s not impressed by the pomp of the occasion, so it’s not freaking him out. It’s not that he doesn’t care about their success, but he’s decided to do the sensible, practical thing that will help the most.
Brendan’s more emotionally sensitive, but he does’t have the ability to cut himself off from things he doesn’t want to feel the way Al can. It’s a great trait for his relationships and ambitions, but in this kind of scenario it works against him. Despite knowing that they’ve only got minutes left he can’t do anything useful like Al is because his feelings are riding roughshod all over him. I’m sure he’ll rise to the occasion though, just as Al’s robotics will be finished on time.
that was a very good analysis, i feel!
we all know part of what happens with brendan, in The End, anyway.
though this specific presentation may have bombed..
..who knows?
Interesting- I hadn’t thought of that! I think maybe it’s a little of both.
i know.
I Know.
this strip gives so much feels, you can’t help yourself, rosie.
;-)
all the feels, i can’t even
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! wow dude, take a breath! it’ll all be ok (or will it wooOOOooo ~)
Found this comic a few days ago and just plowed through it. It’s amazing I just love all the social commentary involved that doesn’t sound like a lecture. It’s so well crafted and beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful comic! I look forward to more updates!
heehee I like the page transition here <3
Panicking!Brendan is cutest Brendan. Thanks, this page made my Monday.
YAYYYYY BACK TO THE RED STRIP
I like this comic. And like most Minnesotans, I like anything to do with Minnesota. Win-Win
I might be projecting but I think I feel something different when I read this page. I think part of what Al is feeling is a little bit of annoyance or frustration; here’s Brendan who can talk to anyone, can even WANT to hold his hand in public, who doesn’t feel completely useless around people, who can actually make FRIENDS, and he’s making a huge deal about something that positively TERRIFIES Al: public speaking. And I think it DOES terrify him. I think he feels alone and useless and stupid and here’s someone who’s AMAZING in social situations and they don’t even realize that what they’re doing is reminding him of how unfair and painful it is to be socially awkward. I don’t think it’s easy for Al to sit through Brendan’s comments in his “stoic” persona, and I think it really hurts him to hear Brendan of all people saying that stuff, as if HE knows what it feels like to really be terrified of people.
A very well written scene I just HAD to comment, & I’m really resisting the urge not to spew more thoughts on this!!