Cross Panels Comics #9 (with GIF!)

For a longer explanation of Cross Panel Comics, click here.

I'm sometimes asked for more explanation of the process in creating these. Okay. We start with a grid and take turns drawing a strip which must intersect with an existing strip. It's like Words With Friends only with comic panels. Here's a GIF that demonstrates the order in which we created this latest comic. The strips I wrote & drew are in blue. Martin's work is in green. We spent less than 2 hours making this. (Not counting my later digital inking, since we draw in pencil.)

Try it! It's hard and fun! To see all our Cross Panel Comics, click here!

Cross Panel Comics #8

Wow, it's been a while since my son and I created one of these. It's a game we play that's a mix of improv, scrabble, and comic creation. We do it in pencil and then I ink it for better readability. For a longer explanation of Cross Panel Comics, click here.

Martin begin this one with the strip starting with, "I'm still not sure about this." Click to enlarge...

 

We do it to amuse ourselves, but they're always fun to share! To see all our Cross Panel Comics, click here!

Cross Panel Comics #7

For an explanation of Cross Panel Comics, click here. I begin this one with the strip starting with, "I think people are scared of me simply because I'm a cyclops." Click to enlarge...

By the way, Martin and I play this by penciling on a 12" x 18" pad of paper. I "inked" this on my new (small) Cintiq tablet. Think I'm going to like this!

Cross Panel Comics and the Internet

Not my normal type of post, but I wanted to clear some things up concerning recent posts on Reddit. This and this.

Iamadoctor is a my son's friend and MartinCallen is my son.

I want to give a big thank you to Alex and Jason who both emailed me, letting me know something weird was going on on Reddit.

Coincidentally (or maybe not), Martin and I just finished a new Cross Panel Comic this weekend! We play in pencil and I always retrace them in ink for better readability. That's the reason all the art looks much the same. Look for it on Monday!

Cross Panel Comics #6

Martin started this one of with, "Greetings." "Oh, hey, Killbot." Click to enlarge.

The see all Cross Panel Comics, click here. For an explanation of the process, read the oldest post.

Cross Panel Comics #5

For an explanation of Cross Panel Comics, click here. I started this one with, "Wanna hear something funny?." Click to enlarge...

Cross Panel Comics #4

For an explanation of Cross Panel Comics, click here.

Typically, Martin and I sit down and do one of these in an single evening. We almost finished this one, and then he went off to camp. I rounded it out by adding a couple after he left. I started this one with, "I'm going to spend all my money." Click to enlarge...

Cross Panel Comics #3

For an explanation of Cross Panel Comics, click here.

This is the last of the original three we created. I think we were getting tired as we did it. I accidentally drew eleven squares across, plus a couple of the jokes seem to duplicate each other, and the space isn't filled very well. Nonetheless, there are things about this one I like. Martin kicked it off with the strip starting with, "One small step for man." Click to enlarge...

Cross Panel Comics #2

Cross Panel Comics is a game my son and I play. There's a bit more info about it in my last post. It's more like improv than an actual game.

Martin kicked this one off with the strip starting with, "What's that smell?" Click to enlarge...

Cross Panel Comics

I recently had a dream about a comic strip that was configured like a crossword puzzle. I found it really interesting and told my son, Martin, about it. He said, "Let's make one!"

I drew a grid on an 12" x 18" piece of paper and decided we would play a game like Scrabble. I would draw a strip, and he would draw an intersecting one. Then it would be my turn, and we would continue until the page was somewhat full.

It was actually easier than I thought it would be! We completed three. I've traced off, and cleaned up, one of them. Here is it below. I've indicated the panels I drew with blue. Martin's are in green. The first strip drawn was the middle horizontal one, starting with, "What are you doing?" Click to enlarge...

Like Scrabble, the tough areas were where something had to work when two squares inconveniently touched, such as the "Love is the solution." touching "What about overpopulation?" There's a joke there, but it doesn't jump out at you.

I'm thinking this has the potential to be a fun challenge for cartoonists, much in the same way a "24 hour comic" is!

(Update! See our other Cross Panel Comics here.)