See you in the funny papers!

J

JamesTXSD

Active member
I wasn't sure where to put this thread.

First some background. Our son-in-law, Dan, is a teacher; also a budding cartoonist. He has on on-going comic strip that is based on desktop items entitled "Desktop Bandits" that has been picked up in some education venues. He also has been doing logo design for sports teams, school mascots, and businesses. While apprenticing last summer with a nationally syndicated cartoonist, he was encouraged to develop a strip with broader appeal.

While visiting over the holidays, he told me of some of his ideas. See if any of this sounds familiar to you... early retired baby boomers, a tag-along cat, out on a search to buy a boat and head out for an adventure? Yep, welcome to the introduction of "Captain Jim."

CapJimE.jpg

And the first strip, after selling the business...

CJRetiredStrip.sized.jpg

Knowing that Captain Jim is going to be the brunt of the humor, Dan wanted some feedback. I think it has potential for mass-appeal, even from those who are not boaters. With the huge population segment of the Boomers heading for retirement, I think there is an audience.

I am posting this with Dan's authorization. Please note that it is copyrighted material and you are seeing it at its inception. Dan (and I) would appreciate your thoughts on this. Any interest? Think your non-boating friends would appreciate the concept?

Please take a moment to offer some feedback.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

PS I've already suggested that Captain Jim be more ruggedly handsome and the Blonde be curvier, like Jessica Rabbit or Blondie. You can see where those suggestions got me. Also, in the spirit of total disclosure, I'd like to see Dan be a big success with this so he can take good care of our daughter (and her Daddy). :mrgreen:
 
A general observation: the success of Get Fuzzy and Garfield leads me to think that emphasizing the cat POV or role might be something to investigate (look how many people want to know about Molly!)

The clueless captain is a good idea but I suspect the success will rely more on character development than on boating. That is, the boating provides a canvas or stage for the characters but is not in and of itself a major draw.

My $0.02, FWIW. Good luck! :beer :mrgreen:
 
I'm hooked. When is the next relase? Can't wait.
Does Cap't Jim get mutinied by the cat? Does the Blond get attacked by Pirates and defended by the cat? Where was the Cap't when the Blond was attacked?
 
I think it's wonderful, the concept, the characters, the plot, and the wealth of story on this site. I can't wait to see Capt. Jim and The Blond on the Key West Bus and being ticketed for parking in the church lot in Nevada! Oh, and the WalMart tent with the spare tire, and the Bellingham boor shouting to you to move your boat.. I still hold out hope that Albert Brooks plays you in the movie. By the way, both The Blond and your daughter have good taste.
 
Jim I think it's a great idea and will appeal to a broad audience with all the Baby Boomers retiring. While I can't understand this I hear from time to time someone contemplating retirement say "I don't know what I would do with my time." Your son-in-law is blessed as he somewhat already has a story line to follow. The trials and tribulations of a new retiree is a great story line can't believe someone hasn't thought of it before. I see it as a Dagwood and Blondy followup.
 
Just copying quotes out of your posts will provide him more comic material than he can ever use. All he's gotta do is add the art :teeth
 
Thanks for the posts and PMs so far, C-Brat buddies. I've given Dan the link here and will be forwarding PMs for him to see. He is in development for story line and character, but I have no doubt he will be putting in extra effort after seeing some of this response.

Keep 'em coming.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
How about as a new owner launching the C-Dory with out the plug? Should be a good start. :oops: Molly could make some smart remark.

C-Otter
 
I agree--great cartoon skills, and all he has to do, is follow your story line/adventures, and the humor is already there. Count us in--C Dory should be a sponsor!
 
Looks like a winner.
Will he be telling the story of the newbie who thought that a "turn to port" meant turning any direction as long as he was headed back to the marina? Or sinking his retirement into the boat meant scuttling the retirement plan on a new 60 meter trideck with a copter?
Wish him the best and we'll be watching for news on the strip.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
I can't wait to see his depiction of Tom (Starcraftom) demonstratiing the proper method of navigating shallow waters in the dead of winter.... :mrgreen:
 
Thanks for the feedback, C-Brat friends. Dan is very enthused with your positive response. I told him about how friendly and supportive you all are, and now he knows that first hand.

For the record, this is Dan's vision. Your PM offers to bribe me to get in the strip are beyond the scope of my participation in this endeavor, but feel free to send the money anyway. :mrgreen: My part will be to provide some storylines and the age/point of view perspective.

Joking aside, he is taking advice to heart. He is a good guy; hard-working, takes good care of our little girl, and has been putting in the time and effort to hone his cartooning skills. I hope he does well with this. Your suggestions here and in PMs are certainly appreciated.

I'll post the next "refinement" when he gets it to me.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
As promised, here's the updated logo...

CapJimNewColorE.jpg

And the updated first strip...

CJRetiredStripNewE.sized.jpg

If you look at the first strip and logo that opened this thread, Dan took to heart some of the suggestions (especially regarding the eyes, and "softening" the female character.

And the next in the series...

BoatQuestionStripE.sized.jpg

Thanks again for your comments and suggestions.

Best wishes,
Jim

PS Notice the gray chubby cat in the background in the first strip and looking through the window in the second strip? Eventually, I'm told, she will be introduced... I'm guessing her name will be Molly. 8) That's pretty much the way it happened in real life, too. I'm anxious to see what kind of boat this guy winds up with. :mrgreen:
 
Hi Jim,

I think the softening of the characters is much, much better. Those two strips are very good. I know I'd read that comic strip, as it is the type of comics I check in the newspaper everyday. I hope the strip gets published widely.

When you first posted, I considered mentioning what a friend of ours calls her Husband, while boating. They're boating enthusiasts who have a sloop and frequently charter in the tropics. Here in Maine, she's a local author of Mystery/Romance books ( Joyce Tracksler) and has taken to using local names in her books. She affectionately refers to the hero in her latest book as "Captain Scumbag". That's what she & their kids call him when boating. They don't really mean it in a derogatory fashion. I immediately thought that your son should use that for You!

Rick from Maine
 
The only problem with matching up Jim's real life humor and the cartoon strip is that what really gets me busting a gut is when Jim takes off on one of those flights of fantasty, like the Halcyon chase boat - there just simply is not enough room in the bubble for all those words!
 
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