Chapter: 2021

Very Different Problems

It took me the longest time to grasp what magical realism meant, only to learn that I do it ALL THE TIME in my comics. Like, constantly. Like, this entire strip. So that’s fun.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

In some pretty ideal CORPORATE SYNERGY, Ben Hamlin, host of Syndicated with Lesley and Ben (among other casted pods), is Employee of the Week just days after my SECOND appearance on his podcast! First, I joined Lesley and Ben to talk about underrated sitcom gem NewsRadio, where we dunk on Joe Rogan and Andy Dick for human garbage, but mostly discuss the clear line of progression that can be drawn from NewsRadio to later hit NBC workplace sitcoms The Office, 30 Rock, and Parks and Rec. Then, because of some scheduling weirdness, I returned for the very next episode to discuss the episode of Workaholics where they try to network at the Gathering of the Juggalos. They’re both great fun, and an opportunity to actually hear me talk and confirm that I am a real human and not just a robot that generates comics.

Speaking of comics, I’m serializing my new graphic novel, Hockeypocalypse: Slashers on Patreon at the $5/month and up tier, which gets you 10-15 pages of the book as I draw them! It’s the best book I’ve made so far, so you should absolutely check it out, because patrons at the $5/month and up tiers will ALSO be getting a print copy of the book when that’s ready.

You can also help more people see Hell, Inc. by voting for it on Top Webcomics, which is the largest webcomic database thingy that I’m aware of. More votes = higher ranking = more visibility, so click the banner below to vote daily!

Next Week: It’s very important to be clear that you are using office supplies for work purposes. Especially when you aren’t. Read it early on Patreon!

A Great Start

“Silence, Christmas goon!” is a very bizarre line of dialogue that I like a whole lot. It would not surprise me if B.L. Zebub’s entire understanding of Sara’s personality has been reduced to “likes Christmas, therefore a nightmare of a person.”

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Welcome new Employee of the Week Leonardo, who is not, as far as I know, a ninja turtle. They have jumped on board to follow Hockeypocalypse: Slashers, which is being posted on my Patreon as a premium webcomic before it’s eventual print release (patrons will get a copy when that’s ready!) So to recap, you can support Hell, Inc. AND get to read a whole other comic, as well! And get a book. It’s a very good deal is what I’m saying, so go check it out and also help cover the costs of my art lair.

You can also vote for Hell, Inc. on Top Webcomics, which is a good way to get more visibility for the comic!

Next Week: Overtime’s effect on office morale is swift. Read it early on Patreon!

Hell, Inc. and the Deathly Silence

Hell, Inc. and the Deathly Silence will also be adapted into two movies, but the creator won’t use their Twitter account to be a gigantic piece of shit. Why, you ask? Because if I get two movies worth of Hollywood money, my Twitter account will entirely consist of me posting art and weird thoughts that make me sound high but I’m not, my brain is just like that. So like it is now except without the parts where I have to promote things like a chump.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Robbie Dorman is Employee of the Week, and is co-host of The Simpsons Show, the only podcast about The Simpsons. You should also follow him on Twitter to learn about his new novel releases. You should ALSO check out the Hell, Inc. Patreon, which is currently host to my new graphic novel, Hockeypocalypse: Slashers. I’m posting 3-4 pages per week for patrons at the $5/month and up levels. You get to help me have an income while I draw the book AND you’ll get a printed copy in the mail when they’re ready! So go support your favourite cartoonist for the cost of a coffee.

You can help more people see Hell, Inc. by voting for it on Top Webcomics, which is the biggest of the various webcomic ranking websites. Click on the banner below to vote daily!

Next Week: Look, sometimes going outside leads to some exciting opportunities to conspire. Read it early on Patreon!

Deflated

Despite being vaccinated and being able to go out and do stuff a little bit more, I’m still spending most of my time at home drawing Hockeypocalypse: Slashers and painting plastic orcs. Which, honestly, is pretty ideal for me, other than the times when my brain screams at me for not chasing freelance work as hard as possible because the projects I really care about never seem to be the ones that let me being a contributing member of my household. But other than the brain-screaming… pretty good!

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Brien Aronov is Employee of the Week, and has access to several pages of Hockeypocalypse: Slashers per week as I draw them! I am extremely proud of the work I’m doing on this book, but I need more help so that I can produce it without having to take on extra freelance work to keep paying my mortgage. For $5 a month you can see 12-15 pages of the new book as I draw it, AND get a print copy mailed to you when it’s ready! Support Hockeypocalypse, and also Hell, Inc., on Patreon!

You can also help out by boosting Hell, Inc.’s visibility on Top Webcomics. Click on the banner below to vote daily!

Next Week: Everyone loves taking a break from work to do other work, then going back and doing the original work during your off-time, right? Right? Read it early on Patreon!

Professional Sit-Downers

As I age, the effects of being a professional sit-downer have become more noticeable, and I don’t like it. I’m sure at some point I will become a gnarled cartooning golem that requires some sort of medical professional to straighten back out on a semi-regular basis.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

New employee Anthony has come on board for the exciting new development on the Patreon, the serialization of Hockeypocalypse: Slashers! It’s my new graphic novel, which patrons will get to read as I draw it. Then, when it’s printed, they’ll be getting a physical copy in the mail! You can read the first five pages for free – if you like it, sign up at the $5 or above tier! Patreon is also my only predictable income at the moment, so I would really appreciate it if you help support my new personal book project so I don’t have to scrounge for freelance work!

If you want to help out Hell, Inc., vote for it on Top Webcomics! The higher the comic gets in the rankings, the more potential new readers are exposed to it.

Next Week: Some situations just make you deflate like an empty balloon, y’know? Read it early on Patreon!

Punishment Delivery

It’s ideal when you don’t have a plan but then some force beyond your control solves your problems for you.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Joe Amon is Employee of the Week, and because he pledges at the $5 tier he’ll have access to Hockeypocalypse: Slashers. I’m serializing my next graphic novel, a YA horror story about mutant hockey players in post-apocalypse Canada, 2-4 pages per week on Patreon! When it’s done and printed, $5 and up patrons will be getting copies in the mail!

Voting on Top Webcomics is also helpful, especially early in the month when the rankings reset. Click the banner below to vote daily!

Next Week: People who sit down all the time are excellent pack mules. Read it early on Patreon!

Punishful Punishosity

Usually my favourite character to write dialogue for in a series will change over time as different characters are focused on. In Hell, Inc., though, B.L. Zebub has never really relinquished that crown. He’s so malevolent but dumb that he can say almost anything.

In other news, I got my second dose of the COVID vaccination last week, so I will soon possess the superpowers of “being able to make plans without a Zoom link” and “getting groceries without anxiety.”

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Cait is Employee of the Week at Hell, Inc. and also at her soap business, Soaps & Sorcery. She has been busy turning our kitchen into a soap laboratory to supply her new retail partner, Pe Matawe Games in Edmonton. You, too, can support Hell, Inc. on Patreon, which, starting in July, will include a Patreon-exclusive comic – Hockeypocalypse: Slashers.

You can also help Hell, Inc. out by voting for it on Top Webcomics! A new month (on Thursday) means new rankings, so click the link below daily to help make the comic more visible to new readers!

Next Week: Sometimes things just work out when you threaten your underlings without a plan. Read it early on Patreon!

This Shall Not Stand

I have visions of doing a B.L. Zebub-style header every time I stand on a chair for something. That never prevents me from standing on said chair to change light bulbs or get the crockpot or whatever, but I always think it as I’m climbing up there.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Shane Lees is Employee of the Week! He also does a webcomic, called The First Dude, which you can check out at his website. You should also check out the Hell, Inc. Patreon, which will be getting an overhaul in July, which you can read more about. In short, the $5/month pledge tier is gonna be STACKED with a whole new Hockeypocalypse graphic novel.

You can also help Hell, Inc. by voting for it on Top Webcomics, which helps bring in new readers to check out the comic. Click the banner below to vote daily!

Next Week: It’s hard to maintain the energy of a speech when you get a head injury in the middle of it. Read it early on Patreon.

Fired into the Sun

YEET: The Sun Edition. Which will hopefully be the result for all the billionaires trying to flee the planet, tbh.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Bartender of the Apocalypse is Employee of the Week. Presumably also the Employee of the Week at O’Hellihan’s Pub. They support Hell, Inc. on Patreon, and you should, too, because my latest freelance gig is over and Patreon is my only income source at the moment. Keep an eye on the Patreon, as there will be major changes coming in July, including a WHOLE NEW COMIC SERIES.

As always, you can help Hell, Inc. by voting for it on Top Webcomics, which continues to be one of the largest sources of new readers. Vote daily by clicking the banner below!

Next Week: B.L. Zebub adjusts to party planning in completely normal and healthy ways. Read it early on Patreon!

Carry On

Just ignore the guy who slammed his head through the wall. Happens all the time.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Azhar Baig is Employee of the Week, and has a podcast called The Wisdom of Love that you should check out. It’s a comedic recounting of the Great Western Philosophers. In addition to all of that philosophy, he has access to Hell, Inc. Volume 5: Overtime, and you can, too, by supporting Hell, Inc. on Patreon! It’s my entire income at the moment, which is not ideal!

You can also help out Hell, Inc. by voting on Top Webcomics! More votes = more visibility, and it’s still early enough in the month that the rankings are very fluid. Click on the banner below to vote daily!

Next Week: Party planning instructions are more thorough than anyone’s actual job training. Read it early on Patreon!