Thank You For Your Patience

The Patreon preview for this comic talks about a piece of advice I gained from early-career shop talk that continues to be a regularly used tool in my toolbox.  It’s about using rounded surfaces in the art.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Ben Hamlin, host of Syndicated with Lesley and Ben (among other casted pods), is Employee of the Week, and I just made my fourth appearance on the show, this time discussing crime drama Better Call Saul! If you want to hear me talk about how artfully executed BCS is, then good news, you’ll have a great time listening to that podcast!

You should also vote for me in the Sequential Magazine Awards, in the Favourite Cartoonist category. It’s open to anyone who wants to vote, and you can vote in as many or as few categories as you want! I would like to say I am above the external validation of awards, but I am absolutely not. Click the image below to go to the page with the nominees and ballot.

If you’re still in a voting mood, you can also head over to Top Webcomics by clicking the banner below, where voting can help draw new readers to Hell, Inc.!

Next Week: Meanwhile, at the office… Read it early on Patreon!

Helen: Judgement Day

Helen is probably second or third in the cast, behind B.L. Zebub and maybe Doug, in getting the super exaggerated demonic poses. That wasn’t something I intended from the start, it just kind of happened as Helen got more characterization that lent itself to over-the-top, expressionist depictions. In the Patreon preview for this strip, I instead talk about creating rhythm with panel layouts and how that’s useful in adding additional storytelling layers.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Robbie Dorman is Employee of the Week. He is co-host of The Simpsons Show, the only podcast about The Simpsons, and also the only podcast about The Simpsons that I have done a guest spot on. You should also check out his website to learn about his new novel releases. He writes that good good scary shit. Indie artists need your support now more than ever, so check out his stuff!

ALSO I’m still nominated for the Sequential Magazine Awards in the Favourite Cartoonist category, and you should definitely vote for me, because I want to win. Click on the image below to go to the landing page with the nominees and link to the voting form!

If you’re still in a voting mood, you can also head over to Top Webcomics by clicking the banner below, where voting can help draw new readers to Hell, Inc.!

Next Week: Human souls, please report to the scary lady for judgement. Read it early on Patreon!

Bridget Smash… Hand Bones

I think that’s more or less what would happen to me if I tried to karate chop a desk in half. Just BAM skeleton hand flying through the air. I also think the visual of a skeleton, or parts of a skeleton, popping out of a person intact is extremely funny for reasons I can’t fully articulate. This week’s Patreon preview goes into that a bit.

I’ve been nominated for a Sequential Magazine Award in the Favourite Cartoonist category! The Sequential awards are intended to recognize Canadian indie comics. Please go vote (for me, specifically), because I would very much like to win. Click on the image below to be taken to the landing page with the nominees and the link to the voting form (you can vote in as many or as few categories as you want).

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Brien Aronov is Employee of the Week, and you can, too! Patreon is my only predictable source of income, so chipping in a dollar or two is extremely appreciated, and helps ease the burden put on freelancing and conventions to prop up my art income!

You can also vote on Top Webcomics, because I guess we’re doing a voting theme this week. Click the banner below to vote!

Next Week: Failure chicken reaches the point of… chicken? The chickening? Read it early on Patreon!

Office Cult-ure

You can tell whether you’ve got a good workplace by how much chanting happens. I assume more is better? I’ve never had a chanting workplace. I should try to cultivate that in my studio space, but guinea pigs and chinchillas are notoriously chant-averse creatures.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

As you may have gathered from the graphic below, I’ve been nominated for a Sequential Magazine Award in the Favourite Cartoonist category! The Sequential awards are intended to recognize Canadian indie comics. Click on the image below to be taken to the landing page with the nominees and the link to the voting form (you can vote in as many or as few categories as you want). I would very much appreciate your votes, because I’ve lost various categories of these awards, like, 5 times now. Click on the image below and go vote (for me)!

You can also vote on Top Webcomics, because I guess we’re doing a voting theme this week. Click the banner below to vote!

Next Week: Strategies are formulated. They are not good. Read it early on Patreon!

Cerberus

The first appearance of Cerberus! He starred in the short story included in the first Hell, Inc. print book, but this is the first time he’s appeared outside of it. Did I completely forget how to draw him in the interim? ABSOLUTELY.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Leonardo is Employee of the Week, and jumped on board to read Hockeypocalypse: Slashers as I draw it! You can, too, and patrons at the $5/month and greater levels will be getting print copies when those are ready! It’s definitely the best book I’ve done so far, and the first five pages can be read for free! Also, Patreon is a helpfully consistent source of income, so support at any amount is much appreciated!

You can also help Hell, Inc. gain more visibility by voting for it on Top Webcomics! You can vote daily by clicking on the banner!

Next Week: Super Manual Labour Funtimes! Read it early on Patreon!

The Client Yeeting Department

I wish my jobs had client yeeting departments. Throwing customers into the sun when they annoy me? Hell yeah.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Shane Lees is Employee of the Week! He has launched a new webcomic, Tales of Abuse, which you can check out at his website. You should also check out the Hell, Inc. Patreon, where for $5/month you can read Hockeypocalypse: Slashers as I draw it! I’m in the midst of the absolutely massive issue 15 (which is 60 pages long!) You also get Hell, Inc. strips early, or, at higher levels, you can commission original art from me!

You can also vote for Hell, Inc. on Top Webcomics! It’s the beginning of the month, so the rankings have reset and votes are worth more upward mobility in the standings. Click on the banner below to vote daily!

Next Week: The three-headed hound of Hell! Read it early on Patreon!

Correct Cowards

Look, if not wanting to know if it’s possible for a minotaur lady to turn your femurs into harmonicas is cowardice, then I guess I’m a coward, too.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Bartender of the Apocalypse is Employee of the Week! You can be Employee of the Week as well by supporting Hell, Inc. on Patreon at the $2/month or greater levels. For even greater bang for your buck, the $5/month level lets you read Hockeypocalypse: Slashers as I draw it, and at $20/month you get a custom piece of black and white art of a character of your choosing! If you want to see a free sample of Slashers, hit this link.

You can also vote for Hell, Inc. on Top Webcomics! Click the banner below to vote daily!

Next Week: The (physically) biggest return in the series! Read it early on Patreon!

DOUG SMASH!

Doug is clearly the Incredible Hulk of low-level office drones. That desk is the United States Army in Hulk Comics of desks. This analogy is the Hulk’s purple pants of analogies, in that it does not really make sense but is still here anyway.

This weekend (or, more accurately, half of the week, as it runs April 26-29) is the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo! I’ll be in the BMO Centre at the Renegade Arts Entertainment booth, of which I don’t know the booth number. But come say hi and buy stuff, because that’s how I feel good about myself during the mental slog that is tabling at a convention. If any of you happen to be near High Level, Alberta (are any of you from near there?), come see me and my Ape Court collaborator Daniel Schneider at Auroracon on May 4-5. If any of you are librarians, I’ll be at the AALT conference on May 11-12. Then after that I’m moving into my new place, and I assume I will die of exhaustion there.

Next Week: Bridget and Steve have important conversations about race. That’s kind of a joke and kind of not? Figure out what that even means by supporting Hell, Inc. on Patreon.

Tumour Muzak

Drawing facial expressions is one of the my favourite things, particularly when I get to go way over-the-top like Doug in the last panel. In other news, Calgary Expo is coming up. I’ll be there again, with the fine folks at Renegade Arts Entertainment, and loads of books and prints.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

This week, it’s Brien Aronov! I don’t have a factoid to go with this one, I just appreciate the support. Want to get a shoutout as Employee of the Week, and a variety of other rewards? Hit up the Patreon, and kick a few bucks into the coffers to help keep the lights on.

Next Week: It’s not a good day to be a phone. Which is a weird idea to think about, really. Read it early on Patreon!

“Important”

Looking at this strip as I was uploading it reminded me of being on hold in a parking lot in Kamloops, British Columbia. I was trying to get an answer about my cell phone provider’s US travel service packagesthat would take ten seconds if handled by a normal, functioning human. It took nearly 20 minutes. Afterward, one of my friends who was busy loading luggage into one of the vehicles, asked if I was on hold. “Yeah.” “I thought so, you looked so pissed.”

At least I didn’t head-desk in a parking lot. That would be bad.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Joe Amon is this week’s Employee of the Week! I’ve met him a handful of times at conventions, and the chats have been delightful each time. Thanks for your support, Joe!

Next Week: Maybe being on hold wasn’t so bad… find out why by supporting Hell, Inc. on Patreon!