Location: The Office

Sleeve Time

This is a variation of a scene from the Hell, Inc. #2 print comic, except it looks good, because I am much better at drawing now than I was in 2010 or whenever that was. Doug and B.L. Zebub’s relationship is my favourite thing in the comic, because I love writing them together. Zebub being on weird, dumb power trips all the time and Doug just casually pointing out that they don’t make any sense is satisfying – it’s all the stuff you never actually say out loud to your dumb boss.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Sylvia Douglas is Employee of the Week, but she’d like you to employ her partner, Corinne Simpson, as your part-time virtual assistant! If  you want to get a shout-out, or just like Hell, Inc. and want it to stay financially viable, support the Hell, Inc. Patreon! Maybe I’ll be able to hire Corinne to do all of the day-to-day administrative junk that I hate!

Next Week: Fantasizing about murder. Read it early on Patreon!

Training Day

It’s like that Denzel Washington movie, but without all of the grit and intensity and commentary on society. Wait, no, it’s got that last thing. Not the first two, though. I also pushed my colouring in this strip, as I played around with some layering of colours in the last panel to try to match the image I was seeing in my head. I think that’s going to be an area I focus on for growth – I think there’s a lot more I can do with colouring if I can keep learning and experimenting.

Training the intern as a punishment comes directly from my time working at Blockbuster Video (remember those, kids?). My manager didn’t want to train somebody, so I had to do it, and it was awful. It wasn’t even supposed to be a punishment, I was just the only other person around at the time who wasn’t legally still a child. Even on a point-of-sale system that wouldn’t allow you to screw up, she FOUND WAYS. I eventually ended up writing the step-by-step instructions on a strip of receipt paper, taping them to her till, and refusing to answer questions if the answer was on that paper.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Happy Harbor Comics/Wonderland Games! There’s been a seismic shift in the Edmonton comics community since the last time HH was Employee of the Week, and soon I’ll be shouting out Wonderland Games, who have taken over. It’s been a whole thing. There was a farewelcome party there recently, with a lot of entertainment and a bassist who gave a speech that made a bunch of people cry. If you want to be Employee of the Week and have something plugged/a rambling anecdote told about you, support Hell, Inc. on Patreon. It’s better than funneling your entertainment dollar into the pockets of billionaires who won’t even notice. Rest assured, I will NOTICE THE FUCK OUT OF IT. And also spend it on things like “making more comics” and “remaining alive.”

Next Week: B.L. Zebub is the world’s fastest demon, maybe? Read it early by supporting Hell, Inc. on Patreon.

His Brain Screamed

Between the Royal Rumble on Sunday and the farewell/welcome party for Happy Harbor Comics/Wonderland Games on Saturday, I have had A WEEKEND. I also had a bit of a rush to get my Match of the Year ballot in for Voices of Wrestling’s annual poll, although that is far less relevant in these newsposts than it was when I was drawing HEAT.

I guess what I’m saying is that I’m very tired. But, work phone calls tomorrow! Oh, wait, that… isn’t going to help, is it?

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Brien Aronov is the Employee of the Week, and I still don’t have enough information to tell you anything interesting in this space, so instead I’m wondering if anyone actually reads these newsposts? I kind of want to just make up some wild shit and see if anyone notices. Support Hell, Inc. on Patreon to guarantee that you get into Heaven. If you die and don’t go to Heaven, your money back!

Next Week: I can’t remember, because I haven’t drawn it yet! When I do, Hell, Inc. patrons will be able to see it first!

The Word is Butts

The word is always butts. I will regularly lean over to my girlfriend and whisper “buuuuuutts” just to amuse myself, because butts is an inherently funny word. I think it’s why “ass” gets used so much now – it’s hard to say “butts” without making something funny.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Joe Amon is Employee of the Week! He doesn’t have anything for me to link as a plug, so instead I’ll just say that if you enjoy Hell, Inc. consider pledging to the Hell, Inc. Patreon. Even a dollar or two is useful in keeping the lights on around here (power bills in Hell are ridiculous, you guys). You can even get a shoutout as Employee of the Week, or a ton of digital comics at a huge discount.

Next Week: The Boss can’t use his office, so that’s going to be good for everyone else. Read it early on Patreon.

Have A Nice Trip

See ya next Fall! Ah, jokes that make elementary school kids think they’re clever. I still don’t like this title very much, but it’s better than the original title that Patreon partrons saw last week.

A lot of effort went into making Doug’s fall the exact right kind of ridiculous-looking. Drawing physical comedy moments like that is a ton of fun, so I always want to try to make it as fun for the reader as it was for me.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Ben Hamlin, host of the pirate-themed Pathfinder podcast Cursed, is this week’s Employee of the Week! If you’re one of the zillion listeners of the Adventure Zone, give it a listen! If you want to be Employee of the Week, hit up the Hell, Inc. patreon and keep the corporate gold card paid off.

Next Week: Adventures in the refrigerator! Check the fridge early on Patreon!

Your Plans Mean Nothing To Me

Apparently I hadn’t drawn a Hell, Inc. strip in over a month. So good on me for building up a solid buffer, I guess?

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

ME! The Hockeypocalypse Kickstarter campaign funded in just 12 days, well ahead of the 20 day mark set by Where Is Zog?, so I’m going to pat myself on the back for no longer having to exist in a state of low-level anxiety about how long it’s going to take to fund and if people actually like anything I do. You should check it out, and buy one or more books. You can get the entire series (over 400 pages) for $82 CAD (roughly $62 USD) including shipping! It’s funded, so it’s pretty much a pre-order at this point, and the more pre-orders I get, the more cool bonus stuff will be unlocked in the stretch goals.

Next Week: I just finished lettering next week’s comic, and it’s maybe the end of the first print book? I haven’t decided how long the print books will be, yet. Anyway, Patrons can see it early.

Never Stop Screaming

I spent an unreasonable amount of time trying to figure out what the upsetting thing in the fridge was going to be.

I’ve also been spending an unreasonable amount of time fretting over the new Hockeypocalypse book on Kickstarter. If you like Hell, Inc., go check it out. As of the time of this post, it’s over 60% already, but my broken brain won’t allow me to see that as a positive – all I can see is the 40% that’s left, and agonize over whether things I make actually connect with people. It’s super fun.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Damion is the Employee of the Week, and I think I’m out of factoids that I know about him, so I’ll just go with a sincere thank you for your ongoing support. If you want a sincere thank you, and also want to support my work, head over to the Hell, Inc. Patreon and chip in a few bucks. Or go back up and click that Kickstarter link and get a book for your efforts!

Next Week: Bossly consequences. Bossly is a word now. Read it early on Patreon!

Yo Yo Yo, Kick It

Good News, everyone! The fourth Hockeypocalypse book is launching on Kickstarter at 5 PM Mountain Time (4 PM Pacific, 7 PM Eastern) TODAY! Go buy it.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

It’s Cait of the North, who is essentially an unpaid marketing intern. If you want to be Employee of the Week (or an unpaid marketing intern), hit up the Hell, Inc. Patreon and help support your corporate overlords.

Next Week: Meanwhile, in the fridge…? Also, more Hockeypocalypse plugs, although hopefully you’ve all helped that get funded by then. Read the comic early by supporting Hell, Inc. on Patreon.

99 Printers and I Forgot Which One

This is definitely the most obnoxiously pleased with myself I’ve been about a strip title so far. As soon as I make several Wu Tang references in the titles, I will reach a very specific kind of nerd apotheosis. B.L. Zebub’s issue with the printer is also something I can identify with recently – I got a new printer, but my computer remembers the old one, and I keep accidentally trying to send things to the old printer. I’m very good at things, you guys. So good.

EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK:

Congratulations, Ben Hamlin, you’re our Employee of the Week, and our Dungeon Master for the Cursed Seas podcast. Statistically speaking, you, the reader, probably listen to The Adventure Zone – so you should also listen to Cursed Seas. Do you want to be Employee of the Week? Of course you do, everyone wants to please their corporate overlords. You can do it by supporting Hell, Inc. on Patreon!

Next Week: B.L. Zebub gets kicky. Is kicky a word? It is now. Read it early on Patreon!