Sat myself down to draw and a few hours later, this little hedgehog Shadow was glaring at me, as if to say, “It’s not like I like you or anything…” If you’re seeing this on socials, click through to see the process video! Who’s your latest cartoon crush?
Watch my other art process videos here!
I don’t really do fanart much! But I’ve been noodling with drawing Sonic characters—they’re fast, expressive, and deceptively simple. But then I think, nah, let’s not draw a bunch of these, shouldn’t I draw something original that’s not beholden to a capitalistic corporate entity? But then, nah, I couldn’t even do OCs in a similar style, because it would still be in dialogue with the existing Sonic works, and mine wouldn’t have an independent raison d’etre, so would even acknowledging Sonic as an influence be okay? …anyway, here are some ground-up redesigns of Sonic the Hedgehog I did back when the first movie’s Nightmare Sonic trailer dropped. Have fun! Don’t think so much you freeze yourself in place!
On the edge of space, a small jumpstation watches over the wormhole that’s essential for interstellar travel. Crewed by a gaggle of misfits and rejects from more prestigious posts, Transfer Relay EBF-0218 is the last place anyone wants to be assigned.
Issue 1 of this science fiction workplace comedy comic introduces us to Zeke, Dawg, and the rest of the aliens, uplifted anthropomorphic animals, and human cyborgs who crew EBF-0218.
Ezekiel Wilder—Zeke—wakes up from cryosleep to find out that he’s no longer a pilot, his contract has been reassigned, and his right arm and leg have both been amputated. His memory fuzzy from cryosleep, he can’t remember what happened that landed him here, but whatever it was, it was a doozy. As Zeke gets used to his new station and prosthetic limbs, he meets the rest of the crew and finds out instead of piloting ships himself, he’ll be coaching the hyperactive cargo loader pilot Dawg.
This first issue sets itself up for success from the beginning. The characters are well-defined, rounded, and likable, and are primed for deeper development as the series progresses. I can’t wait for Zeke to explore not being a pilot, and see how his new colleagues help him out.
The art is also excellent.
Scott Fabianek’s physical comedy is among the best I’ve seen in indie comics. His sense of setup, payoff, and motion between still panels calls to mind great sight-gag artists like Jeff Smith or Chuck Jones. Top that with endearing and expressive character designs and engrossing settings, and this comic’s art shines.
Scott can be found online at twitter.com/art_mutt.
Spatial Anomalies #1 was published by Fenris Publications, September 2022. 32 pp., prestige format. Buy your copy at https://www.fenrispublishing.com/order.php?s=fabianek!
Ramen Wolf & Curry Tiger, vol. 1, by Emboss.
This is a slice of life manga set in a Japan where anthropomorphic animals and human beings live side by side without serious issue. Gourmand wolf Mita Jiro (Ramen Wolf) embodies Robert A. Heinlein’s proverb “Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites.” Contrariwise, Yanagi Kagetora (Curry Tiger, or “Currytora”) is hesitant around people and ascetic, mostly preferring solitude and bland, prepackaged meals. But they spend their days off together exploring Japan’s various ramen establishments and enjoying food in company. Their friends notice how close they’ve gotten and try to figure out what they see in each other.
This only the first volume, so the story can be a tad episodic and shallow until they get to the centerpiece and reveal how Jiro and Kagetora met. It’s disarmingly light in tone, but promises to delve into character backgrounds and motivation as more volumes release. The book also teases a romantic relationship between Jiro and Kagetora, but doesn’t make it explicit. I’d appreciate more explicit LGBTQ+ content in future volumes, and certainly hope Emboss is allowed to explore it in depth. As it stands, Volume 1 certainly worked up my appetite for more.
The art is the main course. Emboss shows solid fundamentals in anatomy, backgrounds, and layout, and throws in male eye candy without it getting in the way of story. The presence of anthropomorphic animals makes Beastars immediately spring to mind, but the art is closer in style and tone to Kiyohiko Azuma’s Yotsuba&! It’s charming and cartoonishly expressive while feeling grounded in, if not exactly realism, verisimilitude. That Emboss can make Kagetora so adorable and identifiable in a childhood flashback speaks well to their skills.
Looking forward to the next volume. If it sounds good, buy from my affiliated link below!
