A Roomate With A View (Wk of 6/17/12)

[rcmonroe]

I'm sure the B&W has something to do with it, but John and Steven look almost like twins! Haha. Same shirt (probably different colours), jeans, same messy hair. Of course I didn't really notice this right away, because even though they have a lot of similarities right now, RC has an impressive way to make each of his characters still look unique but with such simple lines, as if two real people who were unrelated got the same haircut and put on the same outfit, their faces still would look different enough to know they were not related.

Steven's hair is supposed to be fuller on top (a la classic Keith Richards) than John's, but I don't always draw it (or John’s) right. Same with the women—Mir, Ari, and Sherry are all supposed to have distinct body types but I’m not always successful in making them look all that different from each other. Often, when I finish a drawing the only question I ask myself is, "does it look more like a human than a paramecium?" If the answer is yes, then I'm done with the drawing.

[SAGG]

(From the 8/6 comic) Is--is Clayton feeling Ari up? If so, why hasn't he been knocked out yet? What will James do when/if he finds out?

[Serge Stiles]

I'm sure the B&W has something to do with it, but John and Steven look almost like twins! Haha. Same shirt (probably different colours), jeans, same messy hair. Of course I didn't really notice this right away, because even though they have a lot of similarities right now, RC has an impressive way to make each of his characters still look unique but with such simple lines, as if two real people who were unrelated got the same haircut and put on the same outfit, their faces still would look different enough to know they were not related.

Steven's hair is supposed to be fuller on top (a la classic Keith Richards) than John's, but I don't always draw it (or John’s) right. Same with the women—Mir, Ari, and Sherry are all supposed to have distinct body types but I’m not always successful in making them look all that different from each other. Often, when I finish a drawing the only question I ask myself is, "does it look more like a human than a paramecium?" If the answer is yes, then I'm done with the drawing.

Haha, well, John keeps changing, it's hard to keep track! Do you miss it when he was bald? Cause if you get fed up with all the hair you need to draw, you can just make him shave it all off again. ...But please not too soon!

LOL a paramecium. I'm sure someone somewhere has a fetish for a lady paramecium or something

Also, you do an awesome job of making them look different, even if you think that you always don't! The way you have such unique characters, but still so different from each other, but still looking like they all exist in the same word... AND WITH SO FEW LINES AND NO COLOUR! The style of this comic is commendable

Do you have any visuals for you to fall back on? Like a lineup drawing of them all standing together to compare heights and such and body types? Or do you just have it down in your head

[rcmonroe]

Do you miss it when he was bald? Cause if you get fed up with all the hair you need to draw, you can just make him shave it all off again. ...But please not too soon!

I didn't particularly like drawing him bald. His hair is fun to draw. His beard wasn't. So his current incarnation is my favorite… but I'll probably mess with his looks again some day anyway.

Do you have any visuals for you to fall back on? Like a lineup drawing of them all standing together to compare heights and such and body types?

No, but I should. One thing I'm terribly inconsistent on is the relationship of head size to the rest of the body. Their heads grow and shrink constantly. I'm surprised nobody ever calls me on it—it's impossible for me to believe no one’s ever noticed it.

[LadyGrinningSoul]

(From the 8/6 comic) Is--is Clayton feeling Ari up? If so, why hasn't he been knocked out yet? What will James do when/if he finds out?

He's definitely feeling her up, although it's hard to tell whether he has his hand on her leg or her ass. Not that either is appropriate, but there are levels of inappropriateness.

Also, you do an awesome job of making them look different, even if you think that you always don't! The way you have such unique characters, but still so different from each other, but still looking like they all exist in the same word... AND WITH SO FEW LINES AND NO COLOUR! The style of this comic is commendable

I never have trouble telling any of them apart, even with their constantly-changing clothing, hairstyles, hair colors. I'm especially impressed by the subtle differences between Miriam and Martha, who look so similar and yet so distinct.

[furrykef]

No, but I should. One thing I'm terribly inconsistent on is the relationship of head size to the rest of the body. Their heads grow and shrink constantly. I'm surprised nobody ever calls me on it—it's impossible for me to believe no one’s ever noticed it.

You have no idea how much I have this problem. When I'm drawing other people's characters I can at least try to imitate already established proportions, but when I'm drawing my own I can't even decide how many heads tall they are, let alone draw it consistently. Since my style is much more cartoony, this is by no means easy to decide, since the range of possibilities is so great. Three heads, five heads, and anywhere in between can look good depending on the picture and my mood. I think I gravitate toward four, though...

For the record, I've never noticed it in Out There.

[SAGG]

(From the 8/13 comic) Ari, are you starting to get that tingly feeling again about Sherry that you had before James? First, allowing Clayton to feel you up (without informing James apparently), and now this. Better figure out what you want, girl. Ain't right...

[LadyGrinningSoul]

She knows what she wants—she wants Sherry. She's always wanted Sherry. As for "allowing" Clayton to feel her up, she did tell him to stop—twice. What else was she supposed to do?

[SAGG]

She knows what she wants—she wants Sherry. She's always wanted Sherry. As for "allowing" Clayton to feel her up, she did tell him to stop—twice. What else was she supposed to do?

How about letting him know about James finding about it and "talking" it over with him? To add, after seeing Ari's little conversation with Sherry, I'm beginning to wonder if Ari wanted to even stop Clayton because she's not sure if she wants to be with James anymore. Maybe Ari's getting cold feet. Ain't right for her to not be honest with James or herself. Or Sherry.

[Ostracee]

Um, Miriam... that's not... different...

[rcmonroe]

Um, Miriam... that's not... different...

Been trying to figure out what this is in reference to. Coming up blank.

[furrykef]

It's amazing how much more likeable James is now than when he first appeared. I can't help but like a man who shoots straight and always tells you exactly what he thinks. I suppose that's what Ari likes about him too.

[biev]

When did Rebecca embarrass herself that badly in front of John?

[rcmonroe]

When did Rebecca embarrass herself that badly in front of John?

http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100224.html

[Serge Stiles]

Looks like someone else has the hots for John!

[Serge Stiles]

I agree with you, Miriam, he's adorable!

[diddledop]

I don't comment much any more. What can I say? Continuing ennui from Miriam and just about everyone in the strip. Love in a relationship seems completely evasive, indistinct, muddled, uncertain. Can anyone be connected with in a meaningful way? Does every encounter simply generate questions without answers? I'm not writing analyses. I'm writing my impressions, what I cull from the comic, whether with compass or without. It's just what it is - reactions to a seemingly impassive state of blunt-less affairs. Feelings without much affect. People without people-type bennies.

Please - how about a view with mating room mates? Especially, perhaps ... maybe ... tentatively ... possibly .... eventually ... pre-mortem --- M/S?

[diddledop]

Truthfully, if you were to actually focus on the M/S connection, that might be too hard on my mornings. Maybe it's better this way.

Do you really want to put jet fuel in a used car knowing that you're only gonna go 15 mph in congested traffic on your daily commute?

Maybe less is better, RC. A top ten tune list could be too much - better to play the standard top one hundred.

We can't listen to an opus or opuses all the time. Have I overplayed my point enough?

(The plural of opus is really stupid sounding but grammatically correct.)

[diddledop]

Tuesday, 10/02/12, 4th panel: Can an ego really healthily and choicelessly bask in obscurity?

[rcmonroe]

Tuesday, 10/02/12, 4th panel: Can an ego really healthily and choicelessly bask in obscurity?

As far as Sherry is concerned, yes, because she thinks Steven's ego is (presumably unhealthily) overinflated. I should have made a point to emphasize that more in that particular strip.

[SAGG]

Tuesday, 10/02/12, 4th panel: Can an ego really healthily and choicelessly bask in obscurity?

As far as Sherry is concerned, yes, because she thinks Steven's ego is (presumably unhealthily) overinflated. I should have made a point to emphasize that more in that particular strip.

And I'll add that Steven's become a lazy you-know-what who's largely given up on himself...

[diddledop]

So then I must ask what happens to someone who isn't lazy but gives up on himself?

[SAGG]

So then I must ask what happens to someone who isn't lazy but gives up on himself?

Beats me. Why d'you think Steven's not lazy, by the way? The dude's not even trying to get back his groove, it seems. Plus, he told Miriam he has other guitars in addition to the one he sold. No, to me, he's just not even trying right now, e.g. he's lazy. The only thing saving his sorry tail is that Miriam and John are living at his place, which actually is keeping a roof over his head, since they're the ones apparently paying the rent, I assume. Someone needs to knock a hard dose of reality in Steven's head, and tell him to get of his patooka and get back to work to bring in some bacon. Sherry tried to do that in her own way by asking him to perform at her bar, but Steven refused. What do you call that? I guess he could sell his other guitars to get some more money, but then what? Could you perhaps say it's a crisis of self-confidence? Whatever the cause, he needs to get back to work.

[diddledop]

I didn't say he isn't and it doesn't sound like a crisis of confidence either. Maybe he's simply resting upon his laurels. Only the continued evolution of this comic strip character can perhaps resolve his comic-like issues. Maybe he needs a certain relationship to set his soul or butt on fire.

[diddledop]

Friday, 10/12/12: I don't understand the last sentence.