Launch Date
June 1999
Concept
This one came to me just before I fell asleep one night. Jo thought that I should have made it more “realistic” by making Hef’s early attempts be something he might really have considered, like “tiger,” “cat,” “bear,” etc. But for me, the whole joke lies in the idea that Hef’s attempts were completely absurd. You might believe that he would have considered the “Playboy Cats,” but no one in their right mind would have considered the “Playboy Elephants” sexy. Hence the joke. Its absurdist leanings earned it a place in my “Cheap Shots” series (this one is number 2, so, yes, I can call it a “series”).
I don’t know if anyone else will think it funny, but at least you get to look at some cheesecake.
Layout
This is your simple four panel joke with title. I did decide to allow the figures to “break out” of their panels, which I think adds a little to their three dimensionality, plus I have a hard time drawing small.
I also put the caption at the bottom, although I don’t think that I did a great job, because it doesn’t quite “read” right.
Putting it Together
I sketched this out in my sketchbook, and then I sketched it out on the actual page. Once I had everything where I wanted it, I got Jo to pose for me. That allowed me to correct most of my anatomical mistakes (“oh…so the hands should face THAT way…”).
Lettering
Sucks. But I am fairly happy with my title, which is reusable because I drew it on another piece of paper and then photocopied it and glued it on this sheet.
Inking
Done mostly with a brush. The lettering and panel borders are made with a pen. I used a rapidograph pen to stipple the fly wings in order to give them a transparent feel.
Reproduction
Nothing Special, except this was a two-time effort because I had to make the title before I could glue it to the page
Tools
|
Brushes: same as
before |
Pens: Rapidograph, black marker |
|
Magic Rub Eraser |
Paper: 11 x 14 Bristol, Standard White Xerox Paper (used for title) |
|
30-60-90 triangle |
T-Square |
|
Ridgeways Horse Hair
Brush |
X-acto knife |
|
Black Acrylic
Artist’s Ink |
Avery Disappearing
Color Glue Stick |
Cheesecake Mistakes
I
really like the cheap shots series and it is one of the few comics I collect
on a regular basis. Oh, where was I?
Not
so cheap:
Lots
of good stuff here, despite the short and sweet joke.
1-
Really liked the
little guys in the upper left. I laughed so hard milk came out of my nose
and I wasn’t drinking any.
2-
Hot women very well
drawn are always a plus and if Jo did the modeling as you said then hold on
to her!!
3-
Liked the little
“After a number …” although I kind of wanted it to be even more understated
but I am at a loss for suggestions.
4-
Liked the animal-like
posses that still fit in with those oh so sexy posses that men love (yeah,
baby, stick your ass up in the air again, that’s so hot).
5-
Have to agree with
you over Jo that I think the piece is funnier with outrageous animals rather
than one’s Hef could have considered for real.
Cej
is a real blond:
1-
Bird girl’s leg was
too long (but I like ‘em that way)
2-
I felt that you could
capture some of the ditziness of the playboy models. They always seem to be
doing something (like nude gardening) and have a big old airhead smile on
their faces.
3-
I wanted to see the
girls' faces more. The bunny costume has the tail and ears and I felt that
your facemasks didn’t enhance the humor enough to warrant the cover up. The
3rd girl is a good example of what I thought was really good, even
if I felt the elephant girl was funnier in a silly way.