The Only Way

And I just felt these characters who I don't have rights to would fit so nicely in this comic.

 A favorite annoyance in superhero movies is when the main character says "it's the only way!" when it's really not the only way, it's just the most convenient way for the plot. I'm remembering a cartoon clip where something bad is coming to Earth and Superman offers to move Earth out of the way to which Batman replies something like "I don't have time to list all the reasons why that's a terrible idea." 

Text:
S: It's the only way!
B: That cannot possibly be true.
S: ... It's the only way that I'm willing to try.
B: Clearly.

Baby in Retrograde

Happy Birthday to my niece!
This conversation happened a few weeks ago. I believe I read somewhere that Mercury is always in retrograde? Nope, per this article it's three or four times a year for three week periods. I'm not sure what that means but some people use that to govern their emotions. Babies like Ori don't have much governing their emotions. Maybe planetary guidance would be an upgrade. Haha, so much grading.

Explanation: there is a phrase "Mercury is in retrograde" and astrology says that does something to you and your relationships. This comic is using the similarities between the words "degrading" and "retrograde." 

Text:
M: His mood is degrading.
L: Like Mercury.
M: Nope!
O: WAAAA!

Super Babies

 

A wild Oriole appears! I believe this is another one that I wrote for Robin but it hung out in my to-be-drawn folder for long enough to be applicable to Ori rather than her. I imagine this is a group of moms meeting up after getting their babies from Sunday morning nursery. 

Text:
L: If your kids were superheroes, what would their names be?
A: Super Pooper - she can't be contained!
B: Clog Buster - who you gonna call?!

Thanksgiving Repost

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

This was originally posted back in 2019. I often struggle with making comics for a given holiday before the holiday - I usually get ideas when celebrating said holiday but at that point it's too late so I have to write down the idea in a place where I can find it in a year. 

Explanation: Turkey Recovery Day (the day after Thanksgiving) is for people recovering from eating too much food. Turkeys don't recover on that day because they have been eaten the day before. 

Text:
L: My work gets Thanksgiving and the day after as holidays.
M: Oh, Turkey Recovery Day, nice.
C: I don't think the turkey is going to recover.

Grocery Prices

 

One day I took Ori with me shopping while Mark and Robin stayed home and when I returned home I brought the groceries in first since Ori was sleeping in his seat and I wasn't ready to disturb him so this comic happened.
Please note that this is a joke and I did not barter for groceries (who even does that) and also yeah I still have both kiddos. Baby was out of sight for like a minute while safely secured.

Explanation: In fairy tales, the ultimate price to pay is usually your firstborn. Seems like someone asking for your second-born would be a discount. 

Text:
M: Where is the baby?!
L: I traded him for groceries - they weren't asking for a first-born so I figured it was a good deal. 

Off-line Brain

 

An excellent response to someone questioning a poor decision. The scene depicted is reminisce of someone putting regular dish soap into a dishwasher instead of using the proper gel/tab/powder that goes in the dishwasher. Don't do that unless you want to bubble-bath your floor. 

Text:
A: Do you have a brain?!?!!
B: It's off-line!

Every Sequel Movie

Many movies fit this comic, but I needed a specific one where the main character was clear from a stick figure drawing so...

 

I haven't seen the latest Indiana Jones movie so I don't have a specific issue with it, but I believe the reviews agree with me here. I know why studios make the sequels, I mean why leave money on the table, but often it sours the whole series and you should just call it while people are asking for more rather than going until people are asking you for less. 

Explanation: Movies often wrap up their storylines in a nice way by the end of the movie, so when a sequel comes along it's like "forget that happy ending, we're using these characters more!"

Text:
Title: Every Sequel Movie
A: We need you to come back!
I: No, I'm retired.
A: But you were the best!
I: I know, it's called quitting while you're ahead.

TotK Trees

 

This is a video game reference, so if you haven't played The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, maybe just skip this comic. I think it is a beautiful game with excellent gameplay and nicely expanded characters from the earlier Breath of the Wild game. 

Explanation: there are some bad trees in TotK, and when you start the game it's like OH NO WHAT IS THAT but by the end you're like UGH AGAIN why. 

Text:
Title: Post-TotK
Z: Of course the trees are alive, Link, why are you warnting me about that??
L: ...

Tent Eater

I made this comic way back when Robin was in this phase, and I found the comic again as Oriole is in this phase. That tent is great, and apparently tasty. With two kids, it's nice to have a spot for baby-only toys so I know he's not getting into toddler things. 

Text:
L: There's my child - surrounded by toys, eating the tent.
R: *in small tent, ignoring the toys and chewing on the side panel*

Family Game Night Again

I've made a few comics about family game nights, and the more I have then the more I make :) Playing board games together is usually a great time... 

Explanation: there's a movie WarGames with a famous quote (about nuclear war): "the only winning move is not to play." 

Text:
Title: Family Game Night
M: The only winning move...
L: Yep.

Denying Culpability

 

I forget what exactly inspired this comic, but it totally happened (I provided the voice for little Oriole since he's not at the talking stage yet). And now I am imagining my toddler trying to repeat "deny all culpability" - Robin's in the highly repetitive phase so anything she hears could be parroted by her. Apparently too many people have told her "good girl" when she does something, so now she tells us "good girl" when we do something for her (i.e. I help her get into a chair - "good girl!", her dad holds a door open for her - "good girl!").

Explanation: Little kids using big words is hilarious.

Text:
M: Why did you do that?!
O: I deny all culpability.
M: If you know that word, you can't deny it.

Hat Selection

Robin has several hats that she seems to like equally and will swap between them on any given day. If you thought she'd wear them all together, well she hasn't tried that yet. But that reminds me of another comic...

Explanation: "Wearing multiple hats" is an expression describing being busy filling several roles. 

Text:
L: Which hat are you going to wear?
M: I often ask myself that question.
R: *holding two hats while wearing a crown, which is like a third hat*

Months of the Year Part 2

An updated calendar for the new month we have entered!

Text:

January February March 

April May June 

July August September 

OctoBear holding a turkey!