Artist's Commentary
If you're just joining the story, you can read it from the beginning, by clicking HERE for episode #4.
I proclaim this to be… Newt and John Day!
Today, is exactly one year from the day I originally created, and posted the first episode in this on-going comic story! It all began on the 4th episode, and believe me; I had no idea it would take me a full year, and 16 episodes to get our Heroes home!
With every story I’ve written, I originally started with few key plot-points written down for each episode, and an image in my head of some things that would happen. Other than that, each episode was written as I was working on it… so even I didn’t know all the details of how I was going to get these two from a space battle with the evil General Clawed, to a deserted island, to another deserted island and back home again!
I thought I’d be able to finish the last few episodes several months ago. At that time I decided I’d use coconut oil as a jet-fuel to get Newt and John off the island. The funny thing was, only a couple days after deciding this ‘made up’ jet fuel would be used… a well-known billionaire who owns a well-known airline, made the news by running one of his Jumbo Jets for a duration of it’s flight on a mixture of Coconut and Bamboo Oils as a way to promote the future of bio-fuels!
Looking back on the past year, and the last 16 episodes of Newt and John, I can’t believe how much has happened in my life, and the lives of those I care about.
In one year, I moved to a new city, bought my first place, started and finished several freelance animation jobs on some TV series, and began a new career at a studio in Toronto.
In the same year, I had a friend move far away, others who changed careers... even a little friend who took her first steps and said her first words. So much can happen in a year, and in the lives of the people you know.
In many ways, I kept making these comics for them, and myself. As most artists will tell you, it's easy to get inspired to create something, but it can be hard to complete a project, as there is always something new to inspire you.
I plan to continue Newt and John stories, and release a book in the future. I like how these character's personalities have evolved, and I know where I want to take them. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the episodes so far, and will come back to see what else can happen when Two Roommates take on the Universe!
All the best,
Mike Hogue - June 25th / 2008