Date

I don't get stressed out often. But when I do, bad things happen.

For example, my first date with Hannah; I was 17, and had never been on a date before, or even ever been alone with a female. Needless to say, my stress levels were fairly high.

She lived an hour away from me, so I had a long drive ahead of me. My attention was not on the road for that hour. I spent the hour putting my brain into overdrive, all neurons focused on formulating every possible horrible outcome of this date.

I began to get so worked up about this date that my blood pressure shot through the roof. I'm sure the other drivers considered calling the police when they passed and saw a kid driving a minivan with his eyes extruding from his skull.

Then the unthinkable happened.

My nose decided to commit suicide. The  result was spread all over my face, and the river of gore would not stop. A quick check of my pockets and my surrounding area did not reveal any tissues. I would show up to this date looking like a socially awkward zombie.

But then I remembered: my wallet. In those days I had an unhealthy obsession with keeping my debit receipts, no matter the situation. The rationale for it was that they would be useful for keeping track of my expenses. I never looked at them again. They were stored in my wallet and never saw the light of day. But here, during my one-man performance of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, they would at last find a purpose.

I reached into my pocket for the wallet and took out a handful. I proceeded, with one hand on the wheel and the receipts in the other, to crumple them up individually and shove them up my nostrils. Debit receipts, unfortunately, are not very absorbent. It took a lot of time to mop up the mess.

I then proceeded to go to the wrong Starbucks and arrived late to the date. It was the perfect storm of bad circumstances: late to your first date, and looking like you just butchered a cow with your face. Luckily, she is the forgiving type and we ended up getting engaged three years later.

Chickenfist

I'm going to stop using that dumb "In Which" thing as post titles - it's limiting me and probably contributing to the sorry lack of updates on this blog. Seriously, guys.

From the ages of two to ten, my family and I lived in a place called "up north". Being in Canada, this term "up north" meant two things: it was cold, and there were no people. My family raised chickens - some were for eggs,  but most of them were for our consumption.

Throughout the year, my siblings and I would grow close to these chickens and befriend them. Some of them were even given nicknames. However, just like in school, when the year is over, you and your school friends part ways... however, in this case, we slaughtered our friends, cooked them, and ate their flesh. Sorry, chickens... it's the circle of life.

Once a year, the local church would gather on my parent's property and start up a massive assembly line. There was a station for beheading the chickens, for de-feathering the chickens, for eviscerating the chickens, and for packing the chickens up and freezing them. The children such as myself were given the task that came before all of these: marching into the chicken shed, using a coat hangar to trip the chickens, then picking them up by their feet and carrying them to their doom.

We were the prison guards that would lead the inmates to their execution. Quite a power trip for a ten-year-old.

Anyway, there were quite a few leftover parts to these chickens when we were done with them - obviously the heads and certain organs were unusable. I, being an inquisitive child, was drawn to the chicken feet. Picking one up, I noticed a small white tendon sticking out of the bottom, begging to be yanked on. I yanked. Instantly, the talons contracted into a fist, before springing back into their original position.

I had discovered something amazing.

The following summer, I was shipped off to summer camp at Camp Widjiitiwin with my friend John. As we children settled into our rustic wooden cabins under the watchful eye of our counselors, I furtively slid my backpack under my bunk. They were not to know what was in there. They were not to know my secret.

Throughout the week of camp, tiny unexplained scratches appeared on the counselor's faces. They had no idea how they had gotten them - they did work in a forest, though, so they could likely be chalked up to branches.

Ten-year-old me snickered quietly in the background.

You see, I had brought a guest with me that week. I had thought, as a "prank", I would bring my Chickenfist. What I would do with it, well, I hadn't thought that far ahead. Until the first night. I woke up somewhere around 3 in the morning, and a fiendish thought crossed my mind.

I slid out of bed and slowly, as quietly as possible, unzipped my backpack. Chickenfist lay there in all its sickly yellow glory. I pulled it from its resting place and gripped it tightly. I put socks on so as not to be heard. I padded softly over to the counselor's bunk.

When I got caught, I got in a lot of trouble.

I remember being in "detention" or whatever they called it with another weird kid. I was pulling the legs off a grasshopper one by one, with him screaming about how I was killing "God's creatures". I informed him that I pulled the antennae off first, so  the grasshopper would feel no pain.

I'm probably going to grow up to be a serial killer.

In Which I Discuss Superpowers

I was one of the "Teen Program Leaders" when I worked at camp. This job consisted of my fellow leaders and I desperately trying to hold the attention of the teenagers that had been put in our care by telling embarrassing stories and otherwise making fools of ourselves.

Now that I say that, I think I know why I write what I do in this blog.

Anyway, usually at the end of one of our games, we would invite the winner up to the front of the room and "interview" them. We would ask the standard questions, such as name, favorite color, et cetera... but the last question was always the same: if you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Little did they know there was a catch. No matter what superpower they chose, we would analyze it and show them how in reality, their idea of a superpower was in fact horrible and they should be ashamed for even thinking of it.

Not even the other leaders were safe. Laura said she would like to shoot lasers from her fingers.

That's very unfortunate, Laura. Lasers will now be constantly erupting from your cuticles. Have fun trying to have any meaningful relationships with anyone ever again. It's hard to make friends when you burn peoples' guts out when you go to shake their hand.

Not to mention blowing your own head off when you point at something.

It seems obvious that superpower wishes should not be taken lightly. But some people thought they could game the system. How about super speed, thought one kid. Surely nothing could be wrong with that.

Sure, Billy, you can have your super speed. Have fun trying to pick up a pencil without accidentally launching it into orbit with your lightning fast reflexes. Or try stepping out of the shower without accidentally launching yourself through the wall and into the street, dripping wet and naked. How embarrassing, Billy. How embarrassing.

And I didn't even mention the G-forces ripping your body apart as soon as you actually try to run.

What's that Timmy? You want to fly? That's real great. First you need hollow bones.

Expect to spend most of your life in the hospital, Timmy.

And with that sobering thought, Bobby comes up with his idea of the perfect superpower. Mind control.

You could defeat any enemy, do anything you wanted. Little Bobby could be the king of the world. Nations would bow to his iron will, forced to carry out his every command.

Well, Bobby, you sound a little messed up and I'll be talking to your parents a bit later. But more importantly, what will you do when you've seen everything, owned everything, and done everything? You will live out a boring life and I'm sure you would eventually go insane. Not to mention that you would never know if your "friends" actually liked you or if they were just mind controlled. What a horrible, horrible existence, Bobby.

But hey, at least you got your superpower, right?

The P's: Episode 5 - SUPER SPECIAL #1

TITLE PAGE


The P's present: Brave P and King Bomb: Mecha Madness


I can't be sure, but it looks like something just got real.


The raw emotion on everyone's face in this picture forces me to empathize with each character... and then realize I have nothing to empathize with because they are just stick men with angry eyes.


















PAGE 1


P's in: Defeating Bubbly Bomb!


I wonder what happens in this episode.


PANEL 1


We pick up right where we left off. Bubbly Bomb is standing in front of the door to the War Room.


Ominous Voice: Come in.

PANEL 2


Bubbly Bomb enters the War Room.


PANEL 3


Brave P motions to his crew.


Brave P: Come on.

What are P and Propelly so happy about here? They are entering a War Room. There's not going to be any ice cream. Maybe they're just bloodthirsty freaks. I'd expect that from a mutant like Propelly, but not from P... I guess it's just another layer to his already extremely deep character. He's like the Dexter of the group.


PANEL 4


Brave P dramatically enters the War Room, and Scaredy P does some ridiculous hop.


(laugh track)


PANEL 5


The four adventurers stand, stock still, in horror at what lies before them. Scaredy P falls over.


Brave P: GASP!

Nothing like shouting the word "GASP" to convey your shock at a situation. Sadly, I know people that do this in real life.

PAGE 2


PANEL 1


King Bomb, the Master of Evil himself sits upon his pleather throne, smiling a toothy smile at his foes. His three deformed cohorts guard him on all sides.


King Bomb: Hello, Brave P.

If The P's was a movie, James Earl Jones would play King Bomb. I read every one of King Bomb's lines in his voice.


PANEL 2


The P's take a moment to talk strategy.


Brave P: Propelly takes Bubbly Bomb, P takes Snake, Scaredy-cat P takes Burning Bomb, and I'LL take King Bomb.

How he knows all the minion's names, I'll never figure out. Maybe King Bomb puts out a Henchman Calendar every year that Brave P always buys. "Hey there, Bubbly Bomb... or should I say, Mr. February?"


PANEL 3


A dramatic close up of Brave P's mouth as he snarls a single phrase.


Brave P: Get them.

Brave P is voiced by Sean Connery.


PANEL 4


The P's launch their attack. This song probably starts playing. P jumps on Snake's back, while Bubbly Bomb leaps into the air to confront Propelly, a bubble beginning to fester on his backside. Burning Bomb unleashes an incredible laser volley at Scaredy P but unfortunately misses by millimeters. Brave P, with a roar, launches a flying kick straight into the abdomen of King Bomb.


Brave P: Aargh!

Again, Brave P uses his experience in dealing with bombs here. Physical violence appears to always be the answer, with no concern for the safety of anyone else.


PANEL 5


The battle rages on around Scaredy P. P throws a punch at Snake, but Snake slithers out of the way. Lasers appear to shoot out of King Bomb's foot, but Brave P quickly dodges. I'm not sure what Propelly and Bubbly Bomb are doing, but they better not be smooching.

PAGE 3


PANEL 1


P falls to the ground as Snake lunges at him. P uses physical violence on King Bomb again, making a small dent. Scaredy P's squiggly lines disappear, as he finds the angry eyes within. Propelly and Bubbly Bomb continue smooching.


Scaredy P is probably secretly the only competent one in the group, but he hides it behind his squiggly lines... but really, all he's ever wanted... was to be loved. He puts walls up, not to keep others out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.


Too bad no one cares.


PANEL 2


Scaredy P launches into a wild attack, bouncing off King Bomb's head and knocking Burning Bomb off of the ceiling. Unfortunately King Bomb has trapped Brave P under his foot. P punches Snake, and Propelly and Bubbly Bomb have stopped smooching. The cyst on Bubbly Bomb's back no longer looks benign.


PANEL 3


While the fighting continues, King Bomb says something idiotic.


King Bomb: Only the sword can get me!

Why would he say that. That is ridiculous. Your minions are losing, and you just decide to shout out your only weakness. If King Bomb was your friend on Facebook, he would obviously be the one posting every mundane aspect of his day for all to see.

PANEL 4


Propelly removes the bubble from Bubbly Bomb's back. Bubbly Bomb immediately senses danger.


He's picking up a BUBBLE. Hands of an angel, that one.


PANEL 5


Propelly throws the bubble bomb into Bubbly Bomb himself, causing a massive explosion of guts and gore which throws this comic into the PG range. King Bomb looks mortified.


Propelly didn't even give him a chance to surrender. That monster.


To be Continued...

P INFO


They defeated Bubbly Bomb! Now just Snake, Burning Bomb, and King Bomb left! In case you lost track.


In the next issue, P punches Snake down. Really? I think seven-year-old me had no interest in suspense at all and really only cared about getting people to buy the next issue. I had clearly sacrificed plot for money. Seven years old and already a sell-out.

In Which I Look Back In Horror

It has come to my attention that my blog is what young people would call a "fail". So here I am to actually post something again. I swear I do try but my life has been very busy with me getting a new job and all.

At long last, I have left the retail sector behind me. I have completed my schooling, and like a caterpillar escaping from the cocoon that it has fought against for so long, I shed my uncomfortable cage and emerge, a beautiful butterfly with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Information Systems.

I feel that it is only appropriate now to reflect upon some of the interesting characters I have had the experience of working with.

Gross Cashier Girl


The retail business attracts many different sorts of people, many of them socially awkward and inept. One such example springs to mind now, of the interesting person I shall call Gross Cashier Girl. Although I was a salesman, occasionally I would have to go behind the cash counter to perform some task. This was something that I did not look forward to, as it would force me to engage in an awkward conversation with whatever person was manning the cash register at that moment. Normally, I would bury my head into some drawer, in an effort to look very busy.

This would usually work. But not this day.

I attempted to shove my head further into the shelf, hoping that I would, perhaps, find Narnia, if only I crawled in a little farther. Evil though the White Witch may be, surely she would provide a more engaging conversation than the one I was about to have.

Too late. I was being summoned. I drew my head out from the comfort of the underside of the counter and responded: "Yes?"

"Do you ever, like, burp, and then have puke come up into the back of your throat?"

"I think I may have, just now."

I quickly made my exit.

That, of course, is only one of the interesting staff members I encountered on a day-to-day basis. There was another:

Over-Friendly New Kid

Normally, when a new person is hired into a team, they spend a few shifts finding their place, getting to know people, before they begin to feel comfortable.

Not this guy.

This guy was instantly everyone's best friend. At least in his mind. The first day he was hired, I passed him as he left the store. What happened next was... incredible.

As I walked past him, we eyed each other, me nodding slightly to acknowledge his presence as a new member of the team. Thinking we had made the necessary greeting, I continued on, only to have my back patted vigorously, like I was a test subject in some sort of Massage Through Violence program. I whirl around to face my attacker, only to see the New Kid with his hands firmly planted on my shoulders. "Hey, Josiah. You have a great weekend, buddy!"

"...You too."

I stumble on, my mind shattered by what I had just experienced. What a first impression. How he knew who I was, I'll never know.

When I announced that I would be leaving the job, he approached me afterwards.

"Hey, Josiah. Um, so, I noticed that you talk to the other guys sometimes." (Yes, strictly at work, and only about work.) "So I was wondering we could, like, talk outside of work sometimes."

"Yeah, add me to Facebook or something," I respond. Unfortunately, my name does not show up in Facebook search. Oh well.

I can only hope that in my new job I can find people as entertaining and interesting as these to work with.

The P's: Episode 4

I know, I know, I'm a horrible blogger and haven't posted anything in two weeks. I have a plan, though. A firm update shedule: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Mondays and Wednesdays will consist of me rambling about whatever subject strikes my fancy, and Saturdays will be updates for this gripping drama.

TITLE PAGE


An ominous castle looms over the face of the lined paper. I assume that the castle belongs to Evil Face. He's obviously a narcissist that feels the need to plaster his face on everything he owns. Or maybe I was planning on selling playsets and other merchandise down the road when the P's became a mega hit. Too bad it's a blatant ripoff.

PAGE 1


P's in: Exploring King Bomb's Cas(tle?)


So I guess this King Bomb guy is Evil Face. I just cram in exposition wherever I can, you know.


PANEL 1


Bubbly Bomb teleports into view in front of a door.


He has angry eyebrows so we know he's a villain.


PANEL 2


Brave P teleports in just as Bubbly Bomb enters the door.


Brave P: Wha...


PANEL 3


Propelly warps in from the netherworld.


Propelly: Brave P!

What a needy little turd.


PANEL 5


P appears.


P: You guys!

Someone was feeling left out because he has no defining characteristics.


PANEL 6


Scaredy P appears.


Scaredy P: Ohh...

*laugh track*

PAGE 2


PANEL 1


The P's sneak into the castle, but are instantly greeted by some sort of horrible bomb/man hybrid.


Brave P: Ack!

Another ripoff. So much for my merchandise deals.


PANEL 2


Brave P unleashes a mighty punch, sending the bomb mutant flying.


Mutant: Auugh!

Yes, Brave P, the first thing you should do when confronted by a bomb is punch it. Brave P has no concern for his safety or that of his friends... he is too brave for such petty concerns.


PANEL 3


The mutant explodes, sending debris flying directly into Scaredy P's eye.


Seven-year-old me apparently loves beating up on the weak and frightened. Parallel-universe-me: serial killer.


PANEL 4


A pathway opens, revealing a long suspended pathway. Propelly falls down for no reason.


Apparently the secret password was... an explosion. That is bad security right there.


PANEL 5


The P's venture forth.


Brave P has a massively smug look on his face, like he knew that's what would happen all along. What a loser.


PANEL 6


A top-down view of the P's progressing along the suspended pathway.

PAGE 3


PANEL 1


The P's go through a door.


PANEL 2


Bubbly Bomb suddenly trapezes in out of nowhere. Propelly makes a very weak attempt to touch his butt.


Brave P: Look!

Wow. There is just so much to say about this panel. So,  it seems like Bubbly Bomb is hiding his past as a gymnast from everyone. The P's were literally right behind him as he went into the castle. He must have had to instantly swing away on his little rope to get away. So weird. Tune in next episode: P's in: Cirque du Soleil.


Even weirder is Propelly's little butt-grab. What a horrible creeper. I hate him so much.


PANEL 5


Bubbly Bomb knocks on a door subtly marked "War Room".


The P's are right behind you, idiot. You led King Bomb's enemies directly to his War Room. You are the worst henchman ever.


To Be Continued...

P INFO


War Room! Now who do you suppose is in there? 
Saddam Hussein.


Next Issue: 1st Super Special! It's called Mecha Madness! Don't miss it!
Look at those great promotional skills. Four issues in and already a "super special". Perhaps we will actually reach five pages in the next issue. Although if the dialog is anything like it was in this one, it will all be filled with grunts and one-word exclamations. Truly riveting, ladies and gentlemen.

The P's: Episode 3

So, I am a horrible blogger and I didn't write any real blog posts this week... it's Back-To-School time at Staples and thus all employees are required to become indentured slaves for two weeks. But I'm back for the weekly feature... another installment of the epic adventure of The P's.

Click on the pictures to enlarge them if you so desire.

TITLE PAGE


Here we see some sort of grossly misshapen tube with what appears to be a flower on its head, giving us a toothy grin. Clearly this episode will be horrifying.

 PAGE 1


P's in: A New Friend!


PANEL 1


In #1, P got slapped by Bubbly Bomb. In #2, the P's found out that Bubbly Bomb set the bomb.


Just another recap for those "slower" readers.


Brave P: Let's go!

PANEL 2


The P's run forward but are stopped.


Brave P: Huh?

Voice: Unngh...

PANEL 3


The P's bend over the grotesque form of a horrible tube creature.


Tube Creature: Ughh...

Someone's a drama queen.


PANEL 4


The P's pick the creature up, and it kicks its legs as if trying to get away.


Brave P has a malevolent look in his eye... as if he knows that this perversion of a creature has no right to exist, and he should put it out of its misery.


PANEL 5


P: What happened to you? 


Tube Creature: I got blasted by the bomb!

Apparently the flower attachment is some sort of propeller. This creature truly is disgusting.


And for a guy with the last name "Bomb", Bubbly Bomb's atom bomb sure sucked. It didn't even kill anything.


PANEL 6


Brave P: Well let's go to Bubbly Bomb!

I really don't know how these guys know where Bubbly Bomb lives. Have they been stalking him?

PAGE 2


PANEL 1


The P's and Tube Creature run past the busted wall.


To a seven-year-old, three lines behind someone means fast movement. I remember spending many afternoons in my backyard running in circles, trying to see if I had lines coming from behind me.


PANEL 2


Bubbly Bomb runs into some sort of house.


What is that, a mud hut? Are we in Africa?


PANEL 3


The P's discover a hole in the wall.


Brave P: Here!

PANEL 4


Looking through the hole, the P's see Bubbly Bomb talking into some electronic video device.


Bubbly Bomb: Nothing, boss.

Evil Face: Well, rebuild the wall!

So they blow this wall up, expecting to find something in it. Then they rebuild it. Then they blow it up again, expecting to find something. Then they rebuild it. And over and over again. What.

PANEL 5


The P's flatten themselves against the wall as Bubbly Bomb leaves the hut.

PAGE 3


PANEL 1


The P's give chase to Bubbly Bomb.


I'm not sure why that "Later" caption is there. I mean, this just happened. Maybe Bubbly Bomb is a really slow walker.


PANEL 2


The P's follow Bubbly Bomb extremely closely.


Here we see the P's give a great example of ghosting. 


PANEL 3


Bubbly Bomb suddenly vanishes, much to everyone's surprise.


Or he turns into a star. It's unclear what's happening here.


PANELS 4 and 5


In a long drawn out sequence, each of the P's vanish/turn into stars as well.

PAGE 4


PANELS 1 and 2


And the rest of them get vaporized too.


To be continued...


Seven-year-old-me is a pro at cliffhangers.

P INFO


By the way, the little helicopter thing's name is Proppely. Apparently I was too caught up in the epic storyline to provide a name for the tube creature in the actual comic. Hopefully the characters read this page so they find out what its name actually is.


Now where have Bubbly Bomb and The P's vaporized to? Guess! Where would Bubbly Bomb vaporize to? A spa?

Apparently, three episodes in warrants a poster. A Very First Poster!, in fact. Obviously I planned on coming out with a lot of these. I don't think seven-year-old me exactly knew what a poster was... considering this one is about half the size of an envelope.


Also I have no idea what is going on in that picture.