There may be some growing pains over the next several days, as I try to figure out how to code in CSS.  So far, I'm having some issues with the differences between Internet Explorer and Firefox.  Everything is looking good in IE, but Firefox is showing a few items misaligned by a handful of pixels.  If anyone knows CSS and would like to check my source code for errors, I'm all for it.

In other news, I'm going to be doing something a bit different over the next six weeks or so.  The strips over that period will not be canon.  That is, they will not take place within the same storyline as everything else up to this point.  Once these strips are finished, we'll be back to our regular storyline.

Why exactly am I doing this?  Well, I have long planned on submitting a new package of strips to the newspaper syndicates.  However, I haven't had any time to work on them, while still pumping out my normal 3 strips per week.  In other words, I'm taking a break from Sandusky to work on...Sandusky.

The bad news (maybe) is that these strips will be in black and white.  Most of you probably know that newspapers don't print in color except on Sundays.  The good news is that you'll (hopefully) be getting twice the number of strips each week.  My current plan is to update every day but Sunday.  That's six strips per week!  We'll see how long that lasts.  

Anyway, if anybody has any questions, comments, critiques, suggestions, etc., I'd be happy to hear them.

I, for one, hope that this goes well for you mate. Sandusky is at the very top of my (Rather large) webcomic list and i have to say that you do a teriffic job on it.

Thanks for the heads-up so we'll know what's going on, but we also know what it's for, so Good Luck to you, John!

Firefox is my browser of choice, but unfortunately, I know next to nothing about CSS coding.

Wow, the main page looks so much different now...

The new page looks different.  Looks good.

6 strips a week sounds great!  We'll miss the color, but it would be so cool if you get in the newspaper.

I wont mind loosing the color if it allows you to get into a newspaper (dont mind a color weekend comic...)

Do you need any donations for the bribery jar? "-"  (sorry, personally, Im broke)

I dont recall if I know CSS, Ill have to check.  I do know BBCode (common forum language), php, html, and a decent amount of javascrïpt.

(Argh, I've been trying to post this for nearly two days while the forum *and* my internet connection have been trying to stop this from happening)

Similar to Redtail's list, Sandusky is in the very top of my long list too. I really hope you can get it published somewhere, it's truly a good one and I think much worse strips are being published by newspapers these days. Perhaps you'd be the one to realize the dream of web cartoonists and make Sandusky a living instead of a hobby.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, everyone!  I figure my chances are about the same as hitting the lottery, but I suppose you'll never know unless you try.

As for the website, I think I've gotten the majority of the bugs fixed (there were a lot).  If anyone else sees anything out of the ordinary, please let me know.

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Do you need any donations for the bribery jar?

Well, I certainly won't complain about any donations that come my way, but I'm not going to be running one of those disclaimers that say "donate this much or I won't draw anything this month".

Wow!

The new look was overwhelming at first - in a good way!

Good luck, John. Make us proud.

why is this newest one #1 again?

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Wow! The new look was overwhelming at first - in a good way!

Glad you like it!  I suppose it is rather drastic.  

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why is this newest one #1 again?

As you'll see, these black and white strips are not "canon".  That is, they don't take place in the same storyline as the color strips.  It's a bit like starting over from scratch, for the sake of the newspaper syndicate submissions.  A lot of things are the same, but there are some character relationships which are different.  You'll see those differences next week, in particular.

Once I've had a chance to finish up the sumbission strips, I'll be going back to the original storyline.

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John wrote : Thanks for the words of encouragement, everyone!  I figure my chances are about the same as hitting the lottery, but I suppose you'll never know unless you try. As for the website, I think I've gotten the majority of the bugs fixed (there were a lot).  If anyone else sees anything out of the ordinary, please let me know. Quote : Do you need any donations for the bribery jar? Well, I certainly won't complain about any donations that come my way, but I'm not going to be running one of those disclaimers that say "donate this much or I won't draw anything this month".

I was wondering if you needed any help with the bribes "-"

But unfortionly, I cant really help with that since I am broke <,>-<,>

Looking good, John.  How far in advance are you drawing them than when they're posted?

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How far in advance are you drawing them than when they're posted?

I'm usually a good fifteen to twenty minutes ahead.  

I actually have a decent amount of strips penciled in.  Some days I'm in the mood to draw, some days I'm in the mood to ink, and some days I'm in the mood to put them onto my computer.  Most days, however, I'm in the mood to take a nap on my sofa.

The computer part is usually done at the last minute, because I tend to spend more of my time drawing and inking.  What's nice about these black and white strips is that the computer time is drastically reduced.  I do spend a lot more time on drawing and inking, though.  You can hide poor techniques when you color things.  When it's all black and white, that becomes much more difficult.  

15-20 minutes, eh?  Heh... I think I read somewhere that syndicated cartoonists are usually about a week ahead of the printing schedule.  The really ambitious ones are a month ahead, until they get sick or have to take time off, and then they deplete their stock and are back down to the fifteen-to-twenty minute backup.  

If it gets published and the general public love it, Sandusky could become the next Garfield  ;)  Personally i like Sandusky better than Garfield.  

--Last edited by Redtail Fox on 2008-03-04 01:11:20 --

Gah, Garfield hasn't been funny in ages... Sandusky's pest control, however, made me snicker this morning as I was getting ready for work.  

Heheh, how did Dusker manage to get paw prints on the back side of the door anyway?

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Merlin wrote : Gah, Garfield hasn't been funny in ages... Sandusky's pest control, however, made me snicker this morning as I was getting ready for work.

You stole the words from my mouth, Merlin, I've never found Garfield very enjoyable not to mention the fact it's been run for too long already. To me, Sandusky is from a different planet in comparison.

The third panel with Scott is cool.

Personally, I wouldn't mind Sandusky being the next Garfield.  I wouldn't be upset with multiple Sandusky movies, a cartoon series, and a few dozen books to my name (not to mention Bill Murray voicing my main character).  I'm sure Jim Davis isn't doing too bad for himself.

Then again, Garfield hasn't been funny since 1984.

Then again again, there are still worse strips in the newspaper that I would get rid of ahead of Garfield.

Here's a webpage some of you may enjoy (it includes Garfield)...

http://www.dailyramblings.com/ramblings/561.php

But, the worst comic strip of all time is Sylvia.  OK, I've never actually read it, but that's only because I can't get past the horrible horrible artwork to try and read it.  And, I feel really bad for saying that, since I have a niece named Sylvia.

http://www.comicspage.com/sylvia/index.html