Why Allan Never Gets Extras Done

[Allan_ecker]

Short answer: School.

Long answer:

I made the somewhat oddball decision to major in the field of electrical engineering AND continue doing my comic. An even queerer decision came at the goading of my then-girlfriend, who is responsible for much of the material in the comic, as well as some editorial influence which continues to this day. The decision was for Umlaut House to go bi-weekly. For most of my EE career, this has proved to be a perfectly acceptable schedule, especially since the summer of 2001, during which I got nearly a year ahead thanks to the lack of homework.

However, as the days since the summer of 2001 wore on, my backlog began to shrink, and my GPA started to very slowly droop. Neither of these things was truly earthshaking; my GPA is still 3.6, and Umlaut House has yet to miss a day, but these figures do point something out: my time is now split between giving the comic the energy it needs and giving my professors enough of a show of my engineering prowess to impress.

This is not to say that I study all day and cartoon all night. Not by a long shot. In fact, I recently took up role playing and a card game named Mao, and got a boyfriend, things which have really, really reduced my overall free-time base.

So, when it comes to me to work on the general group of things called "The Comic", I sit down, take note of the fact that my backlog, which at one time never, ever fell below two months, is now barely over a week long, and start scanning. To make matters worse, I find that the comic is always drawn in fits and starts, so these days I scan, but look anxiously at the last comic drawn and think to myself "what the hell happens NEXT?!?"

Thanks to my ex's steadfast refusal to let the quality of my comic sag, I now view the comic not through my own gentle eyes, but through her more sharp-edged criticism. This has helped to sharpen the edges of the comic's underlying themes, bring new subtlety and consistency to the quality of the characters, and to really annoy me every time I write a strip. I'll sit down, write a strip, swoon over it for a few minutes, then realize that no matter how well I've managed to capture the very -essance- of Volair in a party dress, the comic I have just drawn is in fact garbage. Volair may look beautiful, and perfectly balance on that dizzying edge between sexy and disturbing, but the fact is that he just wouldn't be standing there jabbering with Jake about the meaning of life when there's a party on. So I sigh painfully, and erase AGAIN. (Although, in this particular case, I'd probably save the comic for my "lost episodes" folder.)

I think I should be using my sketchbook to draw comics before I actually draw the comics.

And there is of course one more thing. Lately I've been taking to going in to school as early as I can pry myself out of bed, staying there untill I can not possibly stand it any more, then coming home and going to dinner with my friends. Very often I end up hanging out with them until bed time, which prevents me from doing ANY of the above creative process. However, I have taken today "off", and may yet get to scanning, writing, and sketching, so the backlog may get a boost today, and maybe, just maybe, I'll do some of those extras I keep wanting to do.

Jeez, looking back on this, it seems kinda negative. But this comic is really a serious undertaking for me. Here, my creativity is being forced to create something consistant, and in learning to channel one kind of energy, I've learned how to channel others. I feel that this comic has made me a better engineer, because I can view my own work with a more critical eye. It has made me a better person, because I am forced to look deeper into people to find out what they'd "really" do next. So don't feel sorry for me. I'm having a grand old time.

It's just that it's becoming a very CROWDED grand old time.

--Allan Christopher Ecker

[Kesh]

Wow. First off, congrats on the SO! Hope everything turns out great for the two of you.

Second, we really do appreciate the work you put into the comic. I know it's a great part of my day to check in and see what the UH gang is up to now. Even on terrible days, I get a lift from this page you've made.

So, thank you, and here's hoping 2003 turns out well!

[Alfador]

*grins enigmatically*

[ZOMBIE USER 12699]

*grins enigmatically*

You wouldn't be hiding anything would you? 8)

[Schol-R-LEA]

I'll sit down, write a strip, swoon over it for a few minutes, then realize that no matter how well I've managed to capture the very -essance- of Volair in a party dress, the comic I have just drawn is in fact garbage. Volair may look beautiful, and perfectly balance on that dizzying edge between sexy and disturbing, but the fact is that he just wouldn't be standing there jabbering with Jake about the meaning of life when there's a party on.

<tries to picture Volair acting in such a Bruno-esque fashion>No, you're right, he wouldn't. Which is probably a Good Thing.

(Not to knock Bruno, mind you - it is actually a favorite strip of mine - but not every strip can work the same way, and one of the better things about UH is that Volair isn't plagued by life-destroying angst in the way Bruno is. Chris Baldwin's style is suited for the sort of strip he draws, while your style is more suited for the kind of off-kilter 'sex, spies & gadgets' strip this has become.)

[ZOMBIE USER 8834]

The decision was for Umlaut House to go bi-weekly.

So, what, every week Volair jumps back in the closet and on tuesday comes out and shouts, "Surprise, I'm Bi!"

Hee hee.

Sorry, couldn't resist a little fallacious interlude there.

Number one, and the thing I am forever telling The Gneech: It's YOUR comic. Not ours. Not your professors'. Not the Dub's. You do it for yourself, and at the rate and schedule you can afford. Don't do it for any of us, because you'll start to resent it. And that is never good.

And congrats on the boyfriend! I mean, gosh! You've become a real heartbraker to all your fans!

But the big, US$300,000 question is: "Is it anyone we know?!?!?"

-=TK 8)

[Alfador]

But the big, US$300,000 question is: "Is it anyone we know?!?!?"

As a fellow resident of the University of Washington, I happen to have information. Thus I can say with a relatively large amount of certainty: Yes.

[ZOMBIE USER 12699]

But the big, US$300,000 question is: "Is it anyone we know?!?!?"

As a fellow resident of the University of Washington, I happen to have information. Thus I can say with a relatively large amount of certainty: Yes.

Just think of how much money a resident of the UW can make with such privilaged information.

*goes back to watching outlaw star*

[Alfador]

But the big, US$300,000 question is: "Is it anyone we know?!?!?"

As a fellow resident of the University of Washington, I happen to have information. Thus I can say with a relatively large amount of certainty: Yes.

Just think of how much money a resident of the UW can make with such privilaged information.

*goes back to watching outlaw star*

*just plain grins*

[ZOMBIE USER 8511]

*just plain grins*

You know, I'm torn between saying:

"Give the guy a break. The archives are huge!"

and

"You're eeeeee-eeeeevil. I like that in a person."

So consider me to have said both.

[Hampster]

Well, unlike cetain people around here, I can only do so much to relax the artist...

But I'll do what I can, (something that can be said about most of the people here.)

I'm with Alfy on this one, (or maybe I just wish I was)

Comic on tuesday, Words Needed on friday.

[Allan_ecker]

Your wish is granted!

Well, at first I felt pretty guilty about cutting down the amount of actual comic-y goodness you guys get, but I figure as long as there's something new on update days...

Plus I'll be using this time to get ahead. I think the next storyline (which is where the Friday WN's will start) should be pretty fun.

[ZOMBIE USER 8834]

As a fellow resident of the University of Washington, I happen to have information. Thus I can say with a relatively large amount of certainty: Yes.

Just think of how much money a resident of the UW can make with such privilaged information.

*just plain grins*

Well, let me congratulate the two of you! And now I have to be sure more than ever to make it to Conifur next fall.

You two had better not be gradumatating this spring... I'd be heartbroken.

-=TK

[Allan_ecker]

Motivate, masturbate, graduate.

Well, I am actually graduating this year, but there's a very strong possibility (something like 60%) that I'll be going to graduate school here at the U.

Heh, there's even a possibility I'll be Alfador's TA.

[ZOMBIE USER 8834]

Motivate, masturbate, graduate.

*Blink, blink* Dood, you should not play with my mind like that!

So if you stay in the Seattle area for whatever reason, can I crash at your place for the con? (No, I'm not coming on to you... unless you want me to.)

-=TK

[WolfFur]

Motivate, masturbate, graduate.

Heh, there's even a possibility I'll be Alfador's TA.

You'll be his Tits and Ass?

Sorry about that. ;^)

[Andrick]

Sorry about that. ;^)

No, you're not!

[Allan_ecker]

So if you stay in the Seattle area for whatever reason, can I crash at your place for the con? (No, I'm not coming on to you... unless you want me to.)

If you don't mind sharing a lumpy dorm bed you could.

[ZOMBIE USER 8834]

If you don't mind sharing a lumpy dorm bed you could.

Suddenly, an image of Closet Coon pops into my head. Hee hee.

Seriously, I'd just bring my therm-a-rest and sleeping bag, and crash on the floor. IRL, I make it a point to behave. It's only when the fourth wall is up that I have sex with Cal.

-=TK

[WolfFur]

If you don't mind sharing a lumpy dorm bed you could.

Suddenly, an image of Closet Coon pops into my head. Hee hee.

Seriously, I'd just bring my therm-a-rest and sleeping bag, and crash on the floor. IRL, I make it a point to behave. It's only when the fourth wall is up that I have sex with Cal.

-=TK

Screw that! I'm going to share the lumpy dorm bed... the more, the merrier!

... Naked Twister, anyone?