Feel their growing pains at:
http://www.comics.com/comics/ellingtonway/index.html
Test Your Comics Knowledge
Q: In this classic caveman comic strip King Guz is the ruler of what prehistoric kingdom?
Don’t Know? The answer’s below.
Get to Know Rob Cabrera, Creator of Silo Roberts
"Silo Roberts" is the story of a multiethnic middle child who struggles to find his place in today's melting pot of a world. Honest, funny and realistic, Silo Roberts explores the twin challenges of a kid's struggle to find himself and the next level of his favorite video game.
Question: You have loosely based Silo (the character) on yourself - how much do you really have in common?
Rob Cabrera: Silo shares my love of video games, movies, and tons of athletic inability. Although I've become a better athlete in my adulthood, I find it easier, and much more fun to control guys on a TV screen that have more ability then I do. It's a great way to experience the thrill of sports without actually having to risk injury, or look silly trying. However, in Silo's case, his athletic struggles are just beginning, and his challenges will have a surprising resolution. But the biggest difference between the two of us is that Silo's better looking.
Q: Do any of Silo's family members resemble your own? If so, how?
RC: Silo's immediate family is similar to my own. I have an older brother very similar to Silo's brother Donny. My little sister was as hard-edged in her youth as Lisa is now. And then there's Dianne, who is a testament to my mother balancing a high-profile professional career while raising the three of us. That woman is my hero.
Q: To what degree do you draw on your own experiences as a kid for material - or perspective?
RC: I use my own life experiences to draw ideas from, but once they're filtered through the characters and their agendas, the original idea usually morphs into something better. I also listen to kids and their daily concerns. Today's kids are a lot smarter than many give them credit for.
Q: How much material do you draw from your current experiences as a grade-school teacher in South Florida? What grades do you teach?
RC: Being a 4th grade teacher, I'm exposed to kids' opinions about a lot of different things. One of the most interesting things I've noticed is that a lot of 9-year-old kids usually adopt the phrase "Yeah, right!" around that age. I think that happens because when they realize Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and professional wrestling aren't real, they wonder what else in life is a lie. What's really fascinating is their search for absolute truth either makes them hopeful, or very cynical about the world around them.
Q: You're a former standup comedian. How has that influenced your style of - or approach to - humor?
RC: My years as a standup comic were some of the best times of my life. I enjoyed every minute of it (except on nights when I completely bombed--which happened quite a bit early on.) That experience taught me how to write comedy. It also showed me that my comedy worked best on the printed page instead of on the stage. I used to have a lot of comedy bits that I couldn't pull off on stage because they were too visual in nature. However, with Silo Roberts, I now have the freedom and ability to express any idea that comes to mind.
Q: How did you get started as a cartoonist? Did you always want to do this?
RC: I've been drawing all my life. At first, I wanted to become the next comic book super artist, like Jim Lee. Then I realized drawing a comic strip is a heck of a lot easier than getting the details right on some random computer panel background in an X-Men comic. Besides, people tend to remember your name easier when you draw a comic strip.
Q: Silo is an interesting and appealing character because he's a paradox: he's unique, yet he's also a bit like everyone. Do you see him that way?
RC: I see Silo as a miniature melting pot because he's being raised to embrace all parts of his heritage. In doing that, Silo learns to relate to everyone. Ironically, this is what causes his challenges because Silo doesn't fit neatly in any of society's ethnic circles, which is what makes him (and people like him) unique. Still, Silo has appeal to everyone, the cultural issues Silo faces mirror those that everyone can relate to in the real world.
Q: In what ways might we see Silo develop as a character? Seems like you could just about go anywhere with him - lots of material and directions to explore.
RC: For starters, Silo will not be a 9-year-old boy forever. He and his family will age over the years to constantly keep the stories and circumstances fresh. One of the things audiences will see is Silo's progression from elementary school to high school. Without revealing anything, it'll be a journey with surprising twists along the way.
Q: Do you feel there's a larger social need for a comic strip that more accurately reflects America's multi-racial constituency?
RC: Absolutely. I'm glad that Silo Roberts is a pioneer in the sense that he's the first multi-racial character in the starring role of a comic strip. People of all races always want to see their ethnic group represented in various types of media. Although there are very few examples of multi-racial characters in comics to begin with, the fact that we are seeing more of them is encouraging.
Q: You also gently poke fun at issues, such as the effect of hip-hop on today's kids. Is this just about presenting a more accurate picture of kids today, or about raising issues, or both?
RC: Both. Exploring issues in Silo Roberts makes the characters realistic. I've always enjoyed reading comic strips where the characters dealt with issues people in the real world face. I feel that's a good way for the audience to connect with the characters. However, Silo Roberts is not an issue-driven strip, because it's really more about how this boy and his family make their way through today's world.
Q: Do you feel Silo Roberts fills a need for a comic strip that takes a fresher, more modern look at today's kids?
RC: YES! Too often, I see these smart-alecky kids in strips that really talk and act like adults. I think realistic sounding kids are funnier because they're not always correct in what they say and watching them realize that can be funnier than seeing them make wisecracks beyond their years.
Happy Halloween!
Say BOO to your friends with our frightful Halloween E-cards.
http://www.comics.com/ecards/index.html.
The Fab Four of Pearls Before Swine come together in their first book treasury
Rat, Pig, Zebra, and Goat are back in Sgt. Piggy's Lonely Hearts Club Comic (Andrews McMeel, October 2004), Stephan Pastis' first Pearls Before Swine treasury - supersized for your enjoyment. Like the influential Beatles album that inspired the book's title, Sgt. Piggy is full of surprises.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=unitedmedia&path=
tg/detail/-/0740748076/qid%%3D1087846139/sr%%3D8-3
Peace, Love, Lattes : A Rudy Park Collection
Rudy Park and the other regulars and misfits who hang out at the House of Java coffeehouse form a modern nuclear family, drawn together by something much more powerful than blood: caffeine. So sit down with a warm cup of joe and enjoy Peace, Love, and Lattes, the second collection of Rudy Park, which Newsweek named as one of the top three contenders for new strip of the decade.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=unitedmedia&
path=tg/detail/-/0740746626/qid=1097675207/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1?v=glance&s=books
15 years of "Jump Start" by Robb Armstrong: Joe & Marcy Cobb Celebrate an Anniversary in the Comics
Jump Start, the realistic and funny family comic strip by Robb Armstrong, celebrates 15 years in comics pages on October 2. Jump Start entertains millions of readers every day. One of only a handful of syndicated African-American cartoonists, Armstrong brings a unique perspective to his strip with art and storylines that are upbeat, fun and undeniably true-to-life. The strip can also be found on the Internet at JumpStartComics.com.
Armstrong is a cartoonist who is serious about helping young people set and achieve goals, using himself as a role model. In increasing demand as a motivational speaker, Armstrong's calendar is filled with speaking engagements at schools, churches and libraries throughout the U.S., where he inspires young people with the story of his own success, and how they too can succeed if they stay in school and work toward their goals.
The Answer to our Mind Bending Trivia Question
A: King Guz rules over Moo in the comic strip "Alley Oop". First created in 1933, "Alley Oop" follows the adventures of the time traveling caveman Oop and his companions from the prehistoric era and the 21st century. For over 70 years "Alley Oop" has delighted children of all ages.
Read this timeless strip and find out why: http://www.comics.com/comics/alleyoop/
New Art for Sale Featuring Pearls Before Swine, Alley Oop, Big Nate And More!
Visit our comic stores to check out new collections of custom character art, clothes for the entire family and other great goodies. http://www.cafepress.com/unitedmedia
Pearls Before Swine Store
Oodles of cool new art, magnets, buttons and trendy tees for the hip gal or guy.
http://www.cafepress.com/pearls
Big Nate Store
Gear up the kids with our new selection of fun art featuring the vain yet lovable Nate.
http://www.cafepress.com/bignate
Alley Oop Store
Check out our new collection of classic designs by V.T. Hamlin and modern designs by Jack Bender.
http://www.cafepress.com/alleyoop
Drabble Store
Wiener Dog lovers will laugh at our comical new design featuring Wally doing his trademark skattle.
http://www.cafepress.com/drabble
2005 Comics.Com Calendar Coming Soon!
The first ever 2005 Comics.com calendar! Featuring popular strips like Luann, Rose is Rose and Barkeater Lake this calendar is sure to keep the giggles coming all year long. Keep an eye out. The calendar will be available soon!
Halloween Shivers and Sweatshirt Sale
Take advantage of our Halloween Shivers and Sweatshirt Sale. Get $4 off all sweatshirts & hoodies. Enter coupon code CPSWEATSAL at checkout. Ends November 1st.
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Ellington Way