Cow-Boy Chronicles: Episode 4

I’ve been wordier in discussing these strips than I had initially intended, but I guess that just reflects my intrinsic desire to dissect things. It does remind me of a conversation I once had as a graduate student with an undergraduate student working with me. This student asked how I made a comic strip and I explained the process or coming up with an idea, writing/editing the dialogue, laying out the art, lettering, penciling and inking. When I was done, she looked at me and said, “Wow. You put that much thought into it?” I was stunned. I guess she thought that I just sat done and started drawing my stream of consciousness. Or, maybe she was suggesting that the comics don’t read like they involve any preparation. Anyway the answer is, yes, I think about it that much. That said, there isn’t a lot to say about today’s episode.

It’s only the 4th strip in the series and we’re already hobbling along on bad Cow-related puns like Commissioner Borden (Borden milk. Borden rhymes with Gordon. Like in Batman? Get it?). Looks like I was channeling a lot of Batman action this strip. Its very subtle, so if you don’t spot the references let me know. Except for Commission Borden, most of the bovine equivalents of Batman gear are never actually used again. There is no stately Dairy Manor, Cow-Boy lives with his mom and dad and we never see the Cow-phone or Milk Mobile again. Although, I really like the bendy straw exhaust pipe.