“Four x Four Comix #00”

Most of the images I draw or paint follow a specific formula: a single, unified image (often a doodle or cartoon) with an odd, ironic, or joke title, which changes the meaning of the image in some way. However, I HAVE been known on occasion to create comics. Not often, but more lately, for some reason. (I’ve had just a few of these published in the occasional indie or college paper, but more often, I’ll just self-publish them.)

Comics, in order for them to BE comics, (if we are to believe Scott McCloud,) require at least two images presented in sequence where the “reader” interprets the first image as in some way leading into the second. One of McCloud’s best examples in his brilliant book, Understanding Comics, is an image of a simplified, open eye, and then an oval shape, that could be interpreted as the same eye being closed---IF we assume that the space between the two images represents, in some way, motion or the passage of time. For most people who grew up seeing comics (in newspapers or advertisements or “how-to” instruction pamphlets or, maybe, in actual comic books), the assumption that one image with an eye open and another with an eye closed is a progression---one eye closing---and not just two separate eyes, and this assumption is automatic.

We “get it.”

Comics are weird and cool, and even if you don’t have an epic STORY that you’re trying to tell, it’s still fun to experiment with the MEDIUM of comics---the form.

Here are a couple of my experiments:

“Epic Drama (Eaten)”

“Clunky Modem Comics”

“Hilarious Hilarity Comics”

At some point, maybe a year-and-a-half or two years ago, I started working with a four panel format…

…but the funny thing, to me, is that most of the comics that I create in this format AREN’T PLANNED. They are “automatic” comics! (Like “automatic writing,” only without the silly supernaturalism mixed in it... Sorry if you’re into spiritualism. I’m more of a believer in the weirdness of psychology, as opposed to the existence of “supernatural” forces. AND does any of this have anything to do with comics? If you ask Alan Moore, then YES. Yes it does…)

I start with an image in the upper left panel---a doodle, a scribble, a phrase, a stick-figure or something---and then I try to imagine what might make a weird juxtaposition, an image or phrase that tweaks or expands on the first, but usually something relatively random. If I think of something that makes me chuckle or say, “What the Hell does that mean???” then I feel like I’m on the right track, and I try to imagine a weird punchline to go into panel four (bottom right.) The third panel (bottom left) is the transition panel, where I try to link the punchline to the opening.

These comics don’t always work, and I don’t ALWAYS follow this exact method, but the majority of the time, I’m a big fan of weird, nonsensical silliness, and this short form comic style, telling an entire “story” in four parts, is perfect for me. (I’m too impatient to write and draw a “REAL” 20 to 24 page comic BOOK. Remember, I’m usually a single image guy---like Gary Larson’s Far Side series! So continuing for four whole panels is a stretch for me!)

And now, after all that jabbering, I will finally get to the MEAT of this MEAT-PIE. Below are a number of my four x four comics, which (I’m pretty sure) were all created in 2019 and 2020 (and probably posted on my Steem blog (which is now my HIVE blog!!!) or on The Primitive Entertainment Workshop---my old blog---or on Instagram. I honestly can’t remember when I made or posted these, and I had to dig through lots of image files on my phone and computer (some without adequate name or date info) to find these. There are probably more comics floating around out there, but these are the ones that I could compile in a few hours, today.

Are you ready for this? Here we go:

“Adventures in Unknown Nonsense Comics #409”

“Broken Hip Comics”

“Communication Comics #911”

"Don't Be a Snake!"

“Eat to the Beat Comics #626”

"Holiday Advice from Spider..."

“Lifeless Intensity Comics”

"Lion Tamer on Strike Comics"

“Mindless But…”

"Paranoia Amongst the Critters"

“Real Life Comics”

“Snake Tells It Like It Is…”

“Stomach Cramp Comics #111”

[This last one is brand new and never before published! I think it’s funny…]

You might have noticed that the titles are often complete nonsense, (sometimes based on song titles), and totally unrelated to the comic’s content. That’s fun for me. (And it’s in keeping with my penchant for weird, nonsensical titles on my normal "non-comic" artwork.) I like thinking that people might spend time trying to figure out how a title relates to the content, and I bet they sometimes come up with intricate, interesting explanations. (That’s what I like about collaborating with Richard O’Brien. I’ll send him drawings or cartoons, and he’ll come up with a story or poem that explains the content---and it’s always hilarious and usually NOTHING LIKE what I had in mind when I was working on the art. Different brains see different things!)

So why do I like little comics? I like them because they are simple, but they still make use of the “movement” or passage of time element of the comics medium. The stories are really just a single joke or gag or situation, and the point is (99 percent of the time) just to be funny and weird, which is really easy to do when you can use cartoons and words and colors and the passage of time to tell a tiny story or joke. It’s simple, quick, and completely FREE to create these little things, and they can pretty easily be shared on social media---although, again, I usually make stuff that makes ME laugh. If OTHER folks are also amused, that’s just BONUS POINTS for me! Punk, right? Just making stuff for the love of it!!!

How about you? Are there any comics (paper or online) that you currently enjoy? (Some of my favorite comics creators are Michael Allred, Evan Dorkin, Bob Burden, Michael Kupperman, Bill Watterson, Gary Larson, Rumiko Takahashi, Jay Stephens, Richard Sala, Osamu Tezuka, Bill Sienkiewicz, Marc Hempel, Jack Kirby… I like a lot of comics...but I’m ALWAYS looking for new stuff to read, so feel free to share your favorites!!!) Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you’re into collaborating, too. I’m up for just about anything!!!

Later, skaters!

---Richard F. Yates
(Primitive Thoughtician and Holy Fool)

[P.S. - This article was originally posted on my HIVE blog on 8 Apr. 2020. However, I thought it deserved a few more eyes. All writing and artwork by ME, Richard F. Yates (Holy Fool)!]

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