Rated AARGH!

[Mike Howland]

I went hiking this weekend. It was actually quite fun, and it produced this week's comic, so there you go!

Rated AARGH! #104 - Hiking

[Tati]

Glorious. I want more adventures of the Yeti and Bigfoot!
Do they live together? do they have jobs?

[trevorfactor]

Mike,
I've been trying to make due with the Rated Aargh! tshirt that I bought a couple weeks back but unfortunately its already a faded black color due to overuse. Not trying to bust your balls here but MORE T SHIRTS PLEASE??!??!? BTW Athena wants to know when you will be making a tank top or shirt for the ladies (I think you'll be surprised by how popular the suckuby would be with the ladies - think hello kitty but for much cooler girls).

Anyway I still want a fully (bottom to top) decorated T with the zombie head Polo logo and something on the sleave and of course a Full comic on the back but get the next one into production already. If I need to buy the rest of the stock of the 1st shirt to get that moving - let me know. Plus Winter is coming up fast - so seriously what better time to release a killer (black or grey) XL Hoodie that is FULLY decked out with Rated Aargh material?

I'll take this a step further even in suggesting that you create a poll to see which comic strips (maybe you could limit the list down to 20 or 30 strips or something just to keep it easier for the voters) but then just have all the Chud fans & forums crawlers make suggestions and vote on which t-shirts they would pay for or would like to see. Because I promise you brother several people are just waiting for their favorite Rated Aargh strip to be on purchase-able piece and if you print it - they will buy it. Anyway get some feedback from the fans first, ya know?

Alright enough beating you up about this. Excellent comic this week bro. You rock!

Regarding the game Portal ... the cake is a lie! :wink:

Later
-T

[Mike Howland]

Heh, we will indeed be seeing more of Bigfoot and Yeti, though technically Yeti is just visiting from his far far away mountain home. Regarding jobs and such, we'll just have to wait and see...

Portal is so friggin good, Trevor! Goddamn cake. I know I'm like 3 years behind everyone here, but damn that was a fun game. And it was good to see the guys behind Old Man Murray were still funny as fuck.

I promise new shirts are coming buddy, but probably not for a while as my warehouse is the floor of my bedroom and there are also certain economic factors which determine when I can get some new ones made. Until then the instant classic Rated AARGH! logo Tee will be more than happy to sate all your RA clothing needs!

[Mike Howland]

I sure do love me some Stephen King. Specifically Salem's Lot, The Stand, and IT, though I have at least a passing affection for just about everything before that book about the wife chained to the bed. Which of course includes Firestarter, which was just goddamn fantastic. I'm all about come-uppance, and Charlie deals that shit out is spades at the end of that book. You go girl!

Speaking of burning sensations:

Rated AARGH! #105 - Still Startin'

[Tati]

That happened to me once...

[Mike Howland]

Yowch! I'm sorry to hear that Tati, I hope it was more a "Flame On" type of thing than a "That dood in Dante's Peak who jumped in the lava" type of thing...

Rated AARGH! #106 - Potty Humour

[Tati]

Damn, where can i get that toilet?

[Mike Howland]

Right? I'm pretty sure that it's just Soul Edge in toilet form. The thought of which really makes me want to draw a Soul Calibur version as well, actually...

[DARKMITE8]

Originally Posted by Mike Howland

I went hiking this weekend. It was actually quite fun, and it produced this week's comic, so there you go!

Rated AARGH! #104 - Hiking

That one's great. My IE window was small, so the reveal had to be scroll-discovered. Yay me!

I don't comment enough in here, but as a fellow cartoonist, keep up the steady quality work! You should consider collecting them into a self-published comic/zine.

[Mike Howland]

Thank you sir! I thoroughly enjoyed that one myself! Cartoonist-wise, it can be rough sometimes, huh? Luckily RA gives me a lot of freedom as far as what I want to draw; as long as I can squeeze a couple of drops of funny out it, I can pretty-up just about any doodle into a strip. Also, I love my new Photoshop speed-lines filter. I just can't quit it.

Rated AARGH! #107 - Dinner Time

[Rob Rocco]

Great work, as always, Mike. I love the "monster in every-day social setting" themes in your work.

[Tati]

TErrific. Just Terrific.

[DARKMITE8]

Originally Posted by Mike Howland

Also, I love my new Photoshop speed-lines filter. I just can't quit it.

Thanks for the heads up on the plug-in. I'll have to fool with it.

http://www.download.com/Photoshop-Ma...-10739875.html

Do you have a source for good comic-style half-tone patterns for PS? I use to have to cut them out with an exacto by hand and stick the zipatone directly on the art. Ah, the digital era.

Here's some and more links, but I need more variety (and in English): http://psychobob.xepher.net/screentonez/

EDIT: Free screentones here and here.

More here as well for sale.

[Mike Howland]

Thanks guys! Monster's in everyday settings make for a pretty easy target, as it is just so incongruous. Plus, everyone (or at least me) wonders about what these hideous beasts get up to when they are not terrorizing nubile young maidens with allergic reactions to clothing. Though certainly those points in a monster's day make for better film.

This is the plug-in I'm talking about, you can find it all over if you google for it. It's pretty friggin great. Thanks for those links to the tones! I've been toying with the idea of using them in the comic, but I haven't found anything I like yet, so I'm looking forward to checking those out.

Hahaha! Yeah, cutting them out is a giant pain in the ass! Graphic design is so much easier for these damn kids today. Well, and for me too, so I guess that's cool.

[Mike Howland]

More hot Yeti action! Though Bigfoot didn't make it, as he was further down in the bar, polishing off a barrel of peanuts.

Rated AARGH! #108 - Soiled

[Tati]

Yes, use your powers for good, please!

[Mike Howland]

Rated AARGH! #109 - Change of Heart

[Tati]

Great. You can never go wrong with a 2 girls 1 cup reference.

[Mike Howland]

Exactly! Man, is that one foul video. Though it was worth watching it just to be able to make references to it for the rest of my life. Not that I watched the whole thing, for the record. My weak-ass stomach tapped out almost as soon as it really got going...

Rated AARGH! #110 - Quarantine

[Tati]

Great as usual. Zombies high Fiving each other needs to be worked into a movie.

[Mike Howland]

Right? A zombie hi-five is a rare and wonderful thing, like a unicorn. Or perhaps an xbox 360 pad that was worth a damn for fighting games. Sadly, except for perhaps the unicorn, I think we're pretty much out of luck. And I can't remember the last movie I saw a unicorn in. Well, except for The Last Unicorn of course. But I digress...

Rated AARGH! #111 - Preparations

[Tati]

Everyone needs to prepare. What really makes the joke is the music note. He's humming? can he hum? Is it just a thought of a hum? So many questions, so much greatness.

[Showvillain]

For some reason, the fact that the Headless Horseman is left-handed makes me smile, though not as much as the continued existence of the mummy's scarab codpiece.

Also, is that a tray of baked pumpkin seeds in the corner of the last panel?

[Mike Howland]

Thanks! The music note is actually my favorite part as well. He just seems so content. I really wanted to capture the feeling of a cozy (slightly shabby) fall night at home. Plus, how does he even do that?

10 points Showvillain! That is indeed a tray of pumpkin seeds! Suprisingly popular with supernatural equestrians, apparently...

Drawing scarab codpieces just feels so right. I can't quit it.

[Showvillain]

Originally Posted by Mike Howland

Thanks! The music note is actually my favorite part as well. He just seems so content. I really wanted to capture the feeling of a cozy (slightly shabby) fall night at home. Plus, how does he even do that?

"You know how to whistle, don't you? Just scrunch your severed neck-stump together and blow..."

[Mike Howland]

Amazing. Plus, it can't help but lead you to picture this

[Mike Howland]

Well, it had to happen sometime and I'm sorry to say today is the day. Rated AARGH! is going to miss a week! I know, I know, I'm a terrible person. I'm off on a business trip in San Diego, and I haven't been able to get my hands on a scanner and I suck at ASCII art. Y'all have my humblest apologies, and I promise another one will be coming at the usual time next week. Until then why don't you check out Dinosaur Comics or Perry Bible Fellowship?

'Till next week!

[Tati]

Well, you've earned it.

[Mike Howland]

Thank you sir! I'm happy to report we are back on track and a new comic is up and ready for your consumption. Zombies, girls and consequences are the themes of the day, along with conversations you never want to have. Enjoy!

Rated AARGH! #112 - You Can't Go Back

[Tati]

AHhahaha great.

I was secretly hoping that you'd make the zombies vote for Obama or something. But this was equally great.

[Mike Howland]

Hahaha! That would have indeed been great! However, my best friend and my brother have pretty spectacular arguements about politics, and frankly, I do my best not to fan the flames on either side of the equation...

On an unrelated voting note, I must admit that I am psyched that my "Aye" vote for Ballot Question #2 in Massachusetts was not for naught. Woohoo! Go democracy!

[trevorfactor]

Good to have you back bro! Wednesday is just not the same without a Rated Aargh strip. I almost lost my job last week because you didn't post anything ... j/k .. I haven't worked in months

Anyway I just saw this movie trailer and thought you would want to check this out. Fanboys

Enjoy
T

[Mike Howland]

I wouldn't say I miss it...

Heh. That's awesome Trevor. I'm glad I'm not responsible at least. In continuing with my non-responsibility here's

Rated AARGH! #113 - Past Glories

[Anakin's Dad]

Bravo, sir. Bravo.

[Mike Howland]

Thank you sir! I really used to love that show. Of course, I used to love most of the shows on Nickledoen. Even though I never got on Double Dare. Bastards.

In compleletly unrelated news, that girl in the ad on the homepage with the "Why so Syria" shirt is damn cute. Also unrelated -

Rated AARGH! #114 - That's Gotta Hurt

[Mike Howland]

Finally! Sorry, there were some technical issues at Chez Mike's last night and the grand unveiling of Rated AARGH! #115 - Beer Goggles was delayed. Feel free to blame, in any order, my brothers, Craig Mack, strippers, beer, whiskey, other stuff. Also my computer. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

[Tati]

I'd like to know where that bar is!

[IggytheBorg]

What the fuck for? You don't need beer goggles, if the pix of you and all the Argentinian hotties you continue to post in the Chewervision thread are any indication.

And Mike, I find it hard to blame strippers for anything. And I can usually forgive whisky & beer their transgressions after just a short time, too.

Edited for spelling, and to add: I just noticed how often Tati posts in this thread. I think he's Mike's fan the way I was always Chris O's. Please tell me that you bought a T-shirt, T-man? I can say from personal experience they're cool. Can't wait for the next RL Chewer get together so I can sport it for people who'll actually know what it means..

Mike: Any word on a second design, maybe like Trevorfactor's idea on page 5?

[Tati]

I'm a huge fan. And it kinda pisses me off that no one else posts. Mike's work should be followed by everyone. And no, i don't have a T-Shirt. Would love one though, but the international shipping and exchange rate make it very very expensive for me!

[IggytheBorg]

I assume a lot of folks are, like me, reading & enjoying these strips on a regular basis, but not posting about it, for whatever reason. I think it's pretty safe to say that, like me, they're all enjoying the comic. But kudos to you, mi hermano, for keeping the faith and posting here so much. God forbid Mike ever started to feel unappreciated & decided to chuck the strip. Immense sadness might ensue. I might have to defenestrate myself.

[Andrew Tom]

Oh I love the strip. Just seeing that a new one is out makes me smile. Keep up the good work!

[Mike Howland]

Heh. It was a number of bars actually - and I can assure you that everyone (and thing) has been forgiven. I too have a soft spot in my heart wherever strippers and booze are concerned. Except for Mescal. That I can never forgive.

Tati has indeed been keeping the faith! I certainly wouldn't want anyone to defenestrate themselves and whenever someone posts in here it helps stave off any morbid thoughts I may be having of chucking the strip. Luckily, it's just so fun to draw, so such thoughts are few and far between. Plus I'm not rich yet.

A new shirt is slowly proceeding and should be out sometime next year! Fans of Trevor's idea should be pleased....

Thanks Andrew Tom! I'm glad you're enjoying the strip!

Rated AARGH! #116 - Left 4 Dead

[Tati]

Loved it. I can't fucking wait till i can play that damn game. Everyone is having so much fun with it.

[IggytheBorg]

Originally Posted by Mike Howland

A new shirt is slowly proceeding and should be out sometime next year! Fans of Trevor's idea should be pleased....


Rated AARGH! #116 - Left 4 Dead

[Stares goggle eyed at screen for a few seconds]

Alllll RRRIIIIIIGHHHHT!

As for this week's strip, it instantly reminded me of my video game history with my brother. He was aways the one to buy the computer or console, and throw in a game with no idea how it worked. He'd then throw the manual at me and say "read this and tell me what to do". We almost never played cooperatively; I'd be watching him play and throwing out tidbits like "Shoot the green ones!" "Pick that up!" or "To cast a spell you. . . ". It was a system that worked since he was actually much, much better than me at actually PLAYING the games, and I was much better at analyzing rules.

Guess that explains my current profession as an attorney. Anyway, this strip evoked fond, heartwarming memories of time spent with my brother jointly fumbling our way thru such classics as "Legacy: the Realm of Terror", X-Com "UFO Defense" & "Terror from the Deep", and "Sid Meier's Civilization II". And III. Touched a heart string, as all good art should. Whod'a thunk a dropped Molotov cocktail could do that?

[Mike Howland]

It's true, sadly whenever a Molotov touches a heart string, it tends to leave only a burned, blackened cinder. Unless it was thrown by a Care Bear of course. Which is a fantastic image that I think I'll doodle at my next meeting at work.

Geeze, those are some fantastic games! They are also ones where the manual helps a fair bit. I remember renting Ico and not being able to get past a certain point right in the beginning. After traipsing back and forth a few hundred times, we finally jumped on Prodigy (so tech!) and checked it out online. All you had to do was press R1 or some such shit and beckon Yorda to get her ass over there. Which was apparently quite thoroughly explained in the manual, which, being a rental, wasn't present. The moral of the story is that manuals are good. Except when trying to figure out how to transform a Transformer, then they are cheating.

Rated AARGH! #117 - Honest Mistake

[Tati]

Master of illusions?

Hahahaa nice

[Mike Howland]

Heh. Thanks! God knows where I got "Master" from. Clearly too much He-man growing up...

[Mike Howland]

Ah, Dr. Who. I loved that crazy timwalking mofo. Mostly the Tom Baker one, but they all had a special place in my heart. Even the one that looked like Beatrice Arthur. Sadly, he/she doesn't feature in the following comic.

Rated AARGH! #118 - Invasion Issues

[Tati]

Never watched Dr Who, but you can surely draw a bunny dildo!