I really can’t believe we’re almost finished with the prologue. There’s just one more page left! Starting a multi-chapter comic with a full, twenty-two page prologue is kind of like kickstarting a bike… and then sitting there, revving it, louder and louder, for an entire day. By the time you finally pop the clutch and speed out of the driveway, you’re primed and ready for a long, rowdy haul.
I think I might have mixed a couple of very different road trip metaphors there.
Until February of 2011, I’d never written or illustrated a comic. I mean, okay, yes, I’d briefly worked on a strip during my freshman year of high school, but it wasn’t really… good. And I’d never published one until July, when I launched this site. It’s still a bit of a surprise to me that I’m doing this. Don’t I know that I don’t have time for this?
One of the things I’ve enjoyed the most about starting a webcomic is that it’s given me something to talk about with other people who are doing the same thing, or working on real, tangible comics. It was pretty thrilling when Rus Wooton liked Eleanor on Facebook, or when Gabriel Rodriguez started following me on Twitter. It’s kind of cool how you can brush up against people these days. The gap between those who do and those who consume has closed dramatically, making it much more fun for people on either side.
Anyway, okay: Eleanor is knitting! You were dubious, I know, but look, she’s doing it. And doing it quite well. And quite obsessively. Did you catch that unanswered question in panel one? There’s something deep to Eleanor’s interest here. Knitting might just become her voice.
(A disclaimer as we enter the knitting pages of Eleanor’s story: My wife, Felicia, is a massively talented knitting ninja. She’s not responsible for any errors in knitting technique that I might have drawn. Anyway, Eleanor’s learning, so I’ll blame any bad form on her rookieness. At least for now.)
Thursday we’ll see the end of the prologue, but it’s nowhere near the end of the story. We’ll steam right on into Chapter One, starting a week from today! Thanks to all of Eleanor’s new fans on Facebook — lots of new readers this week!
Meanwhile, after you’ve enjoyed the page above, I’d like to introduce you to Copper, a gorgeous monthly webcomic that’s nothing less than a modern-day Calvin & Hobbes. Kazu Kibuishi elevates the story of a boy and his grumpy dog to something almost cosmic at times. (This is one of my favorites.) There’s a nice fat archive waiting for you. Enjoy!
i must have missed who the parent and son are in the “one week later” frame. confused! but lovelovelove the story and the images. yay eleanor!
Paul is Eleanor’s father. In that panel, he’s saying goodbye to his mother (who arrives at the beginning of today’s page, stays for a week, teaches Eleanor to knit, and moves on). Does that clear things up? :D
I’m with you. It’s amazing the amount of connections you make by putting something out there. When I was little I wrote to my favorite author, Bruce Coville and he wrote back. We actually had several correspondences, which was the highlight of my childhood! Now as an adult reading web comics it is so much easier to get/keep in touch with the people who inspire you. Yay technology!
It’s too cool, isn’t it? Creative and interesting people are more accessible to their audience than ever. I love it.