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April 01, 2007
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
Greetings and salutations, Shrubville readers. My name is Toby - you may have heard of me before. Actually you may have literally heard me, as I co-host the Prickly City Podcast with P.C. creator and mastermind Scott Stantis. He's sort of my boss, but he's also a great guy and a great comic strip artist.
I've been following Shrubville for some time now after one of your readers brought it to my attention. I've enjoyed quite a bit on the site, especially Sacki's irreverent insights and CJo's well-crafted criticisms (sorry, but The Furnace tends to ramble IMHO). But as a friend and co-worker of Scott's it's been tough at times, especially the (unfair) negative reaction to Scott's writing and drawing abilities. He really is a very talented guy, and I'm sure if you just got to know him you'd have a different take on things.
So why am I here? Well after this week's attorney general/FBI spying double whammy I was approached by the fine people who run Shrubville. They told me that "Scott wins" (whatever that means) and that Shrubville would be no more. As it was explained to me, the siterunners felt as if Scott wasn't putting in the same effort with Prickly City and if he was simply going to repeat himself day in and day out, then so were the writers at Shrubville, and why keep hoeing the same row?
But I disagree. I think my boss is doing some amazing work right now. Take today's strip for example. Scott brings back his recurring character "Baby Go Boom Boomer," tackling how so many of the "me" generation are whining again about still being hip and cool. I myself am part of Generation X, so luckily I'm spared from his wrath. Personally I'm glad Scott has taken the advice of many of the emailers to the podcast AND the Shrubville writers and has brought back one of his characters. It's always great to have another voice besides those of Carmen and Winslow.
Which is why I can't let Shrubville die. While CJo, Sacki, and The Furnace may feel they have little left in the tank, I think that having a site that keeps Scott on his toes is a good thing. He is devoting more time to political topics, which I think has rejuvenated him after his surgery. His Winslow flying strips are as terrific as ever. But there are times when, admittedly, he does take the easy way out. And since I consider myself left-of-center, I'm going to take up the duties of keeping Scott Stantis in check. I do it on the podcasts all the time, so why not my own website too?
So as God as my witness, Shrubville will never go dark again! Or something like that. This week Scott has a great series of strips about us whiny Democrats, Britney Spears, and a truly inventive look at Winslow trying to fly. I think it's some of his best stuff, BUT as the new voice of Shrubville I'm sure I'll be able to find a little something here or there to poke some fun at and keep my boss in line. It'll be a fun ride, and I promise: Shrubville will be as good as ever, and I would never let my working with Scott influence my take on Prickly City. Let the fun begin!
From the new voice of Shrubville - Toby
(Special thanks to CJo, Sacki, and The Furnace - you'll be missed)
Comments
Toby:
Good luck, sir. If I may offer some advice...Start drinking. NOW. Heavily. It's how I made it through 2.5 years of this.
Off to rehab,
CJo
Posted by: CJo at April 1, 2007 09:29 AM
Stantis can't even be original with his awful cartoon. Mallard Filmore also uses gives its baby boomers ponytails.
Posted by: katal at April 1, 2007 12:53 PM
Well, it's a good thing we never had some baby boomer in denial as president!
Posted by: Annie at April 1, 2007 03:30 PM
For Badder or For Worse, Scott always manages to turn out a comic strip, every day. Whether he's talking about politics, celebrities, pop culture, flying coyotes, or Baby Boomers, he always manages to be one of the least interesting cartoonists of all time.
The fact that I still read it is remarkable and depressing, but it's like the ultimate trainwreck -- so disgustingly horrible I am fascinated and can't look away. Kind of like "Diesel Sweeties"... WHY do I still read that again?
Posted by: Chris at April 1, 2007 06:40 PM
sigh. Poor Diesel Sweeties.
My local paper recently dropped it. I can't blame them, yet I love the webcomic.
Some things just don't translate well, apparently.
Posted by: katal at April 1, 2007 09:28 PM
