Comic Stripping

In the early 2010s, I started writing a webcomic that centred on the lives of two goldfish. This was not my first experience with writing comics — I had sold some strips to magazines in the past, and had worked as a staff cartoonist for a financial newspaper for a time — but this was the first time I was writing strips for myself. Writing a webcomic began as an outlet: I was doing a lot of stand up and wanted to explore humour in a way that didn’t involve being on a stage in front of an audience. It evolved into something I did every day for two years. 

Ned & Larry was never a money-making comic; most months, it was just the opposite. What it was, was an opportunity to do something that was creative and fun. It allowed me to remember why I love doing this — not for money, or security, or praise, but because I love to draw comics. The self-imposed deadline of a daily posting kept me from getting too caught up in criticism or self-doubt, and allowed — forced — me to move on, as each day demanded something new.

Of course, I also wanted people to read it, and I was thrilled when they did. As the months went on, Ned & Larry developed something of a following; GoComics even posted an article about it on their Sherpa blog:

SHERPA HIGHLIGHT: NED & LARRY

by Julia Gigliotti, Oct 9th, 2012

“Ned & Larry is an up-and-coming daily comic panel by Robin Crossman, found on the GoComics Sherpa page. It is a simple panel with vibrant colors and quick punch lines. Crossman adds entertainment, through the use of sarcasm, to the mundane existence of life in a fishbowl. Ned is a plump and optimistic goldfish who tries to make the best of every situation. His roommate, Larry, is the exact opposite. He is cynical and unenthusiastic -- always finding the negative in a situation.

The two goldfish play off each other nicely. Ned usually offers the lead statement, and Larry follows through with the pun. It's quick and to the point. The humour in this comic panel is very transparent, and that's why I love it. The panel is pleasing to the eye and easy to understand, making it a comic that can appeal to a wide variety of people.”

It was a tremendous compliment. But time passed, and by the end of two years, I was done. More than done — bored. My interests had changed, and I wanted to write on a broader range of subjects. This thing that had begun as a writing exercise had gone on to have a good long life, but by the end of it, Ned and Larry had well and truly worn out their welcome in my mind.

These days, this cartoonist's fingers are mostly busy making comics and art for markets, but I always keep one hand in the comic-strip world, just in case. I’ve written strips for property managers, golfers, bankers, doctors, and even lawyers (yes, it was challenging to come up with new material there). As a result, I've learned more about medicine, law, real estate and finance than I ever thought I would. Why? Because it's difficult to write a joke about something if you don't know what you're talking about — although, some days, I think not knowing might be more helpful (politics). 

Now and then, I think about reviving Ned & Larry, with a new name and updated artwork, and imagine pulling out all the strips I've got tucked away in a folder, waiting for the day if/when I decide to put them back into the world. I could even put my encyclopaedic knowledge of the West Wing to good use and write a crossover series about the adventures of Ned & Larry with Gail the Goldfish. This hasn’t come to anything yet: my hands are pretty full at the moment. But at least I’ve changed the water and sprinkled a little food in. That’s good enough, for now.