Stripped is a feature-length documentary on comic strips that I've been co-directing for the last three years. It sits down with dozens of the world's best cartoonists to talk about the art form they love, and what happens to it as newspapers die.  Everyone from Jim Davis (Garfield) to Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes) are interviewed, and it's turning out to be a really special film.  Without exagerration, I think it'll be one of the greatest things I do in my life. Here, have a look at the trailer:

But we hit a wall, in editing the film. We realized we couldn't talk about the death of newspapers without showing how culturally massive they once were, and how famous cartoonists themselves were. And that means using footage we don’t own, like: Charles Schulz' TV specials, interview clips from Carson, 1930's newsreels and more.  It’s footage that improves the film so much...but it's expensive.  In recent months I've paid out tens of thousands from my own savings to cover as much as I can, but I need help for the last mile.

So I'm turning back to Kickstarter -- that amazing, distributed-fundraising platform that lets a bunch of people chip in a few dollars to make great art happen.  If you're someone just now hearing about the film, or someone willing to treat yourself to a copy of the film, it would mean the world to me.  More importantly, you'd be helping a really special film come into the world.

Please check out more sneak-peek clips from the film, here, and if it seems like a film you'd like to support...know you'd be making one cartoonist's dream art project come true.

Thank you!

Walk, don't run, to the Drive store! (...safety first!)

You can either get the regular ol' awesome book, or get the limited-number Artist Edition, which includes a signed sketch!

My project schedule is finally -- finally -- starting to lighten back up, and it looks like I can slowwwwly start returning to DRIVE. This means the world to me...as this story is one I'm very much writing as a gift to myself. And I've missed it.

The big detour, these past five months, has been the documentary film I'm making, STRIPPED. Turns out, feature-length films are immensely complex undertakings that require tons of time. Who could've guessed. WHO COULD'VE GUESSED. :)

Fred Schroeder and I have been pouring all our spare time into it, trying to get it ready for all our Kickstarter backers, and in time for the film festival season. Thankfully, we're nearing the promised land, and I'm proud of how the film is turning out.

Anyway! Over the next 2-3 months, as the post-production work on STRIPPED winds down, I should be able to slowwwly increase the number of DRIVEs I can produce, until we return to our once-a-week schedule.

As I have in the past, I'd recommend adding DRIVE to your RSS feed, or signing up for e-mail delivery, as that'll save you from having to check the site. The updates will be irregular for a few more months, so that's the least stressful option.

Thank you for your kindness and patience during these past few months! Even though DRIVE is a strip I'm drawing as a gift to myself, I know a lotta-lotta folks are getting into it, and have missed it as much as I have. So thankfully our long national nightmare is drawing to a close.