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PANEL 1: CAPTAIN TIL continues the conversation from previous page. The reading light is on over her shoulder. TIL: And did the Ambassador indicate the NEXT Emperor? PANEL 2: The other GRASSKAN points as he continues. GRASSKAN: The humans have an odd system. It’s a Familia-Run elective monarchy. But the winners are usually favored by Primogeniture or Proximity of Blood. PANEL 3: In silhouette the GRASSKAN and TIL continue their conversation with the reading lamp between them. GRASSKAN: …but also violence. TIL: Hrm. And I assume there’s no hope of a wise, old Empress? PANEL 4: Close up on the GRASSKAN as he continues. GRASSKAN: Of the candidates who survived, it appears not. All signs seem to point to— PANEL 5: Close up on TIL’s face as she reacts. GRASSKAN (off panel): A 16-YEAR OLD BOY. TIL, quietly: Bless the Mothers PANEL 6: Over TIL’s shoulder the GRASSKAN continues. GRASSKAN: You actually served him at table, Ma’am. TIL, with an exclamation next to her word bubble: What?? That boy FERNANDO is next in line?? PANEL 7: The GRASSKAN slumps in reaction as TIL turns, aghast. GRASSKAN: It would appear so. TIL: I will have trouble answering to someone who ate six servings of cake. ——— Want to read the full story? Join us at Patreon.com/drive for the *FULL* Tales of the Drive archives, art giveaways, fun community, and more! DRIVE copyright Dave Kellett. Colors by Beth Reidmiller
PANEL 1: CAPTAIN TIL continues the conversation from previous page. The reading light is on over her shoulder. TIL: And did the Ambassador indicate the NEXT Emperor? PANEL 2: The other GRASSKAN points as he continues. GRASSKAN: The humans have an odd system. It’s a Familia-Run elective monarchy. But the winners are usually favored by Primogeniture or Proximity of Blood. PANEL 3: In silhouette the GRASSKAN and TIL continue their conversation with the reading lamp between them. GRASSKAN: …but also violence. TIL: Hrm. And I assume there’s no hope of a wise, old Empress? PANEL 4: Close up on the GRASSKAN as he continues. GRASSKAN: Of the candidates who survived, it appears not. All signs seem to point to— PANEL 5: Close up on TIL’s face as she reacts. GRASSKAN (off panel): A 16-YEAR OLD BOY. TIL, quietly: Bless the Mothers PANEL 6: Over TIL’s shoulder the GRASSKAN continues. GRASSKAN: You actually served him at table, Ma’am. TIL, with an exclamation next to her word bubble: What?? That boy FERNANDO is next in line?? PANEL 7: The GRASSKAN slumps in reaction as TIL turns, aghast. GRASSKAN: It would appear so. TIL: I will have trouble answering to someone who ate six servings of cake. ——— Want to read the full story? Join us at Patreon.com/drive for the *FULL* Tales of the Drive archives, art giveaways, fun community, and more! DRIVE copyright Dave Kellett. Colors by Beth Reidmiller
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Act 5. Pg 099
Posted on May 28, 2026 by Beth Reidmiller

Did you know I give away a free piece of original art every week on the Drive Patreon? EVERY WEEK! It's just one of the reasons that Patreon is awesome.
Join us on Patreon and get:

  •   200+ pages of bonus "TALES OF THE DRIVE"!
  •   Weekly art giveaways!
  •   Behind-the-scenes!
  •   Pal-times forums!

Today: I’m doing a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” with the folks at r/fantasy! Come by!

Posted on May 28, 2026 by Dave Kellett

Drive Pals! Today (Thurs 5/28) I’m doing an “ASK ME ANYTHING” over on the r/fantasy subreddit.

Come on by! Ask anything you’d like about DRIVE, the characters, the world, the creation of it, or any of my other projects.

Here’s the link! See you there! https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/1tq8688/im_dave_kellett_hugonominated_cartoonist_of_drive/

The Hugo Awards!

Posted on April 21, 2026 by Dave Kellett

Growing up, the well-read copy of DUNE on my shelf was more than just a book; it was a totem. I spent hours (hours!) staring at that cover. And as a result, the “Hugo Award Winner” blurb became seared into my brain. Through sheer conditioning, I grew up knowing that a Hugo was the ultimate sign that a sci-fi story was worth reading. 

To hear today that DRIVE has been nominated for a Hugo Award (under “Best Professional Artist”) …well, that news would absolutely floor younger me. 

With DRIVE, I wanted to take the serious, galaxy-wide novels I grew up loving…but populate it with the goofy, joy-filled characters that I loved from newspaper comics. A mix of high stakes and hijinks.

To see DRIVE recognized with a Hugo nomination feels like a full-circle completion of that childhood dream. It’s a fun reminder that, if you follow your own weird path long enough, it leads exactly where you were always meant to go.

Thanks for reading, pals! New DRIVE is up Thursday!

– Dave

PS: …and don’t forget to tell sci-fi loving friends to try it! The entire story is free to read at DriveComic.com


==================
[EDITED TO ADD: All members of the World Science Fiction Convention are able to vote on the Hugo Awards, including those who have memberships in the virtual portion of the convention. Information about registration is available at lacon.org/register.]


This week’s ComicLab Podcast is live!

Posted on March 19, 2026 by Beth Reidmiller

Pals! Every week my cartooning pal Brad Guigar and I fire up the mics to talk about comics. It’s half shop talk, half how-to, and half friendship. That’s right: WE SQUEEZED IN THREE HALVES. It’s tips and tricks and all the joys of cartooning as a pro!

———

TITLE: How to Start a Webring

comiclabpodcast.com

Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/pmzb68x

Spotify: https://buff.ly/OShfHX4

Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett tackle a surprisingly practical question: How do you start a web ring for comics creators? With social media platforms becoming less reliable for discovery, the classic web ring is making a comeback as a way for creators to promote each other directly.

Dave’s Livestreaming Today, 1-2PM PT / 4-5PM ET!

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Beth Reidmiller

Sheldon pals! If you’re free this afternoon, swing by! I’ll be livestreaming today from 1-2PM PT / 4-5PM ET, taking questions with my pal Brad Guigar about Sheldon, Drive, ComicLab, and cartooning in general!

It’s part of our new tradition where we livestream the last hour of our Kickstarter campaigns, to celebrate and goof around. Join us with questions, here: https://riverside.com/studio/comiclabs-studio?t=3bd3569dd305a30483da

And here’s the link for the Kickstarter, if you haven’t yet jumped in! Just a few hours left! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/smallfish/double-dog-dare?ref=8z4y6m

🏆THE HUGO NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN!

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Dave Kellett

Pals! The nominations for sci-fi’s biggest award — the HUGOS — are officially OPEN! If you’re a past/present member of WorldCon, you got an email today [from “LA V Virtual Convention Team” / [email protected]] asking you to activate your WorldCon account and make your nominations. And gang, it would mean the world to me if you considered these two lil’ sweethearts among your nominations:

  • FOR BEST GRAPHIC STORY OR COMIC:
    DRIVE (    DriveComic.com) | Artist: Dave Kellett | Publisher: Small Fish Studios
  • FOR BEST PROFESSIONAL ARTIST:
    DAVE KELLETT  |  Example of their Work:     DriveComic.com

(NOTE: The “Drive Act 4” book had a copyright of 2024, so that book doesn’t qualify. But the two above do qualify!)

Drive has never been nominated for a Hugo — and I think it would be tremendous fun! Especially since I’LL BE THERE for the first time in a decade! That’s right: With WorldCon being in Anaheim this year — I’ll be at the show, handing out high-fives LIKE THEY’RE GOING OUT OF STYLE!

But honestly, there’s no shortage of amazing sci-fi stories in 2025 — so be generous with your nominations!

Thanks, pals!
– Dave


This week’s ComicLab Podcast is live!

Posted on January 9, 2026 by Beth Reidmiller

Pals! Every week my cartooning pal Brad Guigar and I fire up the mics to talk about comics. It’s half shop talk, half how-to, and half friendship. That’s right: WE SQUEEZED IN THREE HALVES. It’s tips and tricks and all the joys of cartooning as a pro!

———

TITLE: Why don’t you do MORE?!?

comiclabpodcast.com

Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/pmzb68x

Spotify: https://buff.ly/OShfHX4

Are Brad and Dave not doing enough? A listener question sparks a candid conversation about creative bandwidth, sustainability, and why “doing more” isn’t always the smart — or sustainable — choice. The episode then dives into one of the hardest challenges in humor writing: How to judge your own work when readers don’t get the joke. How much confusion is normal, when feedback matters, and how to balance ego with humility without losing your voice.

More of Dave Kellett >>>More Dave >>>