Comics Tagged : couch
Grustle Hours
Bonus Panel
Strip Info
- Title
- Grustle Hours
- Date
- July 14, 2024
- Tags
- bonus panel, capitalism, cell phone, couch, grind, hustle, Kevin, productivity, relatable, self care, side hustle, social media, The Grustle Monster
- Notes
-
I think about time a lot. Like a whole lot. There’s so much I want to do in my lifetime. So I worry that, unless I make the most of every minute, I won’t get to everything. This anxiety has made me very susceptible to productivity and hustle culture. The Grustle Monster is, obviously, the embodiment of my anxiety. I have conversations like this with him every day.
But lately, my relationship to time and achievement has been changing. Part of that has been due to several big personal events in the last year. Part of it is due to reading the book 4000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. Now I’m trying to think about time as this beautiful, limited resource of unknown quantity. This lovely video from my old boss Ze Frank sums it up nicely.
So do you have a Grustle Monster in your head? How do you deal with him?
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Day
-
Kevin lays on his couch, looking at his phone. Behind him, The Grustle Monster stands with his arms crossed.
-
- Grustle Monster
- Eight hours for sleep. Eight hours for work. Two hours for meals. One hour for exercise.
- Panel 2 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
The Grustle Monster continues.
-
- Grustle Monster
- That leaves five hours per day for your side-hustle. You say you don’t have time, but it’s your discipline that’s lacking.
- Panel 3 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
Annoyed, Kevin retorts.
-
- Kevin
- You forgot: two hours for commute, three hours for family, two hours for bathing and chores…
- Panel 4 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
The Grustle Monster does the math.
-
- Grustle Monster
- That’s twenty-seven hours per day.
- Kevin
- So piss off.
- Bonus Panel : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Moments Later
-
Kevin, still on his couch, still looking at his phone.
-
- Grustle Monster
- Where does ‘Scrolling Social Media for Two Hours” fit?
- Kevin
- SELF CARE!
The Tetris Effect
Strip Info
- Title
- The Tetris Effect
- Date
- October 16, 2023
- Tags
- anxiety, Bird, couch, Kevin, mental health, self care, Switch, Tetris, video games, wholesome
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Day
-
Kevin slouches on his couch, bags under his eyes, playing his Switch. Next to him, an empty bag of Doritos and a few empty beer bottles. His bird, perched above him, leans in.
-
- Bird
- Umm… are you okay?
- Kevin
- I read that playing Tetris helps distract your brain from anxious thoughts.
- Panel 2 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
His bird looks concerned.
-
- Bird
- You’ve been playing for the last nine hours straight.
- Kevin
- Have you seen the news lately?
- Panel 3 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
His bird looks off into the distance, thinking, as Kevin goes back to his game.
- Panel 4 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
Kevin continues playing, his bird nestled under his arm. The bird lays its head on Kevin’s chest, watching him play.
Every GenX Kid’s Dream
Bonus Panel
Strip Info
- Title
- Every GenX Kid’s Dream
- Date
- August 6, 2023
- Tags
- awkward, Bird, bonus panel, couch, Future Kevin, Kevin, movies, Past Kevin, pop culture, self care, social interactions, The Future, time travel, TV
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Teenage Kevin’s Room – Day
-
Teenage Kevin looks surprised when Future Kevin appears out of a wormhole behind him.
- In the year 1993…
-
- Future Kevin
- Hey Kevin! I’m YOU from the future! I’ve got great news!
- Panel 2 : Int. Teenage Kevin’s Room – Continuous
-
Future Kevin continues.
-
- Future Kevin
- Thirty years from now, they’re going to make a great TMNT movie!
- Teenage Kevin (O.S.)
- Big deal. We’ve already had three TMNT movies.
-
Future Kevin holds up a poster for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtes: Mutant Mayhem.
- Panel 3 : Int. Teenage Kevin’s Room – Continuous
-
Future Kevin continues.
-
- Future Kevin
- Yeah, but this one will have a score by Trent Reznor!
- Teenage Kevin (dismissive)
- ~OK cool~ Thanks for letting me know. Bye!
-
Teenage Kevin waves his future self away.
- Panel 4 : Int. Teenage Kevin’s Room – Continuous
-
Future Kevin shrugs.
-
- Future Kevin
- I thought you’d be excited! What are you do–
- Teenage Kevin (interrupting)
- JUST GO!
-
We now can see that Teenage Kevin, hunched over, has hastily thrown a blanket over his groin.
- Bonus Panel : Int. Future Kevin’s House – Later
-
Back in the future, Future Kevin stands in his living room, shivering in disgust. Nearby, his bird scoffs.
-
- Bird
- It’s your fault. You gotta knock, remember?
At a Loss
Strip Info
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. BuzzFeed Office – Day
-
Kevin walks into the lobby of BuzzFeed. Headphones in, backpack on, lanyard clipped to his pants pocket. He looks non-challant.
- Panel 2 : Int. BuzzFeed Office – Moments Later
-
Kevin stops at the receptionist’s desk. The receptionist points off-panel. Kevin takes his headphone out of his ear and raises his eyebrows to listen to what the receptionist is saying.
- Panel 3 : Int. BuzzFeed Office – Later
-
Kevin stands in a nearby hallway. A sad look on his face. He hands over a yellow BuzzFeed “LOL” icon to a person with a BuzzFeed logo for a face. The literal personification of the company, if you will.
- Panel 4 : Int. Apartment – Later
-
Later, at home, Kevin lies on his side on his couch. Under a blanket, he stares off into the distance. Over him, on the top edge of the couch, his bird perches, extending a wing in an awkward, concerned gesture.
The Side-Hustle Shuffle
Strip Info
- Title
- The Side-Hustle Shuffle
- Date
- February 26, 2023
- Tags
- couch, crafts, entrepreneur, grind, grustle, hobbies, hustle, Kevin, knitting, side hustle, The Grustle Monster
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Apartment – Day
-
Kevin sits on his couch, smiling, knitting a little scarf.
-
- Kevin
- What a relaxing new hobby I’ve found!
Behind him, The Grustle Monster rears up.
- Grustle Monster
- TURN IT INTO A SIDE HUSTLE!
- Panel 2 : Int. Apartment – Continuous
-
Shocked, Kevin turns around to address The Grustle Monster.
-
- Kevin
- C-can’t I just enjoy it?
- Grustle Monster
- NO! MAKE YOUR PASSION YOUR PASSIVE INCOME!
- Panel 3 : Int. Apartment – Continuous
-
Kevin begins to interject, but The Grustle Monster yells in his face.
-
- Kevin
- But-
- Grustle Monster
- MONETIZE YOUR FREE TIME!
- Panel 4 : Int. Craft Fair – Continuous
-
Kevin sits, cross-armed and scowling, behind a table at a craft fair. On the table, several of his knitted scarves are displayed. A sign above the table reads “Kevin’s Stupid Scarves. $20 or whatever.”
The Dedicated Practice of a Future Prodigy
Strip Info
- Title
- The Dedicated Practice of a Future Prodigy
- Date
- September 11, 2022
- Tags
- capitalism, couch, esports, gaming, grind, grustle, hustle, Kevin, productivity, self care, The Grustle Monster, video games
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Living Room – Day
-
The Grustle Monster sits, arms folded, next to Kevin, gaming, on the couch.
-
- Grustle Monster
- GAMING IS A WASTE OF TIME.
- Kevin
- -Sigh- C’mon, man. Please just let me relax.
- Panel 2 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
The Grustle Monster continues.
-
- Grustle Monster
- RELAXING DOESN’T GET YOU CLOSER TO YOUR GOALS.
- Kevin
- Fine. What if my goal is to become an esports pro?
- Panel 3 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
Kevin continues.
-
- Kevin
- Suddenly, this isn’t wasted time, but the dedicated practice of a future prodigy.
- Panel 4 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
The Grustle Monster retorts.
-
- Grustle Monster
- YOU’VE BEEN STUCK ON THE TUTORIAL LEVEL FOR WEEKS!
- Kevin
- IT’S HARD!
The Procrastination Game
Strip Info
- Title
- The Procrastination Game
- Date
- May 8, 2022
- Tags
- Bird, couch, creativity, dumb things people do, Kevin, mental health, productivity, relatable, self care, videogames
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Living Room – Day
-
Kevin sits on his couch, controller in hand, playing a video game. His bird sits next to him.
-
- Kevin
- Ugh. This game sucks.
- Bird
- Then why not play a game you like?
- Panel 2 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
Kevin replies.
-
- Kevin
- Because if I play a game I like, I’ll get absorbed and won’t do the other things I have to do today.
- Panel 3 : Int. Living Room – Continous
-
The bird ponders.
-
- Bird
- So why not do those other things first, then play a game you like?
- Kevin
- Because playing games is how I procrastinate.
- Panel 4 : Int. Living Room – Continous
-
The bird looks concerned.
-
- Bird
- Wow, you’re all messed up, huh?
- Kevin
- My therapist calls me his “goldmine.”
The Sensible Detective
Strip Info
- Title
- The Sensible Detective
- Date
- April 17, 2022
- Tags
- Bird, couch, crime, Kevin, police, pop culture, self care, Sensible Detective, TV
- Notes
-
Fun fact: this is actually a redraw of a comic I first drew over 10 years ago. The original was part of an earlier version of my comics website called Funny Comics For Cool People. I produced about a dozen comics for it, but never actually launched the site. I always liked this idea, though. So I thought I’d take another swing at it.
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Police Station – Day
-
A grizzled cop sips from a mug. Scowling.
-
- Caption
- Tuesdays at 8! He’s a homicide cop with no major vices…
-
- Cop
- Got drunk once. Didn’t enjoy it.
- Panel 2 : Ext. Park – Continuous
-
The cop and wife give piggybacks to each of their two kids. Everyone smiles except the cop.
-
- Caption
- …no personal trauma…
-
- Cop
- All loved ones alive and well.
- Panel 3 : Ext. Street – Night
-
The cop kneels at a crime scene near a corpse, covered in a bloody sheet. The cop looks at his watch.
-
- Caption
- …And healthy professional boundaries. He’s The Sensible Detective.
-
- Cop
- 5p.m.- Quittin’ time.
- Panel 4 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
Kevin sits on the couch with his bird, watching this commercial. They both furrow their brows.
-
- Kevin
- Well that’s no fun.
- Bird
- I prefer my protagonists damaged.
Your Precious Spare Time
Strip Info
- Title
- Your Precious Spare Time
- Date
- November 7, 2021
- Tags
- Bird, couch, fomo, gross, Kevin, mental health, movies, peer pressure, PG13, recreation, spare time
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Living Room – Day
-
Kevin slouches on the couch, watching TV, scowling. The bird sits on his head.
-
- Kevin
- Ugh. This movie is awful.
- Bird
- Then why are you watching it?
- Panel 2 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
Kevin continues
-
- Kevin
- Because everyone’s talking about it and I don’t want to be left out of the conversation.
- Panel 3 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
The bird looks quizzical.
-
- Bird
- Why are you letting peer pressure decide how you spend your precious spare time? Why not do what you want?
- Panel 4 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
Kevin leaves the room, looking sheepish, pulling the door closed behind him.
-
- Bird
- Oh gross!
-
We see Kevin is holding a box of tissues in his hand.
Blue’s Clues Blues
Strip Info
- Title
- Blue’s Clues Blues
- Date
- September 19, 2021
- Tags
- apartment, bachelor pad, Bird, Blues Clues, childhood, couch, Kevin, mental health, nostalgia, self care, Steve from Blues Clues, TV
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Kevin’s Int. Living Room – Day
-
Kevin’s POV: Steve from Blues Clues speaks in a clip from that recent video.
-
- Steve
- And then you at you! And look at all you’ve accomplished!
- Panel 2 : Int. Kevin’s Living Room – Continuous
-
Up angle on Kevin, who is watching the clip on his phone, derpy look on his face. The bird watches over his shoulder.
-
- Steve (OS)
- And it’s just… it’s just so amazing, right?
- Panel 3 : Int. Kevin’s Living Room – Continuous
-
Wide angle of Kevin’s shitty bachelor apartment. Laundry on the floor. Dirty plates and trash strewn about. Unopened mail. Framed Quentin Tarantino movie posters on the wall. And that one torch lamp every dude had in the early 00s. Kevin sits slumped on the couch, in his boxers and socks, watching the video on his phone.
-
- Bird
- He’s not talking to you.
- Kevin
- I figured.
After You
Strip Info
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Home – Day
-
Kevin sits on his couch. His bird perched on his hand.
-
- Kevin
- Have you ever eaten a worm?
- Bird
- No. I’m an indoor bird.
- Panel 2 : Int. Home – Continuous
-
The bird hops to Kevin’s shoulder.
-
- Bird
- Have you?
- Kevin
- Nope.
- Panel 3 : Int. Home – Continuous
-
Kevin continues.
-
- Kevin
- D-do you want to?
- Bird
- Do you?
- Panel 4 : Int. Home – Continuous
-
Kevin shrugs.
-
- Kevin
- I mean…
- Bird
- …Cuz it sounds like you do.
- Panel 4 : Int. Home – Moments Later
-
Kevin and the bird face off on opposite sides of a plate with an earthworm on it. Kevin raises his eyebrows.
-
- Bird
(skeptical) - O.K. What’s… what’s going on here?
- Bird
The 2 Types of Self-Quarantine
Strip Info
- Title
- The 2 Types of Self-Quarantine
- Date
- March 15, 2020
- Tags
- anti-social, anxiety, couch, COVID, hazmat suit, Kevin, pandemic, quarantine, single panel, two types of people
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Living Room – Evening
-
Kevin slumps on the couch, playing a video game. His eyes sleepy. His hair disheveled. He hasn’t shaved. Empty delivery container, dirty laundry, and trash are strewn everywhere. He’s wearing sweatpants and only one sock – that has a hole in it.
- Panel 2 : Int. Living Room – Alternate Timeline
-
Kevin sits perfectly erect on the same couch in a bright orange hazmat suit. His living room is sparkling clean. His face is frozen in a wide, toothy smile of anxiety. Sweat beads on his brow. On the endtable sits a single glass of red wine. He’ll never drink it.