Comics Tagged : pop culture
The Best Streaming Service
Bonus Panel
Strip Info
- Title
- The Best Streaming Service
- Date
- October 2, 2023
- Tags
- Bird, bonus panel, cars, film, Gas Station TV, gasoline, jacks, Kevin, Martin Scorsese, movies, pop culture, relatable, streaming
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Day
-
Kevin walks through the front door of his apartment at night, taking off his jacket. His bird sits on a nearby table, playing jacks. The bird looks up at Kevin.
-
- Bird
- Hey! Where have you been?
- Kevin
- At the gas station, filling up my car.
- Panel 2 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
Kevin hangs up his jacket as his bird looks at him skeptically.
-
- Bird
- For three hours?
- Kevin
- Yeah. There was this amazing movie on Gas Station TV.
- Panel 3 : Ext. Gas Station – Earlier
-
Kevin stands at the pump, staring at the tiny gas station TV, holding back tears. He holds the pump handle in his hand. The gas cap on his car is open. He hasn’t even started pumping gas yet. The sun is setting. A line of cars behind him HONK incessantly at him.
- Panel 4 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
Kevin shrugs.
-
- Kevin
- Scorsese? At the Exxon?!
- Bird
- These streaming wars are getting out of hand.
- Panel 5 : Int. Kevin’s Apartment – Continuous
-
An attendant approaches Kevin at the pump.
-
- Attendant
- Sir? Are you crying?
- Kevin (clearly crying)
- No! It’s the gas fumes! Shut up!
Full Disclosure
Bonus Panel
Strip Info
- Title
- Full Disclosure
- Date
- August 27, 2023
- Tags
- Batman, Batman In Therapy, bonus panel, Catwoman, couples, Gotham City, masculinity, mental health, movies, Poison Ivy, pop culture, self care, Therapist, therapy, toxic masculinity
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Ext. Gotham City – Day
-
Catwoman straddles a prone Batman. With a sly smile, she traces her finger across the bat-symbol on his chest.
-
- Catwoman
- So tell me… what’s the Big Bad Bat really afraid of?
- Panel 2 : Ext. Gotham City – Continuous
-
A close-up on Batman. He looks… sad?
-
- Batman
- Honestly? I’m afraid that, if I fully process my childhood trauma and grief… I’ll lose my motivation to fight crime.
- Panel 3 : Ext. Gotham City – Continuous
-
A close-up on Catwoman. She looks away in discomfort as Batman continues.
-
- Batman
- …And since crime-fighting is such a big part of my identity, I’m afraid losing it will change how I define my masculinity.
- Panel 4 : Int. Catwoman’s Hideout – Later
-
Catwoman sits on the couch of her hideout, looking out the window, concerned. Behind her, Poison Ivy leans over to gossip.
-
- Poison Ivy
- Sooo… how’s it going with Batman?
- Catwoman
- Honestly, it’s been a bit heavy since he started going to therapy…
- Bonus Panel : Int. Therapist Office – Later
-
In full costume, Batman lies on the couch of his therapist’s office. Behind him, in a plush chair, his kindly therapist takes notes.
-
- Therapist
- …And how is commmunication with the woman you’re seeing?
- Batman
- Good! I think she likes me!
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?
The Future of Entertainment
Strip Info
- Title
- The Future of Entertainment
- Date
- June 18, 2023
- Tags
- AI art, artificial intelligence, capitalism, dumb things people do, gadgets, movies, pop culture, technology, TV, virtual reality
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. VR Headset – Day
-
From a user’s POV inside a VR headset, a cute robot character floats into view.
-
- Genie
- Hi! I’m Genie, your A.I.-powered entertainment bot! What do you want to watch today?
- User (O.S.)
- I wanna watch a movie where Spider-Man fights Batman at Wrestlemania!
- Panel 2 : Int. Living Room – Continuous
-
The user sits in his recliner, a beer in his hand
-
- Genie (O.S.)
- Sorry. I’m afraid I can’t do that.
- User
- Why not? I thought A.I. can create whatever I want.
- Panel 3 : Int. VR Headset – Continuous
-
In the headset, Genie explains.
-
- Genie
- Well, see… Spider-Man is owned by Disney, Batman is owned by Warner Bros, and Wrestlemania is WWE. To combine them legally, I would need a licensing agreement between all three companies that allows for… (trailing off)
- Panel 4 : Ext. Street – Later
-
Later, on the side of the road, two sanitation workers empty trash cans into a garbage truck. One worker holds up something he fished out of a can.
-
- Sanitation Worker
- Hey look! Another pair a’them expensive goggles!
Grandpa’s Making Up Words Again
Bonus Panel
Strip Info
- Title
- Grandpa’s Making Up Words Again
- Date
- May 28, 2023
- Tags
- bonus panel, entertainment, Grandpa, HBO, HBO Go, HBO Max, little boy, Netflix, pop culture, Quibi, Roku, streaming, technology, The Future, The Internet, TV, wholesome
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Retirement Home – Day
-
A young boy sits at his grandpa’s feet.
-
- Young Boy
- Grandpa? What were the Streaming Wars like?
- Panel 2 : Int. Retirement Home – Continuous
-
Grandpa sits in his easy chair.
-
- Grandpa
- Well, it all started when Netflix tried to launch Qwikster. Then HBO became HBO Go…
- Panel 3 : Int. Retirement Home – Continuous
-
Grandpa continues.
-
- Grandpa
- …See, back then, we got our HBO Go through Hulu on our Roku, but then HBO Go became HBO Max…
- Panel 4 : Int. Retirement Home – Continuous
-
The little boy looks confused as Grandpa finishes.
-
- Grandpa
- …And after Roku bought all the shows from Quibi, HBO Max became just Max.
- Panel 5 : Ext. Retirement Home – Later
-
The young boy’s Mom leads him to their car.
-
- Mom
- How was your visit with Grandpa?
- Young Boy
- Confusing.
-
In the background, Grandpa waves from the porch of his retirement home.
Work Friends
Bonus Panel
Strip Info
- Title
- Work Friends
- Date
- May 14, 2023
- Tags
- awkward, Batman, Batman In Therapy, Commissioner Gordon, Gotham City, masculinity, mental health, pop culture, social interactions, therapy
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Ext. Gotham City PD Roof – Night
-
Commissioner Gordon and Batman stand on the roof of the GCPD headquarters at night near the bat symbol.
-
- Commissioner Gordon
- Thanks for helping us catch The Riddler, Batman. Gotham owes you a great debt.
- Panel 2 : Ext. Gotham City PD Roof – Continuous
-
Gordon and Batman stand facing each other for an awkward beat.
- Panel 3 : Ext. Gotham City PD Roof – Continuous
-
Batman blurts out.
-
- Batman
- …Wanna hang out after work?
- Panel 4 : Int. Psychiatrist’s Office – Later
-
Batman lays on a couch. Behind him in a chair, his therapist takes notes.
-
- Therapist
- …And how are we doing with forming male friendships?
- Batman
- I’m so awkward!
- Panel 5 : Int. All-Nite Diner – Later
-
Batman and Gordon sit stiffly in a booth of an all-night diner. Each has a strawberry milkshake in front of them.
-
- Batman
- How’s your milkshake?
- Commissioner Gordon
- – I should get home to my family…
80s Halloween Costumes
Strip Info
- Title
- 80s Halloween Costumes
- Date
- October 30, 2022
- Tags
- 80s, Claytonation, E.T., George Clooney, Gremlins, Halloween, He-Man, holidays, Kevin, Michael Clayton, Past Kevin, pop culture, taut legal thrillers
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Suburban Home – Night
-
A young Kevin, dressed in a cheap E.T. Halloween costume, stands in a neighbor’s doorway. He holds up an orange plastic jack-o-lantern tub for candy.
- “As an 80s kid, my Halloween costumes were kinda weak.”
- Panel 2 : Int. Suburban Home – Night
-
Same setup a year later. Kevin now wears a cheap costume of Gizmo from Gremlins.
- “Store-bought costumes were usually just a flimsy mask and a picture of the character on a thin plastic smock.”
- Panel 3 : Int. Suburban Home – Night
-
Same setup a year later. Kevin now wears a cheap costume of He-Man.
- “But as crappy as they were, I wish that style of costume was still around today…”
- Panel 4 : Int. Suburban Home – Night
-
Same setup, present day.
- “…So I could dress up as my current favorite character:”
-
An adult Kevin stands in the doorway, wearing a cheap George Clooney mask and plastic smock with the actor’s photo on it and the logo of the movie Michael Clayton.
Why I’m Not On Stranger Things
Strip Info
- Title
- Why I’m Not On Stranger Things
- Date
- July 10, 2022
- Tags
- awkward, Debbie Gibson, dumb things people do, Dustin, Kevin, Lucas, music, Netflix, pop culture, Stranger Things, TV, Vecna, white people
- Notes
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Ext. Hawkins Graveyard – Day
-
An Overhead shot of Kevin, floating several feet in mid-air. Wearing headphones, his eyes roll back in a dumbfounded expression. On the ground, Dustin and Lucas from Stranger Things freak out.
-
- Dustin
- Oh no! Kevin’s under Vecna’s curse!
- Lucas
- Quick! Play his favorite song!
- Panel 2 : Int. Vecna’s Lair – Continuous
-
Kevin is bound up by tentacles in Vecna’s Lair. Everything has a red tint. Vecna stands opposite him, poised with his claw hand. Yet they both pause to and look skyward as a song begin playing.
-
- Singer
- Shake your love! I just can’t shake your love! Shake your love! I just can’t shake… your love!
- Panel 3 : Int. Vecna’s Lair – Continuous
-
Embarrassed, Kevin blushes and grins. Vecna lowers his claw. A look of disbelief and judgement on his face.
-
- Vecna
- Debbie Gibson?
- Kevin
- Please don’t tell anyone.
Two Great Tastes That Go Great Together
Strip Info
- Title
- Two Great Tastes That Go Great Together
- Date
- May 22, 2022
- Tags
- boats, cake, Drew Carey, Executive, food, gameshow, Is It Cake, Kevin, pitch, pop culture, spokesmodel, The Price Is Right, TV
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Int. Television Studio – Day
-
A game show contestant stands at a podium, cheering with excitement. His nametag reads “Mark.” Next to him stands Drew Carey, who speaks into his signature skinny microphone.
-
- Drew Carey
- Actual retail price is twenty-two thousand dollars…
- Panel 2 : Int. Television Studio – Continuous
-
In the adjacent showroom, a spokesmodel stands smiling next to a large powerboat on a trailer.
-
- Drew Carey (O.S.)
- …which means Mark will take home this brand new boat…
- Panel 3 : Int. Television Studio – Continous
-
Closer on the boat and spokesmodel, who now holds a large kitchen knife to the bow of the boat.
-
- Drew Carey (O.S.)
- …if he can correctly guess IS IT CAKE?
- Panel 4 : Int. Studio Executive’s Office – Continous
-
An executive sits opposite Kevin.
-
- Executive
- This is the dumbest pitch I’ve ever heard.
-
Kevin leans in.
-
- Kevin
- Or the greatest?
-
Next to Kevin is a poster on an easel that reads, “The Price is Cake!”
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.
The Breakthrough
Strip Info
- Title
- The Breakthrough
- Date
- February 20, 2022
- Tags
- Batman, Bruce Wayne, crime, masculinity, mental health, movies, pop culture, self care, superheroes, therapy, thugs, toxic masculinity, vigilantes
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Ext. Gotham City Rooftop – Night
-
Batman holds up a thug by his collar on a Gotham rooftop.
-
- Thug
- What are you?
- Panel 2 : Ext. Gotham City Rooftop – Continuous
-
Batman growls.
-
- Batman
- I’m the victim of childhood trauma processing his emotions in an unhealthy way!
- Panel 4 : Int. Therapist’s Office – Later
-
Batman, in full costume, lays scowling on the couch of his therapist. Sitting nearby, the therapist writes in his notepad with a patient smile.
-
- Therapist
- Excellent, Bruce! We’re making real progress here.
That Anakin / Padme Meme
Strip Info
Transcript
- Panel 1 : Ext. Field – Day
-
Kevin sits in a field of tall grass, dressed like Anakin Skywalker from that one meme.
-
- Kevin
- I’m going to make a drawing of you.
- Panel 2 : Ext. Field – Continuous
-
Padme smiles.
-
- Padme
- It’s not going to look like you, right?
- Panel 3 : Ext. Field – Continuous
-
Kevin deadpans.
- Panel 4 : Ext. Field – Continuous
-
Padme’s face now looks like Kevin’s.
-
- Padme
(alarmed) - It’s not going to look like you, right?
- Padme