Debt On

Here’s some of the planning sketches for my recent storylines:

In an effort to promote his campaign, sometimes Bounty will randomly contact people from his myspace page.

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From: ROB-T!!!!
Date: Jul 26, 2006 6:03 PM
Subject: SO ARE YOU THE QIUKER PICKER UPPER!

WHATS UP ? WHATS GOING ON? HOWS IT GOING?

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From: Bounty
Date: Jul 26, 2006 6:13 PM
Subject: RE: SO ARE YOU THE QIUKER PICKER UPPER!

More like all the cool shit you get after a robbery.

VOTE BOUNTY!!

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From: ROB-T!!!!
Date: Jul 26, 2006 7:08 PM
Subject: REAL GOOD!

I DONT LIKE PEOPLE WHO STEAL SHIT UNLESS YOU STEAL SHIT FROM PEOPLE INFRONT OF THERE FACE!THATS A DIFFERANT STORY!

I HAD EHOUGH OF YOUR ASS ASS CHEWS SHITS! DIE FUCKEN HIPPIE!!!!!!!

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From: Bounty
Date: Jul 26, 2006 8:04 PM

just watch out for my secret police when they stab your red neck with an ice pick.

—————–
From: ROB-T!!!!
Date: Jul 26, 2006 9:13 PM

here suck it homo!!!!! and if yah feel goodenough i gotta place for your ice pick!!
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—————– Bulletin Message —————–
From: Bounty
Date: Jul 21, 2006 4:16 PM

some asshole’s been following me around with a pencil… drawing a fucking insipid comic strip about me. i’m gonna hunt the bastard down and feed him to terrorists. you know, grind him up and force feed him to the guys in guantanamo. hey, terrorist food is hard to come by!

www.debt-on.com

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From: Fourtwozero
Date: Jul 21, 2006 4:20 PM

That bastard. I’ll organize a boycott of that site and comic immediately. As well as adding it to as many word filters I can find.

Don’t worry champ, we’ll take care of this asshole.

– Robert

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From: Bounty
Date: Jul 21, 2006 5:10 PM

excellent. you will be well rewarded under my administration.

-B

—————–
From: Fourtwozero
Date: Jul 22, 2006 4:20 PM
RE: RE: RE: fuck www.debt-on.com

Do I see Secretary Of Awesome in my future?

I think so….

– Robert

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—————– Bulletin Message —————–
From: FUCK YOU
Date: Jul 18, 2006 11:52 PM
Subject: feeling shy?

feeling inadequate?

Do you have feelings of inadequacy?

Do you suffer from shyness?

Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Tequila.

Tequila is the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. Tequila can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you’re ready and willing to do just about anything.

You will notice the benefits of Tequila almost immediately , and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live. Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past, and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with Tequila.

Tequila may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Tequila. However, women who wouldn’t mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it. Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, loss of virginity, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth and a desire to sing Karaoke and play all-night rounds of Strip Poker, Truth Or Dare, and Naked Twister.

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From: Bounty
Date: Jul 19, 2006 2:34 AM

I wholeheartedly endorse this. -B

—————–
From: FUCK YOU
Date: Jul 19, 2006 10:20 AM

OMG BOUNTY .. if we both sign with a -B… what are we going to do if we get mixed up or confused about who wrote what??? are you referring to me.. or am I referring to you?? .. this is going to serve as a challenge unforeseen by myself.. and frankly.. i need your inuput about the situation!!
-B
Or maybe ~B..
??

—————–
From: Bounty
Date: Jul 19, 2006 5:21 PM

What!? I thought your name was FUCK YOU! How did this happen? I have three B’s in my name, you have an F and a Y.

-Benjamin B. mothafuckin’ Bounty

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From: FUCK YOU
Date: Jul 19, 2006 5:27 PM

What?? are you joking MothaFucking Bounty??

Ben or not.. I’m Brooke.. I’m a girl.. so I get dibs on the (clearly feminine) abbreviation of my first name.. FUCK YOU is just a state of mind.. please don’t hold it against me…
~B.. it even looks girly you know.. mutha fucking right!

—————–
From: Bounty
Date: Jul 20, 2006 12:50 PM

Fine, fine, write it girly.

Fuck You is the appropriate attitude for my campaign.

-B

—————–
From: FUCK YOU
Date: Jul 20, 2006 6:42 PM

Awh, You know.. FUCK YOU is a not just a moto.. it’s a lifestyle you know. I have got to keep the FUCK YOU attitude on top all the layers that are me. Yes, yes.. the hard face is difficult to maintian.. and yes.. I know what you are thinking.. “~B what about when you laugh.. you no longer have that ‘FUCK YOU’ impression” .. but what I have to say to that my insightful friend may take you by surprise.. it’s the wrapping up of the moment that I steel the FUCK YOU attitude back.. you see.. I laugh a little.. HHahah.. hehehe.. very jolly like too.. then others laugh with.. ahhaha.. hehehe.. but much more reserved as to see my response.. and then ..I shoot the look of approval.. all caution is thrown to the wind by passers by and BAMN I then wrap it up with an abrupt silinence and classic FUCK YOU face.. all is brought back to normal.. others stop laughing and look around as to find the instigaters of the hooting and holaring… yup.. It’s tough all right.. and i’ll tell ya something *wipes sweat from brow* this job’s not cut out for just anyone!
~B

Reposted from December, 2004.

On November 26 Iran refused to cease uranium enrichment contrary to an agreement reached between Iran and the European Union. According to the New York Times, this supports the Bush Administration’s notion that Iran has secret ambitions to build a nuclear weapon. Actually, this would imply that Iran has overt ambitions to build a nuclear weapon.

Can one blame Iran for nuclear ambition? Considering the protectorate ideology of the cold war, whereas one must have nuclear weapons in order to discourage nuclear attack, Iran’s future as a political entity could depend upon nuclear capability. The argument can, and has, been made that the United States’ threat of military confrontation will provide Iran with incentive to comply with international demands of disarmament. However, Iran’s ambitions have been cultivated by rhetoric from the Bush Administration, notably their inclusion in the “Axis of Evil,” along with Iraq and North Korea. While eventually laughed off in our own country, abroad such language remains a damaging indication of our government’s intentions, as Abu Ghraib remains a festering indication of U.S. behavior at war.

According to George W. Bush in his infamous 2002 State of the Union address, Iran “pursues these weapons” of mass destruction and poses “a grave and growing danger.” Bush also asserted in this speech that Iraq actively “plotted to develop anthrax, and nerve gas, and nuclear weapons for over a decade.” The meaning of this was clear: the administration was more and more adamant for military confrontation with Iraq.

Seeking to avoid an invasion, Iraq submitted itself to apparently very successful inspections, yet Bush would not allow this to avert his war plans. Iraq openly demonstrated no interest in developing weaponry, but was still invaded. The occupation eventually demonstrated the truth, the incompleteness of the Bush administration’s understanding. A U.S. initiated October report found that Iraq ceased all WMD ambitions by 1996.

The second country of the “Axis of Evil,” North Korea, took a different approach. In the months following Bush’s address, it became increasingly clear that North Korea did, indeed, possess a nuclear weapons program and perhaps nuclear weapons. North Korean diplomats did little to discourage this thinking, boasting of bombs before the international community was certain they existed. It now seems certain that North Korea has several atomic weapons. To date, North Korea has yet to be invaded, and all foreign policy directed from the United States has been geared toward diplomacy.

Recent evidence suggests that Iran operates a nuclear weapons program as well. Predictably, the European Union has begun seeking a diplomatic solution, and the United States has referenced the “military option.” However, is this the first talk of the military option regarding Iran? Iran probably interpreted “Axis of Evil” to mean that invasion was already being discussed, and considers atomic weaponry insurance.

It’s really not a surprising, nor illogical, attitude. Given the administration’s apparent contempt for diplomacy, Iran is uncertain whether compromise can be effective. Based upon the rhetoric, they scramble to construct a strategy to avoid an American invasion. Iraq has been invaded, North Korea has not. Iran may have had nuclear ambitions regardless, but accelerated their efforts due to a growing threat from the U.S.

An angry man is standing in a crowded square, and the police are closing in on him. Will he last longer with or without a gun?

The United States has created another arms race, one in which the other side is hopelessly behind. Worse, the opposition is forbidden to compete by international law. While the U.S. agenda of disarmament and terrorist containment was often hailed as noble in the flood of international sympathy after September 11, the U.S. has squandered its credibility invading Iraq. Accusations of dangerous weaponry will never carry the same weight, and will fall on deaf ears. Instead of peaceful disarmament, U.S. foreign policy has provoked accused states
to work towards armed defense.

Someone on the WebcomicList forums asked everybody to name their 10 favorite albums of all time. I had a little trouble with the order, and limiting them to just ten, so in no particular order, here’s the albums I’ve bought over the years that probably will never go away so long as I still breathe.

Miles Davis – Kind of Blue – I actually only really listened to this album the first time about two years ago, but it prompted a Miles obsession that resulted in me owning every work he ever produced. Amazing artist that changed everything.

Johnny Cash – Live from San Quentin – The witty banter, engrossing stories, and deep spiritual politics is mesmerizing.

Beatles – The White Album – an old favorite. Could be Abbey Road, except for the first half. This album is perfect.

Nas – Illmatic – NY State of Mind. Halftime. Life’s a Bitch and Then You Die. 10 tracks that never miss once.

Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt – Same deal except Jay-Z.

Wu Tang Clan – Enter the 36th Chambers This album introduced the world to the RZA, the GZA, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Old Dirty Bastard and a bunch of other legendary rappers. And none of them ever made a better album than this. The raw energy has never been duplicated, this shit changed everything.

A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory The first hip-hop album I ever loved, I owe a debt of gratitude to Tip and Phife for showing me what music could really be.

Vince Guaraldi Trio – A Charlie Brown Christmas – I loved this album when I was a kid, and rediscovered Guaraldi when I got into jazz. Nothing else could have complimented those cartoons so perfectly, and the music holds up on its own quite well. Only for Christmas time, but when I hear it I enjoy it. (Unlike every other Christmas song which I just tune out).

Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On? – I’ve only owned this album for a few months, but I don’t know how I ever lived without it. Gaye is just so personal and so enlightening. I’d listen to him for just the lyrics even if he wasn’t blessed with that incredibly perfect voice.

The Coup – Steal This Album – Maybe the greatest political album ever written, the Coup get tragically little attention. Excellently funky hip-hop with equally excellent intelligent lyrics.

The Roots – Do You Want More? – Best fusion of jazz and hip-hop ever made. People will try and tell you that Things Fall Apart is the Root’s masterpiece because of the lyrical sophistication. While it is the better album lyrically, its only incrementally, and the music on Do You Want More? is more experimental than anything else the Roots have ever done.

Sublime – 40 Oz. to Freedom – I don’t know why this album hasn’t gone away, but it lingers. It’s really wonderful stuff on so many levels.

David Bowie – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars – this shit is so great, and it mostly has to do with an acid trip I took once. But whatever, it’s still excellent music and a really compelling concept.

Honorable mentions: Pink Floyd – The Wall, Mos Def – Black on Both Sides, The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die

Sup, y’all. Hope you’ve been enjoying the guest comics as much as I have, it’s been so much fun to see other people’s interpretations of my characters. My thanks again to all the great guest artists that helped me out the past couple weeks. I’m going to stay on hiatus for just a couple more weeks while I perfect the script for the upcoming storylines and get a comic buffer built up. Meanwhile, I’ve got some cool sketchbook pages and other material to feature in my absence, so keep checkin back.

In recent news of life imitating art I just lost my bartending job for reasons I may never understand, which either means that I’ll have lots of time to work on new comics or I’ll be too busy beating pavement and drowning my sorrows in a steady diet of rye whisky and malt liquor to produce anything decent. Only time will tell.

So if you have any need of a cartoonist, writer, bartender, waiter, or just a guy with a strong back in the SF Bay Area, look no further. Also, you could help me get paid for writing comics, either directly through the donation button to the right, by buying ads through Project Wonderful or Blogads, by clicking the Google ads running along the side of the blog, or by just helping me get the traffic up on the site. Tell your friends, recommend the comic on other blogs and forums, any little bit helps. If you can help me get this site going bigger and better than ever, I promise I’ll respond by producing better comics and more of em.

Cheers. Wish me luck.

Hey y’all. Just got back from a late-night flight back to California. Just wanted to drop in to thank Calan Ree of Gingerdead and Friends for drawing today’s comic.

Today’s comic was written by Chris Cooney, a GAW pirate, freelance philosopher and former President of Simon’s Rock College. He has no web site.

Also, apologies to Fesworks for not getting his comic up when I said I would on Friday. I set everything up on autopilot and that slipped by me somehow, and I barely had access to a computer on my vacation. That will go up on Wednesday.

And Friday’s strip is drawn by my friend Vita, an animation student and representative of the New Russian Federation. She collects chronometers and wombats.

So I’ll be on vacation for about the next two weeks. In the meantime I’ll make every update with a guest comic, but since I won’t be at a computer to blog them as they go, here’s the remaining lineup for these two weeks:

To kick things off to the left you’ll see a sweet drawing that Mike Jensen did for the links page at Lonely Fetus, an awesome comic strip worthy of your attention.

The comic for January 1 is by none other than Matt Sandbrook of Chip Shop Adventures! I still crack up every time I look at this. Thanks, Matt! Everybody should go check out Chip Shop Adventures, especially if you have a bloodlust.

The comic for January 3 is by EvilCouch of The World’s Worst WebComic. Couch would say I have terrible taste for saying this, but the comic hardly lives up to its name.

The comic for January 5 is by Handoko of The World of Acoimade. Han’s a great artist and contrary to what the dialogue implies he’s not illiterate, just billingual.

Kicking off week 2 the January 8 comic is by Wendy Wood of Gilbert and the Grim Rabbit, a very cute and wickedly funny webcomic.

The comic for January 10 is a collaboration. The written comic is by Jason Dunstan of Ardra, while the art is courtesy of Zach Weiner of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.

And the comic for January 12 is by Fesworks of A Pessimistic Sense of Inadequacy. Go check out Fesworks now.

My deepest gratitude goes out to all these awesome guest artists for granting me this badly needed vacation. :)

Sorry about the late comic today, Christmas set me back a bit. But the good news for me is that guest comics will start on January 1 while I take a little break from cartooning. Actually I’m not taking a break so much as working up a buffer and tweaking the website. But keep up cuz there’s some really great comics in this batch. I’m still not sure how long the break is going to last, but I do need more guest comics! So any artists interested please get in touch!

In other news I’ve recently joined the political webcomic collective Spinzone Comics. One of the best things about that is you can chat about my comics with me and others in my very own Debt On forum. Other comics in the collective include Line Item Vito, Monkey Law, Idiot Box, Fighting Words, Death of the Party and Cosmic Awareness.

Today I added comic 250 to the archives. That’s roughly 150 since I rebooted the comic in May, and 100 that I did two years ago. Onward to 300!!!

Things to do if you like Debt On:

I’ve been participating in the Webcomic Battle. Click here to go to the game and remember to vote Debt On!!!

Also, be my friend on ComicSpace. It’s like myspace, but for comics. Greeeat. Just what I needed. (The layout is much more pleasing than myspace. That’s the good news.)