If you guys want more regular updates on when a new page is up, by the way, you might wanna hop on my Twitter feed. That's a lot easier to update than my blog, so the followers I've got there are always the first to know about stuff.

I should probably note that my sale's still going on, too. The response has been GREAT, guys! I'm sending stuff out every couple days, now. but the 15th is quickly approaching, so all the guys that celebrate Christmas? If you're thinking of gifting TAZ stuff, you're running out of time. I already can't guarantee Xmas arrival for international shipping. So order now! Prices go back to normal January 1st!

More comics later... Sorry about the delay. Jacked-up back, power outage, blah blah blah.

It's been a while since my last blog update, but I've been pretty busy. I also have a bunch of news for you guys.

Not only are the formerly pre-order only Phineas Rage shirts finally available, they're ON SALE, along with everything else I sell. Buy your friends awesome junk from me for their non-specific December celebration of consumerism, or maybe just get something for yourself.

More comics soon...

I'm really pleased with how this page turned out. All those hours spent watching lurid documentaries about skid row have finally paid off! Now, I can finally enjoy my birthday.

Yup. My birthday. I'm 30, today. Horrible.

Naw, really, I'm not at all bothered. Even with working on the comic, it's been a lovely day. Among my presents was a book straight off of my Amazon Wishlist, The Pig-Faced Lady of Manchester Square. It arrived anonymously, but whoever you are, I'd like you to know I basically died when I saw what it was. I have a ton of Jan Bondeson's books already and they're uniformly excellent reads; this really made my day. Thank you.

And I wanna thank everyone who's wished me a happy birthday on Twitter and Facebook. You guys are great.

Also, KC is gross.

Remember these guys? Hope so.

Also, the cartoonist cameos continue! Kris Straub, who in real life is as sweet as pie and a stand-up kinda dude and is never ever ever seen carrying half-conscious gals around, volunteered for this unflattering depiction. Good for him.

Kris does a whole lot of comics, but my personal favorite this very second is chainsawsuit. Go read it, it's fun.

Also, in case you hadn't noticed: Templar is now a member of Love Shack Comics. If you're into long-format, page-style drama and comedy...And what are you doing here if you're not... You might wanna give its newsbox a quick click-around.

Later!

Willing victims for this page include KC Green asleep in his own vomit, Scott Bieser with the second panel stink-eye, And Ben Riley, Reiley, and Magnolia Pearl commiseratin' in panel three. More to come!

The comic will be taking a backseat this week, though. Starting tomorrow, I'll be down in Tempe, Arizona for the UAT Tech Forum, where I will be yammering ceaselessly about comics. Come watch me screw up horribly!

By the way, a "wet house" is a hostel for the homeless that permits its alcoholic residents to drink on the premises. There was a documentary made about one in 2002 for BBC 4, and you can watch it online here. They're not a popular concept, especially with the kind of people who consider any attempt to ease or relieve the squalor and suffering of chemical dependency explicit societal approval of it. But they prevent emergency room trips, arrests, and beatings/murders. Help to attain sobriety is offered, but not insisted on. It's pretty pragmatic, all things considered.

There are a few in the US, but not many. Understandably, they like to stay under the radar.

PS: had to post this. It's almost over! I've seen the light at the end of the tunnel!

...

Jackie sort of creeps me out.

But probably not.

Enjoy the new page, guys, and if y'can, come see me tomorrow at the inaugural Windy City Comic Convention! I'll be on the 3:00 - 4:00 panel about HOW TO BE A WEBCOMIC BIGSHOT. I'll be there with John Campbell (Pictures for Sad Children), Justin Pierce (The Nonadventures of Wonderella) and Tony Breed (Finn and Charlie are Hitched). Should be fun!

And suffice to say that part of the reason it's so late in coming ha assured that I will never, ever, ever use IE again.

Ever.

And with that, the third intermission ends. I hope we all learned sumthin'.Mostly about Jakes, Egyptians, and drunks. I'm sure there's a moral in there, somewhere.

Things are startin' t'get just a little bit crazy. Hope you're cool with that.

Next up: Chapter 4. Hold on!

Feeling pretty crappy, guys. I don't think I'll be updating this week.

New comic Monday.

When I get back, this Intermission wraps up, and Chapter Four BEGINS. Crazy.

And it's gonna get worse.

Stay tuned.

Panel Three: "Drink deeply from the uncircumcised penis of a Nubian, dog."

That's Sunny. All class.

And major, major points for anyone who can guess what the binders or for. It was the entire reason I wanted to do this scene in the first place.

Aggressive self pity probably isn't the safest thing you can weaponize. It's effective, sure. But don't tell me it won't go up in your face like a ton of dynamite the minute you get too comfortable with it.