Yesterday I was sitting in on a cosmology lecture by my buddy Chris Lintott, and (in true Chris Lintott fashion) he included a mysterious wedge of cheese on the title slide of the lecture, and proceeded to not say anything about it until the end of the lecture when he tied the holes in the cheese into inflationary theory.

When I commented on it afterward, he told me it was Chekhov's cheese. So then I just had to draw that.

One of the many reasons I enjoy hanging out with scientists is because they give me the best ideas.

 It's definitely one of my science journalism pet peeves when something about aliens gets shoehorned into as many article titles as possible. Psychological manipulation at its finest.

 A couple of weeks ago on Virtual Fossil Friday, my friend Maggie Jo gave a great presentation on the thylacine (colloquially called the Tasmanian tiger), and I mentioned the presentation made me want to make an amigurumi plush thylacine, and Maggie Jo said "if you make one, I want it", so I made one for her. :)

This was a very involved project as I designed the pattern myself, but it was a lot of fun. It didn't turn out 100% perfect, but I think it's not bad for a first go. Those toebeans came out absolutely precious, IMO.

I've got a long list of other cool critters I'd like to design amigurumi for, and I'll keep posting them here!

Also, if anyone wants this pattern, I can sell you the PDF for it! Just get in touch with me via email.

 I loved how Lance's actual line in the game "This is all getting a bit too noisy" worked so well in this situation.

Also, in retrospect it probably would have been more satisfying to have Chikorita (now a Meganium) deliver the blast-off to Oak, but Jynx's Ice Punch made more sense from a choreographic perspective.

 I just had to make a Redbubble design featuring the ever-adorable Vampyroteuthis! Always looking for excuses to sneak vampire squid into things. <3

Shadow Play, Chapter 7

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7

“How’s this for a study space?” Blackwing asked as he opened the door to a lounge with plush chairs and round tables. Bookshelves lined the walls, and large windows let in plenty of light. “There are other, smaller private rooms down these halls,” the Wocky said, pointing to the corridors in question. “Make yourself at home. Can I get you anything else? Sheesh, I sound like a waiter,” he muttered to himself.

“No,” Zoltan said, marching toward one of the hallways. “I’ll glean zhe information I need and zhen I’ll be on my vay.”

“Sounds good,” Blackwing said with a nod. “Judge Hog will be happy about this. I’m sure whatever you do will help those other mages we hired—“

Zoltan jerked to a stop and whipped around. “You hired ozher mages?” he asked, his magic streaks flaring with light and his mane bristling.

Blackwing cringed. “Is… that bad?”

 

 Having Oak terrorize Red and Kris through two chapters was amusing, but I kind of felt by the end of Book 2, the joke had run its course and I was ready to put it to rest. Plus, I wanted to end the comic on a hopeful note--trying to convey that no matter what challenges you face, no matter how scary they seem, if you turn and fight them, you'll find they're not as intimidating as you feared.

Also, y'know, it's just satisfying to see Oak get his comeuppance.