I’m New Here 8-12

This week I was a bit too busy for a new strip, but here is a collection of my last five strips for The River Journal. They’re meant for an audience of a few towns in Westchester, NY, but really I think anyone who moved from the city to the burbs will appreciate it. Hence the title.

These will also be a nice break from all the misery in the news today since these are all pre pandemic and non political. So take a break and enjoy.

Fast Times

I know this latest Dustinland comic is going to be seen as depressing for most people, especially parents. That’s okay. Sometimes we have to publicly talk about these things. You know, I spend most of my time entertaining people with my comics, making them feel better, distracting them. But the world is full of distractions. And social media is full of people saying “look at me, look what I did, look how great my life is, yay.” But that’s not reality. And that’s not looking at the hard truths that affect our lives. So yes, sorry if I bummed you out, but I do think it’s good to acknowledge some of the darker thoughts we all have from time to time, and maybe that will make us feel a little less alone.

I’m New Here 7

This week’s comic is my latest work for The River Journal. If you live in a suburban town, I think you’ll be able to relate — even if it’s not Westchester. That being said, there is a certain New Yorkness to this comic. This town always has had a bit of “if you’re not here, you’re nowhere” to it. One thing I don’t understand is why so many people can’t except other people’s choices. It always has to come back to a subconscious defense of their own lifestyle. Why? Why can’t we like different things?

Divided States

This week’s new Dustinland comic is pretty clear — it’s about how much Americans have come to hate each other. I think we always have, to some degree. The country really never got over the Civil War, which is pretty pathetic, but still, that’s life. But Trump has really stirred things up and made it even worse than it was during Bush or Obama.

So yeah, we all hate each other. Good times!

Also, I recognize this comic could be used as a meme for just about any subject matter, so hopefully it won’t get too Photoshopped.

I’m New Here 5 & 6

Here are my two latest comic strips for The River Journal, an excellent local newspaper up here in Westchester. Homeowners, you will appreciate the newest one.

I’m New Here

I’ve been drawing a new comic called I’m New Here for a local newspaper called The River Journal. They cover a bunch of towns up here in Westchester, including mine. I say up here because Westchester is north of NYC, and that’s sort of where everything is judged by around these parts. Anyway, you can see the first four strips here. There’s certainly a theme, as you can tell from the title. I grew up in an apartment in Queens so being new to the suburbs provides endless ideas. If you’re lucky enough to live in a Hudson river town, you get the printed version delivered right into your mailbox. Good times.

Stay Clean

This week’s Dustinland comic is about the cleaning frenzy that goes on before guests arrive. Of course I’m exaggerating a bit, but the general idea is correct. Your day-to-day life at home does not ever live up to the cleanliness that occurs when you host – even just a few friends. There’s always some cleanup in an attempt to generate an image of neatness+. In fact, one of the best things about having people over is that it forces you to clean up. Of course, this can backfire if the hosting leaves the house messier than it was to begin with, due to massive amounts of cooking, eating, and children playing with every toys and art supply they can find. Either way, drinking can help.

Joining The Club

This week’s new Dustinland comic follows further into my homeownership voyage. Definitely more fun to write about than the election, that’s for sure. I wonder how people who don’t own homes will view this strip? Fear? Boredom? Excitement? Either way, the strips will continue as buying a house has consumed my existence, and all my inspiration is from this experience. Joining the club indeed.

Welcome To Homeownership

So the new house I refer to in this week’s new Dustinland comic is not quite as bad as I make it out to be in the strip, but it definitely needs more work than I thought it would. While I’m exaggerating for the strip, it really does feel that way. Anytime anyone does anything on the house, they uncover some new unlucky nightmare that costs thousands of dollars to repair. Man, I guess this is what grumpy dads across America have been complaining about on sitcoms forever. Here’s to joining the club.

Mi Casa es Mi Casa

I just bought a house. And that’s what this week’s latest Dustinland comic is about. Honestly, I could write an entire graphic novel just about this. The entire process. In some ways you could say it took years. Just closing on the house alone was many months. I could go on and on here and now, but I will save it for future comics.

If I have the time to draw comics, that is, since I will soon be so broke, in my spare time I’ll have to be one of those guys selling bottled water at stoplights.