Wednesday - September 29, 2004:

Enough with the strip introductions. we've got the structure. Let's talk about the rules of this here strip-blog combo.

First, though I'll often use the strip to introduce a couple of sides to each issue (two ends of a pencil), I have no intention of presenting 'fair and balanced' commentary on anything. The notion is absurd. I hope that joking around the edges of each issue can anger, annoy and entertain. I also hope it leads to some debate.

Second, to get my politics out of the way early, I joined the Democratic Party briefly this spring so that I could vote in a primary. As a history teacher, I had never done it but thought it important. Well, I enjoyed the heck out of it so whichever party's running a national primary is the one I'm a-joinin' for the year. At heart, I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican though I find myself in agreement more often with Democratic platforms on abortion, gay marriage, taxation and international diplomacy. After living on the edge of the Middle East in Cyprus, from 2001 to 2003, I have to say I, along with much of Europe was profoundly disappointed with the Bush administration's handling of the war in Iraq. That said, several of my former students are currently deployed in Iraq. I hope often for news of their return. I particularly enjoyed Dylan's line, "If God on our side, he'll stop the next war," except he didn't say much about what to do once God's been thrown out the window and dead are being counted. To move on, as a student of history, I know how to play both sides of the political fence, but I love a good verbal joust now and then. I often wish, though, that US politics could offer me another fence to jump over, some viable third party (other than Nader who is unelectable and may yet cost the dem's another election). So while I don't plan to have HB focus on politics, they may creep into accompanying blog entries once in a while. That's where some of the fun in this lies.

Third, for its first few weeks, HB will stick, more or less, to a talking head five panel format. This will give me some time to get to know the characters, develop their world and work on their first steps into it. Consider it a kind of character laboratory. And as for content, web-comics beware.

Fourth, in case you hadn't guessed, I love web-comics. I love the opportunities they have given me and their potential for growth as a medium. I am no disciplined reader of them though. I cast about daily for new strips to read. Though I work with Shaenon Garrity, I confess I have yet to make it through her Narbonic archives. On the other hand, that I can be turned onto a new strip in just a few panels often means quick disappointment. Too many that I've liked don't make it past a month or two, but watching even a handful grow from four or five panels into whole worlds if not financial success is the best kind of reward. I hope that HB and this blog can help dig up some of the smallest of web-comic gems.

Lastly, this whole site is a kind of laboratory for my soul. Come in, play with the chemicals, but there's no telling how long 'till we get the wrong mix (or the right)(or until I take another full-time job).

-until Friday then!