Far Out There

Part of me really wanted to do more uber-dramatic light and shadow for this picture, but then it probably wouldn’t have gotten finished in time. Well, more like nothing ELSE would have gotten finished ‘cos I’d be stuck on this all week.

You know, this whole thing has been kind of challenging to write. I’m one of those types who find it annoying how completely we’ve reinvented Christmas these days, so I went into this intending to do more than just draw a bunch of presents, Santa suits and trees. Then my naturally snarky sense of humor reared it’s ugly head and forced me to back off from the more “traditional” Christmas topics.

I mean, it’s not that big a deal to crack wise at rampant commercialism and the notion of a, omni-present fat guy sliding down your chimney. On the other hand, the Son of God subjecting Himself to an utterly humiliating birth in one of the most squalid corners of His own creation, knowing full well that it would ultimately lead to His gruesome, unjust execution at the hands of the very people He was enduring it to save… well, it’s a little harder to crack wise about stuff like that.

(Historical Note: What I CAN crack wise about is how weird it is seeing Frank featured so prominently in these comics.  These days he’s lucky if he manages to squeeze into ONE Christmas comic, let alone multiple cameos.  This is totally where you peaked, bro.)