Frederick the Great: A Most Lamentable History Breaching Space and Time. » Geoff

Winter 2013 VIII Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 11:34:30 +0000

Seven years is an interesting amount of time for an anniversary. More than five, less than ten, but better than six, eight, or nine because it is prime. It is also a full ten percent of the proverbial threescore and ten, which puts seven years of doing something into the realm of the character-defining.
When I was checking the comic this morning, I wasn’t expecting to find a paean to myself hiding underneath of it. Truth to tell, I wasn’t thinking much about the seventh anniversary due to a bunch of other things going on. The Count has been minding the store while I work on finishing the layouts for the second book (for reals this time), so it kind of snuck up on me.
These are the benefits of collaboration. If it was just me working on this thing, it probably would have faded away a long time ago. The Count is what makes it so there ain’t no gettin’ off of this train we’re on.
My mind might be a steel-trap, but it is a certain kind of trap, best suited for esoterica and not important things like day-to-day human interaction.
(In my dotage, some relation might ask, “Grandpa, who was your favorite Maurader?” And I’ll respond, “Who the hell are you? You know, they ret-conned Gambit in later, does he count?”)
So, anyway, my first real memory of meeting The Count was the audition for Damn Yankees. Maybe I had seen him around and had some vague idea of him as a man with the sartorial advantage of the rest of the dorm, but maybe not. I certainly didn’t realize at the time that I was embarking on a friendship that has lasted for almost 15 years now.
The Count is incredibly enthusiastic. While I’m spending my time grubbing about in the mud hoping to turn up some coins, he concerns himself with ideas and trying new things.
There are several times when starting a venture where I’ll come to the point where I pretty much decide that there isn’t any point in continuing due to a deficiency of worth/smarts/talent/etc. The Count’s response to such questions is always, “balls on that.” And then we’re off.
He’s also incredibly well-read on a variety of subjects and gives our history comic a legitimacy it wouldn’t have otherwise. When people approach us at conventions, I’m always amazed by The Count’s ability to answer their questions about Russian literature or favorite composers of the 19th century or whatever isn’t the megaphone crooner song about dragons that I have playing in a loop in my head.
The Count is the true Gentleman-Scholar of the partnership.
–Geoff

Ep578 Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:18:32 +0000

Since the Count is slacking on discussing ECCC, I will discuss things of note that I saw there. Now, these folks probably don’t need the eminently countable tens of people we can send their way, but I’ll give them shoutouts anyway:
The Geekerific crew is full of nice people that are fun to go drinking with.
I bought a CD from The Doubleclicks that I am finding to my liking.
Erika Moen was super nice. Both my wife and brother took one look at this artichoke print that she had and declared that they must own it no matter what the cost. I’m pulling for her to win the Penny Arcade Strip Search.
My own, “I must own this no matter what the cost,” moment came from Fez-O-Rama. They had a red velvet fez with a tiki on it that is now mine. It will match my smoking jacket perfectly.
I bought several new books from Ben Thompson of Badass of the Week. These books double as research for Frederick! Although, I don’t think I’ve worked anyone from them into the comic yet…
Lucas Elliott is from the old country (Alaska). Even though he is from Fairbanks and I am A-Rage ’til I die, he had some pretty sweet t-shirts.
I was able to very quickly tell Noelle Stevenson how much I like her comic, Nimona. This comic is great and everybody should be reading it.
We also had great conversations with everybody that stopped by the booth! Special thanks to Brittany Summers for chatting with us about all manner of things. It sure is great when people recognize us from past years.
–Geoff

Ep574 Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:58:16 +0000

I didn’t realize that the arc ended up at 128 episodes. What a good power of two to end on.
My original conception for this arc was to be a quick, jokey “Abe gets his Funk back roadtrip” and the tale grew in the telling.
Frederick has been moving on up during the course of this arc. We’ve got the Kickstarter money to print up the next book, so we’ll be busy with that over the next few months.
We’re also gearing up to head off to Emerald City Comic Con again, so if you are in Seattle, stop on by.
With The Count’s arc starting up next week, now is a fine time to tell your friends to jump on the bandwagon.
I’m personally looking forward to getting some scripts to read that didn’t come from my head.
Onwards to affectation!
–Geoff

Ep 520 Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:15:04 +0000

One of our friends is doing a Kickstarter to arrange video game music for the cello.
If you like that sort of thing, check it out.
I, myself, can listen to cello loops combining together all day.
–Geoff

Ep 518 Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 15:50:31 +0000

This has very little to do with today’s comic, but here is a video that features Calvin Coolidge fighting mummies.
I liked it, but then, I’m pretty much predisposed to like such things.
–Geoff

Ep 500 Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:02:45 +0000

Five hundo ain’t bad! Even after five hundred episodes, there is still endless joy to be had in writing about robots, Presidents, history, and foppery. Thanks to everyone that loyally tunes in for their Frederick fix. Now to start thinking […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry...

Episode 482 Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:02:30 +0000

Something funky is afoot.
–Geoff

Ep 475 Geoff

Geoff — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:02:45 +0000

Five keeps the neighborhood alive! When we started up Frederick five years ago, I didn’t expect it would still be going strong in the future year of 2012. I’m glad we do our part to amuse people for a minute […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry...

Ep 463 Geoff

Geoff — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:02:45 +0000

Harrison, Hayes, and Cleveland all feature in a 4-panel comic that The Count did back when I was having computer trouble. It is one my favorite episodes.
I’ve been talking about bringing the middlin’ Presidents back for awhile. The confluence of the type of story I wanted to tell with this arc, as well as some exposition I wanted to reveal, made bringing them back a good fit.
Since I was already self-indulging by bringing back Harrison, Hayes, and Cleveland, I figured I’d throw another one my favorites in this episode.
In the 1950s, Froot Piez were called Froot Pies. I think Frederick must have gotten the Piez for Nietzsche from the 1980s, which was the flaky golden age of snack cake themed advertising comics.
Seanbaby has the definitive page for discussing snack cakes in comics. This still can make me cry laughing. It just did.
–Geoff

Ep 462 Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:02:45 +0000

Respect the First Inaugural.
Since today’s episode is fairly Abe-centric, I should mention that Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin is a solid block of awesome. I haven’t read it recently, and I seem to have lent my copy out… However, if you read it now, you can say that you were totally into the book before the movie came out.
I’ve always been a fan of William H. Seward since learning about him in elementary school. (In Alaska, everybody learns about “Seward’s Folly” in detail.) So, it is nice to see him get discussed in depth along with Abe. Hmmm. I should cook up a reason to have Seward show up in the comic at some point.
As for the exciting times are coming, that is totally true.
–Geoff