Another day, another comic that stopped making sense on friday but by then it was too late to think of something else so here it is as preceded and described by this sentence which you might say is maybe a run-on sentence but who’s to say what is and isn’t a run-on sentence in this world of grey areas and blurred lines and comics that don’t make sense even to the person who drew them which is too bad because it’s his birthday tomorrow and he really should take one day a year to feel quasi-pseudo-good about himself. Oh yeah, and I bought me a new PC, hence much setting-up and downloading and installing and so on, hence the lateness of this week’s installment of the comic. Switching computers is pretty much just as bad as switching apartments, I’m finding, but at least I finally replaced my 10-year old monitor–which will result in a different look to the coloring of the comic, perhaps, because the brightness/contrast/whatever settings are all different now. Oh well, at least i’m not subconsciously inserting Chad Kroeger into my comics!! J’ACCUSE, Penny Arcade!!!
–Rowntree
Virus Comix News 
June 23, 2008 at 4:17 am
I would totally see those guys live.
June 23, 2008 at 4:36 am
Nice strip. Although the gas jar needs to be a bucket.. Happy B-day.
June 23, 2008 at 5:14 am
Is it truly a day of high feast? Tacos and burritos for everyone! I think I missed Celebration of a Champion Day too. And he truly was Championic this year, what with the captaining and victorizing.
Your comic has confirmed my failure as a human being, since I always thought it would be really cool to go to Mars. Is it my fault that NASA didn’t hold to their plan of having manned missions to Mars by 2008? Seriously, that’s what the plan was 20 years ago (according to National Geographic). I figured I’d be about the right age and everything, but even so, I doubt there’d be room for musicians on board. Not even one. Not even one who accidentally typed Mission to Mars (the greatest film Jerry O’Connell has ever starred in). I liked it, even if it didn’t make sense to you.
June 23, 2008 at 7:43 am
this one of your best comics ever, man.
June 23, 2008 at 11:01 am
Having helped raise two daughters, I believe I get your comic. My ladies totally schooled me in snark .
June 23, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Did you just imply that Chad Kroeger is Jesus?
June 23, 2008 at 1:24 pm
For the record, I believe in neither of them.
June 23, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I’d totally see them live, I guess they’d be better than Nickelback!
Happy birthday by the way! Hope we’ll get to see many more years of such great and unusual comics 😀
June 23, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Some interesting comments on reddit:
http://www.reddit.com/r/comics/info/6okmn/comments/
June 23, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Perhaps because it hits so close to home, this is one of your best comics yet.
I second Camille – here’s to many more years of Subnormality!
June 23, 2008 at 9:47 pm
This is nothing like that Calvin & Hobbes comic where Hobbes wishes for a sandwich and Calvin makes a huge wish and Hobbes at the end says “I got my wish”
June 23, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I love that strip. Calvin’s facial expression in the last panel is just classic.
[reads comments] Rather a mixed reaction, but then everything gets rather a mixed reaction. And yeah–the guitarist is technically an admiral. Ten thousand bonus points for identifying the historical inspiration for each band member’s costume.
I shall do my best. I never thought i’d make it even one year, and yet here I am. Thanks for the kind sentiments!
June 24, 2008 at 12:50 am
Man that comic is too true.
Funny thing is, I DID live my childhood dream: to be a search and rescue helicopter crewman in the USCG. Did it for nine years.
Now, I’m a graphic designer at a boring software company and look just like the proles in the top panels. Dreams are tough to make last forever.
Crap. I’m all depressed now.
December 13, 2013 at 11:01 am
You’ve got to keep coming up with new dreams. If you just go with the flow in life, it’ll take you down the drain and into the sewer system.
June 24, 2008 at 1:11 am
It’s an odd dichotomy: as the saying goes, truth is at the core of humor….but then, there’s a point where truth may *subsume* the humor.
It’s hard to know where, exactly, that happens. And it’s certainly subjective, so I won’t even begin to claim that my impression defines the success of your latest strip. But I will note that my reaction was an awful lot like arkonbey’s: “Crap. I’m all depressed now.”
Subnormality treads that line an awful lot, and you frequently get the path just right. I’d like to be able to say something *helpful* that might be of some minor use to you in your future strips. But the fact is, I just don’t have a clue, beyond perhaps suggesting you might wanna explicitly ask yourself: “What/where’s the *funny* in this strip?” When you can describe that presence, great. At least then, we’re all in the same Subjectivity Hell, where some will get the joke and some won’t.
That, of course, assumes you’re *wanting* funny to be there at all, which may not always be true.
June 24, 2008 at 2:50 am
Yeah, but at least you DID live the dream, right? I wouldn’t be too depressed if I were you. Novelty rap-metal bands don’t last forever either (I hope).
Your suspicions are correct. Funny can be hard to come by, and then there’s the days where I just don’t feel like being amusing, but Funny is still my overall objective. That, and causing crippling depression among the readership!! Well, erm, not really. Still, if you accept the theory that laughing and crying are roughly the same thing (tears of joy, anyone?), then I’m usually in the ballpark. I think? I hope.
June 24, 2008 at 6:10 am
I love this comic.
My dream was to go to space and visit Mars. After working in the space program for a few years though*, I knew that despite everyone in the Mars program fervently wishing to do manned missions to Mars, it was never, ever going to happen on the funding that NASA is going to get for the conceivable future.
So I’ve since aimed my dreams a little lower, into the realm of the achievable. That’s kind of depressing to contemplate, but I think it’s more fun to actually get my wishes sometimes!
*Atmospheric science, nothing -that- exciting.
June 24, 2008 at 7:53 am
Seconding the sentiment that I would see that band live, despite rap and metal being two awful tastes that taste awful together!!!!
June 24, 2008 at 7:54 am
I’m so torn, I love the band’s gimmick but rap and metal are two awful tastes that taste awful together. What a dilemma!!!
June 24, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Bah… I’ll take Industrial/Hip Hop over Rap/Metal any day of the week… 😀
http://bilder.posthof.at/20080530/page.htm
(Run, don’t walk, if you have the opportunity to see Saul Williams live…)
June 24, 2008 at 3:09 pm
it’s all part of the plan
June 24, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Even though I knew the punchline before I scrolled over, the last panel still made me laugh. Well done man!
June 25, 2008 at 1:43 am
sadly, only the terrible, terrible dreams come true…
June 25, 2008 at 11:56 pm
definitely one of my favorites
June 26, 2008 at 2:09 pm
It’s allegorically autobiographical. Good on yah winston.
June 26, 2008 at 5:25 pm
There’s Patton on the left and Napoleon on the right… I *think* the drummer is Charles de Gaulle. I can’t place the singer, though.
June 26, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Got it — the singer is Zhukov!
June 27, 2008 at 12:19 am
Right on all counts except the guitarist, whose uniform was inspired by admiral Nelson but isn’t really accurate enough to be recognizable. Napoleon is therefore close enough. Ten thousand bonus points are yours!!! [thunderous applause, cheering, the doffing of hats]
June 28, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I think I’ve seen those guys. Didn’t they open for British Sea Power?
June 30, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Hilarious. 🙂
July 1, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Hi!
I just read the whole comic strips availible. This is one of the most interresting webcomics I’ve read in the last months. Great art combind with uniqe and sool themes is a major plus in the world off web comics. thumbs up for the creative mind and hand behind this.
July 5, 2008 at 3:00 am
Too true. Too true.
July 6, 2008 at 4:44 pm
One of the best to date.
July 27, 2008 at 2:00 am
The individual has alway’s had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is to high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.
Friedrich Nietzsche
July 27, 2008 at 2:15 am
This strip is so true it’s sad, not funny. I guess it”d be much funnier if I were in a band! Then I”d be laughing my butt off at the drones.
I’m still young though, and if I can appreciate this comic and relate to it I guess all is not yet lost!
and yeah Nietzsche sure got it right.
July 27, 2008 at 3:41 am
LOL, dude that was too cool man! Wow, you hit the nail on the head with that one!
JT
http://www.Ultimate-Anonymity.com
July 27, 2008 at 4:00 am
Truely, truely a masterpiece.
I went down the road less traveled
and have never regretted doing so.
December 1, 2011 at 8:36 pm
“I took the path less travelled by
and that has made all the difference.”
I hate misquoters.
Twit.
July 27, 2008 at 4:54 am
You forgot to include the part about the rocker shooting heroin into his veins, and dying in a pool of his own vomit.
July 27, 2008 at 6:01 am
unfortunately, the reality is more like all of them end up at desk jobs
and plus, that metal band guy had about 5 dollars in his jar. He could never afford to pay for the food of his band members and certainly couldnt afford a car
=(
July 28, 2008 at 2:05 pm
yes, because all that matters in life is having fun and partying your ass away. The key here is not to get married or have kids, or else you’ll have to get a real job so you can take care of them. But you still want plenty of sex… so,… just don’t get anyone pregnant. And if you do, just get a freakin abortion.. cuz ROCK AND ROLL AND F**KIN’ is my idea of a meaningful life – forget anyone else.
(this comes from a musician and artist who believes in creative expression – and also responsibility. i don’t think we should resign too life in a cubicle… but this type of cartoon sends the wrong message. Just sayin.)
December 1, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Oh, shut the eff up. Fun is what makes a meaningful life, believe be- I’ve been successful, and it doesn’t make you any happier. Actually, it’s really depressing, because no one really likes successful people.
“Crush your intolerance, your stinking abhorrence for pleasure and laughter and life.
The essence of life is to share our delights-
drink it down for theres more stil to come.”
Candia Ridley/Tony McCormack- Inkubus Sukkubus
July 28, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Really gorgeous!!!
July 31, 2008 at 2:14 am
Sweet Strip!!! That was totally funny.
August 6, 2008 at 6:26 pm
The Generals Rock! YEEEEAAH
August 7, 2008 at 2:52 pm
> yes, because all that matters in life is having fun and partying your ass away. The key here is not to get married or have kids, or else you’ll have to get a real job so you can take care of them. But you still want plenty of sex… so,… just don’t get anyone pregnant. And if you do, just get a freakin abortion.. cuz ROCK AND ROLL AND F**KIN’ is my idea of a meaningful life – forget anyone else.
As someone who’s married with two kids and a cubicle job to feed them —yes, that’s pretty much correct. Should have stayed with my guitar.
August 7, 2008 at 2:53 pm
> He could never afford to pay for the food of his band members and certainly couldnt afford a car
who the fuck cares for cars? cars are stupid.
August 8, 2008 at 9:02 pm
oh yah lol
August 16, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Brilliant. Everything I’ve been trying to explain to people for the last 8 months summed up perfectly.
September 8, 2008 at 11:07 pm
so fucking true
September 16, 2008 at 4:36 am
One more comment about this comic, which I return to again and again:
Awwwwwwwwww… Muthahfuckin’ YEAH!
October 8, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I really love this one its excelent. Strive to be what you want to be it’s like saying btw don’t live to be bored.
October 16, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Dude… thank you for making this.
Awww Mothafuckin YEAAH!!!
October 23, 2008 at 12:58 am
I don’t know how you learned to see into my head, but I dig it. Awesome comics!
November 27, 2008 at 6:15 pm
The best, yeeeaaaahhh!
December 21, 2008 at 2:38 am
AWWW MUTHAFUCKIN YEAH!!!!!
That is fuckin classic
January 17, 2009 at 4:41 am
Ha ha ha!!! Too true!
January 31, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Amazing.
February 26, 2009 at 9:57 pm
What are the nationalities of the generals costumes?
American, German, French aaaand? (Shit like this drives me mad, knowwhatimean?)
February 26, 2009 at 10:01 pm
How stupid of me, didn’t read the above posts.
March 16, 2009 at 12:28 am
LOL nice! kudos dude kudos
April 20, 2009 at 7:03 am
I wanted to be a doctor when i grew up
And now I’m in Med School.
Sorry to buck the trend there, looooserrrrrs hahaha
May 15, 2009 at 5:35 am
If this strip is supposed to be all dystopian and ‘power-to-the-rebels’…
What exactly is the blonde girl smirking at? She knows something we don’t?
December 1, 2011 at 8:45 pm
She just got laid.
May 24, 2009 at 5:28 pm
That’s me on drums in the last panel. In the future….
June 5, 2009 at 3:07 am
I generally like your comics, but you really missed the mark here.
The messages of this comic get further and further from the truth as the list goes on:
1: No one who wants to become a doctor or policeman ever realizes his dream, and aspiring musician never end up living with their parents and working at Block Buster.
2: No one who works in a cubicle ever enjoys his job. He always hates his life, because anything that doesn’t involve fame and fortune isn’t worth getting up in the morning to do, and nothing that requires sitting at a desk, using a computer, and working interacting with colleagues could ever be challenging or rewarding.
3. Edgy, “nonconformist” kids that were into music were picked on and viewed as outcasts and nerds, while kids who actually applied themselves and wanted to do well academically were always popular and never considered nerds.
June 24, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Great stuff, I am officially a fan
Long live Weirdoes everywhere (yes, YOU too)
check this, mate of mine here in Berlin:
http://www.toonpool.com/toonagent/profile?userid=169
all the best
(-:
November 24, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Hahaha. Who’s livin’ the dream now. XP
January 17, 2010 at 10:39 am
I agree following your heart and taking the road less travelled is the most difficult option, but the most rewarding. However, this comic and many others on this site tend to be very harsh on people who might not have the self-esteem to get up and accomplish their dreams and therefor prefer the security of boredom. I am not in disagreement with the message and you might find I am being a troll for writing this (over)analysis of the comic, but it’s just a general critic. Whatever, I am a party-pooper. They didn’t show that the rap-metal band boy might not be that happy after all. I mean, he probably has to work a part-time job somewhere which might make him unhappy and sometimes, no matter how much you persevere and try things just don’t work out. Sure at least he tried, but not all our efforts bring fruits. So he might have no real regrets, but that doesn’t make him necessarily happier. I just thought it was a little harsh and also simplistic.
February 10, 2010 at 5:59 pm
I find it ironic how the girl who wants to be a doctor and “help people” is also the one shoving the kid she deems “weird”. Hippocrates’s oath? More like “hypocrite’s”.
March 12, 2010 at 7:37 pm
I love your work. You are a truly gifted artist, and your sense of irony is sharp as a razorblade. Keep up the great work. I especially love your atheist apocalypse and the Emperor’s New Clothes metaphor.
March 24, 2010 at 6:55 am
Thoughtful, fun, strangely funny.
May 6, 2010 at 6:27 pm
i love you. i really really love you.
June 6, 2010 at 11:00 pm
that’s great 🙂
August 4, 2010 at 2:05 am
AWWWWWW MUTHAFUCKIN’ YEAH!!!
August 4, 2010 at 5:39 am
Ive never felt more in love
November 13, 2010 at 6:24 pm
that could be a mini dave grohl right there
here’s a video about him saying exactly how he got to be where he is now
November 27, 2010 at 9:41 pm
If only life worked that way.
November 28, 2010 at 3:38 am
I think the doctor looks pretty happy. She’s clearly chilling after a long day, drinking some red bull. She doesn’t look stressed. Why? because doctor is a good and fairly realistic goal. kids who want to be astronauts and firemen and policemen just think “COOOL!” kids who want to be doctors usually do want to help others…. and there are lots of doctors in the world. And the kid she said was a weirdo? he was a weirdo… and as that kid, I can honestly say “I am a weirdo”. My goal when I was a kid? Astronaut, fireman, doctor… but mostly writer. guess what? I am! Weeeeeee!
August 10, 2012 at 3:13 am
I think the point was that none of those other kids actually followed through with their dreams. They didn’t become an astronaut, policeman, baseball player or doctor. They took the safe option and got boring office jobs, sitting in cubicles. The only that followed through was the “weird” kid
December 6, 2010 at 6:32 am
i wanna be a mass murder when i grow up : D
January 9, 2011 at 9:38 am
Hey – just wanted to say thanks; I don’t read web comics but my business partner does, religiously. He read your archive in like 2 sittings and makes me read them now 🙂 This is great, and the rest of your stuff too… They address real things that not a lot of people seem to talk about. Maybe I will be a web comic reader… Thanks for being encouraging
May 31, 2011 at 11:36 am
Someone dressed as Gen “Monty” Montgomery and his duffle coat would make an excellent addition to the Generals.
July 25, 2011 at 2:42 pm
This is my favorite by far, you’re work is brilliant and I enjoy the updates.
August 16, 2011 at 5:55 am
Doctor loli is cool 🙂
September 10, 2011 at 11:58 am
inspiring!
November 14, 2011 at 8:29 pm
I am stealing this band idea.
May 23, 2012 at 2:01 pm
I’m not actually a very big fan of comics/quotes that – in their attempt to talk up individuality – seem to always talk down everyone else.
June 14, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Love it, love everything about it
September 23, 2012 at 6:48 pm
Awesome. what i can say? send me the song!!!
September 26, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Am I the only one that kind of wants a boring office job?
February 17, 2013 at 7:27 pm
no, most people do, and that’s maybe the sad part
February 22, 2013 at 10:12 am
I heavily dispute that, and raise you a people will do fuck all so long as they’re fairly comfortable for long periods of time.
February 22, 2013 at 10:33 am
I’ll say that in this comic, our wierd friend may have won so far, but we as a whole would probably lose without fail. I’ve read people saying they like how the guy lives, and would do the same if they had half a chance, but that’s why the rest were in office jobs in the first place, amongst much worse.
February 22, 2013 at 10:36 am
As for why she’s smiling, note the pills.
March 28, 2013 at 6:17 pm
I can relate to that one – I was in a band for a couple years that played for beer on the weekends at small clubs and even got paid a few times until we had to finally quit and find real jobs. A couple of us even got married and joined society
March 3, 2014 at 7:16 am
Is the hi-hat deliberately bent?
August 2, 2014 at 10:06 pm
We can’t all “live the dream”. But for those who can, consider your self luck!
December 29, 2016 at 7:41 pm
Basically anyone can go hard towards their dream(s). It’s only a matter of… doing whatever it takes. The luckier ones may get further than others, but that’s not the point.
April 2, 2017 at 8:25 pm
If this can work out for me, I’ll name check you in the acknowledgements.
May 9, 2017 at 6:44 pm
This comic is perfect.
September 22, 2020 at 9:03 am
Greetings from the year 2020. When this comic came out I was the child and now I am the office worker. Not a surprise.