Heyy, new comic for you, finally. This is the one where i finally stop using walls of text and weird panel arrangements and background details and music references!! Nobody has time to read!
-Wr
OH WAIT YES THEY DO
For anyone who does in fact have time to read, i am proud to say that my Mom has a new book out this week, which can be obtained from the usual kinds of places one obtains books from in this crazy, fast-paced world of the future we live in. “Leaving Berlin” is an ultra-fantastico collection of short stories, told with humor and insight (and probably some amusing sarcasm), and is the perfect introduction to the work of an author who deserves to be at least 189 times more popular than she already is, so there you have it. I know it would mean a lot to her if someone was to, say, order 36,000 copies of her book, so why not consider it? Or you could just order one. There’s a book launch in Regina, Saskatchewan on friday the 7th, for anyone who is actually reading this in Regina, so there’s that too (you can email me for the details). All those goddamn words, it runs in the family…
Virus Comix News 
October 2, 2011 at 8:11 pm
Very fun, and enjoyable — if a bit tough to navigate in a web browser. (I pity the people trying to navigate it on a netbook’s screen!)
October 5, 2011 at 5:02 am
I know what you mean. I didn’t know about the other half of the comic until they collided
October 5, 2011 at 11:21 pm
I think that was the point Bill. It was a pleasant surprise to me, “oh look at that, it’s like two comics!”
October 14, 2011 at 8:26 pm
I read this comic on Netbok, and it worked fine, actually. That’s what the autoscroll feature is for.
October 2, 2011 at 8:12 pm
A comic about the reason I try to smile at people. It might just help them through their day.
October 4, 2011 at 6:50 am
you’re a good person for that.
October 2, 2011 at 8:19 pm
Fantastic. I love your comics that point out the universality among humans. Call me idealistic, but I think a littler perspective could fix the world
October 2, 2011 at 8:46 pm
ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY BRILLIANT!
I love the content and the layout. And when I read Ethel’s thoughts it’s like you pulled them right out of my head.
October 2, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Stupendous. I’m guilty of having had similar conversations with myself, and working myself into a fury over nothing. Doing better now, but it’s a wonderful reminder of why it’s such an unproductive activity!
October 2, 2011 at 10:02 pm
OK, somebody explain to me the Poland bit?
October 2, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Ethel accused her of being a Nazi. A pretty good put-down, actually, I’ll have to remember that one.
I loved the way the layout fit the converging solipsism of the two protagonists. Brilliant, as usual.
October 2, 2011 at 10:26 pm
Interesting, but “emperor of the universe” was better. Story branch on the right is funnier, so they feel kinda “unbalanced”. But maybe that’s just me.
October 4, 2011 at 11:56 pm
No, that’s a fair point, so i’m glad you mentioned it.
October 10, 2011 at 2:35 am
I loved both of them! It was such a pleasant surprise to discover the second comic strip in this one, and I really thought you NAILED the low self esteem with the horror-story-prostitute lady (I forget what her name is). Seriously, it was like you held a tape recorder up next to my brain for a week and took notes.
The way it was laid out was so innovative, and the structure of the panels actually contributed to the story itself! You NEVER see that! (Or, at least, I never do)
Winston, you really don’t need to be anywhere near as critical of your comics as you are. They’re incredible. Every single one wows me.
October 2, 2011 at 11:02 pm
I liked trying to spot all the REM references.
And someday, I want to use the Poland line on someone (truly) deserving. Or if it’s funny.
Choose your own collision. I liked both.
October 3, 2011 at 1:47 am
Loved It. Thanks Winston.
October 3, 2011 at 2:13 am
WR,
don’t you dare reveal the name of the pink-haired girl. If you do, I’LL EAT YOUR SOUL.
Love,
–Irina
October 4, 2011 at 11:57 pm
Deal.
October 14, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Is it Irina….?
September 8, 2013 at 5:47 pm
Lol, Benjy.
October 3, 2011 at 2:59 am
Nice one dude.
October 3, 2011 at 8:27 am
I love you but sometimes you make me sad. In a good way, but nonetheless.
October 3, 2011 at 8:56 am
In Zen, we say, “You make, you get.”
Thanks for another awesome comic.
October 3, 2011 at 9:28 am
Most interesting, and entertaining ^^
October 3, 2011 at 9:46 am
Interesting layout. “Converging”. Not sure how else you could have done that trick.
October 3, 2011 at 10:47 am
winston a. holmström?
October 3, 2011 at 11:18 am
Long time reader, first time comment-poster… Love your work, but this one, in my opinion, is better than previous stuff you have done because of it dual nature, and how we all are in certain ways alike.
Good job, and I’m looking forward to the next one!
Cheers from Romania
October 3, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Initially didn’t notice it went down past the shared bubble, so I thought they were the same person at different ages, or possibly parallel universes, so it was a pleasant surprise when they bumped into each other. We see the theme of this comic in other books/movies/etc all the time but I thought this comic told it quite elegantly/eloquently.
October 3, 2011 at 3:55 pm
I loved the REM references, felt like a memorial/tribute so very moving. cheers again Winston!
October 3, 2011 at 6:09 pm
And there you outdid yourself AGAIN. oO
October 3, 2011 at 7:23 pm
Wow, just wow. A fantastic entry this week, WR!
Also, i’d love to read your mom’s book! The comment on that page picked my curiosity, too bad i live in a faraway land known as Argentina, and i lack any medium to buy things over the ‘net. Good luck to her, though!
October 3, 2011 at 7:56 pm
you know i’m pretty sure “downtown icecream” is sex move
October 3, 2011 at 7:59 pm
well if it isn’t it should be
October 3, 2011 at 9:47 pm
Great. Winston, you have made my day again. Thanks for the effort you put into these.
October 3, 2011 at 11:17 pm
Ethel is my favorite character to this day. Well, as far as subnormality goes. Overall it has to be Captain Estar.
Thanks for providing a quality comic!
October 3, 2011 at 11:57 pm
“Congratulations on your invasion of Poland?” Beautiful, I’ll still be giggling tomorrow…..
October 4, 2011 at 1:08 am
The R.E.M. references are my favorite Easter Egg ever.
Also, the ‘Farmer John’s Frozen Peas’ comment brings to mind Orson Welles’s infamous “Frozen Peas” recording.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_Peas
October 4, 2011 at 11:58 pm
Most definitely inspired by orson welles, yes.
October 4, 2011 at 6:39 am
You have outdone yourself as usual, pity the subject matter on the left is so familiar to me. Wish your parental unit good luck with their book sale, I would attend in support but am approximately… 20,000km away so it might be difficult.
October 4, 2011 at 6:55 am
at first, this made me smile inside, then it made me cry, then finally, cathartically i realised… it could be worse than being me. i do feel a bit concerned for YOU however being familiar enough with the subject matter to even be able to create this .. but thank you.
October 4, 2011 at 9:58 am
Man, I so feel for Ethel. (Almost) Every day of mine is like that… and the part about the cooler brother is actually more of a reality then a dream. 😦
Also, Frozen Peas (after my little emo trip)… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH1PJTY9AVA
October 4, 2011 at 10:29 am
This was really good- I loved the Easter-egg REM references, I thought that was a great tribute to them. I like reminders that being nice even when you’ve had a bad day is worthwhile.
October 4, 2011 at 11:51 am
För helvete Winston, du är svensk ju! 😀
October 5, 2011 at 12:00 am
Well, half swedish anyway.
October 4, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Sinister crime organization? At first I thought they needed voices for their computer game, and had decided to save money by having it done as ‘auditions’. But I guess if you live inside a webcomic, your world may well contain secret headquarters that need computer voices.
October 4, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Subnormality is the way comics should have evolved all along, instead of being slowly crammed into tiny three or four panel newspaper strips.
It kind of reminds me of the old time newspaper comics that had huge multi-page spreads, is what I’m saying. It’s awesome!
October 4, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Nice use of, wassit called, infinite canvass. I guess some people feel like shit because they’re wired that way, and some because shitty stuff happens. Not feeling feeling like shit is horrible is enough for me to live with, at least.
October 4, 2011 at 5:41 pm
“High five”, is that how you say it?
October 5, 2011 at 12:15 am
Indeed it is!
October 4, 2011 at 7:30 pm
You literally, LITERALLY, took my breath away with the way the panels are arranged. I expected them to slide down across the screen in one fell diagonal swoop but when I saw the collide and the return up to the top it made my heart skip a beat as I let out a breathless sigh. Reading the 2nd stories panels backwards was like coming up for air.
Beautiful
October 4, 2011 at 9:02 pm
Not sure if there is a best way to read it, but once a saw it converge with the through bubble I raced to the other side, but double-taked and continued with etheal side first and read to the finish, now I wonder if that was a mistake. Once again your style and design work leaves me reeling.
October 5, 2011 at 12:14 am
I’m actually curious how most people ended up reading it, as not even i am sure what the best way is, if there is a best way.
October 5, 2011 at 12:36 am
I initially read Ethel’s panels not knowing that the other side existed. I feel that’s the way it should be read. I was completely wrapped up in Ethel’s story then BAM! It clashes with this other person’s story that I had no idea was even happening. Kinda like the way that sort of thing happens in real life. Anyway, I may just be making an ass out of you and me here, or perhaps just me, but I figured that was the effect you were going for. A friend of mine said you should have just put both stories side by said, which would have just murdered that wonderful effect.
October 5, 2011 at 12:56 am
I agree, Joe! That’s how I found it, it was so great. I loved this layout. Though the comment button was hard to find, heh.
October 5, 2011 at 7:00 am
YAY! I like when people agree with me, and I love the name Heather, so you’re two for two in my book 😀
October 6, 2011 at 1:47 pm
I read Ethel’s panels first, and then crashed completely unexpectedly with the other side. I think it was a masterful touch on your part, WR.
By the way, I’m feeling so stupid on not being able to catch the supposed REM references. You often make me feel stupid, Rowntree. Bear in mind, however, I was born and raised in South America and a lot of North American cultural references get lost on me. Don’t worry, I’m studying.
October 9, 2011 at 5:56 am
I noticed the scroll bar and jumped from the top panel on the left to the right and so forth, then went back and read it in it’s entirety for each path. It’s nice to know someone is trying new things in a world otherwise devoid of imagination.
September 10, 2013 at 9:16 pm
Just thought of something:
Print it out twice, cut it so that you have one sheet following Ethel and one following the other one, give one to each friend(required:friends), they read them, then trade.
October 4, 2011 at 9:50 pm
I love Ethel with all my heart. I hope she finds peace and happiness.
October 4, 2011 at 11:30 pm
Jesus, guys, you do your damndest to make sure no one can read your comics. what the hell kind of format is this? No, it’s not clever, and no, it doesn’t get the point across any better.
October 5, 2011 at 12:13 am
According to the comic, you might be having a bad day. My condolences!
October 10, 2011 at 2:40 am
The layout contributes hugely to the way the story is read. Being isolated in one person’s thoughts to begin with shows you how easy it is to ignore other people and focus on yourself; which is exposed when the two stories come together. If both were side by side and neatly laid out, you would never get the effect of two entirely separate worlds colliding just as the characters themselves collide.
Don’t listen to this douche, WR 😦
October 5, 2011 at 12:21 am
Wow another great comic, I really like how you experiment with panels. I think you’re really pushing the envelope when it comes to webcomics.
October 5, 2011 at 12:54 am
You should write a book on one of your characters 🙂
October 5, 2011 at 12:59 am
Love the format, and the comic. So heartbreaking, yet uplifting at the same time. It kind of breaks my brain how your comics just exponentially get better and better.
October 5, 2011 at 3:46 am
Panel play! Oh yes!
You sir are brilliant.
October 5, 2011 at 9:23 am
This is what they call “making use of your medium”. Take note kids….
October 5, 2011 at 10:09 am
I just got that feeling of excitement informercials fail to provide when they tell you “But wait, there is more!”. Good job!
October 7, 2011 at 12:11 pm
welllll if you like that feeling, check out “epic rap battles of history #10” on youtube. 😉 they’re a whole series of farcically sent up characters rap battling each other.
ironically enough, napolean and hitler both make appearances in them.
October 5, 2011 at 10:58 am
Congratulations, Winston! Probably your best one since “Subnormality gets quietly hammered”! Very enjoyable.
October 5, 2011 at 7:16 pm
Ah, finally found Actress Mom in the archives: http://www.viruscomix.com/page498.html
Still enjoying the strip! 🙂
October 5, 2011 at 9:40 pm
You know, it’s nice to read a great comment on today’s world (the comic) and then realize that not everyone falls under the stereotype (the commenters) Thanks Winston!
Great comic
Sincerely
Justin
October 6, 2011 at 6:01 am
Sympathy for the normal.
Also, woo! REM!
October 6, 2011 at 6:13 am
Okay, apparently the comic loads for other people, but I’ve tried a couple times a day since Sunday, and it’s not loading for me at all. 😦
October 6, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Not sure why that should be. If anyone else is having this problem let me know.
October 6, 2011 at 12:58 pm
well, since i believe in helping people, here goes. bear with me. IF you are using windows (if not ask someone way more knowledgable than me) first, clear your cookies. this means clicking on disk cleanup. reboot, of course, at any point in time. you can try at each step to load this page, IF it fails i would suggest downloading another browser other than internet explorer. firefox, opera, and MAYBE google chrome (i haven’t used it)
would be good choices. it takes a long time to get used to another browser (learning curve) but in the end, IF it works, it is very much worth it. good luck! and if all else fails, try to google your specific problem.
October 8, 2011 at 8:07 pm
i am on an old mac and use safari. the ‘infinite canvas’ crunched my browser ( crunch is like crash only not so bad ) so i “cut&past”-ed the image sight unseen into a picture viewer .. which gave me a thumbnail of the whole comic. So i knew the structure of the comic before i started to read it. i read the dream fork then the audition fork then the intersect and then the aftermaths. Many of WR’s works are better viewed in a picture viewer that in a web browser.
October 6, 2011 at 7:38 am
Nice job on the format and the R.E.M. references (integrated them into the comic quite well. Although, since they’re all from Automatic for the People – is that your favorite album, the on you grew up with, or has it some other significance?
October 6, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Yeah, i listened to it back in high school, it was one of the first albums i ever got i think (via Columbia House!) so i’ve got some specific memories there. I figured the band deserved some kind of tribute, so worked in all the song titles.
October 6, 2011 at 5:18 pm
Ah. For me, the high school album was Accelerate. Interesting to see two generations of R.E.M. fans 🙂
October 6, 2011 at 8:02 am
I read all the way down and then all the way back up and I thought they were the same person for a while. Their faces were so much alike. Then I went back down and I sorted it out.
October 6, 2011 at 10:57 am
Now, if I ran a secret organisation bent on global domination (Which I don’t). And I had a secret underground lair (which I don’t). I’d have the computer voice done by John Travolta. (Which of course I didn’t do.) Besides, Kevin Spacey was booked solid at that time…. aw dammit. Condition Lavender, Condition Lavender. Abort! Abort!
October 6, 2011 at 11:37 am
“Congratulations on your invasion of Poland?” This didn’t work for me – so many armies have invaded Poland over its long history that I wasn’t sure you meant the Nazis.
October 6, 2011 at 2:37 pm
Yeeeah… but you have to be a history buff to not catch it. It works for most people. It didn’t work for me, though, coincidentally I was reading about the history of France in the 19th century just the other day, thus “invading Poland” reminded me of Napoleon instead of Nazis.
October 6, 2011 at 1:51 pm
That would have been cool if you hid a small comic in the lower left/right corners.
BTW I’m viewing this on a laptop with a damn touch pad.
>_<
October 7, 2011 at 9:49 am
Perfect style and form of presentation (I also read until the mother node without realizing there was a 2nd branch to see).
But I guess I was hoping for a more conciliatory or optimistic ending… I’m not complaining, the story is great, it’s just that some of your other comics have a strong emotional twist in the end, where the whole comic seems to be soul crushingly pessimistic, only to then end on a happier note. This one didn’t, and it leaves a bitter taste behind. Probably that’s the purpose.
October 7, 2011 at 11:13 am
I found references to every song on “Automatic for the People” – except “Everybody Hurts”. Am I missing it somewhere, or was it left out on purpose? Maybe some kind of message?
October 7, 2011 at 11:59 am
Check out the name of the .jpg with the actual artwork.
October 7, 2011 at 12:10 pm
Ah, there we go – thanks!
October 7, 2011 at 11:45 am
I don’t know how you do it sir, but I can’t help but read myself into each of your characters. you capture humanity well I guess. thank you for all your comics, they are amazing.
October 7, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Brilliant, again. Your understanding and portrayal of human nature is impressive.
October 8, 2011 at 2:21 am
It’s like you get into peoples heads. . .
October 8, 2011 at 6:27 am
Jesus, thats depressing. Not only is life shit, but your suffering isnt even unique!
Ugh, suicide is looking better by the day.
October 8, 2011 at 9:55 pm
That’s definitely one way of seeing it. And I’m not saying you’re wrong, but I want to tell you how I see it.
I (sometimes) see it as hopeful. Suffering feels so isolating, and thus it feels like one is uniquely fucked up and hopeless and it’s also somehow their fault. I find it liberating to realize that all suffer, in their own ways. It’s just another point of connection and understanding another person, and the more connection and understanding we are able to have in our lives, the less meaningless and bleak this all seems.
I hope you feel better.
xo
October 9, 2011 at 8:50 am
whatever it is you’re going through, i think it’ll be ok. 🙂
October 10, 2011 at 10:32 am
Really? You seriously feel better about suicide just now when it should had became obvious none of us is ever alone in this world, and that all that would take is for us to step aside a little away from our own selfishness, and try to realize we are not the only ones with problems? Maybe what we all need is to learn to be nicer to each other, and try to be the best possible version of ourselves, no matter how horrible we may feel at a moment. I think it’s all about mercy, empathy and politeness; oh, and learning to realize the person at whom we feel like exploding at, he or she is not the one deserving of our anger.
You know, I love how this comix makes me talk as Morgan Freeman when he plays God. It does feels nice 😀
October 8, 2011 at 6:52 am
Your comics are like the modern day Calvin and Hobbes. Different yet brilliant comic layout, funny yet philosophical.
October 9, 2011 at 9:20 am
I’m sure we’ve seen the woman on the right before. Isn’t she the one hit with the six orgasm surprise at the world’s worst dating agency?
October 10, 2011 at 10:10 am
In brevity (sigh…) :
Zed, the blond guy is, except for the necklace, identical to my inner picture of murderer Niedermann, Lisbeth’s psychopathic half-brother in the Millennium Trilogy (Pippi Longstocking genre.)
Another reason for going stealth?
By the way,
this comic looks like a wine glass, so,
prosit to you and your ISBN-mom, Wr.
dog bee ben,
already 1.9 Giga ly away.
Almost.
October 10, 2011 at 8:09 pm
I’ve been reading your comic for almost a year now, and I’ve been enjoying it so much. Today’s comic touched me, though; the left story felt so familiar. I just had to let you know how much I love your comic.
October 10, 2011 at 11:55 pm
ayap happened to me just der otter day.
October 11, 2011 at 5:41 pm
I love this comic (art form, I guess). Funny deep and serious, without taking itself too seriously. You are exceptional, and I’m quite sure, extremely rich by this point. Don’t let the fame and the millions go to your head.
October 11, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Wonderful as always! I’ve been reading your comics for months now and love how consistently insightful and interesting they are. Thanks for the amount of time you put into thinking about these things.
October 14, 2011 at 4:10 pm
I had to guess how to read it, I actually got it right. Definitely enjoyed this one and it would be a cool poster in that exact format because it would make sense more if I could see the whole thing at the same time. ❤
October 14, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Also, we know your last name now. Give us internet stalkers enough time and we’ll figure your first out Mr. Rowntree (or should I say Mr. Holmstrom!) not for anything nefarious, just curiosity. 😀
October 21, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Ah, but you assume WR is male…!
October 21, 2011 at 4:16 pm
It’s been questioned in the past, but I think we’ve confirmed he’s a dude at least.
October 14, 2011 at 10:37 pm
Gypsy girl, as I have decided to call her, reminds me of Jaime Hernandez’s character “Izzy” from Love and Rockets. I really appreciate what you have to offer, sir. Keep the good stuff coming.
October 17, 2011 at 10:14 am
The awesomeness of this comic cannot be measured by mere human instrumentation.
October 19, 2011 at 4:32 am
hahaah that’s great
October 19, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Ain’t it the truth!!!
frank-hammond@att.net
October 25, 2011 at 10:42 pm
hello.
i think you’re web comic is very well written and insightful.
if you have a book or something like that kindly post it up top so i can look it up and read it.
thanks.
you’re awesome.
November 3, 2011 at 7:56 am
You forgot to index the halloween and theres no comment button either, Im very disappoint in you Adrian, there aint no gurren lagann or PSG costumes.
November 10, 2011 at 8:46 am
Oh holy shit.
The left side is like, exactly me.
November 26, 2011 at 8:14 pm
holy crap.
you are amazing.
November 30, 2011 at 11:38 pm
I just love the fact that you named her ethel
March 29, 2013 at 7:07 am
This is a remarkably good strip. Big ideas, jumping right past the plausible . . . I think the creator is a genius. Good on you!