Heya, new comic is up. I honestly took a lot of time trying to not make this just utterly trite, but i dunno, it’s tough.
BOOKFACE
Just a reminder of the new facebook page, where you can find some bonus comix that will hopefully fill things in a bit between the main comix (you don’t need to log in or anything to see them). It’s instantly kind of useful place to announce/link to stuff too, so keep an eye out over there. And thanks for reading!
-Wr
May 22, 2013 at 2:29 am
Niiiiiiiiice.
May 22, 2013 at 2:34 am
All I can think about is when can I get a print of this.
May 22, 2013 at 2:39 am
Yep, I think this needs to be on my wall
May 22, 2013 at 2:49 am
Love it š This does make me feel better, and I love the birds. And is that Actual Advice Mallard at the top?
May 25, 2013 at 11:12 am
Nah, just regular mallard (it’s hard to see, but it’s mallards in panel 6).
May 22, 2013 at 3:54 am
Beautiful.
May 22, 2013 at 4:10 am
Holy crap, what beautiful art. Thank you for this, it’s most definitely worth the wait (as always).
May 22, 2013 at 5:35 am
Wow, the art in this is beautiful. Especially those geese in #4!
I did feel like this one was a bit of a “rest” for you (a change of pace), but nothing wrong with that.
My favourite point was #3 (and it reminded me of reading Scott Adams – he wrote at one point that he was so “successful” because he was always unsatisfied).
May 22, 2013 at 5:52 am
“Don’t be sad that it’s over. Smile because it happened”.
Panel #6 in particular is beautiful. I would buy a poster of this.
May 22, 2013 at 6:01 am
I agree, this beautiful comic will make a wonderful poster
May 22, 2013 at 7:08 am
This is really beautiful
May 22, 2013 at 9:09 am
Winston: you make the world a better place.
May 22, 2013 at 9:54 am
Putting the wing work to wicked use, no? š
May 25, 2013 at 11:11 am
Definitely trying to improve, anyway!
May 22, 2013 at 11:24 am
Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but you’ve posted this at EXACTLY the right moment, Winston. It’s almost scary :v
(and these things are kinda impossible to judge objectively, but for me, personally, this definitely is not trite)
May 22, 2013 at 12:38 pm
The background transitions in #1 are fantastic. I had a little trouble getting the text in the right order, but I think the tradeoff is worth it. š
Eagerly awaiting the print.
May 24, 2013 at 1:02 am
I liked that the text was staggered like that. It forces you to not rush through. In fact I had to read the comic a second, and then a third time, to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. Each reading gave me more understanding about the whole message and the deeper meaning that the message had for me, That personal understanding is the result of a truly stunning piece of art.
May 22, 2013 at 3:34 pm
Meaningful and beautiful…
Many thanks.
May 22, 2013 at 3:50 pm
So, I’ve been having an awful time lately and feeling like I need a change in attitude, but not really knowing how or where to start. Like so many times before, this was exactly what I needed. I sometimes wonder how I made it through life before this comic. Thanks, Winston.
May 22, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Beautiful. I’m crying.
May 22, 2013 at 6:23 pm
We don’t have to explore the stars. We are the stars. ‘We are made of stardust.’
May 22, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Fantastic. In all meanings of the word.
Well done~
May 22, 2013 at 9:21 pm
I’m pushing 40, single and overweight. That comic made me feel a tiny bit less worse. Time to hit the gym!
May 23, 2013 at 2:41 am
Like others are saying, I really needed this right now! Thank you. š Very pretty art with the geese, too. Reminds me that you’re Canadian as well.
May 25, 2013 at 11:11 am
ha, yeah, the canada geese were pretty much mandatory.
May 23, 2013 at 2:31 pm
That is so lovely, Mr Rowntree š š
May 23, 2013 at 3:44 pm
Thanks Rowntree. I really needed this, today.
May 23, 2013 at 7:14 pm
I like it too, but, is it just me or is the color overly dark on this one? It’s hard to see the details. I’m not even sure there’s a bird in #6.
June 2, 2013 at 9:18 pm
I guess I was alone on that one. But now I’m looking at it again (on a different computer I think) and I see the birds clearly now.
May 23, 2013 at 9:44 pm
First two made me feel worse; three didn’t affect me whatsoever; four, while true, is irrelevant; five makes things sound easier than they actually are; six I disagree with on both points; and seven once again makes me feel bad.
The art was nice, but I don’t think this was as well-though out as your usual comics.
May 23, 2013 at 11:20 pm
Or maybe you’re just an incurable grump.
May 25, 2013 at 8:59 am
Agree. This comic was not designed with the congenitally emotionally resistant in mind.
May 25, 2013 at 11:10 am
That’s perfectly valid, i certainly don’t expect everything i write to resonate with everyone. I honestly just write to try and change my own mind using tactics that work on me, and i’ve just been pleasantly surprised over the years that others have enjoyed my work to any extent.
May 24, 2013 at 1:00 am
Some things just force you to smile. This comic is one of them. Beautiful as always Winston. The art complements the message really nicely, as I’m sure you’re already aware. I don’t know where you came up with the bird connection, it just works so well.
Oh and after finishing the comic with a smile on my face, I read the alt text and burst out laughing. After a tiring shitty week, this is just what I needed.
May 24, 2013 at 1:06 am
Oh and I hope you don’t mind me linking this here, but I didn’t see you post the comic you had up over at Cracked a couple of weeks ago:
http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-reasons-good-bands-start-to-suck-illustrated-guide/
It got very good feedback in the comments, plus it has like 500,000 views which is insane. Do I even need to mention that it’s hilarious and smart? That part is a given
May 25, 2013 at 11:03 am
Yes, thank you– i forgot to link to that on the blog. Definitely glad about the views and the surprisingly positive feedback!
May 24, 2013 at 2:31 am
Spent today missing a friend who died three years ago today.
I needed to see this today.
Thank you.
May 25, 2013 at 11:13 am
Just from one person to another, i’m definitely sorry that you lost a friend.
May 24, 2013 at 3:51 am
That was beautifully done. I have a bleak view on most things, and it cheered me up a little.
(the individual frames would look good as postcards).
May 24, 2013 at 10:51 am
Thank you for this. I was having a horribly bleak and pessimistic day, and this made me realise maybe things aren’t so bad. And you did it in such a beautiful way, too. This is wonderful.
May 24, 2013 at 10:59 am
wooooooaw. this is some reallly nice artwork! great to see u trying a different style.
I like it a lot!
May 25, 2013 at 11:14 am
Thanks! I plan to pursue this alternative style further, we’ll see how it goes.
May 24, 2013 at 6:25 pm
I thought I was looking at zenpencils for a minute.
May 24, 2013 at 7:18 pm
Good stuff.
May 24, 2013 at 7:21 pm
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
May 24, 2013 at 10:05 pm
What a nice comic.
Very nice.
It’s nice to read nice things like that.
May 24, 2013 at 11:08 pm
My heart is so full of love right now and I’m diverting some of those love rays towards you and your comix, WR. Thanks for making beautiful work like this.
May 25, 2013 at 8:43 am
Fuck birds. With their meaningful lives. Jerks.
May 25, 2013 at 11:16 am
Oh, you can say what you want about me, but i’ll be damned if i’m gonna sit here and let you impugn our avian comrades!! “Cats or dogs” they ask me, and forever “BIRDS” is the answer!
May 25, 2013 at 8:49 pm
Winston you should watch The Big Year. A great movie for bird fans š http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1053810/
May 25, 2013 at 9:29 am
I actually teared up a little toward the end. Well done.
May 25, 2013 at 11:29 pm
This is surprisingly sweet for you, Winston, though uplifting as usual. I very much like the art style that you’ve used here too.
May 26, 2013 at 5:51 pm
This comic is not the least bit trite. As other have said, this is absolutely beautiful. I got goosebumps at the end. Maybe even a little dust in the eyes.
When this becomes available as a print for purchase, I will be buying it. OP will deliver on this one.
May 27, 2013 at 2:59 am
I’d like to dispute #6. Between a, possibly, fast approaching singularity and advances in Gerontology, we very well might live long enough to explore the stars.
At least, I hope I do.
May 27, 2013 at 10:39 am
Well, consider the physics of lifting one human, and all that that human will need to maintain life and sanity in outer space, off the surface of the earth and onto a trajectory with the necessary acceleration to bring him or her to the nearest star within a lifetime. Now multiply that by 7 billion. I think most of us are stuck with the Earth. We’d better start taking care of it….
May 28, 2013 at 4:41 am
I did find this extremely trite, but since I love your work I wanted to think carefully about why that was before opening my trap.
What I find best about those of your comix which have a message is the use of conversation, metaphor, and the simple fact that most of them are indeed a story. Questioning what’s going on and what’s being said is tremendously enjoyable. Those times when I disagree with the message, I still am glad I invested myself in the journey. You do often unapologetically make it a journey, which is fantastic. I read a lot of comics, I like a lot of comics, but this is one of only about three I look forward to.
Statements that just talk about the world being nice just don’t much for me. Keep experimenting with different methods, but I want you to know your strip “choose your own adventure” beats out every self-actualizing famous person quote I have ever read.
The problem with stating some inspiring idea outright, or even worse, quoting some damn famous person, is it’s basically agree-or-disagree. There’s no thinking, no persuasion, and oftentimes nothing that can’t be gotten from a crappy sitcom. Those are pretty much the reasons I don’t read zenpencils.
I love your work, will donate gas money sometime, but please frame your answers in the form of a question.
Oh, and I’m not saying I disliked the goats comic and its brethren. Caricature is inherently playful and I like it.
May 28, 2013 at 9:05 am
But people really love reciting trite sayings. They must get something out of it. ‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life’ — of course, but so what? Yet it’s on innumerable plaques, bumper-stickers and greeting cards with pictures of babies or kittens.
I take it the repetition of ‘truths’ is an important truth in itself.
May 28, 2013 at 4:56 am
Nice one. It took me 38 years to realize all that. I found myself checking on my sleeping son in his cot last week and stood there, looking at him and thought ‘This is not where I wanted to be, but it is exactly where I need to be’.
The concept of death does not scare me anymore – rushing into oblivion is a good driver to excel. I’m going to one day go – not angry that it is ending, but sad at what I’ll miss out on. Probably cursing a mean streak as I go.
The bit about not exploring outer space still bites though.
May 28, 2013 at 8:23 am
this is beautiful. I need a print of this.
May 28, 2013 at 3:33 pm
THIS COMIC JUST CHANGED MY LIFE. IT HAS HELP ME REALIZED THINGS THAT WERE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME THE WHOLE TIME. NOW I HAVE A BETTER WAY TO LOOK AT THINGS. MY FATHER PAST LAST YEAR AND IVE KINDA TRYED TO PRETEND HE NEVER LEFT BUT AFTER READING THIS, I KNOW NOW, THAT HE IS STILL HERE AND WILL BE FOREVER. AND SO WILL I.
May 30, 2013 at 8:30 pm
This one did feel a BIT forced, but the art is beautiful and it seems the heart is in the right place. I feel like it’s not as intellectually challenging at the rest of your work, but not every comic has to be a zen koan all the time. At any rate, it beats all those other inspirational posters of hanging cats and whatnot.
May 31, 2013 at 2:48 am
I suffer from depression and it has been a tough ride for both my wife and I. This poster would be a great anniversary gift. Can you please provide a link for purchase? I can’t find it anywhere. Thanks.
June 4, 2013 at 10:22 am
Yeah, as mentioned below, it’s now available in the store!
May 31, 2013 at 9:46 am
Made me smile. Needed that: thank you.
May 31, 2013 at 6:11 pm
Great messages to live by. Also, gorgeous birds… better wings for 2013! (:
June 1, 2013 at 2:56 pm
Such beautiful illustrations.
June 3, 2013 at 9:18 am
Wow. That was exactly what I needed… thank you.
June 4, 2013 at 3:28 am
Josh: Go here, and scroll the dropdown.
http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=SUNO-SERIES05-PRINTS&Category_Code=SUNO
June 9, 2013 at 12:06 pm
This is awesome, thank you so much š
June 9, 2013 at 9:25 pm
Of a super-human depth, which I can only hope for in my lifetime. Masterfully done.
June 10, 2013 at 5:52 pm
Thank you.
June 12, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Incredible. I’d love a print of this.
June 12, 2013 at 1:09 pm
Awesome. I second the print request. (Also, completely agree with the first point, I’ve thought about it often)
June 12, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Prints are already available — I already bought and received one! Go here and scroll down!
June 12, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Link didn’t show — go here http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=SUNO-SERIES05-PRINTS&Category_Code=SUNO
June 15, 2013 at 1:54 am
Quietly comforting. Thanks
June 15, 2013 at 3:24 am
Yeah. No. um… huge fan, same as everyone else, but no.
A few days ago I watched a group of people snap the neck of three baby birds they found. There was nothing wrong with them beyond being probably less than a week too young to fly. Nobody else seemed to care. These were all legally adult people including a Person of Authority.
My country is full of psychopaths. There is nothing to feel good about in my country. none at all.
June 15, 2013 at 6:38 am
Wonderful.
June 20, 2013 at 8:41 pm
Number one made me feel better. Over the past several months, I’ve had the pleasure of having a nice agonizing existential crisis. I’m only 21 but the thought of dying scares the shit out of me. Thanks for that man.
July 28, 2013 at 12:14 pm
Totally nailed it, thanks for your comix, I’m now a fan
August 1, 2013 at 5:24 pm
I forgot to back up my bookmarks. I couldn’t remember the name, so I started googling to find the site. I used the phrase, “webcomic huge overly wordy”. It was the 2nd result.
Keep up the good work
August 27, 2013 at 9:45 pm
This is so beautiful
September 10, 2013 at 9:47 am
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September 19, 2013 at 7:59 pm
Mr. Rowntree, you are a beautiful person armed with an impressive way with words. Thank you so much for sharing your art with us.
September 28, 2013 at 4:01 pm
Profound and lovely, thanks for making this.
November 12, 2013 at 2:41 pm
You are my new favorite š Keep’em coming, especially abnormality š
January 6, 2014 at 10:40 pm
Beautiful. Thank you so much for these comics. They have a positive impact on my life š
January 7, 2014 at 2:51 pm
Your comics are fantastic and full of truth and wisdom and humour. They make me happy to share the earth with someone like their creator. Please keep making them and become tremendously successful and publish books if that’s what you’re into but obviously don’t if you’re not and I hope you never lose the spark that inspires these.
February 26, 2014 at 9:30 pm
i can’t picture you writing these anywhere except on a mountaintop, because you are the wisest person i don’t know.
July 10, 2014 at 2:55 pm
Your art work is phenomenal. This one in particular, and the amazing race, are my favorite ones. I hope to have this on my wall on day, but just looking at this via my laptop will have to suffice.
August 5, 2014 at 1:16 pm
Won my heart!
September 27, 2016 at 10:02 pm
nice site. beautiful. thoughtful.