in the sticks

TEBOWLING

2012-01-14T17:02:00.001-08:00

Just got the new Paula Deen magazine

2011-08-16T08:21:00.000-07:00

Details

2011-03-05T13:58:00.001-08:00

From the March 5th strip.

DWD

2011-01-24T11:49:00.000-08:00

This prescient strip ran two weeks before this msnbc article on the hazards of DWD (Driving With Dog). Once again, the officers of The Reality Checkpoint are one step ahead of criminals and idiots.

Cereal Varnish

2010-11-16T13:21:00.000-08:00

If you are a fan of The National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation film then you will no doubt recognize that Comso's line in the above panel is taken from this scene from the movie:

Lunchtime Fun

2010-09-29T13:35:00.001-07:00

This is a photo from a recent lunchbreak here at the In the Sticks studios. As you can see, our office intern (Thelonious Monkey) is having a blast!

Preview of Saturday (9/18) strip

2010-09-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

This week the staff on prison work release here at In the Sticks will debut a new (hopefully regular) Saturday feature; Cosmo's Infostat (patent pending). This is in no way a complete rip-off of USA Today's great Snapshots feature. We consider it a loving, non-copyright infringing homage.

Clip from 9/5 strip

2010-09-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

Here's a small preview of Sunday's strip. Guess which famous person these features belong to. Here's a hint: it's not Joaquin Phoenix.

Preview of Sunday's Strip

2010-08-06T06:09:00.000-07:00

2010-07-22T06:16:00.000-07:00

This week's strips are based on the Washington Post series "Top Secret America". Interesting reading, for sure.

Upcoming Strip Preview

2010-07-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

Note to Turtles; You are Screwed.

2010-07-14T12:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/15/science/earth/15necropsy.html

The Future Scares Me

2010-05-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Jon Meacham

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Tea Party

John Stewart's interview with Newsweek's Jon Meacham, which is up for sale (Newsweek, not Mr. Meacham). They have a discussion on the future of print (i.e. newspapers, magazines) which is always an interesting topic for cartoonists.

Wookie Alert

2010-04-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a close-up of Dewey's Chewbacca action figure from Sunday's strip.

Tighty Whities

2010-04-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a close-up of Del's Spiderman Underoos from Friday's strip. (Strip? Perhaps I should rephrase that.) Click the image for a larger view, if you dare.

Dogleg to the Right

2010-04-14T10:15:00.001-07:00

In the Sticks is going political. Here is an interview on GoComics.com about the strip's shift to include current events with a politically conservative viewpoint. (I had to steal that blog post title from the press release.)

And Now For Something Completely Different...

2010-04-08T09:38:00.000-07:00

Monday, April 12th will bring some changes to In the Sticks. Stay tuned...

World's Most Expensive Golf Cart

2010-04-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

A $52,000 golf cart debuted recently, made by the same factory that produces Porches. I'm not sure who would buy one of these, but if you did buy one, would other golfers find you obnoxious if you brought your own golf cart to the course? I think these expensive carts will mainly be used by old folks to get around their retirement villages. The retiree who can afford one of these will be picking up some fine widows. It sure beats a Jazzy Scooter any day.

(Not a recommended usage for your $52,000 golf cart)

Golf Tee Art

2010-03-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

Here is a close-up of Dewey and Cosmo's golf tee Pointillism (basically a bunch of colored dots on canvas) artwork from Sunday's strip. (Click the image for a larger view.) A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is probably the most famous piece of Pointillist artwork. And at 6ft x 10ft in size, must have taken an incredible amount of patience to complete.

The Once-Ler

2010-03-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

In Monday's strip Dewey is jumping into a Once-ler brand dumpster, which is a reference to The Lorax, an excellent Dr. Suess book. Side note: The Lorax happens to look like this famous actor.

It Came From Above

2010-03-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

I hope a family member or someone you know has never been abducted by a hawk, owl, or winged mammal. If so, Sunday's strip is not for you. I don't know what happened to this kid, but I like to think he was dropped off somewhere pleasant. Either way, he probably lost that hat. This is more a lesson not to dress you small child in clothing that makes him or her look like lunch to a large predator.

Candy Bars of Yore

2010-03-05T17:41:00.000-08:00

I'd like to know what led to the demise of The Chunky Bar. Was it just an 80's fad like Tab Cola and Geraldine Ferraro?

And furthermore, why do candy bars periodically have to have their recipes changed? I remember, as a young lad working as a bootblack in the streets of London, (OK, I made that part up) the candy bar Wathchamacallit had its ingredients changed, or reformulated, as Hershey's calls it. This ended my era of Wathchamacallit enjoyment. Now I suppose if you're already making a candy bar called Wathchamacallit that probably gives you license to throw whatever the hell kind of ingredients you want in there, but to me it just wasn't the same.
Maybe I'm just an old man ranting about the way things used to be and upset over today's new fangled snack food items. But more importantly, I'd like someone to tell me what "fangled" means.

Flip the Executioner

2010-02-28T13:59:00.000-08:00

This is a good look for Flip. I have a feeling he doesn't just use this outfit for Halloween.

Professor Cosmo?

2010-02-19T10:54:00.000-08:00

Featuring today's strip, Cosmo Blue Jay would like to officially announce his candidacy for the open position of professor of poetry at Oxford University, which you can read about here.

He's experienced in ballads, odes, haikus, you name it. He even owns his own rhyming dictionary and knows a bunch of words that rhyme with Oxford (if you count the word fjord). He would even be willing to double as University mascot if provided a small stipend of grub worms.

Nasal Flare-Up of Love

2010-02-16T10:31:00.000-08:00

Dewey suggests Del show his love through nostril flaring. According to this scholarly article on the scientific research site "links2love.com" nostril flare is an obvious sign that, according to these researchers, "he's way into you." Or he has severe allergies. Who knows.

But if you think about it, this makes perfect sense. What is the time of year when relationships are most likely to blossom? Without Googling it, I'll say springtime. Which is also allergy season, or when nasal flare-up is most likely to occur. The point? If you fell in love with your significant other in the spring, you may have fallen for each other not through subconscious body language, but thanks to pollen buildup.

The Golden Bear

2010-02-12T05:09:00.000-08:00

The Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus just turned 70. As for Dewey, In the Sticks' own golden bear, well, he's not telling.

In related news, Dewey just heard his cousin, a filmmaker, has been nominated for the coveted Golden Bear Award for his documentary work on Behind the Music: The Gummi Bears.

Back When Del Was a Woman

2010-02-08T18:03:00.000-08:00

OK, so maybe Del himself was never a woman, but for a short time his role was filled by a woman named Linda, who was the golf pro at Blooming Dogleg Country Club. I like to think she left to pursue a better career, perhaps in the snow plowing industry. Also, Cosmo was known as "The All-Knowing Bird of Enlightenment". This was thankfully shortened to "Sweet Bird of Truth" for brevity's sake.

Grandpa, tell us about a "VCR"...

2010-02-05T11:50:00.000-08:00

Yes, that is a VCR tape in Friday's strip. Record players, typewriters, VCRs, Joan Rivers... I suppose everything grows obselete at some point in time.

Reality TV

2010-02-02T06:25:00.000-08:00

I'm not a big fan of reality programing, except shows that show real Americans, doing real things we can all relate to. I'm referring to, of course, COPS. I'm not sure who would want to be on a show that expose you every negative personality trait, but there are obviously plenty of desperate people who will doing anything for a little exposure.

Del's Doppelganger

2010-02-01T11:32:00.000-08:00

I was watching yesterday's coverage of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament. That's right, I was watching golf on TV. Some say it's as boring as watching paint dry, but if you're sitting in a poorly ventilated room, watching paint dry isn't so bad, if you know what I mean.
One of the top 20 finishers was Troy Merritt, who looks a lot like Del. Obviously, this is a coincidence; I don't think Mr. Merritt intentionally grew sideburns to look like Del.

Camouflage

2010-01-30T16:28:00.000-08:00

Sunday's strip is about urban camouflage. Who hasn't experienced a moment when all we wanted to do was hide from a boss, the police or a psychiatric counselor? And of course, it just happens to be the day we are wearing our hot pink sweater which does not blend into our office surroundings.

Clothing makers should design camouflage uniforms for everyday life. For example, are you sick of getting overwhelmed with office memos? Why not disguise yourself as the memos? Nobody will be bothering you then.

And what if you are walking down a sketchy looking sidewalk late at night? Chances are nobody will mug you if they can't find you.

Dorf on Golf

2010-01-27T09:37:00.000-08:00

This reminds me of a Simpson's qoute:

Homer: "What's a Tim Conway?"

Tim Conway: "Oh, about 120 pounds."

Sunday's strip

2010-01-25T06:31:00.000-08:00

Sunday's strip had some hidden "jokes" that were too small to be legible. Here, I use the term "jokes" meaning "probably not that funny, so why did I even bother?" Anyway, here they are- fake snack items and a Wheel of Fortune puzzle:

Scroll down for the answer to the Wheel of Fortune puzzle.

Answer: Ren Hoek of Ren and Stimpy

Update

2010-01-19T13:29:00.000-08:00

This recent In the Sticks comic documented the various ways to wear one's pants. This, however, is how a real man orders pants. If it works for a president, it will work the next time I go to Sears.

Writing

2010-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is what the writing and layout process looked like from today's strip. Click on it for a larger view, although good luck reading it. I have developed a technique for handwriting that is so small and illegible it could be used for covert CIA transmissions.

You can see some minor changes from the finished version, such as Dewey's "I'll go get some" line in the last panel. I changed it to "I'll go get those tees" as I thought the reader might forget what Dewey was talking about ten seconds ago in the first panel.

Wednesdy's Strip

2010-01-12T18:20:00.001-08:00

Here's the rough version of today's strip. This is about the most straight forward idea I ever had for a strip, and it's a pretty good one to use in the first few months as it works to establish the relationship between Cosmo and Del.

Del is eating No-Doze-O's cereal-the only breakfast food with as much caffeine as five cups of coffee. Kids go crazy for it and even crazier after they eat it.

Monday's strip

2010-01-11T05:42:00.000-08:00

This is the rough version of Monday's strip. Cosmo is much more menacing in first panel of the final version.

Who hasn't considered sculpting some wild topiaries (also a great name for a band) in the front lawn a la Edward Scissorhands? If your neighbors are especially annoying, you could even aim your lawn sculpture in their direction.

Woody Allen...The Comic Strip

2010-01-10T14:12:00.000-08:00

Way back in the late 1970's, when the Yankees were good and a Democrat was in the White House (can you imagine?) a comic strip featuring Woody Allen hit newspapers. Here's an interesting excerpt from the cartoonist's book on the strip: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/oct/18/woody-allen-comic-strip

Pants

2010-01-07T12:16:00.000-08:00

Pantsless passengers, threatening underwear...the news couldn't be more exciting this week. In Thursday's In the Sticks strip the debate on proper pants height rages on.

Kids wear their pants too low? Old folks hiking their pants up to their bypass surgery scars? These railway passengers decided to steer clear of that whole Trump toupee and leave their pants at home.

Now we all know that any jokes about dropping bombs in your underwear while at the airport is completely off limits. Especially if you are a moron.

And speaking of college football, Monday's Orange Bowl may have been a match up of the two worst looking uniform pants ever.

But all is not lost. Some like to stick to the classics. You guessed it- indecent exposure.

That's Just My Opinion

2009-12-31T09:51:00.000-08:00

Thursday's strip is about Dewey's opinion of Cosmo's poetry.

Speaking of opinions...there are many questions that people do not ever, ever want to be asked in polite conversation. These include, "Are you for or against abortion?" "How much money do you make?" and "What do you think of my finger paintings?" This is because most all of us try to avoid conflict.
A great social experiment to try would be to ask co-workers or strangers for their opinions and see if they give you complimentary answers. For example, try asking your co-worker if she thinks getting a flaming Harley Davidson logo tattooed on your neck would impress business clients. My guess is she'll tell you it would look quite lovely, when she is actually thinking, "this guy is a psychopath who shouldn't be allowed to own a stapler."
And if a crazy lady comes up to you in the mall and asks you what you think of her eyebrows that aren't eyebrows at all but actually painted on red lipstick, you'll probably say, "Looks good!" and dive behind the Isotoner Gloves display in order to avoid any conflict.
Basically, there are only a few people we can count on to give us an honest opinion. Namely, our spouses and our case workers.

Monday's strip

2009-12-28T07:12:00.000-08:00

This rough version from today's strip is rather bland in comparison to the finished version here. Having the golfers drink from Cosmo's water cooler instead of Dewey and Flip adds more tension and is definitely grosser. Plus I think Dewey would probably prefer bird flavored water.

Random Sketchyness

2009-12-24T07:32:00.001-08:00

I really need to think of a strip that involves Dewey wearing a bikini. Hopefully the Mom from Foxtrot will be there too.

Christmas Cartoons

2009-12-22T08:07:00.000-08:00

A For Better or For Worse Christmas cartoon that I believe only aired in Canada.

But Canadian brand Christmas humor doesn't get much better than this Bob & Doug McKenzie classic:

Friday's Strip

2009-12-18T09:22:00.000-08:00

Today's strip is an adaptation of one I did a few years ago in an older strip. I like the older version with little Roger better, as he's way too young to be watching Jerry Springer plus his new world view has been completely shaped by his TV viewing.

AAAAH!

2009-12-17T19:29:00.000-08:00

Fashion accessories

2009-12-16T10:49:00.000-08:00

There was a time in America where dogs were Man's Best Friend; a companion to take hunting for ducks, foxes, etc. And the dogs were well trained. In many cases, trained well enough to drive their master home after he had too many "hunting beers."

Today, if you are a small dog such as a Chihuahua or Dennis Kucinich, you are no longer Man's Best Friend. Women have claimed you as a fashion accessory.

From what I've seen, this is just fine with the dogs. They get to go to all kinds of places in purses or little carrying cases that no large dog or other animal could ever dream of going. You never see a woman in an airplane take that little bag of peanuts and hand it to the squirrel in her purse.

Personally, I would rather carry a more useful animal with me in case of an emergency. Something with thumbs, like a raccoon. That way, when I would be out hunting, with the sights of my gun locked onto an unsuspecting mallard, I could at least have somebody to open my beer.

More animal accessories here.

Quiz

2009-12-13T16:29:00.000-08:00

How about a useless In the Sticks quiz?

If you get the question correct, you will find the answer's corresponding strip. If you're wrong you will see an early In the Sticks animation test.

Who is Cosmo's girlfriend?

A) A pink flamingo lawn ornament
B) A red breasted nuthatch
C) A golf club head cover

What does Cosmo prefer to use for driving golfers crazy?

A) Scary hats
B) The sound of ripping Velcro
C) Post-1995 R.E.M.

What do Flip and Cosmo take offense to while at their "Reality Checkpoint"?

A) The reality show "Jersey Shore"
B) Guys who wear polyester and grow ponytails
C) Hipsters who ride fixed gear bikes

Sketchbook

2009-12-13T06:23:00.000-08:00

Yahoo!

2009-12-10T06:42:00.000-08:00

The gang from Blooming Dogleg Country Club have been called a bunch of yahoos so it's fitting that now they can be seen everyday on the Yahoo! web site's section of comic strips. You don't even need a Yahoo! account (most people have approximately 43) to check it out everyday.

Twitter (of course)

2009-12-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

Along with Cosmo's musing (http://twitter.com/cosmojay), the In the Sticks comic strip now has it's own Twitter page here: http://twitter.com/golfcomic. Only 4,081,402 followers behind Ashton Kutcher!

Zagnuts

2009-12-04T08:45:00.000-08:00

In today's strip, there are some rather unappetizing items in the vending machine. (Click on the drawing for easier viewing.)

Unfortunately, they don't seem to stock Homer Simpson's favorite snack, Nuts and Gum.

Sketchbook Page

2009-12-03T07:37:00.000-08:00

Also, check out the continuing saga of golf club head cover love here.

Early Animation

2009-12-01T06:27:00.000-08:00

Here's a link to an early animation of today's strip: http://gocomics.typepad.com/editors/2009/07/in-the-sticks-beta-animation-.html

Del.icious

2009-11-30T09:47:00.000-08:00

The top panel is an old rough from back when Del was a high school student and part-time greens keeper at the golf course. It wasn't intentional, but I think Del looked like Dave Marshak from the Ski School movie.
Here's the complete strip:http://www.gocomics.com/inthesticks/2009/11/30/

Public Speaking

2009-11-29T17:00:00.000-08:00

Looking through some previous work, I remembered the name of this family-based strip was Kick Me.
As in the "kick me" signs kids might put on each others' backs. All the characters in this strip seemed like they were going around in life unknowingly wearing one of those signs.

Febreze

2009-11-25T12:28:00.000-08:00

With all the cross-promotional marketing going on these days, there has to be an expensive cologne or perfume somewhere that is actually Febreze.

Cosmo Illustration

2009-11-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

A slightly different illustration style for Cosmo. He knows many a bird song, (he's a huge Wings fan) but his repertoire isn't as big as this bird's:

Dad's Collection

2009-11-21T11:59:00.000-08:00

I'm sure many children have had the excitement of finding a treasure of toys ruined by learning that they aren't allowed to touch their dad's "collection." I'm not sure what it says about our society that instead of adventuring into the wild to hunt animals and collect their pelts, we drive to Target and hunt for Ewok action figures. Personally, I would prefer to hunt actual Ewoks, but I don't know if space tourism will ever make it to Endor in my lifetime.

Another Old Strip

2009-11-20T05:40:00.000-08:00

All I know about this is that it's a lot harder to draw a soccer ball than you might think.

Model Sheet

2009-11-18T17:56:00.001-08:00

The model sheet for the main characters of In the Sticks.

Old strip

2009-11-18T17:35:00.000-08:00

Another pre-In the Sticks comic strip idea. I don't remember what the name of the strip was, but it centered around the two kids and their families. The drawings were rather crude; if you trace around your thumb and add ears you could draw Roger. And his dad (minus the ears).

A Dam Nuisance?

2009-11-17T14:42:00.000-08:00

An interesting story from an English newspaper involving a golf course, a gnawed on tree and an escaped beaver named Mrs. B.
Flip is especially proud.

http://tinyurl.com/ylzxyjg

Doodling Dewey

2009-11-14T05:52:00.000-08:00

Dewey didn't stumble upon the idea of wearing a vest until he got a job as a greeter at Humongo Mart, which was fitting, because they wouldn't let him in Humongo Mart without any clothes on. And ever since he discovered the Partridge Family reruns on cable, he knows how cool a fringed vest can make one look and feel.

Comic Strips on TV

2009-11-13T09:08:00.000-08:00

This is an ad for Blondie and Cathy TV specials from CBS circa 1987. Imagine a young kid's excitement:

Mom: "Hey son, there are going to be some animated comic strip specials on TV tonight, would you like to stay up late and watch them?"

Son: "Oh boy! Yeah! What are they? Calvin and Hobbes?! Garfield?! The Wee Pals?!"

Mom: "Blondie and Cathy"

Son: "Uhhh..."

Mom: "TV Guide says 'Lonnie Anderson stars as the voice of Blondie followed by the nuerotic adventures of Cathy!'"

Son: "Isn't Lonnie Anderson dating Burt Reynolds?"

Mom: "On second thought, maybe you shouldn't be staying up so late."

It's too bad there aren't as many animated comic strip TV shows as there were in the 80's, and both of these are fun to watch if you can find the complete shows.

Lunch Box

2009-11-11T05:53:00.000-08:00

Here's a panel from Wednesday's strip. Notice that Dewey has shown up for his substitute teaching interview with an A-Team lunch box. Similarly, I think a great, untapped area for marketing potential would be to sell officially licensed briefcases that look similar to graphic lunch boxes. Just imagine if your lawyer showed up to your court case toting a Chuck Norris briefcase. Instant respect.

On an Entertainment Note...

2009-11-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

Cosmo has been finding the pop singer Rhianna more appealing now that she looks like a cockatiel. However, she will never replace Cosmo's number one celebrity crush, Phyllis Diller:

Flip-in' Out

2009-11-06T19:30:00.000-08:00

Here are some looks Flip went through during the development process. These also show off the emotional range of Blooming Dogleg's resident beaver: from annoyed to conniving to irate.

His hobbies include listening to vintage Art Bell podcasts and collecting back issues of "Love and Ammo Quarterly".
Flip is of the North American Beaver species, as opposed to the European Beaver, which can be identified by its' preference for tight jeans.

Playing Through

2009-11-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

An article in English newspaper Telegraph notes that golf courses could double as excellent bird sanctuaries. A good idea, but there's always the possibility of this happening:

I'm not sure what the ruling would be for having a bird with a spork run through your putting line.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6491469/Golf-courses-can-help-save-birdies-say-RSPB.html

Cosmo's Book

2009-11-04T13:56:00.000-08:00

Cosmo is still working on his book "Things Guys Should Never Say to Each Other", but he's already designed a cover:

Dewey Deliciousness

2009-10-30T05:52:00.000-07:00

Some astute readers from GoComics.com noticed Dewey looks a lot like a Hot Pocket. So here he is as an actual Hot Pocket (pepperoni, I believe). And Cosmo as a pizza roll, for good measure.

Personally, I think all Hot Pockets should come individually wrapped in tiny fringed vests.

The Bird Flew

2009-10-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

Cosmo's glad the Swine Flu finally made everyone forget about the Bird Flu. He hopes

someday we can finally focus on the real germ carrying threats to humanity: small children.

Halloweenies

2009-10-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

Cosmo and Dewey will be tuning in tonight to that great autumn television event everyone loves (no, not The Martha Stewart Halloween Special ): It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

Mostly, it reminds Dewey of a simpler time, when there were no cell phones, nobody cared what their credit score was and a man couldn't hide behind the Internet to build his collection of cute porcelain owls.

The Cultivation of Cosmo

2009-10-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

These are some of the designs Cosmo the Blue Jay went through over the years. As you can see, he didn't change much during the course of development.

Cosmo was so named because he was originally very philosophical, such as he wondered about the "cosmos".

As all amateur ornithologists are aware, blue jays' beaks are black, not yellow like Cosmo's. Cosmo won't admit it, but all his friends know he dyes his beak to look younger.

FERT!

2009-10-22T18:18:00.000-07:00

Did you know the top Google searches for "armpit" are rash, pain, lump, fat, stains, hair and sweat? What about armpit music? Or as Dewey would put it, "The Sweet Science?" or is that "The Sweat Science?" Either way, you should really hear him squeeze out the Rice-A-Roni jingle.

Classic Comedy

2009-10-22T05:25:00.000-07:00

Anybody remember the show Fernwood 2night?

Pre- In the Sticks

2009-10-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

This is a strip from a comic I did prior to In the Sticks called Jack 2.0. It's the story of a boy and his robot. I'm sure you can all relate.

The Development of Del

2009-10-17T07:14:00.000-07:00

These are some various looks that Del went through during the development of In the Sticks. Looking at him now, he seems to be on a yo-yo diet. Just be glad there are no pictures of him in his favorite cut-off blue jean shorts.

In the Sticks sales kit

2009-10-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

A comic strip's sales kit is what a syndicate's brave sales people take on the road to sell the strip to newspapers. It contains background information on the characters and creator along with some sample strips. Above are some rough initial ideas for the In the Sticks sales kit. Below is the final version.

Cosmo is now on Twitter

2009-10-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

Cosmo the Blue Jay has been tweeting for years, so now that he's heard about Twitter, he decided he might as well get paid for it. (Nobody told him he's not getting paid.) If you've been searching for some enlightenment this is the closest thing you'll get from Cosmo: http://twitter.com/CosmoJay

In the Sticks on GoComics.com

2009-10-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

In the Sticks is now on GoComics.com. From squiggly pencil drawings to the finished colored strip, it will be a behind the scenes look at the development process of a comic strip. Intrigued? Indifferent? Printed it out and picked your teeth with it? Feel free to leave a comment here, or at the GoComics.com site here: http://www.gocomics.com/inthesticks

Blooming Dogleg Logo

2009-10-02T06:49:00.000-07:00

Visitors to Blooming Dogleg never leave without a few items sporting the Country Club's unique logo, such as golf balls, towels, and shirts. Individuals who sign up for a lifetime club membership may opt for something more permanent:

History

2009-08-22T16:19:00.000-07:00

Blooming Dogleg Country Club has a long and dignified history. It began several decades ago as a center of city government but quickly converted into a psychiatric hospital. At the time, the owners thought the real turning point in making it a valuable piece of land was when it was visited by foreign dignitaries. Unfortunately, those dignitaries were fleeing Czarists from Russia who quickly established an autocracy which had a serious detriment on tee times. More to come...

All You Need to Know About Blooming Dogleg Country Club

2009-08-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

As you can see, Dewey is emphatic about his love for Blooming Dogleg Country Club and its amenities. However, if you visit, you may want to watch out for the many water hazards and the rather large sand trap on hole number twelve. More Blooming Dogleg info to come...

Poster

2009-08-17T06:33:00.000-07:00

This mini-poster is an homage to the best golf movie NOT featuring the Three Stooges... Happy Gilmore.

If you've been recently imprisoned for financial crimes, printing this out and posting on your cell wall will remind you of those blissful days of eighteen hole business meetings. Poster's prison value equivalent = 1 cigarette.

Meet the characters of In The Sticks

2009-08-15T16:08:00.000-07:00

Be it trimming weeds, mowing fairways or getting Cosmo unstuck from the vending machine, this ex-pro golfer usually enjoys owning the Blooming Dogleg Country Club. He’ll tell you that his passion for a well-manicured putting green keeps him at the course late into the night. Cosmo and Dewey would say it's because he can't get a date.

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This poetry-writing blue jay is the eyes, ears and wings of Blooming Dogleg Country Club. His idea of an "early-bird special" is taking a soak in the breakfast buffet's guacamole dip. And when Cosmo dons the velvet fez he found in the caddy shack men’s room, he transforms from North American blue jay to "THE SWEET BIRD OF TRUTH!"

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Dewey is a sweet, lovable bear who's not afraid to express his emotions. He's an occasional caddy for the country club's members, although he has yet to perfect his knowledge of golf lingo (he often calls for a repairman when somebody's putt breaks). Dewey believes that the fairway lawnmower is out to get him and his luscious pelt.

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Flip is a bit misanthropic and often states that he's "not a people person and I don’t like lawyers either." Flip prefers to keep to himself, lurking in the course's pond and admiring the duplex-dam with outdoor pool he constructed with "found" golf gear.

ITS A Comic Strip!

2009-08-14T18:04:00.000-07:00

In The Sticks has been picked up for syndication by Universal Press Syndicate. Its a comic strip about an ex-golf pro who's inherited the dilapidated Blooming Dogleg Country Club and the three odd animals who live there. Check out some sample strips here: http://www.amuniversal.com/ups/features/in_the_sticks/index.htm