This strip marks the second time in nearly two full years that Paul and I have created and executed a strip while both being in the same physical room with one another. Friday’s strip will be done in the same manner. I suppose we’ll find out if this was the missing ingredient, that essential herb and/or spice that would rocket us into super-web-comic-stardom.

Let me be honest, at this moment: I have not purchased the latest Bad Company, nor do I plan to. I don’t like the mechanics of the game, I don’t like the communication system, and I don’t like the game-winning technique Paul has shared with me.

This has, however, reminded me of a common situation whenever a new game drops on the scene. I have constructed a metaphor, and you are free to experience it along with me here:

You and all your friends are on an island. Having fun. With each other. A new ferry opens up to a neighboring island. You can go, but it costs $60. Your friends are all going. “But,” you might find yourself saying, “I don’t want to go. I like this island just fine.”

They can’t hear you, however, because they’ve already boarded the ferry and are off enjoying the new island. Because they’re not really your friends.

You’re all bastards, basically, is what I’m getting at.

I’m in Pittsburgh now, and will be appropriately engaged in Pittsburgery for the next few days. If you make it a point to seek me out, I will happily fail to live up to any expectations you may have.

Well kids, we made it another trip around the sun. It’s hard to believe that an entire year has passed, and how far the comic has come since then. We’ve increased our readership by some large undetermined number, but it’s an order of magnitude that cannot be ignored. I hope that number continues to increase, until Paul and I are forced to have an awkward conversation regarding who’s work they all like more.

That is a silly statement. What typically makes it to the site is some kind of radical chimera that neither of us could have produced if we were working on our own. But conflict between two people that have, for one reason or another, bound themselves together in a relentless kind of toil, is very funny to me.

As for the holiday season, I’ve forgotten that time spent with the family can be rejuvenating in a way that rivals even a profitable weekend in Vegas. There’s something about food prepared by a loving relation that washes away those feelings of irritation and impatience.

We went to see “Sherlock Holmes,” and it wasn’t horrible. Parts of it were fantastic. I would recommend you go see this, and bring along some people you don’t mind being around too much.

In line with a new tradition, I’m giving prints of the Christmas comic to my family members. I’ve, um, altered it slightly so that it appeals to a somewhat broader palette than the one you yourself are likely possess.

I wonder what kinds of looks I’ll get at the photo-printing place this year. Remember the story from last Christmas?

I just got back from a two day jog up to a very cold part of the country to which I have never been; the Pacific Northwest. The Child’s Play charity dinner/auction was last night, and I was there.

For those who don’t know, Child’s Play is a charity started by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, the guys who make Penny Arcade. I plan on writing more about it, but here are the images that cats crave. Yes, Wil Wheaton was there.

Some jerk and the man behind the art.

Some jerk, the man behind the words and the Wheat-man himself.

A scrumptious event. Full of bright colors and loud noises.

Take my pen knife, my good man!

A very early Native American penis joke.

My buddy George, who inspired this insurance strip.

I found this during some StumbleUpon-ery. I like how Paul and I are on completely opposite ends of this flowchart.

Click for the full image

First thing’s first - You see those games over on the right hand side of the site? If you click on one, then buy it, a percentage of the sale goes to keeping The Crooked Gremlins afloat. In a sea of cash. Money.

In case you couldn’t figure it out, we’ve been playing this game quite a bit recently. So it’s on our minds, and what’s on our minds tends to wind up in the comic.

The moral questions posed by Wednesday’s strip are nowhere to be found here, mostly because this is a joke about the multiplayer portion of the game – something I have described as digital paintball with cooler rules.

This is a nod to a really cool game-changing mechanism that rewards teamwork and sacrifice in a unique way. See, the person who utilizes the riot shield is very likely to have the worst kill-to-death ratio, and if that kind of thing is important to everyone, then no one will want to actually be the Shield Guy. And that’s too bad, because the Shield Guy is awesome.

I’m interested to see how this character class will function as the online gameplay evolves. Will people learn to set up traps for the Shield Guy and his protectees? Will we start seeing “Flying V” formations of Shield Guys in the Ground War gametypes, where there are more bodies to be had? I’m curious, and it’ll be fun to watch.

In the meantime, it’s really fun to have a guy on your team who is willing to give up a good score to help the team achieve victory. It is the very essence of team work, and it’s far too under-rewarded. I don’t know if the Shield Guy gets Assist points for everyone killed because of him, but he really should.

Our very own Blue Froman (yes, of the Pittsburgh Fromans) represents the Shield Guy union in our nightly matchmaking. He is feared and revered, as well he should be.

I promised some pictures of my costume, and here they are.

This was just some random girl I ran into.

I'm not doing what you think I'm doing. Also, not my purse.