The Department of Old Things Found, part 4

Here's another one from the small spiral notebook I found recently. It's what I call the...

Little Electron Guys



Or, Life In the Circuitry, if you prefer.

I don't recall that I had a particular reason to draw the electron people in a teardrop shape, but it seemed to work. These guys are everywhere, as you can tell - there's a whole bunch of them looking out of the control room windows of the phonograph cartridge in the lower right.

If I remember right, my idea was to draw a series of these showing electrons at work in their world inside electronic circuits. Those of you with an electronics background can figure out which component I had in mind next to the guard with the gun, under the "Single File" sign.

Oh and for the record, I can tell from the notebook that I drew this in late 1978, or at the latest, maybe early 1979. So I wasn't inspired by "Tron", which didn't come out until 1982. I think it was just a random thought. What if electrons were people running through the circuitry?

I remember that I had fun sketching this.

P.S. and speaking of cartoonists, in honor of "Mad's maddest artist", Don Martin, I wish one and all a Happy National Gorilla-Suit Day!

Department of Old Things Found, part 3

I've been going through a drawer, sorting out old papers I no longer need or want; so far I've thrown a fistful into the bag we have for paper recycling. I did come across a keeper, a small spiral notebook from the late 1970s.

See, back then when I'd get an idea for a cartoon I'd open my notebook, and quickly sketch what I had in mind. I guess I was more spontaneous than I am today...now I tend to worry the little details to death.

I think I need to somehow get back to my former way of creating things. Anyway, for your amusement, here's...

Halloween 1978!