First, some online bookkeeping. I’m happy to announce that in addition to the Twitter and Facebook profiles, Dog and Bird is now on Tumblr. That’s right, you can now follow and reblog the comic to your heart’s content. Woo! Go social media!

Second, I’m excited to share another webcomic with y’all. Earlier this month, I had a wonderful trip out to Minneapolis. While it was very bad for my comic productivity (sayonara to almost my entire buffer of prepared strips), it was great for the warm fuzzies. I got to eat my weight in delicious food and catch up with many dear friends. One of those people not only put me up for the week, but he also suggested a comic that I hadn’t read yet.

Once I got back home, I binged my way through the entirety of Strong Female Protagonist in a single afternoon. As is so often the case for me, the incredible writing by Brennan Lee Mulligan was an immediate draw. The comic is about what it means to be a hero or a superhero in the modern world. It presents unusual ethical angles on what it would mean to live with mind reading, mega strength, or self-regeneration. Toss that in with some nuanced ideas about the role of women in society and in the superhero literature, and you’ve got a truly compelling read. Bonus: there’s even a chapter with a puppy!

I never read comic books growing up. But I really have learned a lot about this art form thanks to projects that still use the traditional format, even for an online work. Molly Ostertag’s wonderfully evocative artwork for SFP is a great example. Not only are her characters super (heh) cool, but I appreciate how she chooses to use her space, how to break up her panels, and when to throw out all the rules for maximum impact. Not sure if any of these new observations will ever make their way into D&B strips, but it’ll be simmering on the back burner.

So yes, take a gander at Strong Female Protagonist! And as always, if you like what you see here on Dog and Bird, let me know. Or even better, let your friends know. Everyone could use another comic in their lives, right? Right.

First of all, I can’t believe the comic has been up and running for more than a month! For a project that started as a pipe dream this spring, I’m still somewhat in shock that the comic really is out in the world.

Second, I want to give my most heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you readers. Whenever I see the comic shared on social media or a friend tells me how much they enjoy the jokes, I do a little happy dance. (That’s not an exaggeration. I really do bounce around and smile like a maniac. Every time.) So thank you so much for sharing in the experience. I hope you continue to find it as delightful as I do. <3

Third, I wanted to give occasional shout-outs to the other artists and webcomics that I like. The world of Creative People On The Internet is full of awesomeness, and I’m a big believer in giving props, snaps, and signal boost to any person who makes a thing that touches your life. So here we go!

The first artist I’d like to share is Doug Savage, creator of Savage Chickens. When I first committed to making Dog and Bird a thing, I did a bunch of research into what other people were doing. Savage Chickens was hands-down my favorite discovery from that webcomic binge.

For starters, the guy draws on sticky notes. Instant brownie points in my book! But he also has a simplicity to his humor. Jokes require a setup, so his ability to get a surprise punchline out of just one or two panels is impressive. The writing is tight, the cast of recurring characters is strange, and you’ll find yourself relating to chickens in ways you never would have imagined.

So if you’re not familiar, go check him out! Got a comic or an artist who should be on my radar? Drop me a note on Twitter (@AnnaGetsPithy/@dogbirdcomic) or by *gulp* email (dogbirdcomic@gmail.com).

Have a happy weekend, all!