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Comic

#078 - 2008-01-03

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

Probably the most difficult strip for me to draw emotionally.

And a Swedish song that doesn’t require translating. I recommend listening to the songs while reading the past two strips, to really understand the mood.

35 Responses to “#078 - 2008-01-03”

  1. Nick Says:

    Boobies!! Sex ! Swedish electro-clash music! Things are really heating up!!!

  2. StrangeQuark Says:

    Wow… just.. wow…
    I mean, I knew this was going to happen from the last panel from the previous strip. But to actually see it happen still grabs me by the throat.
    And then those eyes behind the window! Brings back some painful memories, unfortunately…

    I’m not sure I’ve commented on here before. I don’t often feel compelled to do so on the internet. But I just have to tell you, Rene, Anders Loves Maria may very well be the best thing that ever happened to online comics.

  3. Rene Engström Says:

    I’m going to start yelling at a banana soon!

  4. Rene Engström Says:

    Well… even Hunnicut had his weak moment. Anders doesn’t have the Korean War to blame but nevertheless, none of us are impervious to temptation

  5. Dain Says:

    Poor Maria, I think this is one of the best comics!

  6. Aviv Says:

    The Knife!

    You update daily now, or what? I can’t keep up :)

  7. Rene Engström Says:

    Yes daily as of the new year.

  8. Michiel P Says:

    Over the past few strips, I’ve been steadily growing sick and angry about Maria’s behaviour. I expect she’s going to throw a hell of a tantrum at Anders for doing precisely what she feared he would do, and she’s got herself to blame for it. She’s got to do something very sweet and nice to win Anders AND our sympathy back. For now: STUPID C***! Anders, get away from her, quickly. (But he won’t, will he?)

  9. John Says:

    I had to click the song link to find out if it was the original or the José Gonsalez cover. It really would have made a world of difference. I don’t think the affair would have been such a big deal if it had been the cover but now I can’t see how Anders and Maria could ever get back to what they used to have.

  10. Patrick Says:

    Ouch! Well, Maria’s behavior doesn’t excuse this from Anders. I expect she’ll burn down the house now, right?

  11. Rene Engström Says:

    John; You think so? For me it’s just the opposite. The cover for me is more “romantic” but the original is more “lustful”.

  12. Happypeepeehead Says:

    I forget to check my usual webcomics for a few weeks and this is what I find? DAILY?! That’s hard enough for me and I don’t even use plots.
    Holy crap.
    Now onto the artwork. Hmm, it’s interesting since I remember getting onto this with your figures being very loose and spaghetti like. I recall for the Anders and Maria hospital love scene them being slightly more sensual but this lack of detail save the shoulder blades is so abstract and there’s something so alien and wonderful to it that I’d like to steal it from you.

    Hope the computer stays functional for you and you and your loved ones have a happy new year.

  13. catllesnake Says:

    The songs really add to the experience.

    Also daily updates are awesome!

  14. GG Says:

    Maria’s worst fears are confirmed :-(

  15. Alisa Says:

    Hmm I wonder if Tina is doing this on purpose…That would definitely make me understand why Maria would hate her so much, perhaps she stole a boyfriend of Maria’s in the past?

    I am at work so I can’t listen to the song, but I will when I get home!

  16. Hayley Says:

    i am so glad you have used that song, i have been in love with it for months now, and it really brings the comic home for me. *mental connection!*

  17. Ashley Says:

    Anders noooooooooo!

  18. neil Says:

    Not cool anders, not cool at all.

  19. Sarah Rogers Says:

    GAAAH I’M SO CRUSHED!!!

  20. John Says:

    Rene: The cover is so sweet and innocent. I could forgive murder if it was done with that in the background. Passionate sex to the Knife, on the other hand, is probably as sinful as it gets. Anders could never forget such an experience and if Maria finds out (which she does in the next strip) she could never forgive him.

  21. Rene Engström Says:

    Well John, to be honest, I doubt either Anders or Maria would forget this regardless of what was playing at the time. They could be fucking to “The Sign” by Ace of Base and it would still be just as electric and traumatic.

  22. Chuck Says:

    He still can say “no thanks” or “this is wrong” and get the hell away.

    Otherwise, I would doubt he really loves Maria… in my own experience, you CAN refuse good sex if you really love someone. You might be terribly tired of someone or having doubts, but snu-snu cames after ending your relationship… at least for me. Real world is different sometimes, I guess…

    BTW, amazing comic, bookmarked it and looking foward to your updates :3

  23. Rosie Says:

    my first comment on this comic, but I just had to :D

    I agree with chuck - it doesn’t matter how angry anders was at maria, if he had any intention of working it out with her, then the shagging should have come after the discussing and the breaking up.

    while I’m not madly in love with maria right now, I feel the opposite of Michiel P - steadily more irritated with Anders, LOL. He’s an asshole that seems like he wants to get into bed with really whoever offers themselves!

    that’s what I like about this comic so much - no one is truly bad or truly good, they’re just human. It’s very realistic and it really makes you FEEL :D

    I’m definately a fan - and I really love the daily updates!

  24. Rene Engström Says:

    Just to clarify Rosie: This is the first time Anders has ever been unfaithful. Check out the Jenny incident from the autumn 2006. Tina didn’t offer, Anders initiated the whole thing. It was a fucking awesome idea at the time, in his drunk little head of his.

  25. francisco Says:

    holy crap! seeing this coming doesn’t make it any easier. like the dude says up there, this kind of grabs my throat. and the song just kind of drives it home. it’s hard, because i was so mad at maria, and wanted to see her get comeuppance, but as soon as this started, i wanted anders to stop before it was too late. how weird and cool to feel like you’re watching real people. never commented before, but how can i not now?!

  26. Fleen: Your Favorite Faux-Muckrakers Since 2005 » I Gotta Coordinate Things With Anne Better Says:

    […] Yeah, that’s Hollywood’s version of romance; this is Sweden — we’ve only covered two days of story, and life hasn’t begun to get complicated yet. A brush with the law sends the couple to the far north, to Maria’s family, who treat Anders poorly (’cause let’s face it, he’s a pussy). Old crushes and old enemies enter, all concerned make bad decisions, and we’re reminded that nobody can hurt us as much as somebody you know loves you — but doesn’t like you very much right now. […]

  27. Christian Says:

    So, I just found your strip today (via Sam & Fuzzy), and I’ve been liking what I’ve been reading so far, but including The Knife pushed me overboard into loving it.

    Bravo : )

  28. Piret Says:

    ghhhrrrr x) (the knife i mean ^_^ )
    this is too sexy to comment.

  29. Renee Says:

    Uh oh. And it looks like Johan sees this too. Anders may get a second ass whoopin’!

  30. Fuzi Says:

    found your comics today through the guest strip you did on “questionable content) and wow! best comics i’ve ever read! I like the swedish touch, i figure you’re swedish then..I’ve never being to sweden so maybe I can’t understand it fully ? but it has this alternative feel you don’t get from the american type comics(or is it just me?). and the song fits very well to this scene..

    p.s at this point I’m not angry at maria i’m just enjoying feeling and somewhat relating to the emotions and situation. very captivating! now let me check what happens next (=

  31. Emily Says:

    this is my second time reading through “Anders Loves Maria” and I love,love,love it. You have inspired my own drawing, and now I’m doodling naked people in my calculus notebook ;) . This time through I actually clicked the link to the song and it changed the whole way I viewed this moment. It made it even more intense. This comic is probably my favorite (if such a gut punch can be called a favorite), especially Tina’s jaw line and peeking of breast in panel two.

  32. PaganGod Says:

    Rene: I think you draw wonderfully realistic orchids in your minimalist style. Your art often really captures the “essence” of something (I am also thinking of the trees previously noted by another commenter) in a very distilled fashion, and I think that is high art.

  33. TigerGulp Says:

    Whoooooa. If they didn’t think much of him before, they REALLY won’t have a good opinion now.

  34. Nagsworth Says:

    Good choice of soundtrack! Love your comic by the way, so uh thanks for making it!

  35. Jacob Lantz Says:

    SNU-SNU !!! =D

    …*sniff*, vaarföör?