Today is Inflate Rene’s Ego Day. Here are the reasons:
1) Anders Loves Maria is now being translated into Italian!
2) Panelists battling it out for webcomic’s legitimacy at the NYCC mentioned ALM as one of their favourite webcomics!
3) Herr Jacques linked to me from his LJ! Aw shucks! Thanks Jeph!
Today’s comic required quite a bit of photoshop fixing because the page got damaged. 
But I think it looks pretty good anyways.
Donate for wallpaper: This lovely wallpaper was made available during the sketch-a-thon. I am making it available again for a limited time. |
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Links:Abominable Charles Christopher, The, Achewood, American Elf, Bellen, Bob The Angry Flower, Cat and Girl, Diesel Sweeties, Dr McNinja, KC Green, Dr Voluptua, Dykes to Watch Out For, Girls With Slingshots, Girly, Grumps, Gunnerkrigg Court, Kinokofry, Kukuburi, Little Gamers, Octopus Pie, Overcompensating, Patches, Perfect Stars, Raymondo Person, Riotfish, Sam and Fuzzy, Scarygoround, Templar, Ugly Hill, White Ninja, |
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I used to always say. “Just because two people love each other doesn’t mean they can be happy together.” I had forgotten that. I think it applies to my life, and I think that it is still okay. Maybe it applies in reverse. Hmm… So anyway, thanks for the reminder. I’m not sure Anders and Maria can work it out successfully, but here’s to trying. Hard.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
oh wow.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Great comic!
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
just a quick heads up that you spelled “definitely” wrong in panel 1
the new style looks amazing!
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Thanks Ryanpeq, I think the spelling is fixed!
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Aww, they’re bonding! Björn’s an okay guy.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
*blink blink*
What the… Björn is being supportive… Anders’ head is out of his ass…
Have we stumbled into BIZARRO Sweden!?
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
It’s very possible we have, James. That could very well be a Bizzaro Maria casually eavesdropping on the right, there (if not only for lack of pregnancy pudge).
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
wow. amazing, rene. just amazing. from an art point of view, and storytelling point of view. just love everything about this =]
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Aww I knew there were a ton of reasons I liked Björn!
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
. . . quite the package!
also poor!
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
So despite being a social degenerate, Bjorn is a pretty emphatic and decent guy. As for loving someone and knowing that is wouldn’t work, well, I have one or two. One of them has three kids and the other is just…well…himself. I know what it’s like.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
fo shizzle! That lady is pointing at Anders in a veeeeeeeeeeery suspicious way.
Not really but I’m guessing she probably recognizes him from the newspaper.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
“Aww, they’re bonding! Björn’s an okay guy.”
i think actually, they still both kind of are bad
I think that both have shown a tendency to be kind of inconsiderate & selfish. I’m not going to say they are awful, evil people, but let’s face the facts that maybe they WOULD bond over their shared jerkyness 
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:19 pm
aw i think it’s sweet that bjorn is trying to be supportive of anders, when i probably would have just kicked hi ass
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Your new style has really improved in the small amount of time you have been posting it. It looks really amazing. One question, what is the statue that they are sitting beneath?
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:29 pm
It is this statue on Skeppsbron in Gamla Stan, quite close to where Anders and Maria live.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I was directed to your comic by a couple of ex-girlfriends because they say I remind them of Björn. After reading and enjoying this gem I must ask, ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME!?
Ah seriously, I love your stuff.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Yes PainfulBuggery, it’s all due to YOU.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
*grumble grumble* When will you go back to the old, sleek drawing style? *grumble*
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
The girl in the first panel. standing to the side by herself, really reminded me of Dr suess, and that made me smile.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Didn’t even notice it was photoshopped till I read the post.
I really like where this all is going, and I really like the watercolor. It’s just kind of funny that Bjorn and Anders are wearing the exact same thing
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:29 pm
*EXAGGERATED GASP* STALKER!
By the way, I enjoy the new look.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
fnord: Maybe tomorrow, maybe never… When I get bored of this. I really am loving this so much though so I doubt anytime in the near future.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:41 pm
fnord: Although if it’s any consolation I trying to get as sleek as I can with this medium.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:54 pm
For some reason that statue of Gustav III makes me think he’s saying “Pull my finger!” instead of returning a twig of peace.
Congrats on the recognition. Here’s to sleek mediums, waifish smalls and lanky 2xl’s.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
We sure that isn’t Maria hanging out there? THe figure is pretty distinctive and alone for it not to be emphasized for some reason. And shye’s leaning back, but there is a bit of belly.
Also, are the people on the left whispering to eachother about Anders the Celebrity?
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Streever made me want jerky.
And Meaghan, Bjorn is probably wearing some of Anders clothes so of course they would look similar.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:24 pm
You did a great job today! Funny and of great quality.
But.. who’s the dark girl in first panel? Is she lonely or waiting?
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
This style is so beautiful! I’m really loving it.
(I like the old style too.)
In this one, I especially like the word bubbles in panel one, how they’re floating there without the usual dark outlines, and the space around them. It makes the dialog seem more… vulnerable, maybe? I’m not sure that’s exactly the word I want, but close…
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
The girl on the right is just some teenager who likes to stand under statues. I don’t think she’s important. The woman on the left does recognize Anders, though.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:46 pm
STOP MAKING ME LIKE BJORN, RENE. It’s distressing.
Great comic today. There’s definitely something about that blue/black haired chick in the first panel. Can’t put my finger on what though.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Man, Bjorn deserves Maria more than Anders ever will.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:48 pm
I just went through the whole archive today. I really identify with Maria, in such a way that I felt an immense amount of pain reading the majority of this comic. I was pretty damn sure that if I were her I would NEVER forgive Anders, but near the end I still find myself wanting them to get back together. I congratulate you on the smooth and natural evolution of the plot, and for picturing my boyfriend so well in Anders, helvete him!
Also, good on you for daring to picture the down and dirty of rocky relationships, fellow Canadian! Show the world we are no prudes!
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I’ve always liked Bjorn, and this page has completely redeemed him in my eyes of any of his misgivings.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Helvete Bjorn! The teenage-years-ex-who-still-wants-to-bone-you and the cheating-baby-daddy becoming friends is a novel and amusing turn of events to me. I bet Maria comes home to them drunk and singing together, or perhaps something more embarrassing. Like crying together.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I *knew* they would come along!
And the art is just amazing.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:06 pm
More shockingness. And I hope that Tina has basically disappeared off the face of the earth, except in flashbacks where we find out why Maria hates Tina so much.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Wow that is a beautiful painting. Now I am wanting to see Anders & Maria dressed in the period outfits like in the painting >_
April 24th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Wow, I’m kind of surprised that Bjorn is being such a nice guy o_o I don’t know why but I kind of expected him to be a dick and try to take Maria for himself :O
At least he has clothes on now XD
I am in love with the first panel, it’s beautiful :3
April 24th, 2008 at 12:36 am
Aar! I’m SO envious someone ELSE is translating ALM in Italian!
(j/k and a pretty damn good translation it is, actually)
April 24th, 2008 at 1:01 am
You know, it is funny. It feels as if the water painting was ALWAYS used for the ALM comic.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:39 am
Hm, nästa steg är att dom blir fulla och Maria kommer tillbaka, när de har fylle-sex….
Näääääääh…
Btw, akvarell är riktigt snyggt och detta är som alltid en riktigt bra serie.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:00 am
A conversation between men happens, and faith is restored that things may yet work themselves out to the satisfaction of most, if not all.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:30 am
Aw are they having a little male bonding time?
April 24th, 2008 at 5:03 am
As always, the art is just stunning… wayy above the norm for webcomics… Love the good work!
April 24th, 2008 at 5:56 am
I’m scared that Bjorn is just trying to fuck Anders over. That “sure” seems suspicious to me, just because of the way it is isolated like that. However, his mouth is positioned the same as in the panel before, so maybe he has the same sympathetic look and we just can’t see it… ahhhh!
April 24th, 2008 at 6:04 am
sarah, i figured it was more of a concentration on that one word so it like zooms in on his mouth. and then it zooms out again when bjorn realizes he’s being too serious and makes a joke about it. in my head he said sure and then there was a brief pause and to make it not awkward he cracked a joke. don’t know if that’s really what was meant to happen though!
April 24th, 2008 at 6:22 am
I adore Bjorn.
April 24th, 2008 at 6:51 am
I’m pretty sure that’s Maria off to the left, there.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:03 am
Oh Bjorn… you’re such a card.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:10 am
indigno, by left do you mean right? she doesn’t look very pregnant to me, though.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:59 am
I like this page because I love the way you painted the base of the statue, and because I like to see Anders acting like a decent person (and I hope he’ll keep it up!), and because I haven’t seen hide nor hair of Tina for a week or more.
I wish she’d never show up again, but I’m pretty sure that things were left scarily unresolved with her for a reason. Alas.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
rene,
this drawing style is amazing =] … absolutely love it… and i hope you dont feel any pressure to switch styles unless you feel like it at all….