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Comic

#147 - Quite the package

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

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.

55 Responses to “#147 - Quite the package”

  1. jose Says:

    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.

  2. Angelf Says:

    oh wow.

  3. Dain Says:

    Great comic!

  4. Ryanpeq Says:

    just a quick heads up that you spelled “definitely” wrong in panel 1

    the new style looks amazing!

  5. Rene Engström Says:

    Thanks Ryanpeq, I think the spelling is fixed! :)

  6. KT Says:

    Aww, they’re bonding! Björn’s an okay guy.

  7. James Says:

    *blink blink*

    What the… Björn is being supportive… Anders’ head is out of his ass…

    Have we stumbled into BIZARRO Sweden!?

  8. Rick Says:

    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).

  9. neal Says:

    wow. amazing, rene. just amazing. from an art point of view, and storytelling point of view. just love everything about this =]

  10. evilbugz Says:

    Aww I knew there were a ton of reasons I liked Björn! :)

  11. bhc Says:

    . . . quite the package!

    also poor!

  12. irrational_moon Says:

    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.

  13. gabbilicious Says:

    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.

  14. streever Says:

    “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 :)

  15. katie Says:

    aw i think it’s sweet that bjorn is trying to be supportive of anders, when i probably would have just kicked hi ass

  16. kaiki Says:

    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?

  17. Rene Engström Says:

    It is this statue on Skeppsbron in Gamla Stan, quite close to where Anders and Maria live.

  18. PainfulBuggery Says:

    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.

  19. Rene Engström Says:

    Yes PainfulBuggery, it’s all due to YOU.

  20. fnord Says:

    *grumble grumble* When will you go back to the old, sleek drawing style? *grumble*

  21. Colin Says:

    The girl in the first panel. standing to the side by herself, really reminded me of Dr suess, and that made me smile.

  22. Meaghan Says:

    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 :D

  23. PainfulBuggery Says:

    *EXAGGERATED GASP* STALKER!

    By the way, I enjoy the new look.

  24. Rene Engström Says:

    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.

  25. Rene Engström Says:

    fnord: Although if it’s any consolation I trying to get as sleek as I can with this medium.

  26. Carl H. Says:

    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.

  27. Brennan Says:

    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?

  28. Ashley Kromarek Says:

    Streever made me want jerky.

    And Meaghan, Bjorn is probably wearing some of Anders clothes so of course they would look similar.

  29. Kai Says:

    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?

  30. Laura Says:

    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…

  31. Paul le Fou Says:

    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.

  32. Koosh Koosh! Says:

    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.

  33. Olga Says:

    I

  34. Jess Says:

    Man, Bjorn deserves Maria more than Anders ever will.

  35. Carlee Says:

    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!

  36. Indigno Says:

    I’ve always liked Bjorn, and this page has completely redeemed him in my eyes of any of his misgivings.

  37. Holly Says:

    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.

  38. Antsan Says:

    I *knew* they would come along!

    And the art is just amazing.

  39. mary Says:

    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.

  40. kaiki Says:

    Wow that is a beautiful painting. Now I am wanting to see Anders & Maria dressed in the period outfits like in the painting >_

  41. Kira Says:

    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

  42. dario Says:

    Aar! I’m SO envious someone ELSE is translating ALM in Italian! :) (j/k and a pretty damn good translation it is, actually)

  43. Hec Says:

    You know, it is funny. It feels as if the water painting was ALWAYS used for the ALM comic.

  44. Morr Says:

    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.

  45. Centipede Damascus Says:

    A conversation between men happens, and faith is restored that things may yet work themselves out to the satisfaction of most, if not all.

  46. christina Says:

    Aw are they having a little male bonding time?

  47. Klazzon Says:

    As always, the art is just stunning… wayy above the norm for webcomics… Love the good work!

  48. Sarah Says:

    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!

  49. Kin Says:

    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!

  50. Mandy Says:

    I adore Bjorn.

  51. Indigno Says:

    I’m pretty sure that’s Maria off to the left, there.

  52. Jen Says:

    Oh Bjorn… you’re such a card.

  53. christina Says:

    indigno, by left do you mean right? she doesn’t look very pregnant to me, though.

  54. Joanna Says:

    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.

  55. neal Says:

    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….