Concept
History
Characters
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Link to Innies and Outties
Link Graphics

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did you cancel then restart the comic strip in 2006?

There's a full explanation here.

Why does Otis want to rule the world?

If you have to ask ... it was actually explained in this strip.

Why did Iris' grandmother leave? Is Iris an orphan now?

No, Iris is not an orphan. She still lives with her parents, as do the rest of the kids with their respective parents. Gramma never explained to Iris why she left, but Iris' parents suspect Gramma ran off with a guy she met in France while she was travelling in Europe, which was where she was before she arrived in Strange Ways.

Why doesn't Iris (or anyone else) see Harold? Is there something wrong with her? How can Xana and Cairo see Harold?

Because Harold is a figment of Otis' imagination and only Otis sees him. So, nothing's wrong with Iris. Xana is using a special set of glasses that allows her to see what Otis sees. Cairo is a genetic mutation and can do all sorts of stuff I haven't explored yet.

Where are the parents? Have they ever appeared in Innies and Outties?

Parents rarely appear in Innies and Outties. Otis' parents have appeared in the comic strip twice. The first time was after Otis finished filming his first film, "It's an Undead Life," and the second time was when Otis took apart the TV while waiting for his world domination t-shirt to arrive. Iris' parents have never appeared in Innies and Outties.

How does an imaginary vegetarian zombie get cancer?

Technically, it can't. With that in mind, it was actually the best way to get my cancer experience across in Innies and Outties without putting one of the kids through cancer.

Speaking of cancer, how are you doing health-wise?

I have been tumor-free since March 10, 2005. The only 'treatment' I had was the initial surgery and I have been doing regular follow-ups under a surveillance plan developed by the University of Indiana specifically for survivors of testicular cancer.

Where did you come up with the name Xanathea Xavier?

It's based on two names: Alathea and Xavier. I wanted her name to start with X because mad scientists need names like that and to complete the alliteration with Xavier. Xavier was pulled from the X-Men comic-book series.

How do you pronounce Xana?

The X is pronounced like the 'z' in zebra and Xana rhymes with Hannah.

What does Eebo stand for?

Robot dog rights. The name is a takeoff of Sony's Aibo robot dog. Sony has never contacted me about it, even though I know based on the counter logs that someone from Sony has visited the site.

Is there any sex in this strip since it's called Innies and Outties?

What? Um, no. There is the occasional kiss, though.

If there's no sex in it, then why's it called Innies and Outties?

It's more of a non-sensical name, really, but here's the English major answer: It describes the differences between Otis and Iris: Otis tends to deal with the world through his internal fantasies while Iris is more grounded in what the rest of us call reality - or the outside world relative to Otis.

What are your influences?

The obvious ones are Bloom County and Calvin and Hobbes, but there's a lot more involved than that. For instance, part of Iris' attitude and personality stems from Riot Grrl music.

Are you getting paid for this?

I get free hosting and make money through book sales. That's it.

Who does your hosting?

Innies and Outties is currently being hosted by Comic Genesis and Webcomics Nation.

Why are there two Innies and Outties websites? Why do you keep switching between Webcomics Nation and Comic Genesis?

Thanks to a major crash of my hosting service, Comic Genesis, a couple of years back, I found it necessary to develop a backup website just in case the site was down for an extended period again. The current backup website is hosted at Webcomicsnation.com which is home to the Innies and Outties RSS feed and has its own mailing list. The Webcomics Nation site was the main Innies and Outties website from August of 2005 until February of 2007. I switched back to the site on Comic Genesis because I like the look and feel of this site better. If Comic Genesis goes down again, you can expect an immediate switchover to the Webcomics Nation site.

What is the link for the RSS feed for Innies and Outties?

Click here.

Does Innies and Outties have a Wiki entry?

There's one in Wikipedia thanks to my involvement with the Adventures Into Digital Comics documentary and one in Comixpedia.

When do you normally update your comic?

Every weekday by 11 a.m. PST, more or less.

How long does it take to create Innies and Outties?

It varies from strip to strip. The drawing and inking parts are the quickest with the writing varying from day-to-day. It usually takes less than an hour and a half to write, draw, and ink Innies and Outties.

Are you going to get it syndicated?

Innies and Outties was supposed to have been syndicated by Creative Comix back in 2005, but as far as I know nothing ever came of it as e-mails to the syndicate went unanswered for months. I had a bite from one of the major syndicates, the identity of whom will remain anonymous, but that went nowhere.

For drawing and sketching: Blue Col-erase pencils.
For inking: Primarily, a Size 0 watercolor brush. Higgins waterproof black india ink. Also use the following when the need arises: Staedtler Lumocolor (black) and Speedball nibs sizes B-6 or A-5.
For lettering: Speedball B-6 or A-5 size nibs. Higgins waterproof black india ink.
For borders: Staedtler Lumocolor.
Paper: Strathmore 400 Series smooth bristol board.
Color: Fractal Design Painter v8.0 and Adobe Photoshop v4.01 with a Wacom graphics tablet.

How long have you been drawing?

As long as I can remember.

Are you on Myspace or Friendster? Can I add you as a friend?

Yes and yes, but I don't use my Friendster account at all. Maybe. I am also on Comicspace as well.

Do you have a blog?

I have two. One is on my Myspace page, the other is no longer publicly available.

Why isn't the entire archive available on-line?