jflaxman

We’re living in crazy times, but creation thrives on chaos and says a lot about our needs. Where things have gotten really bad we might look for better ways to get explosives into dugouts, but when things aren’t so desperate, creative self-expression can be used to entertain, comfort or challenge an audience. It can also unite and inspire us regardless of our origins. Ancient Egyptian tomb paintings, Classical sculpture and Japanese woodcuts might not speak to everyone, but they have a broad appeal that transcends time, space and culture, as do myths from lands as far apart as Northern Europe, Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. All are stories of humanity, and our shared humanity is something worth remembering in these polarising times. It’s a long leap from these Olympian heights to the Hadean depths of DA, but what’s life without dramatic contrasts? Dramatic contrasts are one thing, but setting standards you fail to uphold is another. Today I parted ways with a group that was

The summer break is over and it’s back to frenzied scribbling. The new glasses have been a big help, but I have a bit of rust to grind off, so it's mostly loose and fast cartoons. I've also done a lot of writing, but I’ll keep you in suspense for now. Indie cartoons, new and old, are a good source of creative fuel, and recent online exploration solved a minor mystery. For context: meet a younger and more troubled me in a much more troubled home. During a welcome spell of solitude I turned on the TV and caught the ending of a cartoon that raised more questions than it answered. Three characters – a tall, blond hero, a plucky brunette and bespectacled klutz – had to escape a huge, high-tech, but deserted and decaying city before the forcefield around it failed. I found this more compelling than the slapstick I was used to, but it frustrated me as well. I wanted to know how the story had started, how the characters had met, why a city was collapsing around them and why everyone else

It’s the last day of 2025, and it’s drawing to a close. This year brought its challenges, but there’s a massive difference between challenges and insurmountable problems. Starting close to home, a couple of friends have moved back after renting their house out. Cam wanted quick rent, Jenna wanted good tenants, and to put it diplomatically, Cam got his way at a cost. There’s no need for a full list of grievances, but highlights include holes in walls, broken doors and a wrecked safe. The Welcome Back was held at our house. Things have settled down since then, and when I’ve been out and about I’ve often seen Cam on his new bike, in an open-face helmet and goggles that make him look like a WW2 despatch rider. He’s an interesting character – one as keen on board and roleplaying games as he is on outdoor adventures – and when we’re under the same roof good conversations are a given. After a commendable term in the Air Force, Jenna has had a lot to share too, and a recent career change