Ten Years of Bleeker!


This week marks the tenth anniversary of Bleeker’s launch online.

Back in July 2006, I posted Bleeker to the Gocomics, Comic Sherpa section and figured I’d give it 6 months to see how it did. I’d been drawing and submitting comics since 1992 but this was the first time I had posted anything online. It was a little intimidating at first, showing it in a public forum and keeping up with a daily comic, but I quickly realized I was having a blast. By October, I found I was in a groove and the characters had really come alive for me. Ten years on, they still jump across the page like they live next door and I’m watching their antics from over the fence.

Since 2006, Bleeker has been picked up for print and web syndication, developed for an animated series, been the mascot for National Robotics Week and translated for foreign publications. Hard to believe the years have flown by so fast!

Many thanks to each and every one of you who has enjoyed the adventures of this little robot dog and his very ‘challenging’ owner. Here’s to the next decade!

Thanks for reading eh!

Today’s Comic…

In light of the recent horrific event in Florida, involving a toddler and an alligator, I have pulled today’s comic from GoComics.

As many of you know, the comics are drawn and loaded many weeks before they are published. Sometimes, world events and comic plots sync and what was supposed to be funny/innocent suddenly isn’t.

Sorry, if the comic upset anyone. It certainly was not my intention and has been replaced.

Thanks

Jonathan

Toronto Comic Arts Festival!


For those of you in Toronto this weekend, I will be at TCAF on Saturday May, 14th.

I’m part of the panel discussion ‘Newspaper Comics In A Digital World’ that takes place @1:30pm in the Marriott’s Forest Hill Ballroom (90 Bloor St. East)

Here’s the official description below…

1:30 – 2:30 — Newspaper Comics in a Digital World

How are newspaper comic strips evolving in a digital world? Is print really dead? Join six internationally syndicated comic strip artists (Paul Gilligan, Pooche Cafe, Sandra Bell-Lundy, Between Friends, Jonathan Mahood, Bleeker The Rechargeable Dog, Terri Libenson, Pajama Diaries, Dana Simpson, Phoebe and Her Unicorn, and Rina Piccolo, Tina’s Groove) as they discuss new opportunities for their strips, the remodeling of syndication as a business, and the role of social media for newspaper comics.
I’m on with a great lineup of cartoonists, so it should be fun! Hope to see you there!