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Steven Garza, a professional comedian, started using cartoons to share his jokes. Even though he didn’t know how to draw at first, he worked hard, learning from books and practice. Now, his comics mix humor with storytelling in a unique way.

In his one-panel comics, Steven explores quirky and odd ideas. He often includes characters from his four-panel comic series Fret Buzzed, giving fans a fun surprise if they recognize them.

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Bored Panda spoke with Steven to learn more about his creative process. He explained that his time as a stand-up comedian has shaped the way he writes his cartoons. “I’m lucky to know some of the funniest people around, and sometimes I’ll share a joke or idea with a friend to see their reaction. They act as a test audience before I finish the cartoon. Comedians are brutally honest, which can be both helpful and tough.”

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Like most artists, Steven faces creative blocks sometimes, but over the years, he’s found a few ways to get through them. “My brain works best when I’m under pressure with a deadline coming up. Something about knowing I have to finish soon helps ideas flow. No matter how hard I try, I’m never more than a week or two ahead of my weekly deadline for a newspaper submission.

I have some tricks for when I get writer’s block. Since I work digitally, I save all my past characters and backgrounds. I can copy and paste them into new situations or poses, which helps spark ideas. My favorite trick is to picture my characters in my head and let them interact. I imagine them having conversations and just watch what happens. Usually, that gives me an idea, and sometimes it even helps me write an entire joke.”

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Steven shared that he has a regular routine for making cartoons. “I like to sit on my couch with my iPad and have some eighties or nineties TV shows playing softly in the background. The nostalgia from revisiting my childhood helps inspire me and creates a cozy environment for my work.”

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For Steven, his favorite part of making comics is inking the final draft. “It’s really satisfying to ink the final lines and cover the original sketch. I love watching the cartoon come to life as it goes from a simple pencil drawing to a finished piece. Coloring the comic is just as enjoyable because it lets me set the mood. I often use trial and error to choose the final colors. I also think it’s interesting how changing the color palette can completely change the feeling of the joke.”

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Jim Benton is a popular comic artist known for his funny, quirky characters. His bright drawings and clever jokes bring smiles to thousands of fans. Benton’s style blends silly humor with surprises, making his work stand out.

In this article, we’re excited to share more of Benton’s comics that will likely make you laugh. From playful animals to goofy monsters, these comics are full of humor and fun twists. So, get ready to enjoy as you scroll through his entertaining artwork!

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In an earlier interview, Benton said he gets inspiration for his comics from anywhere. “I usually sit down at my drawing table, and the ideas just come—some are bad, some are good. My style comes from enjoying trying new things. I think I might have a problem with buying too many art supplies!”

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Bored Panda spoke with Benton again and asked if there was a comic he was especially proud of. He said, “I’m glad some of my comics get shared a lot, like the one where Death is bribed with Snickers bars, and the one where a wizard summons a lemon instead of a demon. In a way, my cartoons aren’t too different from the simple drawings early humans scratched on cave walls. I love that people can still enjoy ideas told with just a few lines.”

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Benton shared that he doesn’t have any special routines when making comics. “I just think of an idea, draw it, and post it. Maybe if I had a routine, I’d avoid posting cartoons that don’t work well. I should probably start one—maybe burn some sage or use holy water in my watercolors.”

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The artist explained that he finds dark themes funny. “Maybe it’s because I grew up watching shows like The Munsters and The Addams Family. Or maybe I just think it’s funny when something feels so wrong. My brand, It’s Happy Bunny, works because it’s a bit wrong. My characters Catwad and Clyde are always angry and mean, and that makes me laugh. I’m not sure how to balance it; I just share what I think is funny and hope other people laugh too.”

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In The Adventures of Wences, Retro is a robot who dreams of freedom and is tired of being stuck in a closet. However, Wences knows that if he lets Retro out, the robot could take control of everything around him.

The Robot Retro And Its Desires

Human Rights For A Robot

Retro The Robot Wants To Be Free

Free Hugs From A Robot

Wences And His Domineering Robot

Loryn Brantz is known for her funny comics, but lately, she has also been writing heartfelt poems about parenting.

Her collection, “Poems of Parenting,” highlights the joys and challenges that every parent experiences. Along with some truly touching words, Loryn adds humor to make the emotional journey of raising kids feel lighter. She shared that she often thinks of poems during her parenting experiences, which helps her capture the mix of wonder and struggle that comes with being a parent.

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In an interview with Bored Panda, Loryn explained why she decided to switch from creating comics to writing poetry.

“Poems about parenting hit me suddenly. I’ve always written poetry for kids, but one night after a long and tiring bedtime, I was looking at photos of my son when he cried out in the night. That’s when I thought of ‘Photos of You.’ After that first poem, I just couldn’t stop writing. I wrote about thirty that same night, and it kept going from there. Parenting takes up so much of my time that ideas for poems just kept coming to me all the time after that,” Loryn said.

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Loryn’s poems have attracted a lot of attention from parents on Instagram. We asked her how the online community influenced her poetry collection.

“It was interesting because the response to my poetry wasn’t as big as the response to my comics. But I felt so happy with my work that I didn’t mind at all. It felt like I had been working toward poetry for a long time and finally found my place. I always wanted to write funny and meaningful things to share, but I was never completely satisfied with my comics. Poetry feels much more true to who I am,” Loryn said.

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Loryn also talked about whether her personal experiences inspired any of the emotional or funny poems in her book.

“Every single poem was inspired by a personal experience. What’s interesting is that some were inspired by my daughter, who has disabilities, and others by my son, who does not. Yet, people seem to relate to both. There’s a lot more common ground in different parenting experiences than we realize.”

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Parenting today is different because of technology and social media. We asked Loryn how these modern changes appear in her poems and what she wants other parents to learn from them.

“In the book, there’s a poem called ‘Disconnected,’ which is about this issue. It reflects the experience of being a modern parent and figuring out how much technology to use in your life. I want parents to remember that what works best for you and your family is the right choice, and not to be too hard on yourself.”

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Loryn’s work helps parents feel supported. We asked her what she hopes “Poems of Parenting” gives to readers who might feel stressed or alone in their parenting journey.

Loryn said, “I hope it helps readers feel supported, less alone, and, most importantly, that it makes them laugh.”

She also added, “Thanks for reading my poetry! ‘Poems of Parenting’ will be released in the spring, but you can preorder it now.”

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Our planet is facing many serious problems, most of which are caused by humans. It’s important to spread the message that people need to change their habits and stop focusing only on their own interests and wealth. Instead, we should all take action to help save Earth, which desperately needs our support, along with all the other creatures we share it with. People need to realize they are not the center of the universe; they should learn more about the world and respect all forms of life.

Thanks to organizations like “Rewriting Earth,” founded by Paul Goodenough, these important messages about the future of our planet are being heard. We mentioned this charity in our previous post, so be sure to check it out to learn more. Today, we want to share more comics created by artists who have teamed up with the project to help protect the environment.

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Bored Panda spoke with Paul Goodenough about “Rewriting Earth” and its current goals. When asked how his organization decides which environmental issues to focus on, Paul said, “It’s like trying to scoop water out of a sinking ship! We focus on the biggest problems and the best solutions at the time, so we always have to be ready. That’s why we created our Rapid Response Lab, where we create content within hours of important news or issues.”

Scroll down to check out the latest comics made with top cartoonists and read our full interview with Paul.

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The founder of “Rewriting Earth” shared a recent example of the charity’s quick response to a problem: “In the UK, the government promised to invest £26 billion in environmental solutions but later pulled back, thinking the public wouldn’t support spending that money on the planet instead of something like healthcare.

We noticed this and launched a new campaign called SAVE OUR GRASSROOTS to encourage people to speak up and show the government that the public does support using that money to help the environment.”

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Goodenough highlighted the main factors that guide “Rewriting Earth’s” decisions: “We use several ways to decide what to focus on next. Mainly, we ask:

• Does it create real benefits for animals and the planet?
• Who can make a difference? Is it the public, politicians, or someone else?

Once we know who needs to take action to create change, we decide if we’re the right ones to help. Then we compare this issue to others, get advice from our network of experts, and take action!”

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When asked how “Rewriting Earth” balances scientific accuracy with creative freedom in their stories, Paul explained: “It’s a lot like what a translator does. We first talk to experts and the people most affected by the issue. Then, we turn that information into language, comics, and content that can reach the people who can make a difference.

It sounds easy, but like many things, the real challenge is making it look simple.”

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Paul also shared the emotional challenges of working with serious, real-world issues: “Honestly, it’s really tough. It truly is. We try to make sure that creating the content is fun and that everyone involved enjoys the process.

We want people to enjoy helping the planet, just like they do with gym or fitness culture. It can be difficult, but it can also be fun!”

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We also asked Paul if there are any species or environmental issues he’s especially passionate about but hasn’t addressed yet. He said: “There are so many. Most of the problems come from us destroying animals’ homes, leaving them nowhere to live. That’s at the core of most issues. We need to protect large areas of the planet for them. Even if you don’t care about animals, if they disappear, we will too.”

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Paul added: “I’d really love to do something with giant anteaters. They look like a kid’s drawing and don’t make any sense at all. Each of their legs seems like it belongs to a different animal, and I just adore them.

In the UK, I’d also love to do more for butterflies. They make everyone happy and are so beautiful. But honestly, I love all animals. So, anytime an animal is saved, it’s a great day for me and something I’m really proud of.

That gives me energy and a lot of happiness.”

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