Tip by Dave Van Domelen
Shaenon: Thanks enormously to Dave Van Domelen for this Tip pinup. I’m tempted to just turn Sunday into a Millie the Model type feature where people send in fashion designs for Tip and then I draw the best ones into the strip. They did that in Millie the Model, didn’t they? Most girls’ comics in the ’50s had a page like that.
Okay, I admit it. I’ve never actually read Millie the Model. The only thing I know about it is that my aunt remembered Millie’s evil model arch-rival, Chili Storm, as having only one eye, and I always thought she was literally missing an eye, and when I finally saw the comic I was disappointed to find out that she was just drawn with her hair covering one eye. All those years, I’d been picturing a model with an eyepatch, and how cool would that be?
Ahem. Anyway. Nice dress.
Channing: This is a frighteningly good rendition of Tip. Now you can see why the ladies are all a-swoon for the good doctor. Alternately, if you’re an anti-Tip kind of person, this picture probably only serves to reinforce your impression of the man. Either way, that’s quite a dress.
Anyway, Shaenon’s Millie the Model idea above is a good one, but I think a better idea is that you all send us a lot of money in an attempt to convince Shaenon to draw Tip in an outfit of your choosing. In this way, I get a lot of money and Shaenon does all the work for it, which is quite patently the best of all possible outcomes.
Jane Narbon (lady_madsci) says:
Hm. I don’t quite think the belt works with the rest of the outfit.
—–
The Mad Scientist Wars:
My. It looks as if Professor Tinker left to chase after his runaway vorpal bunny. I wipe off the sedative-infused lip balm I applied while I was in the restroom. Even with 2000mg of Universal Antidote in my system, this stuff is making me slightly dizzy. Admittedly, if I had gotten the chance to give Professor Tinker a *ahem* friendly kiss on the cheek (by way of thanking him for a good time), it would have knocked him out in seconds.
Oh well… I guess I’ll just save that for the future. Heh heh heh.
I arrange for the bill to be sent to Professor Tinker’s Visa card, then retrieve my jetpack for a quick ride home. Now, only a few things more to do…
Let me see here. Well, the signal from the audio/tracking bug I planted on Professor Tinker’s going strong. Now for the camera I hid in the ornamental pin on my dress.
What the… this is all static-y! The video’s practically unusuable. Oh well… all in all, it was still a profitable evening. I got tons of information about my enemies and their lairs… now I just have to sort the false from the true.
Tiff Hudson (tiff_hudson) says:
I really like the penwork on that drawing of Tip — the color shading is terrific.
Bored now.
Indigo C (indigo) says:
The shoes kind of throw it off for me, but I love the cheongsam, and want one myself.
Although, sadly, Tip looks better in his than I would.
David Toboz (professor_zobot) says:
Is it somewhat disturbing that after reading the idea for the Skin Horse “Millie the Model” segment that I envisioned Tip being drawn in a chainmail bikini?
Arrgh, I’ve been playing way too much Gygax-tribute first edition DnD. Need to get the maddening images out of my head.
Anyways, to Garrity and Channing: Hello, I’m a fairly new reader and I’d like to thank you guys for making Skin Horse, which I just recently discovered. Thus far it has been immensely entertaining, somewhat original in it’s conception, and very well written. You two show a lot of talent and ability, and it’s shaping up to be a very amazing webcomic thus far. Is there any place I can donate to show my support?
I actually am a completely new reader, having only recently discovered Narbonic as well. I’m enjoying Shanon’s original forey into the world of webcomicery a lot as well, although I’ve only gotten to the part with the conspiricy of people named Dave… I’m excited to see where it’ll go.
And last but not least, to the people involved the The Mad Scientist Wars: You guys are awesome! It’s like getting a second feature along with Skin Horse, and perhaps my biggest regret is that I wasn’t able to get in on the ground floor and DESTROY YOU ALL! Have fun, guys.
Jeffrey Channing Wells (channing) says:
Hello, Mr. Toboz! Thanks for the kind words, and glad to see a new reader. Hope you enjoy both “Skin Horse” and “Narbonic” as they unfold. Speaking as a rabid fan of the latter rather than a co-creator, I can virtually guarantee that you will not be disappointed.
“Skin Horse” does indeed have a PayPal jar which can be used to digitally throw money at us. Simply go to the main frontpage at skin-horse.com and scroll to the bottom.
Once more, welcome!
Jeffrey Channing Wells (channing) says:
Oh, and:
Attention, Mad Science Wars people!
Please be advised that the registration queue on the Nice forums is apparently moving again. Hopefully, it will only be a matter of time before your accounts are approved. Thank you for your patience!
Shaenon Garrity (shaenongarrity) says:
It’s funny that this drawing happened to run today, because just last night some friends and I were helping a buddy do his makeup before he went out to a club in drag, and we were lamenting that he didn’t have any green eye shadow to bring out his eyes…just like Dave has drawn on Tip! Kismet!
So It Begins (soitbegins) says:
AAGH! MY EYES! MY EYES!
The MadSci wars:
A few loose ends to clear up: Purple Knight Guy is still on the run from his family after unwittingly creating a monster with injudicious use of Vorpal Bunny Nip.
And another loose end to create: David Toboz, you have been given a provisional invitation to the Mad Scientist Wars. Use it wisely.
Finally, it looks as if all the unusual events recently have calmed down. I now have a permanent video feed showing the inside of Professor Tinker’s lab, and nothing has been heard from my (self-declared) ‘nemesis’. Now, I should get back to working on my MASTER PLAN.
First, I will get an account on “The Nice” forums. Then, I will– whoops, wrong plan.
First, I will create a giant monster that has the capability to lay waste to all around me. Then…
Ha. Ahaha. Nyahahaha. MUAHAHAHAHAHAAA!
(ominous crash of thunder)
Dave Van Domelen (dvandom) says: Yeah, the belt does kinda clash. I added it in an attempt to compensate for his manly lack of hips/waist difference, but I probably should’ve gone with a narrower belt, maybe at a slant. I was also trying to avoid having to worry about folds where his fist was planted…I redrew that hand about a dozen times and the arm half a dozen before settling on the current pose. Hm, a string of jade beads would probably work better than a belt.
N La Teer (zapatos) says:
A world in which there are anti-Tip people is a world in which I do not wish to live.
And while the belt did sort of throw me for a loop, those earings are fabulous.
Dave Van Domelen (dvandom) says: The earrings wouldn’t even be too hard to fabricate, although it’s been 24 years since I took a jewelry class. š For each, three jade beads about 5-6mm in diameter, some fine gold chain, a gold crossbar about 12-15mm long, and your post (piercing or clip) of preference.
Aaron Shades (prof_tinker) says:
WHAT are you people TALKING about?! The best is the *centerpiece* of the outfit! By creating a splash of dissonance from the feminine oriental-style dress by adding a tough chunky belt, Tip has created a truly unique look.
But he should have worn better shoes. Chinese slippers would have been nice, maybe in dark red.
Mad Sci Wars :
Well, I managed to call down Fluffy with a peice of shiny foil and a piece of string, but I lost my Evil Manuscript somewhere in the process!
I have to get Fluffy home so he can come down safely, so i can’t look for it. I merely hope that it hasn’t fallen into the wrong hands, as the dire contents of it could be devastating if misused!
. . . . hmm. Well, misused by someone besides me. All in all, not a bad night out.
Dave Van Domelen (dvandom) says: Hmmm, more evil ideating…”Lee Storm”, eyepatch-wearing fashionista nemesis to Tip! He served in the same unit in the Marines as Tip, which is where he lost his eye.
Ok, it’s official. I love you, Tip.
My first thought was Devil Hunter Yohko, although it’s not exactly the same dress.
http://gallery.minitokyo.net/view/264567