Catbeard the Pirate!

Luck O' the Irish, Page 2

2012-03-14T00:01:00.001-07:00

Okay, lots of stuff!

First, got the proof copy of Catbeard the Pirate Book One: Keelhauling & Kitty Litter! It came out AWESOME and I'm super pleased with it! Book one is 104 pages, including comics from the site, comics never seen on the site, and a fantastic gallery of Catbeard renditions from some of the most talented folks in comics!

I'll be starting a campaign to finance the first printing through IndieGoGo, which essentially I'll be using as a way for everyone to pre-order the book. But there'll be lots of tiered rewards as well, so if you want to be one of those super-cool folks who donate way more than the purchase price of a comic, you'll get some neat extras!

I should (should) also have some for sale at the Spokane Comicon in May, so if you happen to be going to that, you can get one from me in person and I'll draw in it RIGHT THERE FOR YOU. This is, of course, presuming that my very small initial print run gets here on time (hurry up, printers!)

I think that's all for now. Be sure to keep checking back every week for more Catbeard, and I'll have something special on March 21, the one-year anniversary of the comic! In the coming year, I've got lots of storyline stuff planned, and maybe(?) a move to multiple updates per week (but no promises, heh heh).

Thanks for reading!

Luck O' the Irish, Page 1

2012-03-07T13:01:00.000-08:00

Being as how St. Patrick's Day is coming up soon, I thought I'd do something vaguely related. Stay tuned for more parts!

Also, I got word that the proof copy of Catbeard Book One shipped, so I'm pretty excited to get it! Hope it comes with no errors!

Lastly, we are coming RIGHT UP on the one-year anniversary of Catbeard the Pirate! A whole year! Can you believe it?! I'd love to hear some suggestions for anything I could do for the anniversary, so shout out if you've got something.

Thanks for everyone who keeps coming back week to week, and remember that the best way you can show your love for the comic is to recommend it, share it on Facebook, G+, Twitter, etc., etc. Also by throwing HUGE sums of money at me.

Also, don't forget that I'll be at the Spokane Comicon on May 19! If you're even close, why not come by and check it out?

Thanks for reading!

Catbeard Goes A-Wenching, Page 3 of 3

2012-02-28T19:48:00.000-08:00

Catbeard Goes A-Wenching, Page 2 of 3

2012-02-23T21:09:00.001-08:00

Back on track (I hope!)

So, lots of news. First, let's address this new character, Cassandra Cutthroat. She was inspired by this magnificent drawing done for me by Caanan Grall, the Eisner-nominated creator behind Max Overacts!

Isn't that incredible? That piece will be in the first Catbeard the Pirate book, which will be coming soon! I have a proof copy ordered, and fingers crossed, I'll be able to start printing before too long. If you enjoy Catbeard, please consider showing your support by pre-ordering the book when it is available!

Speaking of Caanan, he has a really neat idea for an art movement for comic creators called Artonomous. Why not hop on over and read up on it? And yes, he has nice things to say about my silly comic there, as well.

Lastly, on May 19, I'll be attending the Spokane Comicon here in Washington State! If you're in the area, come by my booth, which I'll be sharing with the talented Peter Foglesong! I'll draw you a free kitty! (Other sketches will indeed cost money, ha ha.)

Okay, I think that's everything. You're all wonderful.

Catbeard Goes A-Wenching, Page 1 of 3

2012-02-15T13:33:00.002-08:00

Belated Valentine's Day! Find out what happens when the good captain goes looking for love!

By the by, don't call ladies "wenches". Only pirates can get away with it.

Pleasure Cruise

2012-02-08T00:01:00.001-08:00

I'm trying to think of what circumstances induce a pirate into taking on a passenger. All I can say is that Catbeard's expense account must have been running low that week.

Have you recommended Catbeard to friends and family yet? Don't forget to click any or all of the various social-media icons on the bottom of the page! Always appreciated!

Watch the Birdie, Page 3 of 3

2012-02-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

FIFTY COMICS

Assuming my file count is correct, this is the fiftieth Catbeard strip! Here's to another 50, and many more beyond!

Watch the Birdie, Page 2 of 3

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

So I was following a conversation with Miriam Gibson on Twitter the other day, and she's posted a couple of mad good "Murder, She Cat" sketches on her Tumblr. You should check them out. In response I doodled these two quick lunch-break sketches.

Just something silly! Enjoy!

Watch the Birdie, Page 1 of 3

2012-01-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

A short Catbeard story for you all! I think it's about time the first mate got a little of his own back, don't you?

Something Smells Fishy

2012-01-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

Back from my holiday hiatus!

Exciting things ahead for Catbeard, and I hope you'll all come back each week to experience them! If you like the comic, please share it with your friends/major comic websites who want to highlight obscure comics!

Also, if you want to hear my ramblings/cries for attention to other cartoonists, follow me on Twitter! My username is @mattwnelson.

And just a reminder that the Catbeard book is coming! There'll be exclusive comics and tons of pinups by lots of talented artists! Be on the lookout!

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes: CONCLUSION & EPILOGUE!

2011-12-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

Whew! It is all done! I hope everyone has enjoyed the Isla Gallinas Repugnantes story, it was a lot of fun (and hard work)! I'm going to be taking a two-week break from the comic to celebrate Christmas and New Year's, but also to build up a buffer and hopefully get my ducks in a row to put out a collection of Catbeard, featuring everything on the site so far, and new, never-before-seen pages and pinups! Be on the lookout!

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 30

2011-12-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

Two pages to go!

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 29

2011-12-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

Click image for a larger view!

Oh my gosh you guys this story is SOOO CLOSE TO BEING DONE I'M SO EXCITED

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 28

2011-11-30T14:07:00.000-08:00

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 27

2011-11-23T05:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers near and far! I'm thankful for all of you - and especially thankful when you tell all your friends, family, and total strangers about Catbeard. ;) Thanks for reading!

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 26

2011-11-16T13:13:00.000-08:00

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 25

2011-11-09T02:57:00.000-08:00

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 24

2011-11-02T13:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween, readers! A quick break from the action (boo, hiss, I know) for a fun illustration I whipped up.

You can download a larger version of this same image here if you'd like to use it as a wallpaper!

Hey, if you're in Coeur d'Alene tomorrow (10/29), I'll be at Lightning Comics from 12-3 pm doing free sketches with some friends! Come by!

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 23

2011-10-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

SOMETHING'S COMING.

Also, awesome comic artist Faith Erin Hicks (one of my all-time favorites) posted this link to Miriam Gibson's Tumblr on her Twitter today. Pretty neat to see other people drawing cat-bearded humans, though I doubt it was because of my humble webcomic. Still! Now, go bug Miriam Gibson to draw a Catbeard the Pirate fanart for me. :D

Taa!

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 22

2011-10-12T03:26:00.000-07:00

Whooo! We're almost there, folks! I'm so excited!

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 21

2011-10-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

This marks the big turning point for the adventure! We're in the home stretch.

Recently I became part of inkOUTBREAK, a webcomics portal that's gaining popularity. Thought I'd spotlight one of the comics it's gotten me reading, "Cross Hare", about a rabbit detective. A lot of fun with the noir genre.

If you're a webcomic creator, you might want to give inkOUTBREAK a try; it's gotten me more attention for sure.

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 20

2011-09-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Wow, that first panel was a bunch of drawing. Also, is it just me or did I give Catbeard a bunch of baldies on his crew? Geez! I need to give these poor dudes some hair. Maybe the next story can be about how the crew go on a quest for a wig.

I've added a banner for inkOUTBREAK on my sidebar, both to follow the comic and to advertise other comics that you might enjoy.

Catbeard by Mike Maihack!

2011-09-26T16:34:00.000-07:00

Well, Mike put this up on his Buffalog, so I figure it's safe to post it here. This is for the Catbeard Volume One book, which I will hopefully have completed by the end of this year/beginning of next, and I'll most likely fund through Kickstarter or IndieGoGo.. I've got lots of others for the back of the book, and they all look phenomenal!

Mike Maihack does the awesome Cleopatra In Space webcomic, which you should definitely check out.

Enjoy!

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 19

2011-09-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

Woohoo! A new Catbeard and on time and everything! I think. Barring unforeseen stuff happening between now and when I finish this post.

So I was on my Twitters today (@mattwnelson) and one of the artists I follow tweeted a link to this article on keeping up for the long haul with your webcomic!

It is full of good, helpful advice, and is an interesting read; why not go take a look?

"Three Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Started My Webcomic Part 2"

Talk Like A Pirate Day Special!

2011-09-18T23:59:00.000-07:00

Happy International Talk Like A Pirate Day! Never heard of it? Well! Check the official site out for more info!

Talking like a pirate is a lot of fun, and I thought, since I do draw a comic about pirates, I might give you a few starting points to work from. Hope they're helpful!

The regular comic may be a little delayed this week as I have accidentally left my PC's power cord over at a friend's and the battery is getting low. We'll see how it goes.

If you celebrated TLAPD this year, let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear about it.

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 18

2011-09-14T17:04:00.000-07:00

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 17

2011-09-06T23:59:00.001-07:00

Hezekiah has himself a sweet bachelor pad. I bet ALL the ladies...

Oooh. Awkward. Actually, there are no ladies on this island. That's gotta suck.

So with this page, the Isla Gallinas Repugnantes storyline is, I think, over half finished. I write pretty loosely, usually having a very basic framework that allows me to either cut down or pad the story on the fly. I don't necessarily recommend this! But in general, it seems to work for me, especially when I am behind like I am right now and I'm drawing the page right before I put it up. Anyway, just realize that we're on the way back out to sea, just in case you were missing the between-voyage japes. It's my intent to do Catbeard like this: short, single-or-double-page gags in between longer stories. I've got the next five or so thought out, and lots of ideas for gag comics, which I hope will carry Catbeard into the next few years. So if you like it, as far as I know, it's sticking around for a while!

Happy reading!

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 16

2011-08-31T14:46:00.001-07:00

It's a little late, but better late than never, right?

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 15

2011-08-24T13:08:00.000-07:00

Sorry this is so late! I've been having trouble sleeping lately, and sadly my buffer is all used up, so I'm back to doing a strip every time I update now. Hopefully I can get back in the swing of things.

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 14

2011-08-19T23:50:00.000-07:00

Hezekiah is a tough old coot.

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 13

2011-08-16T23:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, Catbeard is back on track. I apologize for not getting a new comic up this weekend, since I've been trying to get the comic at a two-a-week update during this storyline, but what with Tiger's death I just wasn't up to it. Thanks to everyone who sent me messages of encouragement during that.

Anyway, I think I'll be able to get a new one up this weekend, so keep checking back! Thanks for reading!

Special Post: RIP Tiger

2011-08-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

Today is Friday, August 12. Today, Tiger, the cat who indirectly inspired my comic, Catbeard the Pirate, died.

She was 18 years old, and almost three years ago to the day she was diagnosed with kidney failure. I've done all I could to make her life as easy as possible, and kept up with her treatments, but at long last I had to make the decision to let her go. It's horrible to make that choice, but Tiger was beginning to be unable to control herself, and as she got older she also got more unsteady on her feet. I could see the fur on her legs starting to turn grey. I had begun worrying that she might try to make a jump while I wasn't at the house and hurt herself as well.

Tiger was the cat I've had the longest. I think I had her for about 15 years. Maybe more. My parents adopted her from a friend of my father's. For some reason she glommed onto me rather quickly, but cats do that – they find a person and make them their own. Every day when I came home from work, she'd be waiting on top of the microwave for me, and she'd meow when I came in the door. Every night she demanded to be let in my room so she could be with me when I went to sleep.

She had strange quirks. Tiger loved saltines and french fries, and she'd do just about anything to get them from you. Later in life I discovered that she also liked bell peppers. She liked to come up to me and sniff the top of my head. She used to bite my parents' dog on the ear when she got too close. Tiger had a little stuffed tiger tail, a catnip toy, I think, that she liked to carry around in her mouth and play with. We had to sew it back together more than once.

Tiger was very patient. Most cats don't like to be manhandled, but Tiger loved any kind of attention. She'd let you pick her up and fold her into a pretzel, or pet her gently on your lap, or even just call her name, and she'd come running, usually with a friendly meow. She was a big talker. I'll miss that. It'll be too quiet in my house now.

I think I liked it best when I'd let her stretch out over my chest, and while I'd pet her, she'd rub her face against my shoulder. She always had the happiest, most contented expression then.

I spent my last full day, Thursday, with her pampering her as much as I could. She got to drink my breakfast cereal milk, and I cried and held her tightly, wishing that I didn't have to go to work. As soon as I got home, I fed her some of her special soft food. I put ice in her water dish, which she loved. I made french fries and let her have as many as she wanted – which wasn't many, as she'd already eaten, and as she'd gotten older, I think her appetite diminished. We watched some Star Trek: The Next Generation on Netflix together, and I held her as much as she'd let me. Even she had her limits on how much I could maul her. I told her over and over again how sorry I was, and how much I loved her. She didn't understand, of course, but I couldn't help it. My sister came over later, and then we watched My Neighbors the Yamadas, and we took some pictures of Tiger. Mundane stuff, mostly, that was more special because she was there.

I took her to the vet after work today, and he put her down painlessly. I told her I was sorry again, and I loved her.

I know now she's out of any pain. She doesn't have to wait for me to pick her up and give her an injection every other day. She doesn't have to worry about misjudging the distance to my lap and falling back down to the floor when she tries to jump on me. She won't get randomly attacked by my other cat, Jiji. But I selfishly wish she were still here with me anyway.

There's a song that I've had going through my head for the last couple of days – it's from a children's movie, but I can't think of a more apt way to put it than this:

Saying goodbye, why is it sad
Makes us remember the good times we've had
Much more to say, foolish to try
It's time for saying goodbye

Goodbye, Tiger. I love you and I'll miss you.

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 12

2011-08-09T23:59:00.000-07:00

The twists keep coming in each installment of Isla Gallinas Repugnantes! Be back this weekend for a new page!

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 11

2011-08-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

Disaster! Another disappointment for our valiant pirates... will Catbeard and his crew be able to withstand a new group of raptors?

You may have noticed that I've added a donate button on the top of the page; if you like Catbeard, one way to support it is through donations! It keeps the comic supplied with pens, pencils, and paper... and my cats in cat food. :)

Be back Wednesday to see how the crew face their encroaching demise!

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 10

2011-08-02T23:59:00.000-07:00

Well, this one would've been up on Friday, but my net connection was being lame. But hey, technically it is a once-a-week comic, so there you go.

In other news, I am doing a comic featuring dinosaurs, and today in the mail I received this:

DISCUSS.

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 9

2011-07-26T23:59:00.000-07:00

RAWR DINO ATTACK

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 8

2011-07-23T13:44:00.001-07:00

Sorry this one was so late! Having fun with my fellow nerdlingers got in the way.

So we say goodbye to Hooknose Pete! Yeah, he was pretty much chow from day one, LOL. But we do say hello to Fancypants Frederick on the ship. He's a new crewman I'll be bringing into the stories more. I like his mustache design, which I've drawn on a couple of other pirates in past strips, but when I put it on Freddie it just seemed to fit.

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 7

2011-07-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

Overconfidence can be dangerous, Captain!

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 6

2011-07-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

So, a quick explanation.

I got asked what was up with the chickens here on Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, and I thought it was obvious. I sometimes forget that not everyone is a dinosaur enthusiast like me.

The "chickens" are velociraptors. Contrary to what you may have seen on Jurassic Park, velociraptors were quite short compared to human beings, and only came up to about the knee. Recent fossil discoveries have also indicated a covering of feathers. Now, our good captain isn't a paleontologist, and having only a small carving of a grotesque bird-like creature to go on, has dubbed them "ugly chickens", which, to be fair, they might've looked like. I went a little further by giving them a wattle under their snout.

The bigger "chickens" we see in parts five and six are probably Deinonychus or Utahraptors, which grew much larger and were as big as or bigger than a man.

Looks like Catbeard and crew have their work cut out for them... and who knows what other dinosaurs may be on Isla Gallinas Repugnantes?

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 5

2011-07-12T23:59:00.000-07:00

Hooknose Pete! I like this guy, I think he'll stick around.

Maybe. We are on an island full of dinosaurs, after all. ;-)

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 4

2011-07-08T19:27:00.000-07:00

I'll be keeping up this two-a-week pace until the end of the storyline, but then we're back to one a week. I'm only human. :-D

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 3

2011-07-05T23:59:00.001-07:00

Someday I gotta come up with a name for that short monobrow pirate.

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 2

2011-07-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

Oh, beard! Always gotta be part of the conversation.

Isla Gallinas Repugnantes, Part 1

2011-06-28T23:59:00.000-07:00

Part one of a new Catbeard adventure! Check back later this week (probably Friday) for part two!

A quick break...

2011-06-22T03:47:00.001-07:00

Hey readers! Well, today there will be no Catbeard, I'm afraid - I'm taking a quick break so I can build a buffer again. I have the next two strips drawn, but they're the beginning of a longer Catbeard story, so I want to get a little bit more ahead.

Sorry to do it, but hopefully this'll allow me to do an even better story when I start posting it in another week.

Matt

Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum

2011-06-14T23:59:00.000-07:00

Just realized that I posted two comics in a row about pirate drinking. I swear, booze is not all I think about.

Last Call

2011-06-07T23:59:00.000-07:00

He may have an adorable kitty for a beard, but he's still a nasty pirate, after all!

New Tattoo Day!

2011-05-31T23:59:00.000-07:00

That is a lot of ink.

Scratch That...

2011-05-24T23:59:00.000-07:00

Fleas suck.

Catbeard Fanart by Jason Martin!

2011-05-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

So before the Spokane Comicon this year, a bunch of us went out to Cyrus O' Leary's for a Drink N' Draw. That's where you drink things and draw while you're doing it. Pretty self-explanatory amirite? I didn't draw much (I was starting to feel the booze a tiny bit) but that didn't stop Jason Martin, a comics pro who was there, and he drew me my first official piece of Catbeard fanart. Yeah. That's how awesome THAT is.

You can see more of Jason's work here and here!
A note that it's not quite kid-friendly and may not be considered SFW depending on your job - he likes to draw rather... healthy young women.

Really jazzed and love the art, Jason!

Interference

2011-05-17T23:59:00.000-07:00

Right now, as I'm typing this, my cat is trying to get me to pay attention to her in nearly this precise manner.

Know When To Walk Away, Know When To Run

2011-05-10T23:59:00.000-07:00

This also explains how Catbeard is so good at playing Battleship.

RELEASE THE KRAKEN

2011-05-03T23:59:00.000-07:00

I just really wanted to draw a monster this time.

Up In Smoke

2011-04-26T23:59:00.000-07:00

Remember, kids, real smoking is bad for you. Only cartoon smoking is hilarious.

Off the Deep End

2011-04-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

Villains Preview

2011-04-18T07:59:00.000-07:00

I thought you guys might like to see a preview of some villains I've got coming down the high seas to eventually pester our protagonist!

From the top, going clockwise, there's the King of the Seas, followed by one of the mystical Tiki Man tribe, then, naturally, a ninja (because pirates and ninja are enemies, dontchaknow) and the Dread Pirate Templeton, an old rival of Catbeard's.

It'll probably be a while before we see any of these guys pop up, but they were too good to resist showing you; hope you enjoy!

Catbeard's Bath

2011-04-12T23:59:00.000-07:00

Giving a cat a bath is always a touchy prospect.

Midnight Snack

2011-04-05T23:59:00.000-07:00

I promise, this is the last one in a while that'll be gross-out humor.

Rough Sailing

2011-03-30T19:37:00.000-07:00

Inspired by a recent Skype session with my family; one of their cats was jumping into a paper bag in the background.

Catbeard's Obsession

2011-03-23T23:33:00.001-07:00

Looks like Catbeard is embracing his new status. Or is that "cat"us?

The Legend of Catbeard!

2011-03-21T08:54:00.001-07:00

Hi! Welcome to my new webcomic, Catbeard the Pirate! Stick around and I hope you enjoy Catbeard's future adventures!