54. A Predicament of Comical Proportions
Ideas for developing future AIO comic strips.
By David Hilder | May 30, 2023
Ideas for developing future AIO comic strips.
By David Hilder | May 30, 2023
The Adventures in Odyssey universe is expanding into different areas and mediums. As a result, we’re getting a lot of new content. The Elsewhere in Odyssey comic strip is a great addition to AIO and opens us up to a world of our favorite characters that wouldn’t be possible on the radio show. What could go wrong? In this editorial I’ll be responding to the comics created so far and looking towards possible future comic strips. Spoilers ahead.
For the most part, the Elsewhere in Odyssey comics have done a tasteful job of reintroducing characters. We’ve had Edwin Blackgaard alongside Zoe, Olivia, and Jules doing a play production, Bart and Rodney Rathbone on a short but fun Imagination Station trip, Bernard Walton with Red Hollard at Watson’s Hardware Emporium, as well as Leonard and Everett (and even Bernard) at a Meltsner family Christmas get-together. These stories feel like they could have easily happened in the audio show, if only all the actors were available. Though it’s obvious the purpose of these comics is to bring back characters who can no longer appear on the show, so far it’s felt completely natural.
Of course, that was until “The Acolyte” series burst onto the scene. What starts off as a potentially entertaining spy thriller akin to Accidental Dilemma (Album 50) quickly spirals into a parody of AIO. I’m sorry, but when you have two Philip Glossmans and Nicholas Adamsworth, who is now somehow Dr. Blackgaard’s son, return to Odyssey to use a Novabox to steal Whit’s memories of Applesauce, only to be thwarted by Richard Maxwell, and it manages to tie in Mitch’s residence at the Skyline Motel for some reason, I just have to laugh. How is this happening? This would never be allowed to happen in the audio show, even if all the actors were available. Hopefully this turns out to be a dream or a wild Imagination Station ride. It’s been said on the Official Podcast that the comics are supposed to be canon. Well, this current comic series sure doesn’t feel that way. It feels more like bad fan fiction.
The stories in the comics should have the level of realism we expect from the Adventures in Odyssey brand. Rather than throwing all our favorite characters into one series (Did I mention the “The Acolyte” series also has cameos from Cryin’ Bryan Dern, Jenny Whittaker, Tom Riley, Jimmy Barclay, and Officer O’Ryan), they need to be spaced out more. Otherwise, the character returns feel unearned and unrealistic. As a fan I’m probably not alone in holding out hope that Richard Maxwell might return for real in the audio show someday. It probably won’t happen. But there’s still a chance. And his return should be meaningful. To have comic book Richard return like this seems like cheating. It’s exciting, yes, but also unsatisfying.
It's not that I have anything against exciting comic strips. Elsewhere in Odyssey should be entertaining and, when the story calls for it, action-packed. I just don’t want comic strips to break the world of Odyssey. The stories still need to feel plausible. That’s what I’ve tried to achieve with these ideas I’ve brainstormed for future comic strip series. They’re exciting, but they’re not bizarre. A number of these go back in time to fill in gaps the audio show glossed over. Without further ado, here they are:
1. Whit’s Middle East Adventures
The Middle East is already a dangerous place before you factor in the cutthroat world of archaeology. What kind of artifacts was Mr. Whittaker unearthing during his extended stay there, and what crooked characters did he encounter along the way? A comic strip series could answer those questions. I wonder what hidden passageways Whit discovered in Jerusalem or what ruins he uncovered by the Sea of Galilee. And I’m sure Whit’s trip wasn’t limited to biblical sites in Israel. What if he had adventures tracking down ancient artifacts in Egypt, or uncovering hidden cities in the sands of Syria and Iraq? Visits to Turkey and Greece, following in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, wouldn’t be out of the question either.
2. Jason’s Spy Thrillers
What was Jason doing before he settled down in Odyssey? Jason going off on spy adventures is an obvious choice for a comic strip. Jason and Tasha must have been on plenty of overseas missions that they haven’t been allowed to talk about. Maybe we could get the full backstory of the Whisperer, whom Jason affectionately calls “Squirt,” and his attempted hacking of Fort Knox. What other villains has Jason encountered over the years? What disguises, besides the Stiletto and the Grinder, has Jason used to cover his tracks? This series would be the stuff of classic comic strips because it could include plenty of action and the old-fashioned battle of good vs. evil.
3. Eugene and Katrina’s Escape-from-Novacom World Tour
Eugene and Katrina were on the run from Novacom for years and we know practically nothing about their adventures. Running from Novacom’s minions must have sent them to all kinds of places where they must have disguised themselves in many different ways. Seeing Eugene playing the part of a London cabdriver or Katrina as a yodeler in the Swiss Alps would be hilarious. And they must have had some close calls too. Perhaps Novacom agents even captured Katrina at one point, held her hostage, forcing Eugene to rescue her in an elaborate scheme involving computer hacking and holographic technology copied from the Imagination Station. These adventures deserve to be told one way or the other.
As you can see, we can get a lot of entertainment out of the comics without breaking Odyssey and crossing the line into the bizarre and unbelievable. But of course, the comics don’t need to be all action-packed excitement all the time. Here are some ideas for more slice-of-life stories:
4. The Barclays
Why not bring back Odyssey’s most popular family with a comic series? And I don’t mean the grown-up kids in Pokenberry Falls or wherever they’re living now. I mean when Jimmy and Donna were kids, with Jimmy spending too much money on Zapazoids and Donna performing at the Fall Festival. Are we sure they only went to Camp What-a-Nut one time? Are we sure the Barclays only went on one road trip? What if Jimmy got an opportunity to go on a real mission trip with Dan Isidro? What if Donna continued her friendship with Mrs. Hooper? A Barclay family comic strip would quickly rank as a classic.
5. Whit’s End, Connellsville
Did you know there are two Whit’s Ends? The Whit’s End in Connellsville is severely neglected these days. Though it was an important part of the Novacom saga, and played a pivotal role in the lives of the Washington family, we haven’t seen it in years. A comic strip could be a great way to re-introduce it. Maybe Marvin or Tamika work at the shop after school. I bet Bernard washes windows there. Eugene must come by to help with the inventions and Mr. Whittaker must visit occasionally to check up on the shop. Rather than focusing on small-town America, this comic series could be a way to relate to fans who live in larger cities.
6. Kidsboro
Recently the topic of Kidsboro came up on the Official Podcast. It’s unlikely there are going to be more Kidsboro episodes or books in the near future. But if fans are itching for more Kidsboro content, a comic strip could be a great solution. Who’s the mayor of Kidsboro now? And if it’s not Jay Smouse already, then what is Jay’s complicated scheme to become the mayor? Maybe Wyatt Perkins joins the town, relying on his outdoor survival skills rather than opting to live in a house. Maybe Detective Polehaus’ granddaughter Molly joins, inspired by her grandfather to become Kidsboro’s chief of police.
7. Eugene vs. Connie
We don’t know yet what the future holds for Eugene. Beloved actor Will Ryan, the voice of Eugene for nearly 35 years, is no longer with us. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still have Eugene in the comic strip world. One of the things we loved about Eugene was his ability to banter with Connie, or “Miss Kendall” or he called her. Their hijinks have spanned episodes all the way from Let This Mind Be in You (Album 4) to Cars, Trains, and Motorcycles (Season 7). It would be really nice to get more casual, slice-of-life Connie and Eugene content in the comics. There’s nothing like friendly bickering, borrowed colloquialisms, and hilarious miscommunications to brighten your day.
With the exception of “The Acolyte” series, the Elsewhere in Odyssey comic strips should keep doing what they’re doing. Getting to see Jules and Connie interact with their father on a family vacation, or Harlow Doyle go toe-to-toe with Detective Polehaus is just fun. And there’s so much potential for many more stories to be told. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.
What do you think of these ideas? Do you have your own suggestions for future comic strip stories? Let me know in the comments.
For the most part, the Elsewhere in Odyssey comics have done a tasteful job of reintroducing characters. We’ve had Edwin Blackgaard alongside Zoe, Olivia, and Jules doing a play production, Bart and Rodney Rathbone on a short but fun Imagination Station trip, Bernard Walton with Red Hollard at Watson’s Hardware Emporium, as well as Leonard and Everett (and even Bernard) at a Meltsner family Christmas get-together. These stories feel like they could have easily happened in the audio show, if only all the actors were available. Though it’s obvious the purpose of these comics is to bring back characters who can no longer appear on the show, so far it’s felt completely natural.
Of course, that was until “The Acolyte” series burst onto the scene. What starts off as a potentially entertaining spy thriller akin to Accidental Dilemma (Album 50) quickly spirals into a parody of AIO. I’m sorry, but when you have two Philip Glossmans and Nicholas Adamsworth, who is now somehow Dr. Blackgaard’s son, return to Odyssey to use a Novabox to steal Whit’s memories of Applesauce, only to be thwarted by Richard Maxwell, and it manages to tie in Mitch’s residence at the Skyline Motel for some reason, I just have to laugh. How is this happening? This would never be allowed to happen in the audio show, even if all the actors were available. Hopefully this turns out to be a dream or a wild Imagination Station ride. It’s been said on the Official Podcast that the comics are supposed to be canon. Well, this current comic series sure doesn’t feel that way. It feels more like bad fan fiction.
The stories in the comics should have the level of realism we expect from the Adventures in Odyssey brand. Rather than throwing all our favorite characters into one series (Did I mention the “The Acolyte” series also has cameos from Cryin’ Bryan Dern, Jenny Whittaker, Tom Riley, Jimmy Barclay, and Officer O’Ryan), they need to be spaced out more. Otherwise, the character returns feel unearned and unrealistic. As a fan I’m probably not alone in holding out hope that Richard Maxwell might return for real in the audio show someday. It probably won’t happen. But there’s still a chance. And his return should be meaningful. To have comic book Richard return like this seems like cheating. It’s exciting, yes, but also unsatisfying.
It's not that I have anything against exciting comic strips. Elsewhere in Odyssey should be entertaining and, when the story calls for it, action-packed. I just don’t want comic strips to break the world of Odyssey. The stories still need to feel plausible. That’s what I’ve tried to achieve with these ideas I’ve brainstormed for future comic strip series. They’re exciting, but they’re not bizarre. A number of these go back in time to fill in gaps the audio show glossed over. Without further ado, here they are:
1. Whit’s Middle East Adventures
The Middle East is already a dangerous place before you factor in the cutthroat world of archaeology. What kind of artifacts was Mr. Whittaker unearthing during his extended stay there, and what crooked characters did he encounter along the way? A comic strip series could answer those questions. I wonder what hidden passageways Whit discovered in Jerusalem or what ruins he uncovered by the Sea of Galilee. And I’m sure Whit’s trip wasn’t limited to biblical sites in Israel. What if he had adventures tracking down ancient artifacts in Egypt, or uncovering hidden cities in the sands of Syria and Iraq? Visits to Turkey and Greece, following in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, wouldn’t be out of the question either.
2. Jason’s Spy Thrillers
What was Jason doing before he settled down in Odyssey? Jason going off on spy adventures is an obvious choice for a comic strip. Jason and Tasha must have been on plenty of overseas missions that they haven’t been allowed to talk about. Maybe we could get the full backstory of the Whisperer, whom Jason affectionately calls “Squirt,” and his attempted hacking of Fort Knox. What other villains has Jason encountered over the years? What disguises, besides the Stiletto and the Grinder, has Jason used to cover his tracks? This series would be the stuff of classic comic strips because it could include plenty of action and the old-fashioned battle of good vs. evil.
3. Eugene and Katrina’s Escape-from-Novacom World Tour
Eugene and Katrina were on the run from Novacom for years and we know practically nothing about their adventures. Running from Novacom’s minions must have sent them to all kinds of places where they must have disguised themselves in many different ways. Seeing Eugene playing the part of a London cabdriver or Katrina as a yodeler in the Swiss Alps would be hilarious. And they must have had some close calls too. Perhaps Novacom agents even captured Katrina at one point, held her hostage, forcing Eugene to rescue her in an elaborate scheme involving computer hacking and holographic technology copied from the Imagination Station. These adventures deserve to be told one way or the other.
As you can see, we can get a lot of entertainment out of the comics without breaking Odyssey and crossing the line into the bizarre and unbelievable. But of course, the comics don’t need to be all action-packed excitement all the time. Here are some ideas for more slice-of-life stories:
4. The Barclays
Why not bring back Odyssey’s most popular family with a comic series? And I don’t mean the grown-up kids in Pokenberry Falls or wherever they’re living now. I mean when Jimmy and Donna were kids, with Jimmy spending too much money on Zapazoids and Donna performing at the Fall Festival. Are we sure they only went to Camp What-a-Nut one time? Are we sure the Barclays only went on one road trip? What if Jimmy got an opportunity to go on a real mission trip with Dan Isidro? What if Donna continued her friendship with Mrs. Hooper? A Barclay family comic strip would quickly rank as a classic.
5. Whit’s End, Connellsville
Did you know there are two Whit’s Ends? The Whit’s End in Connellsville is severely neglected these days. Though it was an important part of the Novacom saga, and played a pivotal role in the lives of the Washington family, we haven’t seen it in years. A comic strip could be a great way to re-introduce it. Maybe Marvin or Tamika work at the shop after school. I bet Bernard washes windows there. Eugene must come by to help with the inventions and Mr. Whittaker must visit occasionally to check up on the shop. Rather than focusing on small-town America, this comic series could be a way to relate to fans who live in larger cities.
6. Kidsboro
Recently the topic of Kidsboro came up on the Official Podcast. It’s unlikely there are going to be more Kidsboro episodes or books in the near future. But if fans are itching for more Kidsboro content, a comic strip could be a great solution. Who’s the mayor of Kidsboro now? And if it’s not Jay Smouse already, then what is Jay’s complicated scheme to become the mayor? Maybe Wyatt Perkins joins the town, relying on his outdoor survival skills rather than opting to live in a house. Maybe Detective Polehaus’ granddaughter Molly joins, inspired by her grandfather to become Kidsboro’s chief of police.
7. Eugene vs. Connie
We don’t know yet what the future holds for Eugene. Beloved actor Will Ryan, the voice of Eugene for nearly 35 years, is no longer with us. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still have Eugene in the comic strip world. One of the things we loved about Eugene was his ability to banter with Connie, or “Miss Kendall” or he called her. Their hijinks have spanned episodes all the way from Let This Mind Be in You (Album 4) to Cars, Trains, and Motorcycles (Season 7). It would be really nice to get more casual, slice-of-life Connie and Eugene content in the comics. There’s nothing like friendly bickering, borrowed colloquialisms, and hilarious miscommunications to brighten your day.
With the exception of “The Acolyte” series, the Elsewhere in Odyssey comic strips should keep doing what they’re doing. Getting to see Jules and Connie interact with their father on a family vacation, or Harlow Doyle go toe-to-toe with Detective Polehaus is just fun. And there’s so much potential for many more stories to be told. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.
What do you think of these ideas? Do you have your own suggestions for future comic strip stories? Let me know in the comments.
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