I'ma gonna win



So, New Super Mario Bros! It sure feels great to be playing a new Mario sidescroller again.


It's a lot of fun, although it does have a few problems. It seems like the developers were trying to recapture the simpler feel of the original NES Mario Bros., while still infusing it with some of the additions of the later Mario titles. The end result is that a lot of elements come across as simpler, lamer versions of things found in other Mario sequels.



The new game has more alternate routes and exits than the first Mario Bros., but they're not as complex or as interesting as those found in Mario World. It has new items other than the original's mushroom and fireflower, but they're not as diverse or well-utilized as those found in Mario 3. It has more creative bosses than Mario Bros. did, but they're not as creative as the ones in Yoshi's Island.



You can't help but love the new game because it has rock solid level design and top notch production. But it feels like the attempt to recapture the original game's simplicity only held the developers back from making something really amazing. But now that Nintendo is back in the side-scrolling Mario business, maybe that really amazing game isn't all that far off.



Sam Logan

Run desire run



I think it was Tom over at Theater Hopper who once said that my comic artwork always looks like I must have been grinning while I was drawing it. He was totally right. I love it when the story demands a strip like today's. Any excuse to really get in there and draw some stuff is an excuse work taking. Drawing stuff is awesome!



It's a long weekend for me this week, and I fully intend to spend it designing shirts and playing New Super Mario Bros. I've only played the new Mario game for a couple of hours so far, but the new overworld theme music has already stuck in my head for days.



Sam Logan

Thatsa so nice



I did a guest strip for my man Fred over at Hate Song. If you were reading this space a few weeks ago, you may remember that I was really struggling to come up with a good idea for this one. I think I did OK in the end, but by a total fluke, my strip turned out almost exactly the same as one that Joe Dunn did. Clearly, there is only one explanation for this... Joe is an incredibly powerful psychic and a filthy theif. I would be angry with him if I didn't love Coffee Achievers so much.



Anyhow, please go check out my deja vu guestwork over at Hate Song. And be sure to congratulate Fred, who now has a tiny new mouth to feed in his life. (And I don't mean he grew an extra one on his back.)



Based on the emails I've gotten, it looks like the most in demand t-shirt ideas are the Noosehead tour shirt, the When will society stop oppressing me shirt, and the Cannibal Pride t-shirt. I will do my best to get these ready as soon as I can!



Sam Logan