What is love? A chemical reaction? An artificial significance ascribed to instinctual physical comforts? A capitalistic lie endorsed by opportunistic greeting card companies? A tool for lazy songwriters? A town in Saskatchewan? Seven points in Scrabble?



Speaking of love, Sam's inbox tells me that some people believe his girlfriend Claire was responsible for yesterday's strip. Do you people even listen to yourselves? On the rare occassion that an artist's portfolio shows any diversity, everyone accuses each work of being produced by a seperate person. What a sad commentary on the state of the comic industry today. I think I will go cry in my inkwell.



Rikk Estoban

"Why does Skull Panda love kitties?" This is the one question I am asked more often than any other, and it doesn't get any less stupid with each successive posing. The works of Rikk Estoban do not come with Cliff Notes, people. All the "answers" -- all the layers of meaning and expression -- are right there in the art. Asking me to explain it to you is like bragging about your own ineptitude. Please, at least pretend to follow along and avoid embarassing yourself.

Now that the Skull Panda character is solely my own, my hands have been untied and my interest in creating new Panda comics has risen dramatically. Today's comic is a deeper exploration of the Skull Panda / Kitties dynamic. What if there was a kitty that Skull Panda could not love? What, indeed.

There has been some suggestion that I did not draw yesterday's strip. A handful of Sam's more ignorant readers are eager to credit it to the author of Niego. Please. As if Mr. Sigala was capable of producing a work of even half the genius of that comic. I don't have time for this.

Rikk Estoban

"Hey Rikk, how would you like to do a set of guest strips to run the week after Comic-Con? My readers are all big fans of your work. You could do... I don't know, maybe some scrawly drawings of Skull Panda eating puppies. Or guppies? I don't know. You're the expert at that kind of thing! I'm sure everyone will love it!"



-Sam



Please. I had never been so insulted. It was an affront to both the range and the depth of my enviable portfolio! Not that I expected any more from the author of Sam and Fuzzy.



But no matter. I accepted his offer all the same. For the next week, you will be treated to a sampling of my creative output at its most profound, and its most diverse. You will learn to appreciate my genius in all of its many forms. For the next week, this creative wasteland will be transformed into Rikk Estoban 101. Class is now in session.



And what better way to begin than with today's intensely personal work of genius. This comic was crafted at a time when my tragically pained life was even more pained than usual. Sometimes it takes more than an axe and a busload of strangers to work through your anger.



A new comic will be put on display every day this week. Please return tomorrow, or you will undoubtably live to regret it.



Rikk Estoban