Based on this news item.
Those readers with an eye for such things may have noticed that the artwork has been tidied up a little bit. I hope the new look is less ugly than the old, and that regulars won’t object too much. It is something that I have been wanting to do for a long time.
Oh noes! I liked the old style better!
Jesus Christ! I’m overwhelmed.
I expected to get some backlash for the change, but I underestimated the strength of feeling it would provoke.
Let me explain. I have always been somewhat ashamed of the artwork of J&M. The original drawings, unchanged now for four years, were careless scribbles. The characters no more than clothes pegs upon which to hang the scripts. And, of course, J&M has always been about the scripts – never about the art. Not that you’d think so from the current reaction!
I should have realised that even careless scribbles develop a life of their own over time, and that people form attachments to them. I know I did, I just didn’t think others would to the same extent. So I’m sorry for not taking that into account.
That said, the art was ugly to look at. The lines, the backgrounds, their noses – all an embarrassing mess. Embarrassing to me, that is. I know I will never be Robert Crumb, but it was not beyond my ability to make the comic a little less ugly by tidying up those things. And the art is now less ugly, although I admit I may have gone too far in at least one respect.
The eyes! Funny you should mention the eyes, because they were the features that gave me the most problems. I was tweaking and re-tweaking right up to a matter of minutes before I posted this comic, and even then they didn’t seem right. Thank you to all those who pointed this out. Yes, Peanuts. That one hit home.
The original eyes will be reinstated. I have been experimenting, and the latest Jesus looks just like the old Jesus after a trip to a hair salon. And both boys have had a bit of corrective rhinoplasty. But apart from that, if you look into those windows to the soul, you can see that they are recognizably Jesus & Mo. They will be in the pub tomorrow.
I hope regular readers will be appeased by this compromise (pun intended (sorry)). I don’t want to lose any of you.
It may be true that the ugly art was the only thing that differentiated J&M from other web comics. And it may be true that the contrast between the art and the writing made the writing look better than it actually is. That’s a chance I’ll have to take, because the change must happen. I believe, as several of you have said, you will grow to like the new look.
Oh yes – the spaghetti arms are a stylistic device, necessitated by the fact that I can’t draw elbows.
Thank you for all the feedback. I feel humbled and chastened that so many of you care enough to speak out.
And thank you for reading Jesus & Mo.
Peace and blessings be upon you.
Author
For what it’s worth… I believe in evolution.
Therefore I think the new look is great! When will we see Barmaid?
Ill keep reading but im gonna miss the old Jesus and Moe, They were ugly but as an artist i can tell you their sketchiness made them more expressive. And please keep the Barmaid hidden, somethings are better left to the imagination of the reader.
You are cool, Author!
)
I prefer J&M to be scetches. By making them 3d you must relize they have to be balanced.
But you are the artist…:)
Congraulations! I was saying to Boris just the other day that the strip could do with a makeover – and, lo, it came to pass!
I know the barmaid is still hiding under her light under a bushell (nudge, nudge) but some things are better left ineffable.
go easy on the author all, though i will admit i’d glad to hear the eyes will return in the next strip, change is bound to happen, this isn’t dinosaur comics afterall.
in a moment of being waaay to bored i had a go at drawing this strip out myself, in theory i actually know what i’m doing, and still this is a hard thing to not arse up.
( http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/fitandhappy/JMstrip.jpg : all copyright and, more apropreately, apologys, to the autor etc.)
“… ugly to look at. The lines, the backgrounds, their noses – all an embarrassing mess. ”
Author, you are depicting religion, aren’t you?
I say: let them tidy up their artwork before you do yours.
I’m grateful the eyes will be back.
@ms morbo – that is great. You have given me elbow envy! Cross and crescent bedsteads are a nice touch, too.
If enough other people are interested in having a go with any old strip, I’ll put up a guest art page.
Thanks Author for listening to your fans. I’m delighted that the old eyes will be back.
Morbo: great idea the bedsteads
I hate to say it, but I liked the old Jesus better too – his wispy gormless quality seemed very fitting. He looks kind of normal now. I’m not sure that’s such a good thing. But I don’t want to be discouraging!
That said, however – author dear, really – the arms are worse than ever! Surely you can do better than that even if you can’t do elbows? Just think of them as plumbing and you’ll do better than those wormy things you’ve stuck poor Jesus with.
You know I say this out of love…
Hey I know what you should do – just have them wear nightshirts in bed, that’s all. Their clothed arms are fine – it’s the naked ones that are scary.
haha – just noticed that Jesus is reading the K’ran!
Is this the koran for dummies version?
@grouchy-one: I think it’s an odd combination of “Koran” (western spelling) and “Qu’ran” (phonetic transliteration from Arabic). The apostraphe designates a glottal stop – like the missing sound when a Cockney says “bottle” (i.e. “boh-ul”).
I wonder if the pub has had a re-fit too? I hope the Cock & Bull hasn’t become some dreadful theme-chain-place. The “Cock and Bull It’s a Scream!” or the “Footage and Cock”, for example
Apologies to non-Brits for those references.
Just keep ‘em coming however the artwork!
Oh no! Don’t you want to reconsider? Or at least give them back their previous expressions? Their new smiling doll faces weaken the fun.
Ophelia, the arms aren’t “wormy”, they are stylised. It’s a different thing altogether!
Oh, alright – I’ll get some elbow practice in and see what I can come up with. No promises, though.
They cannot wear nightshirts. Jesus and Mo always sleep in boxer shorts, without tops. Are you trying to cause some kind of schism?
Dear Author, I would never stop reading Jesus&Mo, but thanks for reverting to their old eyes at least. Your drawings were not ugly and messy before. The waif Jesus really brought out motherly, caring feelings in me for him.
I thought you might all like to share what I read in the Radio Times a little while ago about other nations’ version of I’m a Celebrity and the “stars” they send into the jungle. India: “the Indians brought in a lawyer-turned-actress who had been involved in an extraordinary love affair with a government minister, both of whom converted to Islam in order that he could take a second wife. (Before the minister in question realised his mistake, swapped religions again, and went back to wife number one).”
Unfortunately we were not told if “the other thing” could be reversed.
Well looky here, author, it’s November, and surely Jesus and Mo aren’t so irresponsible as to keep the heat cranked up even at night just so they can sleep in their boxers, so just give them nice warm long-sleeve T-shirts and you won’t have to bother with convincing elbows.
Stylized…that’s a good one. Mmph.
First time commenting. I prefer the old style drawing.
Oh noz !
The “bad” artwork was all the charm. No need for fancy drawing when the jokes are good.
I must admit, it’s going to take me a while to get to like the new art work. The old artwork was part of the charm. However, you’re a genius writer too, so I’m sure the many lols to come will keep me glued, and I may grow to love the new look. That time is not now.
You gotta ask yourself…
What would Jesus do?
You have GOT to at least change the eyes back to what it was before!! Those small dots have absolutely no characteristic at all… But otherwise I think it’s awesome with the new looks! xD
Eugh! Mo now looks like my stepdad. Change it back!
not about the ugliness your authorness, but it’s about brand image. and as a brand developer i’m as sure as hell (don’t know sure about it though) that the previous style has burnt within our chest fellow followers. but i respect you effort nonetheless, so please no stoning.
I also prefer the old style. The sketchiness and bad artistic quality was part of the charm of the strip. I think it would be better if you put your artistic efforts into the backgrounds and props, to make the point that, while the world progresses, religion never does. You could make the rest of the strip detailed, beautifully drawn, or even rendered in realistic 3-D, but keep your two main characters as the original primitive sketches, please. Thanks.
I *liked* the spindly/scratchy Jeebs and M…
I think the original artwork was so crappy that you didn’t notice how crappy it was. The “cleaned up” version just makes your drawing deficiencies more noticeable. Meaning, I never noticed Jesus’ lack of joints before.
You’re previous artwork was “stylized”. Like Cyanide and Happiness. Now you’re just another guy who’s not very good with MS Paint.
I looked up this Daniela woman and I think she’s an awful right-winger, but she is HOT!
‘S true, they do look better with their old eyes. I vote that Jee’s old nose be restored, too. A lot of character sits in the nose, you know. The present one just doesn’t suit him nearly as much as the previous did ;p
Now that the eyes look more “human”, I don’t feel like I’m meeting the new uncanny valley. I enjoy the new look, and would not ask you to go back to the old one.
Ever.
This rocks.
Expressing my great appreciation for evolution AND design (at least on the internet),
C
If I hadn’t read this note, I would never have thought about the artwork or noticed any changes. For me, it’s always been about the dialog here.
Jizmo, I always thought these were actual photographs.
By the way, I have expanded my Christmas line this year: whereas previously you could get a personally autographed and authenticated (by me) photograph of Jesus, I now have two new offerings: one of Mo scowling and holding a liberated Uzi, and a nice triptych of Mary Magdelene in delicous poses. Only $25.00 & $35.00 each, an amost neglible increase over last year. Order now for Christmas!–your local Florida roadside souvenir stand will have, or can order, them for you.
As Po’ Rick says, “Money well invested will create good returns.” (Wut?)
NOOOOOOOO!!!! I WANT THE OLD ART-STYLE BACK!
Me, I’m just grateful for the strip. Ignore the focus group — this isn’t a bleeding Hollywood film.
Author, Don’t worry about the artwork, it fits perfectly. As far as the slight style change, all comic strips change as the cartoon evolves. Take a look at any old Simpsons, Peanuts, Garfield…etc… Things change.
The content is what matters most. And it is great!
Keep up the great work.
Okay, I know I’m late to the party, but… I prefer the old art, especially when it comes to JC. I think his new beard is too short and all his hair is too, well, coifed. I liked the sort of washed-up, disheveled look he had before. It really suited his role in the world today. Kind of like a mangy dog that hadn’t been brushed in forever and had lost a lot of hair. But he still wants you to think he’s every bit as good as that shiny, science-y robot dog over there.
Mo didn’t change as much, but he looks too polished. It’s like (and honestly, I’m no fanboi!) in the matrix when Agent Smith says that the first version of the matrix was perfect and people didn’t like it? Or like early computer animation when it was just too clean and perfect. I like Van Gogh’s sloppy Starry Night over a precise photo.
All that said, it’s your comic and you can draw it how you like and, really, it’s the scripts that matter.
I will say, though, that the focus on the script gave me hope that my webcomic (when I get it set up and all) would be accepted given that your artwork looks like Da Vinci compared to mine. (Heck, my kindergarten daughter’s drawings look like masterpieces compared to mine.)
Thank you, Author, for taking the time to explain to us rabble why you needed the changes. I still love the old artwork (there was something about the imperfect drawings that I thought added to the sheer GENIUS of J&M), but I’m sure I’ll one day grow to love the new look. You’re the artiste; it’s your strip, and it’s not a democracy, so we’re lucky to have had any explanation at all! Keep it coming, whether we prefer the old art or not. Love you, dude/chick!
PS I quite like your crappy arms, elbows be damned!
I’ll tell you what, author – old Jesus didn’t look inept but more like fuzzy in the style of Edward Koren. And fuzzy is right for Jesus! This new one is too definite and too kind of average looking.
Or let me put it this way – old Jesus looked loony, new Jesus just looks dim. Loony is better.
Been reading for a while without commenting. Generally liked the comic and had little use for the comments. FWIW the change in artwork makes this seem like a different (and inferior) comic. The old style was quirky and original. The new one is just generic and boring.
Re: New artwork. First, discovered Jesus and Mo last summer. Love them. Dislike the new artwork, especially the noses and the headwear. They look like a couple of old queens now (No offense meant. I am an old queen myself) However, as I recall, the new artwork showed up right after they made their (unseen) Hallowe’en costumes, so I am rationalizing that the boys liked their costumes so much they declined to take them off. Besides, they noticed they were getting old and, as Quentin Crisp said “It was time to force out the red and force in the blue!”
Still, I wouldn’t mind if you went back. And please, never show the barmaid! There is no way you could fulfill the fantasies of everyone.
Salaam
I say “It’s not about how they look, it’s about what they say!”
But i prefer Jesus’s old beard over his new one. The new one looks fake, de old one looked more authentic.