The Penguin

Gabby the Clown There's only room for one clown at Bob's Traveling Circus, and that's Gabby. Ostensibly mute, Gabby communicates through his gag routines, which often involve miming his fellow-performers and surviving insanely dangerous pratfalls. More than once his antics have gotten him banned from the ring. The most astonishing thing about Gabby is not his stunts, but the fact that no one has ever been (permanently) injured by them.

Ringmaster Bob Bob is the Ringmaster of Bob's Traveling Circus. He has his hands full with running shows, signing paychecks, staving off creditors, and keeping his stable of fussy and eccentric performers out of trouble. Despite his ferocious demeanor and gruff manners, Bob is truly proud of his circus, having come from a long line of Ringmasters going back 300 years. His familys' circuses have always been the underdogs, fighting for survival against the larger, incorporated shows; Bob is no stranger to borrowing, begging, or outright thievery if it keeps his big top standing.

Ramdhi Shakakhan Ramdhi Shakakhan is the stage magician act in Bob's Traveling Circus. A student of Eastern Mysteries, Ramdhi is beholden to extraordinary mental powers, developed in India over ten long years amongst the Subcontinent's most mystical gurus and fakirs. But Ramdhi isn't quite the wise old ascetic that he seems; beneath the well-mannered exterior lies a scheming mind. Together with his serpent minion, Nag the Cobra, he keeps tabs on everything that occurs in the Circus, especially concerning his arch-rival, Sidelong Sidely. With the arrival of Walter Dorckley, Ramdhi sees an opportunity to rid himself of the Human Cannonball forever.

Walter Dorckley Walter Dorckley is the 16-year-old Apprentice Human Cannonball at Bob's Traveling Circus. Listless and sullen in his rust-belt hometown, Walter found his true calling when he saw Sidelong Sidely's Human Cannonball performance: he has a passion for explosives and Evel Knievel-style stunts. His determination and naivete mean he doesn't know what can't be done, but will also get him into a load of trouble. At Bob's Traveling Circus, nothing is really what it seems, and newcomers will learn its secrets at their peril.

Howdy, all of you! Haven't written in a while, being so busy with the Kickstarter campaign (3.5 days left on that, BTW); however, I aim to change that. Here is a very nice scale drawing of Sidelong Sidely, aka the Human Cannonball, from my comic of that very same name. Sidelong Sidely! I might as well include a short bio, too: Sidelong Sidely is the main act at Bob's Traveling Circus. Donning his characteristic red shirt, shiny black gloves, and WWI-era cap and goggles, Sidely fires himself out of a gigantic cannon three times a day, 100 days of the year. Naturally this is not conducive to good mental health. With so many mishaps and concussions, it's a wonder he can still stand upright. He's been hit on the head so many times, his eyes drift out to both sides - giving him an unsettling "Sidelong" glance. None of this is helped by the fact that Sidely often shows up to performances drunk. Despite all this, he's a shrewd old circus hand, and...

Here's to the Windy Month.

Howdy, y'all. If you happen to be in town on Tuesday, March 6, swing by the Howell Carnegie District library at 7pm. I'll be giving an hour-long presentation called, "Comics for Creators and Readers". I'll be heavily promoting The Human Cannonball #1, and you'll have the chance to ask questions, buy comics, or just denounce me for the fraud that I am. Whatever you feel like. Here's the address for the Howell Library: 314 W. Grand River Ave. Howell, MI 48843 It's a huge stone building with a dome on top, you can't really miss it. I'll be downstairs in the Meabon Room, so inquire at the front desk if you don't think you can find it. See you there! Rick Out.