The Museum of Idaho has been hosting a travelling exhibit all about the Permian Era, and I managed to make it before they moved on! I love the Permian--I think it's so overlooked and underrated in culture because a lot of people just kinda gravitate toward what happened next: dinosaurs. But Permian critters weren't just the warm-up act for the main event--they were fascinating and successful animals in their own right. And, like the dinosaurs, their demise came about because of an unfortunate mass extinction. Gorgonops and Ulemosaurus and Lystrosaurus may not be household names, but in my opinion they should be. <3

I brought my drawing supplies, and although I was a bit tired that day, I managed to do a pretty nice marker sketch based on the lovely Dimetrodon mount in the exhibit. My sister says he looks like he wants treats from you. That's probably accurate.

They also had some fun animatronics scattered around the exhibit--it was awesome to see animatronics of lesser-known critters and not just big-name dinos. I really wanted to pat their tummies and bring them home and give them treats, but my cat would not approve.

 Still working through my extensive list of scientists to turn into cats. George Washington Clawver is a handsome breed of cat called the Havana Brown. 

It's a common myth that George Washington Carver invented peanut butter--it was around before he began his agricultural studies, but he did do a lot to invent and promote peanut products to encourage crop rotation in the South. Also cats playing in piles of things is just cute, so.

 This is an odd and question-provoking line from one of the Rocket Grunts in the Radio Tower. Do Team Rocket members actually self-identify as evil? Most criminals claim their actions are justified, but are Rocket members perfectly ordinary people who just decided "today I'm going to be evil"? What does that say about the place of ethics in the society of the Pokémon world?

... And so she proceeded to write an entire criminal psychology paper based on a throwaway line in a video game.

I designed another amigurumi--Scotoplanes globosa (the "sea pig" sea cucumber) with a hitchhiking juvenile king crab! This was a more involved design than the previous one, and I learned a lot working on it. To ensure that the sea pig was capable of supporting itself on its adorable little tube feet (and that its back tentacles would stay upright instead of drooping), I made an armature out of pipe cleaners and then crocheted tubes that I slipped over the ends of the pipe cleaners that were sticking out of the body.

I was going to do the same for the legs of the king crab so that it could actually hold on to the sea pig, but I didn't have enough red yarn. Ultimately, I think it looks better and more accurate with the thinner legs anyway, even if I couldn't incorporate the holding ability.

... Man, I'm so much of a nature nerd that I crochet holothurians. Not sure what that says about me.

And here are some WIP photos!

 

 Let's face it, what the Team Rocket members really need is some good life counseling.

Shadow Play, Chapter 2

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2

The lobby of the headquarters was nicely decorated in marble and metal, with displays of old superhero gear lining the walls, and the crest of the Defenders hanging above the receptionist’s desk. The receptionist, a white Nimmo, did a double-take as they came in. “Er—can I help you?” she asked.

Isengrim bowed. “Isengrim, the Werelupe King, seeks audience with Judge Hog,” he said. He paused, then added, “I believe I have an appointment.”

The Nimmo’s eyes widened even further as she leafed through her schedule. “Oh—yes, there you are,” she said. “Please wait a moment.” She turned to the Beepallite that sat patiently on the desk. “Judge Hog, King Isengrim is here to see you.”

The robot Petpet whirred as the light on the feedhorn of its antenna dish flickered, and it blinked and shifted its weight from one foot to the other before settling back down again. “There’s a good boy,” the receptionist said, patting its head, and it let out a few mechanical clacks in delight.

 

 Pokémon battles can only stave off boredom for so long. But with the PokéGear's video app*, the entertainment never ends!

*The PokéGear's video app is totally something I invented solely for this comic. Please don't go looking for it in the game.