Monsters Mine
This strip hits close to home as I struggle with bouts of anxiety myself. That can be a real problem for those of us with fertile imaginations — we can concoct real whoppers of worry. My friend has a great quote: “Worrying is the worst use of your imagination.” It absolutely is!
All you need is a good monster trap under your bed. 🙂
That’s a good idea, Chris! There might be a good business plan in that!
excellent quote and excellent cartoon, Mark! I call mine an “overactive” imagination. Only other creatives can understand the horrors one can conjure. lol
Yes, but what a pity it would be not to be able to imagine those monsters in the first place! It’s good to know that I’m not the only creative whose suffers when imagination sometimes takes a very wrong turn.
I know what you mean, Mark! My imagination has turned on me more than a few times! 🙂
Have a great imagination can be a blessing and a curse!
Agreed!
It’s a curse for creators!
Ooo, the monster within.
The worst kind!
Love the monsters in that third panel! As someone who constantly has nightmares, this is the comic I would cut out of the news paper and hang up.
Thanks, Mat! I wish my monsters were so obvious, but they’re invisible and they love to sneak up on me when I’m trying to go to sleep.
Agree 100%. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. I think you have a point on panel 3, because I have often wondered about the prevalence of this kind of situation among us creative types.
Now, in the case of the comic, the monsters under the bed are probably real…
Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve. And that includes monstrous anxiety! It’s amazing how creative I can be with that!
Just because you are paranoid doesn’t mean that things aren’t really out to get you. Watch out for those squirrels, they are plotting to take over the world.
Don’t suggest it, J.P.! I have enough to worry about as it is!
Wait’ll yeh grow up kid, the monsters won’t only be under your bed, but in your boardroom! You won’t be the only one eating away at your own soul! … hmm.. that was rather deep for me… lets ponder this over a few scoops of mississippi-MUD ice cream, shall we?!? [smirk]
Now that’s a mud pie I wouldn’t mind eating! Good thing Boog hasn’t been exposed to any HR departments yet, bless his soul!
Very true Mark, very true! Many a nights I have to tell myself to just stop it and go to bed.
Those are the worst nights! Staring at the ceiling, to the alarm clock, back to the ceiling…
Very interesting insight. And great drawing as always!
I didn’t realize how many other creatives have these same issues! Thanks, Gruhn!
This page looks really great Mark, and Boog make friends with that monster!
Thanks, David! If those monsters are anything like mine, all he can do is call a truce…
That’s a really good quote from your friend.
Yes, Eric, I liked it from the first time I heard it. It’s so true!
Now I’m imagining panel 5. Where Boog takes a big bite out of his own arm! 🙂
That is the next logical step, isn’t it? Now if his arm was made of boogers…
I can relate to this, too, Mark. I used to suffer anxiety attacks when I was a teen every time I went to school, the store or any public place. It slowly disappeared when I was in the army. Then it came back when I got out and went to college. Beer solved that problem. But then I was addicted to beer. I’m much better now. I have a better control of it.
Anxiety sure can be crippling! I look back at some of my anxiety episodes and it seems so strange how much they affected me at the time. Worry is such a nasty habit, especially when it involves things that we have absolutely no control over. I’m happy things have evened out a bit with you, Joseph. Thanks for sharing!
I only fear the voices in my own head.
Those can be the scariest ones of all!
The only thing to fear, is the manifestation of fear itself, in the shape of monsters!
And since I’m making them up, they’re most horrid monsters indeed!
That was some pretty deep introspection, Mark! I love the accompanying artwork and colors. Swell!
I blame it all on my over-active imagination! Thanks, George!
Worrying might be the worst use of your imagination, but it’s something that can be very difficult to stop. Creativity gives you so many things to worry about!
I wonder how much creative energy I squander worrying about things I have no control over?
If you’re anything like me, a lot!
As bad as it sounds, that’s nice to hear. I’m glad I’m not the only one!
I can really relate to that Mark, anxiety can get the better of us sometimes. A great new comic, love the art, and an excellent quote as well 😀
I’m truly blessed to have such a potent imagination, Paul, but let me tell you, there are times when it can be a rock tied around my neck! Glad you liked the strip and the quote!
Maybe it’s not imagination after all Boog. Maybe they are real monsters???
Now you did it. His monsters have doubled their size.
Oh… Sorry Boog
He’s counting pterodactyls instead of sheep now.
My only anxiety is dying so that probably creates a bunch of sub anxieties
It’s like a hydra. You cut off one anxiety and three more grow!
My monster reads all my comics and plays video games while I’m trying to sleep at nights. Although he’s good inspiration for my comic strip
Sounds like a mutually beneficial relationship, Don!
That’s why subtle horror movies that don’t show every horrible thing work best. Our imagination can create the most terrible terrors!
I know Where the Wild Things Are! They’re in my anxiety-ridden imagination! What we don’t see can often be much scarier than what we do. Hitchcock was a master of this!