July 21st, 2010
Moo
I’m off to San Diego this week! If you’re going to be at the show, check out the blog post below for details on where I’ll be. Hopefully I’ll get to see some of you there. And don’t be shy about saying hello!
-karl
July 21st, 2010 at 8:35 am
reminds me of Switzerland, ‘moo’ indeed.
good work Karl!
July 21st, 2010 at 8:39 am
how is he getting over that wall
July 21st, 2010 at 8:42 am
Oh, dearest, lovely Charles… it’s not the cows’ fault!
July 21st, 2010 at 9:09 am
Well, now I want a print of Charles asking the cows where to find the jerk who made that trap.
July 21st, 2010 at 9:13 am
Somehow, I’d always pictured Charles as being a bit… taller. Or are those really big cows?
July 21st, 2010 at 9:26 am
Charles is a bit shorter than I imagined….
July 21st, 2010 at 9:35 am
you need to study some more cows — a little too bearish. first time your critters have appeared other than transcendant to me (although I realize that domestic animals don’t have the magic of the wild)…
July 21st, 2010 at 9:36 am
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/05_03/bigcowBNS_468x577.jpg
Perhaps?
July 21st, 2010 at 9:45 am
lol, cows are never much help!
July 21st, 2010 at 9:55 am
Heh. Cows, clearly, are too stupid to talk like the forest critters Charles is used to!
July 21st, 2010 at 9:59 am
I dunno, I don’t think “Moo” is all that bad. Considering the kind of repartee CC usually gets from other animals in the forest — has anyone other than Townsen (and his brothers) and the little owl ever said anything nice or remotely helpful to him or about him? — it’s not much of a comedown.
July 21st, 2010 at 10:00 am
Is Charles trying to warn the cows not to step into one of those?
If that’s it, he sure has stepped into the role the Lion and the Eagle cut for him! I absolutely adore the slice-of-life scenes with all the animals, but if there’s two things I’d like to see more of in the strip, that would be Vivol’s Story and the over-arching plot of Charles the Hero…
… plus: the solution to the “mystery” of the spoiled King!
July 21st, 2010 at 10:14 am
@Adriano1977 : pretty sure this is that “over-arching” plot.
… cows are quite the heifers (pun-intended) – nice link @Sav
July 21st, 2010 at 10:23 am
MORE COWBELL!
July 21st, 2010 at 10:42 am
Love it. “Is this yours?!”
It’s a moo point.
July 21st, 2010 at 10:48 am
The “moo” is subtle and really shows how different these domesticated cows are from all the other animals in the series.
July 21st, 2010 at 11:59 am
Perhaps “Moo” is somewhat like “Aloha”? A simple salutation. Honestly, I think the cows look fine too. Kinda European. Specifically French. Which would be ironic considering they probably don’t eat cheese (might be weird), nor do they appear to be monkey-like in any way. Given the placid nature of the bovine, however… They are most certainly of French lineage.
July 21st, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Ah, the cow’s expression…
Sad, silent, resignation.
July 21st, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Awww, Charles doesn’t know the difference between a cow and a human.
Why can’t he understand the cow? All the other animals have speech but the cows just say “moo”. Is it because he’s probably never seen a cow or because they’re domesticated?
July 21st, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Charles is going to find the so-and-so who set that trap, come what may!
And that includes cows.
July 21st, 2010 at 1:47 pm
I’ve always believed animals in the wild – no matter what species, shared a common language and culture. That this language is lost when an animal is raised or born in captivity. Animals become resigned to their human masters or there are no animals to teach and maintain the wild ways.
This concept ties into the Moonbear plot with the question of how animals would adjust to the community when returned into the wild.
Another question would be, can humans and the animal world co-exist without surrendering one culture to the other?
July 21st, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Well, I know that animals can be delicious.
July 21st, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Maybe “moo” is like “yassur massa” or “thankyoursirmayihaveanother.”
July 21st, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Those are some big cows, I live in Iowa I know these things.
Maybe they are very healthy happy cows from California??
July 21st, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Just so happy to see that Charles has finally reached the city – now for the good parts to begin – like whomping on the trap-setter and facing up to the king . Altho I’m not sure how Charles will be able to get his wishes across in regards to the Kings full name . Just have to wait and see i guess.
July 21st, 2010 at 4:32 pm
I agree with ACM. The cows’ faces look more like stretched bear or lion faces. Cows have a different nose and muzzle than what you’ve drawn here. The body is oddly squashed and square as well. I hope you don’t mind the critique. I’ve always loved this comic.
July 21st, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Man cows never have anything interesting to say. And there are some very large cows out there so they look fine.
July 21st, 2010 at 8:31 pm
I see a bit of a chorus on this point, I imagined Charles to be much larger in stature. Even I would be a head above an average cow. That said I know folks often under estimate the size of full grown pig.
July 21st, 2010 at 9:15 pm
What is the sound of one trap snapping?
Mooo.
July 21st, 2010 at 10:45 pm
Mu.
July 21st, 2010 at 11:07 pm
The cow’s face in the last panel is so sincere.
July 22nd, 2010 at 7:40 am
Damn, Karl. Really great body language in this one.
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:34 am
I love how the forest animals have a clear, discernable language, are fairly active, and have an incredible range of emotion; but the domesticated cows are uneducated, fat, and lethargic.
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:36 am
Five pounds of flax.
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:01 am
I would guess that the domesticated cows said “moo” rather than hello because they don’t just haul off and speak to humanoids of any stripe (though CC is clearly not a true human).
I fear I have to agree with whoever said the cows look a bit off. As for size, I too admit I’d have expected CC to be taller than cows, and I’m used to Texan cows, so that’s pretty tall
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:18 am
Actually, I found the simple word ‘moo’ most profound. Especially if the cows turn out to be able to talk. So much meaning and possibility wrapped up in 3 little letters.
July 22nd, 2010 at 11:59 am
I love the cows!
July 22nd, 2010 at 1:40 pm
What? Can cows not speak? Or maybe it’s their form of “yes”. Like CC is asking “So, did I come to the right place?”
July 22nd, 2010 at 3:26 pm
You know, there are over 800 recognized breeds of cattle, and many throughout history that have become extinct for one reason or another. It’s entirely possible that Kerschl researched the domestic animals of the period and place where he’s put this story and drew those. Or if it’s a fictionalized location he could have picked any number of breeds to model them after. To me they look like young bazadaises:
http://www.bazadaise.com.au/joomla/images/stories/bazadaise_heifers/7mth_old_bazadaise_heifer_450x338.jpg
which could put us in medieval southern France.
Anyway, excellent work you’re doing here Karl. I tell everyone I know about it!
July 22nd, 2010 at 7:21 pm
I’m not sure why everyone seems to think Charles should be taller. He wasn’t much taller than the Lion so he thus can’t be much taller than a cow.
July 23rd, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Hey Cory, hey acm… please just, ya know, um… oh never mind. .
July 23rd, 2010 at 4:09 pm
wait a second…are you suggesting that urban cows don’t talk…..
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:32 pm
I agree with ckn about CC’s tallness. From the very first strip we got a good idea that CC is not really all that big when he was leaning up against a tree. Or even when he’s holding the cute rabbit.
People have not been paying attention. *points down to the bottom image of the marching forest-folk*
^_^ That’s what endeared him to me. I’m short myself so anything else that is short is instantly endearing. Is that bias?
July 24th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Woaw… These cows are really big, or I pictured CC to be bigger than he actually is… ^^
July 24th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
@Dadzarro
I have never commented before although I love this series and artwork, but you made me almost spit coffee on my laptop!
HAHAHHAHAAA
~selena~
July 24th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
That little moo just broke my heart a little bit. Granted, I’m a bit touchy when it comes to cows and domestic animals in general. The impression I got from this is similar to what Shadowclad said: that the cows have lost their ability to communicate because of their domestication.
Can’t wait for next Wednesday!
July 25th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
This is a subliminal reference to Douglas Hofstadter’s seminal work on reality and computability, “Godel, Escher, Bach, an Eternal Golden Braid”.
July 26th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
I think Charles is asking the cows where the dirty so-and-so who made the trap was hiding.
July 26th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Noogiewedgieboogerfries said: “Hey Cory, hey acm… please just, ya know, um… oh never mind. .”
Just, you know, um what? Shut up and go away? Is that the gist of what you’re trying to tell me? Well, just, um, no. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this comic from the start. I love the artwork. This is the first time in which I’ve felt the artwork isn’t quite up to par, and so I gave a critique. That is what artists do. They point out things that they don’t think are working quite as well as they could. This is done in the spirit of trying to be helpful and improve the piece, not to ridicule or to point out flaws just for the sake of being a jerk. I thought this particular strip could be improved, so I said so. There’s no cause for you to be annoyed and dismissive at me or ACM for voicing our opinions.
July 26th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
A question, how OLD is Chuck? I seem to recall being a tad bit shorter a few years back, and then grew, which really irked my mom. Perhaps less critique, and more questions? Keep it up, I’m wistfully going to the mailbox every day, looking for my sketch! (P.S. I’ll be 40 in December, but the clothes fit better now.)
July 27th, 2010 at 9:13 am
About Charles’ height: look at the sketch at the bottom of this very page. Charles is only about three times taller than the rabbit in front of him.
July 27th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
I’m betting charles is still really young. He’s still got his dummy after all.
July 27th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Is he going to meet some humans?
July 28th, 2010 at 10:39 am
hello, could you please update us as to the when and whereabouts of the book, its been getting on a lil bit and im a little disapointed i spent so much money on this..
July 28th, 2010 at 10:51 am
maybe Charles is saying “is this yours?” and they’re just saying “don’t look at me!”
July 28th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Karl, is that a look-out point from Assassins Creed I spy in panel two? =) Already putting Easter Eggs in!
July 28th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
I thought Charles was taller?
July 28th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
I guess it’s his large personality that make him seem taller.
July 28th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Hi everyone!
I’m back from San Diego and working on the next strip. Just wanted to address a couple of things:
1. Yes, Charles is definitely too small in that panel. I did this one very late at night before rushing to pack and catch my plane, so it was rushed. I’m going to fix it.
2. In response to @sam: I’m still sketching in the books and trying to get them out as quickly as possible to you guys. The last thing I want is for anyone to feel disappointed in their purchase. By all means, if you’d like a refund I’m happy to provide it. Or if you’d like me to refund your $20 for the sketch and just buy a standard edition, I can send one out to you today.
I apologize for the long delay, but I’m getting caught up!
-karl
July 28th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
@karl: regarding master-edition books – are emails being sent out when they ship on a per-purchased basis, or is it just a “wait longer” situation?
July 28th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
hey, one more note — my office’s “threat-blocking” service has tagged your root domain (ending in .cc) as a verified malware threat — I’m lucky I had bookmarked an individual strip in the archives, or I wouldn’t be allowed to view any of Charles’ future exploits.
( I’ve noticed the same warning for a bunch of web comic sites, and at least one of those posted about removing some malware, so there may be some sort of widespread comics infection. worth digging around to find out. (our service is Trend Micro, for what it’s worth.)
July 28th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
by the way (sorry for all the comments), Charles’ size seems about right here, given how he scaled with the lion previously (or with the animals in your footer) — he’s small but powerful…
July 28th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
I got the impression that the lion could probably be any size he wanted.
Speaking of the animals at the bottom of the page, who is that bringing up the rear?
July 28th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
@Argent – I think that’s the drunken bird. Does he have a name?
July 28th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Correction, the drunken bird is leading. Perhaps one of his kids?
July 28th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
@Majuju: We’re sending out an email every time an order ships, so when your book goes out you’ll be informed!
-karl
July 28th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Oh, and the animal at the back of the line down there is one of the cooking voles. He’s carrying an apple.
July 29th, 2010 at 6:47 am
I was going to say that was a big vole, but I googled it first and that seems like the right size.
http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/comhort/nooksack/ipmweb/blue/images/Vole_adult.jpg
November 22nd, 2010 at 5:28 am
A good companion shortens the longest road.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Oh my gosh, the farm animals can’t talk. Did the cats talk? I can’t remember.