Lester Archives - Page 9 of 11

CUPS 40: Chuck

Charles ‘Chuck’ Nichols went on to become a minor celebrity in Seaford, Delaware years later after starring in a half dozen ads as the ‘Wire Tyrant’, a local wire fencing company’s attempt to compete with their competitor’s ‘Wire King’ personality. It didn’t pay well, but for a solid 4-7 years Chuck drank for free at local bars probably only a little more than half the time. He divorced from his wife Lisa under amicable differences, when the kids were mostly grown up and in college, and stayed friendly with her… But never re-married. Not that he tried. Chuck was happy, mostly. He grew old in Seaford, working as the guidance counselor at a local high school. It didn’t pay much, but it payed enough. Chuck quietly died in his sleep at the age of 64, to heart complications.

CUPS 32: A Toast

Thirty-two strips have come and gone in the CUPS saga. Thirty-two is not a remarkable number. It’s not a particularly huge number, nor is it a multiple of ten. IT’S NOT EVEN A MULTIPLE OF FIVE. So, by all accounts, the thirty-second strip of this comic is not something to comment on, but here goes:

Thirty strips is a bit of a ‘magic’ number, historically, for humor comic strips. Back when newspapers were where you wanted to be, you needed to have thirty strips done in order to submit to the syndicates. Nowadays, of course, with the internet, you could have a quarter of a strip done and put it online to share with the world, but that thirty number still sticks out in my mind as significant.

This strip is my favorite to date artistically, and one of my favorites in terms of storytelling as well. I think it’s a big deal, to me and the overall story going on, and so I’m making note of it. There have been some good strips in the last ten or so, and there’s some pretty fun stuff coming up, too. So, bit of a humblebrag happening here, but, you’re reading this strip and hanging out on this site, so you must be sort of interested in this stuff, too! I guess what I’m getting at with all of this is that I think CUPS is heading to bigger and better things than even I could have imagined when I started. Thanks for being here, you, you’re making the whole thing worthwhile.

CUPS 31: The Cheeseburger Corollary

When you’re grilling burgers, always ask your guests if they don’t want cheese on their burgers. And then be sure to double check to make sure they don’t want you to steal money from their purse when they’re not looking. And then, to be absolutely positive, ask them if they aren’t completely certain they don’t want you to not make a move on their significant other. You will be the talk of the neighborhood. “He puts on the best party and should also hold a manners seminar” people will say.

CUPS 28: Soak It All In

As a biker I’ve broken my collarbone, broken multiple helmets by landing on my head, and have suffered numerous roadrash scrapes and scratches. One thing I’m yet to experience, however, is being hit by a car. There’s always next summer.

CUPS 27: Vicious Cycle

Between the lime/teal/magenta sign color scheme, the graffiti wall decor and the off-white chorded phone, Vicious Cycle looks like the most awesome hip bike hangout in 1998.