 Passing GlancesThis comic strip happened kind of on its own, created by Walt Stoneburner and James Stewart.Notice the sketches are rough, the style inconsistent, and the color changing. This is deliberate. ...we're trying not to get caught. The comic first started when James and I were stuck in a two day training class that was just dragging. So, I drew the first panel of a comic and slid it across the table to him whispering "your turn." Shortly James passed the paper back, and totally took the direction of my intent somewhere I completely unintended. So I did the same and returned it, but James countered with his own starting panel (where I thought we may just continue) and a whole new strip evolved. At each point the illustrator gets the page and is expected to draw, he's never seen the prior panel. There's no communication between the artists, other than the strip. Add to this the pressure that all illustrations must be done under the guise of covertly passing notes. Panel 1 - 7-Aug-2003
Walt (panel 1): We were taking a course in RUP, the Rational Unified Process, and I wanted to see what James would comment on the course. Walt (on panel 2): James oddly turned this into a book, worse yet, he stole my turn at dialogue. Walt (panel 3): I decided to poke fun at obscure website addresses in addition to a bunch of corporate terms, many made up. Panel 2 - 7-Aug-2003
Walt (on panel 1): I had no idea this was not going to be a continuation of the prior stip, thinking I had given a step for panel 4. Walt (panel 2): Instead of commenting on the real contents, I implied the character was just laid off. My thought, based on the name plate, was that he was speaking to his boss and was hoping James would be brutal about lifting office supplies. Walt (on panel 3): No dice, James made it a massive layoff. Panel 3 - 7-Aug-2003
Walt (panel 1): My hope was James would catch the subtle Money Penny reference. Walt (on panel 2): Instead, I think he hits a high point taking a dig at charge codes. I also love how she's hoarded all the pens deliberately. Walt (panel 3): I tossed in a little disgruntled office dating to allow for some abuse of power. Panel 4 - 7-Aug-2003
Walt (on panel 1): I knew this was going to be problematic the moment he gave an array of characters I'd have to redraw. Walt (panel 2): Since QA's schedule always gets compressed, I thought I'd compress it back to requirements. Walt (on panel 3): James shows definate management potential by piling more work and having the insight to design defects in the first place. Panel 5 - 7-Aug-2003
Walt (panel 1): Ice-cream is nothing more than a deployment mechanism for hot fudge. Walt (on panel 2): James totaly threw me off with a change in camea angles. Walt (panel 3): Somehow I needed two camera angles and somewhere to dump the fudge. Panel 6 - 7-Aug-2003
Walt (on panel 1): Quite often I run upstairs with the intent on being right back, only to be pulled into something, returning hours later. I wonder if this was his inspiration. Walt (panel 2): My intent was to have panel 2 be the same guy as panel 1 answering his phone and trying to throw off the caller by making it look like a wrong number. Walt (on panel 3): But my drawing skills must have been bad; it looks like James thought this was the pizza joint answering, causing my panel 2 to become a whole new character!
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