Today's comic dives into trending trauma, where even pain and heartbreak are judged by views, shares, and social reach. For Hailey, the real tragedy isn’t what happened — it’s that none of it is gaining traction online.
The Comic Scout
I’ve been using Toocheke to run my sites for years, so when Brian Leeto launched a brand-new comics discovery platform, I didn’t hesitate.
The Comic Scout launched last week, and it’s a fantastic way to:
Check it out here:
https://www.thecomicscout.com/
Transcript
Panel 1:
(caption): “Shortly in the kitchen…”
(Sound effect): “Bwaa”
Hailey: “Rose, I’m devastated.”
Rose: “I know, sweetie… but I think it’s for the best…”
Panel 2:
Hailey: “FOR THE BEST?! He didn’t even mention my hashtag once!”
Panel 3:
Hailey: “No ‘like and subscribe’… no username drop… Just ‘you’re a terrific person’ and ‘you deserve better’…”
Panel 4:
Hailey: “I’m a brand ambassador for Campbell’s soups… Would it have killed him to mention the chicken noodle dripping down his face?!”
Panel 5:
Rose: “He did say something about ‘scalding hot’ and ‘searing pain’…”
Cap (coming from a video playing on Rosie’s phone): “Gonna need another skin graft…”
Panel 6:
Hailey: “Omigosh… that’s horrible… how gruesome!”
Panel 7:
Hailey: “It’s not trending… Not even a little…”
Alt Text
Comic strip set in a diner kitchen with seven panels featuring two waitresses, Hailey (young, long hair) and Rose (older, hair in a bun). In the first panel, Rose hugs Hailey as Hailey cries dramatically, saying she’s devastated while Rose reassures her it’s for the best. In the next panel, Hailey angrily gestures while Rose looks upset, complaining Captain Heroic didn’t mention her hashtag. Hailey continues ranting about the lack of promotion — no “like and subscribe” or username mention — only sincere compliments. In silhouette, Hailey reveals she’s a brand ambassador for Campbell’s Soups and wanted attention drawn to the spilled soup incident. Rose checks her phone and notes he mentioned pain instead, joking about needing a skin graft. Hailey reacts with exaggerated horror. In the final panel, both women look at the phone disappointed as Hailey says it isn’t trending, adding, “not even a little.”
Steve Troop, webcomics veteran and professional puppeteer, is proud to announce a new weekly feature scheduled to appear every Friday on Kevin Smith’s new Web site,
Quick Stop Entertainment.
Smith, best known for hits such as “Chasing Amy,” “Dogma,” and “Clerks”, launched the site Monday. It features an impressive line-up which includes Terry Gilliam (“Monty Python’s Flying Circus”), Paul Dini (“Tiny Toons”) and Blank Label Comics founding member Steve Troop.
Troop’s Melonpool puppets will have a new 3-5 minute “quickcast” available every Friday at the new site — an updated version of the “Movie Poop Shoot” site made famous in Smith’s “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.” The new site will feature interviews, entertainment gossip, and other original content.
The first installment is available this Friday, June 23. For a sneak peek, point your browser to
this sample video.
Chad Diez of Today The Comic ( http://www.todaythecomic.com ) edited the first installment. A new Melonpool theme song was created for the podcast by Erik Przytulski of Pretzyl Music ( http://www.pretzyl.com). In addition to Troop, who performs the title character and Przytulski who performs Ralph Zinobop, Roger Przytulski will continue to perform Sam T. Dogg and Chris Gleason will continue to perform Sammy the Hammy – roles they all created for a small
student film in 1994.
The puppets were the inspiration for Troop’s seminal webcomic classic, “Melonpool,â€? ( http://www.melonpool.com ) which centers around the misadventures of several aliens stranded on earth. It has been on the Web since 1996. The puppets have made regular appearances at comic conventions for almost as long. Troop plans to tape more footage for his new feature at Comic Con International in San Diego this July.
