In the depths of Dr. Muskiday’s laboratory, he unveils his newest invention to his longtime companion — a holographic clone of Miss Match. Using micronanos he can read emotions using bioluminescent mood clouds! However, although competition breeds innovation, a comment from a humble lab rat proves that it can also lead to aggravation.
Evil Inc After Dark
Meanwhile, over in Evil Inc After Dark, readers have already witnessed the results of the long-anticipated Team-Up Talk between Lightning Lady and Angus. It was a heated conversation, to say the least — and it marked a genuine first in EiAD’s ten-year history. Longtime readers will know exactly why that matters… and why the ramifications are only just beginning.
Yesterday's bonus cartoon that explored a completely new kind of shopping experience. No spoilers, but let’s just say consumer expectations are about to be challenged in ways the Better Business Bureau definitely didn’t anticipate. There’s also a brand-new Evil Inc Erotica story inspired by the most recent Monster Girl Poll winner, along with a surprise bonus reward waiting just around the corner.
In this week’s episode, “Quietly LOL,” Brad and Dave dig into the many ways we react to humor — from full-on belly laughs to the silent internal “that was good” response. Along the way, they tackle some big (and surprisingly relatable) topics:
Patreon Quips was a case of "competition breeds innovation" — but are we actually going to use it?
Why you never stop building an audience, even when things feel “established”
And yes… being scared of Reddit comments is universal!
It’s thoughtful, funny, and quietly reassuring — the ComicLab sweet spot. comiclabpodcast.com
Panel 1: Dr. Muskiday, presenting excitedly: "Behold! Project SMILE: It's my Synaptic Mood Indicator and Linguistic Emulator."
Panel 2: Dr. Muskiday, holding a perfume atomizer, sprays mist toward a lab rat in a cage: "I spray micronanos in a 'mood mist' that bond with the subject's synaptic receptors."
Panel 3: Dr. Muskiday continues as a close-up of the mist forms a pink bioluminescent cloud above the lab rat: "They translate the subject's emotions into a bioluminescent cloud emitted through the skin."
Panel 4: Dr. Muskiday observes the glowing rat in the cage. A cloud over its head displays a padlock and a key: "And now we know everything happening in the subject's mind!"
Panel 5: Lab rat, standing and speaking from inside the cage: "You coulda just asked." Holo-Clone Miss Match, surprised: "Wow! It can TALK?!" Dr. Muskiday, resigned: "~Sigh~ Yes..."
Panel 6: Dr. Muskiday slumps, disappointed: "That's the result of my transgenic intelligence transfer system. A total failure."
Panel 7: Holo-Clone Miss Match, curious: "Inconsistent results?" Dr. Muskiday, irritated: "There were about three hundred mad scientists ahead of me, trying to patent the same acronym."
Expanded Alt Text
Seven-panel Evil Inc comic strip featuring Holo-Clone Miss Match and Dr. Muskiday, a humanoid figure with a fly’s head, standing beside a small cage containing a white lab rat. In a scene that proves that proves once again that competition breeds innovation, Dr. Muskiday introduces “Project SMILE,” which stands for Synaptic Mood Indicator and Linguistic Emulator. In the second panel, he sprays a pink mist toward the lab rat. In the third panel, the mist causes the lab rat to emit a glowing pink bioluminescent cloud. The fourth panel shows the rat glowing inside the cage, as Dr. Muskiday says they can now know the subject’s thoughts. In the fifth panel, the lab rat speaks clearly, saying, “You coulda just asked,” to Holo-Clone Miss Match’s surprise. Dr. Muskiday sighs in response. In the sixth panel, Dr. Muskiday explains that this speech is due to his failed “transgenic intelligence transfer system.” In the final panel, Miss Match assumes the project had inconsistent results, but Dr. Muskiday bitterly says hundreds of other mad scientists were ahead of him, trying to patent the same acronym.
In this livestream, I’m diving into the real talk every comics creator needs to hear — no fluff, no marketing buzzwords, just honest advice from the trenches.
Contents
00:00 Episode 400 of the ComicLab podcast
05:01 Social media rewards consistency more than creativity
26:28 Cameos in comics
30:27 How to handle criticism
42:46 Book a comics consultation
43:49 Why I stopped exhibiting at comic cons
49:01 Look for solutions — not excuses
51:09 Closing comments
We talk about…
Why asking for reviews isn’t promotion
Why “I’m bad at social media” isn’t an excuse
The truth about creativity vs consistency
Why I don’t listen to critics — only peers
How I treat my social feed like a TV channel
And the year I stopped doing comic cons… and finally made a profit
If you’re trying to grow your audience, build your brand, or turn your comics into a business, this is the one to watch.