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:
Follow Evil Inc updates
Discover new comics
Rebuild the kind of discoverability social media used to offer
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.”
In this full livestream recording from June 27, 2025, veteran cartoonist Brad Guigar dives deep into the most important (and often overlooked) truths about building a successful comic.
Topics include:
00:00 — Your writing must improve. We call them comics readers — not comics lookers
13:03 — A social-media following isn’t measured by the people, it’s measured by their passion.
22:23 — When is it time to reboot?
45:44 — Gambler’s Mentality: The myth of going viral
Also…
Why “Do a Good Comic” is Rule #1
The power of vertical scroll formatting
Why follower counts don’t matter as much as passion
Understanding that it’s OK to lose followers
The myth of “going viral”
When persistence becomes a trap
Why strong writing beats flashy art
How honest self-reflection drives improvement
If you’re serious about making comics that connect, grow, and last — this one’s for you.
