The Mean Model
The Mean Model is © Charlie Podrebarac
Genre:
Modern, Comedy
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2149
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In a world that rewards bad behavior, the Mean Model is King, Queen, Dictator and CEO.
You can't turn on a TV, read a magazine or get online without being bombarded and assailed with her image and every tiny detail of her self-important life. Don't hate her because she's mean, it's in her DNA.
Disclaimer: Not all models are mean, but this one sure is. If you're a mean model and you think this is about you, then you probably always think it's about you.
And you're probably right.
Zuda is about variety. If it works the first time, it works.
Thanks for the post.
The joke works once...and that is it...how is this 6th place? This should be dead last...that's harsh...but if your going for an ongoing series...i mean...yah...come on!
the WizardUniverse.com gave Zuda alot of love. They gave Mean Model this: THE MEAN MODEL
What Charlie Says: "My cartoon stands out from all the rest like a 6'4" mean model at a gymnastics event. The talent this month is phenomenal, but I think my style and subject matter are unique to the Zuda site. It's not a heavy story but it is good, mean fun. MM's a little different in that she's no superhero but a super-model. This cartoon has legs!"
What We Think: Certainly the least violent of all the comics but by no means the nicest, The Mean Model has a visual style that separates it from the rest of the Zuda competition. But don't expect this model to sleep with you if you vote for her. She definitely won't.
Thanks you, Wizard!
glad you liked it!
Took the weekend off. It looks like MM still has legs!
Thanks Mpd57- Your endorsement is HUGE!
Like the idea of fashion collages and half-tone silhouettes in the background.
Also, thanks Steve Steiner for the homage on your web page.
You've captured MM's essence! I always thought that a good character
speaks to the authors, but in Mean Model's case, she yells at the author.
Simply maaaavelous.
Hey Charlie,
I had some fun with Mean Model.
Check it out at http://steve-steiner.blogspot.com/
Hope you like it but if you don't I'll gladly take it down!
-steve
You have my vote. I'm parking it here for the moment. Try not to lose it by talking too much and I might leave it here! I think that one thing this strip does have is the possibility that it might flesh out into something more than what it already is. Most of the others seem to have exhausted themselves in eight screens whereas this feels like it's just getting going. I know it's a very easy target but who knows you could just make it very much more subtle later ... maybe! Have you thought about photographic backgrounds, fashion mag collages, just to pop her into the real world. Just a thought. I like your style.
MM says,
"Good weekend to all!"
In Neil's spirit of promoting. Come on over and vote for Golden. I know you will love it. And I am starting a little incentive contest. Here is the deal. The person who gets the most people to the Golden pages will receive a one of a kind sketch of Kintaro signed by Scott and me. Get all of your friends, loved ones and associates to stop by Zuda and take a look at Golden. If they leave a message stating that you sent them over there I will keep track and the person with the most referrals by May 23rd will receive the signed Kintaro sketch as well as a signed copy of the script. Sound fun? If you have any questions about it drop me a note here or over in the Zuda talk back section. Don't waste any time. Start getting those folks over there now!
If you want to see a picture of the sketch you will receive go here...
http://www.lostdoggrafix.com/zuda/kintaro-collage-small.jpg
Enjoy! This is a taste of things to come.
Troy
Thanks Neil
Wait, I just read past the part where this is about you.
It's not about YOU! It's all about the MEAN MODEL!
Thanks for the view, though.
Hey, Models -
After the first ranking, ACTION, OHIO is in first place! But this contest isn't over and we're going to have to fight to stay there... so please register, favorite and vote for us all throughout May.
To promote the comic, I'm taking ACTION, OHIO on the road - I'll be appearing as a guest of the Comic Book Club, New York's only improvised comic book talk show, this Tuesday night at 8pm! Please come and celebrate with me, Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage as we talk comics, Zuda and the wonder that is beer. Oh, we'll go get beer after. Yes, we will:
http://www.popcultureshock.com/cbclub/
Also, 'dig' us at Digg, friend us at MySpace and watch this space for upcoming interviews, contests and ACTION EXCITEMENT!
Comedy can be hard to write but I've been doing it awhile.
Check out my Fatcats at:
www.comics.com and scroll to Fat Cats Classics
I thought it funny, even if a bit dry at times. My main question though is why would I want to read this for a whole year? It seems far to limited of a concept to vote for. Comedy is extremely hard to write and this seems even harder to keep fresh and funny. Sorry 2/5.
Another fantastic well illustrated comic!!! Your a genius.
Wow- thanks for all the feedback!
Manolis-thanks for the great kick-off thread.
10s-lean and mean, but mostly mean.
orijone-good luck with your own MM.
LAZZ- I'll get you MM's cartoon cell #
Thanks, hardcopi- check my previous post
easy mark- what about the blue soul-patch?
illinest-was this concept done before? uh-oh
woogerhead-I'm looking to evolve MM too.
frequent- I'll take it!
cujr-thanks fo the art props. I agree with more story-see previous post
Again, I wanted to establish the character. Good foundation and all that.
johnz-thank you, I guess.
marcspray-I love being called abstract!
Kinkystink-what can I say? Oh yeah, hope to have another installment. Thanks!
Dustin- I'll try to be more LOL next time.
Suze-I'm liking your post.
Lisa-Thanks for scaring us that 17 year olds are behaving this way.
Charlie-
Love Mean Model. She reminds me of so many of our 17 year old daughter's friends. Arrrggghh.
Lisa
I really liked the artwork and lettering. Everything is consistent, visually. The story and gags weren't funny enough for me. They were funny, just not laugh out loud funny.
Charile, You are brilliant as always! Suze
Charlie, I've always loved your artwork and sense of humor and this does not disappoint! Thanks for the heads up and I'll be anxiously waiting for the next installment!
Love the abstract artwork. Fits the subject matter. I could see this as a traditional comic strip in the Sunday funnies.
Not sure if I like it or don't like it. So, good job, I guess.
I'm really digging the art on this one. It looks like a cross between cubism, modern art, and some old newspaper strips. I like that. But, the gag gets old for me after page one. It's way to easy to take a prevalent pop culture topic throw it in with a funky art style and call it a day. Maybe if there was something more ... Something that makes this mean anorexic model who totes pets around for show different from the other mean anorexic models who totes pets around for show ...
.
A hook might have helped, maybe a promise of a story arc or more fully developed secondary characters. I don't know, this comic is missing something in my opinion and I know I won't read it for 52 more screens.
.
But I think this art style would work well with a humorous story.
.
––Jernell
I hate this, but I can't tell if that's the point or not. This is like the shitty reality tv of the comic book world, so congratulations.
I really like the new stuff. I look forward to seeing MM evlove.
First Impressions:
I rarely have anything useful to add to the gag type strips. I enjoyed this enough, you're pretty merciless with your target but I guess I wish you'd picked a target that hadn't already been done half to death.
I've always loved crooners with blue eyebrows, they never lie! Sure would look great as a poster!
It wasn't bad, I am going through the rankings from the start and this is the first one I read thru without forcing myself to. The art is odd, but it fits the strip. Not sure if I want to see 52 more of them though.
I think I have a crush on Mean Model ...
LOL. Sadly I know one and she's nobody right now and acts like The Mean Model.
Hillarious. She snaps off blunt one-liners that'll make you laugh out loud. She's a lean, mean, maniacal, money-grubbing, model machine. What archrival can top her? Great Stuff.
Hi Famished
The idea is to have a revolving cast of characters (old boyfriends from before
supermodel rise, present boyfriends fighting paparazzi, various paparazzi, more rival models, agents, lawyers, handlers, personal assistants, personal chefs, dog groomers, dog psychics, dogfood tasters and other important people). There will be a story or series of stories (trying out for a play/movie in which she is clearly miscast, opening a self-named celebrity restaurant, starting a dubious charity, trying to de-mean herself through a perky life-coach). The story lines are endless but I didn't want to trot them out until MM's personna was established.
So there may be a supporting cast to help the story along or there is no story and it's a series of vignettes?
Thanks for the compliment, Steve. I liked the crocman in your first entry and will comment on your thread about Col. Mac--cool stuff!
-Samlittle, glad you LOL'd because that was my goal with the 8 pages. An overarching story line is in the works if need be, but I thought the character
development and the gags were more important to amuse and get readers to read every page. I'm not too well-versed in the super-hero action or pulp
story cartoon and was hoping that something different would be fun for the site. Variety rocks and it looks like we have a great line-up for the month. It's a thrill to be included.
Love the art style and I LOL'd multiple times. Not sure if this concept can be drawn out for 52 more screens though. A loose overarching storyline might be a good idea to string things along.
love your style! it reminds a ton of elwood h. smith. good luck!
Thanks for all the comments. This is a great showcase for new material and more feedback is welcome. My goal is to get the Mean Model animated somehow and I'm hoping this site might create some networking possibilities. These 8 panels were meant to establish the character while delivering a few laughs.
good cartoony art, but i can only take so much "mean model"... i can pretty much read tabloids and get the same imagery. it's not bad, though. good luck!
I concur with famished here, word for word.
I think you've got a solid sense of humor and some good cartooning skills. The subject matter doesn't really appeal to me, though. Still, it's a good comic, best of luck!
Was this aseries of Hallmark cards or was this supposed tobe a comic book? It's great that you got your kids involved & let them do the artwork too!
Well done, you've definitely captured her personality.
Dig the art, but question the longevity of the material. Do we really need 52 screens of this? Is there a bigger picture?
brilliant brilliant stuff!!! she's mean indeed, i enjoy your abstract cartoony style and the pastel colouring. Yes. No. Whatever!