“The Last Days of Roland and Cid” was conceived in Smithtown, NY in 1994. The concept, which has become cliche, was that two medieval characters were stranded in modern day America, and are forced to survive in a brave new world. They, of course, have brought their simple medieval values with them and are forced to change their views of the world. This broad concept was expanded when I had introduced an alien abduction into the situation.
These were the broad strokes of the comic that would have worked much easier as a daily strip. The character and plot driven piece wouldn’t survive the weekly readership, so I had to abandon many of the original concepts. Roland and Cid became a Laurel and Hardy duo, and most of the plot was tossed.
Being stubborn, I did try to induce an ongoing story into my comic. First, the brothers Grim, Jeff and Jerry, and later with the rabid squirrel. But the most effective (I think) of my comic themes was that of celebrities and political personalities. The Golf Course Detective Squad, the presidential elections, the Cruise’s obsession with Scientology. These are the comics that work best as stand-alones.
I find a constant rhythm problem with a three panel strip. The setup and delivery often times gets botched for me. I have noticed over several comics that the second panel is usually funnier than the punch line panel. It’s an interesting problem to face each week.
Over the past seven years there have been some changes. The comic’s presence on the web has come and gone. The title change from “The Last Days of Roland & Cid” to “The Last Days…” and back again to “The Last Days of Roland & Cid.”
The comic is now published in both the Reno News & Review and Tucson Weekly.