Note: When a comic strip for the Liberty Champion was greenlit, I immediately knew that the university mascot Sparky the Eagle had to be the main character! I had a lot of fun taking his mascot costume design and adapting it in the style of traditional newspaper cartoons. His face allows for a great deal of expressions, allowing the for gags to be conveyed with few words or props. Go Sparky!
– Bucky
Transcript: Panel 1: Sparky the Eagle sits at a desk looking teary. A wall clock hangs behind him, and a smartphone lies on the desk.
Sparky: “I promise, it’s not easy for me to say this, but…”
[Sniff sniff, from Sparky tearing up] [Chirp chirp, from a notification on the phone]
Panel 2: Sparky scratches the back of his head with his wing, nervous.
Sparky: “I don’t think this is going to work out.”
Sparky: “Us, I mean.”
[Chirp chirp, from the phone]
Panel 3: Sparky looks tired and earnest as the phone chirps again, louder.
Sparky: “You just demand SO much of my attention. It’s hard to focus.”
[CHIRP CHIRP, from the phone, in large letters]
Panel 4: Sparky is angry now, a wing raised in a fist, with anger marks beside his head.
Sparky: “Really? Even NOW?”
Sparky: “This is EXACTLY what I’m talking about!”
Panel 5: Sparky glares, still furious, with scribble lines beside his head.
Sparky: “Are you even listening to me?!”
Panel 6: A spiky speech bubble comes from the phone on the desk.
Phone: “Sorry, I didn’t get that.”
Sparky stares wide-eyed and silent, with three dots over his head.