We’re proud to present the second Hot Mess Pinup: “SPRING DAY” by the incredible Ben Chamberlain. His striking work can be found on his homepage and more links to his work are below. I think “Spring Day” is a wistful look at a slightly older Anna – I’m wondering who she’s listening to in that moment…
NOTE: Pinup #1 is by our own Emily Chan, found here.
If you’re not familiar with his work, let me tell you a little bit about Ben. I read a ton of webcomics – probably more than is healthy. I love all genres and art styles, and every now and then I come across one that I believe is a perfect representative of what the art form can be: a perfect merger of style, substance, story and art.
Ben’s work is that representative. He’s got a distinct, dichotomous style that wholly serves the stories he tells. His framing and blocking are incredible, especially when you realize he’s conveying the action and emotion within, despite the minimal use of dialog – or in the case of how I was first introduced to him, absolutely no dialog.
I first discovered his series THE PRINCESS AND THE GIANT when he was advertising on a site that was advertising on Hot Mess, so he’s like a friend of a friend. I was immediately taken with the story and the way it was silently and stoically conveyed. Here a logo and a page example (you can click through the pics to go to the originals):
Ben is also a prolific logo designer - this is one of dozens for tP&tG
A mood-drenched page from The Princess and the Giant
Then I explored deeper into his oeuvre, and stumbled upon the galactic space opera A* (which is pronounced, “A Star” – a real world abbreviation for the supermassive black hole found at the center of the Milky Way galaxy). A* is an epic journey and updates very, very frequently. I’m a space nut, so I was more than willing to give it a try, and now that I’m into the story, it’s on my daily must list.
One of the many Logos Ben created for A*
A* Episode 11, Page 125
A* Episode 13, Page 17
A* Episode 13, Page 19
I was hooked… and I just had to have his take on Hot Mess. When I reached out to him, he was gracious enough to agree to doing a Pinup, so I gave him free reign. I couldn’t be happier with the results. So please to click through the pics when you get a chance and see what Mr. Chamberlain is up to on both The Princess and the Giant and A* – I don’t think you’ll regret it.
I’ve read some of A* in the past, it pulled me in but fell off my to read list when I realized that I I had over 100 ongoing comics at the time… Perhaps I should pick it up again, I love the amount of color even tge grey scale can pull to you. I approve of this update.
(my opinion matters >>)
Why is Bethanny a freaking psychopath? This is what I want to know. Everything that happened to the main character on the first day was completely uncalled for.
Tubz approves, so I say, “Make it so”!
I’m really looking forward to the next comic strip. I’ve been checking when you normally do update like clockwork and nothing.
I agree with MusingStar. I have been enjoyed your comic strip – found it on Questionable Content and checked it out. How often do you do updates?
I agree with MusingStar. I have been enjoyed your comic strip – found it on Questionable Content and checked it out. How often do you do updates? I’d like to keep reading
Ditto, I found this place a few months ago from QC too. To answer munkyboywndr: Ask any woman, they are 10 times more vicious than men on things. Men beat the crap out of eachother, women destroy each other psychologically. There are perfectly sane women in the world who act like that, its somewhat scary.
Still no update
oh man 
That’ll have to be two updates now ^^
Well now in all fairness she didn’t do anything to flip the grudge factory switch. However in the 60s to the 80s hazing was more common on freshmen entering high school and transfer students as well. Now it is most associated with College frats and such. However it isn’t always used as initiation sometimes just to degrade and humiliate a person out of cruelty or just being a massive bully. Also for this case there is the issue of social status, since she has it and the new girl has none. People care not for the new girls misery as long as they shine in the popular girls eye. Students turn a blind eye and so forth.
tl;dr
It was more common before less so now unless you’re entering a frat. The person doing it is kinda a jerk.