Yeesh, what a blackout around here, huh?

I managed to widdle my fleet of five El Caminos down to three. It will eventually be two after the black one is harvested for its sheet metal, frame, transmission, and interior. The other will eventually be getting a new engine, but damn if I can decide on one. I have an idea, but the MVA couldn’t give me a straight answer on how I need to approach it. I wouldn’t be concerned, except that this one will be built with regular use in mind.

Aside from that, Elky Dori will be at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda on Saturday 26th and 27th. So, mark your calendars.

–Lates, J.

Still in the middle of ED episode 20090311. Yes, I am totally working on it. And totally, totally expect to have it up real soon.

Totally.

–Lates, J.

Just got back from the theater and felt compelled to do a quick write up.

I’ve come to enjoy the franchise of The Fast and The Furious. At times, I’ve cursed its existence and still dragged out the DVD of the first in the series to unwind with some cheap satisfaction.

Straying from the original cast for the first two sequels I felt was a mistake, particularly with Tokyo Drift. That one I’ve haven’t been able to view a second time and I think most that have seen it would say the same.

Anyhow, I was happy to see the cheese was still there and the apparent lack of a technical advisor was still hanging over the script (the “modded 240SX” was a JDM S15 Silvia). It also won points with me that the R34 GT-R was chosen over the R35. Seeing David Freiburger’s F-Bomb Camaro was a nice cameo in the film; although, its fate in the film was hauntingly similar to the ending of its real-life inaugural race against the 360 Modena.

All in all, it was fun. Nitpicking these films is half the enjoyment. The other half is seeing lots of nice cars crammed in one movie. Outlandish paint, over-the-top induction systems, enough nitrous oxide for the entire American Dental Association–just heap it on.

I need that. I need it after driving by Toyota dealerships that now hawk Kenmore appliances with wheels. I need it after being surrounded by white, silver, beige, and black four-door entry-level mid-size sedans. I need it when the auto industry is “cutting the fat” and axing performance flagships left and right.

I need it when the world hates oil and gasoline, and I love it so very much.

In short, go see it.

–Lates, J.

(By the way, anyone who says nitromethane is for pussies either has never driven something running it, or is a hardcore old-timer that still runs nitrobenzene.)

I’m hoping to catch up on the missed strips over the past few weeks. I’ll do my best to crank them out, so please check back often.

–Lates, J.

Turns out none of this week’s scheduled strips will post this week. After beginning the new storyline, I realized the production value is gonna have to step up to make it work.

I won’t be skipping any dates, but the comic will be behind while I adjust to this new workflow.

I am much more proud of these new strips and am very much looking forward to putting them up for all to see.

Hang tight, there’s good stuff on the way!

–Lates, J.