October 23, 2023
Punning Walrus: a Wise-Ass Just Like His Creator
Punning Walrus is a linguistically self-aware cartoon character I’ve created. You might have already seen him visiting the updated Home for Fiction main site – and here is a post describing that experience. You might have also met Punning Walrus if you’ve recently visited the “Support Home for Fiction” page, where there are some links to Mr Walrus’s Teepublic Storefront.
Punning Walrus began as an inside joke, the details of which probably don’t interest you. Suffice to say, however, that Mr Walrus shares a lot of qualities with his creator, yours truly: He is endlessly critical, linguistically self-aware, and intelligent – being modest though isn’t one of his strongest points.
Mr Walrus spends his time annoying others, being perennially grumpy yet ultimately good-hearted. But doublecross him and he’ll murder you – with words.
Punning Walrus: My Way of Dealing with Stupidity
As I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion – my post on developing your authorial voice is one example – the only art worth a damn is art you do because you need to. Not because you want to. And especially not because you want to make money, become famous, or whatnot.
And so, Mr Walrus – really, my alter ego – is a character that was born because I needed an artistic way of expressing my frustration with stupidity. Everything and everyone that bothers me will eventually find their way into this cartoon, so if you’ve ever wronged me, be afraid; be very afraid, mwahahaha.
In other words, I’ve realized I make a cartoon every time something or someone rubs me the wrong way – I bet Mr Walrus would come up with a pun here – and let me tell you, there seems to be an inexhaustible supply of material.
Here’s one I came up with after dealing with a time-waster on an online platform for selling used items. It took me 15 minutes to draw this, but the laughter is forever.
Some More Punning Walrus Examples
Not all Punning Walrus cartoons I draw are about frustration and stupidity. Many are also puns on language or culture without any negative backstory.
Here’s one I came up with after seeing Saturn through my telescope:
And another – the cultural reference being, I’d think, self-explanatory.
Read Mr Walrus for Free
Well, obviously. If my books, my programs, and my music must be free and ad-free, a cartoon will be as well.
Read Punning Walrus on his very own Home for Fiction page.
By default, the page shows the most recent cartoon, but you can also display random cartoons or search for a specific one – by number or keywords. I’ve even included a “Share” button that allows you to share a link to a particular cartoon.
Drawing is quick, fun, doesn’t try to be any higher form of art, it’s just honest. It’s “good enough” and I like it.
2 Comments
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The cartoon character I needed, but wasn’t aware I needed it.
I’ve had the same reaction! 😀