Sometimes ideas just don't work, or submitted strips aren't accepted. One case in point was Nobby Lard, a character I created in 2012.
The client wanted a comic strip for an online betting website they ran, which was a departure from the usual areas I'd worked in. They wanted it to have a sporting theme and be about an everyday type. Not being into betting or sport this seemed a bit of a challenge but I came up with a hapless loser type who attempts different sports and fails.
Here's the e-mail I sent, along with my sample roughs...
Hi (name redacted),
Here's my idea for the online strip. Hope you like it.
NOBBY LARD - Wannabe champion.
Nobby hasn't played a sport since he left school but according to his
late Aunt's will, he stands to inherit a million pounds IF he becomes
a sporting champion. That's all the incentive he needs, but it might
take the overweight, easily distracted lump a while to achieve it.
Characters:
NOBBY LARD, affable everyman type, somewhat out of condition.
BECKY LARD, Nobby's wife, who loves him but wishes he was more like
David Haye.
Theme of strips: Nobby tries various sports with little success.
Sometimes he can't even understand the rules. Even the thought of the
rules tires him out some times! But he's persistent and keen...
unless the pub's open or there's a good film on TV.
I've attached a character sheet plus three jpegs featuring six
roughly-penciled strips to give you an idea of the type of strip I'm
thinking about. I hope it's the sort of thing you were looking for.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Lew
What happened next? Nothing. I have a vague memory that they got someone to do their even rougher version of it and called it something else. Either way, my concept of Nobby Lard was never developed any further. Anyway, in situations like that you just forget about it and move on. (And I had forgotten about it until I found these files tonight on an old memory stick.)
Still, as I own the copyright I thought I'd post some of the pencil roughs here for you to see. Will Nobby Lard return as a fully drawn strip? Nah, probably not, but he's here today so I hope you enjoy him.
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