Welcome to Venus Envy
Venus Envy is an online comic dedicated to making people
laugh, as well as hopefully educating a little. It contains issues such as
transsexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, occasional violence, and squirrels,
which some people may find offensive. I would hope that, after reading a little,
you would find these a little less offensive, but if you'd rather not read at
all, it's probably best to just go
somewhere else.
Disclaimer: I've noticed a disturbing trend lately of trangendered issues
becoming more and more popular in today's subculture. While I suppose it makes
sense (I mean, gay was big in the late 90's, so it's not terribly surprising
where it would head after that). Still, going through transition is something
that is painful, both mentally and physically, and is extremely difficult to
reverse. Unlike experimenting with homosexuality, bisexuality or similar
lifestyles, experimenting with trans issues can have serious, permanent
side-effects and cause health problems down the line (hell, I knocked a good
fifteen years off my lifespan by transitioning). If you find you are questioning
your gender, then find some serious help; not a website or someone you know who
was thinking about going through it; find a counselor, therapist, or doctor with
some experience in the matter before starting anything. Don't just assume that
because you're a feminine male and you like Venus Envy, that you should have
been born a girl. The world needs feminine men and masculine women just as much
as it needs manly men and girly girls.
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Important News Below |
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Monday, June 9, 2003
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April 29, 2003 - Late again with the comic. Big surprise, eh? Well, this
time, it's not going to have quite as big an impact on the schedule. You see,
I've decided to take the advice of several of my colleagues and countless fans
and am taking the frequency of the strip down to three times a week (plus Sunday
filler) for the next month or so. I've had a lot on my plate lately, with a
heavy workload at my real job, and some personal mini-crises, not to mention I
need to have some extra time if I'm going to get this comic book off the ground,
so I'm cutting my workload where I can. The good news is, this is only
temporary. I'm as eager to draw the rest of the story as you are to read it, so
I'm not happy about slowing it down, but sometimes these things are necessary.
Maybe if the comic book really sells, I can quite my day job and just be a
slacker artist... yeah, that'd be the life.
Also, check out the Gallery page. There is literally a shit-ton of new fanart
that I've been too lazy to put up for quite some time now. Metric shit-ton,
though, not British, so it's not THAT big.
April 23, 2003 - Oi. Just got back from a date. Ladies... don't let your
men talk you into going to see "House of 1000 Corpses". I'm actually
serious here. I thought this movie would be fun, since I'm a big fan of all
those classic 80's slasher flicks... I figured 'Rob Zombie... the guy loves
horror movies, so this will probably be a cool homage to classics like Evil
Dead, Chopping Mall, and the like'. But it's not... it's a horror movie; as in
description, not genre. I'm fairly disturbed just sitting here, still feeling a
little cold, clutching a teddy bear, and wishing in vain that I owned a copy of
'The Little Mermaid'. My boyfriend (well... sort of boyfriend) feels even worse;
not necessarily because the movie bothered him more (although it definitely
disturbed him, too), but because he took me to see it, and while I was sick to
boot.
So, I'm officially NOT recommending "House of 1000 Corpses". Not that it's
a bad movie; it's actually too well done. It's not fun and campy, with the
occasional adrenaline-inspiring shocks that horror movies are supposed to have,
it's well-directed, very well written, and fucking twisted, and not in the good
way. I feel like such a pussy for telling people to stay away from a horror
movie, but I think it's just better for everyone involved. I'm just glad I had
today's comic finished before going out, otherwise I doubt there'd be one today.
I'm probably just babbling at this point, so I'm going to go to sleep.... or
rather, I'm going to go lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, and trying not to
scream every time the house creaks.
April 22, 2003 - Okay, there was no comic Sunday, and Monday's was late
due to parental incursion (well, that and the fact that I'm putting in another
very full week on my feet at work). I'll do my usual "extra comic on Saturday to
catch up" deal, so you're not technically missing anything besides an Easter
filler (and who wants to see Zoë, Eric, Lisa, and Larson in bunny costumes
anyway?). I'd like to apologize for the delay (again) anyway, though. I know
lots of people try to write me every time I apologize for being late, saying how
I don't have to do anything and they're grateful for what they do get of the
comic and that I have nothing to apologize for, but I feel I do. I made a
commitment to this comic, and consequently, to my readers, to publish storyline
at least five times a week; It's what I've told you all to expect of me, so when
I fall short, I feel like I'm failing to live up to my own promises. And you all
contribute your time to read the story and occasionally comment on it, and some
even make generous donations to improve the status of my life for doing the
comic, and I feel that I don't always pull my own weight.
So basically, I'd like to apologize. Mostly for slipping a lot in my duties to
myself and to all of you. I'm fairly certain you'll all forgive me (if you'll
put up with my excessive verbal abuse, you people HAVE to be pretty forgiving),
but I still feel it should be said.
April 13, 2003 - Okay, so once again, I'm reminded of why Venus Envy
isn't a color strip. I didn't even shade today's comic and the photoshopping
portions still took me almost five hours. Still, I wanted to do something fairly
nice, since I'd been gone for a week and all. And to those of you who sent me
e-mails, thanks. I know I usually bitch and gripe about getting sympathy mail,
but it's good to know that your hearts are in the right place (not to mention
the sheer volume of e-mail I got kind of proves to me that I must be doing
something right). And I just wanted to address the primary issue that seemed to
pop up in most of the mail I got: I am not going to quit doing VE... at least,
not until the story is finished, at any rate. I just mentioned those occasional
feelings because I was ranting a bit. I'm not going to stop doing one of the few
things I'm really proud of in my life just because I wish my drawing skills were
better (after all, how the hell are my skills ever going to get better if I
don't practice every day?). So, don't worry, barring my untimely death or
assassination, Venus Envy will continue on for at least another year; maybe
longer.
And to those of you who sent money in addition to your concerns: Thank you very
much. You'll be happy to know that I bought myself some new books, lots of
chocolate, and some art supplies, so the desired effect (ie: cheering me up by
allowing me to splurge a little) was achieved... unless it was a bribe, in which
case, you need to be more specific about what you're bribing me about. Those of
you who didn't send money: Don't sweat it. It's kind of cool just knowing your
out there, being all loyal and whatnot. And the next time I take off for a week
because I'm sad, why not cheer me up by making people think my web comic is more
important than it really is... In other words, go over to sluggy.com and let
Pete know that you want him to mention your favorite web comic on his site, and
do a crossover, and maybe even have him do a guest week for me (or vice versa);
repeat with PvP, RealLife, Bruno the Bandit, Dykes to Watch Out For, Unicorn
Jelly, El Goonish Shive, GPF, Kevin and Kell, and all those other webcomics out
there that are far more popular than I am. Sooner or later, one've them has to
fall for it.
I've got a ton of new fanart to put up, once I get my butt in gear, so that
should hopefully happen Monday or Tuesday. And the story should proceed as
normal this week, even with my parents visiting this weekend (first time seeing
them in six months *gulp*). Thanks for bearing with me...
Oh, and the first issue of Venus Envy Magazine is officially scripted and
currently in production >:)
April 4, 2003 - Bwahahahaha! I have taken my first true step towards ruling the world, yeeeeeees. Following in the footsteps of such great megalomaniacs as Napoleon, Franklin Roosevelt, and Pinky and the Brain, I have acquired... A Desk! But not just any desk, my friends, no. This is a desk I, myself, purchased with my own money, and assembled with my bare hands, in much the same way I'm certain Dr. Doom himself had. It has a slanting top, and drawers, and a swivel lamp, and even came with a brand new comfy chair. It even has wheels, so once my invasion force begins gaining steady ground on the American front, I'll be able to easily bring it with on my way to victory! I imagine it's much like the first desk Lex Luthor had when he first set off on his path of world domination.
April 2, 2003 - BAH! You people are no fun. I try to make it sound like I'm being hunted by the mob for massive gambling debts, and it sparks no talk among you people. Yet another April Fool's Day joke that is completely ineffective. *sigh* Oh well, at least I got a day off, and soon... soon, I shall have my new art desk!
April 1, 2003 - Crap!
I have to leave for a little while, but I didn't want to just take off and leave
everyone hanging in regards to the comic. Not working ahead does make travel
troublesome. Hopefully I'll have some new comics done by the time I can find
some new internet access. Jade, Jennifer, and those few other fans who actually
know me in person, you've been very nice, and hopefully I'll see you again, and
I hope that my own issues don't make any problems for you in the near future.
And if I can't post again, well... it's been fun, people.
March 18, 2003 - We have five new fanarts on the Gallery page, along with two new banners. Plus, I fixed the broken link in the Gallery... Okay, so it's not really much of a news post. It's better than me screaming at you all again (god, I do not envy my potential kids).
March 16, 2003 - So, we've long-since known that Sundays are for me to just play around and do not-comic-related things... well, occasionally I do comics that actually have some relevance to the normal storyline, like today's. Unfortunately, yesterday was a very full day, so I couldn't get anything more than the pencils done for today, and don't really have the time to ink it now. So, we're going to say that I'm putting up this rough because I think the pencil lines really add something to the impressionistic aspect impact of the comic... um... yeah.
March 13, 2003 - Okay, something new for everyone out there:
Official Venus Envy message
boards! Check them out. Hopefully, this will keep e-mail form the forum down
adn my inbox can be maintained at a reasonable size. I'll get around to making
an official button for it, um... eventually.
Also, I finished doing my taxes today. That has no bearing whatsoever on the
comic... I'm just very proud of myself for it..
March 11, 2003 - Okay, let's just call an end to the whole 'music drive'
experiment.
In other news, guess what I just spent most of the day doing? Repairing my
printer and getting all those prints sent out from my moving fundraiser. That's
right, ladies and gentlemen: She's proud that she accomplished something she was
supposed to do six months ago. I am Proud of my Sloth.... And we already know
I'm Wrathful, and pretty Gluttonous at that. And dear GOD, do I know Lust...
that's 5, COUNT 'EM: Five out of seven sins, here for your entertainment. I
guess I just need to work on my Vanity and Greed a bit, and then I'll be
complete... The perfect entertainment form, if you will.
Anyway, it's you're one of the over 50 people who contributed enough for a free
print (and you actually remembered to send me your address), then expect it in
the mail soon... unless you're overseas, then expect it to take a little bit
longer (y'know... because it's got to swim to get there, and envelopes are
notoriously bad swimmers). Also, I really hope that you sent me the right
address, because in the interest of my own privacy and personal safety, none of
these envelopes has a return address. I know there's a 99% chance that none of
you out there would ever screw my life over, but I have already encountered the
1% once and I would really appreciate never, ever having to go through that
again... ever. Also, I hope you'll respect me enough not to track me down by the
fingerprints that are undoubtedly covering those letters, and not clone me from
the saliva used to seal the envelopes.
March 7, 2003 - Okay, so you chimpanzees seem hellbent on helping me,
regardless of whether or not I want you to. I might as well turn that...
enthusiasm towards something constructive. I realized something (or rather,
remembered) while working on the comic yesterday: I work much better with music;
I'm just one of those people who needs auditory stimulation to be able to focus.
Usually it comes from the TV, but television also provides a visual distraction
(which, for an artist, is Not Good). Since I'm too poor to afford lots of shiny
CDs (or a nice system to play them on), I rely on my computer's speakers and my
library of a hundred or so MP3s.
You following so far, because here's where you come in: My library is small and
old, and after a while, the same songs get old. Now, I'm not soliciting music
donations; that would be illegal (I think)... merely suggesting that, should you
own an MP3, and wanted to send it to me spontaneously, I certainly couldn't stop
you. So, let's get a few guidelines, first off:
1) Send MP3s, not .wav files or similar media. I'd like to keep the size down.
2) On the size note: Please don't send any e-mails with six or seven dozen
songs. Given that I have well over a thousand readers, that would fill my
mailbox pretty quickly. If you're one of those overproductive types who just has
to share, try to limit it to five or fewer files. If I still decide I need more
music in a week or two, I'll say so, then you can send until your mouse-tapping
finger turns blue.
3) I have no contact with record companies and don't plan on plugging anybody's
private band in the comic. Sorry.
4) Yes, I realize my taste in music sucks (see the list below). Don't bother
telling me. Also note that the Beatles are not on the list. This is because what
Beatles songs I like, I already have, and the ones I don't like, I don't want.
5) The following is a list of my favorite artists and groups in no particular
order. Anything with an asteric is a group I love, but have little in the way of
music for. It is by no means complete, but it should give you a general idea of
what I like (generally, I'm into more upbeat, fast, or hard music; things that
keep me stimulated keep me drawing): Blink 182*, Bic, Deep Blue Something, The
Go-Gos, The Bangles, Bananarama*, REM, Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain, Aerosmith,
Led Zepplin, Three Doors Down, Elvis*, Beethoven, Ozzie Osbourn, Rolling Stones,
Bob Seager, Aretha Franklin, No Doubt*, Green Day, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain,
Smashmouth*, Goo Goo Dolls, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Madonna, Cindi Lauper,
Foo Fighters, TLC, Indigo Girls, Metallica, Arrogant Worms, Weird Al, Godsmack,
Faded Sunrise, Chopin, Beasty Boys, Blues Traveler, Less than Jake, Dave
Matthew’s Band*
I'm also into swing/big band music, but I don't know any specific band names.
Likewise, I enjoy some J-Pop (things that aren't too energetic and techno).
Remember. Contributions are appreciated, but not solicited.
March 5, 2003 - No comic today. I'm just depressed and unmotivated and I
feel like it's pointless because people only seem to give a damn about the comic
when I'm painting the portrait of "Zoe the Transsexual" rather than "Zoe the
Complex Human Being who, god forbid, has other aspects to her person aside from
gender issues". Add social, financial, and health problems onto that and I'm
just a really fun person to be around right now.
Dammit, why am I not drunk?
And don't e-mail me about this. Every time I make even a remotely negative post
in this news section, I get an outpouring of inane, "I'm such a good person, see
me reach out to this perfect stranger in a time of need"-style e-mails that make
me want to tie someone down, vivisect them, and then seal something cute, fuzzy,
and rabid up in their empty chest cavity. If you really want to express your
sympathy, send vodka, rum, or tequila; no ABC brand.
March 2, 2003 - Owie owie owie... Okay, this is no fun. My breasts are
going through their first growth spurt in probably a year and a half, and I'd
forgotten how much it HURTS! I actually got excited earlier today and bounced
and almost screamed because they're so sensitive right now. *sigh* I guess this
means I'm going to have to start wearing a bra again. It's not fair! We
little-breasted people shouldn't have to endure those dumb ol' things!
Anyway, I like today's comic. I got the idea when I was swarmed by 8-year-olds
at the grocery store yesterday and thought to myself "damn... that's evil; I'm
amazed they don't recruit some hideous spider/web comic mutant to push these
cookies, too"
And finally, we've got some (and by some, I mean SEVEN... god, it's been a while
since I've updated that page) new additions to the Gallery page, and I've seen
rough drafts of not one but TWO Venus Envy fan fictions!
Oh... and if you ever tell anyone I said "owie"... I'll fuckin' kill you.
Mood swings? What mood swings?
Venus Envy is hosted by
a free webhosting service (thanks guys)
All characters and stories are copyright Erin Lindsey, 2002