The Life & Times of Optiluiz - Part V

Greetings, Epic Clubbers!

Optiluiz here once more, nearly in a new decade! Sorry for the delay, but I hope today's post makes it up to you. So, how've you guys been these past few months?

To be honest, I'm really glad that 2019 is almost over. This has been a really stressful year and I'd like the current zeitgeist to be over with. It's not all bad, of course, and keeping the blog alive is part of what I liked about this year, but I think it's time for a change.

Oh, did I mention that I'm never going back to class? Yeah, folks! I handed in my final college project and never again have to return to that godforsaken campus. For the first time in a long time, I'm about to face Christmas and the New Year without the dreadful expectation of class in the coming months. God, that does feel great.

Meanwhile, I'm working on a few new projects, including setting up an indie production company with a couple of friends of mine. It'll be hard, but I think this will be the push I need to finally escape this country and start a real career. Oh, I also adopted two gnomes that I found in front of a vacant house a little while back (which reminds me of an ancient blog character that could use a revival). I need help naming these cute little guys that most certainly won't murder me in my sleep.

You know, I've noticed that I've become way too negative these past couple of years, and maybe it's time to change that. Most people around me seem to have gone down the same hateful rabbit-hole, and I'm not a fan of seeing friends suffer for no good reason. End-of-year melancholy is a recurring thing with me, but I'm also a fan of the Holiday season and the good that it represents, and I wish more people could feel those good bits with me. I know many associate this time of the year with horrible family members and stupid television specials, but there's more to it than that. I mean, a worldwide event where people at least try to love each other a little more sounds cool to me. I do miss the snow, though.

I'm not sure what exactly I'm trying to accomplish with this garbled nonsensical text, but I guess this year has left me tired, and I don't want to go through that again. I've seen where depression and apathy can lead, so I'd rather take a sharp turn in a new, better direction. I'm tired of relationship problems, sad distant friends and nights lost to meaningless rants. From this point on, I'm using my time for stuff that makes me less unhappy, and this blog is certainly one of those things. I guess I miss feeling things on the inside, and I'm taking serious measures to be happy again. I'd talk about my love life now, but I don't think anyone really cares.

Don't worry, though, the blog won't devolve into a happy-go-lucky comic series about me smiling at kittens and feeding the homeless (I can't really bring myself to laugh at stuff that doesn't involve at least a couple of mutilated orphans and cancer jokes), I'll just feel a little better behind the scenes, and will try to complain a little less in these rants.

I think that's it for now. I let myself ramble today because this is probably going to be the last post of the year (though I hope it isn't), but I guess I want you guys to try and find the light along with me. I'm tired of most of the internet, tired of parroted opinions and pointless bickering, so I think it's time that we all sit down and enjoy the Holidays with a little joy in our hearts.

God, I'm corny. Well, thank you all for visiting, and here's to a new era of awesome adventures and loving relationships. I'll leave you all with a throwback to something I used to hear a lot back in a similar time. Hope you all have a great Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanza/whatever festive occasion you prefer.

Chainsaw (Holiday) Cheers, love you all,

- Optiluiz out.

PS: I'm 25 now and feeling so goddamn old. I think that's part of why I need this blog to stay sane.

PPS: Currently playing Death Stranding and loving it, even if it is kinda slow.

PPPS: Get ready for a gnome movie, and a few announcements in the next post.

PPPPS: Max, if you're reading this, we should totally make more comics soon, and play some MtG.

PPPPPS: These posts also serve as a kind of weird time capsule where I pour my thoughts at any given moment and then reflect on them years later with a certain amount of cringe. Hunh, I guess I was the ECB's target audience all along.

PPPPPPS: We really need a better layout, though.

The Life & Times of Optiluiz - Part IV

Greetings, Epic Clubbers!

Optiluiz here with yet another new comic, fresh from the oven! This marks the end of the first page of "The Life & Times of Optiluiz", and despite some severe shortcomings, I'm rather proud of where things are heading. Hell, I'm always happy to get the Mothman involved in my work.

Anyway, how have y'all been this week? I'm working on a new horror short featuring spooky paintings and photographs while also dealing with reviews, so I've been quite busy. It seems that the sky has been falling nonstop for these past few days, with random thunderstorms and apocalyptic lighting, and I think that's a sign that I'm on the right track.

I've also been playing a lot of Days Gone (once again, thanks to Sr. M for that!), and while it's a decidedly weird experience, I've actually been enjoying it quite a bit. My only real issue with the game (besides introducing the hordes way too late into the campaign) is that there is just way too much to do. Too many repetetive sidequests and meandering story missions that move the narrative along at a snail's pace. Meh, at least setting people on fire with molotovs is fun.

Traditionally, September is Lovecraft month for myself, so I'm getting ready to reread a few of his tales in preparation for my new short films, and I also finally managed to find copies of a few adaptations that I've been looking for since 2009. I've also got Amazon Prime now, which should make acquiring books and movies a bit easier.

To be honest, I don't think I have anything substantial to say today, so I'll leave you guys with a song that's been stuck in my head for way too long. Thank you all for visiting, and don't forget to stay in touch through the comments section and social media.

Chainsaw cheers,

-Optiluiz out.

PS: Going to see the new Rambo tomorrow. Wish me luck.

PPS: Next time I should tell you guys about my latest D&D adventures.

PPPS: 24 Hour Party Peopleeeeeeeee!

The Life & Times of Optiluiz - Part III

Greetings, Epic Clubbers!

Optiluiz here once more with a comic that isn't obcenely late! I mean, I know we technically haven't been following a schedule for years now, but I like how weekly updates look on my dashboard. Don't you? Anyway, how've ya'll been this week?

Today's comic has actually been ready for quite a while now, but I was rather busy with class, work and social shenanigans this week. Luckily for you guys, today I'm just wiping pizza grease off my fingertips, having just had one of my traditional double-feature picture shows. The movies in question were Detroit Rock City and Gags The Clown. I enjoyed both, but the former more than the latter.

Thanks to Sr. M's tragic lack of free time and a fortunate willingness to lend me his stuff, I've also been playing a lot of Days Gone this past week. It's no masterpiece or anything like that, but I'm having fun with the game, and I actually enjoy the motorcycle maintenance. It feels refreshing to play something recent for a change, though I think I'm going to give Mario Galaxy another try after I'm done with this one.

Well, as September rolls in, the decade is one step closer to a horrible death, and I'm not sure what that means for us but there's no stopping it, that's for sure. I feel like I've always been particularily sensitive towards what people refer to as the "zeitgeist", and I admit that I've been feeling a certain amount of anxiety about the passage of time. However, it probably has more to do with the fact that I'll be 25 years old soon, but I'd rather not discuss that right now.

I think that's about it for now, but keep tuning in for more comics. The structure of this story is going to be a bit different, but I hope you guys enjoy the new direction. Plus, I've been thinking about a change in art-style, but we'll talk about that another time. Thanks for visiting, and keep on rocking in the free world. I'll leave you with a song that I've been listening to every night for a while now. Hope you enjoy it.

Chainsaw cheers,

-Optiluiz out.

PS: It Chapter Two was good but I'm still frustrated with the changes to the book, though I think a re-edit of both films as a mini-series would work much better.

PPS: Don't forget to keep up with my work at Strategy Informer and Bloody-Disgusting!

PPPS: I've been reading ECB's back catalogue, and despite the cringe, I really fucking love this blog. That doesn't mean it's good, though.

The Life & Times of Optiluiz - Part II

Greetings, Epic Clubbers!

Optiluiz here once more with a new comic, fresh out of the oven! Hope you're all doing well, as I've been having one hell of a weird week. Although, to be honest, I think these are strange times for everyone. The Amazon is on fire, Pepe the frog is being used a symbol of the resistance in the Hong Kong protests and billionaire pedophiles are being murdered before they can incriminate the rest of the elite. Yikes.

Well, on a lighter note, I've been feeling like a regular Hackerman these days. I can't go into details without giving the FBI even more reason to put me on a watchlist, but let's just say that a certain someone can finally play the original Clock Tower on their TV, pointing and clicking with a Wii-Mote. Don't judge me, I lead a boring life.

I hope you guys are liking the new comics, as I've got something special in store further down the line, but feedback is always appreciated. I'm not delusional enough to think I'm a great artist, but I like to think that I've learned a thing or two over the years through the bizarre project that is the ECB.

Actually, the other day I was thinking about how I've been posting less and less over the years, and how the original blog had more reviews and idiotic opinion pieces, and then I realized that I *haven't* been writing less, I've just been posting most of my opinions elsewhere, and the blog is now reserved for silly comics and even sillier life updates. I guess things really don't change, do they? But don't forget to check out my writing over at Bloody-Disgusting and Strategy Informer if you like to read my words.

So... what else? I hear Max is coming back to town, which means we might see some new crossovers, soon! I'm also working on a few new movie projects, one of which is relevant to the blog. Oh, I can also confirm that Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is one of Tarantino's best movies so far.

Oh crap, looks like I'm ramblin' again, so I better leave before it gets worse. Love you guys, and thanks for visiting (if anyone actually does). I'll leave y'all with something that reflects how I've been feeling lately.

Chainsaw Cheers,

-Optiluiz out.

PS: Do you guys recommend any good Wii games?

PPS: I think I'm going to start programming ECB-themed Text Adventures. What's the worst that could happen?

PPPS: Bring a little lovin', bring a little wine!

PPPPS: Finally got around to seeing the new Child's Play, and I liked it a lot more than I expected to!

The Life & Times of Optiluiz - Part I

Greetings, Epic Clubbers!

Optiluiz here with an unexpected new post! I just got home from a nearly 10-hour voyage, but that won't stop me from bringing you the first chapter of the ECB's latest story.

Feels good to post something new for the first time in forever. For a while there, I was actually considering going back to one-shot / three-panel stories like the good old days, but I figured that I had at least one more good arc in me before throwing in the towel.

If all goes well (and I don't disappear for another year), this will be the funniest and most personal tale the ECB's seen in nearly a decade. For now, however, I hope you enjoy my mediocre drawings and ramblings. I've been in a bit of a melancholy rut lately, and was revisiting old hotmail conversations with friends (along with the blog's early days on Wordpress). All that cheerful cringe actually managed to motivate me to go back to posting regularily, and I hope things work out now.

If anyone's curious about what's become of Optiluiz in these past years, I'll give you a brief rundown of where things are at the moment: I'm nearly done with college, juggling two online writing gigs in order to stay alive and buy overpriced popcorn at the theaters, working on several projects that I hope to share with you all and trying to be less of a fat, lazy fuck.

The rest is just details, but if you guys ever want to know more you just have to hit me up in the comments (or social media). Now, I'll leave you guys with something that's been playing on repeat in my head this past week. The so-called "Most Mysterious Song on the Internet" is actually pretty good, and I hope they find the artists behind it soon. Thank you all for visiting.

Chainsaw cheers,

- Optiluiz out.

PS: Watched several fun movies during this year's trip to Maringá. Arachnophobia, Slaughterhouse Rulez, Hobbs & Shaw and Long Shot are all worth a watch in my book!

PPS: Expect to see the Mothman again *real* soon.

PPPS: I wonder if any of my stuff will be remembered like this song one day. Hm.

Veteran of a Thousand Meme Wars - The End

Greetings, Epic Clubbers!

Optiluiz here once more with something I bet you thought you'd never see: the final entry in the Veteran of a Thousand Meme Wars saga! I mean, technically this is just a modified version of the original last panel of the previous comic, but don't fret about the details! Just enjoy the moment.

To be honest, for a while there I thought we'd never see the end of this thing, and I'm not sure where to go from here. I mean, I've got a thousand ideas for more comics, and I know I'll never run out of things to complain about in these posts, but I've been thinking about changing things around a bit.

I've had a nearly-complete version of this post drafted for a few months now, and I've been hesitating to actually publish it for a number of reasons. Most of these are due to silly personal paranoia and a feeling of "what do I do once this is over?", but in the end, the delay is mostly due to real life. I had to turn in my final college project last week, and this semester has honestly been killing me.

Hell, even outside of college things haven't exactly been easy, but the ECB was never far from my thoughts. I like it here, and as we approach the blog's sort-of 10th anniversary, I've been thinking a lot about how this has always been a safe haven for all my stupid ideas to flourish away from prying eyes (I mean, come on, it's not like anyone ever visits).

This is why I know I'll still be posting in the near future, and with Max having returned to town, I'm pretty sure we'll have a few surprises in store for you guys very soon. I'll leave ya'll with a song thats been in my head since I watched Nirvanna The Band The Show, my latest obsession. At the end of the post, I'll also add the complete version of Veteran of a Thousand Meme Wars for your viewing pleasure! Hope you enjoy it, and thanks for visiting.

Chainsaw cheers,

-Optiluiz out.

PS: Did anyone else watch the new What We Do In The Shadows series? It's some of the best television I've seen this year.

PPS: Wolfenstein II was pretty rad, and Katana Zero is awesome too!

PPPS: Had another Godzilla fase this year, anticipating King of the Monsters. It wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, but still had fun revisiting the older films.

PPPPS: Oh, my old computer died and I had to wait a while before receiving a new one. It really complicated college stuff, but I survived. Anyway, here's the rest of the comics.

Veteran of a Thousand Meme Wars - Part XVI

Greetings!

Optiluiz here once more, fulfilling the prophecies of yore with yet another comic! It's been a long road but we've finally reached the end of this cursed "arc". I can finally sleep in peace again!

I'm joking, of course, but it does feel good to finally get this stuff off the page and onto the internet to be ignored by everyone (including myself), taking up precious server space in some warehouse on the other side of the world. Yay me!

Well, what have you guys been up to do this week? I finally finished Brutal Legend, which is something that teenage me would be proud of. I've also been watching Project Blue Book, which is basically to UFOs what Mindhunter was to serial killers (that means it's good, kids!). Other than that, well... I've been leaving the house a bit, I guess? That doesn't sound like a real accomplishment when you say it out loud, though.

Anyway, I won't take up any more of your time, but I'm glad you stopped by. Hope you guys and gals keep on visiting, and don't forget to follow our social media links in the "about us" page. I'll leave you guys with a cute video I discovered last month.

Chainsaw cheers,

-Optiluiz out.

PS: There's still one final "Splash page" before Veteran of a Thousand Meme Wars is officially over, so look forward to that in the coming days.

PPS: I hope someone understood that it's a Blue Oyster Cult reference.

PPPS: Pretty bold of me to assume that someone will understand the joke if no one reads the comic.

PPPPS: The comic feels off without the splash page for context... maybe I should re-edit. But that takes time and energy and I only have one of those.

EDIT (22/03/2019): I ended up re-doing the last panel because why the fuck not.

Veteran of a Thousand Meme Wars - Part XV

Greetings!

Kept you waiting, hunh? Well, your boy Optiluiz is back in town with a brand new post, bringing us one step closer to finally concluding this everlasting story! Jesus, this has been our second-longest hiatus yet, but I'm happy to back. It's been a long road, but... you know what? Who cares? Just enjoy the poorly drawn artwork, goddamn it!

So... what have you guys been up to since I've been gone? I'm nearly out of college and produced some of mildly entertaining media since last time, and also had some fun times with Bloody Disgusting related stuff as well. 2018 wasn't exactly my favorite year ever, but I hope you guys had fun with it.

To be honest, for a while there I thought the blog was permanently dead. I mean, there's only so much free time during an adult(ish) week, and there was so much other stuff that took priority over making silly doodles with mediocre words pasted on top of them. However, as usual, I eventually realized that I need this blog more than the blog needs me, and it's a hell of a lot cheaper than therapy, I'll tell you that.

I guess that's about it for now, but stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion to this long-delayed saga of not-so-epic proportions! Thanks for visiting, and don't forget to follow me on Twitter or some shit. Hope you have an awesome week, and I'll leave you now with one of Nico Vega's latest gifts to the world.

Chainsaw Cheers,

- Optiluiz out.

PS: Does anyone want to buy a pile of crappy movies on Blu-Ray? I might have made an ill-advised business decision.

PPS: Been reading the Illuminatus trilogy. Jesus Christ, and I thought House of Leaves was complicated. Really liking it, though.

PPPS: Relax, next week's comic is already finished, you won't have to wait nearly a year for it.