There's no bad publicity. Right? By Kevin J. Guhl 10-2-06 The folks at Digital Strips somehow came across Detective Fork and subjected it to an audio review. Let's just say the Detective and I got ripped a collective new one. There were lots of criticisms, some of which I've heard before and a few new ones. I figured I'd address a few of them here. I don't go far enough with the silverware theme: I agree with this and I'm consciously adding more of it. I just don't want it to overwhelm the comic. The comic panels should be bigger and the text is too big: I've heard this criticism the most and I just don't care to change it. I prefer the comic be newspaper format but mainly it would take longer to draw bigger comics and it takes me long enough as it is. The premise of the comic is humorous but the comic is serious. It doesn't jive: Another thing I'm not changing. I guess it's funny to me to see silverware acting out a serious crime drama. Another thing is that I actually am invested in the characters and have some serious stories to tell. I just hope that regular readers (the far, the few!) will eventually get over the "OMG, they're silverware!" reaction. I gave up awhile ago on thinking Detective Fork has mass appeal. And I do put in jokes; they're just not constant. Also, I cannot draw legs. The plots are too simplistic, cliched and seem like they were written by an eight-year-old: I think the earlier stories were more simple because I had a limited amount of newspaper issues to fit them in. The newer, longer stories have some more depth, I feel. But only so much - Detective Fork is a mystery/adventure comic strip serial, not high literature. Detective Noir stories are pretty much a cliche, although a few stories like Sin City broke the mold. I'm trying to keep somewhat true to detective noir yet branch out. But I do slip into cliches sometimes. And come on, I write at least at a 12-year-old level. Sometimes the comic feels like it takes place in the 1930s; other times it feels like the future: I like to mix past designs with futuristic ones. I figure since it's forks, I can pretty much do what I want in their world. I also mix things from different decades, like Nazis and 1950's biker gangs. Nazis???? The reasons the Nazis are there is a lead-up to World War 2 and Fork’s involvement in that. The Nazis believe the master race of silverware are those made of the purest steel. I didn't explain that in the comic yet. But I will, when the Nazis reappear. :-) The art is inconsistent and the text is hideous: Some people like the text, some don't. I've had feedback from both ends. I could use digital font but I prefer to draw it by hand and try to improve. As for the inconsistent art, I'm just an inconsistent artist. But it's also deliberate. I tend to draw what I think looks good in each frame instead of worrying about sticking 100 percent to a model. If distortion fits the mood and style, I let it go. Ren & Stimpy is an inspiration. I liked how those two characters would look smooth in regular shots but in close-ups you would see all this disgusting, exaggerated detail in their faces. Regardless of what my reviewers said (and a lot of it was warranted criticism), it is nice that they took the time and interest to do a show about the Detective. I'm sure you've noticed that Detective Fork is on hiatus. Mainly, I'm dedicating my time to writing a novel (which is not about silverware). I intend that Fork will show up here and there in new strips but a regular update schedule is off the map for awhile. Comment on this article.

Pix By Kevin J. Guhl 7-27-06 I've got a backlog of Detective Fork appearances in other comics and fan art to show you, so here's a couple awesome drawings I was sent recently. The first is an awesome pic of the Detective as I probably should draw him (with clothes under his trench) by Nick Arganbright, the studmuffin who draws D4K. Finaleve, who (if his MySpace profile is to be believed) hails from my home state of New Jersey, returns with more Fork art, this time with the Detective holding tommy guns. And here, by none other than the Spectacular Kevin-Man, is Fork Facts #6: Start story from beginning.|Rewind|Comment Comment on this article.

Gotta be truthful... By Kevin J. Guhl 7-13-06 I'm admitting defeat; not of drawing Detective Fork comics because I love doing that too much to give it up. The art's improving and I'm satisfied as a sasquatch with the way Paris looks in panel two of "Floridian Fumes" #40. That's how she looks in my head, even if she doesn't appear in a consistent manner on the page. No, what I'm admitting defeat of is any attempt to maintain a regular update schedule. If I don't make promises to get comics up on certain days, then I'm not a villain for breaking them. For example, it's been working better for me lately to throw up all of the week's new comics on one day. I kind of like the idea of one big update; It's mega-Fork. I'd like to put up at least two comics a week but that's not always gonna happen. Last week, for example, I spent days vacationing in Cape May and then came back to a social calendar and an extra-busy week of work that lasted through Tuesday night. I wanted to draw comics and put them up but just wasn't able to. On the other hand, this week there's the optimum three comics and they're all up at once. The bad part about this is I further sacrifice any aspirations of becoming a rich and famous webcomic tycoon because those guys and gals are very dedicated and keep a regular update schedule that's pretty much daily. The good part is that, this way, there's more freedom and my hobby is not a chore. Below, enjoy None Such Legend #4: Start story from beginning.|Rewind|Comment Comment on this article.

Plenty O'Fork By Kevin J. Guhl 6-30-06 Updates were wonky this week but here you are (in order): None Such Legend #2, None Such Legend #3, Fork Facts #4 and Fork Facts #5: Start story from beginning.|Comment Read more Fork Facts.|Comment Comment on this article.

Would you like some fruity cereal, Detective? By Kevin J. Guhl 6-17-06 I'm not a final nominee in the Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards but I thank everyone who voted for me. It's okay, though. I keep doing this because I love it. Recognition would be nice and readers keep me going but I'm coming to realize there just isn't a big audience for a talking fork. The WCCA's are based on popularity. However, that's not all she wrote. Last year, after only having it online for like six months, Detective Fork got nominated in the Anthropomorphic category. (Didn't win; Dinosaur Comics did and I see no way around that.) The point is, I asked for readers to vote for me in that category if they felt Detective Fork was deserving (while leaving notes for others if I voted for them for something) and I had enough votes to get nominated. It is possible to get on there, even for a little guy who gets most of his readers on Drunk Duck. You have to promote it, though, especially if you don't have a huge readership. My comic didn't get nominated this year but I suspect it's because I had a dormant period of about two months, haven't been keeping up with my column and I'm way behind on reading other Drunk Duck comics, even my favorites like Slither, Penis, Pinky and others. All that's really killed my readership, although I do appreciate the faithful forkers who still come by. And yes, it does kinda look like Fork is punching out the Boo Berry ghost in panel two. Comment on this article.

The Adventures of Johnny Spork begin By Kevin J. Guhl 6-12-06 There's a little switch-up this week. The next part of Floridian Fumes will go up on Wednesday instead of today. And Wednesday's comic, the beginning of a new mini-comic storyline, is up today. I've listened to the pleas (all few of them) for more Johnny Spork and now give you None Such Legend #1: Comment Meanwhile, the results of the Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards nomination round are due to be posted today. They're not up yet and I await them anxiously... Comment on this article.

Dem Fumes By Kevin J. Guhl 6-2-06 I'm back from the beach like Frankie Avalon and Floridian Fumes continues. There's been some confusion about where to find certain stories, so for now on the main storyline will be the only comic appearing above. Mini-comics will now appear here in the news section. It's time again for the Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards. I was a finalist for Best Anthropomorphic Comic last year but lost out in the end to Dinosaur Comics. It would really be a boost if I took that award this year. If you work on a webcomic, you're eligible to vote for the awards. And if you feel Detective Fork is worthy of that honor, I'd sure appreciate your vote. I'm voting for a number of my favorite comics in the awards... :-) In order to register for voting privileges, please write to trbinth@aol.com to request your nomination instructions. State your name, your comic and where it can be found. If you've voted before, you just have to login with the information they've hopefully already e-mailed to you. The main site is here. The nomination round ends June 5. Comment on this article.

The Facts of Fork By Kevin J. Guhl 5-26-06 I'm off for a sabbatical down the shore...not from the comic, though. Above is the third installment of a new subseries called Fork Facts. And, wait; bonus! Here's two more of those to give you something to look at while I'm away because I won't be here to post a comic on Monday. Enjoy! It's time again for the Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards. I was a finalist for Best Anthropomorphic Comic last year but lost out in the end to Dinosaur Comics. It would really be a boost if I took that award this year. If you work on a webcomic, you're eligible to vote for the awards. And if you feel Detective Fork is worthy of that honor, I'd sure appreciate your vote. I'm voting for a number of my favorite comics in the awards... :-) In order to register for voting privileges, please write to trbinth@aol.com to request your nomination instructions. State your name, your comic and where it can be found. If you've voted before, you just have to login with the information they've hopefully already e-mailed to you. The main site is here. The nomination round was due to end May 29 but will be extended due to some now fixed problems with the voting system. Comment on this article.

Fork Returns By Kevin J. Guhl 5-22-06 First of all, happy birthday to my brother Rob! I still remember the weather on that day in 1986 when you were born. If you've read my last column, you know why I haven't been around. Anyway, my computer is back up and running thanks to Big Dirty and with it returns the Fork. There are a few changes, though. You'll still get two comic strips a week, only on different regular days - Mondays and Fridays. There's only so much time for artistic pursuits. :-/ Because I have a little less free time these days and want to get back to writing a novel, I'll be doing the smaller comics on a more irregular basis. When they do go up, it'll be on Wednesdays or they might sporadically appear instead of a comic strip from the main storyline. The last part of The Night Invasion will be up this Wednesday, however. As for my column, it'll be on a "when I have time for it" basis but the long-delayed interview with Michael John Morris of Pinky TA will be up soon. It's really good to be back. The break I took from drawing comics was good, since I came back fresher and the art in Floridian Fumes is looking better, in my opinion. Of course, I've had this happen before where my art improves after a break and then I start to burn out or something after drawing a bunch of comics and get into bad habits. I truly appreciate those who asked when I was coming back. It's time again for the Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards. I was a finalist for Best Anthropomorphic Comic last year but lost out in the end to Dinosaur Comics. It would really be a boost if I took that award this year. If you work on a webcomic, you're eligible to vote for the awards. And if you feel Detective Fork is worthy of that honor, I'd sure appreciate your vote. I'm voting for a number of my favorite comics in the awards... :-) In order to register for voting privileges, please write to trbinth@aol.com to request your nomination instructions. State your name, your comic and where it can be found. If you've voted before, you just have to login with the information they've hopefully already e-mailed to you. The main site is here. The nomination round was due to end May 29 but will be extended due to some current problems with the voting system. Comment on this article.

Where I be? By Kevin J. Guhl 4-27-06 Fork is not dead. It's been awhile since I've posted new comics and there's a few reasons. I've expounded on those reasons in my latest column. Look for new comics as soon as I get my regular computer fixed. Comment on this article.

Fork fan art By Kevin J. Guhl 3-8-06 John Daiker returned the favor of my interview of him with perhaps the spiffiest piece of fan art I've ever received. I mean, "Damn!" John draws The Whovian Observer. I've said before it pains me when people draw my character better than I do. :-P In the pic John drew, it looks like Fork might be about to step into some adventures in time and space. In a funny way, it could even tie into one of today's comics. *Sigh,* I still have like three more older pieces of fan art I gotta show you... In this week's Forkin' Webcomics column on The Comics Review, I waxed poetic (again) on Drunk Duck. Read more. Comment on this article.

Doctor Who? By Kevin J. Guhl 2-25-06 While listening to my interview, I noticed things I don't like about my voice. Like, I talk too fast sometimes and say "y'know" too damned much. I also needed a better microphone but just didn't have one at the time. Still, it was cool to be interviewed. In this week's Forkin' Webcomics column on The Comics Review, I interviewed John Daiker, whose comic strips have appeared in Doctor Who fanzine Black Scrolls and who draws the webcomic The Whovian Observer. He's a talented guy and I'll say here what I said in the interview. Doctor Who Magazine should consider bringing him on to do The Whovian Observer as a regular feature or in some other artistic capacity. Read more. Comment on this article.

It's...The Gigcast By Kevin J. Guhl 2-22-06 I was phoned up this week for an interview on The Gigcast, an interview talk show about webcomics. We discussed this comic, my new column, setting up my own ranch to show children retired Disney attractions and my Superman complex. Hooked into the 1989-style boombox that serves as my computer speakers and talking into the tiny microphone on my monitor, I talked for two hours with hosts J.T. and Scott and only about a half hour of that will make it into the show. The Gigcast is due to be up soon after I post this update, so I'm anxious to see how J.T. whittled things down to keep me on-topic. ;-) One of the two comics I just posted depicts the interview. The highlight? Fork's mouse. I'll admit to it right now. My first several interviews for my column are going to be with authors of comic strips I've admired for a long time. I'll be branching out later but for the time being I'm content giving a shout out to those comics I've wanted to shout about for a long time. The current recipient of this treatment is Michael Dean's comic "Slither and Friends." Read more. Comment on this article.

Detective thrills By Kevin J. Guhl 2-15-06 Detective Fork has entered into a partnership with Thrilling Detective, the web's best resource for detective fiction. Starting Feb. 12, Fork's adventures started there with "Floridian Fumes." There's been a delay in getting this week's interview, so instead I've written about a topic dear to my heart - Breasts. Yeah, that's right - Boobies! Read it! Technically, I passed the 100th-comic mile marker awhile back but it's hard to say where it was because I've been doing simultaneous storylines. However, by the convoluted numbering system I use that puts all the official Detective Fork comics in sequential order, The Night Invasion #16 is the 100th comic. Comment on this article.

Same old...but it sells By Kevin J. Guhl 2-8-06 I'm planning a full report on my Groundhog Day adventures, so more on that later. In this week's Forkin' Webcomics column, I muse on what makes certain webcomics hugely popular. Like Penny Arcade popular. It's something I know people have varying opinions on. I gave my thoughts and I'd like to hear yours. Comment on this article.

Detective thrills By Kevin J. Guhl 2-15-06 Detective Fork has entered into a partnership with Thrilling Detective, the web's best resource for detective fiction. Starting Feb. 12, Fork's adventures started there with "Floridian Fumes." There's been a delay in getting this week's interview, so instead I've written about a topic dear to my heart - Breasts. Yeah, that's right - Boobies! Read it! Technically, I passed the 100th-comic mile marker awhile back but it's hard to say where it was because I've been doing simultaneous storylines. However, by the convoluted numbering system I use that puts all the official Detective Fork comics in sequential order, The Night Invasion #16 is the 100th comic. Comment on this article.

Arghhhhh By Kevin J. Guhl 1-30-06 Oh, man, did I get behind on comics this past week. I hate when that happens but I'm not going to skip the two installments of Floridian Fumes that I missed. Rather, I'm going to work them into two double updates over the next couple of weeks so everything evens out to where it's supposed to be. This week's Forkin' Webcomics column features an interview with Zoe Stead. She has impressed me with her large output of quality work ever since I started following webcomics . And she's not just doing comic strips like I am; she is juggling a few different comic books, posting them page-by-page online. And her style is uniquely Zoe. Her current comics are Earthbound, - an epic tale of angels fighting demons - and The WAVAM Project - a medevial saga about vampires with romantic undertones. Comment on this article.

Shilling all over the place By Kevin J. Guhl 1-22-06 The Comics Review has brought me on to write a column about the wily world of webcomics. It's about the webcomics world, my experiences inside it, and it'll showcase another webcomic artist/writer every other week. The first column's up, so check it out HERE. Ever desire any of that Detective Fork swag in the store? If so, now's the time to get it. I've lowered the prices at my Cafe Press store to be as low as they can possibly be. This means: World's Sharpest T-shirt -$8.99 Detective Fork Baby Bib - $5.99 Detective Fork Sticker - $2.49 World's Sharpest Baseball Jersey - $16.99 Get 'em HERE! Comment on this article.

It's back! By Kevin J. Guhl 1-18-06 In case you didn't know: Drunk Duck! Comment on this article.

Oops. By Kevin J. Guhl 1-12-06 I've come to accept that while I will make every effort to give you the three promised comics a week, it won't always be on the correct days. I missed the updates on Monday and Wednesday, so you get Monday's update today and you'll get a double update on Saturday. I'll try not to let that be a regular shortcoming but hey, two Floridian Fumes installments at once. :-) Comment on this article.

Forkworld Geography By Kevin J. Guhl 1-7-06 I've finally decided where Silver City is located. It's not the same Silver City as the one in New Mexico or the one in South Dakota. It was originally supposed to be the New York City of Forkworld but with other real world locations being paralleled in Forkworld, I decided that New York City must exist there, too. If you look closely at Fork's ID, it shows Silver City as being in my home state of NJ. Had to do it 'cos Jersey rules! In Forkworld, Silver City has replaced a much less important place from the real world - Jersey City. Comment on this article.

We want YOUR opinion! By Kevin J. Guhl 1-5-06 I'm not a good barometer of my own work so I rely on you to tell me how I'm doing. In that spirit, I'm curious to know which of my 2005 Detective Fork stories you thought was the best. I'd be much obliged if you hopped on over here and cast your vote! Comment on this article.

Hoppy New Year! By Kevin J. Guhl 1-1-06 Holy crap. Dec. 30 marked the one year anniversary of Detective Fork going online. It's been a decent first year. I actually managed to post comics every week, improved my art skills a bit and made some friends and readers. Not bad at all. Outside of my webcomic, life stayed a little too much the same in terms of work and general existence but I did manage to travel to a bunch of places and pack on some muscle, two goals I had for the year. In 2006, I wouldn't mind getting some more attention to the site, though. Not sure how. Well, 2005 is now gone and Unicron has yet to attack. What's up wit dat? As I write this, Dan and Big D are passed out on my couch, sleeping like infants as the alcohol works its way out of their bloodstreams. I had a good time, too, just had to cut off the drinks around midnight so I could drive everybody home. Had a blast at Conduit in Trenton and met some nice girls (one who even claimed to know you, Tim, and said she road in Joe's limo to the prom). Of course, watching me try to dance is always an amusing sight. I'm more used to rock concerts and wanna hop up and down. Not so much used to the dance music/night club thing. Oh, no! I'm missing the Twilight Zone marathon, aren't I?! It's not fair! It's just not fair! Comment on this article.

Detective Fork © 2005-2006 Kevin J. Guhl. All rights reserved.