Those of you who catch my mistakes and point them out to me are doing me a favor, and you've all been unfailingly polite about it since I mentioned it a week or two ago. Thank you all. I appreciate it.

When I made that post, I resolved to see how many strips in a row I could post without any need for correction. As of today my record stands (I shit you not) at ZERO!!! EVERY SINGLE STRIP I'VE POSTED SINCE THEN HAS HAD AT LEAST ONE TYPO, OFTEN MORE!!!!

I'm not what you'd call "smart."

Just to clarify my position, I have not read Twilight, and if you read the strip carefully, you’ll see that I make no commentary on its quality as a book. I am just offended at the idea that the “vampires” in the book have almost none of the characteristics of a vampire.

I have no problem with reinventing something that has been around a long time and is a bit tired. Heck, I was a huge fan of the most recent Star Trek movie, and I’m one of the three Americans who actually want a new movie for the Creature from the Black Lagoon. I just think that if you change too much you’re not reinventing, you’re creating something new, which is fine (better, in fact) but don’t name your creation after something it’s not.

What if I set out to make a new Superman story. My superman can’t fly, doesn’t wear a cape, has MRI vision that allows him to see through you in slices, is from a distant city called Kryptoberg, and isn’t hurt by Kryptonite, but it makes him vibrate in a way that makes him uncomfortable, so he avoids it. Would that be acceptable? Sadly, with some readers, if I had him dreamy and emo (a combination I call “dreamo”) enough I think it might.

I’ve heard the differences between Twilight’s vampires and classic vampires explained by the fact that the author is religious, and has never read any other stories about vampires or seen any R-rated vampire movies, which is most of them. This left her creatively free to make vampires the way she felt they should be. Reminds me vaguely of something I once saw on BBC America.

A commenter asked why I have so many grammar sticklers reading my strip. I fear they come to me for the same reason birds tend to flock to old men sitting on park benches with loaves of stale bread in their hands.

I make more grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors than I should. I don’t want to give the false impression that I don’t care about these things. It pains me when a mistake goes out with my name on it. I try to write comics correctly in the first place. I write lines the way I think people would actually say them, so there are occasional “deliberate errors,” but those things aside I try to stick to “the rules.” Then I run spell-check. Then I read over it again. Then I have Missy look at it. Then, when time comes to post the comic or send it to the newspapers, I look it over again. Then I either send it to the papers (whose editors look at it) or post it.

Then a commenter points out a mistake, and I curse very loudly.

I’m not angry at those who point out these errors (though there have been times that a few have been less than pleasant about it. I did come close to sending one an e-mail recently inviting them to go read something else), I’m angry at myself for making the errors in the first place. Those pointing out my error are, in fact, helping me. And, frustrating though it is, if they catch the error early, I can correct it faster, meaning fewer people are subjected to my numbskullery.

I guess what I’m saying is, thanks for pointing out my punctuation and grammar errors, but please be polite about it. I’m subjecting the comics to extra scrutiny, and reading “Eats, Shoots & Leaves.” Hopefully you’ll have fewer mistakes to point out in the future.

On a more pleasant note, someone asked if they could use a line of my text for their signature file. The answer is, “Please do so immediately!” As long as I’m credited as having written it, you’re doing me a favor. One of my life goals is to turn up in Bartlett’s, or some other book of quotations, and this kind of thing won’t hurt.

I'm done with the monsters. ... For now. ... I think.

The Moon Men logo shirts are up at my store. I say "shirts" because there are two designs. The "small logo over the heart, like in the strip" model, and the "great big logo in the middle of the chest like Batman" version.

On a more personal note, if you ever wonder what kind of guy Scott Adams is, read this article, then reflect on the fact that the time period when his voice was at its worst and things seemed most hopeless was when he decided to help yours truly, simply because he could.

Something to think about.

Sorry this post is a little late. I had a detail I wanted to nail down before I made any statements on the continuation of the Rocket Hat saga.

It seems many of you feel there's more meat left on the Rocket Hat bone, as it were. I agree. I hadn't done any more strips dealing with him and the Moon Men because my friend Ray Freisen and I were quietly attempting to spin him off into a totally separate title. The idea was that I would write and draw an installment, leaving it in a cliff hanger, then he'd pick up the thread, resolve my cliff hanger and leave it in a different cliff hanger. Then we'd alternate like that until one of us said "uncle."

We turned out one installment each, then decided the project didn't have a future, so I have Rocket Hat and the Moon Men to play with again! My installment of the spin-off will be in my second book. His installment will be made available somehow around the same time. as for the Emperor's hair, I think I'll keep it long for now. We'll see what happens.

I do intend to make a Moon Man logo shirt. It's on the to do list.

Speaking of shirts, I'm considering bringing back the Infini-Tee briefly for Christmas. I'm thinking I may do a limited number of them for one month (November?) if there's enough interest. I want to make sure I can deliver all orders before Christmas. if anyone has any better ideas, or suggestions, I'm listening.

To answer a recurring question, Frankenstien's monster in my strip is a very talented guy I know named Rodney Sherwood, who has turned up as a mechanic, and in a few other places I believe.