Planet Joey

The Blue Jays are in the World Series, Joey!

Joey's Blue Jays are off to the World Series!

And lastly, the two friends finally paused and took a moment to look around (literally). Joey was in awe of the night sky in the remote outpost of Cold Springs... as well as Herb's mad skillz when it came to puns.
3/3

The next Sunday caught up with Joey and his newfound friend, Herb, unpacking. Joey wondered if Herb's mysterious appearance meant he had supernatural powers and Herb discovered where Joey's priorities were.
2/3

In honour of the 5th anniversary of Planet Joey, here are the first three Sunday strips that launched back in 2020 documenting the 3-week story arc of Joey travelling to and settling into his new house in Cold Springs!

First, Joey's road sign/hockey mashup daydream:
1/3

In honour of the 5th anniversary of Planet Joey this week — and because it's Sunday — here are the first three Sunday strips that launched back in 2020 documenting the 3-week story arc of Joey travelling to and settling into his new house in Cold Springs!

Planet Joey turns FIVE this week!

5 years ago this week, Joey's car was driving north to his new home in the remote town of Cold Springs...

Thanks Mike! 🙏

Planet Joey turns 5 today!

Just months into the Covid-19 pandemic, here was the first comic that dropped.

Man, that feels like a decade ago now...

Some self-deprecating comedy here, as Joey and Herb wander off as silhouettes. The next week, the comic joined Joey in his car on the way to Cold Springs...

Planet Joey No. 6: "Insipid Little Heroes"
6/6

I had these first six comics drawn for years, before finally completing these versions of them.

A re-wrote a few of these, but I loved this one from the start.

"Bring on the nukes!" is a classic.

Planet Joey No. 5: "Plan D(oom)"
5/6

A Liquid Paper reference for the Boomers and Gen Xers.

Planet Joey No. 4: "Cold Reception"
4/6

My drawing improved quickly over the first year, but I did like this one.

Planet Joey No. 3: "Lousy Cartoon Physics"
3/6

Before the strip really got started, I wanted a bit of a lead in that introduced the characters and the type of humour.

Week one was all about shattering the fourth wall, basically.

Planet Joey No. 2: "Ridiculous is Right"
2/6

5 years ago today, Planet Joey went live!

After I was able to overcome the feeling of existential dread brought on by the pandemic, I was able to focus and push my 20-year passion project over the finish line.

Planet Joey No. 1: "We're on fire!"
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Herb fills Joey in on who Le Corbusier (Le Cor-boos-ee-yay) is and how it relates to the piece of furniture he’s sitting in.

Joey has other concerns, dampening his enthusiasm for this icon of modern architecture and design.

That time Gaston + Mimi finally made their first Sunday appearance:

DesignNova: I ♥ NY How a quick sketch in a cab became the emotional signature of a city.

In the latest instalment of #DesignNova, I looked at how a quick sketch became the emotional heartbeat of a city.

open.substack.com/pub/orbitstu...

Designing the Revolution: How Zohran Mamdani’s Mayoral Campaign Turned Political Branding on Its Head What happens when the left borrows the playbook of populism — and hands it to a designer?

What happens when the left borrows the playbook of populism — and hands it to a designer?

orbitstudios.substack.com/p/designing-...

Hand‑Drawn = High‑Tech: Why Imperfection Is the Ultimate Design Signal In a world of AI‑polished perfection, human-made marks are the new flex. A look at why sketchy, scribbly, hand-drawn design isn’t just charming — it’s strategic.

In a world of AI‑polished perfection, human-made marks are the new flex. A look at why sketchy, scribbly, hand-drawn design isn’t just charming — it’s strategic.

orbitstudios.substack.com/p/handdrawn-...

Designing the Multiverse: IKEA by Wes Anderson What if Sweden’s flat-pack furniture empire was directed by the king of cinematic symmetry?

What if Sweden’s flat-pack furniture empire was directed by the king of cinematic symmetry?

orbitstudios.substack.com/p/designing-...

New town, new plan: Joey’s not aiming for straight A’s — he’s gunning for dodgeball stardom. Instant fame, delivered via gym class glory. Meanwhile, out in the sticks, Herb discovers his nemesis: a buzzing horde of winged vampires.

Happy Labour Day weekend, PJ readers!

Current status:

Hey new followers, just FYI I also draw a comic strip in my spare time.

You’re invited to follow @planetjoey.bsky.social!

Read the full archive at planetjoey.ca!

Thumbnailing… It’s been a year. I’m soaking up vacation week at the cottage. ☀️🌊😎

It's the weekend! Enjoy the first ever Planet Joey Sunday format strip!

As a lifelong fan of newspaper comic strips and this format in particular, I'll never forget the feeling of gratification when I finished this one and uploaded it...

Happy Friday!

Re-upping this Bubble Fox guest comic when I stepped in for @jonscrazytweets a couple of years ago.

Delivering the newspaper: more like playing hockey than you realize.

Happy Friday, PJ readers!

In 1999 I made a vector diagram of the Great Lakes for a textbook. It had 3 gradients, no texture, and one typo: “Niagra.”

It’s now the most famous thing I’ve ever made.

New Orbit30 post is up:

open.substack.com/pub/orbitstu...

#design #Orbit30 #GreatLakes #illustration