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This image shows a popular "expanding brain" meme with four panels, each showing a brain scan that appears increasingly illuminated or energized as you move down the panels. Each panel represents an escalating level of excitement or enlightenment regarding art appreciation: Top panel: "PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING YOUR ART" with a basic blue brain scan Second panel: "PEOPLE ARE SHARING AND CREDITING YOUR ART" with a more illuminated purple/pink brain Third panel: "PEOPLE SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER" with a brighter white/pink glowing brain Bottom panel: "PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTING YOU ON PATREON" with the most intense, radiant teal brain with light beams extending outward The meme humorously illustrates the progression of validation for artists, with financial support through Patreon depicted as the ultimate form of appreciation.

The algorithm-driven attention economy has turned art into something that’s supposed to be free, consumed in scrolls and taps between subway stops. We’re told success means millions of likes from strangers who’ll forget our work before their coffee gets cold.

But then there’s Patreon – this strange little economic rebellion where actual humans decide that something matters enough to support it directly. Because it resonates in some small, meaningful way with their actual lives.

When you pledge, even if it’s just a few dollars, what you’re really saying is: “I see the sweat-soaked 3 AM T-shirts. I see the scrapped drafts. I see the weekends spent indoors while everyone else is at brunch. And I think your art matters.”

Supporting our webcomic isn’t just about keeping the lights on (although electric companies are insistent about being paid). It’s about creating a tiny ecosystem where art can develop according to its own internal logic rather than chasing whatever social media companies decide is momentarily engaging.

So thank you – for being the kind of person who understands that the people behind internet art need support to thrive. Your contribution makes a difference.

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A black-and-white cartoon by War and Peas shows a dog holding a whip in its mouth while looking at its owner, John, who stands silently in a park. The caption reads, "I thought we could spice things up a bit, John." The scene humorously suggests the dog is trying to introduce a kink element into their walk routine.

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6-panel comic by War and Peas. Panel 1: A reporter approaches a wooden door and says, “Today, we’re talking to the Easter Bunny.” Panel 2: A tired bunny in overalls opens the door and says, “Listen, I told you guys to stop calling me that.” Panel 3: He holds his head in frustration. “I hide my eggs carefully…” Panel 4: “...and then those f***ing kids go on an annual raid!” he yells, gesturing wildly. Panel 5: He leans in the doorway, cigarette in hand. “Do you guys know how much eggs cost these days?” Panel 6: The reporter smiles awkwardly: “Back to you in the studio, Linda.” In the background, the bunny sits hunched on a stool, defeated, muttering: “My mom hand-paints each one.”

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A black-and-white cartoon by War and Peas shows a woman speaking to a man. They stand facing each other with neutral expressions. The woman says, "It’s not you, it’s men." The caption is a humorous twist on the classic breakup line, "It’s not you, it’s me," suggesting her frustration is with men in general rather than the individual man.

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4-panel comic by War and Peas. Panel 1: A blue dung beetle lovingly rolls a large dung ball as two other bugs mock him. One shouts, “Hey, loser! If you love your shit ball so much, why don’t you marry it?” Panel 2: The beetle hugs the dung ball under a romantic pink spotlight. Panel 3: The beetle stands under a wedding arch, placing a ring on the dung ball in front of an officiant. Panel 4: The crowd of bugs watches touched as the two mocking bugs sit stunned, both happily crying.

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A cartoon by War and Peas shows a bird sitting in an airplane seat, wearing a seatbelt and angrily saying to a man next to them, "Why don’t you mind your own fuckin’ business."

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6-panel-comic by War and Peas. Panel 1: The thirsty NASA scientist is trying on a dress in a fitting room. A store clerk stands outside and asks, “Miss, how’s the dress?” Panel 2: The woman steps out in a little black dress and says, “Fine, but it’s not really the look I’m going for.” Panel 3: The clerk asks, “What look are you going for?” Panel 4: With an excited expression and wide eyes, the woman replies, “Lonely scientist gets whisked away by a ZØR$H‡X!-ian prince…” Panel 5: She continues passionately, “...who’s never seen a woman before and is overcome with lust!” Panel 6: The clerk, now slightly disturbed but professional, responds, “Maybe, I have something in the back,” as he walks away. She continues, "She's nervous at first, but he proves to be well-versed in the art of lovemaking."

A digital collage titled "Thirsty Scientist Starter Pack" features various items associated with a sci-fi and science aesthetic. Items include a black slip dress, round glasses, a bottle of "Alien" perfume by Mugler, a telescope, a DVD box set of the "Alien Quadrilogy," a book about H.R. Giger, a poster reading "I WANT TO BELIEVE" with an image of a UFO, and a green, textured alien-like sculpture. The background is light green, and the text is in a bold, futuristic font with a purple outline.

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Elizabeth Pich and Jonathan Kunz sitting beside a wooden ladder displaying a children's book titled "HI, EARTH." The book cover features a cartoon Earth with googly eyes wearing a cowboy hat, surrounded by flames. The setting includes numerous houseplants in the background, creating a cozy, plant-filled environment that appears to be a café or bookstore.

The book is here and it’s all that you can wish for – as an author and a reader. The pages are made of beautiful, thick paper and the colors are what industry professionals and bookstore owners would call vibrant. It is a huge step forward to anything we’ve done before!

Rare Tropical Birds

Yes, there are comics that you have seen before on our socials and the newsletter, but there are also brand new ones that are strictly exclusively in this book – like rare tropical birds that refuse to migrate to the digital ecosystem.

Funny comic by War and Peas named "Fuck that flower" 1. Panel: A flower says: They always say "What a beautiful flower. Lovely flower." 2. Panel: She continues: But do you know what they never say? 3. Panel: She shouts: I want to fuck that flower so hard that [redacted text] 4. Panel: A bee approaches saying "I could offer respectful love-making." The flower shouts "FUCK OFF!"

4-Panel Comic by "War and Peas" Panel 1: A person with an axe stands before a tree with a green treetop that has a simple face. The tree is speaking from a speech bubble saying "You can chop me down, but that won't fill the giant void inside you." The scene is set in a countryside with hills and mountains in the background. Panel 2: The person is now chopping down the tree with their axe, making a "CHOP" sound. The tree has fallen and the person is standing on the tree trunk. In the background, there's a truck or logging vehicle with smoke coming from it. Panel 3: The scene shifts to a lumber mill called "PAUL'S LUMBER" with industrial buildings, smokestacks, and piles of logs. The person who chopped the tree is receiving money bags from a businessman in a coat and hat. Panel 4: The final panel shows the same person now wealthy, lying on a lounge chair by a swimming pool at a luxury mansion. They're holding a cocktail and wearing sunglasses, looking discontented. A speech bubble reads "That damn tree was right..."

Worldwide Distribution

As our publisher Andrews McMeel has a worldwide distribution network, you can get the book really anywhere. Whether you’re contemplating existential dread beside a Norwegian fjord, sitting in a Brooklyn establishment where bearded men manipulate hops with the solemnity of neurosurgeons, or slowly going insane on your private island – our book will find you. It waits, lurking in the shadows, accessible to anyone close to a bookstore or with sufficient bandwidth to complete an online transaction.

Get it via Amazon, Barnes & Noble or BAM. Or order it through your local bookstore!

4-Panel Comic by War and Peas. Panel 1: A woman kneels in front of her dog, holding a leash. The caption reads, "Whenever we go outside..." Panel 2: The woman gently holds and hugs her dog. The caption continues, "...my master needs a leash to make sure she doesn’t get lost." Panel 3: The dog confidently leads the way outside, while the woman follows, holding the leash. The caption reads, "Don’t worry, anxious one." Panel 4: A close-up of the dog looking happy as they walk. The caption concludes, "I’ll take care of you."

Thanks for reading :)
Elizabeth and Jonathan

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A promotional image for the book "Hi, Earth" by Elizabeth Pich and Jonathan Kunz (War and Peas). The image shows the book cover featuring a cartoon Earth wearing a cowboy hat and sweating while surrounded by flames. Cartoon animal characters surround the book: a bee with a blue balloon above, a smiling cow on the left, and a yellow dog/squirrel on the right. The background transitions from orange to yellow, with a quote at the bottom reading: "I can't remember the last time I snorted this much while reading a book." - Patile on Goodreads.
A promotional image for the book "Hi, Earth" by Elizabeth Pich and Jonathan Kunz (War and Peas). The image shows the book cover featuring a cartoon Earth wearing a cowboy hat and sweating while surrounded by flames. Cartoon animal characters surround the book: a bee with a blue balloon above, a smiling cow on the left, and a yellow dog/squirrel on the right. The background transitions from orange to yellow, with a quote at the bottom reading: "I can't remember the last time I snorted this much while reading a book." - Patile on Goodreads.

It’s Out Now!

We still can’t quite believe it’s happening, but today we’re releasing our book “Hi, Earth” into the wild. We’ve spent years drawing talking animals, suicidal icebergs and horny flowers, trying to make sense of this beautiful mess we call home.

4-Panel Comic by War and Peas. Panel 1: A melting iceberg complains, "It is so hot! This damn climate change!" Another iceberg listens in the background. Panel 2: The second iceberg, "My great-grandfather was doing something about climate change before it was en vogue." Panel 3: The first iceberg looks puzzled and asks, "Your great-grandfather?" Panel 4: Flashback to a historical scene: a mustached iceberg watches as the Titanic sails toward it under a moonlit sky. The iceberg smugly replies, "Yeees, yeees."

We never set out to create something profound. Honestly, we just wanted to draw comics that made us laugh during our own late-night anxiety spirals about the state of the planet. Somehow those drawings about Timmy the terrified teenage praying mantis and aliens who can’t decide if they want to take over the planet or not, are now bound together in actual book form.

4-Panel Comic by War and Peas. Panel 1: A UFO hovers in the night sky, beaming up a man named Jerry with a bright yellow tractor beam. Panel 2: Two people watch the abduction. One exclaims, "They're abducting Jerry!" Panel 3: As the UFO flies away, the two people remain unbothered. One says, "Thank God! I never liked him." The other replies, "Yeah, me neither." Panel 4: Onboard the alien spaceship, Jerry is seated on a throne, surrounded by decorations, gifts, and an alien celebration. An alien reassures him, "They didn't deserve you, Jerry."

In these strange times, we’ve found that laughing at colorful pictures about the apocalypse helps us cope better than spiraling into despair. We hope maybe it might do the same for you. Sometimes sharing a nervous laugh about the things that terrify us can make them feel a little more manageable.

We’re endlessly grateful to the infamous publishing house Andrews McMeel for taking a chance on our odd little collection.

4-Panel Comic by War and Peas. Panel 1: A news reporter, standing in a floating transparent water pod, says, "Since becoming a water planet, things have been difficult." Panel 2: The reporter continues, "We’ve adapted by using water pods as a mode of transport." In the background, people are seen moving around inside similar floating pods. Panel 3: Two people inside separate pods try to kiss, but their pods squish against each other with a squeak sound. Panel 4: The reporter, maintaining a serious expression, states, "It has made reproduction quite difficult," while in the background, the couple struggles with their pods.

If you pick up “Hi, Earth,” we hope it gives you a quiet chuckle, or if we’re really lucky, a full-on snort-laugh that makes the people around you uncomfortable. That’s really all we were aiming for.

Get it via Amazon, Barnes & Noble or BAM. Or order it through your local bookstore!

With humble appreciation,
Elizabeth and Jonathan