ARCHI-TOONS™: The Backstory

Archi-toons was never conceived to be a running comic strip. Although the entertainers throughout the pages of Archi-toons are varied and at times eccentric, there are a few characters that are entertwined throughout the 'toons.

For example, the architectural office that contains the key players is known as Dezinefirm Inc.  Begun eons ago as a three man start-up, the firm has evolved into a typical  microcosm of the professional world. The principal of design is McGlade. Only one name but one big ego. He is faithfully served by Zack the Project Architect. You know the type. Fast track corporate climber, Pretty boy, family man.  Miles the intern is as fresh as they come right out of design school. His naivitee and innocence may eventually be eroded by the real world but his spirit is galvanized by the refreshing creed that architecture can and will make the world a better place.

Jerry is the old timer. Every firm that has an “old man” that can run rings around any underling when it comes to putting a building together. The tragedy is that he would rather gouge out his eye with a protractor than to right-click a mouse. He is tortured by the evolving office political games that have evolved around him and by his own integrity he chose not to play. The supporting cast include Chuck the Contractor; Dezinefirm’s foil and chronically low bidder.Tom is the design school student. He will graduate, one day, but why? Architecture was so pure in school- why not just suspend that simple time ? 

Professor Walker is the predominant academic figure. A man of mystery, we are not aware of his true talent or his personal life- only his steadfast love for his work.

ARCH TV is the 24 hour a day television channel for all things related to architecture. It is owned by Doug, a community access channel robber baron if there ever was one but it is Wyatt, the number one fan fave and emcee that hosts

There are also fantasy panels interlaced throughout these comic panels. The Architect’s Dream Sequence series are the daydreams of what a.) we professionals would like our world to be or b.) are scared to death that it could be. Forgotten Movements in Architecture is my way of just having fun with all of the “isms” and labels that seem so common yet so shallow when discussing architecture.