Comical Start

The intro is a beautiful conglomeration of all your hosts’ interests, fears, and desires. Grant brings a Drabble comic to talk about experience and qualifications. What are they even? What’s the point of the education system? Mark makes an argument for structured learning, and Grant doesn’t disagree. Regretfully, your hosts move on to Mark’s comic: Robbie and Bobby . After some linguistic pedantry...

Mark has two things, but the second one is chosen to go first. New tires, new snacks; it’s an exciting time. Further commentary on quarantine is made, although it’s slightly more positive this week. Mark brings Dark Side of the Horse . He just wants to talk about mini-golf, but it quickly turns into a broader conversation about social interaction. Bowling, anyone? Grant brings a Red and Rover comi...

Our first ever second time guest back for the first time. After a brief discussion about dreams, the boys get into it. Grant brings The Duplex to dive straight into relationship talk. Do you make real friends when you have a significant other? Or does it all fall apart like a flimsy house of cards? Grant’s reactions to Matt and Mark sound like there’s been trouble in paradise before. Matt brings a...

Mark comes in hot with YouTube recommendations for these lonely times, while your hosts both describe why weird schedules are weird. Mark brings a Real Life Adventures comic. Mark likes model planes, while Grant made a kite. Boomerangs are a significant accomplishment. Grant brings Moderately Confused and refuses to do any work on his own for the first few minutes. Eventually he brings up camping,...

Mark measures things positively and went to the store. Work has gotten crazier for both hosts. Grant brings an AJ and Magnus comic, and Grant wonders how cavalier Mark is at work with implementing his own ideas. It turns out both hosts think they’re reasonable, but Grant has to be more careful. Mark brings a Frazz comic, and Grant is confident in his ability to tell a story. Who cares about kids a...

All of Mark’s activities are canceled, and it’s not getting better. Grant and Mark both give updates on their local pandemic status. Mark tries to share a few good-natured stories, and Grant also had Chipotle. We all fight our own battles. Mark brings a Loose Parts comic. What’s a shared space? As someone not working from home, Grant has some decent suggestions to do the opposite. Grant brings a 9...

Mark is busy and had quite the day at work. Some viral discussion occurs with no real resolution. Grant fails to execute on a funny anecdote of his own, and Mark made it to the DMV. Grant brings a JumpStart comic to talk about plane talk. Mark isn’t a fan of it himself, though he doesn’t begrudge other people who start a conversation. Grant had a lovely experience, causing reevaluation of life cho...

Mark had to be an adult after a period of procrastination, and he wasn’t too thrilled. The DMV is fun, and Grant gives Mark some hope. Grant got some texts, and your hosts determined texts should go the way of email. Mark brings The Adventures of Business Cat . Mark updates Grant on the state of his job. Grant does a PSA for liberal arts colleges, and carefully dances around specifics as he discus...

Grant went to the store, and Mark has been busy. A story of food experimentation is told. In an attempt to cause more ruckus, Grant goes first with a Speed Bump comic. Your hosts talk about whether they enjoy being busy, and Mark is skeptical about Grant’s supposed productivity boost under time constraint. Mark brings a Rabbits Against Magic comic. What drinks do your hosts enjoy during meals, and...

Mark got Girl Scout cookies, and Grant has an opinion. A few minutes later, Grant is having none of this . Some people aren’t fans of trivia. Grant brings a Big Top comic, and Mark has a few things to say about it. What is a lion anyway? Mark eventually addresses Grant’s question, just not in a useful way. Mark wants more jokes. Mark brings an Oh, Brother! comic and manages to fit a few minutes of...

Mark has a story of thievery and intrigue. Grant has a story about lights and PPE. Mark brings an F Minus comic. He and Grant have a nostalgic geek-out session over the Magic Tree House series. What a time to grow up, huh? Grant brings a Big Nate comic because he’s unprepared. Mark has a hard time remembering the last time he was, and offers unhelpful advice for those struggling with preparation....

Mark and Grant get a bit too serious talking about work and business meetings. Things almost get a little saucy until Grant thinks better of it. Not wanting to lose the identity of the podcast, Mark casually shifts to hot dog talk. Grant brings a Frank and Ernest comic. After a long anecdote, he wants to discuss shortcuts. Mark isn’t lazy and doesn’t look for shortcuts, he’s just efficient . Also...

Flustered by technical difficulties prior to the show, your hosts revisit computer talk. Grant’s charger is breaking, and Mark verbally abuses Grant for want of disk space. However, the ship is turned around as the focus becomes food. Mark brings a Haircut Practice comic. Bread is the topic of choice. Grant has become lazy, while Mark demands variety. Grant brings a JumpStart comic. Mark misunders...

In rather unusual fashion, Mark and Grant share some technology updates. Mark has a new keyboard, and Grant is a slow, but steady, convert to window-snapping. Grant brings a Fred Basset comic. Does Mark make food at home? And what does he make? Mark prefers to ignore the question for a bit and weave a tale from his past. Then they talk about bready things and oysters. Mark brings a Peanuts comic t...

Grant made food this weekend, and Mark participated in several activities. After a movie recommendation, Grant describes his conflicted day at work. Mark had jury duty. Mark brings a Loose Parts comic to talk about modern navigation. How would your hosts survive fifteen, twenty years ago with nothing but maps and their wits to guide them? Could they travel 3 miles north? Grant brings a TOBY comic...

Mark is recently ill but still has stuff to say and things to do. Grant finally embarked on a months-old project, and Mark considers dinner options. Grant brings a Questionable Quotebook comic. He wants the advice of his dear co-host regarding goals for the new year. It is surprisingly fruitful. Mark brings a Snow Sez comic to talk about fishing. What was Grant’s experience growing up? Did your ho...

It’s a New Year! However your hosts recorded this well before it occurred, so there isn’t much to share. Grant had a rough weekend with adulting, so Mark tells him a joke. Grant doesn’t know how to vamp, but both hosts had cookies at work. Mark brings a Jake Likes Onions comic. What animal abilities would your hosts like? Grant has no idea, so a bonus comic is read. Eventually, Harry Potter trivia...

Mandatory Holiday Fun is resolved, and Grant explains the show notes. Grant brings a Cornered comic in a rather meta fashion, hoping to catch Mark off guard. A guessing game ensues, followed by a tale of medical woe. Mark brings a PC and Pixel comic so your hosts can wax nostalgic about the Prequels, and about Star Wars in general. Send feedback to comicalstart@gmail.com .

Half of your hosts are in the holiday spirit. Sweaters and cookies are discussed, as well as a short update on mandatory holiday fun. Grant needs food, and might buy a plane. Mark brings a Reality Check comic. Do your hosts use highlighters? Should they use highlighters? An exploration of their dark pasts reveals the answers. Grant brings a Garfield comic because he forgot his purpose in this epis...

Mark got a new toy, and Grant did not break anything. Mark and Grant talk chemical safety and mandatory fun. Grant brings a Fowl Language comic, and allows Mark to rant a bit about wine. Mark gives Grant and the listeners something to remember, and Grant wants something resolved. Mark brings an Eric the Circle comic. Grant does not connect with animated movies, but at least Mark enjoys abstract co...

Mark has more travel woes, and both hosts recount their holiday weekends. There were some dessert issues. Mark brings an Invisible Bread comic, wishing to talk about the influx of discount cards. He has a bone to pick with grocery stores in particular, while Grant finds a reasonable explanation Mark is hesitant to accept. Grant brings a Calvin and Hobbes comic, because it’s treehouse time. Did you...

Mark had to figure out health insurance, and wonders how different people deal with computers. Mark professes his love of keyboard shortcuts. Grant brings an Adam@Home comic after a bit of delay. He wants to know what Mark is picky about. Mark surprises Grant, and then Grant provides another perspective. Mark brings a Meg comic. After arguing over the nature of salad bars, Grant describes his issu...

Mark and Grant consider innovations in cinema technology. Mark puts 3D movies on blast, while Grant wonders if anyone was upset when movies got sound. Mark brings a Breaking Cat News comic to talk about holiday plans and preparation. What are your hosts up to for the upcoming season? They also investigate a new business idea. Grant brings a Fowl Language to discuss memory. Maybe. He couldn’t remem...

Grant’s location is nearly disclosed as Mark tries to give him something to do. Board games and movies are discussed. Grant brings Cornered and Mark finally screwed up. Grant’s a bit miffed about credit being stolen from him. Mark continues to work with amazing people who never put him in such a position. Mark brings a Berkeley Mews comic for a brief conversation about playing dead in the real wor...

Mark played some sports, and is paying for it dearly. Grant had a physically necessary weekend, and his coworkers are way too invested in his personal life. Mark brings an Angry Little Girls comic to talk about secrets. First, an argument about inflection occurs. Your hosts have their most productive discussion in months. Grant brings a Lola comic, and it is almost never revealed why. Instead your...