Student Anthology: Muddy Buddies

Muddy Buddies is a new comic anthology spear-headed by students Kelly Swann and J.D. Lunt. They came up with the idea when Kelly strolled into the production lab at The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) with a big bag of Muddy Buddies Chex Mix to share. J.D. thought the name would make a great title for a comic anthology about a pair of guys in the trenches during WWI.

Cover of the WWI anthology Muddy Buddies

This is the first anthology that either student has been the driving force. They really enjoyed working on the project with each other, and with the other students. Most of the communication was easy enough one-on-one, though a few emails were sent out so people would know what was happening with their comic. Everyone was completely self-motivated, which made organizing everything easier—there was no need to push. Kelly and J.D. were thrilled that so many people were interested in an idea that started as a joke. The theme is frivolous, but people ran with it in very personal directions.

Kelly Swann and J.D. Lunt showing off Muddy Buddies fresh off the printer

In Stuck by Anna Sellheim, a soldier yearns for the lesser of two evils.

Panel from Stuck by Anna Sellheim

In Muddy Buddies (The Next War) by J. D. Lunt, a soldier reads aloud the poem The Next War by Wilfred Owen.

In Lesson Unlearned by Shashwat Mishra, the same mistake is made generation after generation.

In We Are All One, Joe Davidson changes things up with a supernatural twist, exploring the psychological pitfalls of the ego.

Panel from We Are All One by Joe Davidson

In It’s Men We Want, Jonathan Rotsztain discusses the horror of sitting tight.

In Pale Horses by James Graham, a soldier experiences the roughest part of war.

Panel from Pale Horses by James Graham

In We No Shoot by Andy Shuping, humanity can overcome anything for a short while.

In Scene From the Sky by Angela Boyle, bored soldiers are distracted by unknown terror.

In Oils of War by Ben Wright-Heuman, we get a more comedic take on the theme.

Panel from Oils of War by Ben Wright-Heuman

In The Parcae by J. A. Carvajal, friends walk the trenches together.

Panel from The Parcae by J.A. Carvajal

In Rat’s Delight by Kelly Swann, rat buddies find other buddies to feast on.

Panel from Rat’s Delight by Kelly Swann

Kelly and J.D. worked on the cover together. Kelly penciled the designed, J.D. inked and lettered. The paper they printed on is beyond perfect, a rough texture and the color of mud. You will enjoy holding the book in your hand.

Kelly Swann trimming copies of Muddy Buddies.

If you are in White River Junction, VT, The Schulz Library at The Center for Cartoon Studies has a copy of Muddy Buddies.  To purchase a copy, contact one of the artists (each artist is selling, links above) or you can get a digital copy on Gumroad. Only one issue of Muddy Buddies is planned. But they do plan to work on more anthologies in the future. My warning to you is to expect more puns that turn into poignant and driven stories.