Collaborative Comics

Ize & Dan comics. Based on the real-life experiences of raising active, trouble-prone, neurodivergent twin boys. Illustration by Mudjib Pradana. Story, layout and color by Bobbie Hall.

Blue Hair

Ize wants a professional hair dye job because the kids at school are calling him Donald Trump because of his yellow hair. Mom imagines with horror what it would be like to raise Donald Trump. Ize leaves the hair salon with bright blue hair.

Bully 1

At school the bullies are whispering, "Don't play with Dan." Dan threatens that he's going to cut the main bully to little bits. The teacher intercepts the fight. Mom gets a phone call that she gets the feeling she doesn't want to answer.

Bully 2

Dan's been suspended for one day. Mom thinks about Dan's threat and realizes she'll need to childproof. As they go into the house Dan doesn't want to talk. Mom threatens to take away his birthday party if he doesn't talk.

Bully 3

Dan defiantly sits, not talking, while Mom waits. Dan finally breaks down sobbing about what happened at the fight.

Bully 4

Dan reveals that the bully got three days suspension. Mom tells Dan she wishes she could take his pain and throw it into outer space. Imaginary space scene where she throws a ball into space and hits the bully's spaceship.

Bullets 1

Bullets 2

Ize screams, "I want my bullets" as Mom screams, "Get inside." Mom turns around to discover all the neighbors looking at them. Mom laments, "And I'm trying to teach him social skills."

Bathroom Talk

Mom reads the newspaper as she sits on the toilet. Ize & Dan shout an interesting fact through the door. Mom can't understand. The boys repeat it. Mom says in frustration, "Guys, I really don't like having a conversation through the bathroom door."

Gray Hair

Ize & Dan learn about genetics in school. Ize uses the example that he and Jennifer have blond hair while Dan, Ellie and Mom have brown hair. They ask about Grandmommy's gray hair and Mom states that having kids is so stressful it gives the parent gray hair.

Red Hair

Ize & Dan ask about the grandparent's hair when they were younger. Granddaddy's was red. He'd always wanted red headed offspring and never got one until now gesturing toward Dan's dyed red hair.

Simpson

Comics. Bobbie shows family new comic. Javier sees the word Sampson and realizes he's been pronouncing it wrong all year. He chides the family for not correcting him.

Javier Packs Up

Javier packs up getting ready to go back home. Dan fits in Javier's suitcase. Ize tells Javier to buy two more suitcases so the boys can go to Mexico with him. Javier states that they'll get freeze-dried in the cargo bay.

Goodbye to Javier

Ize argues with Javier about the cargo bay. Dan wants to ride on the rolling cart in the airport. The family waves goodbye to Javier at airport security.

Remembering Javier

Mom drops Ize & Dan off at school thinking, "They have no idea how much they'll miss Javier." At home Mom reclines and ruminates about all the fun times they had with Javier.

Another of my favorite comics. Looking back I could have created many more comics with Javier in them. Don’t know why I didn’t. It was a rich year in our lives and Javier was truly missed when he left.

Interruptions

The family misses Javier. Mom tries to get work done. Ize is sick at school. They have to buy Gatorade. Mom puts Ize down to rest. Ize throws up. Mom tries to work. Ize calls for her again to her frustration.

Dead Car 1

Ize is still sick. Mom picks Dan up from school. The boys fight in the car so Mom pulls over. Dad calls saying his car ran out of oil and died. Dan tells Ize to "Sshhh. Mom's banging her head on the steering wheel again."

Dead Car 2

Mom & Dad argue in the van over Dad's dead car. Ize & Dan object. Mom & Dad agree to continue the conversation later just as the check engine light blinks in the van.

Bus & Uber

Mom tries riding the bus and using Uber, both times arriving late to the school. The school threatens to call Child Protective Services. Mom & Dad search for used cars.

Rental Car

Mom rents a rental car. She's unfamiliar with the car-it acts like it needs to shift gears but she can't find a clutch. She does something that suddenly thrusts everyone forward.

Reduction in Force

The family buys a used electric car. The next day, Dad's business suffers a reduction in force. Dad still has his job but feels afraid of the future of the company. He suggests that he foregoes vacation while Mom, Ize & Dan take a trip to see his folks.

Communications Director

Ize asks Mom, "What does cock-blocked mean?" He explains he heard it on the news. Mom tweets that a thesaurus could improve the "colorful language." Dan says, "You roasted him," while Ize says, "She cocked-blocked him."

Trip to New Mexico

Mom, Ize & Dan load up the car. Grandma reminds them to bring coats. Ize & Dan complain, argue and ask to go to the bathroom all the way to New Mexico. Upon arrival Mom realizes they forgot coats.

New Mexico

Mom, Ize & Dan, and the Grandparents enjoy Meow Wolf, the Los Alamos Thrift Center, a fishing lake, and Bandolier. Mom meets up with Jennifer (daughter) and Lily (granddaughter) at Tony Hillerman Public Library.

Home From New Mexico 1

Mom realizes she doesn't have enough meds for the trip home. They say bye to the grandparents. Ize & Dan want to open the windows. Mom sees them throwing trash out the window and announces the windows are going up.

Home From New Mexico 2

Dan toots in the car and Ize complains that he can't open the window. Mom can't find the child locks and Ize opens the door. The car comes to an abrupt stop and Mom icily declares, "You have so lost your media this week."

Home From New Mexico 3

At home Ize & Dan race for the computer. Mom reminds Ize that he's lost media for a week. Ize protests, "A whole week?"

No Media 1

Ize argues with Mom saying a week without media is unreasonable.

No Media 2

Ize follows Mom around arguing about his week-long media punishment. Ize spots his TI-83 calculator. Mom thinks, "Now that's desperation."

Frosty the Snowman

Mom, Ize & Dan sing Frosty the Snowman. Dan stops and asks if Frosty took his coal eyes out to give to the bad kids. Mom responds, "I don't think you need to analyze the Frosty tale."

Easiest Christmas Ever 1

A week before Christmas Mom announces that everyone needs to help. As the week counts down everyone is on media. On Christmas Eve Dad tells Ize & Dan that they should get out the Christmas tree.

Easiest Christmas Ever 2

Easiest Christmas Ever 3

Dan races around looking for his Christmas list. Dad says they already got their gifts. Ize asks where are the gifts. Mom answers, "Have you noticed the growing pile of Amazon boxes in the office?"

Hot Dogs

Mom prepares an elaborate new dish which the family complains about. Mom prepares hot dogs which the family enthusiastically praises.

Epilogue

Sadly, I cannot find the dozen or so most recent comics. I was trying to make a website at the time and that’s where I stored those comics. The website never came to fruition and has long since been shut down.

As far as the family goes Mom & Dad separated for about 18 months but have since reconciled. When the boys hit adolescence they calmed down and had some relatively normal high school years. Unfortunately, I lost my wonderfully talented comic artist and so the Ize & Dan project came to a close.