James Huckaby…

So THIS is what consistency feels like As mentioned last Friday, today not only resolves our weekend cliffhanger (and aren’t you glad they got someone who looks slightly more like a trained professional to remove the tracer from Marlowe?) but marks our 25th strip. Now, that may not sound like many to you, but seeing as how we only do three a week, that seems like a lot.

Also, it’s about 23 more than we really expected to do, to be honest with you.

Anyway, now’s as good a time as any to introduce your friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, mortal enemies or total strangers to the wonder of the Monkeyproject. And while you’re at it, be sure and sign up for the forums and join us for loosely moderated fun and hilarity. It’s almost as if we’re trying to establish a sense of community among our readers or something.

Almost.

Go Marlowe, it’s yo birfday, we gon’ party like it’s yo birfday…

This is one of my favorite times of the year, what with all the upsets and shockers that you NEVER see coming. I mean, come on, who thought Dawn of the Dead could knock off the current #1, The Passion of the Christ? I mean, sure, I was rooting for them, but I had Jesus going all the way in my brackets. But that’s the thing about those plucky Zombies; you can never really count them out.

If anything, we should have known the Zombies could pull it out after the incredible performance they put on in the Zombie/Shark play-in game. (Warning: This link leads to boobies.) Shark was a clear favorite going in, but it overlooked Zombie, and that’s all the opening they need.

Who knows what the upcoming rounds hold? Are the Zombies a legitimate contender, with the ability to go all the way? I certainly hope so, because if they can find a way to hang on, it sets up some interesting match-ups down the road. Zombies/Wizards, anyone? And of course, the winner of that one has to go up against the hands-down preseason favorite in the finals: Irradiated Spiders.

And Jesus certainly has nothing to hang His head about. This year’s improbable run was easily His best showing in years, and with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe coming out next year, He should be a presence in next’s year’s tourney.

Also, Kentucky really earholed my brackets. Bah.

Send more cops

In all the excitement of making webcomics and writing pithy blog posts, I plumb forgot about Alyson Hannigan’s 30th birthday yesterday. Alyson, as many of you may know, played Willow Rosenberg for seven years on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. (Which is beloved above all other programs around here, as you may have noticed by now.) Willow started out as a shy nerdy type, super-smart but unsure of herself, only to end the series as a more confident, ultra-powerful, super sexy lesbian witch. THAT’S character development, people. Others may know her as Michelle, the kinky band geek from the American Pie trilogy. And while she may have married Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce on, you guessed it, Buffy and Angel), I still love her and will wait as long as I have to before she comes around and admits her love for me. For ME, I say!!!

Oh, sorry, what? I blacked out for a second there. Anyway, happy belated birthday, Aly.

Also, today is Lark Voorhies’ 30th birthday. Lark, you may recall, played Lisa Turtle on the seminal afterschool classic Saved By the Bell. She was most famous for being neither Tiffani-Amber Thiessen nor Elizabeth Berkley nor Leah Remini, (or even Tori Spelling, for that matter) and served to basically teach us all that every group of pals needs a token hot black friend. And also, for being mean to Screech. That bitch. So, I guess, happy birthday to you too, nerd-hater.

It’s alright, ’cause I’m saved by the bell

Let me tell you what Melba Toast is packin’ right here, alright. As you probably noticed, today’s strip pays tribute to that stoner classic, Dazed and Confused. The reason? Because it was the last thing I watched before I went over to Monkeyproject Central to work on the script, and when I found out that our heroes would be playing pool in today’s strip, well, O’Bannion’s speech at The Emporium immediately came to mind. After that, bookending the strip with another favorite line was a no-brainer. (And for a bunch of alleged super-geniuses, we sure do like no-brainers.)

Anyway, just be glad Comedy Central was showing a good movie for a change. Otherwise, today’s strip would have been all Animal Face-Off jokes. Stupid Discovery Channel and their stupid metal animal fights…

Fry like bacon, you little freshmen piggies! FRY!