JEFBOT.209_The Power of Scrawn
“The Power of Scrawn!” is something my best friend in high school, Richard G., and I would call out whenever we accomplished some feat only a truly scrawny person could do. (And by scrawny, I don’t mean just thin, I’m talking no fat or muscle mass whatsoever.) Usually that meant squeezing between desks or through a blocked door, or surviving on one small, bean burrito over an entire day. This came about possibly because we were the skinniest people in our group of friends and decided to empower ourselves by embracing that fact, or most likely because we were a couple of scrawny geeks who liked comic books and fiction. Either way, if you’re a scrawny dude (or lady!) in school, let me just say: enjoy The Power of Scrawn while you can ‘cuz it doesn’t last forever. I think I lost that power sometime after college and am still trying to get it back.
This was a big one, just like you said! And I love the layout of the strip! The whole middle panel had me giggling, and then the finish had me laughing out loud. This was awesome, and thank you for sharing the story behind The Power of SCRAWN! There are so many different colors to this strip, and it’s really pleasing to the eyes. *Round of applause*
Oh yeah, and you and all the facially expressions in this strip= awesome.
thanks, Spanky! really glad this strip touched you on all those levels – and actually, i’m glad this strip came together at all! as i mentioned to you on Twitter, i wasn’t sure i was going to get this one done. heheh. very happy you dig it.
Don’t believe I’ve ever seen the word scrawn without a Y before. Nicely done!
thanks, Kyle! yeah, “scrawny” is kinda cute/sad where “SCRAWN” is epic/awesome!!!
Amazing! Great strip!
thanks! glad you liked it, #1JF.
Oh yea! The Power of Scrawn! I had that for a long time, up until I was in grad school, prolly. But on top of the power of scrawn, I also had the awesome Power of Tower (I’m 6″ and a smidge). So not only could I squeeze thru small spaces unscathed, I could reach things all my short friends could not. Can’t reach that book on the top shelf? Never fear, Shanna’s here! Watch while I effortlessly pluck it down for you! Don’t you wish you too were a skinny giant? Yea, I thought so.
Well, these days I too wish I was a skinny giant instead of a giant with some extra baby pounds from my two kids that don’t seem to want to go away (the pounds, not the kids). Dang maternal metabolism! At least I still have the Power of Tower though! (OK, I really like “the Power of Tower.” I ‘m gonna have to start using that term!)
I’m not short, I’m fun size!
yeah, me too, Spanks!
“Fun Size!” I love that. I’ve got to start using it.
ha! i love the “Power of Tower,” Shanna! yeah, at 5’7″, all i’ve got’s the scrawn going for me. heheh. my brother-in-law, Mike, is around 6′ tall and skinnier than i am, so he’s definitely a PoT. he normally does all the reaching and plucking in the kitchen and laundry room for my mom during family dinners. it’s a great power.
and yeah, i’ve gotta get rid of the extra 3-5 pounds i’ve put on since Thanksgiving. blegh. maybe i’ll get on the Cornfather’s diet next week.
BTW, I LOVE the Cornfather’s bewildered expression in the last panel!
This may be my favorite strip so far (although I DO love the ones with the critters!).
wow! favorite strip!? awesome!
Hilarious Jefbot!
10q, sacobin!
That makes me giggle. And also makes me want to lose a few pounds so I can do it tooXD
awww, cute Lady and the Tramp gravatar, DJ.
and remember: if you decide to lose the weight, with great power comes great responsibility!
Aren’t we all looking for our inner scrawn. I remember when I was 25 that I realized I lost the power of scrawn. Now, I too am working to recover this power.
true, Stranger527, many of us are looking for our “inner scawn.” heheh. if i could just shed like 5-7 pounds (actually, more like 10) i think i’d find it again.
Awesome! I’ve been looking for an exclamation to use. Of course, if I continue to pack on my wife’s sympathy pregnancy weight, I won’t be able to use it for long
did i mention us asians get +2 scrawn powers, Stan?
That’s right, since we look asian, folks automatically assume we know some sort of martial arts — extra scrawn!
Of course, would it be wise to court babes with, “Once you’ve tried SCRAWN, your current boyfriend’ll be GONE.”?
i’ll give it a try and let you know how it goes, Stan.
Make sure you don’t blame me if she laughs in your face
I’m still laugh out loud!!! It’s so true… skinny people get away with so much more! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the color palate used in this strip. I truly enjoyed every single frame! You knocked it out of the ball park Jefbot! STEALTH! is exceptional!
thanks, man! glad you got a laugh out of it and enjoyed all the frames! and yeah, stealth comes in handy for a bunch of things, like scaring/surprising/eavesdropping on friends and loved ones.
i must say that of all your comics, this is my favorite, because like jefbot, i too have the power of the first panel, squeezing through places too small for the normal person. (kind of like how hamsters fit between cage bars and whatnot)
awesome comic, really made me laugh
yeah, that “phasing” power comes in really handy, scotticus. glad you got a laugh out of the strip!
Great layout! I love it!!!
thanks, JP!
The power of Scrawn compels you!! Love the lighting and coloring effects in this. You are my artwork hero.
glad to know i’m somebody’s hero, JK!
Another outstanding strip, bot. I love the shadows and the tone. You really know what to use what colors, angles, and facial expressions to use when delivering the essence of each of your strips. I can’t believe you get this all done in practically one night. Great job, man. The jefbot series will live on longer than any of us…that’s for sure with the power of scrawn or not.
nice sentiment about the strip outliving us, MC. heheh. kinda morbid, but i’ll take it.
and this one took me more like two nights, really. and thank the gods i got started on this one early or i would’a been up all night Thursday finishing this one up. which reminds me, i should get started on monday’s strip, soon…
I knew I wasn’t the only one who saw being scrawny as a super power!
nope, you’re not alone, IronSoldier820. SCRAWN POWERS UNITE!
CF broke his diet?
in the strip, yeah.
Awesome Comic! I did something like that when I was growing up. I was the skinny white kid growing up so when someone threatened to beat me up I told them to be wary cause I know a secret style of fighting. Of course they would give me a look of yeah right. So I would tell them I know “Scrappy White Boy!” Usually made them laugh and leave me alone.
I still employ this deadly tactic to this day.
yes, as many followers of the Power of Scrawn know, “humor” is an extremely effective tactic, and “scrappy white boy” is one of its deadliest disciplines! heheh. thanks for the story, Jereme.
Nice one! Really fun read. Phasing is my favorite.
thanks, D!
The Power of SCRAWN!
XP Dang I think I said something just like that when I was younger
i still say it NOW, Z. especially when i’m at work and i do something cool, like squeezing between the vending machines to reach a quarter.
I modified to say “Skinny power activated”
sadly my skinny power does not work as well as it used to
I challenge someone to know what old time cartoon I am referencing.
i’d guess you’re referencing the Wonder Twins in the old Super Friends cartoon, Z. amiright?
Unfortunately, I lost my Scrawn at about the time I broke 160 lb. Luckily, I’m not *too* far over that; and I still have my “Power of Tower”. (To steal a phrase from Shanna…)
Woo Hoo! The Power of Tower is catching on!
But the Power of Scrawn is still much funnier.
the Power of Tower’s cool, Shanna! it has the whole rhyming thing going for it, too. heheh.
160# with a Power of Tower bonus still sounds near-scrawnworthy, r61. i’m 140ish and 5’7″, so not as powerful as i used to be, but if i get back down to 130, i’ll be nigh-invincible!
Two words: Awe-Some. Dude, loved it! Had me laughing out loud! It was so cinematic!
i appreciate that, Mark. this is one of those strips i’d love to animate.
Woo Hoo!! Old Skool Shout out!!
cinister!? VNHS, ftw!
I had the power of scrawn plus the power of diminutiveness ( I was 4’11 and 95lbs) while I was in high school. It was quite awesome. Sadly, I have lost the scrawn, but kept the diminutiveness.
with all that power, you must’a been a force to be reckoned with in high school, JTP!
wahahahhahahaa….now im scared of the power of scrawn (or in being scrawny)
you should be, JF3! us scrawny people got skillz.
With great power comes great rescrawnsibility.
HA! i love it, Drakey!!! cleverly stated. heheh.
Well, i’m motivated.
as an additional motivator: these powers are pretty much guaranteed once you attain scrawnhood, Alana.
I love this. Finaly someone who has at least a bi of my Phase talent. I am known to have gone through 15cmX30cm 2m above floor level in less than 20 seconds. Hows that for phasing.
But you even it up with Stealth skill, I have wery little of that. And as for Invisibility, you would be surprised how many people have it and some of them dont even know it.
BTW, why did you asked for flying abilities and such in guest strips some time back? This three-combo is awesome.
dude! that’s quite the phasing ability you have there, Maryz! and yeah, adding skill points to one talent sometimes takes away from another, so that’s probably why your stealth skill is lacking.
and yeah, since i don’t have flying powers, i guess i’ll have to be happy with these three for now. (even though i gotta lose a few pounds before my powers are at an optimal level.)
I got the Power of Tower thing to being, 6’7″. I also got the power of Mad Mass. Brute force plus bulk FTW! Car out of gas? Get the Mad Mass pushers.
wow! 6’7″ Power of Tower with bonus points for Mad Mass!? you’re like, the Kingpin or something, Zack! awesome.
Oddly enough, I used to have the Power of Scrawn up until early high school, in addition to Crazy Flexible Limbs and Legs Behind Head because I have loose socket joints. The I got massive growth spurts leading to me being 6’1″. I can still scratch every area of my back without a back scratcher and wrap either arm all the way around my head and touch the ear of the same side.
wow! impressive, NeoDarklight, especially since you’re so tall. i’m only 5’7″ and i’ve never been able to touch my toes. just never been very flexible.
Truely epic are we who have the power of scrawn! *laughs* i was the small kid who the bigger, and thus “stronger”, bullies could never catch/intimidate because of the power of scrawn. xD
ha! glad to hear you used your scrawn powers wisely, XmergerX.
*sigh*
but being a “midget” of 5’2″ that’s not ever gonna happen and although I weight a “healthy” (upon my doctor’s opinion, mind you!) 135 pounds I got my dad’s back so I look WIDE unless I use my corsets along the long victorian goth skirts I like to use (my dad thinks I’m nuts and I’m going to hell, so I think of it as REVENGE for the screwed DNA *evil laugh of doom*)
Awwww… I wish I was ever able to get the Power of Scrawn or even Shanna’s Power of Tower
Still, beautiful strip, jef. Thank you.
there’s gotta be a unique power 5’2″, wide-backed, puerto ricans have that others don’t, right Sonitan? especially those that wear corsets and victorian goth skirts. heheh. that’s just awesome.
This was a hilarious strip. The power of scrawn makes me think of those “THAT’S THE POWAH OF PINSOL, HONEY” commercials for some odd reason…hn… I have broad shoulders so I have the power of…manual labor, carrying all the groceries in, and other things…like the “You hold this up while I clean beneath it.” Worst part is, i’m not that strong! Just misunderstood. I kinda have the power of tower to…i’m 5’11′ Anyways…GREAT STRIP. Showing this one to my scrawn friends. ;
glad you liked it, Ahero! hope your scrawny friends dig it, too. and the power of “manual labor” without the strength is hilarious.
Lmao!! If only I had that geeky-inspired title when I was in high school! I had “Ethiopian Boy” because I was so skinny that one of my girl friends said that they felt like they needed to feed me. haha
I’m always the guy who if he needs to squeeze through something and a person starts to move I’ll respond “Oh, no, it’s ok – I got it.”
I refuse to let age get the best of my thin-ness!!! hahahaha
hmm, yeah. “The Power of Ethiopia!” just doesn’t have a special ring to it, IA. heheh. but i know what you’re saying: people used to love to feed me when i was super thin, especially my friends’ parents. and yeah, i’m trying to not let age defeat my Scrawn Powers, too!
That’s it… i’m bringing this up at the next meeting. You’re giving away too many of our secrets! some form of censure may be necessary.
/6’2″, 143ish
crap. do i have to give back my Scrawn Badge?
6’2″ and 143#!? wow, you got The Power of Tower and The Power of Scrawn, Stu!
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The glow and shading’s awesome, especially in the “stealth” panel. Really funny strip.
thanks, sis! this whole strip was fun to draw.
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Laaawlz.
I just totally witnessed the power.
Which is totally screwy.
I have been gone, and I’m going to catch up on Jefbot my lovely, before I make further comment.
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Lol I love cornfather’s answer. No nutritional value what so ever, good call staying away from meal-type foods. “then eat a cheeseburger! Its not great but at least you get a complete and some partial proteins, maybe some lettuce and tomato on there…”
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