About One Swoop Fell

A young - shall we say - aviatically challenged bird falls one afternoon from a great height into the paws of a friendly bear named Topo. Over a rather shaky introduction (literally - see right), we learn the bird’s name is Swoop, and that he’s fallen from a mysteriously large tree — a tree that Topo has somehow overlooked despite its size.

The seemingly simple task of helping Swoop get back home will undoubtedly lead the two on a series of grand adventures, meeting friends and making rivals along the way.

To read the story from the beginning, click here.

Check in every Wednesday as the story unfolds!

What Others Are Saying

(Please note that not all links below are kid friendly).

Art in Sequence - Writer/Comics Analyst Justen Brown takes a look at panel and word balloon structure on Swoop. Very interesting read…. even I learned something about my own comic!

Digital Strips Podcast - My first review… Always the worry wart, I was a bit petrified as I listened to the podcast, but all in all it was a glowing review…. *phew* I especially like what Steve had to say about Mari’s character.

Webcomic Beaky Awards - One Swoop Fell was selected as one of the top three new webcomics of 2008. Not too shabby!

Peer Review

A lot of us are into this for the fun of it, but for some it’s a full time job. So I’m always flattered and honored to hear what other artist/illustrator/cartoonists are saying about the comic. Here are some of their thoughts.

Powree and Oliver Knorzer of Sandra and Woo - “…it is marvellously drawn and it has a cast of likable characters, including the cutest squirrel girl ever put on paper a computer screen.”

Audra Ann Furiuchi of Nemu-Nemu - “The colors, the gradual storytelling, the composition, the clean inks. It is a very sweet story unfolding…”

Tony Piro of Calamities of Nature - ‘The beauty of the artwork is only matched by the refreshingly innocent characters and the thoughtful storytelling.”

Eben of Eben07 - “…the art and vision that goes into the story reminded me a lot of another fantastic comic that has a load of imagination put in it - Copper.”

Tom Dell’Aringa of Marooned - “… one of those guys that makes me want to break all my pencils.”

Eric Orchard - Illustrator - “…consistently inspirational and wonderful.”

JG Brin of The Crown Prince - “Please go check out One Swoop Fell as soon as you can.  You won’t regret it!”

Danny Zabbal of Journey Into the 6th Dimension - “I just read the whole thing twice, so should you.”

Julien Alday - Mad Season (Illustration blog) - “Mike Dutton is crazy!”

If I’ve missed a link and you feel it should be included, please send it over!

About the Author

Mike has been a cartoonist/illustrator most of his life. He completed his first book when he was seven, a stapled mass of dot-matrix printer paper filled with leaping dinosaurs. He once drew the entire Sunday Funnies in the second grade, but none of the jokes were funny. In fact, his teacher found them to be quite rude and his parents were asked to pay a visit. Since then, Mike has gone on to make all kinds of art, like illustrations for childrens publishing, magazine editorials, paintings of landscapes, seascapes, other escapes, background art in the video game industry, and quite possibly a portrait of your cat

When not painting or sketching, he can be found in his favorite bookstore, rockclimbing with his wife, Alex, or slapping together a mean PB&J sandwich. He can also not be found - as his crime fighting alter ego can sometimes demand an incognito lifestyle. His jokes continue to not be funny.

To read an article about me in the Oakland Tribune just before the comic launched click here.

Contact

You can visit my illustration website at www.DuttonArt.net. Or you can email me: Mike@duttonart.net