The Ancient Shark Of Despair's Comics

Whether by his own hand or by those of kindly cartoonists, The Ancient Shark Of Despair has enjoyed a short career appearing in various comics that chronicle episodes that may or may not have occured in his life.

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'The name of the kid' was drawn by Tom McNally, written by Sebastian Borckenhagen and Tom McNally.

Monopoly is staying at the Shark's house, sleeping in his bed and tying up the TV all day by playing computer games that he won't let the Shark join in on. The Shark is just pleased for the company even if it is with the worst possible person. During his stay, Monopoly lets slip just what Moe's real name is.

This comic also appears in the second Semiotic Cohesion anthology.

'Break my body into bits / Watch my life through curtain slits' drawn by Sebastian Borckenhagen, written by Sebastian Borckenhagen and Tom McNally.

Here we have an adaptation of this blog from the 17th of January, 2007. Monopoly has been staying at TASOD's house for quite some time at this point and poor Sharky is beginning to lose it. He is dreaming of TV games and feeling guilty that he has done something terrible.

This comic also appears in the second Semiotic Cohesion anthology.

'Landlord Blues,' drawn by Jesse De Freitas, written by Sebastian Borckenhagen and Tom McNally.

A recounting of the events in this blog, from the 29th of October, 2006. The Shark is slowly becoming obsessed with the neighbour's child. His calm approach to vice and relaxation transmit intense rebellious delight to our poor hero as he watches the boy from his bedroom window. Eager to capture some part of this magic, the Shark orders a pack of cigarettes with his next pizza, but will his landlord approve?

'That's what you are,'drawn and written by Tom McNally.

Sometime around the events of this blog, written on the 1st of January, 2007, someone sprayed a highly libelous word on the Shark's wall. Though it doesn't seem to bother him too much. What's much more interesting is that David's been practicing at those TV games of his and he can pull off this one amazing trick, just watch.

This comic also appears in the third Semiotic Cohesion anthology.

'It's set in the future,' drawn by Roxy-Anne Kawitzsky, written by Sebastian Borckenhagen and Tom McNally.

This comic gives you a really good idea of what happened in this blog, written on the 9th of December, 2006. The Ancient Shark Of Despair has a habit of dealing with his many difficulties in forming relationships with people by turning them into fairly elaborate fantasies and then promising to release these fantasies onto the world as mass media. Here we see start of the sitcom he envisionaged, where a damaged astronaut who has seen over the edge of existence has to cope with his wacky but loving family.

'I want Moe' by Sebastian Borckenhagen.

In April 2007, the Shark abducted David, his neighbour's kid, and drove him around the city in his car, looking for an adventure that would make everything in his life make sense. A week into the journey, the Shark realised that he'd forgotten to put out his garbage.

Webcomics written and drawn by Sebastian Borckenhagen.

At several points throughout his blog, The Ancient Shark Of Despair started up, then abandoned, a webcomic. Here are all of its incarnations laid out alongside each other to invite comparison. Being the work of a shark from outer space, they are true outsider art, and as such they give a tantalising glimpse into a mind unfettered by usual artistic conventions and fashions.

They come in three waves, the first is made up of short and rough three-panel strips, the second chronicles the wild feelings of the Adventure the Shark went on and the third is entirely about Ric, his wife Carolyn and his boss / psychiatrist, Burzum.

'What Does The Inside Of A Tear Look Like?' by Sebastian Borckenhagen.

At the height of his powers, our favourite shark transcribed the length and breadth of his emotional topography into twenty one images.

Fanart, by Roxy-Anne Kawitzky, Tom McNally, Carmen Ziervogel, Lucy Owen and Michaela Verity.

Occasionally, sympathetic members of the internet would send The Ancient Shark Of Despair their thoughts through the medium of fan-art. Please accept their sincerity with grace.

The Ancient Shark Of Despair's main page