Quick Publishing Schedule Update

This week, a New Episode of SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ will be released on Sunday morning, May 24th. It'll be the full Sunday Fun Day main storyline comic strip.

As many of you know if you're following, I had to take a bit of a breather the past two days at my wife Jennifer McCullar's request. I took last Saturday night off and also took all-day Sunday off to spend with Jennifer doing stuff. We went downtown to an art fair and I ended up with all those BEETLE BAILEY books by happenstance as we were browsing a nearby old bookstore.

I'm rested up and all is good. I'm ready to get back to drawing.

At this time, there are no new comic strip episodes planned for the weekdays this week (sorry about that) as I play a little catch up on drawing the big comic strip for Sunday. I'm also finishing up a few side related projects (including SEA SHANTY FUNNIES fan club stuff).

Thank you for understanding.

This week, I plan to resume and finish up the big Sunday Fun Day comic strip (Episode 117) as "Detective Week" reaches its conclusion (more as an epilogue and a launch to the rescue mission). I plan over the next three weeks to probably focus on just the main Sunday storyline to get that Sunday publishing schedule back on track. After I finish everything and if I have "spare time", then I may squeeze a few weekday short gag comic strips as I can.

I am also planning on finishing up the printing of the remainder of the trading cards and stickers for those that purchased the fan club package that have held me up. I plan on getting everything packaged up and out in the mail by the weekend. I had to make a few substitutions on paper cardstock being used for the cards which delayed things.

More updates when I can.

Here is Teaser #1: Next week, I've been asked to do a livestream video chat interview about Popeye, SEA SHANTY FUNNIES, perhaps my work on GREEN ARROW over at DC Comics or my other indie comic book series THRILL SEEKER COMICS, plus my love of comics in general, on Wednesday evening, May 21st. Details are forthcoming in a separate post we'll make.

And Teaser #2: Sometime coming up very soon in June... Jennifer and I are planning a trip to Chester, Illinois to pay our respects to the hometown of E.C. Segar and see the Popeye Museum and see each of the Thimble Theater related statues of Popeye and friends (& foes!) that are sprinkled throughout the riverport town.

We plan on taking some videos, photos, and seeing the sites. It will be my first time ever trip to Chester. We live driving distance (I'm in Springfield, Illinois). I'm really looking forward to the pilgrimage journey and seeing the Popeye sites.

Just letting you know where things stand in my plans for this week if all goes as planned... that is.

Scott

SEASHANTY FUNNIES delay...

 

My wife Jennifer's post and directive from FACEBOOK last night...

Apologies. Today's Sunday Fun Day comic strip has been put on hold and it will need to be rescheduled. I got a late start and began drawing it last night and my wife Jennifer asked that I put a hold on it. She said that she felt I needed to take a break from working in my studio. I guess I bit off more than I can chew this past week with all things and I needed to take care of myself and some matters on the home front. I do appreciate her looking out for me when I sometimes get a little blindsided with things that I lose track and need to take care of myself and others. I appreciate your understanding. 

We'll be back after this break. (But here is a sneak peek of one of the panels of the next comic strip...)

 

Please check back later for an update.

 

Thanks,

Scott and Jennifer 

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 116

 

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 115

 

And that is that... NEXT: The Weekend and Conclusion of Detective Week.

 

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 114

Another dose of "Watching the Detectives" Week Continues...

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 113

"Watching the Detectives" Week Continues... 

If you are just stopping in for the Wednesday comic strip and haven't been here for a few days, please be sure to check out the comic strips from Monday and Tuesday also. I usually don't run comic strips on those first two days of the workweek, but since I missed out on my intended Sunday Fun Day "BIG" comic strip due to family matters, I decided to go ahead and run a special mini-storyline with Castor Oyl all week. 

 

I'm beginning to think this is what Bob Ross would call a "happy accident" because I am really enjoying expanding out a little here with all the detective guest stars making cameo guest appearances in this week long parody. I hope you are, too?

Newest POPEYE Comic Strip Acquisitions

 

Some recent acquisitions of the past week for my personal collection. I'm collecting and archiving old newspaper comic strip clipping of POPEYE that I am collating into portfolios. It is one of my many eclectic hobbies and collections that I do, but if you're here reading SEA SHANTY FUNNIES web comics, you probably understand.

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 112

 

"Watching the Detectives" Week Continues - Move over, Agatha Christie!

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 111

 

It is 'Watching the Detectives Week!"

Let the interviews begin... Every. Day. This. Week.

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Happy Mother's Day

 

 

Happy Mother's Day

 

I'll try to keep this short. Life threw me an unexpected curve ball over the past couple of days with some family matters that I had to be there for and that is what is important. I didn't get a chance to draw the full Sunday Fun Day comic page I had intended to do for today. I'm sorry about that, but I will circle back around to it soon.

 

In the meantime, I whipped this little piece up at 5:30 a.m. this morning featuring Swee'Pea and his own Mom as a quick substitute offering to have something for you as I had about an hour to spare before everyone wakes up in my household.

 

So, Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Moms of the World out there and to all that are reading this. Thank you for all you do and all the love you endlessly give.

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 110

 

Taste test.

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 109

 

The Talk

“I yam what I yam and I think that I yam now embracing that I yam a Cartoonist.”

Today is National Cartoonist Day. I never thought of myself as a cartoonist before. I wrongly associated the term previously with other definitions. However, I write comics. I illustrate comics. I also letter comics. I color comics. I prepare comics for the press to go to printers. I self-publish comics.

Yet working in comics is NOT my full-time profession.

Outside my “day job” as a graphic designer (and previously teaching college art courses as an adjunct faculty member for nearly 20 years) where I make/made my living, working in comics was either (1) part-time paid work or (2) a self-published/self-indulgent side hustle that bordered more on hobby because I've been unable to make any significant income from it over the last 25 years. I did some work for DC Comics in the past. I was also an Art Director at a small press comic book publishing company called Shooting Star Comics, LLC about 20 years ago.  I failed in my side-hustle financially, but creatively I have been proud of my work over the years. I always felt I could have been a contender but just never achieved all the goals I pursued ... but I am still driven to make comics here in my mid-fifties... just as I was driven to do so as a boy, teenager, and young adult in his twenties.

I continue to make comics for the love of it, to entertain others, bring smiles to the world, and to scratch a personal creative itch and express myself.

Let it be known for the first time in my life… today on National Cartoonist Day, I will finally accept and proudly embrace the notion that I am a Cartoonist.

Looking at definitions of CARTOONIST, it reads:

“A cartoonist is a visual artist who specializes in BOTH drawing and writing cartoons (individual images) or comics (sequential images). Cartoonists differ from comics writers or comics illustrators/artists in that they produce both the literary and graphic components of the work as part of their practice. While every "cartoonist" might be considered a "comics illustrator", "comics artist", or a "comic book artist", not every "comics illustrator", "comics artist", or a "comic book artist" is a "cartoonist".

The role of a cartoonist extends beyond mere illustration. Many cartoonists craft captions, dialogue, or scripts to complement their visuals, balancing text and imagery for maximum impact.

A cartoonist specializes in producing both the artistic and literary components of cartoons or comics, which can be single images or sequential illustrations that tell a story or convey a message. Their work spans comic strips, editorial cartoons, gag cartoons, graphic novels, storyboards, and animated media, often using humor, satire, or exaggeration to engage audiences. Cartoonists may work in newspapers, magazines, books, digital platforms, animation studios, or advertising, making their role versatile and culturally influential.”

And so forth.

So, on this National Cartoonist Day, let me say this:

“I yam what I yam and I think that I yam now embracing that I yam a Cartoonist.”

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ A Key Moment - Mini-Episode #3

 

From the Archive Journals... (In the Pre-Popeye Days over a century ago)

E.C. Segar debuted THIMBLE THEATRE newspaper comic strip about a decade before he would even introduce Popeye. Olive Oyl dated Harold 'Ham' Gravy and had an on-again-off-again relationship with him where Popeye would later replace her suitor. Olive introduced her (then) boyfriend to her brother in his debut over a century ago on January 14, 1920. 

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 108

 

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ A Key Moment - Mini-Episode #2

 

In a 1933 storyline, Popeye receives a mysterious rattling crate left for him. (Is it a rattlesnake inside? No, it is Swee'Pea!)

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 107

 

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 106

 

Good morning. Sorry for the slight delay in this morning's comic strip, but here she be...

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 105

 

Special thanks to my "real life" childhood friend Troy Vilayhong who truly happens to be a real life little league umpire and for allowing me to use his likeness and personality in today's brand new character for my comic strip. He is really a true life character himself and one of my best friends. He's also one of the daily readers and supporters here at SEA SHANTY FUNNIES. Thanks, pal!

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES Fan Club Membeship and Issue #1 now available

 

Here is a direct link to go to the online store

 

You can now go to https://www.seashantyfunnies.com and click on the SECURE Online Store (Link is up in the TOP HEADER) to see all the various purchasing options for SEA SHANTY FUNNIES Fan Club Membership and how to acquire the comic book. 

 

I have three main tiers...

BASIC FAN CLUB MEMBERSHIP (both U.S. Domestic and International Options) that includes the first issue.
ÜBERFAN CLUB MEMBERSHIP (both U.S. Domestic and International Options) that includes not only the first issue, but you will also get issue #2 (Available Late Summer/Early Fall 2026*) and a special SHANTY FUNNIES PRESENTS ‘THIMBLE-EYE THEATRICAL CLASSICS’ #1 (Available Fall 2026*) that includes reprints of original works in the public domain featuring Popeye and friends that has had the art respectfully and carefully cleaned up, remastered, and in some instances made available in full color for the first time (by me). (Available Late Summer/Early Fall 2026*). Plus an art print.
JUST THE COMIC BOOK (AND NO CLUB MEMBERSHIP) (both U.S. Domestic and International Options)
ADD-ON OPTION for Original 9”x 12” commissioned inked drawing of a character from the SEA SHANTY FUNNIES Universe by Scott McCullar.
Also while you are there, take a look at my THRILL SEEKER COMICS ANTHOLOGY comic books that I also write and illustrate. The first two issues are available also. Thanks.

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 104

 

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES - This Wednesday (tomorrow) and Friday will have the 'Gag Comic Strips' -- "Let's Play Ball!"

 

BEHIND THE SCENES STUFF AND WHAT'S COMING UP OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS IN THE COMIC STRIPS:

I'm already breaking my own rules here just a bit. For the next two weeks during the weekdays (at least), I will run the smaller sized "Gag Comic Strips" on Wednesday and Friday mornings that are a mini-story. I've got four short gag comic strips written. I may extend it to six gag comic strips over three weeks. We will see. These will be baseball themed mini-stories separate from the main weekly "big" Sunday Fun Day Comics.

The weekday stories run outside and are separate from the weekly "main" Sunday stories now here on this web comic series. Though they will loosely relate if that makes sense. That's how I'm trying to keep it.

I think you can keep up. If you're having difficulties, email me at scott@scottmccullar.com and let me know. I'm still working things out. I'm aiming for two smaller weekday comics strips and the one big ongoing Sunday storyline comic strip.

I will introduce one particular original brand-new character that is based on a longtime friend of mine since elementary school that I received his permission to base this character on his real-life self and his likeness.  I sent over concept art for him to approve over the weekend and got his approval and blessing. He is a reader of the comic strip, too. You will meet this comic character later this week (and especially in the spotlight on Friday) for his introduction.

Plus, look closely in the drawings and watch the spectators gathered behind homeplate in the stands as some of you longtime Popeye fans with a watchful eye you will catch some familiar faces that are debuting for the first time here in SEA SHANTY FUNNIES. 

So... to sum up.... new comic strips this week on Wednesday, Friday, and then the big one on Sunday as Olive and Popeye pick themselves up after the big news in their personal life and the continued investigation on the abduction of Bernice the Whiffle Hen by Boola.

See you in the Funnies!

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES #1 printed comic books have arrived

 

A couple of cases of the first issue of my new comic book collection SEA SHANTY FUNNIES featuring my take on the public domain-based Popeye arrived Saturday afternoon from the printer. I had 100 books printed up. This collects the first 41 episodes of the web comic (with bonus extended scenes) as well as collects the complete STRANDED: Pooky Jones mini-episodes.

I will let you know how you can get a copy with instructions on Wednesday. I'm making this part of a SEA SHANTY FUNNIES FAN CLUB offering that will include a few other things.

In the meantime, feel free to email me at scott@scottmccullar.com if you want me to personally reserve a copy for you. I will also make this available for international shipping outside the U.S.

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 103 "A Quick Study in Pink" (My apologies for today's delay and your wait)

 

My apologies for today's delay and if anyone has been waiting. Here is this week' "Sunday Fun Day" comic. This story continues here in long format next Sunday. I will strive to have it finish in time next week for a morning release.

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 102 "Happy Superman Day!"

 

Today is Superman Day. It was officially moved recently from June to today by DC Comics to commemorate The Man of Steel's first appearance in Action Comics. I offer my own homage to celebrate.

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ A Key Moment - Mini-Episode #1

 

 

It was 95 Years ago today...

(Drawing based after E.C. Segar's original comic strip.) 

 

Done for fun.

 

...and by the way, everything in E.C. Segar's original newspaper comic strip series is "in continuity" as part of my SEA SHANTY FUNNIES web comic series. It is all a part of the 'Earth 24-C' Alternate Universe that traces back to this. That's all for now. Just a general thought of mine on the creative process that I wanted to share with behind the scenes. It is the backbone from which all is built from and proceeded. 

Come Back Saturday at Midday for the Next SEA SHANTY FUNNIES

Sorry. There will be no new SEA SHANTY FUNNIES comic strip today (Thursday) or tomorrow (Friday).

However, I'm working on two BRAND NEW FULL LENGTH PAGES  for both Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday's will be a special edition "BANDITO ENTERTAINMENT™ SATURDAY MATINÉE COMIC" and Sunday's comic will continue the story of the missing Whiffle Hen.

Thanks,

Yer pal, Scott 

 

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 101

 

A short gag feature. (Through the weekdays, I will post these shorter comic strips that are published for a quick laugh)

The ongoing longform storylines are now featured on Sunday Mornings in a larger and longer format.

Also, please check back on Saturday mid-day for a Special Comic Strip you don't want to miss.

SHOW-AND-TELL: 1939 Thimble Theater Popeye Newspaper Comic Strips

This came in the mail today. These are original Popeye Thimble Theater newspaper comic strips from the Spring of 1939 written by Tom Sims and illustrated by Doc Winner. 109 comic strips that I will archive into a portfolio for preservation and to read. This is the conclusion of the Spinach Juice Springs storyline with Susie the Sea Nymph which I revisited recently in my own SEA SHANTY FUNNIES comic strip.

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - MILEMARKER Episode #100

 

 

 Thank you for helping and encouraging me to get to this point!

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 99

 

Check back Sunday morning for Episode #100.

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 98

 

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES Web Comic Publishing Update for this week..

Just a quick note about online web comic publishing plans for this week for SEA SHANTY FUNNIES.

I will publish online a regular SEA SHANTY FUNNIES weekly web comic tomorrow (Wednesday, April 7th) for Episode #98 that's already finished and loaded in the cue to automatically publish. I will then post Episode #99 this Friday, April 9th that I'm finishing up tonight with the artwork on.

THEN.... I will then have what I consider my first special oversized "Sunday Fun Day Morning Comic" this upcoming Sunday morning on April 12th. It will be our 100th Episode mile marker web comic for SEA SHANTY FUNNIES. It will be the same size as traditional Sunday newspaper comics that the big boys publish. That's all I want to say right now. So, check back on Sunday, too.

I am aiming for publishing automatically at 7:30 a.m. Central Time on social media sites and blogs. I will manually upload and publish the webcomics earlier at 6:00 a.m. Central Time on my own personal website at www.scottmccullar.com for those eager beavers.

After that, I will post an update about a new publishing schedule for the remainder of this Spring (April and May) for continued weekly SEA SHANTY FUNNIES web comics as I adjust things to release a new THRILL SEEKER COMICS web comic series (my creator-owned indie comic series) coming this June that will also be ongoing and run on just Saturdays afternoons as a "Saturday Matinée" web comic series that rotates the cast of heroes around with brand new ongoing storylines about every 8 to 12 weeks. I will be drawing these pulp action and adventure comics in a more animated style.

So, that's the tease for now. More later next week with more detailed plans. 

And don't worry, SEA SHANTY FUNNIES is continuing forward into the next phase.

Thanks again for all the support. I hope you are enjoying and being entertained.

More news and updates next week. 

(And by the way, the printer is shipping me 100 issues of the newly printed SEA SHANTY FUNNIES #1 comic books by the end of next week. Details on how to get a copy next week also.)

Scott

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 97