198. Us against the world
Sooooooooo … can you tell I’m a new dad? My wife and I welcomed our first daughter into the world a couple of months ago and I’ve been feeling a lot of new, fatherly emotions since then. I wanted to express these emotions in a comic, but I didn’t want to use someone else’s words and I didn’t want to do a straight-up autobiographical comic. I wanted to adapt my own words into a unique story just like I would any other quote.
This is the third appearance of the Ballet Boy and his father. You can read PART 1 and PART 2.
More Zen Pencils originals:
The Calling
My Spirit is a Roaring Sea
Discussion (185) ¬
Love this! Thank you (:
Me too!
Poster now available: http://shopzenpencils.com/collections/posters/products/world man, it was a struggle reformatting it!
Welcome to your New baby! 🙂 And Welcome to You as New Parents! 🙂
Warm wishes from France
Thanks for your work
merci beaucoup!
Yes, I could tell that you have become a Dad…. as I have the same feelings towards my daughter. Thanks Gav! Well written.
And Congrats to you both for the lovely angel in your lives and welcome to the parenthood!
Nice :”)
I could feel the power in the words as I was reading them, and was waiting to reach the end to find out who the author was.
You’re as brilliant a writer as you are an illustrator.
I just found out that your Zen Pencils is now featured on LINE Webtoon. How did you decide to join LINE?
Thanks for the kind words, i’m still learning as a writer but look forward to trying more of it. @zaki – yes, i’m experimenting with Webtoons and posting some old comics there. Hopefully it brings some new readers – Don’t worry, all the new comics will always appear here first!
It’s as if my parents are telling me this right now.
Thank you, Gav. #tearyEyed
Congratulations on your new baby! I wish you and your wife all the wisdom in the world to raise her as the person she’s supposed to be! And not for the first time, your comic made me cry tears of joy – that pannel of the dad with the fairy costume on hit me right in the feels! Thank you so much for being a positive influence in the world, and especially on the internet, which can can a very dark place sometimes.
Congratulations!
Very tenderly strong.
For me your fatherly emotions really shine through and this is very beautiful!
wonderful Comic.. Really speaks to our fears as parents
Hey…
Thanks alot. Long time no comic. Now I know the reason. Congratulations Gavin.
Rise and shine.
Such a comforting words for your daughter..!! Congratulations to you and your wife…!!!
Congrats on the new baby, Gav.
Great drawings and powerful message – as usual.
Your work is truly inspirational.
Welcome Gav the writer.. feels like you just let it flow this time than try hard . Its really really good. Thanks for the comic.
Made me tear up.
These words reminded me of the great father I have, he has always been having my back, I never doubted myself because of him, thank you for bringing this beautiful example!
Congratulation for your baby girl, I wish her all the warmth of the world!
This is wonderful Gav! All we need is people who stand by us when we are morally down. Beautiful 🙂
Congrats for the new entry into your family!
Congrats, Gavin! and this was just superb! puts exactly what i feel every single day, as a parent.
Absolutely perfect!
Congratulations! Parenthood is the most amazing thing in the world. Best wishes.
Awesome. I can totally relate. I have two young daughters, and just finished the show Stranger Things. I worry about the days that I’m going to be out of touch with what my kids are into, and I also worry about how they’re going to react to others. If we could all just be a little more understanding, we’d realize that it’s really not worth it to get so upset and be so angry all the time. It’s a lot easier said than done though.
I’ve a 3 years old daughter and a 1 year boy and the first lines of this comics were right in the parenthood, my friend. Every time I leave them at school, my heart chills a little from the fear that something might happens to them…Awesome job, dude.
Got a tear. Most excellent!
Congratulations on the birth of your daughter and thank you for this comic. It came at the right time.
Wow, I’ve been reading your comics ever since… I don’t know… but this one just made me cry – a lot. You see, I was in the young guy’s position, and someone had not my back, back then. It was really difficult growing old.
And now I have a beautiful little girl, 5 years old, full of confidence and always questioning everything around her. And I’m now in the position to have her back. And that is really mending my own heart.
Keep on the good work and cheers from Brazil.
This was sweet. I like the sentiment and I appreciate that violence was not met with violence. It reminds me very much of the recent Chase “So You Can” advertisement string – https://youtu.be/YXF03slRxfY – in how a stereotypically-looking “manly” man can be strong enough to be different too, and encourage his child to enjoy life.
I’ve always been so inspired by your work and am really happy to have stumbled on your website back in 2013. Ever since, your works have inspired me to take a shot in making comics, but I have to say it’s really hard, especially when your own worst critic is yourself. I have a lot of work problems, like procrastination and self doubt, that I need to really deal with. Any advice on how one should deal with such problems? I get discipline, but I just can’t seem to get out of that rut and just gear towards that artistic path of lively imagination. It’s hard being your own critic, let alone being afraid of others’ words as well. 🙁
The second Ballet Boy story might help. Read the post below and watch the interview with Chuck Jones too https://zenpencils.com/comic/chuck/
This is so powerful. Thank you for your words and your art. And congratulations on your newe baby! Much love!
Had to stop every few panels and take a deep breath. Beautiful work, as always.
Gavin, I thought you might enjoy this track by Blake Mills, he also wrote it as a new father and I think it resonates well with your sentiment here. I couldn’t find a good YT of the album version, but this is a great live performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpPDFofXqsM
Gav, I expected something great when you said this comic was your personal best. It is great! My son is 21 and I still feel this way. Of course, he doesn’t want/need me to show up as a sidekick but I am ready nonetheless! Congratulations and best of luck with your sweetheart and baby.
Gav, I have this feeling you are going to be a great dad. This was a beautiful comic. I never ever got this kind of support growing up and have worked very hard to make sure my boys know that I am here for them- always. Thank you.
Thank you for making this. I have an old word file, buried on my pc. It is a letter I wrote to my first born son when he was 5 and getting ready to start kindergarten. While the message is similiar, your comic does a much better job of presenting the message I intended to give him in that I shared this immediately and he (and his brother and sister) will both be able to actually see it! Congratulations on the new baby, and it is easy to see you have already been changed by the experience. Bad news – much more anxiety to come. Good news – the feels never stop.
This is beautiful. I could really feel your love for your daughter, so much so that I got teary-eyed towards the end. =) Keep up the good work and congratulations! I hope your daughter gets to read this in the future =D
Wonderful. Captured exactly what I feel everyday as a dad. I hope I will do what the dad in your story does when life demands it of me.
As a mum of “children” now in their 20’s this made me cry. It is just how I feel so much of the time and I make sure I keep telling them I’m here for them – even when they do screw up big time.
Thanks X
Another great one! Congrats on your daughter! Just love your child(ren) and and enjoy your fatherhood….
This is beautiful, Gav! You made me cry into my morning coffee
I don’t know what to say, maybe this will do now, “I envy what you have which I don’t, but I guess that is the catch for me to like you, to love you and it’s good enough to be the reason to enlist one more dream, that is to have a coffee with you.”
Congratulations and All the best!
Congratulations on your new baby! May she live to be a 100, happy and full of joy!
a wonderful comic this one too.
CONGRATULATIONS !!!
For your new baby and also a great post.
Not to detract, but as an artist, loving your work, why do the dickheads need to be pox ridden? They are dickheads. But they probably don’t know better. Us vs Them isn’t the best argument. And making them inferior is the same argument thrown back.
They’re ill informed and haven’t learnt what we feel they should know. Still, do we need to make them inferior?
My two cents.
A year late, but I think that’s meant to be teenage acne.
Great work Gav!
I felt just the emotional swirl you felt as I followed the comic.
I imagined that you had taken inspiration from the paternity.
Keep it up and relax, the babies know more than parents nowadays 😉
Greetings from Italy
Those punks needed a thrashing….
HOW WONDERFUL!! Congratulations on your new baby and on this beautiful work you have done. I was so moved by your words and pictures and truly appreciate the sentiment behind them. As a mother of two young children I have had these same feelings before, of wanting to nurture their creative spirit and protect them from the conformity police, the bullies and the predators. My son likes to wear tutus because they’re fun to wear, and I see other people–especially adults–looking uncomfortable about the way he dresses. I don’t know the answer to all of this. I will simply do the best I can to be there for him, the way Ballet Boy’s dad was there for him. Thank you again for your inspiration and for the sensitive way you depicted this age old story of parents’ love for their children.
Wow man! Congratulations! You’ve welcomed an actual baby into the world, while I’m trying to bring my video game company into the world. I love your work, fantastic as always (the dad in this strip is one of my favorite characters). Check out the company http://facebook.com/be.that.well.studios/ What’s your daughter’s name, and can we expect a new book anytime soon? Also, is there any chance you can get the Invictus-If-Oh Me, Oh Life triptych up on the site soon?
Congratulations! Wishing you and your family the best of luck!
You made me very misty, Gav. Congrats to you and your wife; I have a feeling you’re gonna be a wonderful dad!
That big panel near the end is my favorite frame you’ve ever drawn (and I have 2 of your comics as posters). Wonderful.
Also shout out to Tim (above) for the comment on the acne.
LOVED IT! Congratulations.
On a side note, touching the detail of the dad´s tatoo (tribute to the mother who passed away)
Incredible comic. I’m used to your greatness coming to art, but all while I was reading I kept thinking, who is the great person behind such an awesome quote.
Got to congratulate you on diving in poetry, excelling (once again) in the artwork, and of course on becoming a dad!
This was absolutely remarkable! And it mirrors my own concerns about that day when I become a father (not yet). This captured all the uncertainty I feel, and matches perfectly well with the example of my own father: not perfect, but always there for me, even if I didn’t always know it.
As a side note, I’d love a poster version of this comic!
Seconded on wanting a poster in the shop!
I want to put this on a wall, just can’t decide if it’ll be in my daughter’s room or mine & hub’s room.
Congratulations and welcome to parenthood!
Congratulations on your new baby girl Gav! Such a gripping take on parenthood, thank you for a wonderful comic strip yet again (:
This is so tender Gav. Loved it. Congratulations on your baby. 🙂
I don’t comment often, but I wanted to this time because this comic is so beautiful. I love the words, the story, and the illustration. Amazing work, Gavin. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I love it. <3
Teared up at the end. And needed this in the moment
You totally gave me a serious case of the feels thinking of my two little girls…
Tears to my eyes, again. Perfect.
Gavin, you totally nailed what a father think regarding their child future. Congratulations on your baby to you and you wife,tons for blessing for you and you family.
you fríend from Mexico:Hugo V
OMG, I just burst into tears!!! Thanks 🙂
Hermoso! siempre me sacan lágrimas de felicidad
congratulations! Being a dad is an amazing thing.
Congratulations, gavin! Those are beautiful words!
Hi Gav,
love this comic, combine it with “My spirit is a roaring sea”, and you have the perfect double!
Brilliant as always
Congrats on your new baby!
I love this drawing.
Please please make it available as a poster/print.
I would love to give it to my boys.
Congratulations to you and your wife!!! You’ll be an amazing dad 🙂
Best. One. Yet.
Hermoso y genial. Bravo!
Thanks everyone! Appreciate all the supportive words from fellow parents
Seriously great, Gavin. You just keep getting better, & so does the Ballet Boy saga. Bravo, my friend.
?? Encapsulated how I feel about my infant daughter perfectly. Thank you.
Congrats on becoming a father Gav, all the best. And, as always, love your work!
Oh snap, didn’t realise this was your own poem at first! Oh so very well done! I finished the comic nearing tears and had to look up who wrote it, and…boom.
Bravo! Well, and congratulations on the bundle of joy, of course 🙂
AS always, you touch my heart with your art. So wonderful for all of us who are different one way or another and got smacked for it.
Congrats on being a new dad. My oldest it going away to college this month and I can tell you that those feelings you are feeling just get stronger. Not only that, I’m just starting to realize that I really won’t be there to see her at the end of the day. Ugh. You did a great job on this and you show a lot of maturity and understanding for a brand new dad. Always remember what you just learned even if things get challenging. Good luck!
Gavin, I think you are an eloquent writer and artist. I find it incredible that either of your writing or artistry could stand by itself and I could follow what you wanted me to see. Bravo.
Today I had an awful day at work dealing with bullies, I called my mum and she was there for me, she listened to me carefully while I was hidden in the bathroom at work and she calmed me down, I couldn’t thank her enough, she gave me the strength to stop crying, go back to the office and face my bullies. When I got home I read this and cried, I really loved this comic, and I think it was kinda meant to be for you to publish it today and for me to read it, it was just what I needed. Thank you so very much . You are amazing
I’M NOT CRYING! IT’S JUST FAIRY DUST!
Congratulations to both of you! Best luck! And tank you for sharing your work! You work is great and is getting better.
I have a boy with autism. You don’t know how much this hits the right spot. Thanks and congratulations from Mexico
Congratulations on being a new parent and thank you for this great comic 🙂
Love Ballet Boy and Dad. I hope to see them again in the future. Congrats on your new precious treasure. She’s a lucky little girl to have a daddy that cares so much for her and the world she grows up in.
Gav, I have just shared all three in separate posts on my FB (I love sharing your works) but in my re-reading of the second one, Chuck Jones – an animator’s advice, I see that you have referred to Ballet Boy’s older male companion as his uncle, not his dad. Are you trying to confuse me, lol! I love all your works, and this one is super. I hope to see more of Ballet Boy!
It’s his Dad, the Chuck Jones comic wasn’t a literal adaptation. The words are about art school, the comic is about dance school – so there’s a bit of room of leeway in the interpretation. Good spot though!
Congrats, Gavin..
Congratulations! Loved this post! As I read through this, all I could think about was the kind of support I have received from my parents. They are my heros ALWAYS! This post is a tribute to all great parents out there.
Love this!
Please tell me it’s going to be a poster?
Congratulations Gavin, funnily enough August 2nd is my birthday as well. Congratulations to you and your wife, and welcome to your darling baby girl.
Gorgeous! Love it!
Wow, this is truely amazing! All of your work is, all of it has touched me deeply since I discovered it. But this story goes directly to my heart, because it is about the essence of parenthood, or about one of the hardest things to achieve (in my humble opinion as a mother of a three year old). Congratulations to the birth of your daughter, I am pretty sure you will do a great job as a dad!
And I love how this amazing dad finds a perfect response for these thugs (who certainly did not have great parents) without using (the very available) violence!
Especially in these days, when narrowmindedness and violence seem to be getting more popular again.
Congrats, to you and your wife, Gavin on being proud parents. Being a father to my teenage daughter, I can totally relate to your feelings which you have so beautifully showcased in this comic.
Enjoy this time with your baby, ‘coz, she’ll grow up before you know it (and then you’ll rue that… but it’ll be too late).
Congrats Gav!
And another great comic as always.
Congratulations, Gavin ! Have followed your work for a while and its an inspiration, not only in your decision to folllow your heart, or the wonderful quotes you choose and also in the thoughtful artwork ! The little one is a very lucky kid. Good luck for the future !
Congratulations are in Order Gav… Its a great addition to your exemplary work .. The Words where really from the heart and it did touch the heart… Keep writing and keep creating such awesome inspirational work.
Welcome to parenthood Gav. And thank you for this wonderful comic 🙂
Congratulations Gav. In a world that is so full of greed, corruption and hatred, your website and comics are a unique source of hope for a better future. You are a real inspiration.
Congratulations, Gav. I think you’re going to be a great dad. Just remember, it’s also your job to mess up once in a while. But I know you’re going to be true to the words above. I’ve been to a couple of your book signings here in California, and I can tell that you are in every one of your quote choices and your great drawings. I hope you’ll start putting more of your own words in your comics and sharing more of your own experiences. For example, it would be great to get a book of your first year as a dad. Thanks again for the light you put into the world. The little miss is a lucky girl.
Congratulations! All the best to you and your family:)
Congratulations!!! I may be crying… middle school me needed some of this. You’ll be awesome, and best wishes to the family.
Congrats on the baby! My little boy was born May 21st so I know what you mean about the ‘dad thoughts’. I really enjoy your work. Keep it up and best wishes for you and the family from Fargo, ND!
Omg please make this available as a poster. I need my son to grow up and read this everyday of his life.
Congrats!
Made me teary eyed, hopeful and happy. Thank you.
Welcome to your New baby! ? And Welcome to You as New Parents! ?
Warm wishes from India
Thanks for your work … and cool message, you can add your own name in the hall of fame of all the authors and people whom you have quoted on this site.
Nice work once again. !
Best wishes from a huge fan of you, your work and your ART! Greetings from Monterrey, MX
I’d say its this comic that moved me the most, Gav. The best from you yet!
Thank you, Gavin! My wife and I are waiting to adopt an infant of our own, and all of these thoughts of preparing a tiny new person for his or her entire life out in the world are weighing on me, too. I’m going to keep this comic handy, to have my back, while I have my baby’s.
Congratulations on your own bundle of joy : )
ah… congratulation to you and your family.
exact emotions of all Dads I suppose.
So apt.. Beautiful.. Congrats to you:)
This is so beautiful and hopeful. My own father has been an amazing supporter of my dreams in life and am touched by this. Congratulations on your little girl!
This is brilliant gav! These words can encompass a fatherly love, and motherly love, a caregiver love, and more personally, the love I feel to my younger siblings. One day your baby girl will be able to see your art and put herself into each world you create, and make her own identifications from her own perspective. How exciting!
Congrats and thank you. I’m grateful your art exists in our world.
WOW!!!!
Congrats Gav!! for you’re little girl. The comic reminded me of my parents, who’ve been wholeheartedly supportive of my career choice. I’m here thanks to them. This comic really warmed my heart on this cold rainy night.
You’re comics have always inspired me. Keep drawing and shining brightly.
Woo-hoo! Congrats with the new baby.=)
Such wonderful news, Gavin! Congratulations!
Congrats! And well expressed 🙂
This is a great quote Gav! Thank you for this 🙂
And congrats with the new member of the family!
I’m so glad that there was a solution without violence. You have a great maturity in your attitude to solving problems! So much love for breaking down stereotypes, particularly around masculinity and different body types.
Congratulations Gavin on becoming a father! I too recently became a father to a precious little girl! And great comic yet again! 🙂
This might be your best one yet Gavin. I can tell it comes from the heart – so moving. Congratulations on your new daughter 🙂
Words fail to describe the good feeling this have gove to so many, you have reminded me that my ultimate life achivement would be becomimg father some day. thank you and crongrats on you new baby daughter!
Beautiful words– I hope you share your work with your daughter when she’s older! This made my morning. <3
Incredible. Thank you for creating and sharing this with us. It reminded me of how much my mother loved me.
Congrats on your new family member. I have a strong feeling you’ll be a fantastic dad.
And thanks for such a beautiful reminder of how best to respond to the poor, pathetic bullies who can’t handle human diversity.
Congrats on your new baby! She is very lucky to have such an empathic, kind dad. Becoming a parent made me realize exactly how vulnerable I am–because I am going to feel someone else’s pain and not be able to change or fix it. Showing your kids how to live an authentic life is one of the most powerful gifts you can give, and you are already doing so through your work.
Aw man, I have loved your stuff, but this? I need to go to my room and cry it was so beautiful. Good on ya mate.
Great comic and congrats on the baby. May you and your child have many wonderful moments together.
Inspirational…I’m a huge fan and this one is one of your best so far! Keep up the good spirit and the good work.
OMG, thanks so much for the well wishes folks!! xx
This had me in tears…..like almost every other comic you draw. Thank you so much, this was very good
Congratualtions!
On April 1 my first child was born . It was a girl. She was born with Down syndrome . It was unexpected and painful. And now I fear for her and her future. I cried days alone , but today I find your comic and has given me much hope and conviction. They really are words and inspiring images. Thank you for this wonderful message .
As a new father this exactly express the fears that lurk on some corners of my mind right now, thanks a lot for this comic really I can’t express how much it means to me.
Thank you Gavin.
Wow! Pretty much sums up how I feel being new to this “father” thing as well.
This came to me just at the right moment.
Thank you (and congrats)! :’)
I have been very frustrated and depressed due to work and have been questioning everything about myself. I had bookmarked this comic but hadn’t had time to read it until tonight. And I feel freed and… alive afterwards. I also share this comic to my dad (of course) and my family. Thank you so much for keeping producing great arts that connect all hearts. Congrats and cheers.
Leave it to you, Gavin, to produce a quote even MORE profound than the scientists and philosophers whom you quote.
Congrats Gav! Maybe that’s how my father felt when he first met his first daughter – me. He’s not the emotional kind, but I really feel how much he loves and protects me, even now that I’m in my late 20’s. A father’s love is unconditional. I know you’ll be with your princess in her every step in life. Cheers to you and welcome to fatherhood!
this put a really big lump in my throat and made me tear quite a bit. it’s beautifully put together, thank you for this. & kudos for all your talent and humanity 🙂
congrats on becoming a father Gav’ All the best. And thanks for the great comic.. 🙂
This is so good, you made me cry! Congrats! and thank you for all
This is really a good comic! Keep it up and I look forward to more 🙂
Nothing to add to that: story had a good moral and it didn’t try to sell any questionable ideas.
Also seeing grown men in tutus is always a treat.
Excellent job!
http://obatayanampuh.blogspot.co.id/2016/08/ramuan-tradisional-untuk-penyakit-ayan.html/
Congrats on the new baby, Gav.
This really is a strong message done in a most sweet and cute way for the kids these days. Being an artist myself , been in love with your art style and the way you convey your message is just brilliant, for past many years.
That’s so amazing…but nothing is better than my website ahahaha
Wait for the next chapter
Awesome
the fairy dressed father is simply amazing! 🙂
Congratulations Gav!! You’re there. You’ve achieved the .. thing. The art thing. You’re good, you’ve made it. I hope you’re having fun doing it! Great comic, great words :’)
Just wanted to say I relly loved this one, spoke to me deeply, as I was bullied mercilessly as a youth for being disabled. The damage is to my left side of my brain which means according to another of your comics, the right side is where all the creativity is. I have 16 fanfic self published novels on the net. Otherwise unrecognized but I’m OK with that. To all the haters out there…. So there!
PS. My favorite frame is the I’m here for you with the dad revealed. This has made me an instant fan of you. I wish….I wish I could have that one frame as a poster and hang it up on my wall! (This will give more of an insight on how my weirdo brain works) You should get an “any type of job in art” like Chuck Jones because I think one day you will be famous like him. You are that good. Good luck!
Gav, this is so sweet! ?
People always want you in a box. They say they want the real you, but what everyone is saying is that they want their version of you.
The artist wants the creative rebellious you, the parent wants the obedient you, work wants the on time you, your friends want the stable you they know. No matter where you go in the world they all want their version of you, anything else simply won’t do.
Unless you’re a failure, then I guess no one wants that.
thanks for sharing another good post.
PS. My favorite frame is the I’m here for you with the dad revealed. This has made me an instant fan of you. I wish….I wish I could have that one frame as a poster and hang it up on my wall! (This will give more of an insight on how my weirdo brain works) You should get an “any type of job in art” like Chuck Jones because I think one day you will be famous like him. You are that good. Good luck! Thanks.
Wow just wow! That adrenaline rush and tears! & congratulations.
Gavin this was fantastic. I showed this to 3 people already and will share it with more. So emotional.
I shared it with a friend even before I finished reading it! I haven’t read all of your stuff yet but you have something really special here. I also noted that it is the most commented of all your work and there is a good reason for that
Cheers
Peter Eldergill (in Toronto)
Thank you Gavin for your “Us Againts The World” comic post
http://vuelosdelalma.blogspot.com/2013/11/kampung-inggris-pare-kediri.html
Just checked the comments, thanks so much everybody!
Beautiful. I love your work. Lot of feelings… Wish you most and more. Lots of love to the baby.. Have a great Year ahead.
very very good post. i really enjoy it thanks for sharing another good post.
i really enjoy it thanks for sharing
It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. Charles Darwin
Allabout Educations
What an inspiring comic! I’m about to cry T.T Thank you for sharing! I will remember these words and besides my kids to encourage them T.T
Thank you for sharing! I will remember these words and besides my kids to encourage them
Thanks for sharing such amazing post
Awesome Post, Thanks for the sharing..
Lovely poster. So touching. I love it
hhh i like it
good job
hhh good brother
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough
UAN ONLINE Registration
Nice Cartoon man, i hope i can draw like it
Wo, so funny comic i enjoy so much reading your comic =D
Thanks for sharing nice blog about comic world.
wow
Thanks for sharing such amazing post.
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