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Description
During my recovery time outside of work, I have been slowly picking away at some new ideas of mine on-and-off. Even though I wanted to finish this last month, this submission is still suitable for the spooky season so I decided to complete it this Thanksgiving long weekend. It feels good to start this bigger project for a series that has wormed into its way into my heart as one of the memorable cartoons I have ever seen. 'Courage the Cowardly Dog' is very unique in its creative approach and in its ability to convey dark comedy, emotional vulnerability, and bizarre horror.

Since so many of the episodes have stuck with me (even years after watching through the series), I have decided to do 2 major tributes: first focusing on the "darker" elements of the series with the figurative/paranormal and creepy/literal monsters that Courage encounters. I specifically included the ones that I thought were the most unique or memorable, though I do plan to include the more misunderstood creatures in the other tribute. The irony of Courage as a protagonist struck me as I was drawing this too: as someone who wants to continue to develop bravery, I find openly vulnerable, but determined characters like him to be endearing in their own way. In a way, it can be a "breath of fresh air" for me to see someone be heroic while still struggling and expressing fear and terror instead of always being "in control" or some stone-cold badass.

'Courage the Cowardly Dog' © John R. Dilworth

Description
During my recovery time outside of work, I have been slowly picking away at some new ideas of mine on-and-off. Even though I wanted to finish this last month, this submission is still suitable for the spooky season so I decided to complete it this Thanksgiving long weekend. It feels good to start this bigger project for a series that has wormed into its way into my heart as one of the memorable cartoons I have ever seen. 'Courage the Cowardly Dog' is very unique in its creative approach and in its ability to convey dark comedy, emotional vulnerability, and bizarre horror.

Since so many of the episodes have stuck with me (even years after watching through the series), I have decided to do 2 major tributes: first focusing on the "darker" elements of the series with the figurative/paranormal and creepy/literal monsters that Courage encounters. I specifically included the ones that I thought were the most unique or memorable, though I do plan to include the more misunderstood creatures in the other tribute. The irony of Courage as a protagonist struck me as I was drawing this too: as someone who wants to continue to develop bravery, I find openly vulnerable, but determined characters like him to be endearing in their own way. In a way, it can be a "breath of fresh air" for me to see someone be heroic while still struggling and expressing fear and terror instead of always being "in control" or some stone-cold badass.

'Courage the Cowardly Dog' © John R. Dilworth