Bro. What could possibly go wrong?

Spike and Norville

I created Spike and Norville for notes for my daughter’s lunches when she attended elementary school. She occasionally argues the comic strip should have been named #NotesForCaroline, since technically they existed before I put notes in my wife Tracy’s lunches. I made Caroline’s notes more elaborate than the sticky pad comics for Tracy. Caroline’s notes contained a weather report, an inspirational quote, a fun fact, and a cartoon with Spike and Norville. I used knock-knock jokes. Spike was the wisecracker, and Norville was the “straight man.” Spike had a grin. Norville would roll his eyes at Spike’s puns, or stare in compassion at the reader.

Caroline shared her notes with her classmates at lunch, so they were my original audience that was not 100% family and friends. Caroline was my first Critter Promoter.

Spike and Norville Now

Spike and Norville are not really inspired by anyone in particular, but I pull from my adventures with my childhood best friend, the late, great Tim Dopson. He was like another big brother to me. I also pull from my experiences with my own big brother as well. “The boys” are approximately the same age as Latuda, Mandy, and Miata Ann.

Creative Differences

When I added color to the #NotesForTracy cartoon, Caroline informed me that not all critters were brown! She contributed the colors for Spike and Norville, and would like to re-color other critters as well.

The OG Comic

ComicsOnline posted the first version of this cartoon (still ink and pencils colored) on April 6, 2022. The caption read “Pizza Possum is not affiliated with Pizza Rat.” Do you remember Pizza Rat? The unofficial mascot of New York City?