Strip Search 1.22: Monica Is My Hero (And I Love Mike)
Monica and Lexxy head to the 7th elimination. Today’s topics: Rollerskates (Monica), and Dinosaurs (Lexxy). This ought to be completely fascinating.
I am not disappointed. But it’s not the drawing so much, it’s that Monica, much like Abby, was a shocker and a joy to behold, stumping the judges. It was her absolute resolve to not be flustered or drawn into any conversation she did not want that was brilliant. And when she did choose to listen, it got to Mike and Jerry was content to simply watch the action. Lexxy was herself, open and tactful, which was no surprise. It’s also why Monica’s game face was such a startling contrast, one where I imagined a roundskeeper with a booming voice yelling into the room: “Are you not entertained?!”
Mike: Monica, do you think Lexxy deserves to go home tonight? Monica: Lexxy’s super talented. Mike: There’s no question about that, but should we throw her out in the street? Monica: I don’t have to answer that. Mike: <laughing> But do you think she should go home? Monica: <eats candy, eyes Mike’s sweater> Who wears stripes anymore?
****
Mike: <laughing at Monica’s silence, talking to Jerry> That is a new one. Everybody has reacted differently to the psychological abuse, but no one has just shut down.
****
Mike: Why did you decide to join this competition, or enter this competition?
Monica: You’ll find out.
Jerry: <laughing> I love it! I am overjoyed!
Mike: What reason did you have for entering Strip Search?
Monica: <puts finger to lips> Shhhhh.
Mike: You can’t shush me! I will not be shushed! it sounds like you had two good jobs, why would you want to throw that away to become a cartoonist?
Monica: I just said you’ll find out. Now be quiet.
****
Mike: If you had to choose someone from the house to come to your birthday party and be shot, who would it be?
Monica: You.
Mike: Well. That’s my fault for asking too open-ended of a question. Yeah. I left that one open. Alright. Good on you.
Monica shushing Mike.
There was so much quotable, hilarious material here. The best part was Mike admitting, “Well, seems like she’d be a good fit for the office, actually,” while laughing at another of Monica’s shenanigans.
Ultimately, the two created fantastic art. Lexxy’s was easy to read and genuinely funny. Monica’s piece was incredibly detailed and made you think. I’ll contend that the two were equal in vastly different ways. My preference was for Monica’s strip, but understand why, ultimately, they chose Lexxy’s. While I admire their acknowledgement of Monica’s strip encompassing her dream, and thusly not destroying it, I do admit to a personal fear that Mike and Jerry have an unfair bias towards Lexxy.
Did the right artist win?
Amusingly, when Monica was in the You’ve Lost Car, when the judges came to speak with her, Mike apologized, with real concern that he’d somehow hurt Monica’s feelings when she’d flustered him. Nudge up my respect a bit, why dontcha.
And thus ends Day 7, with no teasers for Day 8 and only five contestants left. Woah.
My current top three still remain unchanged!
Katie, Tavis, and Maki
New episodes air Tuesday and Friday on Penny Arcade and youtube.
Current Standings:
Abby Howard, 20, Montreal, Quebec.
She’s the youngest and has the least experience. But she draws dinosaurs! However, will any of those things even matter?
(Kept: Elimination #6)
Alex Hobbs, 22, Tempe, AZ.
This swear-word dropping free-spirit is highly likeable, but will his work be up to par? Set to graduate post-Strip Search, it’ll be interesting to see where this will take him. Eliminated 1st Challenge
Amy Falcone, 24, Noank, CT
Gamer to the innards, Amy is serious and competitive to a fault. Will that fault be her undoing? Whatever the result, quitting her job to do Strip Search shows her passion.
(Challenge #1 Winner)
(Social Game #3 / Drawing Blind Winner – Intuos5 Tablet)
(Eliminated 5th Challenge)
Erika Moen, 29, Portland, OR
Proven work in social and sexual commentary brings her to the contest with a following that marks her as one to have eyes on.
(Social Game #3 / Drawing Blind Winner – Intuos5 Tablet)
(Challenge #4 Winner)
(Eliminated 6th Challenge)
Katie Rice,31, Burbank, CA
A soft-spoken artist with a following of her own. Some of those fans are also fellow contestants. Will she use the star power to stun?
(Kept: Elimination #1)
(Kept: Elimination #2)
(Social Game #4 / Street Art Winner – Artist Alley booth at NYCC ’13)
(Social Game #5 / Sculpt-Off Winner – Redraw Ticket)
(Social Game #7 / Table-Tennis-Off – unknown prize!)
(Challenge #7 Winner)
Lexxy – Alexandra Douglas, 27, Carmel, IN
Also seen in Penny Arcade: The Series, she’s dealt with Gabe and Tycho’s reality egos. If that helps or harms remains to be seen.
(Social Game #2 / Seattle Trivia Winner – Wacom Cintiq HD Tablet)
(Eliminated 3rd Challenge – BARELY)
(Returned to compete after the double elimination #4)
(Social Game #6 / SS Grand Prix Winner – Penny Arcade “First Party” Wardrobe)
(Kept: Elimination #7)
Mac – Mackenzie Schubert, 26, Portland, OR
Quiet, doe-eyes Mac has a very defined artistic style all his own. It’ll be interesting to watch how his gentle soul deals with the mood swings a competitive show can bring.
(Eliminated 4th Challenge)
(Social Game #4 / Street Art Winner – Artist Alley booth at NYCC ’13)
Maki Naro, 31, Brooklyn, NY
While I sincerely hope this guy watches Psych, his cool logic and talent may very well be what brings him to the final set of competitors.
(Social Game #1 / Fax Machine Winner – Redraw Ticket)
(Social Game #4 / Street Art Winner – Artist Alley booth at NYCC ’13)
(Kept: Elimination #5)
Monica Ray, 22, Northbrook, IL
While seemingly quiet at the beginning, Monica’s super-power of Always Doing Something And Befriending All seems a gift. Remains to be seen if that gift implodes or explodes.
(Challenge #5 Winner)
(Eliminated 7th Challenge)
Nick Trujillo, 30, Walnut Creek, CA
Something of a philosopher and jack of all trades, Nick’s ability to be alright with people and make good art is something to watch. But will his relative newness to the industry be a detriment?
(Challenge #2 Winner)
(Challenge #3 Winner)
(Eliminated 4th Challenge)
Tavis Maiden, 31, Mesa, AZ
Bringing the attitude only a parent can, Tavis wants this more than any five-year-old screaming for the last piece of cake. He may get it, too.
(Kept: Elimination #3)
(Challenge #6 Winner – Black Ink Pro Kit and Airbrush Kit from Copic)
Ty Halley, 25, Portsmouth, OH
Clipped, dry witted Ty has no brain-to-mouth–filter. And, he’s using his time on Strip Search as material for his own daily life strip. That will be interesting. Eliminated 2nd Challenge
All bios and links to the personal websites of each artist can be found here.
Related posts:
You Might Also Like
