Strip Search 1.9: The Naughty Mysteries (TM)
Posted By Jen Sylvia on May 7, 2013
So, in the midpoint of the show, Tavis selected Erika and Abby for the dungeon draw after winning the Just The Tips challenge. He had good reasons, but it was we who were rewarded with entertainment of the purest kind.
From the basket of broken dreams, Erika pulled out “Mystery,” Abby revealing “Naughty.” And for the next ninety minutes, though we got an edited 13ish minutes, hilarity ensued. Erika is just the most genuine person I’ve ever seen. But Abby. ABBY! Who expected that? Because from the look on Jerry and Mike’s face and the guffawing laughter coming from my face: no one.
Mike: Your poorness seems to be a recurring theme.
Abby: Well, it’s a big deal to me. Because I’m poor.
Mike: See, there it is again.
Abby: What a mystery. In the question you asked me about being poor, I mentioned that I was poor.
Jerry: She is a fucking elemental force of nature. There is no…
Abby: There is no end to my sass!
And there wasn’t. The dick jokes, and a brilliant boob moment, abounded with delight. Where Erika, a fully established comic artist who works her craft full-time, is so zen-natured about her success and the possibility of going home, Abby was off the charts with her verbal assault. In the end, the strips the two delivered were phenomenal, each distinct, deliberate, and funny.
Tavis wins; Abby stays; Erika poops kicks the bucket.
It was a choice between style and content preferences, and thankfully not a deliberation on whose strip sucked less. Contextually and artistically, I wished for Abby’s to win; I’m thankful I got my wish, there’s more of her to see and enjoy (pun not intended, but I’ll take it). My theory is that she so surprised Mike and Jerry with her attitude and strip that they had to keep her. I’m fully on board with this even though I adore Erika to death.
I’m ready for Day 7.
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)
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)
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)
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.
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