CARTOON CROSSOVER FUN!

BUSHY TALES and TEN CATS
This past week has seen these two comic strips share their characters!
This sometimes happens between comic strips (they are often called "crossover" strips because the characters "cross over" from one strip to the other) and can be a lot of fun.

I have enjoyed the TEN CATS comic strip ever since I first came across it a few years ago on the US syndicate website, www.gocomics.com. I think it is a great cartoon and extremely well drawn with a cast of delightful characters (ten of them are cats, obviously).
TEN CATS won the 2012 NCS Reuben Award for best online comic strip (the Reuben Awards are like the Academy Awards for cartoonists) which gives some idea of the high quality and popularity of the strip.
Anyway, it so happened that the TEN CATS cartoonist, Graham Harrop, also became quite a fan of BUSHY TALES and, over the last couple of years, we have enjoyed corresponding and encouraging each other (though I am sure most of the benefit and pleasure of this has been mine).

Over the past few years I have featured some other comic strip characters in BT but in recent times I had the desire to incorporate TEN CATS into my strip...and last week gave me a great opportunity to do so.

As mentioned in the last couple of posts, Doug, Jack and Sugar have left The Bluff on a great adventure...a journey back to Doug's old home (previously destroyed by a wild bushfire). En route, the trio find themselves in a large city full of inherent dangers for every wombat, rabbit and sugar-glider passing through (it's a good thing Wombatman is travelling with them!).
Whilst writing the strips for last week, I had an idea of how I could "borrow" some of Graham's ten cats and infuse them into this BUSHY TALES story line.
I contacted Graham to see if he was okay with the idea, which he thankfully was.
You can see the crossover action in the last one of these three strips.....

 I am pleased to say that Graham loved the strip and it proved to be a big hit on the GoComics site when published last week. 
But that was not the end of it.....Graham then wrote to me asking if he could return the favour. Of course, I was thrilled with the prospect so quickly said "Yes!"
Thus, yesterday (Sunday) TEN CATS had a special reference to BUSHY TALES.....

So....a bit of fun for a couple of cartoonists and, hopefully, some of those who read the respective strips.
By the way, you can subscribe to receive BUSHY TALES and TEN CATS ( and lots more great comic strips) FREE every day to your email.
Simply go to www.gocomics.com and find your desired comic strip/cartoon and then follow the appropriate prompts.

BUSHY TALES Activities-for young readers
On this page you will occasionally discover some fun activities to enjoy!
And, sometimes, we might even feature some of your drawings, too!So here are the first couple....more will be added in the weeks ahead! Have fun!

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Next week I will answer another question, or two, 
from our readers.
This will be a recurring feature of this blog, so it is 
never too late to send in your questions.
Simply email your questions, or comments, to:
bushweekblog@bushytales.com 

I'd love to hear from you!

Until next week.
Joyfully yours,

Ian 

WEBSITE: www.bushytales.com
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/BushyTalesComicStrip

"ARE WE THERE YET?"

Doug's Road Trip Into His Past

When Doug the Wombat first came to the Bluff, it was as a survivor of a wild bush-fire that destroyed his home and, as far as he knew, his family.

Of course, he soon found another home at the Bluff and was accepted into the "family" of wacky characters that live there. But, over time, Doug has increasingly been wondering what his old home is like now. So, recently, he has been thinking about going back to find out.

And so begins what will be a developing story line for quite a few weeks. It will be the longest running theme I have attempted with BUSHY TALES so far and, to be honest, I am quite excited about the potential for some interesting adventures that Doug and his travelling companions will encounter along the way.

Today I share with you the strips that have been leading into this incredible journey. I will continue with the series updates over the weeks ahead. 

I hope you enjoy the journey!

Next Week.....In next week's blog I'll be answering some of your questions (you can still send your questions to bushweekblog@bushytales.com ).
Also, I'll be presenting a new page of activities for younger readers!
Don't miss it!..."BUSH WEEK" is published every Monday.
Until next week!

Joyfully yours,

Ian