One of the important rules of questing is assembling a competent group of companions. You need to have someone who can handle a sword or an axe, someone who can shoot well, someone who can disarm traps, someone who can wield magical powers, and someone with a bottle of medicine for healing boo-boos. Winslow’s a little short on friends, so for this adventure he’ll have to rely on Little Winslow and Kurt the Cynic. They will probably definitely be killed by a manticore.

Today’s strip is the first in a fresh story arc. I figured it was high time Winslow went on an adventure, and what better way to start then by being compelled by your sinister bathroom mirror image? Will Winslow find the fable Crown of Ellipses? Will he defeat the Wizard Octothorpe in the bowels of the enigmatic Parenthetical Castle? Will he turn off the sink?! Find out next week! Or maybe not!

This is the last Friday the 13th strip of the year, and since I started the trend of injuring Winslow in the first two (by having his face scraped off in the first one, and by having his face burst into flames in the second), I knew I’d have to do it again the third time around. This one doesn’t have Dr. Spiderqueen in it, but she’ll come in later. So if you’re itching to see her, just be patient. Good times ahead.

Winslow’s family members have not fared well in any of my comics. First I killed off his brother, then his grandfather, and now his uncle. So if any of his remaining family members are out there reading this, I suggest writing up a will, counting your blessings, and finding a nice place to live out your remaining days. You might be next.

I’ve never drawn Ben and Winslow with bathing suits. The one time they were at the beach, it was for the fake movie poster of “Bikini Robot A-Go-Go!” and neither of them wore swim trunks. That’s not really fair, but Ben’s explanation is true. No one would know who was who! So today I’ve rectified that problem, with Winslow’s help. Sometimes the most obvious solution is also the most ridiculous.