I am a cartoonist who has worked for well-known British comics such as The Beano and Viz. One of my most popular comics to date is the more personally inspired Socially Awkward Misfit. The main character in the comic has also been brought to life in animation, which has already debuted in film festivals...as well as my Youtube channel.
Here are my 40 comics about being an introvert featuring my introverted character Sam (Socially Awkward Misfit). I have just completed my fourth book, which is now on Kickstarter here.
More info: rosshendrick.co.uk | sociallyawkwardmisfit.com | Instagram | X | webtoons.com | Facebook | Youtube
This post may include affiliate links.
Go Big Or Go Home
It's been ten years since I first started drawing my comic character Sam. Ten whole years of Sam's adventures of awkwardness, introversion, social anxiety, introspection, and existential dread. So for the ten-year anniversary, I am creating a book that goes right back to the start, to tell the story of how SAM came about.
Put Phone On Silent
I prefer it on silent. I'll get the notifications when I see them on my own time. No one else needs to hear them, too.
Recharging
In an exclusive story, I talk about how it started and will document how far I've come so far, from my very rough sketches to a Sam animation being a finalist in a film festival.
"The story of Sam" will be an exclusive 14-page story, and there be another exclusive story, "Day at the Job Centre".
Awfully Quiet
Coldcall
In the book, there will be a compilation of comics from 2020 to 2024, and as an extra bonus I will be redrawing some of the best comics I've done over the last ten years.
The book will be around 60 pages, in color, measuring 210 x 148 mm (A5 size).
Get Out Of The House
Socially Awkward Misfit is drawn from my own experiences in life, such as struggling with social anxiety, and issues relating to introversion and being socially awkward.
The most rewarding part of creating comics has been the feedback from lots of people who say they can relate to the issues in my cartoons, and it is heartwarming to hear that it has helped them to know they don't feel alone in this world.
Stay And Chat
Nothing Planned
Call/Text
I've come to hate texting. I spend more time trying to fight autocorrect and a wonky touch screen, and trying to make sure my tone in my text matches what I mean. Then I get anxiety because I'll be texting something longer and the other person will text something else unrelated and shift the conversation so that what I've been texting is now irrelevant. AGH
Bored And Lonely
Are You Busy?
Silent Treatment
Alone
Benefits
RUN. Next he'll be going on about how your coworkers will be your new family.
Coming To The Party?
Friends
Friends is one of the most lackluster shows I've seen. It doesn't have the same energy of 80's shows nor the great writing of 2000's shows. It's this weird middle ground where it's not bad, but it's not good. I don't get why people obsess over it. At least the Office is funny, if capable of second hand embarrassment sometimes. Friends is just full second hand embarrassment.
I don't find "The office" funny and I love "Friends". Something for everyone.
Load More Replies...Introvert/Extrovert Differences
Party Trick
Halloween
You're Really Quiet
Supermarket
Group Conversations
Yeah these are hard to jump into especially if no one gives you an opening.
Salesman
Thanks
We should all try being just a little quiet from time to time.
Want To Come Out?
Recovery
World's Biggest Extrovert
Interesting
You Can Call
Reminds me of asking my mom if I can do something and she would say, “I don’t know. Can you?"
Bringing To The Conversation
Costume Party
Haircut
Won't Take No For An Answer
Going Out For A Meal
Chit Chat
Call Me
Phone Call
Being an introvert is not, and I repeat not, the same as being socially awkward or having social anxiety. It stands by and of itself. Introvert (me) could quite happily direct drivers on and off the weighbridge, chat to them, ask them how their wife/baby/dog/hamster/goldfish was, walk them down to where they needed to load or tip. If someone's dog bounces up to me, tail wagging, I have no problem having a short conversation with the owner. However, I prefer my own company, plus husband and cats, of course. Introversion can be associated with other issues, but an introvert can be just that. An introvert.
Hi Serena, yes that is true. I am an introvert who does have social anxiety, and therefore I make comics relating to both, and there is often some cross over. In this post, I feel they are more on the introversion side, and in another post I made are the ones which are more to do with anxiety.
Load More Replies...OK, so I'm an introvert. However, I'm not socially awkward. I'd happily chat/socialize in a group or w/a friend or two. I take pride in being a good listener & do my best to communicate my POV w/o offending or boring anyone. That said, I'm frequently ignored or dismissed, so I end up just enjoying my own company, even if I feel lonely or left out. So it pisses me no end when I'm *then* told that I should be more social or open or whatever. What is the expectation, that one should beg for attention like a toddler? Better alone, thanks.
I expect some downvotes, but I'm gonna say it anyway. Sam seems like kind of a d*ck in some of these. I understand that he doesn't like talking to people, but he's made it his entire personality. For example, maybe the hairdresser is bored. She's just trying to pass the time, he could make a little effort to pass the time with her. I say this as someone who is hopeless at small talk.
Well, as the name suggests, he is a socially awkward misfit haha.
Load More Replies...I certainly can see Sam's viewpoint. I speak to literally no one outside of my job, never go out, am lousy at small talk, and feel like I never have anything interesting to say. Ironically, my job is in customer service.
i like it, Sam says what i am to polite to say sometimes :) thank you for sharing your work
Another non-socially-awkward introvert here! I can carry on conversations (but not start them, usually) just fine and I can be completely alone for weeks. Although I prefer the second one, my job is persuading people to part with their money (and I'm apparently pretty good at it).
I feel this a bit more than some other comments but not because I am socially awkward. I have some trauma from my past so it is often very hard to open up to new people. I can do the typical hi, how are ya but that is as far as the conversation will usually go with me. It is hard for me to jump into conversations especially when others continuously go on and on. So if you are an extrovert help your friend out and give them an opening to actually speak if you value their input. It really helps us out if the conversation isn't one continual run on sentence. XD
I thought "introvert" is somewhere on a scale between "people are boring" and "people are disgusting". Idk what any of this has to do with social anxiety. It's anxiety when I fear you will disappoint me, not when I am absolutely sure of it, right?
I have a separate post about my comics about anxiety, these one are more to do with introversion, although there is some cross over there.
Load More Replies...I agree with Serena and Rosie; I am a lifelong Introvert, I like quiet and alone time. I am NOT, however, socially awkward, anxious or isolated. I'm liked by friends, respected in my industry, make presentations to large groups and am able to converse on a range of topics. I find large gatherings to be overly noisy, forced and tedious. I dislike small talk and superficial gratuitous chatter. My "batteries" do drain quickly in some situations and require time to re-charge. I don't feel that I need or benefit from encouragement to "get out more". Thanks Ross, keep being you!
Thanks Harvey. I'm an introvert who also has social anxiety, although it's got better over the years. I made comics relating to both social anxiety and introversion, this posts are more in line with introversion and I have another post which has ones which are more related to social anxiety. There's sometimes a bit of cross over with the two.
Load More Replies...Being an introvert is not, and I repeat not, the same as being socially awkward or having social anxiety. It stands by and of itself. Introvert (me) could quite happily direct drivers on and off the weighbridge, chat to them, ask them how their wife/baby/dog/hamster/goldfish was, walk them down to where they needed to load or tip. If someone's dog bounces up to me, tail wagging, I have no problem having a short conversation with the owner. However, I prefer my own company, plus husband and cats, of course. Introversion can be associated with other issues, but an introvert can be just that. An introvert.
Hi Serena, yes that is true. I am an introvert who does have social anxiety, and therefore I make comics relating to both, and there is often some cross over. In this post, I feel they are more on the introversion side, and in another post I made are the ones which are more to do with anxiety.
Load More Replies...OK, so I'm an introvert. However, I'm not socially awkward. I'd happily chat/socialize in a group or w/a friend or two. I take pride in being a good listener & do my best to communicate my POV w/o offending or boring anyone. That said, I'm frequently ignored or dismissed, so I end up just enjoying my own company, even if I feel lonely or left out. So it pisses me no end when I'm *then* told that I should be more social or open or whatever. What is the expectation, that one should beg for attention like a toddler? Better alone, thanks.
I expect some downvotes, but I'm gonna say it anyway. Sam seems like kind of a d*ck in some of these. I understand that he doesn't like talking to people, but he's made it his entire personality. For example, maybe the hairdresser is bored. She's just trying to pass the time, he could make a little effort to pass the time with her. I say this as someone who is hopeless at small talk.
Well, as the name suggests, he is a socially awkward misfit haha.
Load More Replies...I certainly can see Sam's viewpoint. I speak to literally no one outside of my job, never go out, am lousy at small talk, and feel like I never have anything interesting to say. Ironically, my job is in customer service.
i like it, Sam says what i am to polite to say sometimes :) thank you for sharing your work
Another non-socially-awkward introvert here! I can carry on conversations (but not start them, usually) just fine and I can be completely alone for weeks. Although I prefer the second one, my job is persuading people to part with their money (and I'm apparently pretty good at it).
I feel this a bit more than some other comments but not because I am socially awkward. I have some trauma from my past so it is often very hard to open up to new people. I can do the typical hi, how are ya but that is as far as the conversation will usually go with me. It is hard for me to jump into conversations especially when others continuously go on and on. So if you are an extrovert help your friend out and give them an opening to actually speak if you value their input. It really helps us out if the conversation isn't one continual run on sentence. XD
I thought "introvert" is somewhere on a scale between "people are boring" and "people are disgusting". Idk what any of this has to do with social anxiety. It's anxiety when I fear you will disappoint me, not when I am absolutely sure of it, right?
I have a separate post about my comics about anxiety, these one are more to do with introversion, although there is some cross over there.
Load More Replies...I agree with Serena and Rosie; I am a lifelong Introvert, I like quiet and alone time. I am NOT, however, socially awkward, anxious or isolated. I'm liked by friends, respected in my industry, make presentations to large groups and am able to converse on a range of topics. I find large gatherings to be overly noisy, forced and tedious. I dislike small talk and superficial gratuitous chatter. My "batteries" do drain quickly in some situations and require time to re-charge. I don't feel that I need or benefit from encouragement to "get out more". Thanks Ross, keep being you!
Thanks Harvey. I'm an introvert who also has social anxiety, although it's got better over the years. I made comics relating to both social anxiety and introversion, this posts are more in line with introversion and I have another post which has ones which are more related to social anxiety. There's sometimes a bit of cross over with the two.
Load More Replies...
