The Creator Of ‘Pixie And Brutus’ Finally Reveals How Brutus Got His Scars, And People Can’t Hold Back The Tears Interview With Artist
We swear we’re not crying—it’s those darn ninja pandas cutting onions again. Ben Hed, one of the best-known artists on Instagram and the creator of the Pet Foolery Instagram account, has illustrated perhaps the most important comic in the Pixie And Brutus saga.
Ben has finally revealed the full story and the emotional details behind how Brutus the dog got his scars while serving in the military. We won’t spoil anything for you, dear Readers, so go ahead and have a look for yourselves. But be prepared to feel some epic feels. Do you need some funny and light Pet Foolery comics to pick you up after this one? We’ve got you covered. Have a look through some of illustrator Ben’s newest works of art featured on Bored Panda right here, as well as here.
Artist Ben told Bored Panda that creating the newest comic took far longer than absolutely any other comic he’s posted on Instagram so far. The reasons for this were the amount of work he put in: not just into drawing the cartoon, but also into the research. “This comic took longer than any other comic I’ve posted to Instagram, partially because of the length and detail, and partially because of the amount of research I put into it before drawing anything,” Ben said.
“I’d say this was the most important and serious comic in the Pixie and Brutus series, so I took my time with it to make sure I got it right,” Ben explained why he poured so much of his time into the comic.
More info: Instagram | Patreon
Brutus finally revealed to Pixie how he got his scars
Some people weren’t happy with how things were portrayed in this comic, so artist Ben explained on his Instagram that everything was researched and he went through all of the criticism point by point.
Pet Foolery is a real art whale on Instagram. Ben’s account has over 2.4 million loyal followers on the platform and it doesn’t look like their ranks will stop growing any time soon. So long as Ben keeps pouring so much care and attention into his adorable and emotionally powerful illustrations.
Earlier, Bored Panda spoke to Ben and he was open about how he’d slightly updated the design of Pixie and Brutus and thrown in a few comics where Pixie was a bit older. But before you start worrying about Pet Foolery’s comics changing too much, Ben told us that it’s still “the same ol’ Pixie and Brutus,” just with a few minor tweaks. And a few changes never hurt anybody. They help keep things fresh.
In one of his earlier comics, artist Ben Hed illustrated how Brutus changed over time
One of the main challenges that recurring cartoon artists face is coming up with new and exciting ideas for what to draw next and where to move the story. Ben is no exception. He was candid that it’s “getting harder and harder” to come up with new jokes and ideas. Fortunately, he seems to be doing great so far and we’re sure that he’ll face the challenge and come out on top every time.
Speaking of challenges, the artist suggested that other creators try mixing things up by trying new things, concepts, formats, and styles if they feel like they’ve hit a creative roadblock. Being flexible and open to novelty seems to help.
Be sure to follow Pet Foolery’s Instagram account for Ben’s latest comics. And if you want to support the artist, you can always consider doing so via his Patreon.
The comic about Brutus’ past made a lot of fans of Pet Foolery tear up
Looks like the shooter was defending his wife from the armed foreign troops who had broken into their house. War is so ugly! It hurts all parties... :(
The comic actually sparked a lot of controversity. Theres a huge shitstorm going on on his Instagram about it. The artist made clear that the shooter was a criminal/terrorist, who blended in with the locals, hence the "sometimes they look and act like anyone else". He wanted to make clear that the soldiers in his comic don't randomly attack innocent people.
Unfortunately, some of them actually did. I'm not sure you've heard about this, but a month ago it came to light that Australian special forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan between 2009-13 by killing at least 39 civilians and surrendered enemies and then planting weapons and radios on their bodies. The army knew about it and swept it under the rug. Some US soldiers who committed similar acts and were never held accountable, quite the contrary - in a high profile case last year three servicemen (one Army, two SEAL) who had been found guilty of extra-judicial killings of suspected but not proven terrorists were granted pardons by Trump...
@Alexandru Bucur I know this happens, and I don't want to deny it. War is horrible, and its mostly innocents that suffer. Just stating what the artist said. I don't want to defend such acts at all.
Oh, your comment was fine, don't worry. Especially since I know, from friends who have been there, this is exactly the way it sometimes goes down. It's just that we also have to know that sometimes it goes, very, very differently. Speaking of which, today, the four Blackwater "independent contractors" (mercenaries) who, in 2007, massacred 17 Iraqi civilians in cold blood in a Baghdad square, including two kids, aged 9 and 11, have just been pardoned by Trump... yaay. (withering sarcasm)
Britta B +
diannabluntzer Good response!
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Britta B haha
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Bullshit propaganda!!!
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Thenatural ?
It’s easy to judge when you are not there and only have part of the story.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Mike Crow -
Exactly, having your homeland invaded, you will do what you can to defend yourself. And then be labelled the "bad guy".
although this does sometimes happen, as stated by the author this was a dangerous terroreist blending in with people, in this case this was a real bad guy
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Aski Markup haha
Drawing that conclusion from a fictional drawing, is pretty strange since the artist is clear that's not the case. There are always many sides to one story, but in a fictional one the artist calls the shots. And don't be pc about cultures you know nothing about. This fictional wife you are thinking of is also living the life that becomes her in these specific countries of war. And even though international soldiers (not just US soldiers) are there to intervene, the reason for war to begin with is usually very local with people fighting for money and power. And since oil is a big one in that, international attention is drawn quickly. War stinks, but it's not that simple to say someone invaded your home and all you did was just have a semi automatic weapon to defend your claim to power in it while ordering the females in your household around.
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Rissie good
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
linsey-kelley easy
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Be careful about making judgments and coming to conclusions when you don't have the full context. I have done this and felt like a fool when I learned the rest of the story. You may be right, but maybe another commenter is closer to the truth.
Full context? Its obvious that its "coalition" forces waging their war on terror in either Iraq or Afghanistan. A bullshit war with bullshit excuses (where are those WMDs?). So Brutus is just part of an invading and occupying force that sparked armed resistance and civil war. What other context do you have?
Stupid onion ninjas.
:)
Aw... Pixie and Brutus are getting older...
I liked that too, doesnt happen very often in cartoons
Yeah
just a hamilfan (hufflepuff) ?
Looks like the shooter was defending his wife from the armed foreign troops who had broken into their house. War is so ugly! It hurts all parties... :(
The comic actually sparked a lot of controversity. Theres a huge shitstorm going on on his Instagram about it. The artist made clear that the shooter was a criminal/terrorist, who blended in with the locals, hence the "sometimes they look and act like anyone else". He wanted to make clear that the soldiers in his comic don't randomly attack innocent people.
Unfortunately, some of them actually did. I'm not sure you've heard about this, but a month ago it came to light that Australian special forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan between 2009-13 by killing at least 39 civilians and surrendered enemies and then planting weapons and radios on their bodies. The army knew about it and swept it under the rug. Some US soldiers who committed similar acts and were never held accountable, quite the contrary - in a high profile case last year three servicemen (one Army, two SEAL) who had been found guilty of extra-judicial killings of suspected but not proven terrorists were granted pardons by Trump...
@Alexandru Bucur I know this happens, and I don't want to deny it. War is horrible, and its mostly innocents that suffer. Just stating what the artist said. I don't want to defend such acts at all.
Oh, your comment was fine, don't worry. Especially since I know, from friends who have been there, this is exactly the way it sometimes goes down. It's just that we also have to know that sometimes it goes, very, very differently. Speaking of which, today, the four Blackwater "independent contractors" (mercenaries) who, in 2007, massacred 17 Iraqi civilians in cold blood in a Baghdad square, including two kids, aged 9 and 11, have just been pardoned by Trump... yaay. (withering sarcasm)
Britta B +
diannabluntzer Good response!
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Britta B haha
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Bullshit propaganda!!!
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Thenatural ?
It’s easy to judge when you are not there and only have part of the story.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Mike Crow -
Exactly, having your homeland invaded, you will do what you can to defend yourself. And then be labelled the "bad guy".
although this does sometimes happen, as stated by the author this was a dangerous terroreist blending in with people, in this case this was a real bad guy
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Aski Markup haha
Drawing that conclusion from a fictional drawing, is pretty strange since the artist is clear that's not the case. There are always many sides to one story, but in a fictional one the artist calls the shots. And don't be pc about cultures you know nothing about. This fictional wife you are thinking of is also living the life that becomes her in these specific countries of war. And even though international soldiers (not just US soldiers) are there to intervene, the reason for war to begin with is usually very local with people fighting for money and power. And since oil is a big one in that, international attention is drawn quickly. War stinks, but it's not that simple to say someone invaded your home and all you did was just have a semi automatic weapon to defend your claim to power in it while ordering the females in your household around.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Rissie good
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
linsey-kelley easy
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Be careful about making judgments and coming to conclusions when you don't have the full context. I have done this and felt like a fool when I learned the rest of the story. You may be right, but maybe another commenter is closer to the truth.
Full context? Its obvious that its "coalition" forces waging their war on terror in either Iraq or Afghanistan. A bullshit war with bullshit excuses (where are those WMDs?). So Brutus is just part of an invading and occupying force that sparked armed resistance and civil war. What other context do you have?
Stupid onion ninjas.
:)
Aw... Pixie and Brutus are getting older...
I liked that too, doesnt happen very often in cartoons
Yeah
just a hamilfan (hufflepuff) ?