Hey everyone! Happy Spacemas! Whatever it is you celebrate around this time of year, I hope it's going okay and that you're healthy.
Thank you for another wonderful year of support here on Tapas. It's wild to me that Space School has like, basically gotten a second life since I started posted it on Tapas? It's an old comic, with so many years behind it, and like, it's not perfect-- but I still like it, I still have fun with it, so it's just... really sweet to me that other folks can enjoy it too. ;v; We can enjoy my humble little underdog together!
I'm going to skip an update or two here to help give myself a buffer during the holidays, but we'll be back to once a week updates in January!
Thanks so so much! Happy Holidays! Merry Spacemas! All of that good Yule stuff!
This comic is by the ever amazing, Guestmas powerhouse, @midorilied, who makes my absolute favorite webcomic, The Search for Henry Jekyll, which you can read right here: https://tapas.io/series/The-Search-for-Henry-Jekyll/info
This comic is just, god, Midori always makes some of my most favorite Guestmas comics but this one feels-- so so special! Especially because we are seeing so much growth from Alkaline and Zeggy in the comic currently, and this reflects that so so nicely. I really love this, AUGH, it's so wonderful.
Please go check out Midori's comic, it's just, such an excellent piece of work and so worth your time. Seriously!
Thanks so much everyone, see you tomorrow for the big day!
And that’s about it! It’s pretty flexible and this is all in good fun! I would be honored if some of you applied to make a guest comic this year! (If you applied last year, feel free to apply again this year if you’re feeling up to it. I loved all the artists I worked with last year and would love to work with ya’ll again.)
Below is more info about Guestmas and Christmas time in Space School:
Space School Christmas Illustrations by year:
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016 (PART 2)
2017
2018
2019
2020
Original 12 Days of Spacemas announcement image
12 DAYS OF GUESTMAS 2014
12 DAYS OF GUESTMAS 2015
12 DAYS OF GUESTMAS 2016
12 DAYS OF GUESTMAS 2017
12 DAYS OF GUESTMAS 2018
12 DAYS OF GUESTMAS 2019
12 DAYS OF GUESTMAS 2020
I would love to see some of these past outfits re-created in any comics but new ones or just general winter themed outfits are fine too. Zeggy should most always be Santa though, unless joke calls for otherwise. BUT! Jokes trump everything– if it’s funny, I want it.
SPACE SCHOOL AND THE HOLIDAYS:
Because Winter-time has always been a time of hoilday-stuffs for lots of places and planets (especially those who were colonized by Earth or Nubia) Space School most often gives the whole school lots of time off in December from school-life.
All holidays are accepted to celebrated within the walls as long as everyone is being respectful of each other– as with most things in Space School. The School decorates mostly with lights and tries to stay away from leaning one way or the other. Students are allowed to decorate inside their dorms as they please, obviously.
Most students leave home to their respective planets for the holidays but some students and teachers stay at the school thru the whole month– sometimes celebrating together!
It’s an exciting and peaceful time for everyone~
Alkaline, Zeggy, and Toggy usually go home for the holidays (sometimes together) and Joe stays at the school. Sometimes Joe joins Toggy, Terrago, and Omnivera at their homes.
Dude, Maleena, and Vava either see their separate families alone or all stay together in their home near the school.
Dennis and Booker spend the holiday cooped up alone at Booker’s apartment avoiding everyone but each other.
ZEGGY AND HIS PLANET’S CULTURE:
Zeggy is canonically the most all about Christmas out of the whole group.
X-mas was an adopted holiday by Ollce when Earth colonized the planet and as such, it resembles Christmas as we known it with some key differences.
As far as the tree goes, it starts out as a sculpted pile of dirt resembling a tree or other X-mas object that is watered thru the month with various glowing mushrooms and other fun alien-glowy-bits appearing as it’s watered– so by the time Christmas rolls around the tree will have grown it’s own ornaments to light up the room!
You buy bags of seed/spores each year for the tree, these bags make great gifts and are often put in stockings!!!
Otherwise, a lot of the traditions are the same with either having different looking aesthetics. They do stockings, presents under the tree, and Santa– who instead of having a sleigh– instead rides a single giant mole (which is a creature from purple planet, I can provide reference for) and is of course, purple himself. He rides this mole– who is named Rudolf, around all the underground cities of Ollce delivering presents to all the kids.
Zeggy gets into the holiday spirit way too early and way too fast. He decorates his whole dorm room as well as wearing as much X-mas accessories as he’s allowed over his school uniform.
He’s the type of person to put everything non-Christmas away and replace it with Christmas themed things.
He absolutely spoils Alkaline with tons and tons and way too many gifts– all of which are extremely personalized.
Otherwise, he only buys presents for his parents/grandparents, Joe, Toggy, and gives cards to his teachers. Most of his efforts go towards Alkaline.
He eats a billion food, sings a billion songs, and is fucking obnoxious. It’s beautiful.
ALKALINE AND HIS TRADITIONS:
Alkaline likes Christmas just as much as everyone else and is definitely not as hype as Zeggy because who could match Zeggy’s energy, honestly. But, he definitely gets into the spirits! Enjoys the food, drink, songs, presents– etc.
Christmas on Earth is very similar to what we think of it now which some differences– many of which haven’t totally been decided upon so feel free to have some fun interpretations.
Christmas has most definitely become a non-religious holiday in most all senses on Earth. It’s more just about the aesthetics and being with family members, buying fits, eating food, etc.
Alkaline is either with Zeggy in his home on Ollce or has Zeggy over on Earth. He stays with his Mom and Sister, visiting extended family on Christmas Day for dinner.
Alkaline buys everyone he knows presents– even if it’s just something small!
I usually draw Alkaline as a reindeer because Alkaline with antlers is super cute.
JOE’S ‘CHRISTMAS’:
Christmas isn’t celebrated where Joe is from– they have other traditions. However; Christmas Day is actually Joe’s birthday– which he usually chooses to spend alone or with Dennis or Lorna (his girlfriend)– depending on the age.
As such, Joe doesn’t care too much about Christmas and see’s it more of just as “his birthday” but starts to appreciate the holiday more when Zeggy’s festive spirit invades him. And, he likes the presents.
I’m sure Zeggy and Joe have some special X-mas moments together with Zeggy trying to show Joe all about “The Christmas Spirit”!
TOGGY’S TRADITIONS:
On Nubia, they don’t really have a Christmas but rather a big celebration of a New Year like holiday where they begin the new calendar year. Like Christmas, it’s a time to celebrate with family and loved ones.
Typically people travel long distances to spend the two days reunited with family, and everything shuts down. The most important part of the festivities is to tell stories about the year–letting out stress or frustration while also reliving good moments and bonding with family members.
This is always accompanied by large amounts of alcoholic beverages, which are enjoyed by all ages.
Oftentimes everyone gets really smashed the first day and then sleeps it off the next.
Food varies from region to region but typically includes mostly unprocessed foods such as berries and vegetables, or dried lizard or fish jerky.
As the festivities mark the beginning of the new year, many Nubians will dye their hair to a different color or get a new piercing around this time.
Presents aren’t really a thing on Nubia, though it is common for parents and grandparents to give their children small sums of money to encourage them to have new adventures in the new year.
Toggy’s family is a bit more accustomed to Earth traditions though, and so he tries to buy his close friends gifts for “Christ-mass” but they are always strange and often food.
DUDE, MALEENA, VAVA:
The 3’s traditions are similar to Alkaline’s since they’re all from Earth– so not much to say there.
Dude spends a lot of time in an apron baking cookies, cakes, etc as presents for everyone he knows and Vava and Maleena definitely gain some weight this time of year.
They all get drunk a lot and laugh a lot and just have a good time together BEING A LIL FAMILY.
Dude always makes sure to exchange presents with students he’s helped thru the year; since he often takes troubled students under his wing.
DENNIS AND BOOKER:
Booker nicely decorates his apartment and spends a lot of time with Dennis on the couch eating food and talking. They frick a lot too.
It’s chill.
OMNIVERA AND TERRAGO:
As the resident “gays into roleplays”, Omnivera and Terrago do a lot of dressing up for X-mas.
There’s a lot of time Terrago will be with Toggy’s family with them– and so I’m sure Omnivera is there sometimes as well. In a billion, expensive outfits.
The two of them absolutely spoil each other and nobody else in presents– except for Toggy who they buy something for– OF COURSE.
NOTE ABOUT REX: Due to some wild stuff happening with the creator of Rex, Rex will no longer be appearing in Space School and therefore should not be appearing in any Guest Comics! Sorry!
AND PLEASE, FEEL FREE TO ADD NEW HEAD-CANONS OR INTERPRETATIONS FOR FUTURE HOLIDAYS!! REALLY, THIS STUFF IS JUST HERE TO GET YOU STARTED SO GO HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello hello everyone! It's that special time of year again... Guestmas! For anyone new, this is a multi-day event where folks so kindly make me Guest comics and illustrations to share here!
This one is by auragoofgoof who makes the comic Unlikely Pair here on Tapas! It also includes aliens, so I think if you like this comic, it's worth checking out: tapas.io/series/UnlikelyPair/info
Go give them some love today via comments! Comments help boost comics so so much, and they're free to give, so even a "hi" can help a comic. Tis the spirit of giving, after all!
See you tomorrow for Day 2!
This one is just, the best use of Alkaline's eyes, oh my god! I LOVE THIS.
Made by the awesome @bewarethewarp, who is a veteran of Spacemas comics, hehe.
Hello, hello! Welcome to Day 5, snowball fight day, where Zeggy is absolutely fucking destroyed. RIP.
This wonderful comic is by cheeseytofu, who has some really fun work and really fun characters. I highly recommend their work if you like mine, because I feel they are passionate about their characters in a similar way to how I am, if that makes sense?? Tofu's stuff is just a lot of fun!!! GO GIVE THEM COMMENTS!
Read their comic here: https://tapas.io/series/At-Home/info
A wonderfully Dennis focused comic by arthurroseart! Love this style and just, love seeing Dennis with Booker like this, wow.
Check out Through Hell With You: tapas.io/series/Through-Hell-With-You/info
It's seriously underrated for how beautiful the art style is! At least go give it a comment saying "hi" and a few likes for me, mmkay? The least we can do is boost our wonderful guest comic artists! :D
Welcome back for Day 2! Zeggy's festive will... touches all.
This comic is by Freemints who makes the novel, Smoke and Murders!
It's rated 18+ (for violence) so be aware of that before potentially checking it out: tapas.io/series/Smoke-and-Murders/info
As always, in the spirit of giving, if you do check out the novel-- make sure to leave some likes and comments! It's free to do and helps out a lot!
See you tomorrow for Day 3!
