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Mike Swaim

@trillionpixels.bsky.social

1K followers 2.8K following 1.3K posts

Artist and Cartoonist behind Dani & Lulu, cartographer, and science educator. He/Him I always appreciate a follow for my comics, but if you are looking for the other Michael Swaim of Cracked fame you can find him here: @michaelswaim.bsky.social

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 4h

COMICTOBER Day 7: Cryptid Roommate

Cryptid Currency

My mind drifted back to the sitcoms of my youth for this one. A little ALF, a little Odd Couple, a little Garfield.

#daniandlulucomic
#comictober #comictober2025

COMICTOBER 2025-
WEEK ONE:
OCT./ (WED) - PUMPKIN SPICE OCT.3 (FRI) - MONSTER THERAPY
WEEK TWO:
OCT. 6 (MON) - SCAREDY CAT OCT. 8 (WED) - ViLlAIN WORK-LIFE BALANCE OCT. IO(FRI) - PET COSTUME
RIP:
WEEK THREE:
OCT.13 (mon) - CURSED OBJECT OCT. 15 (WED) - CRYPTID ROOmmATE
OCT. 17 (FRI) - GHOSTED
WEEK FOUR
OCT. 21 (TUES) - MODERN WITCH
0CT. 23 (THURS) - SKELETON IN THE CLOSET
WEEK FINE:
OсT.27 (mon) - ZOMBIE INFLUENCER®
OCT.29 (WED) - GRAVEYARD GOSSIP OCT. 31 (FRI) - YOUR "HALLOWEEN SONA"

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 15h

Where are the details? lol I could not find them earlier.

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 1d

Oh! Definitely! I’ll look up the details.

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 1d

I never realized that was Shatner in a fake mustache in all these years. Well now I just keep the show on in the background while I draw so I am not really paying attention.

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 2d

COMICTOBER Day 6: Cursed Objects

Scream Time
I almost wrote actual dialog coming from the devices but decided to leave it open to interpretation.

#daniandlulucomic
#comictober #comictober2025

Panel 1:
Lulu is watching TV. We can’t hear it, but it’s clearly something disturbing.

Panel 2:
Lulu is now looking at a tablet. Little explosions surround her indication she is seeing something else upsetting. She is teering up.

Panel 3:
Lying back on the sofa she is scrolling through her phone. Little skulls hover above the phone indicating another disturbing video. She is upset by the imagery.

Panel 4:
Lulu interrupts Dani who is on her laptop and say, “ I’ve had enough cursed objects today. Let’s play outside.”

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Reposted by Mike Swaim

Dan Davis @bindlestiff.bsky.social · 2d

ALIEN: I’m granting you the gift of jumping to another timeline, but you only get one try.
ME: OK LET’S GOOOOO!
ALIEN: But I have to tell you that 99% of the alternate timelines we’ve surveyed are at least as bad as this one.
ME: Can I just come with you instead?
ALIEN: We breathe methane.
ME: And?

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 3d

Clay and I are mutuals through a few social media outlets. He is a freelance political cartoonist and suffered a stroke a few days ago. If you can, please donate to help in his recovery. I just donated this morning. Anything helps.

Kevin Necessary @knecessary.bsky.social · 4d

Cartoonist @claytoonz.bsky.social suffered a stroke a few days ago. His friends and colleagues have set up a GoFundMe to help Clay through his recovery. Please consider donating:

www.gofundme.com/f/clayjones

Donate to Help cartoonist Clay Jones recover from a stroke, organized by Kevin Necessary

Clay Jones is probably the hardest working cartoonist in the biz, if … Kevin Necessary needs your support for Help cartoonist Clay Jones recover from a stroke

www.gofundme.com

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 3d

Thank you! I’ve had this on my docket for a bit. October seemed like the best time for it. 😀

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 4d

I read about the kids a while back but did not realize it was so they could build smaller sets. That’s so cool. I guess this comic sort of fits.

Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 4d

NEW COMIC!
Eggs-ageration

Another story about how they met, from Lulu’s point of view.

I’m playing with new pen sets and practicing speed drawing with new techniques. So things are a little different.

#daniandlulucomic

Four-panel Dani & Lulu comic.

Panel 1 (split horizontally):
Top half: An astronaut is being lowered by a cable into a vast, dark alien spaceship chamber lit by eerie lights.
Bottom half: The astronaut, revealed to be Dani in the suit, cautiously approaches a cluster of large, fleshy alien eggs resting on the floor.

Panel 2:
Close-up of Dani in her space helmet shining a flashlight on one of the open alien eggs. The egg’s interior glows slightly as she leans closer to inspect it.

Panel 3:
Lulu bursts out of the egg in full Alien-style chaos, wearing a matching space suit. She attaches her tentacle mouth to Dani’s face shield as she stumbles back in shock dropping her flashlight.

Panel 4:
The scene cuts to a calm nighttime campfire setting under a full moon. Dani, Jules, and Lulu sit around the fire roasting marshmallows. Dani says, “That’s not how we met.” Lulu smiles innocently, holding a marshmallow on a stick.

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 5d

COMICTOBER Day 5: Pet Costumes

Okay, I did this just so I could draw Pink as a plushie from the comic you should be reading, Pink and Black. @pinkandblackcomic.bsky.social

Becky, Jules’ plush penguin Vern, and Dani’s plush Pink dressed up for Halloween.

#daniandlulucomic #comictober2025

Panel 1:
Lulu excitedly holds up her phone showing the Scare-O-Ween City website and says, “Dani! Scare-O-Ween City has pet costumes on sale!” Dani looks skeptical and asks, “What are we gonna do with those?”

Panel 2:
A cactus in a flowerpot is dressed as a cowboy, wearing a tan hat, a blue patterned bandana, and a yellow sheriff star.

Panel 3:
Vern the plush penguin is dressed as a wizard, wearing a gray robe and pointed hat, a white beard, and holding a staff topped with a red orb.

Panel 4:
A plushie of Pink, the giant pink salamander from Pink and Black, sits next to a pillow dressed in a purple and black Space Command uniform with gold trim.

The Comictober 2025 prompt list.

WEEK ONE:
OCT./ (WED) - PUMPKIN SPICE OCT.3 (FRI) - MONSTER THERAPY
WEEK TWO:
OCT. 6 (MON) - SCAREDY CAT OCT. 8 (WED) - ViLlAIN WORK-LIFE BALANCE OCT. IO(FRI) - PET COSTUME
RIP:
WEEK THREE:
OCT.13 (mon) - CURSED OBJECT OCT. 15 (WED) - CRYPTID ROOmmATE
OCT. 17 (FRI) - GHOSTED
WEEK FOUR
OCT. 21 (TUES) - MODERN WITCH
0CT. 23 (THURS) - SKELETON IN THE CLOSET
WEEK FINE:
OсT.27 (mon) - ZOMBIE INFLUENCER®
OCT.29 (WED) - GRAVEYARD GOSSIP OCT. 31 (FRI) - YOUR "HALLOWEEN SONA"

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Reposted by Mike Swaim

Meg Adams (ArtbyMoga) @artbymoga.bsky.social · 6d

Day 4: Villain Work-Life Balance

#comictober #comictober2025

Jason sits in a chair knitting a sweater. He has headphones on, a cat behind him, his feet in a little tub full of those fish that eat dead skin (the fish have tiny Jason masks). He also had a picture of his mom flipping him off, and a piping hot cup of tea.

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 6d

REPOST: Lulu learns about Thanksgiving in this throw back Thursday comic. Can she get away with her human disguise?

#daniandlulucomic #tbt

Panel 1:
Dani pulls human Lulu by the hand into a crowded house. Coats hang by the door behind them. Dani says, “With all the people here no one will notice an extra kid.”

Panel 2:
At the dinner table, Dani gestures toward a large roasted turkey. She says, “This is the turkey. It’s the main dish of our Friends and Family Thanksgiving.” Lulu, shocked, replies, “Wait! You kill this bird, remove the feathers, then cook it?!”

Panel 3:
Dani looks apologetic as Lulu (drawn as her alien self) covers her face, upset. Dani says, “Oh! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you.” Lulu responds, “No, no. It’s just that…”

Panel 4:
Lulu suddenly grabs Dani’s shirt and shouts angrily, “The feathers are the best part, you monster!”

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 6d

I was thinking that was the case but could not recall. Thanks!

Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 6d

Apparently those creatures were going to be the big bad of the next season.

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 7d

COMICTOBER Day 4: Villain Work-Life Balance

Work and Let Die

Comictober day 4 is also NEW COMIC day! Remember, always get them monologuing.

#daniandlulucomic #comictober2025

Panel 1:
Dani, dressed in a gray suit, is strapped to a table and looks up in alarm. A dark silhouette of Lulu stands nearby, speaking dramatically. Lulu’s says, “Well, well, Agent Ward, finally we meet.” Dani responds flatly, “Bowfeld.”

Panel 2:
Lulu steps into view, revealing herself as the villain. She wears a tan coat and holds her plush cuttlefish like a Bond villain holds a cat. She says with pride, “You’ve fallen right into my trap.” Dani, unimpressed, replies, “You really thought this through, eh?”

Panel 3:
Lulu explains herself, looking exasperated and overworked. She says, “Naturally. I had to run it through HR, Legal, and evil focus groups. Sixty-hour weeks and no me time.”

Panel 4:
Dani, having released an arm using her pocket laser to begin cutting the other binding while Bowfeld/Lulu he’s her back to her comment, “Villain work-life balance is real.” Lulu sighs and looks downward, saying, “The real evil is scheduling.”

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Reposted by Mike Swaim

Meg Adams (ArtbyMoga) @artbymoga.bsky.social · 8d

Comictober Day 3: Scaredy Cat
#comictober #comictober2025

“im scared, shadowfang” says duck, sitting under a table looking at a vacuum. “Ignorant duck!” Says shadowfang, “that is a vacuum! You know what is really scary!? The insidious degradation of our very democracy!!”

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 9d

COMICTOBER: Scaredy Cat

It will come up soon in my throw back Thursday comics- Lulu is terrified of penguins. Even Jules’ penguin plushy gives her chills.

#daniandlulucomic #comictober #comictober2025

Panel 1: A large black eye with a cold reflection fills the frame. Lulu’s narration reads, “Dark eyes with cold purpose, watch over the endless white. Hearts untouched by warmth.”

Panel 2: The interior of a gaping mouth lined with rows of sharp, overlapping teeth. Lulu continues, “A maw of a thousand teeth unforgiving and merciless.”

Panel 3: Silhouettes of penguins stand against an icy blue sky. Lulu’s narration reads, “Their cries echo across the ice, herald of some cold evil.”

Panel 4: Dani, Jules, and Lulu sit together on a couch watching TV. Jules says, “Lulu, it’s March of the Penguins.” Dani adds, “It’s not a creature feature.” Lulu, wrapped in a blanket and looking uneasy, replies, “I’d rather it not feature these creatures.”

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 9d

I’m surprised they weren’t stung fixing the wing.

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Reposted by Mike Swaim

Janet Gamble/Get A Dog's Life! @getadogslife.bsky.social · 9d

Street Sailing!

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 11d

From left to right, three members of Lulu’s family. Her dad, mom, and older brother. Her mom is wearing a traditional seashell hat. I need to compile the family lore it seems before I forget it. lol

Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 11d

NEW COMIC!
Home Cooking

Dani finally meets Lulu’s family! This is big!

Sorry for the lateness- I found errors that needed fixing. I’m also out of town.

#daniandlulucomic

Four-panel Dani & Lulu comic.

Panel 1:
Lulu’s family is so happy to see Lulu has returned from her mysterious disappearance. Her dad, mom, and her older brother stand with her while Lulu hugs her mother who is wearing a traditional shell hat.

Lulu’s mother says, “Lulu! You’re home! We missed you so much. You’ve been gone so long.” Lulu replies with a big smile, “I missed you too Mama! I’m so glad to finally be home.”

Panel 2:
Lulu’s mom asks, “What’s this?” Lulu, still smiling, introduces her friend. Dani says, “Lulu’s told me so much about you all…” Lulu interrupts, “Oh yeah!”

Panel 3:
Lulu shouts excitedly, “I brought dinner!” The aliens suddenly bare sharp teeth and raise forks and knives. Dani freezes in alarm as the aliens close in.

Panel 4:
Dani bolts awake in lying bed, wide-eyed with fear. Moonlight shines through her window, casting shadows. She clutches her Pink and Black branded blanket tightly her glasses and Pink and Black branded alarm clock sit on her nightstand.

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 12d

COMICTOBER: Monster Therapy

This seemed like a good way to handle the prompt. After all yesterday was #Peanuts 75th anniversary.

#daniandlulucomic #comictober #comictober2025

Panel 1:
Lulu sits behind a yellow booth labeled “Monster Therapy $1.” A smaller sign reads “The counselor is in”. Lulu rattles a money can and says, “That will be one dollar.” Dani, sitting on a stool in front of the booth, hands her cash and replies, “One dollar? The girl in the comic charges a nickel.”

Panel 2:
Close-up of Lulu and Dani at the booth. Lulu responds dryly, “She wasn’t unionized.”

Panel 3:
Dani holds out her hand and asks, “‘Monster therapy’ as in a monster therapist, or a therapist for monsters?” Lulu looks on and thinks carefully.

Panel 4:
Lulu, slightly smug, answers: “Well from my point of view humans are monsters.” Dani frowns and says, “I’d like my dollar back.”

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Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 12d

That is beautiful! Impressive recreation. It would go great with my Atari 2600 lego set.

Mike Swaim @trillionpixels.bsky.social · 12d

I thought you saw that already! lol

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