Fetus-X
524633
204805991
2008-04-10T23:26:14Z
Mild Bill Hiccup
5202324
/* Characters and plot */ "laying" --> "lying"
{{Infobox Webcomic| <!-- Part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Webcomics]] -->
| title = Fetus-X
| image = [[Image:Fetusx fx082106painting.jpg|center|300px]]
| caption =
| author = Eric Millikin; previously with Casey Sorrow
| url = http://www.fetusx.com/
| status = Weekly
| began = Late [[1999]]
| ended =
| genre = [[Horror fiction|Horror]], [[Comedy]], [[Romantic love|Romance]], [[Editorial cartoon|Political]]
| ratings =
}}
'''''Fetus-X''''' is a controversial weekly [[romantic love|romantic]] [[horror fiction|horror]] [[comic]] written and drawn by [[Eric Millikin]], award-winning American cartoonist and former human anatomy lab [[embalmer]] and [[dissection]]ist.<ref name="webcomicsreview.com">Zabel, Joe ([[June 14th]], [[2004]]). "[http://webcomicsreview.com/examiner/issue040614/millikin.html Cutting Up The Dead: An interview with Eric Millikin]". ''The Webcomics Examiner''</ref>
''Fetus-X'' has been published in newspapers, books, and as a [[webcomic]] since late [[1999]].<ref name="StateNews"> Bennet, Brandon ([[August 1]] [[2002]]). "[http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=11292 Guest appearance helps ‘Fetus-X’ move forward]". ''The State News'' </ref> The first ''Fetus-X'' comics were drawn by artist Casey Sorrow, who later left to create the comic ''Feral Calf''. The storylines of ''Fetus-X'' generally revolve around Millikin's use of the [[occult]] in romantic relationships and to battle various ghosts, aliens, and monsters. The comic often depicts [[profanity]], drug use, and [[violence]] as well as communist, satanic, and homosexual themes. The artwork is [[mixed media]], combining [[expressionist]] paintings with [[found objects]]. The text is often written in [[free verse]].
==Characters and plot==
Typical plots of ''Fetus-X'' comics involve Eric Millikin, the creator of the comic, engaged in activities such as being killed by [[vampire]] hunters, being eaten by a [[dinosaur]], and sawing off his own arm<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webcomicsnation.com/ericmillikin/fetusx2/series.php?view=archive&chapter=3393&name=fetusx2|title=I sawed off my own arm!|accessdate=2006-09-03||author= Eric Millikin|last=Millikin|first=Eric||date= |work=Fetus-X|publisher=Webcomics Nation}}</ref> then replacing it with a zombie's. He is often accompanied by Fetus-X, a psychic zombie [[fetus]] floating in a jar of formaldehyde<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webcomicsnation.com/ericmillikin/fetusx2/series.php?view=archive&chapter=3393#strip6|title=Psychic Fetus Fucked With My Brain!|accessdate=2006-11-26||author= Eric Millikin|last=Millikin|first=Eric||date= |work=Fetus-X|publisher=Webcomics Nation}}</ref>, and Anal Ho Tep, a resurrected Egyptian [[mummy]] who enjoys [[anal sex]] and was formerly a [[Grave robbing|grave robber]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webcomicsnation.com/ericmillikin/fetusx2/series.php?view=archive&chapter=1553&name=fetusx2#strip2 |title=Unidentified F'ing Object|accessdate=2006-11-26||author= Eric Millikin|last=Millikin|first=Eric||date= |work=Fetus-X|publisher=Webcomics Nation}}</ref> Millikin also has a kitten named Patches which he built by stapling together [[roadkill]] lying around his house and who has a tentacle for a tail. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webcomicsnation.com/ericmillikin/fetusx2/series.php?view=archive&chapter=3393#strip3|title=I Dared Create a Kitten from Corpses!|accessdate=2006-11-26||author= Eric Millikin|last=Millikin|first=Eric||date= |work=Fetus-X|publisher=Webcomics Nation}}</ref> Many of the stories are about Millikin trying to bring Alicia, his fork-throwing [[poltergeist]] [[Cheerleading|cheerleader]] girlfriend, back from the dead.
One of Millikin's frequent nemeses is El [[Chupacabra]], a goat-sucking [[Extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrial]] and masked Mexican professional wrestler. In ancient Egypt, El Chupacabra forced Anal Ho Tep into slave labor for purposes of building the [[pyramid]]s. In contemporary times, the U.S. government maintains a color-coded Chupacabra alert system which was recently raised to metallic magenta. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webcomicsnation.com/ericmillikin/fetusx2/series.php?view=archive&chapter=1553&name=fetusx2#strip4|title=Unidentified F'ing Object|accessdate=2006-11-26||author= Eric Millikin|last=Millikin|first=Eric||date= |work=Fetus-X|publisher=Webcomics Nation}}</ref>
Other characters have included United States President [[George W. Bush]], Areola (a [[mermaid]]), Satana (a devil girl), Bunny (a research test rabbit), and Jesus (the son of God).
==History==
[[Image:Fetus-X.jpg|thumb|''Eric Millikin killed by vampire hunters.'']]
Millikin began drawing horror comics by age one-and-a-half, when he made crayon drawings of ghosts terrorizing him during toilet-training. By second grade, he was making teachers' birthday cards showing his school burning down captioned "Fuck you." <ref name="lansing"> Breithaupt, Christy ([[July 26]], [[2006]]). "[http://hub.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060726/NOISE08/607260319/1104/HUB Dark visions: MSU grad's 'Fetus-X' comic earns national recognition]". ''[[Lansing State Journal]]'' </ref>
The first ''Fetus-X'' newspaper strip appeared on [[February 28]] [[2000]] in [[Michigan State University]]'s ''[[The State News]]''. After being censored from that and many other college newspapers, ''Fetus-X'' moved to the internet. It continues to be published in alternative newspapers such as Detroit's ''[[Metro Times]]''. <ref name="metrotimes"> Millikin, Eric ([[April 13]], [[2005]]). "[http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=7565 Holy Shit, the Pope is Dead]". ''[[Metro Times]]'' </ref>
In the fall of 2002, ''Fetus-X'' became part of the subscription-based online [[alternative comics]] anthology [[Serializer]], a spin-off of the successful webcomics site [[Modern Tales]]. Other comics on Serializer included ''[[Achewood|Achewood Sunday Edition]]'', ''[[Sam Henderson|The Magic Whistle]]'', ''[[Drew Weing|Pup]]'' and ''[[Lauren Weinstein (comic book artist)|Little Laurie Sprinkles]]''. In the fall of 2005 ''Fetus-X'' became a free comic on [[Webcomics Nation]].
In June 2006, Millikin was interviewed in the book ''[[Attitude: The New Subversive Cartoonists|Attitude 3: The New Subversive Online Cartoonists]],'' edited by award-winning syndicated editorial cartoonist [[Ted Rall]]. ''Attitude 3'' also includes other webcomics such as ''[[Cat and Girl]]'', ''[[Dinosaur Comics]]'', ''[[Diesel Sweeties]]'', and ''[[The Perry Bible Fellowship]]''. <ref name="attitude"> Rall, Ted (2006). ''[[Attitude: The New Subversive Cartoonists|Attitude 3: The New Subversive Online Cartoonists]]'', New York: Nantier, Beall, Minoustchine. ISBN 1-56163-465-4. </ref>
After being offline due to a server crash in April, 2005, [[Serializer]] relaunched in October, 2006 under the editorship of Eric Millikin. Fetus-X moved back to Serializer at this time.
==Critical reaction==
In their review of serializer.net, ''[[The Comics Journal]]'' wrote: "It's a pleasure to see strips like ... ''Fetus-X'' use the newspaper format for far more daring, entertainingly perverse work ... [''Fetus-X''] would be perfectly at home at a good alternative weekly or a great college paper." <ref name="TCJ"> Wood, Mariko ([[March 2003]]). "Download: Good Comics and Baud Web Comics". ''[[The Comics Journal]]'', No. 251, p. 38. </ref> In their review of ''Attitude 3'', the [[American Library Association]]'s [[Booklist]] wrote that "the visual style of Eric Millikin’s ''Fetus-X'' 'crosses [[Edvard Munch]] with an incipient victim of high-school suicide.'" <ref name="booklist"> Flagg, Gordon ([[August 2006]]). "Attitude 3: The New Subversive Online Cartoonists". ''[[Booklist]]'', Pg. 23</ref>
Since 2000, ''Fetus-X'' has been the target of protest campaigns organized by the [[Catholic League (U.S.)|Catholic League]] for its "blasphemous treatment of Jesus". <ref name="CatholicLeague"> "[http://www.catholicleague.org/catalyst/2000_catalyst/1100_catalyst.htm#MICHIGAN%20STATE%20PRESIDENT%20ACTS%20PRESIDENTIAL Michigan State President Acts Presidential]". ([[November 2000]]). ''Catalyst Journal of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights'' </ref> “This particular comic is offensive to Catholics and Christians,” Catholic League spokesman Patrick Scully said in [[August 2002]]. “It completely ridicules the Catholic faith and is not funny.” <ref name="StateNews"> Bennet, Brandon ([[August 1]] [[2002]]). "[http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=11292 Guest appearance helps ‘Fetus-X’ move forward]". ''The State News'' </ref> The [[Hartford Advocate]] has called Millikin a "borderline sociopath."<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.ctnow.com/custom/nmm/hartfordadvocate/hce-hta-0201-ht06comics06.artfeb01,0,3994240.story | title =Stand-Up Comics| accessdate =2007-03-19 | last = | first = | date = | format = | work =Hartford Advocate| publisher =| quote = }}</ref>
''Fetus-X'' was named one of the best webcomics of 2004 by ''[[The Webcomics Examiner]]'', who called it "one of the sharpest political commentaries available. In an era where presidents are treated as messiahs, and questioning the fatherland’s foreign policies is socially unacceptable, Eric shows how necessary it is to yell at the top of your lungs about the madness of it all."<ref>{{cite web| url =http://webcomicsreview.com/?p=20 | title =The Best Webcomics of 2004 | accessdate =2007-03-18 | last = | first = | date = | format = | work =The Webcomics Examiner | publisher =| quote = }}</ref>
In 2006, ''Fetus-X'' was nominated for multiple [[Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards]] including Outstanding Comic, Outstanding Single Panel Comic, and Outstanding Romantic Comic. It (referred to as "''Foetus-X''") was later disqualified for not meeting the Award's defined genre criteria for romance comics.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comixpedia.com/zorticfinal_wcca_voting_begins | title =Final WCCA Voting Begins! | accessdate =2007-02-16 | last =Mekkes | first =Mark | date =[[2006-07-21]] | format =blog post | work =Comixpedia | publisher =Xavier Xerexes | quote =after extensive review, it has been determined by the WCCA Committee that Foetus-X's nomination for "Outstanding Romance Comic" does not comply with the Outstanding Romance Comic category's genre criteria }}</ref> In 2007, ''Fetus-X'' was again nominated for multiple Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards including Outstanding Romantic Comic. It was not disqualified from the romance category in 2007.
''Fetus-X'' was used along with ''[[Penny Arcade (webcomic)|Penny Arcade]]'', ''[[American Elf]]'' and ''[[Questionable Content]]'' as an example of comics using the web to create "an explosion of diverse genres and styles" in [[Scott McCloud]]'s 2006 book ''[[Making Comics]]'' <ref name="makingcomics"> McCloud, Scott (2006). ''[[Making Comics]]'', New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0-06-078094-0. Pg. 227</ref>
==Side projects==
Eric Millikin has won awards for his illustrations for major newspapers such as [[The Detroit News]].<ref name="DetroitNews"> "News is honored by sports editors". ([[February 28]] [[2003]]). ''The Detroit News'', p. 1H. </ref> ''Feral Calf'' is a comic by former ''Fetus-X'' artist Casey Sorrow. It is about feral fish people doing strange things to each other and is also hosted on [[Webcomics Nation]]. Eric Millikin and Casey Sorrow also created the holiday [[Monkey Day]] (celebrated December 14th) as an opportunity to educate the public about monkeys, as a holiday that supports evolution rather than religious themes, and an excuse to throw monkey-themed costume parties.<ref name="HourWeekly"> McKenzie, Charlie "[http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=7928 Holiday monkey business]". ([[December 8]] [[2005]]). ''Hour (Montreal, Quebec)''</ref><ref name="lacitybeat">"[http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=2980&IssueNum=131 A toast to Bubbles]". ([[December 8]] [[2005]]). ''Los Angeles City Beat''</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
*[[List of comic strips]]
*[[List of webcomics]]
==External links==
*[http://www.fetusx.com Fetus-X]
*[http://www.serializer.net Serializer]
*[http://www.moderntales.com/series.php?name=newsletter&view=archive&seq=8006 Eric Millikin interviewed at Modern Tales]
*[http://webcomicsreview.com/examiner/issue040614/millikin.html Eric Millikin interviewed at The Webcomics Examiner]
*[http://www.comixpedia.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1896&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 Eric Millikin interviewed at Comixpedia]
* [http://www.webcomicsnation.com/caseysorrow/feral/series.php Feral Calf]
[[Category:2000s webcomics]]
[[Category:Webcomics]]
[[Category:Webcomics in print]]
[[Category:Romance webcomics]]
[[Category:Horror webcomics]]
[[Category:Comedy webcomics]]
[[Category:Political webcomics]]
[[fr:Fetus-X]]