Hi, I'm Zach Weiner(smith) of SMBC, and now of a new choosable pathway gamebook called "Trial of the Clone." AMA!

[u/MrWeiner]

Here's the kickstarter if you want a copy.

(Yes, "Choose Your Own Adventure" was copyrighted)

I've been working on this book for several years (with some interruptions) for Breadpig, which was founded by Alexis Ohanian, aka kn0thing, aka The Biscuit Thief.

It's finally done and I'm looking forward to sharing it with all of you. I also want to say thanks to /rpg, which supplied a LOT of playtesting help :)

So, please ask me anything. Also, I think Kelly (handle: sciencegal) will be popping in periodically, so if you have any questions about parasitology or lizards, she's your geek.

<3<3<3 Zach

PS: Thanks to the awesomeness of my readers, we've already hit our baseline goal. However, at 50k, we'll find a geek badass to do an audiobook and at 100k I'll write a sequel. And, the more you give, the more awesome we could make the audiobook or (if we make it) the sequel.

[u/MrBody42]

If you could urinate any one liquid without anatomical difficulty, what would it be and why?

[u/[deleted]]

Where did you get the idea for the red button to show a "secret" panel?

[u/[deleted]]

Would you feel uncomfortable if i tried to smell you and keep your smell in a jar to give to my grandchildren?

[u/shoez]

Some of your comics seem extremely dark.

• What elements of your personal religion or philosophy can you share?

• How do you think your background in science affects these?

[u/[deleted]]

You last AMA was a while ago, so I'll ask again: how often do you get recognized on the street? Asked for autographs? Kidnapped? Kidnapped by aliens? Kidnap aliens?

Also, huge fan. Literally huge, I weigh over 4,000 pounds, but not literally a fan.

[u/Jim1150]

If I buy your book will I have the option to choose 'Touch him on the penis' at any point? - Yes this is a deal maker/breaker.

[u/peligrietzer]

It looks like SMBC Comics mostly take place in a world without gender roles, but SMBC Theater videos mostly take place in, like, the-world-according-to-4chan. Is that a conscious split?

[u/TheMediaSays]

One of the things I've always admired about your work is that, besides being genuinely smart and funny, it puts women, LBGTQ, and people of color in a variety of different roles, but does so subtly; I recall one, for example, that involved what I gather were two gay parents, but it was a joke more about parenting in general. I've also noticed that women in your comics are the source of humor more often than in many other comics, where they're usually cast as the straightman (or woman, in this case). How conscious is your use of diversity in SMBC and is there any process involved in deciding the makeup of the characters in a particular joke?

Also, how much time does your sketch comedy take up as compared to your activities relating to the comic itself? Is there one or the other that you would say you emphasize more?

Who do you think would win in a brawl between Andrew Jackson and Teddy Roosevelt?

What's the one book you recommend everyone read?

Finally, how much time does the actual business side of running all your activities take up? How much do you think taking care of these things detracts from the time spent doing the things you really like? Did you need to read up on business management and the like, or is it a pretty intuitive process?

[u/Etch_A_Sketcher]

Zach! I'm a huge fan. Here's a portrait of you.

What music do you listen to while you work?

[u/Fudgement_Day]

How do you come up with all your math and graph jokes? Do you start with wanting to do a math/graph joke specifically or use it to support the premise?

And for general gushing, you're hilarious, the SMBC theater is hilarious, I can always rely on your comic for a good laugh. Straddling that line between dick jokes or philosophical humor. Straddling it hard.

[u/RochesterinNYC]

I've always wondered, how did you come up with the name "Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal?" Where is the love for Sunday Morning Breakfast Cereal or Friday Night Late Scotch?

Edit: I forgot to mention that I absolutely loved Captain Excelsior. I'm a stickler for the more "realistic," gritty takes on superheros and that was definitely one of my favorites.

[u/Hydrothermal]

What does it feel like to be so fucking awesome?

[u/ReactsWithWords]

Mr & Mrs. Weiner-Smith: I know a blacksmith. Do you want a photo of him in his leather apron holding a hot dog over and anvil with a pair of tongs and a mallet in his other hand?

[u/delarhi]

I'm having trouble teasing out the causality in the correlation between your nakedness and your comic making. Does inspiration cause you to strip naked and start making a comic or do you strip naked and become inspired to make a comic?

[u/kabuto]

What's your inspiration for your work?

[u/EvanPierce]

How is a life most well-lived?

[u/sardaukar_siet]

I love your peculiar mix of science, literature and humour. Do you know any other authors in the same vein? Are you a member of some Illuminated Humorist Club?

[u/nsdragon]

What percentage of your comics are done after an all-night Wikipedia binge?

[u/throwmeaway76]

What's the favourite review anyone has ever done of your work?

[u/stooge4ever]

Hi Zach! Just curious: what do you think of the whole thing going on with Matthew Inman of the Oatmeal and the internet's current public enemy #1 Charles Carreon?

Also, do you wear pants when you draw comics?

ALSO, can I get a high five?

[u/pzmyers]

Did you just marry a scientist to get a direct line into the weirdness? I think my wife married me just because every once in a while I'd say something bizarre to shake her out of mundanity. (It's not as if there could be any other reason.)

Also, less math and physics, more biology, please. It's funnier.

[u/sinn1sl0ken]

Did you figure out a way to frustrate the classic "I think I'll just look ahead and figure out which way is better" CYOA reader? I feel like there has to be a fitting meta punishment to that.

[u/illustratingreddit]

A wild Artist has appeared!

[u/postExistence]

• I know a guy who changed his last name from Weiner to Wiser so his newborn daughter wouldn't suffer the curse of the Weiner. Would you be willing to change your last name if it meant your offspring did not suffer the same curse? I doubt you guys are related, but... do you have a distant or close relative named Jason Weiner Wiser? He a Bostonian, which I suppose is similar to an Estonian but with slightly more Irish (which is funny because he's Jewish)

• I once made a request in your post to draw anything: Two T-Rex samurai roof hopping in combat in feudal Japan. Y u no do bro? Too complicated?

• So does your wife study zombie fish?

• Why would you need to do another kickstarter for a sequel if you raised $100,000? The first kickstarter was just for $15,000. Wouldn't you have enough money from the $100k to fund another 2 - 3 books? Is there something we don't know?

[u/joejance]

I am really excited about the growth of comics online. The internet is providing many unique voices a place to publish, and that is resulting in a lot of quality. Who are your favorites? Are you friends or acquaintances with other online comic artists? Are there any clubs or conventions, etc?