"Mr. Scootles is a winner, hands down, and hopefully there is lots more to come." Read more ...

"A genius blend of amazing story telling and art that fits this story far better then any." Read more ...

Part 1
Part 2

MR. SCOOTLES - Issues 1-2

Where do cartoons go when they no longer dance across the silver screen or your widescreen TV sets? When one creates a piece of art, what happens to that creation once the creator has moved on? These questions are asked in this interesting little indie series featuring a non-specific animal cartoon character called Mr. Scootles who wakes up in a hellish purgatory after two college students unearth a reel of his long-forgotten cartoon adventures. There are devilish incantations and bizarre Hades-like landscapes galore in this one. The creator of this series is definitely having fun coming up with surreal images and scenery for Scootles to bound about. Visually imaginative, thatís what this one is. This is a comic book series from an artist about art and what happens to art after itís been long forgotten. Itís a concept that has resonance and a lot of potential. Those interested in the artistic process and all of its philosophies will like this one. And those who like to see cartoon cat/dog/mouse creatures stumble through Limbo will dig it too. - Ambush Bug

MR. SCOOTLES - Issues 3-4

This comic is like an unearthed loony toon brought to comic book life. Mr. Scootles bumbles through Hell as the people who discovered his lost cartoon battle demons. Iíd like to see a little variation between the Hellscape and the real world in this book, but this book never fails to entertain and keep me on my toes. I never know what to expect as the story staggers from deadly serious to off-your-nuts madcappery. If youíre looking for an alternative to the same olí same olí, check this one out. H.C.Noel has got some really great ideas going on here. - Ambush Bug

MR. SCOOTLES - Issue 5

ìThis is some CRITTERS 2 shit!î Best damn line Iíve read in a comic in quite a while. H.C. Noelís MR SCOOTLES is one of those books that ooze imagination. It asks the question in the title page ìWhat becomes of your creations when you abandon them?î Following the exploits of a long-forgotten animation character (Mr. Scootles), a magic reel of film, the angels and demons and villains after the reel, and two animation students caught in the middle, MR. SCOOTLES unfolds like a manic acid trip. Reality warps. Unexplained stuff happens. Nothing makes sense. And it all has something to do with a cartoon made long, long ago. MR. SCOOTLES is a Faustian tale wrapped around a Tex Avery cartoon and a Dr. Seuss story. Thereís quite a bit of existentialism going on in these pages, but enough madcappery to keep it from being too heavy. I appreciated this book on both levels. This is a smart and thoughtful look at the artistic process, cartoon animals, and everything deep and breezy that comes with those two subjects. - Ambush Bug

MR. SCOOTLES - Issues 1-2

Mr. Scootles is created and published by H.C. Noel, a book that I'd heard about and been intrigued by the premise of some time ago, one of dozens of books I'd been meaning to pick up if I ever had the chance. Maybe you've heard of Mr. Scootles too? It's been featured on Newsarama.com and in Wizard Edge. Well, turns out Howie (long for H.) was a friend of a friend, and we'd started talking shop online, so we set up a book swap, and I recently received the first two issues of the series (issue 3 will be available at the upcoming SPX). The book follows two animation students who "obtain" a really old reel of film featuring a lost cartoon character from the 1930's named Mr. Scootles. From there, things get strange, and set our story into motion.

Basically Scootles asks, "What becomes of your creations when you abandon them?", and sets out to answer that question. The story balances the plot line of the students who find the film, a professor on the campus (up to nefarious deeds), the 1930's backstory of Scootles through his creator (morbidly over the edge, and riddled with insanity), and Scootles' (the black and white cartoon character himself) journey from limbo to purgatory.

The storyline is decidedly dark, exploring themes of mental health, mortality, and the afterlife, however the book is handled with a light touch. Noel employs a sharp wit and skill in the script that offsets the heavy nature of the story, and an even lighter touch with the unique cartoonish, stylized artwork. Not only does this balance the elements nicely, it's this pure creative vision at play within, that makes for the best creator-owned comics. Noel's personality is ingrained in every element of the book, and that's what makes Scootles so strong, it's a vision and story unlike anything we've seen before. In a medium that blends words and pictures, to me, that's the highest praise a comic book can achieve. Comics as art.

Okay, I got a little heavy there, but my point is not that Scootles is fine art, but that it does what I look for from comics, it brings someone's crazy ideas to life, in a truly unique and interesting way. I can't wait for more!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - Great concept, and themes. Heavy dark stuff, but told in a fun, witty way, with nicely stylized artwork.

ìThe art hums along with a gorgeous indy verveÖ a torrent of interesting ideas at playÖ intriguingÖ hits every note with style and confidence.î ñ The Comics Review

Mr. Scootles" is one of those books that seek to make you feel important by turning some cherished innocent trope onto a more mature edge. Usually, it comes off as just sort of lazy, as the story isn't there to back up the percieved cleverness of whatever twist the creator has thought up. Even with a weak genre pedigree, "Mr. Scootles" succeeds, at least marginally.

Mr. Scootles is a Mickey Mouse clone who was lost to animation history after his creator committed suicide. An early 16mm of one of his shorts is found by a couple of animation students. They watch it, of course, because that's what people do in these stories. Anywho, this has something to do with opening a gateway to hell.

Yeah, I'm not sure about that either.

Here's the thing: this is a first issue. There's a torrent of interesting ideas at play here, but not enough information to really grab the reader. It's at least vaguely interesting, but I'm unsure if it's creating repeat customers. I'm in, but that just may be a function of the fact that I'm kind of gay for mystery stories. Especially those that set lofty goals for themselves.

That's what this first issue is; a big idea. We're unsure what's going on with Mr. Scootles after he wakes up in Purgatory, but the idea of the creator's ideas hovering about outside of a gateway to hell is intriguing, even if there's not enough foreshadowing to let you fully in.

The art, however, hums along with a gorgeous indy verve. Whereas the dialogue can be stilted and too demonstrative, the art is something you have to see. If you're a fan of animation at all, H.C. Noel's grainy linework is probably something you'll get a great deal out of.

"Mr. Scootles" is destined to be a book characterized by division. Both in the parallel tales in the story itself and in its readership. It seems to be aimed at a very specific subset of readers, and if that's the case it hits every note with style and confidence. Whether or not it'll be able to grab a more mainstream audience remains to be seen.

A fine start, though. Recommended.

Writing Rating: (7/10)
Artistic Rating: (9/10)
Overall Rating: (8/10)

Written by Michael Davidson

Article "Finding Mr. Scootles"
by Ryan McClelland

Read the review from the 2004 Wizard World Philly