Best of 2020

Best of 2020

Do you remember 2020? Neither do we. Or rather, we do, but more like a fever dream.

It started with a book. Our debut, War and Peas – Funny Comics for Dirty Lovers, hit shelves in March, and how we dared to dream! Major bookstore chains had pre-ordered in glorious, capitalistic bulk. Success felt inevitable. But then, somewhere in a Chinese wet market, a bat – just doing what bats do – set off a chain reaction that rearended the entire planet. Suddenly our lives turned into a dystopian sitcom and just like that our hopes of bestsellerdom fluttered away like an unknowing bat swooping into the night.

Hugs

2030

War and Peas - 2030 - Elizabeth Pich and Jonathan Kunz

Faced with existential dread, humanity did what it does best: panic-buying. Depending on geography and cultural values, people hoarded pasta, toilet paper or condoms, but not comic books. The world had spoken: survival trumped laughter.

But in the great reckoning that followed – when people stared too long at their own possessions and declared war on joyless clutter – something happened. Because what sparks joy more than a book filled with jokes about the absurd condition we call life? Almost imperceptibly – you might call it a slow burn – our book and online store began to thrive.

So, while 2020 was a year of contradictions – grief and absurdity, loneliness and strange digital intimacy, disinfectant shortages and a sudden public fascination with sourdough – it was also proof that laughter, much like viruses and questionable life choices, has a way of spreading. And that, at least, is something to hold onto.

Kevin Wants to Know

4 panel comic by War and Peas: 1. Panel: Kevin kneels down to pray in the dessert. He says, "God, what's the weather going to be like today?" 2. Panel: A voice from the sky says "Good, Kevin. Very sunny." 3. Panel: "Definitely no floods or anything coming." 4. Panel: Kevin is carrying a beach ball and says "Cool." Behind him animals are walking into Noah's arc.

Fashion Show

War and Peas - Fashion Show - Elizabeth Pich and Jonathan Kunz

Piece of Meat

4 panel comic by War and Peas. 1. A fairy and witch are sitting in front of a café drinking coffee. The fairy goes, "So how was your date?" 2. The witch answers, "He's been treating me like a piece of meat." 3. The fairy is disgusted, "Ugh!" 4. The witch takes a sip from the coffee and says, "Well, he's vegan so he's very respectful."

OMG

4 panel comic (Yonkoma) by War and Peas: 1. Panel: An angel and God are sitting on a cloud looking down on Earth. The angel says, "Heavenly father, the humans have started doing sex for enjoyment." 2. Panel: The angel continues, "They've also started screaming your name when they climax." 3. Panel: God says, "Hmm. Not gonna lie..." 4. He continues, "It does turn me on a bit."

Good Feeling

Thank God for Books

4-panel comic by War and Peas. Panel 1: A witch lounges on a chaise, reading a book titled "Coven in the Woods." She says, "Oh man, it's so boring. Thank God for books." Panel 2: The witch is still reclining, holding up a remote and says, "...and batteries." A charger is seen on the side table. Panel 3: The witch walks down a spiral staircase, holding a bowl of popcorn. She says, "...and snacks." Panel 4: The witch plays chess with a man in a dungeon cell. She says, "...and slaves in my dungeon. HEY, no cheating, Alfred!" The man, kneeling, responds, "Yes, mistress."

Ugly Monster

4-panel comic by War and Peas. Panel 1: A child stands next to their father and says, "Dad, there's a fat, ugly monster under my bed." Panel 2: The father, leaning down, says, "Now, now, son..." Panel 3: The father continues, "We do not fat shame in this house." Panel 4: The father peers under the bed and tells the monster, "You are beautiful."

Free Shrugs

4-panel comic by War and Peas. Panel 1: A person stands on a path holding a sign that reads "FREE SHRUGS." Panel 2: Another person approaches, looking at the "FREE SHRUGS" sign. Panel 3: The person holding the sign gives a shrug. Panel 4: The second person, smiling and walking away, says, "Thanks. I needed that."

Red Moon

A 4-panel comic. Panel 1: A man in a shirt and tie, holding a briefcase, looks up as something drips on him. He says, “Huh?” Panel 2: More red drops fall on him, and he exclaims, “What the fu...”. Panel 3: A witch flies by on her broomstick, calling out, “Sorry!” Panel 4: The witch flies away, muttering, “Damn irregular periods,” while laughing.

Abduction

F*ck the Police

War and Peas - F*ck The Police - Elizabeth Pich and Jonathan Kunz

Cat’s Guide to a Successful Day

War and Peas - Cats Guide to a Successful Day - Elizabeth Pich and Jonathan Kunz

Thank You

Thank you for surviving this year with us. We’re grateful for your company, your eyeballs, and your tolerance for whatever this year has been. If you want to stick with us into the upcoming years, subscribe to our newsletter. It’s free, algorithm-free, and won’t sell your soul to a tech mogul named like a James Bond villain.

If you’re feeling extra, you can support our quest to heal the world with laughter via Patreon. Every donation, no matter how small, helps keep us afloat – and lets us sleep at night without spiraling into existential dread. We’ll see you in the next year, hopefully with fewer horrors and more enchanted frogs.

Sincerely yours,
Elizabeth and Jonathan

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