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On
August 31st, 1998, Tikaboo Peak launched as a weekly comic strip. It features
an ongoing storyline about three aliens named Jack, Gilbert, and Sullivan. After
crashing to Earth, Jack and Gilbert & Sullivan split up so that Jack could
find out more about Earth and to see if there was a way to fix the ship. He
asked Gilbert & Sullivan to stay by the ship. Being the "social aliens"
that they are, G&S immediately found the local school, Tikaboo Peak University,
on the map and decided to hit the road in search of the ultimate party. Little
did they know that the government saw them crash and immediately carried the
ship away. Since officials didn't find anybody around the crash site, they've
closed off the area to find the occupants of the ship. Read
the "Welcome to Tikaboo Peak" storyline.
While
all of this is going on, Jack wanders into the local town of Tikaboo Peak. Not
really knowing what he's looking for, he saunters up to a friendly-looking house.
Nimitz the Cat meets Jack, immediately realizing he's an alien, probably due
to his steady diet of B-movies, The X-Files, and sci-fi flicks. All Jack wants
is the phone and to order the pizza, but Nimitz is more interested in grilling
Jack about the latest and greatest in alien technology. And his X-Files collection.
Read
the "Meeting the Cat" storyline. While eating pizza, Buster Bulldog,
Nimitz's roommate comes home from work. Jack doesn't get the opportunity to
meet Buster because he's hellbent on getting to Tikaboo Tavern, his favorite
hangout and beer dispenser. Read
the "Come and Knock on Our Door" storyline.
Buster
arrives at Tikaboo Tavern, run by owner and bartender Malty Moose. Malty is
also a member of the Tikaboo Peak UFO Society, and asks Buster about the recent
UFO sightings. Buster would much rather discuss the latest TPU Titans football
news. Malty's also a big Titans fan. While drinking brew, Buster asks Malty
about the two new guys playing guitar. Malty says they are two TPU students
and decided to give them a shot. They seem very familiar to Buster. Read
the "Tikaboo Tavern" storyline. Upon arriving home, Buster finally
meets Jack late at night. It isn't very friendly. Nimitz wakes up panicked,
scared that Jack is ready to pulverize them ala "Marvin the Martian"
style (have you noticed Jack's gun yet?). We also learn that Jack is a big
Jerry Springer fan. Read
"The Deep Sleep" storyline.
Nimitz
invites Jack to the weekly TPUFO Society meeting. Jack isn't exactly thrilled
about going. Jack meets the other members, Pete and Malty. After being wowed
by Jack's depth of knowledge about UFOs, they make him vice president. Nimitz
tries to break the news about Jack being an alien to Pete and Malty, but they
laugh him off. Strange that Nimitz is the only one in Tikaboo Peak that recognizes
Jack as an alien? Read
the "T!P!U!F!O!S!" storyline. Pete tells Jack an incredibly
lengthy narrative about his "alien
visitation." Apparently he fails to notice how familiar Jack might
seem to him. The TPUFO Society concludes the meeting by voting on a camping
trip for their next field trip. All of them would like to actually see a UFO.
Read
"Planning the Camping Trip."
The
1999 Tikaboo Peak University Titan football season gets underway! Buster soaks
up every minute of it, especially hoping that *this* is the year that the
Titans finally beat their archrivals, the Morganton Maulers. The Maulers have
beaten the Titans ten years in a row, much to Buster's chagrin. Nimitz gets
Jack a ticket to the big game, who gets to experience Buster's enthusiasm
for the college game. The big day comes, and the crew gets there early for
a parking spot and tailgating. Malty arrives. Buster imbibes. While at the
game, Jack notices that the two student cheerleaders, aka "Mike Men",
are very familiar, but he's too far away to get a good look at them. The Titans
don't fare well in the game, losing to Morganton 38 to 3. Buster is just a
little upset. Read
"The 1999 TPU Titans Season."