Webcomics Today: Ty Templeton’s Having A ‘Scissor’ Problem
by Richard Bruton
Time to take a little look at something wonderful online — Ty Templeton‘s Scissors Saga…
Oh yes, a moment of housekeeping here. This is what used to be called Webcomic Weekly. Way back when, it did manage to make the weekly schedule, which was all well and good. Except then it started slipping. A lot. To the extent that 2025’s Webcomic Weekly content consisted of a whole four articles. Ooops.
So, that’s why I’m now welcoming you to Webcomics Today. Far more truthful than Webcomic Weekly. After all, it’s about Webcomics, and it’s definitely Today. So, without further ado…
Over the past many months, the great Ty Templeton‘s been doing his usual ridiculously funny cartoons on his socials, whether they’re called the Daily Bugle Comics Section, Daily Planet Sunday Funnies, or whatever else he wants to call them. More on those further down the page. But right now, I want to talk about a set of comics Templeton’s been putting up across his socials called The Great Scissors Tale.
Now, if, for some reason, you don’t know Templeton’s work, you’re missing out on some great comics. He’s one of those artists naturally inclined to comedy, but who had this lovely (and deceptively) simple style, one that contains within it just an extraordinary sense of storytelling.
As far as what he’s done — everything kicked off with Stig’s Inferno in the 80s from Vortex Comics. You know, just your regular debut — an uproariously funny thing parodying Dante’s The Divine Comedy where the lead character sets off into Hell. Long out of print, it’s all online to read for free. Do yourself a favour and go and read it now here.
From then, his gorgeous artwork became a fixture at DC on the various Batman Adventures and Superman Adventures comics. He was also heavily involved in the Justice League over the years — you know, the funny ones written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis. There’s also a load of work at Marvel, plus doing art for comic adaptations such as Ren and Stimpy to The Simpsons. Plus, there was his 2002 original graphic novel from DC Vertigo, Bigg Time. Again, ridiculously good, the tale of a homeless man at was with his guardian angel, who’s been doing a bloody terrible job of things.
But back to the matter in hand — The Great Scissors Tale. It is, as is usual from Templeton, very, very funny. But it’s also — so he says — a true tale. All to do with the time Ty tried to go through airport security with a pair of scissors. I saw it a few weeks back on his socials, only to later find out that it’s originally from 2017. But what the hell. I missed it. You could have missed it as well. And, frankly, it’s too good to miss.
Anyway, he’s on the way to a convention in New Orleans, with his trusty art bag in tow. And yes, when Templeton’s doing autobiography, he’s always a bunny. It’s just the way it is. Except there’s a problem at the airport in Chapter 1…
He’s not kidding — epic stuff to come — Templeton going over the top in his grief, then coming up with an epic plan to recover what he’s lost. And yes, they’re just a pair of scissors. But it’s much more about the sentimental value and just how worked up Templeton can get when he has a spare moment.
You know, just like this…
I mean, c’mon, the brilliance of the comedy timing in that last panel of part two — ‘There had to be someone in uniform that I could bribe’ — that’s everything I love about all Templeton does right there.
Coming up in parts 3 and 4 — bribery, corruption, Air Canada employees being really lovely, an airport taken over by a quest, and a race against time to get back from the convention before the airport’s lost and found throws the treasured scissors out. Not to mention a slathering of sentiment about mothers.
And not to spoil the ending too much, but here’s something both special and silly to cap it all off…
No, there’s not a tear in my eye. It’s just my allergies playing up.
Ty Templeton’s The Great Scissors Tale – Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4 – originally published in 2017 on Ty’s website here.
