ShireBorn Rogues # 18: "What Palantir?"

Um, Spoiler? I think? Well, if something about Pippin finding the Palantir doesn't get into Return of the King somehow, then I'll be disappointed. But this is my alternate take on that scene from the chapter "The Palantir" in The Two Towers.

ShireBorn Rogues # 17: "Weak Excuses "

Okay, so I get a little into the Sam Role-Playing. But excuse me, did anyone else flinch every time Gollum opened his mouth? Horrible, horrible. At about the fifth time seeing TTT, I was actually clenching and unclenching my fists. So, call this doodle my own warped wish-fulfillment. Hitlain rope around the MOUTH, is what Sam should have done!

ShireBorn Rogues # 16: "Pip Stop"

In an interview with Billy Boyd (Pippin) and Dominic Monaghan (Merry) they mentioned being left up in the Treebeard model for quite long periods of time. I believe the interviewer asked Billy if he was allowed to get down and pee, at which point he replied "No I'm theatre-trained, I can go for days!" Of course, he was kidding. We hope.

ShireBorn Rogues # 15: "Likes It Raw"

Okay, okay. He's not technically a Hobbit, nor is he one of the four.....Well, he used to be one, once.....Ahem. Anyway, here's special guest star Gollum, dining out at his favorite sushi place. Maybe this is how Sauron captured him, eh?

ShireBorn Rogues # 14: "A Hobbit Harvest Feast"......SOLD

I drew "A Hobbit Harvest Feast" as a direct homage to Norman Rockwell's famous work, "Freedom from Want."

Norman Rockwell created Freedom from Want as part of his Freedom series during WWII. It was one of his most powerful pieces because of its deeply patriotic and timely content. "Freedom from Want" represents every family's dream of a plentiful American Thanksgiving. Mr. Rockwell felt that there was much to be thankful for, and the work shows exactly the kinds of things that our boys overseas were fighting to protect. (Sure, it was a propaganda piece.)

Similarly, Tolkien used the Shire to represent an ideal: a peaceful, country life of plenty and comfort, in contrast to the evil that threatened just outside the borders. Tolkien was also writing about the Shire during WWII. I think if they had met and spoke about their beliefs, that they would have found much in common.

ShireBorn Rogues # 13: "Pumpkin Thieves "

Merry and Pippin leave with the best pumpkins in the patch, rudely interrupting Sam during his weeding. Happy Halloween everyone!

ShireBorn Rogues # 12: "The Best Service"*

If Samwise were a waiter at a fine restaurant and Mr. Baggins were to abuse his social privilege....

No, Frodo's a nice guy isn't he!

*Special thanks goes to Belladonna for the title.

ShireBorn Rogues # 11: "The Good Stuff"

Pipeweed: also referred to as "Leaf" - makes for enjoyable Hobbit gatherings. Gandalf missed out on this party, too bad for him.

# 10: "Perilous"

Has Sam always had to keep such a close eye on Frodo, the absent-minded bookworm? Maybe so, makes for some amusing foreshadowing anyway....

(Reread chapter in ROTK if you're not sure)

# 9: "Merry Had a Little Lamb "

To commemorate my 100th listening of the song "Mary had a Little Lamb" on my 3 year old daughter's Disney tape. I had to Hobbitize it somehow to regain some semblance of sanity....

# 8: "In Training"

I mentally expanded one of the scenes from the film The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - the one where Boromir spars with Merry and Pippin. Yes, Boromir's a little small in comparison....I suppose I did that subconsciously, cause It's only fair, darnit!

# 7: "Escape from Farmer Maggot's"

This one is actually taken from book (Fellowship of the Ring) canon (except for the stolen bag of mushrooms, but I wanted to give Frodo-lad some ammo):

"I am terrified of him and his dogs. I have avoided his farm for years and years. He caught me several times trespassing after mushrooms, when I was a youngster at Brandy Hall. On the last occasion he beat me, and then took me and showed me to his dogs. 'See lads,' he said, 'next time this young varmint sets foot on my land, you can eat him. Now see him off!' They chased me all the way to the Ferry. I have never got over the fright -- " p. 132, FOTR, J.R.R Tolkien

# 6: "Meant to Be"

Inspired by the scene in the film Fellowship of the Ring where Frodo pushes a reticent Sam forcibly into Rose at the Birthday Party and then laughs his head off. I kind of assumed this kind of thing had happened before....

# 5: "Drinking Contest at the Green Dragon"

The first SBR with all four lads!
Not a scene from anything in particular, just a bit of silliness. I won't go into explaining this one....part of the fun is in trying to figure it out.

# 4: "The Unfortunate Side-Effects of Ent-Draught"

Inspired by the following passage in The Two Towers book:

"The effect of the draught began at the toes, and rose steadily through every limb, bringing refreshment and vigour as it coursed upwards, right to the tips of the hair. Indeed the hobbits felt that the hair on their heads was actually standing up, waving and curling and growing." - p. 93, TTT, J.R.R Tolkien

# 3: "Merry's Kissing Booth"

Meriadoc Brandybuck attempts to make some fast cash at one of the many summer Hobbit festivals in the Shire. Pippin thinks Daisy the Pig should get a kiss, too.

# 2: "I'm Helping!"

A going-away dinner is held at Bag End, and Merry and Pippin volunteer to help tidy up afterwards. Unfortunately, Pippin's far better at the eating part than the cleaning up part.

(Sorry about the purple tone, still working the kinks out of the scanning process!)