Tag: abe

  • Hot Brass Day

    Hot Brass Day

    You can always tell a Marine has been on the range by the kisses left on their necks from the hot brass of their battle-buddy’s rifle. The scars from spent casings flying directly into your neck decorate the skin of many Marines going back generations. It turns out, standing on a line and firing puts your buddy to your right directly in the line of fire for ejected brass from your rifle.

    Watch any Marine live-fire range and you’ll eventually see a few unlucky denizens doing the dance of their people.

    In other news…

    Welcome to the new Terminal Lance!

    I wanted to start 2026 fresh with a facelift for the website here. TL 5.0 highlights the latest comic on the front page and, in many ways, is a throwback to the original site. There’s still some adjustments to be made here and there, but take a look around and enjoy your stay.

  • Halloween Horrors

    Halloween Horrors

    The most horrifying thing a young Lance Corporal can experience is the agony and anxiety of not knowing why First Sergeant wants to see you in his office first thing in the morning. The blind text and the total lack of context is key. They do this on purpose to keep you in a state of uncertainty.

    In other news, this has obviously been a difficult month for the military community with the government shutdown. I’m not really sure how all of this will shake out, but I feel for the young Marines and families caught in the middle of it. I know they managed to scrape together a military paycheck for this weekend, but there’s also many government employees and people on SNAP and other benefits that are feeling the hurt right now.

    At the very least, I hope everyone had a good Halloween last night.

  • Aura-Farming

    Aura-Farming

    There’s a brief moment after running a range or strenuous training evolution where, covered in sweat, dirt, and clad in all of your gear, allows for the perfect aura. This is a time when you should take a photo for your profile pic, or maybe just bask in the warmth of looking like a complete and total badass. There are few things more authentically cool than a Marine immediately after doing the hard work of the day.

    “Aura-farming” is a term I have come to really enjoy recently, and I think just by virtue of being in an organization that operates in really cool gear and events, there’s more opportunities than most occupations to exploit the moment.

    Let’s face it: you probably won’t ever be this cool again. Stock up on the photos while you can, it will come in handy when it’s time to impress the boys and girls in your college class while using the GI Bill.

    Watch this comic come to life behind-the-scenes on the official TL Patreon!

    I hate having to upsell you guys on stuff, but I just want to mention that TL has been 100% independent for 15 years, hand-drawn and never AI slop. If you want to support independent artists, subscribe to TL on Patreon or Instagram and help keep things running!

  • Welcome to the Rapture

    Welcome to the Rapture

    Marines have a tumultuous relationship with God and other heavenly beings. Some claim that God seems to love Marines, but if that were true, why does he make them stand post on the streets of Heaven? It seems Marines can never catch a break, alive or dead, and so it would be fitting that even if the world were to end tomorrow, you’d still have to go on this field op.

    Pack your shit.

    I got really sucked into the whole rapture thing this week, but probably not for the reasons that the insane people on TikTok who believe it’s happening do. You see, I came across the Panama meteor alien on TikTok randomly, which told TikTok that I must really love dumb conspiracy stuff, so consequently the algorithm started serving me up a ton of weirdos preparing for this heavenly event.

    If you want some extra behind-the-scenes with commentary from yours truly on this comic, head over to the official TL Patreon. I’m also uploading these behind-the-scenes bits to FB and Instagram if you’d prefer to subscribe there. Terminal Lance is 100% independent since 2010, so please check them out if you feel inclined to support indie creators that make you laugh.

    I’d say the biggest challenge facing TL right now is just that everything is so segmented these days. There are just so many social media platforms and I’ve been trying to find an elegant way to tie them all together. Terminal Lance ultimately lives right here on this website, but ad revenue, subscriptions etc are done on different platforms.

    In the meantime, we have a CONTEST going on right now! Check it out right here for a chance to win some TL swag.

  • With a Purpose

    With a Purpose

    The clipboard is a ubiquitous commodity amongst the Staff NCO ilk for its ability to imbue one with the aura of looking really busy. See a Marine with a clipboard? They must be doing something pretty important. Something that requires… A clipboard… maybe it’s a list or inventory or something. I don’t know.

    Better leave them alone. Wouldn’t want to get in their way.

    You’d be surprised at how far you can get with a few life hacks like this and a fresh haircut. Like the camouflage on your back, hiding in plain sight can often be the best strategy to get by.

    In other news, TL has been going through some shifts and changes and I think we’re on the cusp of some fresh changes around here. In the meantime, take a look at the new Terminal Lance store and stock up on official TL merch. We just dropped a new Graphic Novel collection of tees this week with designs from The White Donkey and Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli.

  • Civil War

    Civil War

    There’s a great many jobs one can do in the military–more than you’d probably think. Hell, did you know there’s a “Water Support Technician” MOS (1171) in the Marine Corps? Who would have thought that something so POG-y and lame could actually exist amongst the war fighting infantry?

    Not me.

    There’s so many different jobs and occupational fields that of course it’s created a kind of rift between different enlisted Marines. There’s the infantry, and then there’s the POG’s (personally I put air wing into a 3rd category, but that might just be me).

    As we’ve discussed before, they’re not all treated equally. Each group has their own culture and subcultures within it, often rarely even interacting with one another. The average grunt almost never works directly with Marines outside of the infantry, leading to natural rivalries and notions between them.

    In personal news, I’ve officially left the LA area and relocated back to the San Francisco Bay Area! Not the craziest move, but enough to gain some peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of LA. I want to do a longer post or video on what’s been going on with everything, but maybe that is something for the TL Patreon.

  • It’s Complicated

    It’s Complicated

    Marines have developed many reputations around the nation over the years. They are fierce warriors, stalwart citizens, and renown lovers. That last point has led to many broken hearts, divorcees and single moms across the land.

    Marines are passionate people of fiery hearts and souls. Relationships are hard, and the things that make Marines great warriors aren’t necessarily the things that make great partners for more than a weekend.

    It’s no wonder the divorce rate in the Marine Corps is the highest of all the military branches (and higher than the national average). Then again, a lot of this can probably be chalked up to age. Marines at their peak are around 18-24 years old, which is about the same age as your average frat-guy.

    As the old adage goes: if the Corps wanted you to have a wife, they would have issued you one.

  • The Bennies

    The Bennies

    All Marines enlist for a variety of different reasons. Perhaps you wanted to serve your country patriotically or make your parents proud. Maybe you wanted to see action and adventure around the globe. It could be that you’re 5’3 and full anger and rage, in which case you will probably become a Drill Instructor.

    However, for many, the reason is much more practical: the bennies. The benefits of enlisting in the military at large are well-known and beloved. The GI Bill alone might make the purchase price worth it depending on whether you are able to EAS in one piece. There’s even a few more benefits that can be a huge help later down the road of your life, such as the VA Home Loan or VA healthcare and disability.

    The cost? Just 4 years of your life, body, and sanity at the disposal of Uncle Sam.

    For me? I enlisted because I wanted to be a better artist. However, the GI Bill is probably single greatest asset you have to your name after flying back to your Home of Record at the end of your enlistment.

    Use it.

    Hell, I’m a New York Times bestselling author and even I’m still using my GI Bill right now!

  • The Marine Corps Way

    The Marine Corps Way

    PT, PT, every day. Build my body the Marine Corps way. What is the Marine Corps way? There’s certainly more to being a Marine than PT and being incredibly attractive.

    PT is only a small part of the equation. After all, Marines only really PT in the morning for about an hour. The rest of the day is spent:

    • doing dumb shit
    • standing by
    • cleaning rifles
    • doing more dumb shit
    • thinking about regrets
    • standing by
    • cleaning your room
    • safety stand-down
    • doing some more dumb shit
    • drinking alcohol
    • annoying your roommate

    And more.

    Marines are complex creatures made of complex secret-government recipes that have created the world’s most fierce fighting force.

    Build your body the Marine Corps way.

  • The Weekend Crew

    The Weekend Crew

    If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that no one wants to be in the barracks. The barracks is the place you are forced to be in, and any time you have the freedom to venture out, you take it.

    The weekend crew are the Marines left behind on Saturday and Sunday with no means to escape their den of misery. Most of the time, these are boots that haven’t met a girl (or boy) out in town who will let them crash at their place for the weekend, or motivated NCO’s who have embraced their bachelor life, or the duty. Let’s also not forget our dearest Restriction Marines, who grace us with their belligerent presence at all hours.

    In some respects, the weekend is ironically the quietest time to be at the barracks. You may actually hang out just to experience peace and quiet after a long week of nonsense during work hours and binge-drinking in the night. Whatever reason you have for staying back on the weekend, there’s always someone to hang out with.