An Artist Depicts the Real Friendship Between Pixie and Brutus in 9 of His Latest Comic Strips.

No matter what type of comics you enjoy, Pixie and Brutus are a pair that needs no introduction. However, if you somehow missed how this adorable duo captured the internet’s heart, their comic strips follow the hilarious adventures of Pixie, a small, energetic kitten, and Brutus, a large, scarred retired military dog. These two find themselves in all sorts of unpredictable situations. Our team at Bored Panda has already covered their funny escapades in multiple articles, but since we’re such big fans, we couldn’t resist bringing you more of their adventures!

Created by the talented artist Ben Hed, this unexpected friendship has charmed countless fans with its surprising and heartwarming moments. In fact, the artist’s ‘Pet Foolery’ Instagram account now boasts an impressive 2.5 million followers who come for delightful content that always brings a smile to their faces.

So, sit back and enjoy the latest batch of Ben’s comics below. Don’t forget to share which ones you loved most in the comments! While you’re waiting for the next update, be sure to check out our previous article about how Brutus earned his scars. Pixie and Brutus, take it away!

More Info: Instagram | Patreon For more sotries

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We managed to get in touch with Ben who was kind enough to share what he’s been up to in the last few months. “I’ve really been trying to branch out lately, not just in the format of my comics like with the Kickstarter campaign I’m currently working on, but also in what kind of content I create,” he told Bored Panda.

When asked about what the future holds for his art, he told us, “I will always love making family-friendly comics, but it can be very limiting to keep things PG all the time. I have ideas for more serious, less tame stories that I really want to explore in the near future.”

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The tremendous success of his Instagram account enabled Ben to turn his passion for comics into a full-time career. After posting the first illustration of Pixie and Brutus, he was met with an overwhelming amount of support. “One moment, I was creating illustrations on Instagram as a side gig to earn some extra cash, and the next thing I knew, I had over a million followers, and illustration became my full-time job!” he shared on Patreon.

The charm of the series is undoubtedly heightened by the intriguing dynamic between the characters, particularly the contrast in their personalities. In a previous interview with Bored Panda, Ben explained the unique traits of this duo. “Pixie is a tiny, cheerful, energetic kitten. She’s innocent and blissfully unaware of the dangers lurking around her.”

On the other hand, Brutus is a large, scarred German Shepherd. “He was adopted by Pixie’s owner after retiring from his role as a Military Working Dog (MWD). Brutus, in many ways, contrasts sharply with Pixie. He’s seen a lot in his time. As a serious, intimidating military dog, he’s a protector at heart, yet he has a soft spot for Pixie and does everything he can to shield her from the tough realities of the world they live in.”

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“Honestly, Pixie and Brutus were just another random comic idea I had while at work,” he added. “I was never planning on making them a series; I just thought it would be a funny idea to introduce a cute little kitten to a big intimidating war dog. So I made the first Pixie and Brutus cute animal comic, and people liked it so much, I just kept making them.”

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But there is so much more to these comic strips than their adorable fictional characters. The captivating stories, the spot-on jokes, the beautiful art, and the hilarious antics of the supporting cast truly take the series to another level. Moreover, if you were to take a look at Ben’s Instagram account, you’ll be met with other illustrations that don’t only revolve around Pixie and Brutus. Such as the cringy dinosaurs, the flightless penguins, the alien dogs — the list goes on.

“It’s really just whatever I come up with. Naturally, Pixie and Brutus comics aren’t the only comic ideas that pop into my head. Sometimes I think of a joke or story that doesn’t really fit with P and B, so I make it using other recurring characters or even completely new characters instead,” Ben explained.

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“I do worry about each comic’s performance, but I worried about that before I created Pixie and Brutus too,” Ben added. But thankfully, the artist receives overwhelming support and plenty of valid opinions about his work from loyal fans. “Tons of feedback. What they liked about the comic, what they thought was going to happen, ideas for future comics, ideas for new characters. There are probably a couple of funny comics in my feed that are entirely inspired by a comment on one of my posts.”

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We were also curious to learn how his ‘Pet Foolery’ comics have evolved throughout the years. The biggest change, according to Ben, is his art style. “It’s pretty cool to look back at my earliest comics and see how much cleaner and better my artwork is now. It’s very encouraging for me to see the improvement.”

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It’s truly inspiring to see Ben’s passion for his work still burning brightly. Despite Pixie and Brutus having an immense fan base online, the comics continue to be just as engaging and impactful as they were when first released. However, Ben has been open about the challenges he faces in keeping the content fresh. “With animal comics that feature recurring characters and an ongoing storyline, like Pixie and Brutus, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to come up with new ideas and jokes,” he admitted.

If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar creative rut, Ben advises embracing the courage to explore new ideas and stay adaptable—especially when experiencing a creative block. “Some of my most successful comics have come from trying new concepts and straying from my usual style and format,” he shared.

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