Real Life Adventures by Gary Wise and Lance Aldrich

Gary Wise

For nearly two decades, Gary Wise has been a co-creator of the comic panel Real Life Adventures. The comic is drawn from the everyday stuff that we all slog through. On any given day, the cartoonists like to think their little square slice of life is a nice change from the rickety roller coaster the rest of the world seems to be. “Hopefully in the mundane lives that Lance (Aldrich) and I both lead, which is the inspiration for Real Life Adventures, people will see their own experiences staring back at them in the form of potatoey heads and beady eyes,” said Wise.

History

Originally from Detroit, Wise attended the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. He entered into the advertising world in the ‘80s and has been practicing ever since. On a slow day in the office in 1991, Wise decided to team up with friend and advertising counterpart Lance Aldrich to create Real Life Adventures. Aldrich is the writing component and Wise is the drawing component of the set. Together they have been cartooning successfully ever since that day of inspiration. Wise continues to live and work in Michigan.

Lance Aldrich

For more than two decades, Lance Aldrich has been a co-creator for the comic panel Real Life Adventures. The comic is drawn from the everyday stuff that we all slog through. On any given day, the creators like to think their little square slice of life is a nice change from the rickety roller coaster the rest of the world seems to be. “It’s mildly amusing and very relatable to anyone in any kind of a relationship,” said Aldrich. “It’s sort of ordinary and for anyone who likes a little sarcasm and wit with their Wheaties.”

History

Originally from Michigan, Aldrich graduated from Michigan State University. He entered the advertising world because it required no knowledge of math, and he was very successful -- even receiving a few awards. “Hey, even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then,” said Aldrich. On a slow day in the office in 1991, he decided to team up with friend and advertising counterpart Gary Wise to create Real Life Adventures. Aldrich is the writing component and Wise is the drawing component of the set. Together, they have been cartooning successfully ever since that day of inspiration. Aldrich continues to live and work in Michigan with his wife and cats. He is, as he was in advertising, still afraid that people will discover that he actually has no idea what he’s doing.