Eyebeam (comic strip)

Eyebeam was a daily comic strip written and illustrated by Sam Hurt at the University of Texas at Austin.

By 1982, Eyebeam's popularity was such that a monster character called Hank the Hallucination ran for the University of Texas Student Government presidency (campaign slogan: "Get Real")[2] and won.

After it was ruled that imaginary characters could not serve in the post, future Democratic adviser and CNN political contributor Paul Begala was the campus' second choice.

The strip developed a devoted enough fanbase to support a steady series of paperback collections, as well as ancillary merchandise such as T-shirts.

Hurt's freewheeling style did not translate as well under the syndicated system, which was apparently hoping for a female Calvin character, and the latter strip was not a success.

Hurt's drawing style was thick and loose, and used periodically shifting backgrounds as were found in George Herriman's "Krazy Kat".

Characters from Eyebeam are animated by Sam Hurt in a music video by Brave Combo, "The Hokey Pokey".