From Fields to Funny Pages: The Heart of Amber Waves
Some comics take you somewhere familiar. Others take you somewhere you didn’t realize you missed. Amber Waves somehow does both.
Set on a quiet Midwestern farm, David Phipps’ long-running strip finds humor and heart in everyday life—between a boy named Gerald, his friend Owen, their family, and a full cast of farm animals who see the world with startling clarity. It’s warm, funny, occasionally wistful, and full of small truths that sneak up on you.
We caught up with David on Inside the Kingdom to talk about how Amber Waves began, why the animals always seem to know more than we do, and what keeps him drawing after 25 years.
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Finding the Heart of the Heartland
Phipps grew up in Iowa but admits he never milked a cow or drove a tractor. Still, small-town life and family stories stuck with him.
“I was surrounded by farms,” he shared. “My dad’s name was Gerald, and he used to tell me stories about working on one after his father passed away. He loved it—his favorite cow, tree forts, all that stuff. It made me want to capture that kind of simple, genuine humor.”
So he combined that nostalgia with his love of Norman Rockwell and a bit of Animal Farm-style satire. The result? A world where animals talk when humans aren’t listening—and say things we’d probably rather not admit ourselves.
How the Art Leads the Story
Unlike most cartoonists who start with a gag, Phipps begins with a feeling.
“I don’t start with a punchline,” he explained. “I draw the scene first—the field, the animals, whatever I’m in the mood to draw—and then figure out what they’re talking about. I don’t know the ending until I get there, so hopefully the reader doesn’t either.”
It’s an intuitive approach that makes Amber Waves feel alive and spontaneous, even after hundreds of strips.
The Cast: Cows, Chickens, and Frat-Boy Pigs
Every animal on the farm has a distinct personality. The cows are the philosophers—calm and grounded. The pigs? “Frat boys,” Phipps jokes. “They’ve got this wild confidence, ordering pizza and throwing parties.”
The chickens gossip nonstop (“Pick a little, talk a little!”), and Gerald and Owen anchor it all, giving us a child’s-eye view of curiosity and boredom that feels universal—whether you grew up on a farm or ten stories up in a city apartment.
Keeping It Real (and Timeless)
Even after 25 years, Amber Waves continues to evolve. Since joining Comics Kingdom, Phipps has taken over the coloring himself—leaning into sweeping landscapes, fall hues, and even experimenting with night skies.
“I’ve done the cornfields and barns,” he said. “Now I’m playing with color—the purples and blues you get under a Midwest sky. I want each strip to feel like a little painting.”
What He Hopes Readers Feel
When asked what he wants readers to take away, Phipps doesn’t hesitate:
“We’re all a lot more alike than we think. Life can be tough, but it’s still good—and we all need to laugh a little.”
It’s a simple message, but one that hits just right. Especially these days.