About the Comic
Treading Ground is centered around 21-year-old Nate Ashborne, who splits his time between putting up with his supermarket job and waiting for life to no longer suck, without bothering to make any efforts to change things. His life is further complicated when he meets Rose, a remarkable high school girl who is just a little too open about sexuality.
The title of the comic describes Nate’s current state. Much like treading water, Nate is moving around without actually going anywhere. He’s just a little drier while doing it.
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About the Author
As a cynical grocery industry expatriate, I borrow parts of the story from my own experience. No one is an exact copy, but many of the characters you see are based in part on myself and/or other people I’ve known. (Rose, on the other hand, is completely original.)
I emigrated to Atlanta in late 2005 as a refugee from suck-torn South Carolina. Aside from webcomics, I’m also into politics, Linux, electronica, and bicycling. I’m @gigawright on Twitter, or you can send me an email at nick at treadingground dot com.
You can see more of my writing and, vocal and art work on That SciFi Guy.
Yo Nick Lando Here saw you got back in the swing of things and thought I’d Join Ya :) Hit me up sometime.
Oh man, I remember when this comic was part of that comic conglomerate, and then went on hiatus for a long fuckin’ time, but I remember there being something about Nate being a super spy for some reason…
This was a while back, mind you, my memory has gone bad after multiple concussions.
Hahaha, actually, that bit is true (though more hitman than super spy.) Check out the End of Compliance Side story to figure out what the hell I was talking about. I even finished it!
Awesome comic dude: I’ll be checking back a few times a week, and looking forward to the new stuff!
Sounds good, man. New stuff every Monday, Wednesday and Friday!
Why is it that no matter what banner of the Del-Haize International empire you work under a special needs African American bagger seems to be required? I’ve definitely worked with one at a Food Tiger and another at a Blossom.
Just re-found this comic. Remember reading what existed of it a few years ago, gonna give it another go through. Man I cant wait to finally break out of retail.
Why don’t they just go to a state that the age of consent is 16, or get approval from the mother?
No Bad pancho, we don’t ask those questions ;)
Nate would rather not get arrested on federal charges, and parental consent is not law.
Good stuff! I’m checking your site out (at least) three times a week. Are you passing the hat around here somewhere, too? Paypal?
Good to see quality work coming from a fellow South Carolinian, been following the comic for a while now, keep up the good work my friend!
I’m tripping balls man. This web comic is like my Anti-life,it’s like all the characters are like based off my actual friends and then it’s all their EXACT opposites. And it’s poorly drawn ( sorry but it is) TRIPPIN BALLS MAN.
Ha! No doubt some of the older stuff is crude. I think I’m getting better though.
Great comic. I look forward to more.
One thing was bugging me while I was reading it, tho, and so I did a little checking. The comic takes place in South Carolina, no? Well, the Age of Consent in SC is 16.
That doesn’t ruin the comic, of course, because Nate wouldn’t necessarily KNOW that, and he could just be assuming (like many do) that the AoC is 18 everywhere. But one assumes that sooner or later he’ll check it out for himself… Or Rose will.
Keep up the great work.
It doesn’t take place in South Carolina. I do imply that it’s somewhere in the region, but I’ve been careful to avoid specifics. :-)
Thanks!
Ha! I thought this comic had disappeared! All of a sudden there were no more updates, and then the site was gone…
It’s cool it’s back
AOC quick-reference…
Virginia: 18
West Virginia: 16
North Carolina: 16
South Carolina: 16
Georgia: 16
That should about cover it…I hope. ;)
SEE ALSO: Statutory rape laws by state
I’m keenly aware of the laws, having done enough research on the subject to make me feel squicky.
But let’s also keep in mind that the TG universe may not even have the same laws as our own! *DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNN*
..nah, but seriously, it’ll come out, just wait for it.
Oh, come on, now you’re just being annoying.
Actually, though, isn’t that where most fiction is set: unspecified US state which satisfies the author’s criteria…
Dude, I hear you about the grocery industry. I was enslaved for seven and a half years, so I know where you’re coming from. It made me cynical too! :D people are stupid!
Congrats on your escape!
I think it was 11 years before I was completely free of it.
damn!
I think, probably, the only reason I got out was because the store went out of biz and I lost my job. O_o
I think you’re just going to end up with half the employees of this damn company reading your webcomic, dude.
Heh, thanks.
Shout out to LograyX’s coworkers!
I must say that this is one of the best webcomics I have read. Great plot, good artwork, interesting characters (I love Rose!), a lot of hilarious stuff — instant favorite! I read it from prologue to latest installment all at once. Kinda bummed out that I have to wait every other day (including weekends) for updates, but I know it’ll be worth it.
You’ve got a great thing going. Keep it up.
hey dude i gotta say this comic is hilarious. but i was wondering when you were gonna do another That SCIFI GUY install.
We’ve got the new episode about 90% done, so I’d expect soon!
Things have been slowed down by the whole move to TGWTG.
Greetings from Russia, Nick!
I ended up here after clicking a weird banner (yes, the Tracy thing) on Neil Swaab’s website (Rehabilitating Mr. Wiggles).
The story in Treading Ground is good, very good, and your drawing style is quite catchy (it was very interesting to see how it evolved through all these years). Keep up with the great work!
Thanks for the kind words! Glad you’re enjoying it.