Ripley gets brave, and attends Size Con with the team! A piece of autobio, journalism and kink, all mixed into one, and a fun way to see some of the process behind OJST’s first group outing.
A shout out to Editor Ziggy helped make this one happen this week. He helped write the early pages and we’re all really proud of how it shaped out.
And another word of thanks to the wonderful team at Size Con for inviting us and being such great hosts!
Now that you’ve made it here to the bottom, I want to encourage you to come and sign up to the Patreon! It’s 2025 and OJST needs your financial support if you want to see these comics continue appearing! Please consider helping the site each month for what we do!
And if not – a social follow and re-tweet/x/skeet/reddit-post would do us wonders!
Bluesky
Mastodon
Pillowfort
BETTER YET: just give us a follow (for free) on Patreon
Finally the three socials we’re trying to get farrrr away from:
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
(I’m also still on the hunt for a sub-reddit poster/moderator for OJST, Ping me!)
↓ Comic Transcript
Ripley LaCross draws in a simplified-realistic cartoon-ish style, using a color palette of white and purples with soft dark grey pencil lines.
Page 1
From behind, we see Ripley working at their digital art setup with two illuminated screens propped up on their desk in front of them. In one hand Ripley holds a stylus with an extra chunky finger cushion and in the other they're checking their phone, which loudly pings at them. We can faintly hear music playing from Ripley's over-ear thick black headphones.
Ripley's hair is bushy with the sides shaved down to stubble, making a relaxed mohawk or dapper mullet. They wear a black blazer over their collared blue shirt, with black pants and boots, with skinny glasses topping them off. They sport various facial and ear piercings along with a hint of mustache and beard against their white skin tone.
Matt Nolan's profile picture appears next to his text message that appears on Ripley's phone. He is the Big Boss of Oh Joy Sex Toy and one of the two comics editors. "Hey, team!" Matt's text announces. "The organizers at SizeCon reached out to ask if we're interested in going! It's being held in Portland this year. Any interest? https://sizecon.com/
Ziggy is the other comic editor and his profile picture, including his dog Elivra, appears next to his text response, "[Three eyeballs emojis in a row] That's a giant YES fro me!"
Biting their finger nervously, Ripley muses to themself, "...I can't even go into a toy shop without wanting to implode..." and then types into the group chat, "Oooh! [eyeballs emoji] ...Maybe?? Not really my flavor of kink... I've never been to a show like that, either."
"It'll be so fun!!" Ziggy quickly texts. "Art! Vendors! Workshops! Demonstrations! Community-building socials!"
Aloud, Ripley ponders, "Oh my god, demos, too??"
For a tense moment, we zoom in on Ripley's face as it seriously considers their phone as if it were a bomb needing to be diffused.
Pulled back again, we see just Ripley's finger decisively press down on their phone, sending the text message, "I'm in!"
"YESSS! OJST FIELD TRIP!!!" Ziggy immediately texts back.
Pulled back further still, Ripley gingerly holds their phone in one hand as they cradle their head in the other, asking aloud, "...I hope I don't regret this..."
Page 2
A calendar page for February flutters on the wall, showing that SizeCon was three weeks away but the hatch mark across each day's box shows us that time has passed and that date is now today.
"Ziggggyyy!!" Ripley's private chat text reads. "My tummy hurts just thinking about the show today >_<"
"Liiiiiiiike you swallowed a bunch of tiny people, oor..." Ziggy's text teases back.
"Ping!" announces the group chat as Matt's message comes through, "On my way! to pick you up, Ripley!"
Back in the private chat to Ziggy, Ripley resumes, "... Ziggy no. I'm just so bad in crowds?? And strangers and sexy stuff and... kink... I'M JUST AN AWKWARD LITTLE GUY." A chibi version of himself appears next to his text, sweating and fretting with cartoonishly oversized sweat drops.
Chibi Ziggy appears next to his own chat reply. He has a short scruffy shock of hair on the top of his head with the sides shaved, and sports big round glasses, guaged ears, and a sparse mustache. Devilishly, he holds up a small animal safety vest labeled, "NERVOUS" as he replies, "What if we got you a NERVOUS DOG harness?"
"LMAO if only" Chibi Ripley answers, before leaning in closer to examine the vest, musing to themself, "...hmmm maybe?"
"Well today is the slowest day of the show, so it shouldn't even be all that crowded!" Chibi Ziggy continues. "And tbh everyone always wats to talk to Erika anyway, so you may be able to get away with just lurking!"
A relieved Chibi Ripley answers, "Our social savior [prayer emoji hands] You're probably right! It'll be fine."
"Ping!" goes the group chat as Matt texts, "BTW! Erika's not feeling great so she's sitting this one out."
"Balls." Thinks Chibi Ripley, looking at their phone blankly.
Ripley's normally-drawn face timidly peeks into an empty panel, show sweat rolling down their forehead as they say to themself, "...what if I say I'm sick...?"
Then, breaking free of panel borders, we see the top half of Ripley radiating manufactured confidence as they announce, "NO. You made a commitment! You're gonna be cool, and chill, and confident, and FINE!"
"...Right?" Ripley thinks to themself outside of the convention center, seeing the other patrons walking into the unassuming building.
Page 3
Inside the building, all of the OJST crew wears N95 masks, though very few of the other attendees or exhibitors do. Ziggy is in the process of putting on their attendee badge from the check-in table while Ripley is being handed their own. Attendees mill around, entering through a part in some thick black curtains that form a temporary wall. Tentatively, Ripley pulls back a curtain panel, peeking their face through to see what lays on the other side.
Framed between the parted black curtains, Ripley recoils in horror at the claustrophobic cluster of preview bubbles containing snapshots of scenes from around the con. There are LOTS of people.
Ripley's thoughts flock around their head, panic-thinking, "Oh. Oh no, it's so cramped. Why does it feel louder than it actually is? I feel like prey. Keep moving. Don't stand still. Oh wow, people really like my vest. Crap, am I leering? What am I doing??"
"Last call for the Ace Social!" a voice cuts through the pandemonium.
Panic-sweating, Ripley takes this opportunity to zip out the open door to the announced meeting.
Page 4
From behind Ripley, we see a large circle of people sitting in folding chairs. The others are cast in light while Ripley is starkly in shadow, with the helpful caption, "Realizing they don't know what a 'Social' even is."
Our view pivots overhead as Ripley sits down in an open chair, showing us a diverse assortment of people sitting in the circle.
Caption: Social: A casual gathering for the purpose of conversation.
"Out of the pan and into the fire, I guess." Ripley thinks to themself with some nervous forehead sweating.
Snippets of people's introductions float by various attendees who are drawn to keep their identities obscurred.
"Hi, I'm [---] and I've known I'm asexual since my teen years...]" Says one person, while another explains, "It all started when my grandma showed me Honey, I Shrunk The Kids..." A timid person volunteers, "Being gay has meant I'm expected to be hypersexual, but... I'm not."
Finally Ripley introduces themself, saying, "H-hi, I'm Ripley. they/he. And... I realized I'm Asexual just a few years ago... turns out that I wasn't actually sexually attracted to my crushes: I just had gender envy..."
Page 5
At the end of the Social as people are leaving the circle, another attendee approaches Ripley, asking, "What did you mean by 'gender envy?'"
"Oh!" Replies Ripley, looking much more comfortable than before. "It's like... a deep attraction to how they presented their gender, and I'd wished I could do the same..."
Narration: It takes me a long time to get comfortable with anyone. Multiply the number of people (and sprinkle in some deeply personal topics) and I'll freeze to the point of pain.
Rejoining Matt and Ziggy on the crowded floor, Ripley says a little sheepishly, "Hey guys, what's up? Sorry I disappeared!"
"No worries!" Ziggy replies with a laugh. "Wanna meet another OJST artist?"
"Sure!" Ripley enthuses.
At DarkChibi Shadow's merchandise table, Ziggy gives a double thumbs up to the artist while Ripley gives a friendly but nervous wave hello. DarkChibi Shadow has short dark hair, glasses, and wears a dark N95 mask covering most of their face. The vibes are good amongst them all.
Narration: But as it turns out, social ice breakers actually work! (I know, shocker!!) Most people are shy and awkward in public. So why not just be awkward together?
The view pulls back showing the OJST team chatting away with DarkChibi Shadow at their table, comfortably embedded in the busy convention hall with other exhibitors at their tables and attendees milling around.
Narration: A moment of discomfort is worth a lifetime of rewards.
Matt's chat text appears with a "PING!", saying "Hey gang! PDX KinkFest is next month... [smirking emoji face]"
"Hell yeah, count me in!" replies Ripley's text.
Transcribed March 30, 2025 by Erika Moen for ohjoysextoy.com
Page 1
From behind, we see Ripley working at their digital art setup with two illuminated screens propped up on their desk in front of them. In one hand Ripley holds a stylus with an extra chunky finger cushion and in the other they're checking their phone, which loudly pings at them. We can faintly hear music playing from Ripley's over-ear thick black headphones.
Ripley's hair is bushy with the sides shaved down to stubble, making a relaxed mohawk or dapper mullet. They wear a black blazer over their collared blue shirt, with black pants and boots, with skinny glasses topping them off. They sport various facial and ear piercings along with a hint of mustache and beard against their white skin tone.
Matt Nolan's profile picture appears next to his text message that appears on Ripley's phone. He is the Big Boss of Oh Joy Sex Toy and one of the two comics editors. "Hey, team!" Matt's text announces. "The organizers at SizeCon reached out to ask if we're interested in going! It's being held in Portland this year. Any interest? https://sizecon.com/
Ziggy is the other comic editor and his profile picture, including his dog Elivra, appears next to his text response, "[Three eyeballs emojis in a row] That's a giant YES fro me!"
Biting their finger nervously, Ripley muses to themself, "...I can't even go into a toy shop without wanting to implode..." and then types into the group chat, "Oooh! [eyeballs emoji] ...Maybe?? Not really my flavor of kink... I've never been to a show like that, either."
"It'll be so fun!!" Ziggy quickly texts. "Art! Vendors! Workshops! Demonstrations! Community-building socials!"
Aloud, Ripley ponders, "Oh my god, demos, too??"
For a tense moment, we zoom in on Ripley's face as it seriously considers their phone as if it were a bomb needing to be diffused.
Pulled back again, we see just Ripley's finger decisively press down on their phone, sending the text message, "I'm in!"
"YESSS! OJST FIELD TRIP!!!" Ziggy immediately texts back.
Pulled back further still, Ripley gingerly holds their phone in one hand as they cradle their head in the other, asking aloud, "...I hope I don't regret this..."
Page 2
A calendar page for February flutters on the wall, showing that SizeCon was three weeks away but the hatch mark across each day's box shows us that time has passed and that date is now today.
"Ziggggyyy!!" Ripley's private chat text reads. "My tummy hurts just thinking about the show today >_<"
"Liiiiiiiike you swallowed a bunch of tiny people, oor..." Ziggy's text teases back.
"Ping!" announces the group chat as Matt's message comes through, "On my way! to pick you up, Ripley!"
Back in the private chat to Ziggy, Ripley resumes, "... Ziggy no. I'm just so bad in crowds?? And strangers and sexy stuff and... kink... I'M JUST AN AWKWARD LITTLE GUY." A chibi version of himself appears next to his text, sweating and fretting with cartoonishly oversized sweat drops.
Chibi Ziggy appears next to his own chat reply. He has a short scruffy shock of hair on the top of his head with the sides shaved, and sports big round glasses, guaged ears, and a sparse mustache. Devilishly, he holds up a small animal safety vest labeled, "NERVOUS" as he replies, "What if we got you a NERVOUS DOG harness?"
"LMAO if only" Chibi Ripley answers, before leaning in closer to examine the vest, musing to themself, "...hmmm maybe?"
"Well today is the slowest day of the show, so it shouldn't even be all that crowded!" Chibi Ziggy continues. "And tbh everyone always wats to talk to Erika anyway, so you may be able to get away with just lurking!"
A relieved Chibi Ripley answers, "Our social savior [prayer emoji hands] You're probably right! It'll be fine."
"Ping!" goes the group chat as Matt texts, "BTW! Erika's not feeling great so she's sitting this one out."
"Balls." Thinks Chibi Ripley, looking at their phone blankly.
Ripley's normally-drawn face timidly peeks into an empty panel, show sweat rolling down their forehead as they say to themself, "...what if I say I'm sick...?"
Then, breaking free of panel borders, we see the top half of Ripley radiating manufactured confidence as they announce, "NO. You made a commitment! You're gonna be cool, and chill, and confident, and FINE!"
"...Right?" Ripley thinks to themself outside of the convention center, seeing the other patrons walking into the unassuming building.
Page 3
Inside the building, all of the OJST crew wears N95 masks, though very few of the other attendees or exhibitors do. Ziggy is in the process of putting on their attendee badge from the check-in table while Ripley is being handed their own. Attendees mill around, entering through a part in some thick black curtains that form a temporary wall. Tentatively, Ripley pulls back a curtain panel, peeking their face through to see what lays on the other side.
Framed between the parted black curtains, Ripley recoils in horror at the claustrophobic cluster of preview bubbles containing snapshots of scenes from around the con. There are LOTS of people.
Ripley's thoughts flock around their head, panic-thinking, "Oh. Oh no, it's so cramped. Why does it feel louder than it actually is? I feel like prey. Keep moving. Don't stand still. Oh wow, people really like my vest. Crap, am I leering? What am I doing??"
"Last call for the Ace Social!" a voice cuts through the pandemonium.
Panic-sweating, Ripley takes this opportunity to zip out the open door to the announced meeting.
Page 4
From behind Ripley, we see a large circle of people sitting in folding chairs. The others are cast in light while Ripley is starkly in shadow, with the helpful caption, "Realizing they don't know what a 'Social' even is."
Our view pivots overhead as Ripley sits down in an open chair, showing us a diverse assortment of people sitting in the circle.
Caption: Social: A casual gathering for the purpose of conversation.
"Out of the pan and into the fire, I guess." Ripley thinks to themself with some nervous forehead sweating.
Snippets of people's introductions float by various attendees who are drawn to keep their identities obscurred.
"Hi, I'm [---] and I've known I'm asexual since my teen years...]" Says one person, while another explains, "It all started when my grandma showed me Honey, I Shrunk The Kids..." A timid person volunteers, "Being gay has meant I'm expected to be hypersexual, but... I'm not."
Finally Ripley introduces themself, saying, "H-hi, I'm Ripley. they/he. And... I realized I'm Asexual just a few years ago... turns out that I wasn't actually sexually attracted to my crushes: I just had gender envy..."
Page 5
At the end of the Social as people are leaving the circle, another attendee approaches Ripley, asking, "What did you mean by 'gender envy?'"
"Oh!" Replies Ripley, looking much more comfortable than before. "It's like... a deep attraction to how they presented their gender, and I'd wished I could do the same..."
Narration: It takes me a long time to get comfortable with anyone. Multiply the number of people (and sprinkle in some deeply personal topics) and I'll freeze to the point of pain.
Rejoining Matt and Ziggy on the crowded floor, Ripley says a little sheepishly, "Hey guys, what's up? Sorry I disappeared!"
"No worries!" Ziggy replies with a laugh. "Wanna meet another OJST artist?"
"Sure!" Ripley enthuses.
At DarkChibi Shadow's merchandise table, Ziggy gives a double thumbs up to the artist while Ripley gives a friendly but nervous wave hello. DarkChibi Shadow has short dark hair, glasses, and wears a dark N95 mask covering most of their face. The vibes are good amongst them all.
Narration: But as it turns out, social ice breakers actually work! (I know, shocker!!) Most people are shy and awkward in public. So why not just be awkward together?
The view pulls back showing the OJST team chatting away with DarkChibi Shadow at their table, comfortably embedded in the busy convention hall with other exhibitors at their tables and attendees milling around.
Narration: A moment of discomfort is worth a lifetime of rewards.
Matt's chat text appears with a "PING!", saying "Hey gang! PDX KinkFest is next month... [smirking emoji face]"
"Hell yeah, count me in!" replies Ripley's text.
Transcribed March 30, 2025 by Erika Moen for ohjoysextoy.com