Smokey the Bear's cousin, Carry

This one had a delightful thread of commentary on the original site. In this scene Smokey is off duty, but he is trying to help Carry's new business by persuading passers-by to take a ride.

The seat works great until Carry decides to scratch his back against a tree.

Just an observation. Some cover artists settle for illustrating some characters. This artist decided to tell a story. That probably increases the chances that browsers will pick up the book to find out what is going on, so kudos for that.

>3 TorMented: You are so right! I am WAY more interested in what Captain Tight Pants will decide - ride or not to ride - than any of the dull nonsense Pan Science Fiction put on the covers of their offerings.

>3 TorMented: Yes. Bears who are large enough to carry people, people who are talking with them, an obviously sci-fi setting. This is a good cover, which would at least prompt people to turn it over and read the blurb.

Half-Pint Posted (for it is he) is not only looking down on Mr. Fancy Pants and Cape Dude literally but figuratively, feeling superior in his sensible-looking space coverall and being friends with gigantic humanoid bears. They can prance around in their chartreuse spandex; he's got mail to deliver and an amiable species to hang out with.

Publisher to artist: “Um, that’s not what I meant by ‘riding bareback.’”

>6 TorMented: Clap, clap, clap

>6 TorMented: GSS!

That's a cheerfully goofy oversized vegetable of a spaceship.