Maze Comic Book Cover #68 - Sloth Life

Issue #68 in my comic book cover series is called Sloth Life and features the maze of a Sloth. I hope you like the smile on the sloth’s face. Imagine that it is on the way to a full smile and it will take a bit of time to get there (that is what I imagine).

My comic book cover mazes can be found in 2 places:

Comic Book Cover Mazes - Year 1 (Issues #1-53)

Comic Book Cover Mazes - Year 2

Sloth Maze Comic Book

To receive a book of my first year of comic book book mazes (Volume 1 with mazes #1-53) you can sign up for my book alerts - any time I launch a free maze book, or paid book (on Amazon), I will send you a note about the new book launch.

Maze of the Week 49 Redux - Chich'en itza (MOTW #172)

The first version of this maze is one of my favorites, but since then I have learned how to use new techniques I wanted to make a few changes and see if it improved the maze. Also, while the original version was a traditional black and white maze look, which I liked - it was floating on the page a bit and I wanted to change that. Here is my original blog post:

Maze of the Week #49 - Temple of Kukulcán Maze

Here are the enhancements I made to improve the maze:

1. Changed the Maze size. I reduced the height of the maze from 34 inches to 25 inches to better reflect the contents of the maze and reduce empty space.

2. Recenter the Maze. Because of this I moved the pyramid down on the page.

3. Reduce the font. Reduce font of the location vs. the title because it looks better like that and focuses on the what vs the where.

4. Change branding size. I increased the size of branding by 25% to look more in-line with everything.

5. Background changes. Added trees and bushes on the horizon.

6. Added structure details. I Added moss to the top of the pyramid and down the steps to better reflect what you actually see.

7. Added shadows. Added to the pyramid, the steps and on the ground to give the maze more interest.

8. Start/Goal changes. Switched to an internal Start/Goal and changed the font to red color to be more visible (vs. black)

9. Added a sky

Boom goes the dynamite. Much better. This is why I go back to some mazes.

Some data: The new file is 761MB from 557MB.

I will be replacing the homepage with the new maze going forward. You can find the maze download there !

If you like this type of content check out all of my case studies:

A Collection of Maze Design Case Studies to Improve your Mazes

What I've Learned Making Mazes

Happy maze-ing !

Danzante Conchero Chichimeca Maze Update

My first and second attempts at making a maze of a statue in Queretaro are documented here:

Maze of the Week #87 - Danzante Conchero Chichimeca Maze

Case Study#2 - How to Improve a Bad Maze - Danzante Conchero Chichimeca

The tl;dr is that I drew the dancer, realized that making it into a maze would be difficult, then salvaged the work by adding the fountain to hold the maze. As I went back and featured one of my other mazes from Queretaro with improvements this week, a walking street maze, I thought I would try something with this maze also. Basically I walked to the statue and took a photo so I could give a mixed media option for the maze. I went with a faded photo to help keep the focus on the maze. Which do you prefer, the mixed media or the blank background version ?

Of course, I struggle making only 1 change. I went back and switched the Start and Goal to Spanish which makes more sense. I also updated the pathway widths in the fountain by doubling their size making it easier to complete.

The Underground Labyrinth in Brihuega, Spain

Beneath the charming Spanish village of Brihuega lies a hidden world: the Arab Caves, a labyrinth of tunnels carved into the earth centuries ago. The Arab Caves are an extensive network of tunnels and chambers that lie beneath this historic Spanish village and were constructed between the 10th and 11th centuries during the Moorish rule of the Iberian Peninsula. The labyrinth stretches for an astonishing five miles (eight kilometers).

Arab Caves entrance

By Håkan Svensson (Xauxa) - Own work, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1325866

Key Features of the Arab Caves:

  • Cave History and Features:

    • Built during the Arab occupation of the Iberian Peninsula (10th-11th centuries).

    • Served as escape routes during sieges, allowing villagers to evade attackers and transport supplies.

    • Used as food storage facilities due to the constant temperature of 12°C (53°F) year-round.

    • Maze-like corridors and chambers.

    • The caves reveal glimpses of the past, including ironwork and ancient pottery.

    • For a gallery of photos, please visit TripAdvisor.

    • Offers a glimpse into Brihuega's medieval past.

  • Cave Accessibility:

    • Only 500 to 700 meters of the cave system is currently open to the public.

    • Much of the labyrinth remains uncharted or inaccessible.

    • The caves' consistently cool temperature makes them a perfect refuge on a hot day.

  • Visiting the Cave:

Exploring the city of Brihuega (above ground):

  • Brihuega itself is a charming village with a rich history, known for its lavender fields (Jardín de la Alcarria) and medieval architecture.

  • The name Brihuega is believed to derive from Iberian roots, meaning "strong or walled place."

  • The village's strategic location made it the site of several major battles throughout Spanish history.

  • While you are in town, be sure to visit the castle, city walls, lookout point and a very special museum:

    • Piedra Bermeja Castle

    • Barrionuevo Alto Tower

    • Brihuega view point

    • The most popular attraction in town is the Professor Max Miniatures Museum, which features miniatures of nearly everything imaginable.

Overall, the underground labyrinth in Brihuega is a remarkable historical site that offers visitors a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the village's medieval past. It is a must-visit for history enthusiasts and anyone curious about Spain's hidden gems.