The story itself

[Marcus Wulf]

Ah, true. Btw, I think we should all stay clear from that topic on this forum. Let's hope WyrmMaster doesn't see our posts.
WyrmMaster:   :angry:

WyrmMaster peeks into forum.

*Big sweat drop* Marcus runs away.
(Ralph Wiggum off Simpsons sees forum) Ralph: Where do babies come from?
WyrmMaster: *sweatdrop* Er, heres a lollypop...

[cairn destop]

And in the spirit of this topic:


I must admit that I thought that Momma Bear needed a new brain.  Am so glad she is more realistic than the dunce she acted like when she trusted the otter.  Nice seeing she has a bit more savy than I thought.  Will be looking forward to her playing a more powerful role in this story thread. 

One note to the author/artist.  Beware, you could inadvertantly subordinate the primary character if Momma Bear becomes too powerful.

[AllieFiona]

Looks like she will need a new brain after this mishap.  Evidently, she is not accustomed to dealing with Morph that have no honor.

[WolfieInu]

Aha, the plot thickens... are we about to get some info on Sandy? Or is it just a passing thought...

BTW, I like the way Sandy was illustrated in the last panel: he looks determined and experienced, you can see the wolf within the cub if I can put it that way

[cairn destop]

Okay, score a point for the old hedgehog.  The otter knows what was inside the "puzzle box," which makes me think Sandy and the otter have something in common, besides similar attire.

[AllieFiona]

I think we're beginning to see why Sandy is so afraid of the otter, too.

[WolfieInu]

Yes, he looks unscrupulous. I just hope Rhene hasn't made a mistake by revealing she knows what's in the box.

[cairn destop]

Just one nit to today's cartoon.  If you notice, the otter tries silencing Rhea by placing his paw across her mouth, like one would do to a human.  Because of the basic animal structure, this would have no affect since the mouth opens on the sides, not the front.  The otter's paw should be grasping the lady's muzzle from the side, holding her jaws shut.  As drawn, all Rhea is getting is a bruised nose.

Yeah, I know the litney.  (It's only a cartoon, it's only a cartoon, . . . )       :mellow:

[AllieFiona]

I think a paw on her nose and a knife at her throat is sufficient to keep her quiet.  N'est pas?

[Lymril]

Just one nit to today's cartoon.  If you notice, the otter tries silencing Rhea by placing his paw across her mouth, like one would do to a human.

I don't think most readers pay attention to this sort of detail.  I know I don't.  I tend to look at the artwork in general, myself.

I don't usually comment on comic art but when looking at your characters and the quality of your artwork in other respects (e.g. your backgrounds and your ability to draw characters consistantly from any angle), the appearance of the foxes doesn't fit.  The eyes of the foxes are very flat and two-dimensional.  Look back a couple of strips and compare Riff's eyes with those of the little wolf.  There isn't much perspective in the foxs' heads either.  Compare Rheen's appearance with that of the otter.  That's a very convincing otter but Rheen looks like a quick sketch.  Her mouth doesn't make visual sense in the closeup.  Time for style change, perhaps?

Lym

[AllieFiona]

I based the foxes on the original game portraits and characters and the artist concept sketches done before and after.  (Note how cartoonish Scorry the rat is also)  In fact, I have tried to keep Rif and Rhene in the spirit of Lisa Sample's excellent original line drawing renditions, yet still put a little of my own style into them as well.  I admit that their features have smoothed out a bit, and Rhene's eyes have grown bigger and nose a bit shorter to differentiate her from Rif.  Characters that were not in the original game art, have been based more on animal photos than on the game style.  If you read Scott McCloud's "Understanding Comics" you will find that comic strip artists have often made the main characters more cartoonish than the rest (Dave Sim's "Cerebus the Aardvark" series is an extreme example).  It has something to do with having the reader identify more with the main characters.  It makes sense the way he tells it.  You'll note that Mama Bear, who has also become a main character, has developed a less realistic look as well.

I felt a couple of months ago that Sandy was losing his wolf-like appearance so started bringing back a few features that made him more realistic.  If more readers object to the way Rif and Rhene look, I could add a few touches to them as well, though I am certainly not going to change their overall appearance, as their look has been established for years now.

[cairn destop]

If more readers object to the way Rif and Rhene look, I could add a few touches to them as well, though I am certainly not going to change their overall appearance, as their look has been established for years now.

I don't think it's so much an "objection" as it is a question.  As noted earlier, your detailed backgrounds and the depth of the other characters is exceptional.  We were just wondering why you seemed to downplay the artistic perspectives of the two main characters.  That you have explained as stylistic.  You even back up such a style with valid examples.  That should render the debate moot.  The decision regarding the amount of details, or their lack, is entirely yours.

[Lymril]

I don't think it's so much an "objection" as it is a question.  As noted earlier, your detailed backgrounds and the depth of the other characters is exceptional.  We were just wondering why you seemed to downplay the artistic perspectives of the two main characters.  That you have explained as stylistic.  You even back up such a style with valid examples.  That should render the debate moot.  The decision regarding the amount of details, or their lack, is entirely yours.

No, it wasn't an objection; it was more of an observation.  I know of the style you're referring to and the old underground comic, "The Adventures of the Little Green Dinosaur" is what came to mind when you mentioned it.  But in these comics the backgrounds are based on reality (e.g., the other characters are human), while the main character is something unrealistic and often ridiculous (such as a little green dinosaur) that clearly isn't a part of the world around him.  "Mallard Fillmore" and "Opus" make effective use of this method.  By using a cartoon as the main character the cartoonist allows us to step away from "reality" and see the human situation as it might be seen by a little gray alien fresh off the UFO.  However, this method doesn't fit your comic (in my opinion) because your story is a fantasy adventure and not social commentary.  All of the other characters are imaginary and your main characters are clearly a part of the world around them.  They certainly aren't ridiculous.

But as Cairn said, it's your comic and your choice as to how to handle it.  It's a favorite of mine, along with Faux Pas, both of which are clean and relatively non-violent.

Lym

[light wolf]

It's a favorite of mine, along with Faux Pas, both of which are clean and relatively non-violent.

Faux pas is my favorite too ! -_-

[WolfieInu]

I like this week's cartoon, not least because Rhene is slightly more realistic (I think I hear someone saying, "et tu, Wolfie?" -_-)

But ja, the characters are very expressive in this one. Especially Rhene's ears when she hits the deck... ^_^

And in the 3rd panel, where she's like, "If I ever get loose. You. Are. Dead."...