Tag: Martin

Pg 7: Because you can’t get something for nothing

This week in Epic Fail: Clodin throws an axe into Amuletts’ negotiations with Martin. Martin figures 100 gold is a small price to pay for her to behave herself. She explains, rather cryptically, that he has been cheated, but pockets the money anyway.

Creator’s Commentary: Now you know why Clodin responded so violently.  As for Amuletts… she’s greedy.  Mind you, she didn’t think Martin would take her offer, after all, it was extortionate!  He was supposed to barter.  Gold to Amuletts is rather like a pocketful of coppers, but “look after the pennies…”

Incidentally I like the close-ups on Clodin.  They worked out better than I expected.

I gave my Mother the comic to read and she did so out loud.  She did Clodin’s lines with a squeaky little voice, presumably because he is small.  It made me laugh.

BONUS 01: Valentines Day 09

Happy Valentines Day!

So, under the influence of a love potion – a gift from Amuletts – Tinuvielle and Clodin do something absolutely unmentionable.  (An elf and a dwarf together?!  There’s gotta be a law against that)!  Martin pulls some absolutely wonderful facial expressions in response and Dirk goes blind.

Being a holiday special this page does not fit into the story-line.  I told Miriam (the player who controls Tinuvielle an our role-play game) about this page and she was absolutely horrified!  So I put it up anyway.  I may be punished for it later.  See how nice I am to you guys, putting out a comic despite great personal risk?

Pg 6: Just fight amongst yourselves…

This week in Epic Fail: Despite Dirk’s efforts fighting has broken out between Clodin and Amuletts. The King isn’t happy and hints at dire consequences.

Creator’s Commentary: So, we have our first fight scene, and it’s infighting.  I’m not sure how well this scene flows, especially with Dirk and the Golem (known as Andy Roid), but hopefully it makes sense.

Amuletts is my namesake.  I use it a lot online.  I decided I wanted a nickname like Trillian (Patricia McMillan) from The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.  So I joined Amy Letts together by bastardising the U.  Of course, using variants and anagrams of your own name is a long-standing tradition in rpgs, originating from the great Gygax himself (Zagyg being the most obvious example).

Pg 5: Yoru needs you

Curiouser and curiouser.  That’s one mysterious message, but I guess the sender thought Tinuvielle would know what it means, which apparently she does.  I love how caring and sensitive Martin is here.  Though obviously disappointed he just lets her go.

And the King makes another fantastic appearance!  Personally I think he has one of those teleporting Thrones like the Keeper of Traken *EDIT: Okay, Whoies, it’s a wing chair* – a perfectly good security measure in a magical universe if you ask me.  It’s hard to assassinate a target who can vanish at will.

Yeah, I know some of the faces are a bit dodgy – hey, I’m new at this.  At least the characters are recognisable from frame to frame, quite an accomplishment for me.

Pg 4: Some messengers are asking to be shot

So, the messenger delivers her message (if you thought she was a man you are forgiven.  I drew her pretty androgynous to add to her mystery.  But in page 1, frame 8 you can see the curve of her left boobie).  In case you haven’t guessed she is a lead-in character, and you probably won’t see her again.  That said she has quite a strong personality and I will miss her.  She is determined and practical.

Not there are a lot of mistakes on this page.  “Shoot mess-anger” is one, Tinuvielle’s left arm is another.  I won’t point out the others.  Perhaps you won’t notice them. Mistake fixed!

Pg 2: My Kindom for some Phat Loot

On this page the focus has moved away from the blue riders (somewhat like in 1914¹) and concerntrated on the figures on the red carpet.  Oo look!  They get lines!  These must be core actors instead of low-paid extras.  (What, did you think making a comic was cheap?  I’ll have you know that King fellow is top-notch, he starred in a deck of playing cards)!

So, these guys have performed some kind of heroic deed and the kingdom is very thankful.  But someone isn’t satisfied and rants accordingly.  She may be within earshot of the monarch but doesn’t seem to care.  The dwarf annonces her to the crowd – knowing full well how she’ll hate it.  Everyone laughs uproariously.  Amuletts vows revenge.

I have carefully worked out concept drawings for all the main characters, except Dirk.  Nothing really seemed to work out.  But then I had to draw him, properly, for the comic.  So I decided not to worry so much.  I had a kinda Samurai-style in mind, so I went with that.  He looked too girly so I added a beard.  Voila!

¹ This is a bad art joke, reflecting my sense of humour and too many years of art education.  It refers to Der Blaue Reiter, a short-lived expressionist group of artists with many prestigious members.  It ended in 1914 after only three years due to the war.  Not really funny at all.