Chapter 1: Page 44
This week we learn more about Janik’s role in Tamian politics – she’s actually a rather high-ranking diplomat working with the Vulpin in their kingdom of Navran. Janik’s father is a senior advisor representing Tamian interests in the region, a bit like an ambassador. Having those extra voices in the Vulpin’s volatile political process help not only Terria, but the Tamian ex-pats living in Navran as well.
The Council is a group of the most powerful Vulpin in Navran, each representing one of the ten major districts of the kingdom. To join the Council, one must be rich, influential, and from one of the many highest-caste families in Navran. The Vulpin kingdom has no king, though it used to – after an assassination in the days before the Four Kingdoms were one, a power vacuum was created that nearly destroyed Navran. Now, power is evenly split across the Council. We’ll be seeing more of them in the future, I guarantee it.
Originally, Janik was going to be a medic or healer, and was going to be staying within Terria as Dakkan, Quinlan, and Kenosh left on their quest. After a time, though, Rachel and I both decided that her character seemed capable of far more. If she could delegate Quinlan’s sourpuss attitude, what would an adequate challenge for her be? What if her job was to hold her own against a devious council of literal foxes? That sounded FAR more interesting than having her stick around as a healer, and Rachel and I are both excited about the path her character takes in the story to come.
This week’s guest art is the result of a funny conversation that occurred on Tumblr following last week’s post – apparently a few readers began hearing Kenosh’s lines in Liam Neeson’s voice. Rachel and I are on board with this, though we both imagine a little bit of deadpan Leonard Nimoy in the mix as well. That said, SaraaLuna went and doodled up this fun piece of Liam Neeson by way of Hannibal from the A-Team by way of Kenosh. Thanks, Saraa! I can totally hear it :)
Go Janik! Dealing with the Vulpin sounds like it’s going to be a bit tricky, but she’ll be able to manage it. I’m amused by the opposites in their locations’ weathers– one of our squirrel protagonists is going to be roasting, and the other is going to be freezing. I’m not sure which one is going to be in more danger, either, because while the north brings Hardin and two ruthless generals and an army that would probably result in a spear through the face for some, the south sounds more like a place to get a dagger between the shoulder blades…
I can only imagine Dakkan’s line as “Bi hwa a mawfa, aihn’t aht?”
Talkin’ with his mouth full and whatnot XD
I do like the chemistry that you set up with Quin and Jannik here, the way that he seems so much more at ease with her and Dakkan than he is normally.
I swear that Vulpin behind them is eavesdropping…
He’s the… Squirrelsassin! :O Janik’s story just got fascinating, I was worried she was going to be one of those main characters who really doesn’t get much time, but now I can’t wait to see where she goes.
Also, yes, Liam Neeson = Kenosh.
lucky Janik! she gets to go somewhere warm, while our poor horoes what did she say “freezing their talis off.” Liam Neeson as Kenosh, hell yeah I can hear it now.
Mouthful….? NOPE curtainly not LOL.
Give you 12 years…ALMIGHTY WARRIOR!
I just now noticed that Quinlan’s doing a lot of weird finger positions in this page. There’s that “three fingers out, one curled in” position when he’s asking Janik what the title is, then that little three-quarters curled position when he’s nudging her.
Mr. Kain.
I just read Patrick Klepek’s “It’s Dangerous to Go Alone” article over on Giantbomb*.
I was aware that you did some story work on Dust but it seems you really helped pull the narrative of that game together. It is good to know that you and Mr Dodrill may be working together some time in the future.
I hope that this kind of publicity will present opportunities for you.
Keep up the good work.
*http://www.giantbomb.com/news/its-dangerous-to-go-alone/4520/
Hi Trees! I’m glad you enjoyed Patrick’s article! It was a great read, and Dean and I were excited to be able to talk about Dust’s story development. I think it’s safe to say I’ll be working with Dean on future projects, both Dust and not-Dust related :)
Alright, this is one of my all-time favourite pages in BTWD. I know you might feel like I always pick weird or unimportant pages or panels for my favourites, but that’s the way I am!
The main reason is for the absolutely terrific facial expressions, ESPECIALLY on Janik. This was the page that convinced me that her design was absolutely fantastic! This is best showcased through her expressions, the best ones in turn of which are on the second and last panel – on one she’s giving a faux-serious recitation of her official title, on the other she’s smugly reminding her friends that she’ll be visiting one of the centers of culture and commerce in the world while they will be off to some backwater garrison in the north. I love it, absolutely love it!
(Can you promise me something? Will you promise me that, later in the comic, you will transition from one page, where Quin, Dak and Ken are huddling near a fire, shivering with cold in the middle of a blizzard at one of the Canid outposts and wondering how Janik is doing, to the next where we cut to her lying on a padded bench in a palace in Nessa, getting a massage while basking in the Navran afternoon sun, a bowl of fruits and berries and a decanter of wine on a small table next to her while a Vulpin plays gently on a lute nearby, her entire expression shouting “THIS is life…”? That would totally make my entire week!)
Of course, the other characters look great too. The face Quinlan makes as he reminds everyone where Janik is going is just marvellous, and Dakkan munching down on that bread… Actually, on the first panel he looks suspiciously similar to Montybank on the first draft of the Machus sketch Kobb did for me. Any inspirations?
And we also catch glimpses of more background characters. The one-eyed Tamian bartender seems to be in a merry mood now, but we also see a mysterious stranger in a red cowl… A Felis, perhaps? I wonder if it’s foreshadowing…
I’m also glad that you chose to give your main female character a more active role than the stereotypical healer. The plotline you seem to have in mind for her now is much more interesting.
All in all, an absolutely terrific page, guys! I’m so happy to have been able to give my thoughts on it ^_^