Chapter 1: Page 65
As Hardin walks through the recently-conquered Ermehn camp, we can see his journey is just beginning – and the same can be said for “Beyond the Western Deep”! This is the end of Chapter 1, and will the final page posted until July 6th.
Don’t fret, though! Rachel and I will still be posting weekly on midnight Saturdays, same as always. Instead of pages, we’ll treat you to concept sketches and doodles along with some fun background on the world of the Four Kingdoms that doesn’t relate to the story of Quinlan, Dakkan, Hardin, et al. Also, should you have any questions about the world that you’d like answered, please send them our way, either in the comments or through the website e-mail.
And if you have any fanart or fan works you’d like to have displayed on a weekly update post, feel free to send that our way as well. The e-mail is thewesterndeep (at) gmail (dot) com.
It’s been a fun ride so far, but the adventure is just beginning! In addition to Chapter 2, Rachel and I are continuing to pursue a print publication for Chapter 1. We’ve had a few interested parties thus far, and we’ll update you all as news comes in. In the meantime, things are looking good in the world of the Western Deep and beyond. We’re honored to have you all along for the ride!
Remember, Chapter 2 will begin July 6th! Until then, enjoy our weekly history/teaser/art/Q&A posts!
Well, this was a fun read. Can’t wait ’til July!
Was 65 a random number, or is that roughly how long every chapter will be?
And so the last page of chapter one arrives! I have to say, I didn’t expect the tribe to have so many cubs from the looks of things, but the look on that Ermehn mother’s face on the far left as Bevan tries to herd her back is just perfect. “What are you doing? Yeah, no, you stay back from my kids.” All the same, Hardin’s got them way in over their heads, and there’s no turning back. In his case, carpe diem; in everyone else’s, memento mori.
I’m looking forward to seeing Quinlan, Dakkan, and Kenosh get their tails up north, and Janik take hers down south, so here’s to them being successful in a month, and the two sharp-toothed species of BWD’s ice and deserts not eating both groups alive.
Congrats! This has been a fun ride so far, and I’m keen on seeing how the story progresses.
Where is Hardin walking to, though? There’s nothing but wasteland up ahead.
‘Man, I need to take a leak real bad. I wish these people would just stop staring!’
He’s trying to get better mobile reception.
Inadequate mobile reception: yet another reason why the Sratha-din is a dead tribe. Because you need that text about the Canid ambush five minutes before it happens, not five minutes after.
Let’s not lie to ourselves; we all know the Canid have “March of Cambreadth” as their ringtones.
Well, then, allow me to acquaint you: http://tinyurl.com/2dpwhwc
I was mainly making a stupid joke based off a BWD-themed playlist that was floating around, but it’s pretty fitting anyway.
…I was also going to make a horrible joke about how some of the Ermehn probably have “Staying Alive” as their ringtones, particularly Broermehn, and whoops, I’ve just made it.
Keep up the great work. As you said, the journey is just beginning.
Eeee, what a foreboding page to end the chapter on. :D Can’t wait for July now. I’m glad we got to see Hardin’s side of things this early; it sets him up as a great sympathetic antagonist. He’s not just “RAH RAH IMMA ATTACK THESE DOGS CAUSE I’M EVIL.”
I must say, I have awesome timing. I start reading this webcomic, and catch with up with the most recent comic just in time for a month long hiatus! Ah well, that’s life.
Haha, don’t despair, Rime! We’ll be posting cool weekly updates all the same with some teasers for Chapter 2, along with some world history (that isn’t part of the storyline).
Do you guys maintain higher resolution comic pages by chance? This scene could make an awesome wallpaper.
Hi Maggy, sorry for the late reply :) Rachel does in fact do these at a higher resolution. If you e-mail us at thewesterndeep (at) gmail (dot) com, we’ll see what we can do!
And so the first chapter of Beyond the Western Deep comes to an end with the image of Hardin walking past the ranks of his newly conquered tribe to presumably be by himself in the frozen wilderness for awhile, while they stare at their new leader in trepidation. When I first read this comic, I couldn’t help but feel that maybe it would’ve been more effective to end chapter one just a page or two later, with him already by himself at the top of a hill looking out onto the horizon in the direction of Aisling, where his plans will presumably lead him, looking all determined and cool in the pale moonlight. However, that might’ve been more effort than it was worth, and this is a really good way to end the chapter as well.
It is a great image. To the left, we see the Ermehn family from last page in at a new angle, looking all cute and vulnerable. That’s another thing I like about the comic – how we get to see scenes with all these characters done from different perspectives, how you keep track of everything and how it all comes together. It kinda reminds me of Watchmen, in that sense, where Moore and Gibbons did the same. And yes, you can take that as a compliment :)
My favourite part here is the little cub peeking out through the tent flap, with the glow from inside implying there’s a fire going. Poor little kid… he really should be curled up by a warm fire now with a loving family by his side and not a care in he world – not being afraid of a war that Hardin is dragging him into… :(
Chapter 1 of BTWD has been a blast! I know that might be a bit presumptious given that it’s just the first part, and presumably it’s rather slow and quiet compared to what’s to come, but I think it says something about how effective it has been at pulling me and so many other readers into it. It has done a great job introducing the world, the characters, the central conflict and all around make us feel involved with the events and eager to find out what’s going to happen. I think Alex and Rachel have succeeded brilliantly at making a wonderful comic, and it has been terrific fun getting to read and review it!
Soon, I’ll be up to where the comic currently is, after which I can keep reviewing it at the same pace as the rest of you guys. First though, I’ll have to give my comments on the bonus pages our generous writers have provided us with during their hiatus to give more depth and insight into their world.
And when that’s done, see you in Chapter 2!