Chapter 2: Page 33
Sorry for the delay everyone! This page gave us some trouble — though not necessarily in the fun “let’s show you the process of what went wrong” kind of way, and more in the boring common issues that can pop up: staging, perspective, making sure characters look the right way and are also looking the right way. There were just a lot of tricky minor details that needed to get ironed out, which delayed the final page. The finished background art is still forthcoming: apologies again!
This week, we’ve got a great piece of guest art from reader Joshua Madoc, who was inspired by Veigue’s two video-game themed pieces of the last couple weeks and decided to offer his own take on matters with this super-sweet crossover between Beyond the Western Deep and the arcade classic Knights of the Round, a 2D brawler that also supported three players at once, making this setup a match made in heaven!
For those who did grow up in the arcade generation, you can check out the beginning of this video to see what Josh was basing his piece off of. There was also an extensive amount of background information on these arcade brawler versions of the main trio that I feel like I just have to share:
– Dakkan is the wisecracking best friend with a big dumb gap-toothed grin, and some nicks on the face that indicate him to be more than just his jokes, and has a complicated relationship with his father, whom he both idolizes and bickers with when the former is orally mentioned. He is fast with a staff and nunchuks.
– Quinlan is the reluctant scout, with a past fear of his grandfather that eventually turned into respect, and then lingering burden of expectation by the unknowing, as his grandfather, defying his assumption of being a ruthless warmonger, fully accepted his grandson’s decision to become a scout, and only Quinlan himself heard first-hand his grandfather’s regrets in his final moments until his sudden death the day after, causing him to be weary of those other than the ones in his inner circle. He has a keen hand for ranged weapons, even the humble sling.
– Kenosh is the quiet, world-weary old man who is otherwise polite to all but his son, whom he finds issue with the latter’s worship of his past feats, that also reminds him of his son’s obliviousness to a side of warfare that he has never seen before. His weapon of choice is his devastating sword that is mostly concealed in a lacquered wooden scabbard made from the head of a sturdy galley oar.
My favorite detail there is definitely Kenosh’s sword being held in an old galley oar. That’s just plain cool :) Thanks so much for the awesome piece, Joshua! It’s so awesome seeing my love for old-school arcade games meshing so awesomely with the world of BWD.
Middle panel: Quinlan is freaking out. Just a little bit. Clovis looks so disappointed that he’s the captain, haha. Both Quinlan and Dakkan look beyond nervous, though I can’t blame them; Deltrada and one of the most infamous leaders from the first war are hardly things to put you at ease.
Clovis was clearly expecting someone bigger, like Crim.
Appropriate reactions.
YES.
(yes.)
Aren’t you a little short for a squirrel-trooper?
“I find your lack of confidence disappointing”-Clovis
How can this Tamian be a captain? He’s clearly an omega!
Panel 5 Clovis: Come, let me show you culture. The car, Jeeves.
this reminds me of that scene in 300 when Leonidas tells Xerxes that they “Had been showing the Persians their culture all morning” *cue shots of hundreds of dead bodies*
Man, even when Quinlan is supposed to represent his nation to one of the most powerful Canids in Aisling, he still looks like a high schooler awkwardly trying to ask someone out for a date!
And speaking of high school Quin… it’s a very nice piece of guest art but… what the hell is up with his hair?!
And hey, we did get a final shot of the arrow-carrying Omega! Hope we’ll return to him sometime.
Yes, no ofence to Joshia but when I first saw that image I actually thought it was portraying Bevan, Roshyn, and Ashtor.
Aaaand you opened an old wound: You reminded me of the fact that me and my brother never got to win Knights of the Round! :P
I came close to beating it myself. Sadly, a last-minute error had me killed.
Had I portrayed those three, they would look far different… and perhaps more Scottish, due to the tartan pattern of their clothing.
Actually… considering your reaction, perhaps it cannot be helped that I will, someday, reimagine the Ermehn.
I gave Quinlan sideburns.
I sense a fanfic from you, Sammy! “The Woes of the Omega” …
To be honest, I didn’t even notice the lack of backgrounds until you pointed them out, Alex. Guess I’m just used to reading other webcomics where the artistic standards are lower than yours and Rachel’s! And yes, what has already been said about Quin: C’mon, Quin, when are you gonna get it together and start acting like a captain? At the very least, can’t you pretend it’s play acting and behave like you think a captain *should* behave? “Truly?” Can’t blame Clovis for his reaction at all. High school, indeed! Get crackin’, *Captain*!
I already covered “Angst of the Alpha” and the following “Ermehn walking everywhere oh hey it’s Hardin”; it’s someone else’s turn to write something. ;)
Saraa, be honest with yourself…..you know you will write another one. It’s just a matter of time. :P
You shush.
no, :P
What about “A Brave New World”, detailing the societal woes of the treewalkers?
What; the socioeconomic crisis and the closing community rec center that left behind so many troubled grubs weren’t troubling enough for them? Now they have to deal with dystopian society, jar-grown larvae, and a reservation filled with awful uncivilized Tamian? I think it’s obvious who the true martyrs of Beyond The Western Deep are.
No, no, that’s the plot of “Kthickulkcitk Shrugged”. Except the jar-grown larvae part, I have no idea which story that comes from.
…You know, we totally need a fan art of a gang of treewalker grubs hanging out smoking up front of the closed rec center>.>
He digs and carries.
The sapling lifts the flagstone
To be trodden down.
Saraa: Oh, you know you’re going to write another one so don’t even kid yourself! ;)
You people are jinxing me. I swear it. Witchcraft, this is!
not witchcraft…we just know you well enough to predict the inevitable.
Just wondering, though I might have missed it, will there be an explanation on the red prints on their armor?
Jam sandwich mishap?
Maybe jam sandwiches are really popular.
There hasn’t been an official explanation yet, no. I’m still thinking about ways to seed it into the story proper, so no spoilers :)
This certainly does remind me of Dakkan Unchained. Kind of blockbustery, but a very interesting and stylish movie nonetheless!
This was meant to be a reply to Keldor, by the way.
You are all crazy and I love every post X)
I’m more of a classics fan myself; Citizen Canid will always be my favorite.
You know, with those whiskers, Clovis reminds of a certain tiger from a certain book about a certain jungle.
I really like the term “dragtails”, who was the one to come up with it?
You can thank Rachel for that addition to the BWD vocabulary! She also came up with the phrase “storm-dark” in the previous scene, which is one of my favorite made-up terms ever.
Kudos to you guys for creating an entertaining web comic that I look forward to reading every Saturday. Not to nit pick, but…did anyone else notice that the glove on Quinlan’s right hand disappears in panel two?
Thanks for reading, Thess! And thank you for pointing out that continuity error :) We’ll be sure to fix it (and a few other minor ones) when the final BG’s go in.
Now this was a GREAT page! I actually don’t mind the lack of backgrounds – if anything it makes you focus more on the characters and their expressions. Body language seems to be an important mode here and I think without the backgrounds as distractions, the aspect is only heightened. Not that I wouldn’t like to see backgrounds, it’s just that I don’t really miss them here.
Now, panel 1. This was a great little insight into characters here. In the previous page had Clovis addressing Kenosh simply by name and a somewhat casual greeting, while at the start of this page we see Kenosh use proper titles and reverence. I wonder if Clovis is that looked up to/that feared, or it’s just an insight into Kenosh’s nature. I love the expressions on Dak and Quin. They’re like the two kids in the back of the classroom shrinking down and going, ‘please don’t pick me, please don’t pick me…’ ;)
And Clovis’ address to Quin is classic. Um – what are you supposed to be? A /captain/? Really? *breaks out into internal hysterical laughter*
I find it interesting that Dakkan isn’t even mentioned, like at all. Even when Kenosh corrects Quin on his introduction, he doesn’t even fit in a name-drop like: “Captain Quinlan, General. And my son, Dakkan.” But nope. Notta word. That’s got to ruffle Dak’s rudder a little bit, even though I’m sure he’s used to being overlooked by his father. A sting is a sting – it doesn’t matter how many times you get stung, it still hurts.
But anyways, Clovis’ reaction to Quin’s captaincy is just fantastic and really exactly what we would expect. Although, I have to comment that perhaps his shock isn’t so much Quin himself being captain, but rather Quin being his grandfather’s grandson (sorry – the grandfather’s name escapes me right now). I mean, his grandfather was said to be a great warrior and commander, confident and dangerous; and then we have Quin. Scrawny, bumbling, worry-wort Quinlan. Poor guy. He’s really going to have to step up to the plate if he’s going to get out of his grandfather’s shadow.
And the last panel of the page. “Come, walk with me.” Ah yes, Clovis. Come walk with me while I tell you all about my awesomeness and not listen to a word you say otherwise.
These next few pages are going to be good… :D :D :D
Cheers!
FT
Perhaps Clovis does not ask about Dakkan because he already knows who he is.
Or maybe Clovis assumes that Dakkan is just a guard and unworthy of mention. Maybe in this situation, as unfortunate as it sounds, Dakkan is unworthy of mention.
Also; While I agree with the sentiment I have never associated Quinlan with the word ‘bumbling’. Quin may lack confidence but when stirred to action he has always struck me as being rather deft.
I am pretty sure Clovis regards Dakkan as “Kenosh’s spawn who fell below his station due to lack of compatibility and capability to hold an Alpha post as his successor.”
I am pretty sure Clovis regards Dakkan as “probably housebroken” but still keeps him away from the good rug.
Seeing Deltrada only has one rug, this is of essence.
After reading this week’s page I took a closer look at the rough draft and saw “chow line” instead of “dinner toll.”
If Clovis had actually said the phrase from the rough draft I probably would never take him seriously again XD.
Heheh – I was ad-libbing a bit and Alex reined me back in. It was suitably rough and military, but Clovis is indeed classier than that. X)
If the canid are anything like our canids/wolves, they are a hierarchal society. This would explain Kenosh stressing Quinlan’s rank.