Chapter 3: Page 52
Seems the various members of the Sratha-din know where their loyalties lie. I’d probably be torn between the two of them. Literally, like, ripped in half. Because they’re both pretty nasty customers.
The holiday season draws EVER CLOSER, and if you’ve paid a visit to a public shopping center of any kind, you know it’s here because that oh-so-nostalgic music is playing over and over again. Not to knock the classics, but Charlie Brown Christmas is the only Christmas album I keep on hand this season. Vince Guaraldi’s the man.
Speaking of the holidays, I feel obligated to make a quick plug:
My good friend, Sean Rubin, just released a book he’s been writing/illustrating for about five years. Bolivar is an incredible all-ages graphic novel about the last dinosaur in the world (named Bolivar) who lives in New York City because everyone is so busy, they don’t ever notice he’s a dinosaur.
Now, some readers may know Sean as a regular illustrator for the Redwall book series, a major inspiration for Beyond the Western Deep. His talents are put on full display in Bolivar, and I highly recommend you give it a look. It’s available now in book stores all over the US (and online elsewhere, I believe).
Also, aside from featuring one of the more touching and down-to-earth stories I’ve read in a long time, you can also keep your eyes peeled for ME in the book, because I make a fun little cameo.
D’ya see me? I’M THE ONE WITH THE GAME BOY!
Of course I’m the one with the Game Boy.
For guest art this week, I wanted to share this fun little piece that popped up on the Discord server a little while ago, courtesy of Urban Hart!
It’s Hardin! LOOK OUT, HE’S GOT A GUN!
I don’t even know if he knows how to use it. Also, what time-traveling lunatic swung by and gave a violent revolutionary a gun to begin with? That’s just poor time-travel etiquette!
Anyway, thanks, Urban Hart!
And of course, if you want to join in on the nonsense, swing by our official Western Deep Discord by clicking the link below!
First! Mwhahahahahah hahahh haha…
I have no life
All is not well in stoat person land. Maybe he should try a different management style.
Interesting perspective in that first panel, but what I really like is the last one, which I believe might be the first since we rejoined this merry crew to show all seven principals in the same shot. Just their positioning and poses wordlessly convey all the dynamics one needs to know exactly where things stand. (Especially love poor Eira’s inturned footpaws – nice touch!)
Oh, and more great (and fun!) guest art! May it never end!
Geez, Rathik must not be very popular if everyone is willing to pull their weapons on the guy!
Uh oh. What a twist! Not really I expected something similar to this, like that scene in Pirates of the Caribbean At Worlds End, where the crew has that stand off after escaping Davy John’s Locker. Good stuff as always, and Rathik got his hand wraps back! All is well. Back to finals procrastinating, I mean studying.
I know only one of them has projectiles, but this is still kind of a circular firing squad. If I were Kenosh, I’d be taking another couple steps to the left just to be sure.
Rathik, I think you need to reconsider your strategy
So they all side with Hardin? To be fair, I would too.
Yeah, I think this puts the kibosh on any open rebellion from Rathik, but I expect some underlying resentment to drive a wedge in this group in the future.
Oh, yeah. It may not end up breaking into physical violence (for now), but this is highly likely to get worse before it gets better.
At its worst, this is going to eventually result in an open confrontation between Rathik and Hardin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn8KlZF5Jc8
Despite his larger size, I don’t feel good about Rathik’s chances in that matchup.