IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR!!!
It's another weird deep dive into the bizarre sorts of costumes you'll see at the Spirit Halloween store … only even weirder!
VOTE TO HALLOW THAT WEEN!!!
As for this comic...
Uuuuuggggggghhhhh.
The production of this comic was a full-blown comedy of errors which made the process interminable, draining and just a little nightmarish. My graphics program crashed a few times, leading to lost work. (I do save frequently and carefully with multiple benchmark save files, so I never lose more than fifteen minutes' work or so. But it's still annoying.) And then, worst of all, I discovered when coloring the comic that I'd made a terrible continuity error: in the previous strip, Daphne had her hair back in a ponytail as she usually does before going to bed. And I'd drawn her in this strip with her hair down.
I draw these comics on paper, with real ink and such. I don't really 'draw' digitally at all. I don't own a stylus, or a drawing tablet, or any such thing. If I need to add a drawn detail to the comic in post, it has to be drawn with a mouse. It's not impossible, but it's a pain. So I had to carefully alter every single pic of Daphne and digitally change the hair style. Yes, I could have left it as it was, but it would have been a weird shift, so I fixed it.
There were a bunch of other details that went wrong too, but it's done now. I think. Let me know if I'm not. It was only five minutes ago that I noticed that the Daphne pic in panel two wasn't clipped inside the panel frame yet, so her legs extended down outside the box. So I'm batting a thousand this week.
Puck 778
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR!!!
It's another weird deep dive into the bizarre sorts of costumes you'll see at the Spirit Halloween store … only even weirder!
VOTE TO HALLOW THAT WEEN!!!
As for this comic...
Uuuuuggggggghhhhh.
The production of this comic was a full-blown comedy of errors which made the process interminable, draining and just a little nightmarish. My graphics program crashed a few times, leading to lost work. (I do save frequently and carefully with multiple benchmark save files, so I never lose more than fifteen minutes' work or so. But it's still annoying.) And then, worst of all, I discovered when coloring the comic that I'd made a terrible continuity error: in the previous strip, Daphne had her hair back in a ponytail as she usually does before going to bed. And I'd drawn her in this strip with her hair down.
I draw these comics on paper, with real ink and such. I don't really 'draw' digitally at all. I don't own a stylus, or a drawing tablet, or any such thing. If I need to add a drawn detail to the comic in post, it has to be drawn with a mouse. It's not impossible, but it's a pain. So I had to carefully alter every single pic of Daphne and digitally change the hair style. Yes, I could have left it as it was, but it would have been a weird shift, so I fixed it.
There were a bunch of other details that went wrong too, but it's done now. I think. Let me know if I'm not. It was only five minutes ago that I noticed that the Daphne pic in panel two wasn't clipped inside the panel frame yet, so her legs extended down outside the box. So I'm batting a thousand this week.
If that’s them, I can understand why they’d think Satan’s still a threat to their plans. He moved into a low-income, low-moderate crime area next door to some small organized crime group. His wife is planning a wedding with the lady of the house. The man of the house has a network of computer geeks and miscellaneous techie friends. His daughter is now in the parks, rallying hobos, and communing with wildlife. He’s resumed his job as Mayor with the same apathy and disinterest he had before. He’s consulting with a wolf-girl, who’s in a relationship with the son of academics.
From their perspective, he’s slowly laying plans, cultivating allies, feigning weakness, as he slowly prepares to reclaim his empire.
I think they’re just keeping tabs on him. Just in case. Not sure they fully comprehend the nature of this household yet.
Does anyone? It’s a pretty intricate place. Even that teapot has secrets, I tell ya’
The teapot’s a decoy. The real secret’s in the sugar bowl.
Heh. 🙂
Nice glass reflecting Daphne’s face in this unique update. It was a great showcasing of the seriousness of the current situation and how deep Daphne is in if she goes on with her plans.
Wasn’t sure I’d even get that reflecting panel shot to work, but I’m glad it does.
So much. I came to the comments just to applaud this level-up of your work.
What a shame this was a pain to draw, because the lighting is awesome!
You don’t really need the dialogue to get the emotion (although aren’t you an English teacher? might be hard to go without dialogue)
Yeah, panel three kicks butt.
A lack of dialogue means the visuals have to do the storytelling. I do not trust my visuals.
Dude, you kicked your mistrust squarely in the nards. And yes, I did not forget about your trails emphasized with Colin’s chat with Mr. T.
You earned the right to kick your mistrust there with panel three.
EG You always talk about not being an artist, but panel three is amazing.
Also, good job being creepy.
Thanks. I’m happy panel three turned out. It started as disparate elements drawn on multiple sheets of paper, and I had no idea if I would be able to assemble them into a cohesive whole.
Voyeurism must run in their branch of evil. (It’s pyromania in mine. Both the disorder AND the Def Leppard album).
They like to watch. And I was about to make some random comment about a deep album cut off Pyromania, but then I realized I’ve never really listened to that album. I was thinking of Hysteria.
And I cannot think of a better combo than Hysteria and Pyromania to describe Daphne’s process in restoring the Mayor to his position.
And may I say you art Rocks in this clip!
Thank you kindly. I do try. I just don’t always succeed.
Curious, American property law would consider that drone to be trespassing. What would Canadian law, say since both legal systems stem from similar roots?
Of course, I’d take it down with a fishnet from behind for trespassing, spying, voyeurism, claim salvage from taking the drone down and call the cops. Emphasizing on the porch level peeking. Just hope Daphne gets some video footage of it first.
I’m sure there would be legal recourse for this. But we live in a lawless world where the money buys the power. So I’m assuming the authorities shan’t help.
I don’t know about Canadian law but, in the States, it’s a federal offense to damage or interfere with any aircraft, including drones [18 USC § 32].
If I were in charge (and haven’t we all said that from time to time?) I would except drones not being flown under Part 107. If it’s just the nosy, uncertificated guy from down the street, he deserves to lose his toy for trespass.
That drone is blatently invading castle doctrine. Recourse must be taken… wait, where are the fools with the mouse?
Ok Daphne, take it to level five.
Ted pauses and asks,”level five?”
Brewmeister shouts, “LEVEL FIVE!”
Claude quickly starts in earing pain, “do it, so it.”
Satan’s still the mayor. He could make new city rules about the use of drones and a lot of other things.
It’s unlikely to stop the rich guys, but it’s a small annoyance they’ll have to either pay fines or fight.
And generally when you fight any form of government, everyone loses.
I’m not sure he even has control of the governing body anymore. He only has the power of video games anymore.
Could just be nosy neighbors.
Sure. Keep telling yourself that.
I particularly love Daph’s eyes in the now legendary panel 3.
The eyes have it.
Terrific artwork! I must say, though – I’ve never wished more that she had a tail!
She don’t have a tail. Don’t ask me why. I was 18 when I designed her, so I literally do not remember my logic.
Hm, invasion of privacy and illegal surveillance as a start of charges. Though I could see either of our fiery ladies waltzing out there with a Louisville slugger to do some batting practice.
I’m pretty sure the drone will keep a safe distance from bats. Too bad it’s Canada cuz firearms would work a treat.
Get rock and a strip of cloth. Well. a lot of rocks, I doubt their aim is well-practiced.
Still, keeping it busy might be fun.
You honestly think someone with Puck’s chutzpah wouldn’t be able to smash it no matter how high it goes. Her chutzpah alone should be able to take it down. Remember the last time someone came around her neighborhood and was irking her? I hear that guy spent several days in the hospital.
I just think she needs a distance weapon.
Well, we shall see.
. . . . this is actually a compliment to Satan. The cabal consider him worthy of being spied upon! Hmmm . . . maybe the household could pull a 47 Ronin on the cabal. That’s when loyal retainers to a wrongfully executed lord pretend not to care, lulling the criminals into thinking themselves safe, then ATTACK! . . . . in the case here, use Puck and Colin’s wedding in the park as cover!
Some sort of plot needs to be hatched, of course. But what?
Out of stage left, passing Snaglepuss, Hot Dog Guy rides in on his Mark V Battlecart. Weilding the 49mm chain link hot dog gun, he shouts, “Cray havoc, drive your client’s foes before you, silencing the wails of their women with a barrage of foot longs garnished with mustard and relish, crushing them beneath the treads of your sourkraut support mechas!”
Puck and Colin jump out of bed startled awake as Satan plays away, Tracee sleeps alone and Daphne slaps her forehead watching as Puck’s counselor takes out the drone with a shot of a sausage with onions. The neighbors on the block peer out of their windows at the garish sound of the war wagon of garnishments leaving behind a destruction of waste slathered with ketchup and onions.
You should be writing this stuff.
I foresee trying to spy on this house ending poorly. Rather, ending in violence and flames, which drones typically deal with poorly.
There are only two members of the house I don’t see as charging out with a baseball bat and taking a swing; one is too depressed, the other I’m not confidant can walk on her own.
Daphne won’t take it down … yet. There are things that need to be learned from this drone.
It took me a moment to appreciate scale. I thought the drone was an actual, very large, spaceship. Which would mean crap got real, for sure, but on an entirely different level.
Being that this is a Canadian drone, albeit with an infernal engine, I’m assuming the drone is not armed? Is this going the way of all assumptions?
No bets on armament. Yes, weaponized drones are highly illegal here, but the Cabal doesn’t seem to operate within the bounds of law.
It may be technically armed, but it DEFINITELY can’t carry machine guns like drones in movies often do. First, too heavy. Second, too big recoil. Third, those consume LOT of ammunition.
You both need to check out some dorks on YouTube who have addressed some of those imaginings in the past.
Except those that benefit them of course.
Yes, things have definitely gotten real. Now it’s personal. They have aroused the ire of Daphne and are in for an unpleasant surprise. They may have been able to defeat Satan, but Daphne is another story altogether.
Time for war!
https://tenor.com/038z.gif
Bugs Bunny War GIFfrom Bugs Bunny GIFs
They’re only trying to disconcert you. Their methods of spying are undoubtedly a lot more discreat.
Yup, that’s good work on the third pannel there. I’m sorry for the difficulties, but the result is impecable 🙂
I’d agree with you. This is just the blatant spying to psych you out. They have other means too.
Pannle 1deserves some love too. That’s a nice pose for Satan.
Ready a weapon and play The Grand Tour theme. The drone should know what follows.
Should it?
“Ignorance of the meme is no excuse.”
Panel three is outstanding. One of the benefits of working in color. I couldn’t even guess how to draw a reflection like this using just ink.
Ink has a purity to it. I feel you do some remarkable things with it. I’m sure you could manage something similar. I don’t underestimate you.
I can’t be the only one with long hair thinking this, but when I go to bed with my hair pulled back into a tie, it does a DBZ-style fusion dance and by the morning they have become one. Does Daphne let her hair down when she finally does go to bed? Is this just a me problem? I don’t know what life is anymore!
You are correct. You gotta let your hair down for going to bed. I’m guessing the hair back thing is just for pre-bed washing up and stuff.
Ah, the truth comes out.
It’s actually the Amazon AI which is the true evil behind the takeover.
I had a thought that those three mooks were working too hard to actually be in charge. They are just middle-management drones tied to their overlord by their smartphones, carrying out the whims of the evil comptroller above them.
Daphne is definitely in deep if she is going up against that.
BTW: I concur with the comments above, beautiful shading on all the panels, but the third panel is exceptional. Kudos
You are … onto something.
Feel it
Feel it
I see what you did there
I see what I did there. And what I did there was put a quotation from a classic 90s pop rap song on Daphne’s sleepwear, because ALL of Daphne’s sleepwear features quotations from 90s pop rap.
On a whim, I opened the image in a new tab to see what kind of dpi we’re talking about. It’s pretty good. Would not change.
Regarding the rollover text: Heh. I’m sorry I didn’t notice earlier.
It’s weird, but some browsers (especially mobile browsers, like Safari) will display the comic in the highest resolution when shown on the website. But computer browsers will downscale it and you have to open it in a different window. Sucks.
I like the art. It makes things look much more 3-D. 🙂 If I were Daphne, I’d be tempted to somehow knock the drone down. But it might be smarter to leave it be, and somehow deceive it. ;p
If you know they’re watching, you can control what they see.
Now in THREE-DEE!!!