The difference between Lyssa and Edison is, Edison would’ve turned the garden hose on them.
I don’t think Lyssa’s serious. After all, Allen did behave himself.
Thank you for your patience with this strip. I hit that darn Artist’s Block again.
A very special Thank You to melaredblu (Princess Chroma) and Hippo (M9 Girls) for their help, support, and honest feedback with this strip. I’m so lucky to have creators like you around. Thanks again.
Wonder what Edison and Stephanie have cooked up? We’ll find out soon!
I love the whole page, but Eleanor’s hat making devil horns, and the flies buzzing around Allen’s head doubled me right over. Masterful. 🙂
Aw, thanks. The devil’s horns were “a happy little accident,” according to the great Bob Ross. And the flies? Well, I’ve never gone wrong by going overboard.
I am a country boy. I have butchered animals. You did not exaggerate the peskiness of flies. Aaaah, good times! 😀
Yeah. Been there too. It’s so much easier in the winter.
Poor dear—er, deer. I’m not sure who I pity the most on this page. Except for Eleanor. I don’t pity her even a little today. She needs to go sit in the naughty corner…but I’m not stupid enough to say that one to her face.
Nope. Only members of the Hallow e’en Boulevard household can say that to her. She still won’t do it, but they can at least say it.
I pity Allen the most. Eleanor will get tired of Anya’s attentions and, as you suggested when we were discussing this, demand a Perrier or champagne bath.
Poor Anya is going to lick her clean?! Can I just say… EWWWWW! 🙂
BTW, can I also say that I don’t know what you’re thinking that you peaked artistically years ago. At least I think you said it at one point. This page is really excellent on all levels. Well, the color is a bit monochromatic. 😛
You can say “eww” all you want, Andy, but you won’t be the first. That honor goes to melaredblu and hippo.
I did say I peaked artistically about 20 years ago, with Lyssa and later with Utopia, Unlimited. Doesn’t mean I’m not happy with my stuff now. I love that second panel, for example. It just means I won’t ever draw anything as cool as some of the stuff I did back in my younger days. Ah youth.
Not much I can do about the color. I could add more colors, but you wouldn’t get an update for about two weeks. That stuff is slow. I don’t know how you do such an amazing job with “I, Mummy.”
Eleanor does know how to make an entrance…
It’s just part of her charm, darling.
~kicks Charlie in the butt~
You are not allowed to complain about your artistic talents. Because that’s pure bullshit. I don’t want to sound sycophantic, here, but I LOVE your art – every time I look at one of your pages I am struck by all the small, nearly subliminal touches that contribute so much to either the sheer beauty of the subject (all those one-of-a-kind rocks in the pillars of her home, for instance – not to mention the bits of lichen and stuff that shows up in Panel one) or to the humor (the flies…) or just to the design (the way you create the frames to many of the panels).
Sorry you had writer’s block, glad someone was able to help you through it. I don’t mean to dismiss your personal stresses – but let me, as a devoted “customer,” assure you that your creativity is fully intact and delighting your readers.
OK – that does come off as sycophantic. Can’t be helped.
Aw Tru, I don’t think that’s sycophantic. Thank you for your honesty. I know you mean it in a supportive way, and I appreciate it.
I like to think that I don’t complain about my art any more than any other illustrator.
Mind you, well all find faults in what we draw. I try to not make the same mistakes the next time. Though sometimes I don’t even notice the big ones (heads the wrong size, stuff like that) until weeks after the strip is up.
Are you referring to my telling Andy that I’ll never draw as well as I used to? I don’t think that’s complaining.
To me, it’s just a statement of fact. Oh, there’s a lot of stuff I draw much better than I did then. Faces, for one. And my perspective is much better.
But when I go back to re-read “Lyssa and the Pirates” and “Utopia, Unlimited,” or the strips I drew for “Shanda the Panda,” I see a world of art that I would never be able to pull off now. Part of it is age. I can’t do as many pushups as I used to, either. I’ll never be able to pull off a view of Eleanor’s house like I did in “The Importance of Being Eleanor.” And that’s okay. I did it then, and I love it, and I’ll never get tired of looking at it.
Part of it is the difference in format. I’m not making a print comic. I can’t spend three days trying to pencil a ship. I don’t have a full page to play with. I could go back to that, but I’d update about every week and a half, and I’d rather visit with you twice a week with these smaller strips.
So, really, I’m not complaining. Actually, I’m really proud of that second panel, and the shading on the binoculars (which shows up better on the Tapastic page).
But if I do start complaining, or whining, or whatever, I want you to post another comment like this one.
Comments like this are why I brag about how awesome my commenters are to other creators.
The page is absolutely gorgeous, Charlie. “Lyssa” and “Utopia” may technically be more accomplished, but when you do pages like this, I can’t find it in me to say your art has really gotten lesser.
The composition, the use of silhouette, body language, and just the proficiency in the visual language is fantastic.
And Eleanor is in overdrive after the buck slaying. She’s hard to keep up with. And I get that Lyssa is a bit overwhelmed to be back in her orbit.
I mostly feel for the deer, but I wouldn’t mind some venison once the poor thing is cleaned up. I still hope Anya has a safeword and uses it!