Annotated 3-13
This is where Phil took over the writing for this chapter, and it’s a pretty smooth transition. He would later say that he found Gravedust more difficult to write than any other regular character. I gotta say, from where I sat, it never showed!
I like that there’s a very believable reason for the ghosts to share their information with Gravedust. Note that Hookeye says “Why else would we contact ye?” declaring that it was their choice, not Gravedust supernaturally compelling them to speak.
Yes, you all caught the Hook and Smee reference, but how many of you realized there was also a Neverending Story reference in this one?
Wait…the Peter Pan and Neverending Story references are pointed out but that’s it?
‘Von Carnaj’ isn’t actually a TaleSpin reference? Sadness!
Oh, we’ll get there.
It was actually the only reference I noticed. Because why even look for the rest? Doesn’t matter, had Carnaj.
The ‘hook-eye’ bit was always a little much for me.
I saw that too!
Well, I think he looks sharp.
He seems a little unfastened to reality, if you ask me. Then again, why should you?
Could we get Phil to expand upon why he found Gravedust harder to write for than the rest? Whatever it was, he did a banging job regardless. Gavedust is definitely one of my absolute favorites.
Phil’s pretty busy with a new job, new apartment, and quality time with his girlfriend, but here’s what he said in the comments when it came up:
The hardest of the heroes to write for me was possibly Gravedust, as he posed the greatest challenge to me: I am not a spiritual person by a particular long shot, so having to write from the perspective of one who saw all things as spiritual in nature was difficult, especially in the effort of making it sound believable or real. In addition, I’m not really a man of poetry, and I decided early on “All his incantations should be poems,” so like… Writing Dusty for me was absolutely playing on Hard Mode. That said, I think I got some really great material out of him over the years specifically because I set this bar so high.
Well, great success. He pushed his boundaries and got better and still gave us one of my favorites. Kudos.
Thanks for sharing.
Is Glee’s look in the second panel also an intentional nod to Jack Sparrow? Because he looks a fair bit like him there.
If so, that one’s on Erica! But I can see it.
Looking kinda Doonesbury there, Cap’n.
The Neverending Story reference is interesting because it offers a parallel to the RPG theme, the contrast between reality and a fantasy world/alternate-reality setting. Von Carnai is definitely a player character, then.