New Comics Every Weekday - Written by T Campbell & Phil Kahn - Illustrated by John & Jason Waltrip
Guilded Age
The Saga of the Working Class Adventurer – New comics every weekday!
Katsucon XX
(National Harbor, MD 2/14-16)
Smudge Expo
(Arlington, VA 3/8)
AwesomeCon, D.C.
(Washington, D.C. 4/18-20)
hahahaha
Ghost: A part of your daily balanced breakfast!
They really like him. This cook put a soul in his breakfast.
It raises a man’s spirit, it does.
…soul food?
Ba dum CH
looks like best adds spirits to his morning coffee
For all of those who think Best is good at heart, just look at where he picks to sit. I mean, he picks the Shade-iest table in the pub.
Come now, these jokes are absolutely beyond the veil.
They’re getting phantasm-ally bad.
He eats ghosts because he is a SOUL MAN
(sorry, this comment was really late)
He is just like Nightmare, he needs “MOAR SOULS!!!” in his diet! ;)
Please be Gravedust’s spirit please be Gravedust’s spirit please be Gravedust’s spirit!
I wonder if the new story line will be the spirits of the dead party members badgering Best into righting wrongs. Be interesting to see.
Hmmm. I could dig that for a while, but not permanently.
So your ideal storyline would be something like ‘Best goes on a quest to revive the party’?
At the end of day, I’m invested in reading the story, whether or not it goes the way I want it to. It’s fun like that.
More people should have this point of view
Agreed. I wouldn’t be able to read any of T’s comics if I insisted the plots went the way I expected them to. Because they pretty much never do. I like being caught off guard.
I don’t really mind. I fear getting tired of Best if he becomes the sole living focus of the comic. I think he’s a great character, so I don’t want that to happen.
Randall and Hopkirk style?
Great alt text.
pudding!
MISTER Bester. Get the hell out of my chair.
-John Sheridan.
A Babylon 5 reference and a Best pun. That made my night.
It’s our last Best hope for entertainment.
Phil will hate me for this but Gold Star.
<3
Looks like he’s gonna get spooked.
Naw, looks to be that his spirit shall be raised.
Well, after looking at it for awhile… the blue ghosty thing does look like a hood in profile. I’m betting possibly Gravedust. Mostly because I miss the bugger.
And because he’s short.
Freakout in 3…2…1…
Best does not freak out. He has people who do that for him.
And then he has them again, and again…
Best got all of his freaks out last night, apparently. Freak out is on cooldown.
No, no, no. Best got his freak ON last night. Important difference. That means he is fully primed to now get his freak OUT.
I’m not sure if the spiky hair makes Best look like more or less of a douche. Or if it’s even possible for Best to be douchier. Probably the last one.
Paye wearing a full shirt? Now i’m surprised…
Last panel
“Obi-Wan, your my only hope…oops, wrong planet.”
OK Hawk, your sock theory seems right.
Yay! It’s so much less creepy that way.
and less sticky.
When I read that last panel, I imagined a yellow exclamation mark above the spirit.
Rez the people who kicked you out of their guild. You’ll get 2 silver and a rusted carrot.
I’m a spirit, be grateful I’m not possessing your scrotum!
LOL at the guy wearing panties on his head.
Seconded!
Y’know, seems to me The guys mellowed out some? Maybe… matured a little? (An awful small little) Maybe we’re about to see a new, more heroic Best? One that you could actually stomach?
The placement of limbs and parts must have been fun to plan out.
The sacrifices artists must make for their craft…
Best’s morning hair is brilliant.
Truly a thing of beauty.
Guilded Age: everybody has troll hair now.
“And then the ghost killed Best, making the world a happier place, and for this virtuous deed, he and his friends were restored to life.”
I know, I know… but I can dream, right?
See, I’m confused.
We know Best to be a major douche of epic proportions, but the Best here and in the previous page seems like a fairly decent guy? He’s saved various people, the people of the inn seem to like him, and other than the orgy he’s pretty quiet and unassuming.
Maybe this is an alternate universe Best or something?
To be fair, we’re hearing Best in his _own words_ right here– his perceptions of what he’s done. Douches don’t usually consider themselves to be douches. Best really does think he’s a hero, and his inner narration will support that.
I think he’s also often been quite liked by ‘the common folk’ in former appearances. He has a high CHA– it just doesn’t stop him from also being a jerk.
As for quiet and unassuming…. it’s morning. Even the epic-est of epic heroes (or douches) need to get that first cup of coffee down ‘em.
This isn’t really out of character considering the what we know of his past. While Best has plenty of douchy moments he was never outright mean or trying to fuck someone over.
Some might say that his incident with Byron speaks to the contrary but I don’t think it’s that simple.
Well, if you go back and look at Best’s intro, he at first was kind of unassuming and humble. He allowed the “prophesied hero” thing to go to his head, and discovered that (for him at least) acting like he’s the most epic hero on the face of the earth convinces people. Plus he has skills that back that up when there are monsters to be whacked.
However, none of that excuses or negates his attitude towards the others in the party. Nor does it negate the whole “chain of children as an anchor” escapade, which really was skirting the edge of evil. His attack on Best seemed motivated more by injured pride than anything else – and that seems to fit, since from what I can figure out, Best’s pride is his greatest asset and his greatest flaw.
Pride really is the beginning and end of his flaws so far. Consider: Best expects things to turn out for the best. Literally. He think’s he’s a predestined hero. When he threw those kids off the ship he probably really and truly DID think they would be unharmed. I don’t think he’s malicious so much as misguided. Problem is, of course, is that consequences are consequences regardless of intentions.
Sure, but you’d be pretty upset in that situation, too. I wouldn’t want to be lectured by a guy who almost lost a fight with a little boy after having single-handedly defeated almost every enemy on the ship. Given their relative performances on that mission and the fact that the children were not, in fact, seriously injured, I don’t think that Byron really has the right to unilaterally boot Best off the team–and if Best hadn’t attacked him at that point, I don’t think he would’ve had that much support in doing so.
The funny thing is, some people really, really hate Best. Guess it’s better to be evil than impolite.
The problem is,Byron’s skills and motives really have no bearing on whether Best was being irresponsible or not. I mean, he threw the kids off a ship and picked a fight over a bruised ego. I don’t hate the guy, but I find most attempts to minimize what he did pretty laughable, really.
I mean, I guess what I’m saying here is that I have empathy for the character of Best without really condoning a lot of what he has done.
It’s not an issue of trying to minimize or condone or whatever; this is an issue of how you deal with people, especially talented ones. The proper response to Best’s behavior was to try to rein him in and make him understand that reckless behavior is destructive, not to attack his pride (which is quite obviously his sensitive point) and then boot him off the team. Doing this results in A) you losing access to his capabilities and B) him continuing to be an asshole elsewhere. That is a lose-lose.
That’s a good point, but Byron doesn’t seem to be (have been?) the sort who thinks in such terms. He saw that Best did something reckless; he felt that Best needed sharp criticism (no pun) and Best didn’t react well. At least part of the Byron vs Best argument was classic male posturing, with Byron as the “accepted alpha male” in his own head at least. That kind of power-struggle doesn’t even need an excuse, and I can’t see Best accepting anyone’s leadership other than his own.
Syr’nj might have been able to “rein him in,” but I can’t imagine how she would have done so. We may still get to see how she deals with Best, though.
Certainly the party could’ve used Best at the Arena…if nothing else, his ego is just as big as Harki’s hair.
Sure, and that’s exactly how I see it. The reason Byron pissed me off more in the exchange than Best is that Byron is supposed to be the leader, which means he’s not supposed to engage in petty posturing. Everybody already knew Best was an egoist.
At the same time, if he’d been knocking them down right with Best, not only would his posturing be more acceptable, Best would’ve been responded much more positively. It’s Byron’s posturing combined with his perceived incompetence that really, truly sets Bests off.
I think the appropriate thing to have said to Best at the time would be something along the lines of: “You shouldn’t do that, if one of the kids got hurt, how would we explain that to our employers (and fans)?” and “As heroes, we need to keep a clean image, even if it means taking a harder road sometimes.”
See, I don’t buy that. I mean, Best threw the kids off a boat. I can understand and accept that Best is delusional enough to really think that such a course of action is “safe” because he really, truly believes that he’s a Big Damn Destined Hero and that in the end nobody will get hurt. But why should Byron think in such terms?If Best wanted to take a risk like that, he should have done it himself. Instead, he basically volunteered those kids for the position of anchor. I can’t really fault Byron for thinking that Best crossed the line and saying so plainly.
I agree with ya. I dislike how everyone only views Best as the sole problem. Sure he started it and was wrong with throwing the kids off no matter what he believed would happen.
But By was just as wrong for attacking him in such a manner and throwing him outta the team, no leader should do something like that to anyone of his team, regardless the matter. A leader needs to lead and change his people, not just say you suck and i don´t want you in my team anymore.
Especially after how By had horrible failed the whole quest through, the only one who hasn´t gotten any kill nor real fight, got down after one hit adn almost lost to a small kid in comparision with Best who fought the Ogre with Frigg and won using their skills and teamwork or fighting and winning alone against 16 pirates and though it was a wrong move, saving the children dn bringing down the ship before the town would have opened fire and killed them all.
Both of those guys are at fault of their fight, to see only one as responisble is silly.
Look how careful he is not to wake anyone up in the 2nd panel. If that’s not epically heroic consideration I don’t know what is.
If they’ve had the night I think they have, he could probably run through the room with a blaring tuba and no one would wake up.
Exhausted peoples need their sleep.
“What’s that bluue – thing… Doo-ing here?”
OHMYGOD YES. ILU.
Looks like someone may need to dust that table.
It looks to me that its a very grave dust case, indeed.
In a related note, I always wondered what it would be like to play an adventurer who wanted to resurrect an entire party–possibly by teaming up with yet another party. . .
For some people, I imagine this is standard format for what happens post-TPK.
Celebratory orgy and ghosts at breakfast? Or teaming up with another party to resurrect your own?
They aren’t mutually exclusive.
win
He’s waiting for Destiny that will never come. Maybe he’ll get killed ’cause of it! Yay!
I’d love it so much if he finished his coffee, turned, and walked from the table without noticing the bloo.
Is it just me, or does Best really look much less like a douche without that awful slicked-over hairdo?
It isn’t just you.
Nope, not just you.
Someone should probably do CPR on the guy in the second panel with the undewear on his head. If he’s drooling it means his mouth has filled (because he’s lying on his back) and its spilling out onto the floor. And also, she seems to drool too. I have to include the possibility that because this is an orgy neither of those things may in fact be saliva.
I like the lightening-bolt pendant up there on the candlestick. Is that a specific reference to something from the history of geekdom? It just seems like it could be.
The first thing I thought of was the pendant given to Hercules in the Disney movie. http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100121200606/disneyshercules/images/thumb/2/2e/DSCF1602.jpg/300px-DSCF1602.jpg Though that could just be the disney dork in me.
Anyways, first time commenting, can’t believe it took me this long. Thank you for such a wonderful story, Phil, T; I can’t wait to see what happens. Though I do hope the group gets saved somehow. On another note, I was sad to see Erica go, but John’s art has really grown on me. Keep up the great work, John!
Should we start making “Payet Best” jokes that are the equivalent of Chuck Norris jokes? No?
When Payet best does a pressup, he’s still a douche.
If you go looking for Payet Best, remember, He’s a douche.
&c.
Pluto is no longer a planet because Payet Best is a douche.
Payet Best is a Chu7ck Norris joke.
I like this format… always ending in that no matter what he does, he’s still a douche…
That looks like my hair when I woke up this morning- Damnit Best, STOP COPYING ME.
Also, I totally did NOT see the ghost until I read the comments.
I’m such a genius.
It’s actually magic Jelly.
Perfect for spreading on magic toast.
Has anyone else noticed that that sock is about 4ft long?
It got stretched when it was pulled off.
they are called knee-highs and women still wear em today
Or thigh highs. Or medieval style hose, which are today known as stockings (the kind that need garters).
Still, some VERY long legs there :P
I’m aware of what knee high stockings are. However, few people have legs that are 4ft long.
Well, the stocking might only be 3 and a half feet, and the legs to the pelvis are about half the length of the body, so… maybe the owner of that stocking is just a professional basketball player!
Ru Paul is in that pile of bodies somewhere.
It’s actually Best’s condom.
is that vinegar and water hes drinking?
This page is awfully well planned and drawn. Now the time, to apologize. John, I am very sorry about picking on you before. I still think, that something have been lost, but you are doing a great job here, and there.
Also… first I saw that hood, I thought that Payet simply threw some treasure from earlier quests on the table. Then… that thing can’t be Gravedust, since the Mystics, including him, have been silenced. Or was that just a comment?
And where are the other parts, if it is a ghost? Only a half hood?
Dammit Best. Stop being hot.
Look, the bent over guy has a pointed ear! At last we can see a shit elf other than Payet. He is the Best one, of course.
The people in the inn look like elves, too?
One of them at least.
*Self* Insert? There was a lot of inserting last night, but i’m pretty sure that Best was doing it with others. Otoh, after a few lonely weeks on the road things might be different.
Also– John’s taleover as official artist will not be complete until we get another group meal layout like the one in the first chapter. A closeup of Best’s breakfast would be good practice.
Insert “Best” pun here.
I think we’ve had enough of Best inserting for one day, thanks.
Spoiler- the self-insert referenced in the alt text is the guy with the panties on his head.
I don’t get the scroll over text….where’s the self-insert?
It’s supposed to be an irony/sarcasm joke i.e. the life of part of a web comic team is both one of adoration by the public and wild debauchery.
This explanation has been brought to you be Joke-apault.
Nono… I think they’re the waitstaff *nodnod*
Totally the waitstaff… slaves to their creations.
./agree Alechsa
oops
i know its a little past the last arc, but i was re-reading some early GA, and found this
http://guildedage.net/webcomic/chapter-2/2010-preview/
Looks like everything in the preview has happened now. Now we need a new one.
I have a question for John. Do you do the figures as separate wireframes on a layer above predrawn backgrounds? Or do you just do each panel as a whole piece? Or is is hand drawn and then digitally colored? Feel free to ignore this if I’m trying to hard to peel back the veil.
That’s three questions.
No wireframes. Although, when time is short, I sometimes use photographs of real environmental elements(i.e. grassy hills, cave entrances, a calm sea, forests, wood floor and plaster wall patterns) that can be dropped in and converted with a photoshop filter to look painted.
Well, each panel is a whole piece on the page, but there are many layers involved in the coloring process.
Bingo! I hand draw the page on ordinary 81/2 by 11 paper. After scanning it into the computer, I ink the page in Manga Studio, then color it in Photoshop.
Hope this doesn’t spoil the magic too much. Feel free to ignore these answers if it does.
by the way, nice avatar, Raius. Your own drawing?
Huh, Manga Studio, eh? I always have a real pain on the inking stage of my drawing– no matter how carefully I ink by hand when I scan it into Photoshop it never looks as clean-lined as I want it to, and if I try and ink it in PS it looks great but it takes forever and a day.
I shall check out this program of which you speak, sirrah.
How do you avoid annoying white artefacts around your black lines in photoshop? I’ve tried following about four guides so far, and they all suck.
Have you tried putting the layer containing your inked lines in Multiply mode?
Let me know if you require more explanation–I’ve been using PS since 1.0 and would be happy to assist. ;-)
yes.
The biggest issue I have really is remembering to refine the edges of areas I magic want to start shading, to make sure they go under the lines properly.
OK–I will reply some time today (Monday). Hard to do this in comments but I will try. Or e-mail me a more detailed explanation and/or a sample file to levinefaye@gmail.com. I have taught PS so given the time and more specifics I can be detailed/step-by-step.
http://www.fayelevine.com/ahdok.html This is what I could do on my lunch hour. :-D If you need more let’s discuss via e-mail.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the avatar comment. It is my pencil work but copying Marcus To’s lines. I don’t have the know how to conjure something that nice out of my own brain yet.
I had a thougt.
We return to the arena, where Syr does whatever royal woodselfy/alchemy/steampunky/healerific thing she’s going to do and ends the threat from Harki’s Heroes.
Now she has to tend to her colleagues. She bends over Frigg.
Syr: Frigg, we have to get your armor off so i can reset your ribs, C’mon, help me!
Frigg: Groan, mphh.
Syr: There could be internal bleeding.
Frigg: (fingers twitch) Can’t. Move.
Syr: Your pulse is dropping, we need the armor off now!
(frantic tugging)
Syr: Not enough time…
(sudden look of inspiration)
Syr: Frigg, Payet Best is here and he wants to see you naked again!
(*click* *snap* *wriggle* *toss* *clank!*)
Syr: How *does* he do that?
(begins binding the now unencumbered fighter’s ribs)
the fan-rage over best has been worth many lulz.
The Best part of waking up, is Spirits in your cup.
WIN
Better than Folger’s, at least.
I’ve noticed that the number of comments seems to have dropped off a lot compared to the massive amounts we were getting toward the end of Chapter 8. I guess all the dramatic tension had people coming out of the woodwork to comment.
Well of course,before we had the awesome group to watch at and now….*yawn* oh wow its Best and look he has an orgy,….yeah reeeeeaallly interresting and dramatic…
.oO(I hope that stupid shit-elf chokes on his breakfast and we can go back to the group in the next 2 comics .)
Wonder what he ate for breakfast. I mean, it’d be a bit early for Ghoul-ash, but I hate to egg-spect Best to be one to eat an ordinary breakfast.
Thanks Locke, I just lost MY breakfast. and lunch.
Gawd.
(secret high five)
maybe he’s having eggs on ghost?
I don’t know, but if I was him, I’d be interested in that one waitress. She has some nice looking buns.
nice – i had to look twice :S