The heart lies in the hearth, or so I’m lead to say!
The hearth of a home–but that means much dismay!
A home’s in a house, a hearth in a house, a heart for hearth for home,
But not a home inside the house? Then where does the heart roam?!
I wouldn’t be surprised if Bandit went from Infiltrator to Ally all the way back around to pure Infiltrator again. But considering the massive power plays being made by all parties (aside from the ‘savage’ races who seem to still be more or less unified in their desires,) I imagine at this point you are either on team ‘Good’ or team ‘Hungry for Power’.
You think you got it, but you didn’t. See, the revelation isn’t that she’s his daughter, the actual revelation is that his been secretly ordained into cultist priesthood.
Did I forget that we saw it already, or is this a new building? A tower those murals are dedicated to the Peacemakers.
From top to bottom, Frigg, Rachel, Gravedust, E-merl, Scipio, all leading pointy-hatted gnomes forward.
By the way, nice window reflection/transparency effect, with the focus changing in function of what the protagonist is looking at (see how Reynolds’ and Bandit’s reflections are drawn, panel 2 vs panel 3).
I believe it’s the sort of picture which makes the artist says things like “why have I accepted to do this?” about half-way down. But the end result is worth it.
Could be another requirement the Gastonian government made of them, or some kind of funding thing where building it that way let them use money from the Adventurer’s Guild. Or maybe it’s a psychological ploy to keep the Peacemakers from letting it get wrecked, on the basis that they’d pay special care toward a giant monument to themselves.
Thanks for the window reflection compliment, Helianthus. Every artist wants to stretch their skills and add to their palate. Sometimes an artist just wants to see if he can do it. But most of the time, it’s just “in the script”, and the artist has to find a way to make it work!
Holy crap, what a massive amount of layers on those last two panels! There’s Reynolds, his reflection in the window, the city outside the window & then there’s Bandit in the background of the room, also reflected. Movie techniques are not new in comics, but the change in focus, alternately blurring background & foreground, only became possible through the introduction of digital art. It’s very effective here & I like it.
Unlike Helianthus above, I think the complexity of this panel is a choice of the artist. The major complication is not the focus shift, but the adding of all the houses visible outside the window.
Thank you, Thomas. It WAS a LOT of layers. The buildings outside the window are on their own layer (the bottom most layer) then Bandit’s reflection in sharp focus, then Reynolds reflection blurred, then Reynolds and the window frame blurred, then Bandit’s reflection blurred, then Reynolds reflection in sharp focus, then Reynolds and the window frame in sharp focus.
It is AMAZING, John. I didn’t even know you could effect transparency and reflection like that with a “flat” perspective. I’ve seen some comic artists (Red Moon Rising, Stand Still, Stay Silent) who manage to add depth of field very well before, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen transparency and reflection thrown into the mix. You’ve definitely put your stamp on this comic, sir!
I tend to forget that comic writers *can* be very specific in their instructions. I don’t know how that works for T & Phil, although given the intricacy of T’s plots in general, every detail is probably planned. On the other hand, I think both of the Waltrips may add things of their own into the mix.
In the last too panels I recommend illustrating Reynold’s mouth as being open in his reflection. Because at least to me, it looks like he’s doing a ventriloquist act right now.
Yeah I’ve noticed a severe lag with this one and dumbingofage.com, but not any of the other several I visit daily (including Willis’s other sites). And only on my old laptop (that still runs Windows XP).
If a house is not a home, then where will you find your heart?
Ask Polly Adler
On a quest, if statistics and bards are to be believed.
The heart lies in the hearth, or so I’m lead to say!
The hearth of a home–but that means much dismay!
A home’s in a house, a hearth in a house, a heart for hearth for home,
But not a home inside the house? Then where does the heart roam?!
Slightly to the left, I think? Though isn’t there a few people who have it slightly to the right?
*ponders*
*plunges hand through chest*
Yep. It’s on the leeeeeeergznldjthbkzgrtdjx,ngcbzrksj,dknbhc
YAY, Bandit’s back!
Actually, that’s her front.
Please wait while this commenter attempts to decide if this remark was witty or not
It seems like Bandit isn’t exactly what we we’re lead to believe. Almost like a special operative meant for subterfuge and infiltration.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Bandit went from Infiltrator to Ally all the way back around to pure Infiltrator again. But considering the massive power plays being made by all parties (aside from the ‘savage’ races who seem to still be more or less unified in their desires,) I imagine at this point you are either on team ‘Good’ or team ‘Hungry for Power’.
What about team “Fuck em'”?
Eh, fuck ’em.
I don’t know – the ‘savage’ races seem to have plenty of intrigue as well. The dwarf warlord is up to his nose in it for a start.
Well, it wouldn’t take much intrigue to pile up to a dwarf’s nose, now would it?
I suspected her WAY back when
Interesting that that’s where everyone goes. Isn’t it possible this is just a current alliance of convenience?
You’re right as always…. father.
Dun Dun DUUUN?
You think you got it, but you didn’t. See, the revelation isn’t that she’s his daughter, the actual revelation is that his been secretly ordained into cultist priesthood.
Come on, Mayor Reynolds. Bring out your Pontiac and save the day.
Very unusual technique for a comic, the refocusing. Cool to see, thanks for the effort!
We call that “rack focus.”
But why the focus on Bandit’s rack?
Why not?XD
Thank you, Inwoods. It did take some effort, but the effect turned out very well. Glad you like it.
I didn’t see her at first, until the refocus. It was really well played.
I did see it, but it was still cool. ^_^
Did I forget that we saw it already, or is this a new building? A tower those murals are dedicated to the Peacemakers.
From top to bottom, Frigg, Rachel, Gravedust, E-merl, Scipio, all leading pointy-hatted gnomes forward.
By the way, nice window reflection/transparency effect, with the focus changing in function of what the protagonist is looking at (see how Reynolds’ and Bandit’s reflections are drawn, panel 2 vs panel 3).
I believe it’s the sort of picture which makes the artist says things like “why have I accepted to do this?” about half-way down. But the end result is worth it.
The original was destroyed when Taro Iwatani took over the Hammertank back in Chapter 14.
But why dedicate the replacement to the Peacemakers? It’s been a while, but I don’t remember the gnomes being all rah-rah for their cause.
Could be another requirement the Gastonian government made of them, or some kind of funding thing where building it that way let them use money from the Adventurer’s Guild. Or maybe it’s a psychological ploy to keep the Peacemakers from letting it get wrecked, on the basis that they’d pay special care toward a giant monument to themselves.
The gnomes got much more friendly after the Peacemakers stopped the hammertank.
Thanks for the window reflection compliment, Helianthus. Every artist wants to stretch their skills and add to their palate. Sometimes an artist just wants to see if he can do it. But most of the time, it’s just “in the script”, and the artist has to find a way to make it work!
So I need someone to take my place. How does the name Politician Keynes sound?
Holy crap, what a massive amount of layers on those last two panels! There’s Reynolds, his reflection in the window, the city outside the window & then there’s Bandit in the background of the room, also reflected. Movie techniques are not new in comics, but the change in focus, alternately blurring background & foreground, only became possible through the introduction of digital art. It’s very effective here & I like it.
Unlike Helianthus above, I think the complexity of this panel is a choice of the artist. The major complication is not the focus shift, but the adding of all the houses visible outside the window.
Thank you, Thomas. It WAS a LOT of layers. The buildings outside the window are on their own layer (the bottom most layer) then Bandit’s reflection in sharp focus, then Reynolds reflection blurred, then Reynolds and the window frame blurred, then Bandit’s reflection blurred, then Reynolds reflection in sharp focus, then Reynolds and the window frame in sharp focus.
It is AMAZING, John. I didn’t even know you could effect transparency and reflection like that with a “flat” perspective. I’ve seen some comic artists (Red Moon Rising, Stand Still, Stay Silent) who manage to add depth of field very well before, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen transparency and reflection thrown into the mix. You’ve definitely put your stamp on this comic, sir!
Please take it as a compliment that I didn’t notice Bandit until the third panel.
Thanks for the explanation, John! Very insightful. :) Keep up the good work!
” I think the complexity of this panel is a choice of the artist”
Eh, that and the artist tempted by regrets half-way down are not mutually exclusive.
I was influenced by a comment by the artist of webcomic A Miracle of Science, about drawing a multi-layered scene.
I tend to forget that comic writers *can* be very specific in their instructions. I don’t know how that works for T & Phil, although given the intricacy of T’s plots in general, every detail is probably planned. On the other hand, I think both of the Waltrips may add things of their own into the mix.
I still believe you deserve to be in prison, Bandit!
But I trust you are taking steps on your road of redemption!
Hahaha perfect avatar!
Home is where you wear your hat!
Any plan vere you lose you hat iz a bad plan!
Last we saw Bandit, she was with Scipio. Is he back too, and what changes will come from him now being an NPC, I wonder?
In the last too panels I recommend illustrating Reynold’s mouth as being open in his reflection. Because at least to me, it looks like he’s doing a ventriloquist act right now.
But otherwise, great job as usual!
Doh! “In the last too panels” = “In the last two panels”
Website is taking longer to load the past few days. Just this one. Anyone else notice?
Yeah, today I’ve noticed some lag with the site. Taking about a minute or two before a page will load.
Yeah I’ve noticed a severe lag with this one and dumbingofage.com, but not any of the other several I visit daily (including Willis’s other sites). And only on my old laptop (that still runs Windows XP).
Awh… Just look at her sitting there all smug and cozy. Having no knowledge of what Dusty’s done. xD
It’s interesting to me that Reynolds suspects the other lords, because I thought he was completely clueless before.
Reynolds Vandross
I love where this is going, and I don’t even know where this is going. :D
It looks like the reflection of the city is visible through the reflection of Reynolds.
Does that mean Reynolds is half-vampire?
Eh? There’s no reflection of the city…the city’s on the other side of the window.
OH, that makes a lot more sense. For some reason I thought he was outside looking in.
I wonder why the peacemakers are engraved on the walls of his tower.
A tribute to that time they saved gnometown from being destroyed by Taro?
Were the Peacemakers paid for the use of their likenesses on that tower?