Starcrossed: A Ravenloft Comic Discussion

[NeoTiamat]

All in all, really nice scene. A combination of action (high-jumping acrobatics!), humor (they're really big dogs!), and horror (the door is open.....eeek!)

As a side note, the fact that the scariest thing in the scene is that the door to a shed is open is quite the mark of quality.

[DocBeard]

To further Neo's point, the little bits of hilarity are a great way to make an action or intense sequence seem a little more natural.

In real life, and in D&D, lots of people do make little quips or, y'know, plan to nest in a tree like a squirrel to keep from going, "Oh, hey, I am living in a nightmare world of ghosts and evil trees and I'm GOING TO DIE AAUUUUGGGHHHH", and in fiction it's important because it humanizes a character-no character is completely humorless or completely without a serious side-while both relieving the audience and setting them up for the next thrill. It's the old roller coaster effect in handy fun-sized format.

[NeoTiamat]

Interestingly, most of the literature I've read or seen points to the fact that people who deal regularly with death (policemen in particular, but also medical examiners) eventually develop a very sick and twisted sense of black humor. You deal with something by making it funny.

So all those joking adventurers are very much realistic.

[NeoTiamat]

You know, that last scene was really very sweet. And in a good way, at that.

Most of the time, in a similar situation the fatherly concern is made extremely obvious, to the point of treacle-sweetness which has cynical people like me going "Yech, lets proceed past the lovey-dovey". Showing emotions in almost any artistic medium is hard, because it usually either comes off as overdone, or else too subtle to be noticed. (Though I find the latter preferable).

Here, however, its a nice plot-exposition comic, but the very last panel has Desmarais being concerned, and worried, and it really plays out on his face and the last line of the comic, but it lets the reader come to the conclusion rather than being heavy-handed about it.

So its sweet. And I like it.

[Isabella]

BTW, I know I don't respond to your comments as much as I ought, mostly because I'm afraid that I'll start rambling on and reveal more than I should and ruin the comic itself (in fact, I already plan to respond to several comments after this chapter is done). But I do want you to know I listen to you guys and take your comments to heart. I've changed a few things based on reader feedback, for the better, I feel - for example, Father Desmarais wasn't even in these last few scenes originally. It was really bugging me at the time, but I didn't figure out what the problem was until I got some positive feedback about him from a reader, and realized his absence was rather jarring.

Just letting you know that however silly or obvious you might think your comments are, they're what keep things going.

And I might add, there's a saying a reviewer I respect uttered that I try to take to heart: The cruelest thing you can do to an artist is to tell them they're perfect when they aren't. So don't be afraid to complain, either. (Nicely, please )

[Nathan of the FoS]

I have to say, Father Desmarais is my favorite character so far. I'm glad you decided to give him more screen time.

[DocBeard]

I know what that's like-people go, 'It's good!' and I'm like, 'Did you read it? you didn't. cause it sucked. and. augh.'. Part of that's because the average creative person's mildly masochistic when it comes to their work-it's part of the urge to constantly improve.

Speaking of improvement, I think your expressions have sharpened. The interactions between Marie and la Phantom up there are much more organic feeling; they're talking, fighting, and flirting like old friends. The facial expressions really make it there-Marie seemed a little, not undeservedly, harsh when interacting with Gerot before, I think, and here the friendship flows better. Meanwhile, mister heatstroke's drinking coffee-add another line to the suspicious column. Also, I love that little inexplicably green bottle of something-it's such a random lavish detail.

Also, the D&D nerd can't help but think that they've got a decent 4-man party going there. Desmarais being a worried action dad was also awesome, to agree with Nathan.

[Nikolas of the Mists]

"That which is static and repetitive is boring. That which is dynamic and random is confusing. In between lies art."

[ewancummins]

Nice... I really like that there has been a fair amount of investigation going on. It's fun when the heroes don't know exactly what they are up against, and have to poke around like this.

[NeoTiamat]

I'm rubbing my hands with anticipation, personally. Whatever this is, it promises to be interesting.

[DocBeard]

Affermi-

Is she channeling a Mordron or something?

[Isabella]

Channeling Severus Snape.

Actually the model was Fredrick Francois Chopin... who happens to look like Severus Snape.

[Rotipher of the FoS]

Something tells me that servant's in for something worse than a pink slip and a blisteringly-snide letter of reference....

[ewancummins]

Yeah, he's in hot water now.

[Isabella]

"Then everyone worked out their problems like responsible and mature adults, and after a long discussion about trust in the workplace, they all lived happily ever after. The End."