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| Scripting and Teh Internetz; Hell if I know what to do | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 5 2009, 05:27 PM (222 Views) | |
| Otter | Nov 5 2009, 05:27 PM Post #1 |
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There are no true spoilers in this post but anything that refers to specific events is hidden, just in case. Thursday's comic was delayed due to scripting issues. While the first part of the story is fully written, I tinker with the script regularly to improve dialogue and consistency and whatnot. Every so often, a strip gets discarded or a new one is added when there's an unexpected hole that needs to be plugged. Today's script was done ages ago and I liked it. It should be clear by now that the Fed is every bit as crazy as the Girl, but he recognizes there's a time and a place for the Wacky Antics and he keeps himself on a very tight leash. Spoiler: click to toggle In the original script, the Girl recognizes this opportunity and stands aside without bringing it up - any guy she fights is likely to be bigger than she is, but this almost never happens to the Fed, so she's not going to step all over his chance. It was a good script that showed a good place in their relationship.Lately, however, I've been badly bruised by the idea that if you don't Spell Something Out in the comic, then some readers will take offense. Especially when it touches on stereotypes - for instance, if you have a female character that takes a backseat during a fight, the implication is that she's not able to take care of herself. I went back over the script a few times and thought... well, maybe having her passively stand aside might be taken as a sign of weakness. So I rewrote the first two panels. And drew it. And started coloring it.  And I thought it was okay as a comic because it Spells Something Out. Then I went to take a shower. My mind wanders to a lot of different places in the shower. For whatever reason, I started thinking of "Will and Grace" and that disgusting sidekick they had who embodied every stupid stereotype about homosexual men that exists under the sun. I don't even remember his name - it was Jack or Dick or Cock or something like that - but I was happy that it's barely 10 years later and a character no longer has to be written as a flaming parody of homosexuality to be openly gay. Much like minority characters are no longer limited to secondary stereotypes, and even other lifestyles are evolving beyond their traits (Hardison, from "Leverage," is a cool and sociable person who also happens to be a computer geek and who enjoys the trappings of Geekdom). So I've gone back to the original script. Some readers might take this as her being weak and passive. Others might take it as the sign that if you have a badass woman in a work of fiction, she can be comfortable in her badass-osity and does not need to be badass all of the time to prove that she continues to be a badass. I'll get a few angry emails but I'm sticking with those guys today. There's a comic that needs posting so I'm going to get back to that, but I thought this needed to be said. p.s.: Badass. |
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- Never send a ferret to do a weasel's work. | |
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| yfnsa | Nov 5 2009, 07:40 PM Post #2 |
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I have faith in you. I like your story telling and your art.And I though there was going to be some website geek problem/question. Shows my frame of reference  Is that a Calvin Coolidge joke I don't get or just ask Calvin because he's available? A daily dose of "sensory deprivation". Close the eyes to keep the shampoo out and add the water for white noise and presto, the mind begins to wander. |
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YFNSA - Your Friendly Neighborhood System Administrator My Lone Ranger Speedy icon is courtesy of Otter. | |
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| Minivet | Nov 5 2009, 08:01 PM Post #3 |
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What about giving the Girl a vicariously-malevolent grin as she stands aside, like here or here? And folded arms, perhaps. BTW, going back through the more recent comics to look for examples, I noticed there are two places where the Fed's name is spelled "Mulcahey": 623 and 624. |
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| Minivet | Nov 5 2009, 08:34 PM Post #4 |
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I think Calvin is the main ghost-wrangler apart from Ben. |
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| HiFranc | Nov 5 2009, 10:32 PM Post #5 |
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Calvin's first appearance |
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Francisco, Likes webcomics, current affairs, films, books and reviewing (on Amazon.co.uk). | |
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| HiFranc | Nov 5 2009, 10:43 PM Post #6 |
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Otter, If you do think it would improve things to spell things out but don't like the explanation version you wrote, how about an active stepping aside? I was thinking along the lines of Hope saying something to the effect of, "You're going to have to learn how to deal with someone bigger than yourself some day. You don't get such a chance that often and, as the masters say, you don't really know if you learnt your techniques properly until the day you're facing someone bigger than yourself."? |
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Francisco, Likes webcomics, current affairs, films, books and reviewing (on Amazon.co.uk). | |
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| jackie31337 | Nov 6 2009, 08:10 AM Post #7 |
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Same here, especially since Bateau was just asking around about a script he's trying to grab web content. |
| Sorry, this is my first conspiracy so I'm a little slow. | |
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| Otter | Nov 6 2009, 12:26 PM Post #8 |
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Ah, awesome. Thought it might be something like that, plus it's really warm and this winter thing? DO NOT WANT! Minivet is right - There's no significance to fire, and Calvin is the head ghost wrangler aside from Ben.
I have the exact opposite problem. 
Argh! Darn it, I thought I caught all of those! Thanks for pointing them out. I'll have them fixed by tonight. Edited for formatting. Edited by Otter, Nov 6 2009, 12:30 PM.
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- Never send a ferret to do a weasel's work. | |
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| Blazingnoob | Nov 6 2009, 08:01 PM Post #9 |
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I think it works equally well either way. I enjoyed seeing both strips though - it was like getting a bonus strip.  And in case you don't hear it enough, this remains my favorite strip (even more than Looking For Group) - I love what you do with it! :)Speaking of strip (referring to your news item) I was all looking forward to December's wall paper till I remembered whose people that was being referenced. I don't think full frontal nudity of a koala bear (or other animal or ghost stick figure  ) is that enticing. You big tease.
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| Otter | Nov 7 2009, 03:22 PM Post #10 |
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Thank you! And the nudity will be the human characters, although now that I've sketched it out there will be plenty of props to block the naughty bits. 
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- Never send a ferret to do a weasel's work. | |
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| Blazingnoob | Nov 10 2009, 08:07 AM Post #11 |
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Tease :P
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7:09 PM Nov 25
