Hey all! If you saw my comment on the last page, well it is time for me to elaborate on that. DD is undergoing some renovations (you guys using firefox like me are probably seeing that pretty plainly right now. The site is HUGE on my computer right now!) and a future face lift. There's a mix of positive and negative. At the time I was writing, I was a little more in the “pessimistic” camp, some of the proposed changes just weren't doing it for me. Thankfully, one of the issues that bothered me most has been addressed by the time I'm writing this! The comments on the new site are promised to be threaded with replies and show 20 comments per page (I'm still not thrilled with paging, but threaded replies is good) The preview showed 10 comments at a time and took a bit of time to load the next ten, and if you're like me you read comments on other folk's comics while you read their archives and this would have been no good! But it makes me happy to hear that this isn't something they are sticking with.
However, the biggest concern here and if you saw the thread I mentioned, is the future of HTML editing on this site. It's a worrisome prospect for us folks with customization beyond our buttons, and the fate of our banners and even project wonderful ads are being discussed by our admins with Wowio. Some people have threatened to leave or have left already over this issue. I'm not about to hold my comic hostage for change, but I'm going to remain cautiously optimistic and hold on to hope that the customization tools they are making will be more robust and easier to use, and include the essential tools for a successful webcomic. And yes, that includes our banners, buttons and our PW ads, even if we aren't advertising offsite ourselves!
Right now, DD has a lot of things to offer that other sites don't, and the fear of this site no longer being able to serve my needs has really put that in perspective. DD (or the soon to be renamed “The Duck”…) really needs our voices on these matters though. Leaving and taking our comics with us won't do! If we love this site, we need to let Wowio know what it is we love about it.
You see the feedback tab, that's going to a “Get Satisfaction” forum that is tracking people's opinions on both this site and the preview. If you have a Gmail account you can sign in with it, and if you don't I realize it's a bother but it's important to DD's future. The Wowio staff are paying close attention to what is being discussed in that forum.
The people at Wowio are trying to work hard on this and have gotten a lot of flack over something that is a preview, a proposal that they are asking for opinions on instead of just implementing it on us without any say-so, so try to be polite! They aren't unmoving boulders in regards to what changes are being made, but goodness knows they don't want to make concessions for people who are asking for their heads, though!
Anyway, help would be appreciated. Let Wowio know how important some of this is to a webcomic, especially ones with artists who are counting on their PW ad's small trickle for emergency funds!
We need to focus on the big issues here first. We need to present a united front, and show Wowio what is most important to us. Otherwise they what is critical and what is “nice to have”. If we can get the critical things fixed and make sure that this site remains one of the best webcomic communities and hosts, we can work on those “nice to haves” after we're going in the right direction! Be vocal in the threads there, let's not try to post in a million different directions. Add your voice to the ones already there, and let them know also when they're doing something well!
*edit-update* Apparently they are in discussions with the ad agency in regards to allowing PW ads. YAY!
Raw Html editing is still up in the air, and I know this is really important for a lot of people. They're working on a checklist of things it ought to include in the editor they are making. Things are a bit less dire than the DD forums thread would have us believe, looks like!
@Amelius
Yes actually, though the second panel retains a bit of *whatever* it is. I think what it is (though I'm not sure) is that something about the shading is different with Charby than with the others here. Again, adjectives fail me, to express it properly, but perhaps if you were to compare, you might come up with something better than I am currently able to. Then again, whatever you did improved it, so further modification might not really be necessary.
@ Amelius: Ooh, good post. But did I miss a scene? Why would Charby suspect that Q woke something inside of Charby? Is his psychic ability able to give him hints about Zeno's true nature?
That or.. I like the sleeper agent comment. You've left this open for something Q planted in either of their minds to take hold in future. It may not be so, but it's nice to have the plotline open. Or rather, scary.
@Jackelopefan: Haha, I know how it looked, so I should have made it a little more clear in the past! :D
Indeed he did blame it on Quixoto! But he's not entirely sure what he did though, if he merely woke up something inside his friend or has turned him into a sleeper agent of sorts, so he's cautious. All he knows is Q got in his head and after that Charby's own noggin got blown up by him. The thing with Zeno that gets to Charby is he's the only person whose head he can't get into (he made a small mention of this after the ordeal with the Master). Charby can get snippets of thought, if he focuses, but it's like bad reception on a radio. With Zeno he doesn't even get white noise off him, and since he's a little unstable to begin with, he may have the drop on Charby if he decides to try his scythe next time instead.
Though he may believe it himself, Quixoto may very well be just a scapegoat for the Council's sake... after all, it's better to blame their folly than to admit his friend may be dangerous to their cause!
@ Amelius: Ok, I feel better knowing that Charby's dark side isn't really that dark after all. It just looked... well... you KNOW. Also, it didn't occur to me that Charby might actually be afraid of Zeno.
One thing though. Didn't Charby decide what is wrong with Zeno had to do with his Sire?
@the1truesushiboy: I kinda made a shot in the dark and tweaked a few things, is that better I hope? :D
@Jackelopefan: Aw, you perhaps judge him a little harshly! He did save Zeno from the Elites (who surely could have killed him) and he did not turn Menu against him either, for Menu does as he pleases! :D Also, he didn't try to rape either of the girls.I know how it probably comes off, but he tried to make out with them, not ...er, THAT.
(Azelea is convinced of it though!)His "Evil form" is certainly an unleashed id, but if he were trying to do that he was certainly taking his sweet time with it, not just because I refuse to draw something like that. He's more like an emotionally abusive boyfriend, he still has Charby's feelings but his un-repressed id is causing him to force his feelings on other people and act in violently extreme ways.
There's a few other factors, but we may get into that later so I'm keeping it in my pocket for now.
Zerlocke on the other hand...let's just say it was a good thing Munchie showed up and lasered him in the back!
Also, I might point out that Charby doesn't know what's up with Zeno so for all he knows, hanging out with him might cause him to go berserk and blow someone else's head off. Charby only says "forgive" because even in his mind he's too proud to admit he's afraid of him!
Not trying to change your mind though, just wanted to discuss and point out a few things :D
Hmm.. Charby does have a bit of an ego, but I don't think it's that. If he'd been a regular he would be dead by now. Forget Charby's dark side, Zeno's tried to kill him.
Although, to be honest, if they weren't part of the first three, both of them would be out on their ear by now with the goings on.
Charby is becoming nauseating. Zeno forgives him for trying to rape his girlfriend, everyone forgives him for trying to rape Faye. And weeks (more than a month?) after the party, after Charby turns a mutual friend, Menu, against Zeno and together they try to make Zeno "just go away" from the cabin, Charby is just now CONSIDERING on whether or not it is time to forgive Zeno? I really hope something happens to humble Charby. He has been building up some bad karma by undeservedly hurting a loyal friend. I'd like to see the bill come due at some point.
I hate to say it, but something about Charby here seems a bit off. I couldn't say what... Maybe the shading? I'm not sure. I wish I could figure it out. He just doesn't look... quite right... somehow. Gah! I don't know what it is! X(
DaemonThanatos at 3:48PM, April 27, 2011
@sushiboy: I dunno...Charby looks a little more "dead" than usual...mayhap a side-effect of getting his head blown off?
the1truesushiboy at 9:28AM, April 27, 2011
@Ka_rin Possibly. Honestly, I'm a bit flummoxed by my inability to express or even identify it properly.
Ka_rin at 8:34PM, April 26, 2011
@Sushi: It looks like the colloring is a little softer on this page that might be why the shading feels off.
the1truesushiboy at 3:25PM, April 26, 2011
@Amelius Yes actually, though the second panel retains a bit of *whatever* it is. I think what it is (though I'm not sure) is that something about the shading is different with Charby than with the others here. Again, adjectives fail me, to express it properly, but perhaps if you were to compare, you might come up with something better than I am currently able to. Then again, whatever you did improved it, so further modification might not really be necessary.
LordHacked at 3:06AM, April 26, 2011
Hello, can't you do like.. a little story about how you came up with some of the main characters :'3
Jackelopefan at 3:09PM, April 24, 2011
Edit: That was supposed to be "woke something inside of Zeno".
Jackelopefan at 2:29PM, April 24, 2011
@ Amelius: Ooh, good post. But did I miss a scene? Why would Charby suspect that Q woke something inside of Charby? Is his psychic ability able to give him hints about Zeno's true nature?
glimmer at 11:55AM, April 24, 2011
That last panel is awesome lol
Ice 9 at 12:41AM, April 24, 2011
Now that smarts
NightReflection at 11:38PM, April 23, 2011
That or.. I like the sleeper agent comment. You've left this open for something Q planted in either of their minds to take hold in future. It may not be so, but it's nice to have the plotline open. Or rather, scary.
Amelius at 11:28PM, April 23, 2011
@Jackelopefan: Haha, I know how it looked, so I should have made it a little more clear in the past! :D Indeed he did blame it on Quixoto! But he's not entirely sure what he did though, if he merely woke up something inside his friend or has turned him into a sleeper agent of sorts, so he's cautious. All he knows is Q got in his head and after that Charby's own noggin got blown up by him. The thing with Zeno that gets to Charby is he's the only person whose head he can't get into (he made a small mention of this after the ordeal with the Master). Charby can get snippets of thought, if he focuses, but it's like bad reception on a radio. With Zeno he doesn't even get white noise off him, and since he's a little unstable to begin with, he may have the drop on Charby if he decides to try his scythe next time instead. Though he may believe it himself, Quixoto may very well be just a scapegoat for the Council's sake... after all, it's better to blame their folly than to admit his friend may be dangerous to their cause!
Jackelopefan at 3:22PM, April 23, 2011
@ Amelius: Ok, I feel better knowing that Charby's dark side isn't really that dark after all. It just looked... well... you KNOW. Also, it didn't occur to me that Charby might actually be afraid of Zeno. One thing though. Didn't Charby decide what is wrong with Zeno had to do with his Sire?
Amelius at 1:44PM, April 23, 2011
@the1truesushiboy: I kinda made a shot in the dark and tweaked a few things, is that better I hope? :D @Jackelopefan: Aw, you perhaps judge him a little harshly! He did save Zeno from the Elites (who surely could have killed him) and he did not turn Menu against him either, for Menu does as he pleases! :D Also, he didn't try to rape either of the girls.I know how it probably comes off, but he tried to make out with them, not ...er, THAT. (Azelea is convinced of it though!)His "Evil form" is certainly an unleashed id, but if he were trying to do that he was certainly taking his sweet time with it, not just because I refuse to draw something like that. He's more like an emotionally abusive boyfriend, he still has Charby's feelings but his un-repressed id is causing him to force his feelings on other people and act in violently extreme ways. There's a few other factors, but we may get into that later so I'm keeping it in my pocket for now. Zerlocke on the other hand...let's just say it was a good thing Munchie showed up and lasered him in the back! Also, I might point out that Charby doesn't know what's up with Zeno so for all he knows, hanging out with him might cause him to go berserk and blow someone else's head off. Charby only says "forgive" because even in his mind he's too proud to admit he's afraid of him! Not trying to change your mind though, just wanted to discuss and point out a few things :D
Belladory at 12:44PM, April 23, 2011
Uwaaaa kisses.
SHAME at 7:27AM, April 23, 2011
Grr when will Charby finally get to do something other than talking to himself or others nonetheless a good well drawn page well done Ame
Jackelopefan at 6:38AM, April 23, 2011
@ NightReflection: Zeno no more tried to kill him than Charby tried to rape Faye and Mye. Hypocrisy is hypocrisy and Charby needs to learn a lesson.
DaemonThanatos at 5:20AM, April 23, 2011
This does not bode well...
NightReflection at 12:37AM, April 23, 2011
Hmm.. Charby does have a bit of an ego, but I don't think it's that. If he'd been a regular he would be dead by now. Forget Charby's dark side, Zeno's tried to kill him. Although, to be honest, if they weren't part of the first three, both of them would be out on their ear by now with the goings on.
Jackelopefan at 4:39PM, April 22, 2011
Charby is becoming nauseating. Zeno forgives him for trying to rape his girlfriend, everyone forgives him for trying to rape Faye. And weeks (more than a month?) after the party, after Charby turns a mutual friend, Menu, against Zeno and together they try to make Zeno "just go away" from the cabin, Charby is just now CONSIDERING on whether or not it is time to forgive Zeno? I really hope something happens to humble Charby. He has been building up some bad karma by undeservedly hurting a loyal friend. I'd like to see the bill come due at some point.
the1truesushiboy at 1:35PM, April 22, 2011
I hate to say it, but something about Charby here seems a bit off. I couldn't say what... Maybe the shading? I'm not sure. I wish I could figure it out. He just doesn't look... quite right... somehow. Gah! I don't know what it is! X(
ZeroVX at 7:06AM, April 22, 2011
Why do I have a feeling this is going to wreck things between Zeno and Mye somehow?
Ka_rin at 11:18PM, April 21, 2011
Cant believe I missed this update. I'ma bad person for not noticings. Last pannel is kinda ominous. Me likes.
Scythe Massakur at 9:51PM, April 21, 2011
Aww...young love.
HiNaTa_fan_13 at 7:12PM, April 21, 2011
d'awww!
justanothervamp at 7:07PM, April 21, 2011
Cute, but Zeno has officially started to weird me out!!