Page 19
mlai on Aug. 26, 2007
Drawn by me. Text by DigitalCAPS.
Read the sister series FIGHT 1; each story follows a different group of characters in the same world.
I don't break out of panels often (I prefer orderly perpendicular panels), so I like this page.
Thru-out F2's 1st story arc, you might notice the all-around “presence” of the natural world. Shadow of the Colossus influence: the setting is as much a character as the people. You notice it less in F1 because there's always 4 ppl talking.
Some artists “enlarge” her breastplate when drawing fan art of her. It's annoying. She's not wearing a metal bikini, get over it. I intentionally lean the other way in her depiction.
mlai at 3:23PM, Jan. 13, 2008
Thanks for writing Villamar. I stay faithful to the original sources, so ppl who know them shouldn't get outraged (the amnesia excuse helps too). But the characters stand on their own even without knowing the source fictions. Most of the characters I use actually aren't from popular video games. Me and Ed generally look for really obscure characters; overexposed characters are no fun. For example when we 1st started FIGHT, there were no Udon Darkstalker comics. That drawing of Chase... It was a hard expression for me to capture, because I never saw her with it in her source material; she's usually very reserved, very focused on what's right in front of her. I had enough trouble translating her likeness faithfully into my style, in her common expressions. I drew it and kept questioning myself, "[i]does this look like her[/i]?" Then 1 day I was re-perusing her source material... and lo and behold! In a brief scene I had forgotten about, she had the same expression! That forlorn, daydreamy look so rare for her, it never occurred again. I felt so vindicated. It was like my artistic breakthru in her characterization.
Villamar at 2:33PM, Jan. 13, 2008
I haven't even tried to guees as too who the characters really are it seems more natural allowing their characteristics define them rather than what has already been established. That and my knowledge of pop game culture is quite limited since I haven't been a serious gamer since '02 I think, so I'm sure even some of the most blatant references, with the exception of Felicia over in Fight, I'm going to be a total loss. Now the whole reason I began to write this, that's a beautiful drawing of Chase, and the layout is fabulous
Evil Emperor Nick at 8:01AM, Aug. 28, 2007
Suikoden 3 is really a good game. It is my favorite in the series thus far. I would highly recomend it if you enjoy quirky RPG games.
mlai at 11:06AM, Aug. 27, 2007
@ Peipei: Suikoden 3? [i]*Googles*[/i] Oh I see, Lady Chris Lightfellow. [i]*Avidly reads info on Chris shrine sites.*[/i] Chris probably was one of her design inspirations, seeing as how Suikoden 3 is 2 years older than her. I've found other possible inspirations myself, but Chris is a great call (better than my earlier guesses). Makes me want to play that game/ read that manga now. Hmm, S3's story unfolds in multiple viewpoints as well. I like that "108 stars" theme as well. Kinda similar to the later arcs of F1 and F2 (cuz obviously they'll all meet more ppl).
Darth Mongoose at 10:26AM, Aug. 27, 2007
Busty armour always looks ridiculous. Always nice when somebody acknowledges that and draws sensible female armour!
Peipei at 8:33AM, Aug. 27, 2007
ooooooh this is beautiful :3 this reminds me of genso suikoden 3 :D omg i love genso suikoden :3 I'm playing SOTC too xD good game :3 and I will be sure to keep up with this beautiful comic as well ^^
Evil Emperor Nick at 8:28AM, Aug. 27, 2007
I'm not bothered by the way you draw her in the least. I enjoy it in fact. SotC was a great game and not a bad thing to be influenced by.