Chapter 5 - Page 12
DAJB on Feb. 17, 2008
So, for anyone who's interested in this type of thing, Panel 1 on this page is essentially the “explanation” for why the core characters in Shades don't age. Their spirits have “fused” with those from the Shaman's spirit world. See - it's so obvious when you know! ;-)
Reminder: Don't forget to look in on the BVC Scrap Book here at DD. Over the weekend we added even more pages to DajbDevil, the super hero spoof I made with nothing more advanced than a ballpoint pen and an illicitly obtained school exercise book. Aaah, the things we used to do while waiting for someone to invent the PC!
Arkdelta at 6:42PM, Feb. 21, 2008
Ah, incompetence. That last comment of mine should be for the next page.
Arkdelta at 6:35PM, Feb. 21, 2008
"Too Old." Mister Ace didn't *look* too old last I saw him. I think Ryan may be misinterpreting the situation here. Is sounds more like an issue of "seen and lost too much" or something similar with Ace. I wonder if Ryan would be so gung-ho if he knew what he really stood to lose, his life is far from all he'd be putting on the line. I suppose he might find out first hand, going the way he is. I'm eager to see what becomes of Ryan here, of course, I'm even more excited about seeing more about Doug.
DAJB at 12:04AM, Feb. 21, 2008
JMT: Good news for you then ... Doug will re-enter the "present-day" story-line in the next chapter (towards the end!) And we [i]will[/i] be revisiting his backstory again, too, but that's [i]waaaay[/i] down the line in Chapter 10! Stay tuned!
jmt at 7:32PM, Feb. 20, 2008
yeah Doug is my favorite. he just killed two kraut planes with his frigging hand gun. That is the stiff upper lip attitude I love!
DAJB at 11:03PM, Feb. 19, 2008
Blenheim: Aaaw - you guys are so cool! D0m: Thanks! I was keen that the heros in [i]Shades[/i] shouldn't be muscle-bound, larger-than-life figures in sprayed-on costumes. Not that I don't like that stuff - I do. I just didn't think it worked as well in a UK setting as it does in, say, New York! (You can read [url=http://www.drunkduck.com/community/view_topic.php?tid=36434&cid=2548&comic_id=18888]more about that[/url] here). Space: Same with everything, right? It's all good in moderation! ;-)
blenheimbard at 9:02PM, Feb. 19, 2008
Wow. what a great origin story.
D0m at 2:55PM, Feb. 19, 2008
Whoa... this is pretty hardcore, man. I love your style of superhuman.
spacehamster at 11:40AM, Feb. 19, 2008
See, this is why you should only break the panel borders if it's really called for - so that a panel like this retains its oomph because it doesn't happen on every page. Noice.
DAJB at 7:05AM, Feb. 19, 2008
JNP: The survival instinct is strong in this one, ObiWan ...! Stig: Heh - especially comic book stories! But don't worry - if anyone approaches me with a multi-million dollar offer, I have my reply prepared!
JustNoPoint at 6:17AM, Feb. 19, 2008
I find it funny that his body is reacting and kicking but while he's still trying to make sense of it all. That's multitasking at it's best!
Stig Hemmer at 4:36PM, Feb. 18, 2008
If you make a movie of this, make sure to get good control of the process. Hollywood has mangled so many good stories...
DAJB at 3:04PM, Feb. 18, 2008
Shane: First time reader or just first time commenter? Either way, you're welcome. (Always assuming that's a good "wow", of course!) Freefall: You raise some very worrying questions, Mr Drift! Those aside, I knew from the very beginning, that the look of the flashbacks would be an important part of the overall feel of [i]Shades[/i] and I spent some time considering how they should look. You can read more about my [url=http://www.drunkduck.com/community/view_topic.php?tid=36478&cid=2548&comic_id=18888]design for the flashbacks[/url] here. Trevor/Beretta: Thanks, guys!
shaneronzio at 12:52PM, Feb. 18, 2008
wow
freefall_drift at 12:17PM, Feb. 18, 2008
That's as good a justification as any for not aging. Shaman must be close to immortal, the way he seems to commune with spirits. Does vodka count as a spirit? Wonder if he gets annoyed by always having the spirits in his head, watching and commenting all the time? Can he tune them out, turn them down? Does he do out of character things once in a while for his voices, like go to a baseball game on Skip's Birthday, or look in on Pinkie's kids and grandkids once in a while? Something like that? I love how flashbacks from the 2nd world war are often in Greyscale.
trevoramueller at 11:45AM, Feb. 18, 2008
Exciting stuff!
DAJB at 11:26AM, Feb. 18, 2008
cs3: Phew - you had me worried, there! ;-) Symon: Spot on! And ooh, curse you for bringing back memories of 2000 AD when it was good! SoItBegins: Yup - that's pretty much the point of this particular plot device ... although it does have other ramifications (as we'll no doubt see later!) ;-) Molly: Heeey - another pretty new avatar! Not sure which of the many war films you're thinking of but, yeah, he's definitely in the classic Alec Guiness/Kenneth More/David Niven mold.
cs3ink at 11:09AM, Feb. 18, 2008
I trust you unequivically, I assure you. I ain't goin' nowhere's.
SympleSymon at 10:59AM, Feb. 18, 2008
Looking good! He's hearing voices of his dead friends, right? Reminds me of Rogue Trooper, with his AI equipment that had personalities of his dead comrades...good times.
SoItBegins at 10:46AM, Feb. 18, 2008
Old superheroes never die. No, there's no end to that maxim. They just never die... so to speak. (cryptic grin)
Molly Loves the KLF at 10:28AM, Feb. 18, 2008
I love Skip. He reminds me of whasisname from the old war films- you know, the jolly 'good-show' character....Argh, its going to bother me now! Anyways love this page! It looks really good in black and white, too. Ah, it was Shamanic spirits all along! Pretty obvious when you think about it.
DAJB at 9:34AM, Feb. 18, 2008
Alana: It's the only way to fly! ;-) Midge: Why not, indeed?! Let's not forget the working title of [i]Shades[/i] was "Spirit of Britain". Or that the Shaman is a regular visitor to the spirit world ... Yeah, I'm with Midge. At least until Jennifer Connelly turns up! Tantz: Hey, just because you hear voices, doesn't make you a schizophrenic! Does it? Oh ... I wonder if my doctor's still on duty ...!
alanajoli at 9:19AM, Feb. 18, 2008
Love that he's jumping from plane to plane armed with just a hand gun. Woo!
TheMidge28 at 6:54AM, Feb. 18, 2008
man, people keep leaning towards schizophreniain the comments...why can't it be just real spirits from beyond that are advising our hero? I love it! this is a fun scene! especially him diving from the falling plane and shooting at the incoming fighter! he's like The Rocketeer but with out the jet pack and Jennifer Connely's... assets!
Tantz_Aerine at 6:35AM, Feb. 18, 2008
You've become a super hero and a schizophrenic, Skip! That's not so bad! Most just get stuck with the latter XD
DAJB at 5:47AM, Feb. 18, 2008
cs3: Actually, the "Shaman thing" is not just a complication ... it will become an increasingly important part of the overall story. Trust me! ;-) DocShadow: Well, if you happen to see any Hollywood producers around here, do feel free to send them my way! Harry: Of course, all our [i]Shades[/i] readers are "very wise guys" ... you can tell by their excellent taste in comics! Scotty: Thanks! Albone: No, Danny and co have "gone for a Burton" as they used to say! Mac was the only one of the team to survive. Well, and Doug, obviously! seventy2: Phew! And I never even knew we were close to losing you! :(