Nowhere to Hyde

Last time we talked about characters who are not what they seem. Folks who are introduced one way but are revealed to have a secret nature, or hidden depths, or a hidden agenda.

Another type of “hidden side” I enjoy is a little less universal, but can ...

As any psychologist will tell you, no matter how it is explained, motivation is key.

There is no behavior that lacks motivation- a reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way.

Even our most subconscious actions have motivations, from tics to small morning rituals.

The thing that ...

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“Toxic fans” is a bit of a catch cry now and that has seemed to turn into the idea that any fan who is critical of something ...

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Tantz is dressed fabulously as a queen and I'm a skull faced monstrosity… I'm also wearing a costume, hahaha! Which you can see in our ...

Metaphors in Horror



Horror is perfect for metaphor and allegory. In fact, a horror story is often allegorical by default, what with its bizarre landscapes and freaky beasties.

Here are some categories of horror and some thoughts on what they symbolize:

Reality Bites


psycho killer! Qu'est-ce que c'est ...

There are things that appeal to the head - intriguing “what ifs” in terms of world building, and insights into technology, culture, politics, and history that capture the imagination in an intellectual way.

Then there's the heart - stories without emotional connection are the ones that critics and audiences call “sterile ...

We've talked many times about story structure and different elements of it. But what about structure that's specific to web comics?

If someone does a “gag” or standalone series of strips, it's one thing - but there are still questions to answer. Like, do you have a character ...

In this nouveau religious retelling of a time when demons rise and destruct, a group of bow and sword wielding heroes confront a wicked creature that possibly came from the other side. After one of the members is marked, a steady recovery and a pot of soup proves her wounds ...

Here is the scene:

It is pitch black, sitting in a movie theater, the lights go out and the feature film is only minutes away from beginning. The trailers begin playing and the first one is half way memorable. Then the next trailer comes on and I see a man ...

So, full disclosure: I am spoiler immune.

I don't really care if I know how a story ends, or where the twist is. I might even enjoy it more as I anticipate it. I will watch the movie without issue and still enjoy it just as much.

Granted, when ...