In designing a good villain character there's a wide range of paths one can follow. From the grandiose villains that want to take over the world and live in volcano islands, waiting for the hero to fall into their elaborate death trap to humanized villains with complex backstories that ...

I love a character in an ensemble cast that runs counter to the rest of the people around them.

Really, it's the best way to make a character stand out. The one who has some kind of contrast to everyone else, in terms of their priorities, or beliefs, or ...

Action and SciFi adventure aplenty as the fate of a distant panel hangs in the balance! Rellos, a brave young private of the Rallian army fights valiantly to defend his people against the viscous Zeneck, but it's not looking good… They're just too powerful and they know all ...

So you might have a character that's generally very calm or stoic. They may appear weak, or just not intimidating. They may be the right gender, class, age, or any other parameter for their peers to assume they are easy pickings and thus a great target for harassment. Initially ...

One of the best ways to absolutely nail the climax of your comic arc is by using foreshadowing. It’s like planting little breadcrumbs for your readers—tiny hints or clues scattered throughout your story that point to future events or a character’s big moment. When done well, foreshadowing ...

I'm having to write a short speech to give at a friend's memorial service next month, and I'm finding it difficult. It's not the words that I'm struggling with, it's more the entire concept of what I'm doing. So, as a distraction from ...

There is nothing more humbling against human hubris than Nature herself.

Even at humanity's peak expansion, technology, sophistication, education, or intelligence, all it takes for its eradication is for the earth to sneeze in just the right way.

Nature cannot be beaten or tamed. It can only be appeased ...

Diamond Comic Distributors has gone bankrupt. As someone who once worked in a comic book shop, back in the 80s and 90s, it was something of a shock. I came over all nostalgic for their blue logo. I still have a number of cardboard boxes crammed with comics that have ...

Geoffrey Thurgood says, “few people recognize or understand the most important moment of their lives while it is happening to them”, while reminiscing about the first encounter with his wife, Tixiannalol. The meeting was love at first sight for the orphaned, bookish apprentice of Professor Scroggins, who admired Tixi’s ...

Photo: “#1 Getting Off On The Wrong Foot!”. Grenadine and THE LUNCHERS created by Arspitzer. (February 2025)

Arspitzer writes:

“Hi,



I'd like to announce that my new webcomic Grenadine and THE LUNCHERS that the first strip is now on The Duck!



Here's a link to it:

https://www ...