The Hated, part two: Heroes we hate
Last week I blathered on a bit about villain Protagonists. These are evil, or “bad” characters who get to be Protagonists!
But what about more traditional heroes, or supporting characters are written to be the “moral compass” or “voice of reason”, or just ...

The Hated - Part Two
Banes at 12:00AM, Jan. 26, 2017Language Learning through Comics
HippieVan at 12:00AM, Jan. 20, 2017
A little comic by Vasya Lozhkin: “I will take revenge”
Earlier today I was reading this article about an immigrant to Canada who learned English with the help of comics, and who now creates comics himself. It got me to thinking about what a great resource comics are for learning ...
Cultural background and comicking
HippieVan at 12:00AM, Jan. 13, 2017
My city had a massive snowfall on Boxing Day this year – the day after Christmas, for you non-Canadians. Nothing too unusual for a Canadian winter, but even so the city always seems to grind to a halt when it happens. After having a neighbour help him get his car unstuck ...
Top Five Tear Jerkers
Banes at 12:00AM, Jan. 12, 2017
I was hanging out with my family over the holidays, explaining that I wasn't sad or sick, but had been rubbing my eye because there was some dust or a hair or something stuck behind the eyeball. It was quite uncomfortable.
As I remembered how tears can flush out ...
My webcomic goals this year!
HippieVan at 12:00AM, Jan. 6, 2017
Sorry about last week’s missed newspost, everyone! Last week’s post happened to fall on “friend Christmas.” I’m the world’s worst adult, and spent the day eating so much holiday junk food that I got sick and had to go to bed rather than finish writing. I ...
Happy Holidays from the Great White North!
HippieVan at 12:00AM, Dec. 23, 2016I claimed in last week’s newspost that I tend to work best in a nice quiet environment. Well, I’m currently testing whether or not that’s true. As you’re reading this, I’m in the middle of the woods in a lovely cabin with a fireplace and ...
One Dimensional Characters
Banes at 12:00AM, Dec. 22, 2016
Talking Stock
A good character is a three-dimensional character, right? They have to be relateable. With wants and fears that make sense. And a bit of a history. And a flaw or two to keep them “human”. And a wound to try and overcome. And maybe even a contradiction within ...
Peace and Quiet, or Buzzing with Activity?
HippieVan at 12:00AM, Dec. 16, 2016
What is the best atmosphere to create in? This applies to art, of course, but also to just about anything you might be working on independently.
Some of my friends seem to be able to work with limitless distractions around. Fairly regularly I go over to my friend’s house ...
Diminishing Returns
Banes at 12:00AM, Dec. 15, 2016
Emotional Charges and Diminishing Returns
Many writing methodologies suggest mapping out the emotional change of each scene. The scene either starts positive, and goes to either negative or “extra positive”, or starts negative and goes to positive or “extra negative” by the end of the scene.
So if a lovelorn ...
ONE DAY LEFT to sign up for Secret Santa!
HippieVan at 12:00AM, Dec. 9, 2016
Secret Santa sign-ups are due tomorrow! The sign-up thread is here: http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/forum/topic/177589/
Here's how it works:
Step One - Deadline: December 10th
Sign up! Let us know what you'd like a picture of. Your comic character wearing an ugly Christmas sweater? An epic ...