Ahaha I love how indignant he is. “How DARE you make me bleed after I try to smother you!” Love the little bottle of pills on the bedside table too, nice little detail.
Although I don’t quite understand how the door got opened. Did Auditore leave it unlatched? It seems a little too sturdy to be knocked open.
yeah, it doesn’t lock from the inside, it was unlatched the whole time. Too bad Dr. Schtein didn’t think of that, I guess? Or… well… where would he have even ran to?
In his defence, I’d probably be tempted to smother that woman too. Seriously though, I adore how you can make such a seriously flawed character (Schtein) so sympathetic. It’s not every writer who can make you pity, and even like, a character even as he tries to kill his mother.
Your comic stopped being funny and starting eerily reminding me of how my own personal experiences could have gone. You’ve done a very good job, there.
And upon re-reading the archive, I’m beginning to notice how well you’re handling storytelling relative to other webcomics that attempt reliance on plot. On a scale of Ctrl+Alt+Del to The Adventures of Doctor McNinja I’d say you’re an 8.
Natural dialog that conveys emotions and personality properly, but at times can be trite. Triteness is acceptable in cases where one cannot expect the character to have a very good imagination. This is just the opinion of a random person on the internet, posting at 5:20AM in his time-zone, so in case I’m too tired to be coherent or actually know what I’m talking about, just take this as a compliment.
Oh trust me, it’s sparse. I didn’t mean to word it like that, but when you’re having a mental breakdown, things tend to get blurry. Point being that flaws exist but the overall product is greater in quality than the sum of its parts.
Oh goodness, his mother’s expression on the last panel is just so…I don’t even know, it’s just really good. Anger, fear, indignation…all are conveyed.
The contrast between Schtein’s flashback and what is currently happening in the first three (six?) panels is really interesting too look at, too. From Schtein himself to the bright, harsh lighting of the prison versus the softer, yellower lighting of the house…
Your colors are gorgeous as well. This is actually a question I’ve been wanting to ask–how do you do your lines and your shading? Do you use a computer or ink? How do you get the colors to look so sharp and clean, like when transitioning from shade to light?
I do everything digitally. Not sure what you mean by the second question. You mean like the cell shading on the characters? It’s just another layer over the base colors, done with the same pen settings as I ink with.
Anyways, I use open canvas because I like the line quality I get from it, but you can get sharper lines in photoshop, as well. Just have to turn up the count under scattering.
Oh man! Oh man. This is amazing. I love the parallelism. And I agree with other comments about the water in the smashed vase. Really amazing. And it’s great to get some background to his past!
Oh wow, this page is beautiful! I’m particularly fond of Schtein’s mother in the last panel. The tension in her body is palpable. I’m pretty much fascinated by the tension lines in her chest that convey so much. Just stunning.
Hahah, aw, give him a break, he’s been sitting in a low-light solitary cell for months. And before this he worked underground for years. Never even plugged in the complimentary sun lamp. :/
Love his mother’s “Boo hoo, you tried to kill me!” It shows a lot not only about her character, but also the enviroment Schtein was raised in as well. It makes him a much more sympathetic character (and less of a douche in our eyes).
I dunno, she DID hit him in self-defense, because he DID try to kill her. No matter how terrible a person she is/was, she’s pretty justified in her rage and lack of sympathy right now, haha.
Regardless, beautiful page! I loved watching you draw and color it, Beckey! Not to mention, I think you picked the right thumb in panel 2~ <3 All of the colors and art are magnificent, though, as always. :]
EPIC page. I love that we can see what’s happening in both places. Very well executed!
Ahaha I love how indignant he is. “How DARE you make me bleed after I try to smother you!” Love the little bottle of pills on the bedside table too, nice little detail.
Although I don’t quite understand how the door got opened. Did Auditore leave it unlatched? It seems a little too sturdy to be knocked open.
You’ll be surprised what feats of strength some people can pull if fueled with enough rage and blind fury.
yeah, it doesn’t lock from the inside, it was unlatched the whole time. Too bad Dr. Schtein didn’t think of that, I guess? Or… well… where would he have even ran to?
In his defence, I’d probably be tempted to smother that woman too. Seriously though, I adore how you can make such a seriously flawed character (Schtein) so sympathetic. It’s not every writer who can make you pity, and even like, a character even as he tries to kill his mother.
It helps when the mother is just as shitty a person.
His mother reminds me of my grandmother. I have no choice but to cheer him on.
Your comic stopped being funny and starting eerily reminding me of how my own personal experiences could have gone. You’ve done a very good job, there.
And upon re-reading the archive, I’m beginning to notice how well you’re handling storytelling relative to other webcomics that attempt reliance on plot. On a scale of Ctrl+Alt+Del to The Adventures of Doctor McNinja I’d say you’re an 8.
Natural dialog that conveys emotions and personality properly, but at times can be trite. Triteness is acceptable in cases where one cannot expect the character to have a very good imagination. This is just the opinion of a random person on the internet, posting at 5:20AM in his time-zone, so in case I’m too tired to be coherent or actually know what I’m talking about, just take this as a compliment.
Sorta confused as to how one could take trite as a compliment, here. <:I
Oh trust me, it’s sparse. I didn’t mean to word it like that, but when you’re having a mental breakdown, things tend to get blurry. Point being that flaws exist but the overall product is greater in quality than the sum of its parts.
Ah, it’s just awkward. Everyone came out looking bad from this one.
Why bother smothering her? Wait until she’s asleep and slit her throat. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!
he was caught up in the moment.
Rhetorical question. Of course he was bound up in his passionate hatred of his mother. Passion makes for sloppy work.
There, you Rule 34 lot have fun with that.
This page is so awesome. The first six panels are intense! Each one has so many details, just look at those flowers.
So it seems that failure to connect consequences with actions runs in the family.
Didn’t see that coming. I should’ve, but I didn’t.
Ooh… I wonder if Auditore is dead-dead or just really close?
Amazing expressions in every panel.
So, Doctor….did you get the information you wanted at least?
Oh goodness, his mother’s expression on the last panel is just so…I don’t even know, it’s just really good. Anger, fear, indignation…all are conveyed.
The contrast between Schtein’s flashback and what is currently happening in the first three (six?) panels is really interesting too look at, too. From Schtein himself to the bright, harsh lighting of the prison versus the softer, yellower lighting of the house…
Your colors are gorgeous as well. This is actually a question I’ve been wanting to ask–how do you do your lines and your shading? Do you use a computer or ink? How do you get the colors to look so sharp and clean, like when transitioning from shade to light?
I do everything digitally. Not sure what you mean by the second question. You mean like the cell shading on the characters? It’s just another layer over the base colors, done with the same pen settings as I ink with.
Anyways, I use open canvas because I like the line quality I get from it, but you can get sharper lines in photoshop, as well. Just have to turn up the count under scattering.
I love the way you did the splash of the flower water, and how it thins Schtein’s blood on his hands… just great details!
Oh man! Oh man. This is amazing. I love the parallelism. And I agree with other comments about the water in the smashed vase. Really amazing. And it’s great to get some background to his past!
Oh wow, this page is beautiful! I’m particularly fond of Schtein’s mother in the last panel. The tension in her body is palpable. I’m pretty much fascinated by the tension lines in her chest that convey so much. Just stunning.
WOW. You are an amazing storyteller.
Shit just got real
shit, Schtein. You really ought to get some sun- your milky skinned baby self looks tan next to you.
Hahah, aw, give him a break, he’s been sitting in a low-light solitary cell for months. And before this he worked underground for years. Never even plugged in the complimentary sun lamp. :/
I want to second Kaza’s comment about the mother’s expression. You nailed it. It is so REAL.
he looked semi-healthy then
Oh! Oh! Remember when Phineas was all, “Y’know, he’s the type that kills his own mother,” and Schtein was all, “…Right.”
IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW!
“But mother, I was only trying to make you more comfortable.”
hahah, okay. My favorite reply.
Wow. EVERYONE in this comic is an absolute piece of crap.
the cat’s okay. Well, for a cat.
My dad is allergic to cats.
aw, well, I guess the cat’s terrible too, then. Everyone is terrible. <:|
Love his mother’s “Boo hoo, you tried to kill me!” It shows a lot not only about her character, but also the enviroment Schtein was raised in as well. It makes him a much more sympathetic character (and less of a douche in our eyes).
I dunno, she DID hit him in self-defense, because he DID try to kill her. No matter how terrible a person she is/was, she’s pretty justified in her rage and lack of sympathy right now, haha.
Regardless, beautiful page! I loved watching you draw and color it, Beckey! Not to mention, I think you picked the right thumb in panel 2~ <3 All of the colors and art are magnificent, though, as always. :]