Yep, The Announcer is back. It’s hard to write for the announcer. Does his preaching make sense? Should it? I don’t know… I’ve got to figure him out a bit more.
Also, on a side note (and I’ll mention it in the news section too) there will not be a new comic on friday. In fact, there won’t even be a post. I’ve got to leave town for thanksgiving, and won’t have my computer with me. Sorry, but I’ll pick up where I’m leaving off on Monday.
Love that last panel, Jim. One of the best character studies I think I’ve seen you do. The furrowed brow, pensive mouth lines, body language, everything works.
This is a great strip, and it’s good to see the Announcer back. As to whether his preaching should make sense or not, I think it needs to make enough sense to sound like it could sway those who may be easlily swayed by such rantings, much the same as any lunatic evangelical speaker, but should definitely border on the maniacal. If all religious fanatics in the world actually made sense, how would we know who to ignore, cross the street to avoid, or launch a war against?
BTW, what book is the Announcer reading from?
Amazing strip. I love everything about it. One small issue I have, though, is that I would have preferred to see the boys and not their silhouettes.
Hi Jim,
Love this one !
I really like the nuance in this one! – that the announcer is so self-involved that he/and we, almost disregard the absoulute trouncing the boys are getting – I imagine them to next apper all shredded and bloody !
Excelllent and ‘efficient strip – if you know what I mean – less is more! (sometimes)
Jan
So like, the comic looks great, and the ones I’ve read are great…but I see no button to go to the first one, and I can’t stand reading comics in reverse…Am I missing something?
A fist-shaking loud-mouthed lunatic – will Wit earn royalties for you using his likeness?
This story line is top notch material Jim. The strip work is stunning, the writing is clear and concise. Highly impressed!
@Doug: Thanks doug… Not sure yet what the book is. All in good time.
@Kevin: Too bad. I needed them to stand out against the background as much as possible in that scene.
@Jan: yeah, I’m working on it.
@SkaBob: No you’re not missing anything… I don’t know why there is no button for that… I’ll have to put one on site. It never occurred to me that there wasn’t a button for first and latest comics.
@me!: OH SNAP!
@MJ: thanks MJ, I try.
Good stuff, man…plus the details are excellent, like the veins in his shaking fist. The simplicity of the last panel is great because it helps the contrast between him yelling and then quietly thinking.
How are you feeling about the time involved in each strip. Is it more manageable these days?
I understand your reasoning for using the silhouettes. Your use of black in each strip is a lot better balanced than mine, but I still wanted to see their features.
I don’t know why I didn’t say something earlier, but I really like the wall. It’s classic yet fits nicely in the futuristic setting as well.
This tall 3 panel format is excellent… it’s a pleasure to look at.
@Scott: Yeah, the time is getting better… It’s sort of a factor of two things… One: a simpler format reduces time because I can establish a bit of a rhythm (before there were just too many options when I didn’t know what I was doing…) and Two: I’m getting more used to drawing the strip so it’s a little quicker for me to bring it closer to the artistic quality level I’m aiming for.
@Kevin: I’ve been working on walls and things like that… Setting up and designing elements like that is tricky… it’s partially about thinking what might fit, and partially about making accidents when you run out of time but then liking the results.
@Jarrett: yeah, it’s growing on me… I didn’t do it for the web presentation though…. I’m going to maybe post a blog showing what I want to do… but basically, the three panel tall format works well for production of a book of comic book proportions… Figure three comics to a page that way, all still readable.
No complaint on this great strip and its content, but the ‘moving book’ knocks me out of the JP&TM universe. Panel #2 has the Announcer’s right hand free, while elsewhere that is how he holds the book.
I know it is a nit.