#Drawing comics is hard as heck but worth it!!

[choochooboss]

"The island of Pasio is about to turn from every pokémon trainer's paradise into a trap of nightmares."

[50shadesofoctarine]

PIRATE AU

Unsecured cannon balls on a ship? What could possibly go wrong!

@goodomensafterdark

This was/is going to be a frame in a larger comic called "Piracy Is Hard" but I liked it as an image on its own so I'm posting the panel without the rest.

Rendering this one was a pain in my arse but also lots of fun. I spent hours going through Hornblower frame by frame to figure out what the heck a taffrail on an 18th century frigate looks like. Is that not worth two dollars month??? 🥺

This artwork is from The Mines™️. The Mines are artworks where I specifically add a bunch of elements that I've struggled with in previous drawings (e.g. in this one: perspective, that fucking hand position, that fucking foot position, pistols, rope climbing, tricorner hats, shiny hair, etc.) in order to build up my weakest skills.

On a more serious note, I'm starting uni post being kicked out of home and a little extra cash goes a long way. My commissions are open and I try to ensure everything I make is as affordable as physically possible.

[plavigmaz]

Another year, another art summary!

This year has been challenging for me, mostly involving things in real life I had to deal with, but it also affected my art. In some months I had bouts of motivation to create, in other a lack thereof. Mainly, I struggled seeing the worth in my art, and it is still something I am working on.

However, my mindset was challenged when I got accepted into an art residency, as well seeing one of my comics blowing up here (and counting, what the heck).

So, for the year 2023 I’d like to continue working hard and not to spread myself thin drawing various content, but instead have a focus on one or two subject matters and dig deeper into them.

Thank you for sticking with me ✨

[quinloki]

How about 001 for One Piece of course?

001 | Send me a fandom and I will tell you my:

Favorite character: ... I have to pick ONE. Ah. Heck. Well, I gotta go with Eustass Kid if we're talking over all XD

Least Favorite character: Akainu. Aikanu? The admiral guy - not even for what he did. His philosophy rankles me, and his personality makes me wanna punch in the nose.

5 Favorite ships (canon or non-canon): I mostly x reader with characters, buuut - Frobin's cute, I've seen great ZoSan stuff. Thanks to @yamiyamiart I'm down for Croco/Sanji. I like Law/Kid, but funnily enough I haven't read any xD and I love the two couples that are the Charlotte kids who basically stan'd their new families and not Mama's.

Character I find most attractive: Marco. Those eyes are cheating, that chest ain't hurting anything, I wanna steal those sandals, and look he can just talk to me non-stop.

Character I would marry: It's a Legit Toss Up - Kid, Killer, Law, or Crocodile. Marco too honestly. All for different, yet equal reasons idk that I could ever choose.

Character I would be best friends with: Usopp. I'm a chicken, I enjoy drawing and creating, and I love to fiddle and tinker, and I know he would protect me from the scariest stuff - bugs.

a random thought: I wouldn't actually want t a devil fruit power. I really really love swimming too much.

An unpopular opinion: Idk - I'm a live and let live kind of person. I guess if I had any kind of opinion, popular or otherwise, it would be that some people just need to take a deep breath. Someone else's pairing or POT or TOP or OPT or whatever doesn't invalidate your own, etc. etc. We all love these characters, that's enough.

my canon OTP: Errr... idk. Probably Bege and his wife. She's feisty, I like her.

Non-canon OTP: ZoSan probably? Idk, after reading 20 Year Waltz by - I think - @landeg (I'm bad with names, my apologies if I'm tagging the wrong person) I just fell hard for them. (I also recommend the comic, I think it's up on red bubble or some such, easily worth 20+ $ imo)

most badass character: honestly, I gotta say Kid - No mentor, no teacher, no granddad or anything. Aside from Killer and the people he eventually gathered up, he didn't have any real support or help, and how far he got on his own like that is impressive.

pairing I am not a fan of: None comes to mind. I can see the pros of pretty much any pairing. I'm personally not in for under age pairing, but I mean like, teenagers date. I was a teenager, I remember that. Cutesy stuff has no age concerns for me.

character I feel the writers screwed up (in one way or another): Ennnnnh. No strong feelings here. I'm just enjoying the story xD

favourite friendship: Zoro and Chopper. OMG the vibes, the art, the banter, I love it. Those two are just perfect buddies.

character I want to adopt or be adopted by: I mean... yes? lol Idk, for a more legit answer, honestly, probably Crocodile.

[erigold13261]

Go! Go! Any random trivia fact about your OC that you want people to know!

I hate it when I get questions like this because my mind always blanks! AAAAH! Work mind! You love our OCs! Give me ides! lol /j

Hmmm, let's see. I don't really think I have anything in mind that I haven't already shared at some point. It's just kinda random tidbits I have laying around.

Oh! I know! Adder ends up making accessible jewelry! Stuff like hear aid jewelry or necklaces that attach to glasses. Heck he probably is willing to make special frames and everything as well. I can also see him creating jewelry for prosthetics (though he isn't making prosthetics himself, that is out of his range).

I think I said this before, but Ilma can turn into flames and move about in a short distance! If she tries hard enough she can even take her sword with her. This is definitely something she will end up showing Megumi and transfigured Miwa to do in the Eriverse.

If Daray were to be in JJK, I think his technique would be to create replicas of his bones, or to make weapons out of his own bones (that he has to pull out himself and heal). A very painful technique but his bones when in use are on the same level as a grade 1 or special grade cursed weapon so it's very worth it.

I should probably talk more about Timbre and Hydrar at some point. I love those two so much and should draw them again when I get the time. Especially their redesigns!

Speaking of their redesigns, it's pretty plain to see from her updated reference sheet I made a while ago, but her head is just a glass pane. It is not a TV screen. Instead what she does is use a specially made case that makes her head look like a TV screen. This is so she can mimic Neon J's sonar head as she idolizes him (just as Hydrar replicates being a robot because she idolizes 1010).

And finally, probably a sadder one. But I don't think Synthia ever moves on from trying to gain his mom's affection somehow. He will try his very best until the day she dies and will then live forever wishing he knew what he could have done to make her love him as her only child.

Actually, this is the final one. I was gonna make a comic about this, but I am obviously too lazy and slow to do it. But Madame Penumbra is Sharon (Synthia's mom). Her and Zuke's dad had a fling which resulted in Synthia. So Synthia is a half sibling to Zuke and DK West (which is why he has light and shadow powers).

That's all I got for OC lore. If you meant trivia facts like in their creation process then woops lol!

[a-weird-cryptid]

I know this might sound really dumb... But I'm really starting to dislike the fact that my "Elles" review is/was getting so much attention.

Nothing against people who like it, comment on it, reblog it or similar, I really appreciate that. And I'll still keep up the post because I do like the comic as far as I've read it and I believe that sharing it with others might make them happy. And deleting the post would only make people dissapointed. Heck, I'd even go as far as to say that I wouldn't be happier, even if I deleted it. But I really start to question if it was a good idea to upload it in the first place. Cause it just... doesn't feel "right to me". Like sth that actually belongs to my blog.

Instead, it feels like I'm "lying" to myself. Like I'm "betraying" myself. Since I only came to this app to share original art, I decided to post a review of only half a comic and everybody seems to love it.

It feels like some random thing I put zero effort into, doing the review without a second thought in just about 5min. Like I'm "profiting" off other people's work and getting attention based of sth that another people have spend a really long time on creating. Like a "cheap cash grab", even though I don't get payed for it.

It's hard to explain and put into words, but I hope you get what I mean.

And it also makes me feel like the effort I put into my original work isn't enough. Like I have to pressure myself to do better. Drawing sth like digital comics, even though I really don't like doing so.

I'm aware that I'm most likely part of the problem. Being a perfectionist and setting myself too high expectations for my own work, wanting to be "approved" by others, since that's the only sense of self worth I have and always had. I know this isn't good or healthy and have theories about why this is the case, but I don't want to discuss them here.

The original post I'm referring to can be found here.

[theromaboo]

Tagged by: @gooseberry--fool

Relationship status: I'm single.

Favourite colour: My favourite colour is red, but other colours are pretty, too.

Song stuck in head: Il Coccodrillo come fa? (it's a banger)

Last song I listened to: As Long As You Love Me (my mom was listening to it so I listened to it with her)

Three favorite foods: This is really hard but I think my three favourite foods are durian, sushi, and pasta. Which is an incredibly diverse selection actually.

Last thing I googled: Britannicus allergy to horses (OH MY FRICKING GOD EVERYONE KEEPS THINKING THAT HE WAS ALLERGIC TO HORSES BUT THAT LITERALLY CAME FROM A HISTORICAL FICTION NOVEL AND ISN'T TRUE AT ALL!! I was just checking again to try and look more into it, but there's nothing to look into)

Dream trip: Rome *sighs in longing*

Anything I want right now: To get all of the Masters of Rome books (I haven't read it but I now want to after reading that one LiveJournal post)

Tagging: 10 people???? That's one big number. I'm tagging @the-little-fox-in-the-box because he's funny and I always aspire to be as funny as him. @alienmythologist because they're cool and asked about my cringe fanfiction idea and was supportive. @doobydoobydoowau because I remember when we talked about my Ides of March party. @athelstan-anglecyning because they are a nice person and excellent writer (you may know me from AO3). @emperornero because I remember that comic he drew with Britannicus and Britannicus is my blorbo. @odysseus09 because I know him in real life and he is cool. @incitacitus because she seems cool and has a hecking awesome username (so fun to say! And also definitely inspired by the name of Caligula's horse). @spinogreen0iq because he's a very hardworking artist and I think of him whenever I want to draw. @ashavah because she seems cool and she likes ancient Rome and so do I (though that basically applies to 90% of the people here). And @nysus-temple because she likes Vergil a normal amount and so do I (I reread all the AO3 fics about Vergil at least 50 times because of how starved I am for Vergil content. I'm learning Italian so I could read a few Vergil fics in their original language). Oh yeah she also did a lot of ramblings about history and stuff and I look up to her because of that.

WHAT? QUID? I made it to 10 people!? That's amazing. And I still have a few more people I want to honor.

@echo-dream because xhe reblogged my post about bread day that I spent a LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY ON and in the tags, xhe said "here for the bread day discourse" which made me laugh and made the hour I spent writing that worth it.

Also @lone-rhapsodist because they seem cool and they also reblogged my less detailed bread day post on May 2 (which was one of the acceptable days).

(Btw, if you want to know the acceptable days to celebrate bread day, they are April 17, April 19 (if you ignore the whole Julian Calendar/Gregorian Calendar thing), and May 2. But NOT April 7. Not in your lifetime. Check my long-ass bread day post for the details why)

Tagged by: @serpentandthreads

Rules: Tag 10 people you want to know better!

Relationship Status: Married

Favorite Color: Crimson Red

Song Stuck in Head: "Wait for Me" - Hadestown

Last Song I Listened To: "Waiting on the Sky to Change" - STARSET, Break Benjamin, and Judge & Jury

Three Favorite Foods: Sushi, Breakfast, & Candy

Last Thing I Googled: ... USB slave kit. My old laptop died completely and I needed to save the hard drive.

Dream Trip: Japan.

Anything I Want Right Now: Tens of thousands of dollars to pay off my medical bills and student loans.

Tagging: @hyacinthuspetals, @life-in-the-garden, @maceofpentacles, @lotusfeather-and-bone, @delphijackdaw, @jasper-pagan-witch

[fatal-error-blog]

FATAL_ERROR COMIC AND CONTENT WILL RETURN JANUARY 2022!

TL;DR at the end~ Hey folks! I’m so sorry I’ve been absent from the blog and from the discord for such a long time. I mentioned that I was taking a break back in…oh geez, May? And that break has gone on for much longer than I expected XD Long story short, I am very okay! This has just been an exceptionally busy year, and I’ve had to rearrange my priorities a bit to navigate it all.

To be absolutely honest, I’ve just been burnt out. Not from just the comic, but from a lot of things outside the blog. And if you’ve ever been burnt out, then you know that it kinda doesn’t matter how passionate or excited you are to work on your projects - you just keep hitting a wall that doesn’t really let you progress. Unfortunately I hit that wall, haha. So I’ve been taking the time to recover from it. Legitimately, this blog post took several weeks longer than I wanted it to, just because I was trying to gather enough will to draw a cute little drawing to go along with it. Eventually I figured that it needed to go up without it.

It sucks to have to admit that I needed to step away from the comic, the blog, and the discord. It’s hard to admit to myself that I was having a hard time balancing everything and that despite being excited about where the comic was headed, I just physically and mentally had to take a break. It feels really bad to have a lot of fun ideas about what I want next for the story, for all the side comics and the graphic novel and just not be able to act on them because something within me is just tired and needs a minute before continuing. It sucks to disappoint everyone who’s come to love this story and is also just as excited to see what happens next.

I think deep down I’ve always been scared that I’d give up on the Fatal_Error comic, which is why I was hesitant to step away from it to take care of other things that had to be taken care of. But I think I know now that completing this story is so important to me that I could never give up on it. But I do know that I need to give myself time to get some other things in my life in order, so that I can get through the block and come back to the comic ready to keep moving forward. So I hope you’ll be patient with me and rejoin me when the comic starts back up in January 2022. I don’t want to bore ya’ll with details, but probably the biggest thing I’ve got going on outside of this blog is trying to advance my career. I work in game development (QA Tester, been that way for a few years) and I’m more than ready to move up in the development pipeline. So I’ve been dedicating a lot lot lot of my time trying to work on those skills and apply for jobs. It’s very time consuming, haha. And mentally taxing. So I’ve been using this time (and I’ll be using the rest of the year) to work on some indie projects, beef up my portfolio, and hopefully get hired for a better job than I have now. I can’t express how much that’s gonna relieve a lot of stress for me, and less stress = more energy to spend on the Fatal_Error comic.

I do still plan to stream working on these projects, it’s (probably) not gonna involve Fatal haha but there is a lot of art involved and me bumbling around trying to program which should be entertaining to some extent, so if that’s something you’re interested in I’ll mention whenever I’m planning on streaming and you’re more than welcome to pop in and see what all the fuss is about.

As for discord, I’m never really far ^_^ I keep discord open all the time, and even if I don’t post or do much in the discord, I’m always nearby to check in and available to talk if ya’ll need me. I’ll try to be more involved though <3

I think that’s the major stuff? I really am looking forward to hopping back into Fatal’s story once things calm down on my end. It’s been a really wonderful source of comfort and expression for me and I love where the story is going, and I love getting to share it with ya’ll. I’m sorry for making you all wait so long for what comes next, but as always, I sincerely hope that once we get there, it’ll be worth the wait. Thank you for your patience, your kindness, and your enthusiasm. I’ll be around (and catching up on the inbox, messages, etc haha), but in terms of the comic, I’ll see ya’ll in January 2022 <3

Stay determined! I know I will be ^_^ <3 Xedra

TL;DR:

Is the comic over?/Is the blog dead? Nope! Just on pause until January 2022. What about the volume 2 of the graphic novel? Also on pause! I’m hoping to open preorders in March/April 2022. Are you okay? Yup! Thank you for asking, and I’m sorry for making you worry. What are you going to be doing in the meantime? I’m going to be working on some game development projects. I’m working on applying for jobs and I need stuff for my portfolio, and I also want to make sure I have something to do after Fatal_Error is finished ^_^ Are you still gonna stream? Yup! It’ll probably be non-Fatal_Error stuff but you’re more than welcome to watch me work! I’ll make a post about it when I have the times and stuff sorted out. Are you gonna be back on discord? Slowly, but yup. I’ll kinda chill in the background if you need me. You gonna play Deltarune Chapter 2? HEcK YEAH MY DUDE

[yuttikkele]

(long post)

i’ve been making my own little spider-man/marvel universe based off the comics, so here’s some headcanons starting off with the coffee bean gang:

— first off, appearances and interests. i like to think that everyone has at least two main things in common with another person, so i listed those as well.

peter: 5’9; you can only see his build when he takes his shirt off; fluffy brown hair; soft blue and golden brown heterochromia; other than that, typical parker; interests: science, comics

harry: 6’0; scrawny ginger with lots of freckles; sides of his head shaved with the fluff kept on top; green eyes; interests: comics, fashion

mj: 5’8; built kinda beefy; has scarred tanned skin with lots of freckles; her hair is bright red, long, and straight. she’s not exactly white? y’know? mixed. interests: athletics, music

gwen: 5’5; small and pudgy; has an undercut with middle parted short blonde hair; sometimes there’s berets in it. interests: music, science

flash: 6’2; mixed with light freckles; has natural blonde hair shaved with lighting strikes on the sides; he usually chooses to dress punkish in public, but in private he likes to show him feminine side. interests: fashion, athletics

now that that’s out of the way, i cannot continue without addressing the ptide

harry is obviously gay and he knows it. no one else does, though

if they can’t tell who spiderman is based on his voice, how would they know that harry is gay?

exactly

peter is obviously bi and everyone else knows it, but not him

cinematic parallels

mj is on the demiromantic spectrum and hasn’t dated anyone since the first grade (she dated harry, and they both regret it. peter laughs about it to this day). she’ll fall in love if it’s the right person

gwen is also bi

flash is pan but hasn’t accepted it yet

now to miscellaneous headcanons that i come up with randomly

gwen doesn’t die in this universe because she and peter never date (she isn’t really romantically attracted to him either)

i like to imagine peter and harry as childhood friends, but you can do enemies to friends to enemies to lovers if you want

everyone at midtown is dense as heck, and this includes peter

(under the cut is just more headcanons and some drawings of them)

harry and gwen geek out over stuff that the other three just don’t understand

to tamper a little bit, harry has arachnophobia

and gwen’s the kid who picked up spiders as a little kid and threw them at people

whether harry has a crush on peter or not is up to you ;) but i can tell you that peter has a type, and it’s redheads

peter absolutely nerds out when it comes to science, but if it’s anything other than that, he’s clueless

like, what compound reacts to this substance? all on that. where the comma goes in the sentence? no idea whatsoever.

MJ: Peter, what’s 9 times 8?

Peter: What? Like I’m supposed to know that off the top of my head?”

MJ: *sigh* Peter what’s the formula for gravity?

Peter: Oh! That’s simple, so-

and peter is absolute garbage at spelling (unless it’s science related ofc). can’t spell worth a flip AND has terrible handwriting.

meanwhile gwen excels in every subject

mj and harry aren’t the brightest (mj having As and Bs while harry has more Cs than As). flash can barely keep his grade above a 55, but he’s not totally stupid

i don’t want to pull a dirk from bazaardvark, but flash liked physics

i mentioned earlier that mj has a beefy build. that’s because she’s super athletic

she can (and will) outrun you.

even peter with his spider powers has a hard time keeping up

sadly for peter, he is not coordinated for any type of sport despite his acrobatic abilities

MJ: Pete! You should try out for a school sport! I’m sure you’ll be great at it!

MJ, after she watched Peter play a minute of basketball: please, peter, never touch a pigskin.

mj and gwen also participate as cheerleaders. mj is a base and, well, gwen holds a sign. mj also loves doing flips on the mat.

overall, the girls love playing powderpuff football the most

and that’s because mj DOMINATES the field with it

and gwen enjoys absolutely cutting lose with face paint on

all the boys are secretly glad that they don’t have to face them

for the powderpuff game, peter makes sure to dress up and cheer for the girls even though he looks like an actual goose while doing it

he can do surprisingly good cheerleading jumps which everyone is surprised at

peter, your spidey is showing

everything else looks terrible

flash also participates in the cheerleading, but he’s more focused on winning the womanless beauty pageant

he’s won each year he’s participated and doesn’t plan on losing that streak

he looks stunning every year, wonder why…

harry doesn’t participate in any of this until his friends force him to one year

he ends up winning the womanless beauty pageant, and is on bad terms with flash for at least a week

he blames it on peter

i don’t know how this got on the topic of homecoming, but i’ll roll with it.

their first homecoming, they all decide to go to the dance together as a group.

flash went with them when he couldn’t find a willing date. since they weren’t that close at the time, this dance definitely strengthened the friendship bonds.

one year, mj asks peter to the dance, and peter was so shocked that he wasn’t able to speak for a couple minutes

mj, the most beautiful girl in school, who hasn’t been seen in a relationship in years, who is also my best friend? THAT mj? just asked ME out to homecoming???

mj eventually took the blushed stuttering as a yes

cue gwen, harry, and flash looking at them and being like, “they grow up so fast”

at the end of the dance, mj gives peter a smooch on the cheek

harry has to hear about it over the phone all night

Harry: So you liked MJ??? and you didn’t tell me?

Peter: Well, it would’ve been awkward… yknow…

Harry: Peter, we dated for like five days.

mj and peter’s relationship never really goes anywhere, though, it does bring their friendship closer

this may or may not be because i’m a sucker for gwenmj

anyways, like i said, peter has a thing for redheads

so one night he has a crisis about harry and mj because he realizes that they’re both drop dead gorgeous

by chance, gwen texts peter about something and eventually they facetime and peter ends up spilling his heart out to her

gwen keeps her lips sealed

i’m thinking of making norman osborn a woman because other villains are genderbended, but never norman. but also i like man norman because he’s 10x more hatable.

harry loves his dad for like the first half, but it’s hard for him to love him after a while.

flash’s place is a dump

he has an older sister in college though, and sometimes he’ll stay with her

they’re always there for each other, and when she finds out flash actually made some friends, she’s so proud of him

they all love the avengers. if there’s anything that connects them besides friendship, it’s the avengers.

peter’s always talking about iron man, gwen talks about how much mj looks like black widow, mj thinks hawkeye deserves more, harry knows almost as much about each of them as peter, and flash thinks spiderman’s still better than all of them

gwen 100% thinks steve rogers and bucky barnes are married, but no one else in the group sees it

peter does soon find out what she means when on an unscheduled mission with them one day

he’s begging them to just kiss already. it’s hard to watch

the gang does end up becoming involved with spiderman’s antics from time to time

gwen was handed a web shooter once, mj has been saved multiple times, harry, ofc, sees him almost every other day, and flash turned into venom once

harry’s the first to find out about peter when trying to kill spiderman. harry unmasks peter and is shocked, allowing spiderman to escape

once gwen heard spiderman say “with great power comes great responsibility” she knew exactly who it was

mj connects the dots after gwen

and they have to straight up tell flash for him to get it

in the end, they’re all a bunch of idiots who love each other

Here are drawings of how I think each of them look (yes these were Inktober drawings)

Peter Parker: honestly, i just tried to combine all the versions, but he’s just a basic white boy

Harry Osborn: inspired by the comics and spectacular spiderman versions

MJ Watson: inspired by the MSM2017 and MCU versions

Gwen Stacy: inspired by the comics and spider-gwen versions

Flash Thompson: inspired by the MSM2017 and Ultimate Spiderman versions

[darkcircles4lyfe]

retrospective & predictions

Since we're on a hiatus week (between 320 and 321) I feel like waxing poetic about the depth and growth of bkdk for a bit. Especially because it seems like we’re right on the edge of their biggest development yet, I’m getting the urge to lay all my perspectives and insights I’ve picked up from others out on the table. This is ultimately only my subjective interpretation of subtextual material in canon, though. If you’ve never quite understood what people see in their dynamic and you’re actually open to hearing me out, maybe from this you can at least see where we’re coming from. And if you don’t like my takes after all, well, we’ll see who’s right in the coming chapters, won’t we? What I have to say can be taken platonically or romantically; I appreciate both. 

putting it under the cut, since it’ll be long:

At the risk of projecting, I want to start by examining a couple things based partly on personal experience.

From many different directions, I often hear people expressing that Deku’s persistent attachment and admiration for Bakugou is baffling at best. Despite the bullying, despite Bakugou’s loud, rude, and uncompromising personality, he still puts effort into their relationship and frequently describes him as amazing. It seems like Deku himself is aware of this as he’s said things along the lines of how he’s difficult, BUT... etc. Although I don’t think it’s exactly that Deku finds Bakugou’s personality hard to be around, but that he’s deliberately expressing patience for Bakugou’s emotional turmoil. 

I have to say I know what this sort of patience is like, as I went through it with someone I love. I only chose to put up with their behavior because I decided the possibility of what our relationship could be was worth it. I wasn’t blind or submissive to how they treated me, and I wasn’t coerced. I simply expressed myself and established my boundaries while still allowing them the opportunity to join me in my world once they got over their own hangups. And guess what? It worked out in the end. That doesn’t mean there aren’t circumstances where it’s better to cut ties, but I want to stress that true reconciliation is possible sometimes. I used to worry that other people around me thought I was delusional for seeking it, but what really helped was my therapist reminding me that I’m smart and strong. So I think Deku deserves to feel the same. In a way this is his whole mission in life, his approach to being a hero as well as his personal relationships.

Let me also be clear though that I don’t mean Deku is only tolerating Bakugou’s personality, his mannerisms, the parts of him that will likely never change. I’m drawing a line between those things and his emotional state (they so rarely align anyway, but I’ll get to that later). In fact, I think Bakugou’s general attitude is part of what Deku admires. This is gonna be hard to explain without inserting personal experience too, sorry. As a writer myself I’ve noticed I’m drawn to writing characters that are brazen and bold and don't mind telling people off. Really it’s because I operate in the world in the polar opposite way. I try not to draw attention to myself, I’m quiet, and I’m a people-pleaser. People who project confidence, especially in an impolite sort of way, fascinate me. It’s good to take cultural context into account, too: I've heard people who’d know better than me that part of the reason Bakugou is the most popular character in the Japanese fandom is likely because he contradicts a lot of their social norms. His disregard is refreshing and cathartic. I can speculate that Deku has a similar point of view based on what he thinks but does not admit about Bakugou being his image of victory and how this sometimes makes him mimic Bakugou’s speech and mannerisms: 

There’s also the bit in this fight where Deku realizes he's the only one able to receive Bakugou’s emotions. This is because he’s the most intimately familiar with him and his situation, but I think there’s another layer. Deku, as we know, has a self-sacrificing tendency, and in the current chapters we’re seeing the worst side of that. But let’s also not forget that to an extent, it can be a positive trait: resilience. When it comes to Bakugou, he has an almost comical ability to dodge the potential fallout of his outbursts. The example we all jump to (and fight about..) is how in ch1, apart from the initial shock of Bakugou suggesting he jump off the roof, the most he reacts is to criticize him for saying such a ridiculous thing. However, I think their interaction post- sludge villain is a lot more interesting:

Note two things: 1, in his head, Deku is practically making fun of how Bakugou’s acting as he stomps away without waiting for a reply. It doesn’t faze him. 2, Deku thinks, optimistically, that he can now focus on a different career choice. This is astonishing really. Up to this point, none of Bakugou’s attempts to put him down have worked; he just kept pursuing his dream. The only reason Deku concedes in this moment it because for the first time, he has been shown that he really couldn't do anything in a fight against a villain. All Might told him he couldn't be a hero (although he’s literally about to take that back in the next few pages lol) and the other heroes at the scene gave him a lecture about it too. It was those experiences, and not Bakugou’s words, that truly affected him. And when All Might tells Deku he can be a hero after all, it’s not thinking of Bakugou’s bullying that makes him sob and fall to his knees, it’s the memory of his own mom never telling him those words he so desperately needed to hear. Having spent most of their lives together, Deku must have been aware all this time that Baukgou was influenced by larger societal forces rather than a core judgement, so he didn’t take it personally. He separated the person from the action, and because he’s resilient and patient, he is thus equipped to handle Bakugou’s emotions. It’s a testament to his maturity and emotional intelligence, really. 

But I can almost hear some of you saying, “that doesn’t mean Deku should have to be the bigger person here!” Correct! Just because Deku is perfectly alright bearing all of that, doesn’t mean atonement-era Bakugou sees it this way. We can track his awareness of Deku’s care and selflessness as follows-

The bridge scene, when they’re little kids: Bakugou conflates Deku’s heroism with pity, and subsequently thinks Deku is looking down on him because Bakugou’s own insecurity makes him defensive.

The Sludge Villain, and also Deku vs. Kacchan Part 1: Bakugou witnesses first-hand how easily Deku jumps to risk his own life, but still thinks he’s being looked down on. 

The Sports Festival: Bakugou fights Uraraka and recognizes her endurance strategy and refusal to give up as very Deku-like. He’s half right. He thinks Deku advised her in the fight, when in reality she just mimicked Deku because she admired him. I want to draw attention to his very sober comment about her not being frail. It’s a great endearment of Uraraka’s character and Bakugou’s respect for her when others didn’t take “fighting a girl” seriously, but it also reflects on his opinion of Deku. Deku isn’t weak either. He never was.

Deku vs. Kacchan Part 2: Deku finally corrects him about the whole looking-down-on-him thing, and Bakugou is informed that Deku’s selflessness is in fact the reason All Might chose him. Since Bakugou had been in search of what he himself was “doing wrong” for All Might to favor Deku over him, he now has to reconcile the fact that selflessness is a heroic trait, and moreover something he lacks. This is also possibly the first time Bakugou is able to see his past actions toward Deku as bullying since he previously thought it was more mutual. Additionally, Bakugou can now link Deku’s selfless behavior to what he perceived as pity/contempt, and realize that Deku has been giving him A LOT of grace. Maybe too much. Maybe more than Bakugou deserves, and definitely more than Deku should have to. Holy heck- now Bakugou has to figure out how to live up to all the faith that’s been placed in him. 

Subtextually, we can see Bakugou’s feelings about atonement reflected in the Todoroki family:

1, Shouto is another example of Deku growing a friendship using his selflessness (since their fight in the sports festival) and their relationship is being acknowledged here where it hasn’t been in Bakugou’s situation. Perhaps Bakugou is wishing it could be so simple for him, to be able to thank him for being his friend like that. Deku saying the pleasure is all his also probably calls to mind how a mere apology from Bakugou would probably be dismissed because that’s just the kind of accommodating person Deku is. Bakugou has to operate more quietly in order to actually make up for their past. I personally don’t interpret this scene as Bakugou being jealous of Deku and Shouto’s friendship, exactly, just the lack of emotional baggage. Side note, Deku and Fuyumi are kinda similar in their desire to repair relationships. I like that she’s the one to give him some credit. 

2, With the common terminology, this can be interpreted as Bakugou receiving a model for atonement, one that is about action, and nothing to do with receiving favor or forgiveness. It’s a sense of duty. 

Many of the above sentiments are repeated in the flashback conversation between All Might and Bakugou right before Bakugou’s sacrifice. 

Bakugou acknowledges his bullying and that it happened because of his own insecurities, but aside from that, it’s interesting he neither confirms nor denies All Might’s suggestion that he’s trying to atone, or that Deku doesn’t see it that way. All Might is a bit of an unreliable mentor sometimes, but I don’t think he’s misreading here. Rather, Bakugou is displaying his tendency to hold back when talking about things that would make him really emotional. Besides, admitting to what he’s doing kind of defeats the purpose. He isn’t seeking acknowledgement. All Might has gotten to the crux of the issue here when pointing out that Deku doesn’t recognize the atonement, likely because Deku doesn't think Bakugou even needs to atone. Am I reading into it too much to say Bakugou looks wistful at this? It’s kinda frustrating sometimes trying to interpret Bakugou’s actions because he’s so paradoxical. Loud and in your face, but also extremely reserved. Sometimes I feel like I’m grasping at thin air, but hey, being hard to figure out is part of his intrigue as a character. The simplest way to look at him is to assume that unless he’s really showing vulnerability, he’s probably deflecting and hiding something.

Speaking of Bakugou’s tendency to to hold back emotional stuff, there’s his apparent lack of issue with Deku calling him Kacchan. Maybe to begin with, in his warped perception of things where he thought they hated each other, Bakugou saw it as Deku’s way of getting back at him for calling him “useless,” and didn't dare give any indication that it actually bothered him. However... consider how betrayed Bakugou has appeared when he was noticeably thinking Deku was looking down on him- the bridge scene, and the beginning of their first year at UA when he thought Deku was hiding a quirk all along. He looks shocked and hurt. That kind of emotion couldn’t be invoked by someone Bakugou didn’t actually care about his relationship with. “Kacchan” comes from a long time ago, before their relationship was strained, so it’s connotations are pure. Maybe somewhere deep down, Bakugou has always been hoping that Deku’s continued use of the nickname was not simply a matter of habit or teasing, but a vestige of friendship they’re both clinging to, and Bakugou himself was too afraid to admit to himself that he felt this way about it, so he mostly ignored it. (These are not original thoughts I am having here lol, this is a common interpretation. I’m just laying everything out like I said.) 

And now we turn to the current situation. Personally, I’ve been looking frantically back and forth between them wondering who’s going to break down first (Deku vs. Kacchan Part 3, this time it’s just a fight to get the other person to cry? ha.) Both have looked like they’re approaching a breaking point for some time. Also, I’ve addressed this before, but I think it’s significant that Bakugou is no longer wearing his mask with his hero costume, in contrast to Deku recently donning his own. It feels symbolic of Bakugou about to be upfront about how he feels.

The question is, what is it going to take to get Deku to accept help? If you ask me, Deku has dug himself so deeply into the I’m-doing-this-for-everyone-else’s-safety-and-smiles hole, no common sense argument can possibly reach him. By the end of 320, Deku’s mask is off, and we can see how desperate he truly is. But he has not cried, yet. I predict we’re going to see a bit more of his defiance, this time on full display on his face as the remaining class members and his other friends take their turns. But then I think Bakugou has to be the one to break down so Deku can witness his actions having the opposite effect he intended. People have been pointing out that Deku is currently ignoring Bakugou, and oof, that’s gotta be intentional. Regardless of what Bakugou says, it’s going to be wrapped up not only in his understanding of Deku’s self-sacrifice, but also the betrayal Bakugou feels at being ignored/left behind that ironically echoes his previous perception of being looked down on, as well as a need to express how much he cares about Deku before it’s too late. He must show that the two of them are inseparable because they both act to save each other without thinking, and both feel like losing the other would be like dying themselves. All Might may have been right when he told them they could learn from each other after Deku vs. Kacchan Part 2, but he didn’t fully realize that idea by making sure they stuck by each other for support and balance. 

I can’t wait to see what it’ll be like when they do finally get to that point, totally in synch and in tune with each other. They’ll be a powerful force no one is quite prepared for. Who knows when that will be, or even which chapter will be their big showdown, but I know the day is coming.

To speculate even further, I think the 2nd user is going to be really important really soon. And no I don’t mean to suggest that the 2nd user is Bakugou. But I do think their resemblance is key. Okay this is gonna be convoluted...

See how 2nd is the only one still standing? I think that’s symbolic of him withholding his quirk. Deku may not even know what it is at this point, let alone have unlocked it. Given that 2nd approves of Deku’s strategy at this point, it seems odd for him to withhold his quirk based on lack of faith. I think if his quirk was something that would help Deku in combat, he would have shown it to him already like the others did. So what if those gauntlets of his are support items that are meant to make up for his lack of a combat-oriented quirk, rather than to augment it? Mind you, I still have no idea what his mysterious power might be, but I’m dead set on it not being explosion-y. Regardless, I think 2nd looking like Bakugou is more about aiding some grand visual parallel, so! You know how 2nd and 3rd were probably intending to do away with Yoichi but 2nd changed his mind as soon as they made eye contact? This is really a long shot, but I wonder if 2nd’s quirk has something to do with that exchange. Maybe it’s something psychological, or some 6th sense about people he meets. So... in that way 2nd’s quirk could play a role in bkdk reaching a deeper understanding? Idk! But it could be significant at least that 2nd left Yoichi’s question about why he reached out to him unanswered. 

One more thing- while I was gathering screenshots I found this. I think “you’re the last one I’m telling” might be foreshadowing for Bakugou revealing his hero name to Deku and it being a Big Deal:

As for other lingering threads in the overall plot right now, such as the UA traitor, Stain, whatever Tsuyu is apparently about to do, All Might’s car maybe in the background of the last page of 320... man I have no idea. All I know is there’s literally 320 chapters’ worth of build-up to this confrontation that can’t be interrupted. 

See you next week <3

[the-bat-collector]

SUPERBAT Rec List!! AU NO POWERS ish PART 1

I love NO POWERS NO CAPES AUs but its been so hard to find them!! so decided to make this list to help y’all in your search  :D

The length varies, but I prefer long fics so most of these are 10-20k up to 200k 

Heart and Soul by Pandamomochan

E - 150,044

Clark Kent used to be a renowned composer who was said to be able to write masterpieces that were designed uniquely for each individual player. Famous musicians around the world would flock to him in hopes that he would write for them because his pieces were always said to bring out any player's crowning performance. That is, until one day Clark loses his wife in a tragic accident and decides never to write again.

Years later, Clark's son, Jon, gets admitted to the famous "Gotham School of Performing Arts". It is there that Clark meets Bruce Wayne, a strict, uptight, by the book piano instructor who is said to be able to craft the best musicians around the world.

this is one of my favorites. I'm not really into Hurt/Comfort but this is so beautiful!! highly recommended I'm biased cause I play the piano

Seeing Bruce Wayne by Evilpixie

E - 15,089

Clark Kent is the only male midwife working in Metropolis General. Bruce Wayne the residential pediatric surgeon.

I'm so into medicine/doctor AUs this is also one of my favorite fics!if you have to pick one from this list, pick this one!!!

On The Cusp by vesper_house

E - 47,378

Clark's life isn't going so well. He's in his thirties, he works at a coffee shop run by his old crush, his journalism career is going nowhere, and he's broke. It takes only one tall, dark and handsome stranger to change everything.

COFFE SHOP AU COFFESHOP AU!! We need more of these, the dynamic between Bruce and Clark is Great!!!!

A Game You Can't Win by NightFoliage

T - 78,328

Injustice is the hottest MMORPGs available to play! Set in a world where superpowers exist, players can become civilians, heroes, villains, and anybody in-between. Designed by Hiro “Toyman” Okamura, and Timothy Drake-Wayne, Injustice was created with the best Wayne Industries technology available and has the most human NPCs. The game is beyond it's time and is planned to be at the top of the charts for a while.

By accident, Clark finds himself pushed into the spotlight and new found fame. To him, Let’s Plays are a means to stay in touch with friends and to make money. He never got into LPing to become famous.

Bruce, who funded the game after Jason’s accident, is irritated (not jealous) that a video game player is such a big topic among the kids. After the nth time they mention him, Bruce decides to take matters into his own hands and see what all the fuss is about.

link to art

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SUPERBAT FICS OUT THERE!!!!!! this is great and fun and Clark is the best!

As We Grow by butterflyslinky

E - 23,451

Clark Kent is a farmer deep in debt to Lex Luthor.

Bruce Wayne is a billionaire with seven children and no luck in love.

But their families have a scheme to get them together and hopefully make life a little bit better.

Modern Medicine by BuckinghamAlice

G - 5,208

Pediatrician Dr. Clark Kent becomes beloved to his patients, the Wayne boys... as well as to their doting father Bruce.

ABSOLUTELY lovely and adorable, you get the feels!

Hellooooo, nurse! by weirdraccoon INCOMPLETE WIP

T - ?????

Clark enjoys his job at the Free Clinic. He loves helping people and tending injuries. Saving lives. But this man... Bruce Wayne is going to kill him if he doesn't get killed first.

Bruce is still Batman on this one but HERE ME OUT, Clark is a nurse! is incomplete but looking forward to the following chapters!!

Two Cities by EllenD

E - 96,152

Clark Kent, is simply Clark Kent, junior reporter for the Daily Planet who moved to Metropolis from Smallville with big dreams. Bruce Wayne is a billionaire playboy from Gotham, who also happens to be Batman. They meet, date, and fall in love, though not without hurdles because mild-mannered Clark is also socially awkward as heck. But when the most dangerous criminals in Gotham are gunning for Batman, Clark gets caught in the middle of it all. (He's basically Batman's Lois Lane) Meant to be set in the Dawn of Justice movie universe, but also draws inspiration from video games, comics, and those awesome Batman cartoons.

This is part of a series, but this is the main fic of it. Love this trope of Clark is just a civilian and Bruce is Batman. Warning this fic does contain disturbing topics so read the tags.

Here Comes the Sun by batsy_rocks

T - 18,815

Clark Kent is a kind-hearted reporter working in the big city. Bruce Wayne is a stressed dad of four with no idea of what he's doing.

Then they meet.

Seasons of Love by littlechinesedoll

G - 4,603

Clark Kent took over that farm at the edge of the Town of Smallville. He likes Smallville's resident doctor, Bruce Wayne.

The best gifts for Bruce are ginger ale, salad, coffee, and any kind of flowers. He hates gems, and bars of copper, silver, and gold.

Petals and Ink by drunkraiinbow

T - 12,976

With a new kid joining the family, Bruce tries a new tattoo artist to continue the tradition of adding them to his sleeve, but he won't trust just any artist. Clark manages to win him over with his incredible talent and his farm-boy friendly demeanor, and he may even have begun to win Bruce's heart. However, Clark might have a few things to learn first.

FLOWER SHOP TATTOO PARLOUR AU! what else is there to say, this is extremely cute and a fast read! :D

Faceless Killer by Batsymomma11

E - 51,519

Detective Bruce Wayne from the GCPD and detective Clark Kent from the MPD have been asked to create a joint task force in an effort to catch the John Doe Killer that has been ravaging their sister-cities. Aside from their long-standing animosity towards one another, it should be a breeze to work together. Besides, lives depend on them getting along.

They never expected they'd trip headlong into a romantic entanglement that feels a lot more serious than even the killer they're chasing.

The Tailor by maderi

E - 16,026

When Clark is assigned to cover the Wayne gala, he finds himself in need of a professionally tailored suit. His tailor though is drop dead gorgeous, which brings up a lot of awkward situations during their appointments.

Heroes of the Squared Circle by Mithen

M - 226,687

They've gone by many names: Billionaire Brucie, Country Clark, the Kryptonian, the Dark Knight. But no matter what their stage names are, one thing has always been true: Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne are the world's finest wrestlers.

Six's a crowd by Untoward INCOMPLETE/ABANDONED

G - 10,133

When Alfred has to make an emergency trip back to England, Bruce soon finds out he can't manage running a business and taking care of six kids all alone.

He turns to a nanny agency for help, and is astonished when he finds Clark Kent, who seems like he can handle anything.

Clark not only can take care of the kids incredibly well but seems to be breaking Bruce's walls down rather well too.

After Hours by ????

E - 3,175

At the end of a long semester Clark can't hide his attraction to Professor Wayne any longer. Grad School AU.

This is practically a one-shot, not really my type of fic but worth adding!! Haven't come across this professor trope in Superbat so if you got any recs, send them my way!

Wings and Fangs by DanielleN3

E - 17,224

Clark thought he could never fall in love with anyone, especially not after being alone for such a long time… but all of that changes when he encounters a sexy vampire in Gotham.

TECHNICALLY they both have powers in this one but there are soooo different from cannon that I think this fic still qualifies for this list

thirteen by CapnWinghead

T - 22,890

Drowning in student loans, Clark Kent takes a summer job as the Wayne family nanny.

OKAY. so this is not entirely NO POWERS, but I mean Clark is a NANNY so this is great! TRUST ME

Kiss me, take my breath away by J_Jubilee

E - 37,934

There were legends about Gotham Reef. Legends that said it was haunted by a beast of foul temper. Stories told of a ravenous sea beast that feasted on the flesh of men, and was said to be more hideous than Satan himself. Others told of a woman with eyes that glowed like gold to lead sailors to their death. Some even spoke of a witch that cursed men and wreck their ships, taking all their treasures with it. When Clark’s catamaran is wrecked by a terrible storm, he learns that the stories were oh so far from true.

Baby Bats by AlmondRose

G - 4,003

this is a short series of adorable and simple domestic fluff

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Haven't read this one but heeey the art is sooo pretty soo decided to add it anyways

Dragon Heart by Hells Angel 921

T - 27,660

Kal wants to make up for his past.

Bruce tries to move on with his future.

They eventually meet in the middle.

link to art

I didn't know that Dragon/DragonSlayer was a thing but hey... apparently it is, so here it is.

----------------------

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hehe and so my rant ends here! let me know if you know fics that fit any of these tropes! I’m all ears

[lattewithatwistoflemon]

Making Comics compared to Writing Novels:

Transitioning from making manga all my life to writing a novel has taught me something. Making comics is a hundred times harder than writing novels. And I am by no means saying this to belittle novelists. I’m saying that I’ve made things much too hard on myself and gave myself way more work than necessary by trying to draw all of my stories as manga instead of writing them out as novels.

Imagine you thought out your whole story, spent many days, weeks, or months brainstorming ideas and writing piles of papers full of notes on your story and characters. You have enough information for a whole novel. Heck, you might even have a novel’s worth of words written down. But instead of this being the final step, all of those words are just the beginning. They’re just your outline.

The next step is to layout your story. The one benefit is that you don’t have to worry about writing all of that grammatically pleasant narration. Instead, you have to plan page layouts of panels in an aesthetically pleasing way, making sure that the layout draws the reader’s eye through the events on the page the correct way and creates the illusion of time and action through panel pacing and images. You have to direct a movie on your page. You must make sure the angles are perfect and beautiful and pull the reader into the characters’ actions. You must make sure your story is perfectly legible from the layout. But hey, your characters are barely a step above stick figures at this point. You only drew them detailed enough to get the general gist of what’s going on in each panel.

So next, you get a bigger, better piece of paper, and you redraw every single one of those panels. Is this just the first chapter of your comic/manga? Than that might be about 20 pages, 5 panels per page. So that’s 100 drawings. And this time, they have to be highly rendered in a gorgeous art style. They might take about 30 minutes each. Every picture has to capture your style and be consistent. And make sure all of your character’s freckles are in the same place in every picture. Once that’s done, you have beautifully pencilled pages.

But oh, it’s not done. You have to go back and ink every single one of those pictures. That’s right, you’re drawing it for a third time. This time, you have to be extra careful to make sure that everything is perfect, because it’s permanent. This is the final draft that everyone will see. Almost.

Did you think you were done? Now, you have to scan it into your computer, if it isn’t already digital. You have to adjust the contrast and make it all super clean and pretty. Then you have to add text and screen tones or colors. This will take a couple hours per page. Oh, there we go, now it looks done!

But wait. You have to shrink it down to the right size, so that you can upload it onto a website. Oh, the quality got messed up? Too bad. Oh well. At least people can read it, after the innumerable hours you put into it. And that was just a single chapter.

Yeah, writing novels sounds a lot easier for me.

[amostheartman]

The Hero’s Bond final update

Hey everyone, it’s me Amos.

Okay, So…. Here's the deal…

 I’ve got some bad news, and It's about the comic.

I'm pretty sure you can guess what's coming next, but don’t worry there is some good in here just hear me out.

It's been something I have struggled with for a while now and I had to finally sit myself down to think things over and I’ve come to this decision.

I’m no longer working on the hero’s bond comic.

It's been a long time coming and I thought I could beat the odds and power through. But I simply can’t work on it enough to finish it within a reasonable amount of time anymore. And even if I took my time to finish it, it still would take way too long.

When I first started it, it was just line art with gradient fill coloring and I had all kinds of time and ideas. It was a lot of fun and it felt like I was really going somewhere with it.

But with each passing year and all the things that have utterly derailed the comics progress it became clear that fully finishing this was never in the cards.

I did a lot of bending for this comic. Like way more than I reasonably should have.

 I’ve stayed up whole nights working on it, worked entire weekends on it, fought past the crashes that destroyed 2 hours of work every other day, heck I even called in sick to work a few times to work on it, all of that so I could painstakingly upload it to tumblers dash on my slow shotty wi-fi.

All of it was because I wanted to.

And for a while it felt like it was worth it.

To get my ideas out into the world and show support for a series I love with people who feel the same. Seeing you guys love the comic was an amazing feeling and all I wanted to do was work harder on the next one and 1-up myself.

And if things had worked out like I planned, it totally would have been one massively fun project. But like most things, life gets in the way.

In the span of this comic I’ve been through 4 different jobs and some very soso online work. 

As fun as it was to do the comic it wasn’t putting gas in my car or food on the table and it was drawing a lot of my focus. Even with my efforts to justify the time spent on working on it nothing was really coming of it. 

I couldn’t work on the comic at work and I couldn't stay up all night anymore so my options were limited.

But I still wanted to do it, so I forced myself to do it every chance I got.

 I started a patron, I gave myself hard deadlines, I reused assets, cut corners, made myself give you guys updates to keep me striving for something to show for it.

But I had to face facts, I simply didn’t have the time and couldn’t make the time for it anymore.

And so it eventually devolved into this.

I never wanted it to end like this, and it stinks that I have to tell you this way. But I honestly don’t know how else to put it.

I’m sorry I let you down.

So where does that leave us?

Well for one I’m surely not leaving you on a mid story cliffhanger. I’ve read enough online comics to know how much it sucks to have a story left unfinished with complete radio silence from the creator.

I plan on making a video or posting rough panels here detailing how the story would have played out and ultimately ended.

I would have posted the entire script, but that is unfortunately forever locked away in my flash drive that not even the professionals can crack and retyping it from memory would take forever.

You deserve better and I wish I was able to give it to you. You guys have been nothing but great to me and for that I simply can’t express my gratitude enough.

Thank you for everything.

Also, to the people who signed up and supported my Patrion you guys went above and beyond for me and that's something I simply can’t forget or thank you enough for. I honestly didn’t think anyone would sign up but you guys did and to this day I’m still floored by it.

But seeing how I've given you next to nothing back it doesn't feel right to just let things sit.

I’m still not entirely sure how Patron operates but I want to refund you your money. I feel awful for not delivering anything worthy of value and it doesn't feel right to simply take it.

So please message me so we can set something up.

It was fun while it lasted guys.

I’ll still be around, and I’ll still do little mini comics and art stuff. But this project of mine is pretty much over.

Just know that it was you guys that kept me going this whole time.

Thank you.

Thank you for all the messages

Thank you for all the encouragement

Thank you for all of the support

Thank you for all of your kind words

Thank you for being you.

I got this comic further than I had ever hoped it would actually go because of you.

Thank you for everything :)

- Amos

[a-solitary-marshmallow]

False (red) Colours

As far as situations went, Virgil was pretty sure his was unique.

Not because of the whole hunting vampires thing; apparently there were tonnes of those people scattered around the globe. Heck, Virgil probably wasn’t the only hunter to join the cause because he’d been enamored by a goddamn beautiful idiot who he couldn’t just walk away from. But if he came across another vampire pretending to be human to go on vampire hunting trips with said idiot, then he had to congratulate them, because keeping this shit secret was hard.

Not that Virgil felt bad for the vampires they hunted down. He and Roman only went after the nasty ones anyway, the ones who took their strength and longevity and used it for their own gain, to punish or control those around them. So no, Virgil didn’t particularly care about those vampires. They were just bloodsuckers who abused their power, they were practically asking to be staked.

Which was why he didn’t feel bad for what they were about to do.

“Anything yet?” Roman asked from the drivers seat. They’d parked in a shadowy junkyard to observe the comings and goings of an old, disused storage facility on the edge of town. Virgil rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, now that you mention it, I saw a vampire earlier and decided not to mention it because I like sitting in a dark car in the middle of the night.” He drawled. Roman pulled out his sword to sharpen it lazily and Virgil hissed at him. “Put that thing away! You’ll end up stabbing someone.”

Roman snorted. “Kinda the plan, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, the plan to not stab me.” Virgil muttered. Roman, the gorgeous idiot, just grinned at him crookedly and rolled his eyes. The moment only lasted a moment, however, because his gaze sharpened and locked onto something through the window. The hairs on the back of Virgil’s neck stood on end. He quickly followed Roman’s stare.

Movement at the mouth of the building. A figure scurried through the entrance, shutting the door after them. They moved fluidly and disappeared inside within seconds. From their speed and coordination in the dark, Virgil was pretty certain he knew what they were, and it was just what he and Roman had come looking for. He tried to catch a further glimpse of the figure through the windows but they had all been boarded up.

“What’s the bet it’s a whole nest?” Roman said lowly.

“Well, boarded windows. They’re still young enough to be weak to the sun.” Virgil pointed out. “So our guy’s probably converting new followers and enthralling them while they’re still weak. That’ll be where all the disappearances are coming from, I guess. Another world-leader wannabe.”

Roman looked thoughtful. “Maybe. Either the missing people are already enthralled, or they’re dinner. No way we’ll be able to rescue any of them. We’ve gotta shut this down before they get anyone else.”

“Do we need to call Joan and Talyn?” Virgil asked. He wasn’t exactly thrilled to be calling in more hunters, as nice as the duo had seemed when they met up for lunch the other week, and thankfully Roman shook his head.

“They’re already busy tonight. Besides, we’ve got this.” Roman ran a hand through tousled brown curls and grinned. “Least kills buys pizza tomorrow?”

“You’re on.”

  Roman took the left wing while Virgil took the right. It was the best way to tackle newly-established nests – the sire would be resting, protected, in the heart of the building, sending his newly fledged underlings to act as guards on the outskirts. Virgil’s heart went out to the vampire standing guard in front of side door – she had obviously been turned only a few days ago at most. She flinched even at the soft glow of the moon as if it were the sun’s glare, and squinted around at her dark surroundings. Even her night vision must not have fully kicked in yet.

Virgil could remember what it was like to be newly fledged. He’d been scared, confused, hurt and hungry. He didn’t understand what was going on around him. It had taken weeks of hiding and feeding and adjusting to his new body for him to gather his mind enough to finally remember his own name. He’d recovered; eventually.

But Virgil hadn’t been enthralled by an elder vampire.

Which was why he didn’t hesitate to break her neck, as quickly and painlessly as he could before making his way further into the building. He encountered few fledgling on his way. It was a nest in its early stages, after all. Hunters had to make sure to close down any nests before they could be properly established and dig their roots in too deep.

Virgil’s anxiety levels rose the further he explored, knives at the ready. This place was quiet, eerie – it gave him the creeps. More so than the usual creepy vampire hangouts. And that was saying something.

A scrape. Virgil flattened his back against a wall, listening carefully into the quiet of the inner sanctuary. There was a muted rustling and rasp of voices. Virgil slunk towards the entrance.

No time to think, only act. As soon as the room came into focus, the gloomy concrete floors and the vampire hissing to its quivering subject, Virgil lunged.

The elder screeched and its eyes flashed – the fledgling jerked, against their will, into Virgil’s path. Virgil swiped them out of the way and found a pistol aimed at his face.

The elder vampire stared at him, and Virgil stared back. Since when did vampires need guns? This one apparently took no chances. Its face slowly split into a fanged smile as it regarded Virgil. At least Roman wasn’t here yet. They stood alone in a dark room that may have once been an office or a break room. Now it was torn up and water-stained. The air smelled mildewy.

“Nice place you got here.” Virgil drawled. The vampire’s head tipped.

“A hunter. I was wondering when you’d show up.”

Virgil’s lip curled. “Yeah, yeah, speeches and all that shit. I get the drill.”

“You’re not going to ask me about myself?”

“I don’t fucking care who you are.”

The vampire shrugged. “That’s fair.” It said, and then it pressed the trigger and shot Virgil in the chest with a deafening crack. There was a sharp impact that hurt like a bitch, and he hissed, clutching at his shirt with sharp nails. It burned, already itching as it began to scab over. The blood dribbled over his hand. It was hot and metallic and the scent of it made Virgil’s fangs burst free with the need to rip tear rend.

The vampire’s eyes widened comically. “You’re-”

Virgil didn’t realize a familiar figure stood frozen in the doorway.

He didn’t realize as he lunged at the gun-toting vampire with a roar; sank his fangs into its neck and tore out its throat; latched onto the hot, life-giving pulse and gulped greedily as he dragged its twitching body to the floor. He wrapped his legs around its convulsing chest and sucked down deep mouthfuls of liquid. Contrary to popular beliefs, vampires could still bleed. They had heartbeats.

But not enough, not fast enough to sate his hunger. Virgil tore through veins and arteries and sank his fangs in once again, feeling the strong throbbing of his prey’s heartbeat nearly push bursts of blood down his throat.

And then a voice that shattered his whole world into pieces.

“Virgil!”

Virgil’s appetite dropped like a stone. He snapped his head up – too little, too late, for the human in the doorway. The human who had been here this whole time. Roman stood white-faced with his sword clutched in one hand, and when Virgil met his horrified gaze Roman lifted it.

“No.” The sound that tore from Virgil’s lips was rough, somewhere between a whimper and a sob. He clapped his hands over his blood-smeared face.

But the damage was done.

Roman stepped forward and Virgil slithered back with a frightened cry. The gleam of the blade filled his vision. He scrambled in reverse until his back hit a wall – pinned, trapped.

And still Roman advanced. Virgil pressed his back against the wall.

“Roman, please – walk away now, don’t come any closer! Roman BACK OFF!”

Step after slow step. Virgil dug his nails into the wall and screamed, “BACK OFF! I’LL KILL YOU!”

Roman didn’t slow.

“Leave me alone! ROMAN! I swear I’ll kill you – I swear I’ll–”

But Virgil couldn’t swear anything. He curled up into a ball and hissed half-heartedly at the hunter who loomed over him, sword in hand. Roman. He couldn’t hurt Roman.

Roman moved, and Virgil closed his eyes and hoped it would be quick.

Seconds passed and the pain did not come, nor the sound of Virgil’s neck being sliced. He peeked out from under his eyelashes, still expecting the blow to come.

Roman’s sword had been roughly, hastily shoved into its sheath. And Roman – Roman had dropped down to his knees with his hands palm-up and empty. Virgil stared at him suspiciously – what was the trick? The ploy? The knife to spear him through the heart?

“Virgil.” Roman rasped. “Virgil, please. I’m not gonna hurt you. I’m not.”

Not? Virgil tucked himself in tighter. He hadn’t felt his eyes well up but he did feel the hot blood track down his face in a vampire’s imitation of tears.

“Virgil, listen to me. You’re safe. I promise you you’re safe.”

Virgil bit his lip – but he’d forgotten about his unsheathed fangs and now fresh blood welled up, sliding down his chin.

Roman opened his arms. “It’s okay.”

It was probably a ruse – a trick, to get him to drop his guard. What the hell. Virgil would die anyway. He may as well pretend to be loved, just for a little while.

So he tipped forward and into Roman’s grip – allowing the hunter to hold him while Virgil wept into his vampire-blood-splattered jacket. Roman stroked his hair feverishly. He was warm, solid, and the contact made Virgil relax against him almost instantly like a tired cat. Everything might even be worth it for this moment.

“Oh, stormcloud. Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay.” Roman whispered. “I love you. We’re gonna be okay.”

Definitely worth it. Virgil took a deep breath and steeled himself for the jab of a blade in his unprotected back. It… didn’t come. Roman was getting slow.

Maybe he wanted to draw this out. Virgil didn’t have it in him to fight anymore. Whatever Roman had planned for him it was justified anyway.

He let out a whimper of protest as Roman started pulling away, and was answered by Roman’s arms tightening again.

“We have to leave, okay Virge?” He whispered. “Let’s go home.”

Well, that was morbid. Virgil nodded mutely against Roman’s chest. If that was where he wanted to do it…

  Roman was deathly silent on the way home. Virgil pulled his knees to his chest in the passenger seat and looked out the window for the whole drive. The midnight city was alight – a collage of bright signs and dim alleyways and the stretch of charcoal sky. Occasionally Virgil would catch glimpses of his reflection in the window. His drawn face, the shadows under haunted eyes, bloodstains around his mouth and dripping down his chin. Looking every bit the monster he was.

Virgil tried to ignore that and focus on the view. After all, this was the last time he’d see it.

The drive ended all too soon, Roman pulling into a familiar driveway. The usually cheerful face of home now appeared dark and menacing. Virgil barely waited for the car to stop before he shoved opened his door and strode inside. With his pretense of being human blown, he didn’t need to turn the lights on. He did, for Roman’s benefit.

Virgil looked out the window and hugged himself as Roman’s footsteps followed him inside. Roman pulled off his bloodstained jacket and dropped it on a rack.

“Do you want the shower first?” Roman offered quietly. Jeez, he was really taking this seriously. Virgil shook his head. “Okay then.”

The hunter disappeared into the bathroom. He was being very trusting, assuming Virgil wouldn’t try to escape. Or maybe Roman knew that even if Virgil did run, he would just find him again. Roman always found his prey.

Virgil slumped bonelessly on the couch and buried his face in his hands.

It seemed like only a few minutes later that Roman emerged with wet hair. Virgil glanced up through his fingers, biting his lip. Roman was heading for the fridge.

“Shower’s yours. I’m gonna cook some ravioli, and then we should talk. Things always seem better after a meal, like Mama used to say-”

Virgil yelled, “Why are you doing this?”

Roman froze. Oh shit, Virgil hadn’t meant to say anything. But it was done now.

He stood jerkily from the couch. “I get that you want to do it right, or whatever. I’m a vampire. I get it. But – but now you’re just being cruel.” Virgil dug his fingers into his scalp, eyes prickling with bloody tears. “Why don’t you just get it over with? Do you want to set me on fire or something? Do you want to chop off my head? I don’t care Roman, just do it already!”

Roman looked horrified. “Virgil, what on earth are you talking about?”

“You need help? I’ll help you!” Virgil grabbed out his own dagger with shaking hands and pressed the tip to his chest. It pricked through his shirt and Roman paled. “Just do it already! Put me out of my misery, I don’t want – I don’t want to wait any longer.” His voice cracked. “Why are you making me wait?”

“Virgil.” Virgil winced up through a blur of red tears as Roman stalked forward. Roman grabbed the dagger from his hands and threw it away. It skittered across the floor. Virgil stared at Roman as the hunter framed his face, tears pouring from bright brown eyes. “Virgil, honey, please listen. I’m not gonna hurt you, I swear, Stormcloud. I’m not. You’re my Virge. We can handle this, I promise. Listen – listen!” He grabbed Virgil’s hands as the vampire tried to hide his face. “You’re safe, Virgil, I promise.”

Virgil shook his head and tried to shout, but his voice came out as more of a strangled sob. “I’m a bloodsucker. A parasite. I deserve to die, you know that-”

“No, Virgil, you’re so good. You’re so good. You don’t deserve to die and I’m not gonna kill you. Okay?”

There was no lie in his voice.

Roman was crying, and his eyes were so intense – Virgil couldn’t meet them. He could only nod mutely. Roman squeezed his hands.

“Now why don’t you go have a shower? You’ll feel better after that. And we can eat some food, and sleep, and talk tomorrow. Okay?” Virgil nodded again. “Do you wanna have a sleepover in my room?” Another nod. “Okay. I’ll take care of it.”

Roman kissed Virgil’s forehead before sending him to the bathroom. It was warm and full of steam. Homely in a way that Virgil didn’t deserve. He stood under hot water and scrubbed dry blood from his skin. He felt like he was in a dream.

When Virgil emerged Roman was making trips from the lounge to his room, carting pillows and – was that the fucking microwave? Virgil hesitated. When Roman wobbled though, instinct kicked in and he darted forward to catch the heavy machinery before it could drop.

“Thanks.” Roman wheezed, not flinching like Virgil would have expected. He was acting so… normal. Virgil would have been weirded out if he wasn’t so tired.

“Why the fuck are you taking the microwave?” Virgil asked quietly.

“Uh, because I want to make popcorn and it’s annoying to keep walking back and forth from the kitchen to my room? Duh. Hey, you’ve got that super vampire strength right? Can’t believe I’ve been carrying things for you all this time. Come on, we’re eating popcorn and watching movies and leaving all the knives and shit out here.”

Virgil blinked at the overload of information. “Um.”

“Are you coming or what?”      

Virgil shifted the microwave to his hip and stared at the exasperated hunter, whose eyes were still pink from crying and yet rolling like this was any other day and he hadn’t just discovered his best friend was a fucking vampire. Seriously. Virgil had known Roman was an idiot, but he’d expected the hunter to have some sense of self-preservation.

“I have fangs.” Virgil blurted out. Roman frowned at him.

“Yes. I thought we already covered this? Now get your ass into gear, Big Hiro 6 isn’t going to watch itself.”

…huh. Either Roman or Virgil were stupider than he’d thought, because this was not playing out how he’d expected.

For the sake of his dignity, Virgil chose to believe it was Roman who was lacking in IQ. He shrugged and went to carry the fucking microwave into Roman’s bedroom. His idiot had decided to keep him, and like hell Virgil was gonna throw that away by being moody and dramatic.

He managed to not be moody and dramatic up until Roman cheekily suggested they watch Twilight. At that point Virgil couldn’t be blamed for throwing a pillow at his face.

[deitiesofduat]

BASTET: “As it turns out, the project has been due for this type of update for some time -- which the artist @tenicola​ (aka @teninini, colacanvas, and "Teni") finally got around to, after having enough headspace to approach it. 

“And just to avoid worrying anyone seeing this -- nope, Teni is not dropping DEITIES project anytime soon. She's not going anywhere, and neither am I! Or the rest of my pantheon! 

“But Teni mentioned she was worried about projecting that outcome, due to how inactive she's been online, and how quiet she's been about progress. She's hoping this update can add some clarity on what's actually going on, and what to expect going forward.”

“The rest of this update is below the cut, as text mixed with panels. It's on the long-ish side, and while it's best to skim through everything for context, you can also skip to the section "SHIFT IN [PUBLIC] SCOPE" if you just want to get to the point.

“Without further ago, let's start with some history that Teni wanted to share for full context -- again, under the cut!”

--------------------------------------------------

[ HISTORY OF DEITIES PROJECT ]

BASTET: “DEITIES Project -- and the main story for said project (Deities of Duat: The Chaos Seal), which is intended as a long form webcomic -- has been in development, privately and offline, since late 2014. Teni meant to keep it private for as long as possible, until she felt “ready” to share it.

“However, she was motivated to take the plunge and reveal the project's existence with these color tests and with this comic, as part of her coursework for her visual storytelling class. You know the one…”

“The surge of encouragement from both her classmates and her followers motivated Teni to create this blog -- the one you're visiting right now! It was Teni's full intention to use this blog to share progress on the main story, as a full-length webcomic, while building and engaging her audience.”

“However, along the way were a few... unforeseen obstacles that reared their head. Some obstacles were mitigated by making steady updates to the story and blog, but some were much more challenging, and she thinks it only fair to disclose some of them for context...”

--------------------------------------------------

[ OBSTACLES OF LIFE ]

BASTET: “The first obstacle was the sudden onset of chronic lower back pain -- just before the launch of the DEITIES blog in 2016. She still has it to this day, and says this ache makes it unbearable to sit or stand in the same position for too long. Among several inconveniences this causes, it also means she can only draw in short bursts before her stamina taps out, or before needing pain relief -- like heat, ice, and pressure.”

“As you might imagine, it's not the most fun condition to have when you enjoy drawing! And it's taken a while for Teni to cope with this daily frustration. She's still planning to find answers and a treatment to help reduce it, but has also accepted that she's been dealt this hand -- not unlike other creatives that deal with some form of chronic pain.”

“The back pain was one obstacle, but having to deal with different interpersonal struggles and friction was another. Some spiked her usual feelings of anxiety, and in one relationship's case, made her question whether or not the project was worth continuing. (On that note -- Teni does not want to call out anyone or guilt them, she just wanted to bring it up as a factor for the larger point she's making — just bear with us!)

“The third big obstacle a few years back, was having a day job that had an... ‘unfriendly’ work environment, and was paying a lot less income than she fairly deserved. And near the beginning of 2018, she was laid off from said job, putting a halt to any income she was earning only a week after signing the lease to her first apartment!”

“Teni didn't go into detail about those months of job hunting and taking tech classes, though she explains bits of it in previous updates. But the lack of financial stability at the time hung over her head constantly. The way she put it was: ‘It was hard to motivate myself to indulge in something I loved, but that didn't provide income, while I was in the middle of an extended job hunt.’"

“She didn't expect all these obstacles in succession when she launched the project. And she admits that she felt a combination of frustration, impatience, and disappointment for not updating the project at the same pace she started.”

“This was not because of any pressure from followers -- she told me you all have been incredibly understanding and patient! It was because of the fact that the project had been publicly promoted for so long, and she set her own expectations and goals so high -- without factoring the likelihood of life getting in the way. There was also the lingering fear of disappointing a lot of people, if one day she had no choice but to stop the project for her own livelihood and health.”

“Ah, why am I adding to this creative angst -- Teni didn't want this to be a sob story! I'll move on haha.”

--------------------------------------------------

[ IN A BETTER PLACE ]

BASTET: “Thankfully, in spite of all those obstacles, things are turning around for Teni in this new decade. A year ago she found a job with a feasible income to support herself, and an overall healthy work environment within her team. She's also fostered healthier relationships with her family and friends, and even made closer connections with the best friends she's had for ages!”

“And while her back pain is… still there, it's a manageable part of life that she's still determined to find answers for and improve.

“Not to mention that in the past year, she's been able to work on other projects, more quietly, and indulge in drawing other characters and fanart for fun. She's consumed more of her favorite media in the interim as well to support others, and to sate her own curiosity and interests.”

“Moving on to how this relates to this update, now that we have some backdrop for what's been happening...”

--------------------------------------------------

[ AREAS OF INTEREST ]

BASTET: “Again, Teni is not dropping DEITIES Project -- she admits the fear of having to make that call had crossed her mind, but it's not something she thinks she'll need to reconsider right now. Her bigger concern has been how to approach this project publicly, moving forward. And after giving it some thought, she's made some observations that may shed light on this answer.

“Teni wanted me to emphasize the idea of her doing a ‘reset’ for the public presentation and development of DEITIES Project -- not to change or hide the development thus far, but to reframe the project's scope -- what it's focus and goals are, more or less.

“...Oh-- looks like she made some visuals to help with this -- you two mind lending me a hand?”

“You all might have figured it out by now, but Teni absolutely loves drawing character art and designs. She also likes panel-style comics, as well as the dialogue, expressions, and SFX that comes with it. She can work on them offline without prompting, but she also loves sharing what she comes up with!

“What she's less fond of sharing is some of the other... *ahem* unmentionables and time-consuming work that comes with traditional comics. Things that take hours to set up and hours to practice, let alone execute for the final product -- an unfortunate hurdle when you're a one-person production team, and you can only draw in small bursts at a time.”

“She initially tried to put off the more indulgent art that she liked, in order to focus the less-favored obligations... but she realized that this just made her feel demotivated to work on anything, and less got completed as a result.”

“Overall, Teni's coming to terms with both her own limitations and her personal drive, and wants to shift her priorities accordingly for the project -- even if it goes against the grain of what's considered ‘good’  or well-meaning advice for a personal project.”

--------------------------------------------------

[ SHIFT IN [PUBLIC] SCOPE ]

BASTET: “Instead of treating the DEITIES main story/comic as the ‘end game’ goal of this project -- and pouring all her available energy in preparing for it and hyping it up -- Teni wants to shift the main story as a future, and more private ambition, until she's in a better place to execute it and share it publicly.

“No, she does not have any estimate or TBD date for when this will be, or when she'll make public updates on it’s progress or launch. It may even remain private indefinitely. And for now, she's okay with this.

“Because (1) The main story "The Chaos Seal" is not the only story that's worth telling from this project. Smaller side- and backstories, and even small character interactions, have their merit as well -- something Teni learned from drawing askbox responses, completing memes with the cast, and character exploration with friends. And with the main story not sucking up all the oxygen, she thinks it'll leave room to tackle the others more easily -- whether they're planned ahead of time or are spur-of-the-moment, and as comics or different formats.

“(2) Removing the DEITIES main story from its public pedestal will also allow her to work on other non-DEITIES things as they crop up -- and with less irrational guilt to indulge in things that aren't ‘priority’ for completing the comic. Meaning more art of her original characters, fanart, giftart, collabs, memes and bandwagons, and other smaller projects. Heck, she might even give herself permission to relax.

“And (3), perhaps most importantly -- Teni realized that DEITIES Project shouldn’t have to start and end with the so-called main story, and placing the story aside wouldn’t mean the project suddenly becomes a waste of time -- as she originally worried about projecting when her life took a twist.

“DEITIES Project just… is. It already exists, and the characters and world already exist -- with or without a completed webcomic to validate that existence.”

“But anyway, I side-tracked. The point is, Teni's planning to shift DEITIES project to just that -- a project, with room to continually grow, explore, and experiment with, and to engage with others as she feels comfortable, without the pressure of having a giant epic to tell.

“So while the main story and comic is going to shift to something more gradual and private -- the way it was originally meant to be -- this shift in scope will help adjust the project’s longevity, and also set the stage for some changes to be made around the blog, and for the public presentation for DEITIES.” 

“However, that content will be less scheduled and remain sporadic -- things will ‘happen when they happen,’ but what Teni has in mind will hopefully be enjoyable for those following the project.”

--------------------------------------------------

[ WHAT'S NEXT-- ]

BASTET: “Here’s the thing: we actually had more to share, but Teni made the call to save it all for another day -- to avoid making this update longer than needed, and to also avoid announcing any plans prematurely. No need to risk building pressure all over again or burning out, right?

“She asks for everyone’s patience and to give her another few weeks to re-calibrate things, address pressing questions, and work on some overdue housekeeping on the blog -- and to just draw whatever pops to her mind, cuz hey, why not? After that, she'll wait until any project items are already in the works and on the road to completion, before she announces that they're coming -- an ‘under-promise but over-deliver’ approach.

“But one thing you can look forward to are more featured deities from the main cast and the supporting cast -- including those colors tests she's been working on since last year, and then some! There's no shortage of inspiration or fodder, so to speak.”

--------------------------------------------------

[ IN CONCLUSION ]

BASTET: “So to recap! DEITIES Project will be shifting its scope and priorities, so that the main story and comic is developed more privately, and more characters and lore will be explored online at a more manageable pace. On the surface, that may not look like much is changing, but hopefully this update can make expectations more clear.

“Teni knows that there may be some in the audience who may feel down about this decision, or who were looking forward to the webcomic to be completed above all else. She says that's totally fair, and encourages anyone looking for stories to check out her recommendations. But she also hopes you'll understand, and be willing to stick around for other content in the meantime.”

"That brings Teni -- and me -- to one final point. Which is to sincerely thank you for all of your support, encouragement, and patience these past few years. In addition to things that are still in the works, there's a lot of content on this blog that had been inspired by everyone's engagement, which we can't thank you enough for!

“Teni and I, and everyone else from the pantheon, are excited about what’s next for Deities of Duat and DEITIES Project. And we’re looking forward to sharing more content, more freely, in the upcoming year for you all to enjoy.”

[skaldish]

Not related to Loki... but I just wanted to say that I love your drawings? Do you have any tips for how to get better at drawing?

I do! I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned this here, but I was an art teacher for almost a decade and had fine arts training at a certified atelier (not that you see much of that coming out in my doodles, lol). But I can definitely give you the laundry list of things I used to tell my students:

1. Use constructive anatomy. The “big shapes” give structure to your details.

Every drawing of a superhero you see begins with a stick figure. Every drawing of a spaceship begins with squares, lines, and circles. Every skilled drawing ever starts with lightly-drawn “big shapes” to provide a framework for details. Getting good at understanding this framework is the key to a successful drawing. Just like with houses, we start by building the frame before applying the paint.

When I was a teenager I actually refused to do this process because it was hard and looked ugly. But this stubbornness set my art back because I plateaued. To overcome it, I had to unlearn and relearn how to draw. Only just now have my figures become dynamic, and I still have problems drawing stiff pelvises sometimes. My biggest tip to you? Don’t be like me. Listen to the advice of experts.

Here’s a book I highly recommend to help you with this concept and creating action in your work:

2. Learn the rules so you can break the rules

The key to drawing a really good figure lies in understanding how figures work in real life. Many manga-ka are great at drawing manga not because that’s the only thing they’ve ever drawn, but because they’ve practiced real-world anatomy to the point they can now break the rules of anatomy to achieve desired results. My all-time favorite example of this is One Punch Man.

Breaking the rules without learning them first, however, can end up trapping your art in its own limitations, which is really hard to unlearn. A good example of an artist who’s done this is the comic artist Rob Liefeld. Despite the fact he can draw really detailed figures, all of them are very out-of-proportion because he never learned the basics of anatomy. (He understands this shortcoming though, and we forgive him for it because he created Deadpool).

The best way to learn the rules is to draw from real life, and if you can’t do that, draw from photos. I always recommend classes but I understand that’s not always accessible for everyone. Practicing drawing what you see can be a chore for some artists, but you’ll thank yourself later for it. I once heard a story of an oil painter who became the master at painting clouds because it’s all he ever looked at and painted for an entire year, so life drawing is definitely worth something.

3. Use References

I promise you, it’s not cheating. References are beautiful, beautiful things that fill in the blanks of your knowledge. Can’t figure out how a hand should be positioned in your drawing? Take a photo of your own hand and use it as a model. How the heck do abs work again? Look it up online. Need to draw a person sitting in a chair and don’t know how? Find a stock photo or other reference and use the pose. Professionals do this all the time regardless of their skills. Nothing is created in a vacuum so give yourself plenty of references to work from when you need them.

4. Don’t worry about developing a “style”

This is something a lot of my students were very concerned about, and I told them this: You WILL develop a style, whether you intend to or not. Style comes naturally out of learning how to draw and improving your skills, and while you can consciously influence your own style, it’s going to happen one way or another. Unless your art style is going in a direction you’re not happy with, it’s not something you need to worry about. 

5. PRACTICE

The secret to getting good at art is practice. I can’t tell you how many times I saw students without any artistic abilities surpass students with “natural knacks” just because they practiced well. No matter what your current skill level is, practice is the only thing that develops talent.

I used to tell my students this: “Draw bad feet. Draw bad hands. That’s your assignment--Draw them and make them bad.” And when they did, I said, “Great! Now you’ve drawn hands and feet.” Sometimes all you really need to do is give yourself permission to get stuff on the paper. You can learn from a bad drawing but you can’t learn from a blank piece of paper.

You don’t need to go into every drawing expecting it to be a finished piece. I go through 90 half-finished drawings and doodles to get to my 10 best pieces of art, and maybe 1 of those 10 works is my coveted “S-Tier” work: the best of my skills. But that one picture was built on what I learned from those 99 other ones, and those 99 drawings make it worth it every time. Nothing is wasted.

The quality of your practice matters too, though. I got wildly better after my atelier training, but you don’t need to take fancy classes to improve your art. If you follow these steps and do some very active practicing from time to time, you’ll see improvement.

(As a final note, make sure you’re practicing on paper. Drawing tablets and programs are great for their purposes, but you want to make sure your skills aren’t hinged upon their extra capabilities.)

Hope this helps!