Expectations Be DARNED

 Today's XKCD comic hit my brain like a TRUCK. Every once in awhile the creator, Randall Munroe, experiments with different storytelling styles or far-out ideas, but today's "Click and Drag" really surprised me. Reminiscent of the Infinite Canvas described by Scott McCloud, today's comic went on... well, nigh-infinitely, it seemed to me. I spent quite a long time exploring and letting my mind wander as I marveled at the sheer scale of what he'd done. I thought to myself:

• How long did this take? He must've been working on this (in addition to the regular strips) for MONTHS
• Does it end? Does it loop? How many directions does it travel off into?
•  Is there a perfect way to "read" this, to see everything in one sweep?
• Is this a commentary on life, and how there is no single, ideal linear progression? Just opportunities to explore and discover?
• Are those Warp Pipes?

If that all sounds ridiculous and heavy, well... XKCD frequently is. Today's was extra special, though (as even Comics Alliance noted) so I had to share. Be sure you click and drag it.

Is This The End of Paragon City?

On this, the One Year Anniversary of the last time I properly updated this blog, I thought I'd write about something that's been hitting me a lot harder than maybe it ought to: the end of City of Heroes. For those who are unfamiliar, CoH is a super hero themed MMORPG, and the first online game of its type that I ever explored. The characters I created, the friends I made, and the adventures I had still mean so much to me... more than some of the other nonsense I've played since. Back when I was actually properly updating this blog, I did a sketch or two of my favorite characters (and my friends'). Wozar still appears in the banner for this blog.

Federation Follies

A few months ago, a good friend of mine launched TrekNews.net, a great site for Star Trek news, trivia, and fun. I've had the pleasure of writing a few humor pieces for the "Federation Follies" feature each Friday (*phew*) and my latest went up today. Check out one insane writer's pitch for a new Star Trek series here... if you dare.

Rollin' Down a Rooftop

This is a character design I did as a commission, but the client didn't end up using it so I'm going to post it here. I'll be doing other work for them (which, with their permission, I may also eventually post) but for now I'll stick with what didn't quite suit their needs (click for a larger view):





The color scheme I picked was a little muted, but otherwise I like this design. I'm trying to experiment with different looks and styles, to try to find some that still look like my work while being unique and unusual. As always, it's an ongoing process.

A Slimy One-Hundredth Post

This is a (slightly more detailed version) of a character I used to draw in elementary school. He was a shape-changing villain for a masked vigilante character I'd created. Looking at this walking tar pit now, it looks kind of like Clayface if he was running around with the Venom symbiote.

It may not have been my most creative or original work, but Tarr was sure fun to draw; I was glad to find that he still is. Click for a larger view:




... also, it seems like I should have reached 100 Posts quite some time ago. Fingers are crossed that 200 will come a lot quicker.

"You've always had the power..."

... to use Photoshop to make goofy animated GIFs, apparently. I've always wanted to make the silly things, but never knew that I could use programs I ALREADY HAD to do it.

Plus a brief tutorial I apparently downloaded two years ago.

Sigh.

Today on Comics Alliance I found a fun article showcasing an artist who draws some pretty wicked Hero Dance Parties, and I was inspired to try some really simple animatin'. Here is the result (thank you to Jesse Lonergan, whose fantastic art I "borrowed" for this):





This is a first effort, and it ain't great. It syncs up pretty well to "I'd Do Anything For Love," though. It would seem all things are better with Meat Loaf.

... and now, IN COLOR.

Finally got around to coloring this, after doing a couple quick commission sketches. I've been trying a slightly different method for coloring in Photoshop and it's been taking me some time to get used to; I think I'm liking the results now.

Click the thumbnail for a larger view.