The Dreadful -- Chapter 2

[MSperoni]

I decided that starting with this page I would divide the comic into approximate 24-30 page chapters. This chapter covers page 39 to page 61.

So, here is Page 39! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/dreadful/)

Brief (but dramatic) flashback time! The first appearance of Poe, and I guess Jeanne (in dialog). Jeanne appears in full on the next page (dun duuun)

I mainly wanted to show Jeanne and Poe, and I could only really do that via flashback. It was a good time for one.

[GeneralBeDe]

<3 great work so far!

[MSperoni]

Thanks! :)

[BigDemonicBunny]

Looks like Liz is Little Ms.Diplomacy (where violence is just a weapon among many, and one of last resort) and Kit is more of a "It's not a problem if not alive anymore" kind of problemsolver.

[Kim]

Revolver Oceliz

[BigDemonicBunny]

Revolver Oceliz

Solid Kit?

[MSperoni]

Now I just need a whiny nerd girl to be in love with Kit and I'll be set.

"Kit, can love bloom, even on the frontier?"

[EVILNess]

Now I just need a whiny nerd girl to be in love with Kit and I'll be set.

"Kit, can love bloom, even on the frontier?"

You must make this happen. It is your destiny (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnZMa6Q5uo8).

[MSperoni]

I'd have no problem putting in the occasional video game reference. Though I don't think I would want to force them on the comic. I have actually thought of a few, and it's not like parody is alien territory for The Dreadful. After all, there's the comic with El Sabueso.

I am having a scene with a sniper, if there was a time to make a Sniper Wolf/Otakon joke now would be a pretty good time...

[Melfice]

I say... Jeanne is pretty scary looking.

[MSperoni]

Page 40 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/dreadful/)

The first appearance of Jeanne Noelle. Now we have a visual idea of who Kit think she can handle. I think Kit might be over-estimating herself, but time shall tell.

[Deck Knight]

Is that a normal horse scaled to size or some kind of demon horse? It's like Clydesdale size, and I don't think they used Clydesdales in the Old West.

Also only now do I just realize the really tall lady in the second comic is not Jeanne. I initially thought Jeanne shot her and then showed up acting concerned for some reason.

Obviously that'd be out of character. Jeanne doesn't even have pupils!

[MSperoni]

It's proportioned like a Clydesdale (just to make it easier to draw), but I don't know if that's what it really is. Maybe a Dire Horse? My Little Dire Pony?

(Dire always goes with everything).

I mainly just wanted Jeanne to ride on something a lot bigger and more menacing than a normal horse. Sorta how in "Dynasty Warriors" Lu Bu rides on that ginormous horse Red Hare.

The tall lady was Catherine. I think someone off-panel in page 2 mentions her name and Kit mentions "that tall lady" who brought her to the hospital. If she had been Jeanne, Kit would have recognized her.

[BigDemonicBunny]

So let me get this straight.

Kit = Hellspawn, not redeemable according to moomonism
Jeanne = Technically human and, according to moomonism, redeemable?

Because with those eyes and ears I'd guess she's some other sort of hellspawn.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

I dunno, Jeanne looks pretty irredeemable to me. Boozloaf definitely didn't see her. Then, looks can often be deceiving. There are her words too, though. But this is a comic, could just be a way to visualize Jeanne's total irredeemability. That wasn't a word a second ago, now it is. Unless Matt is playing us for fools by making Jeanne look utterly horrible until we found out that we've only seen her from Kit's point of view, who's obviously biased.

[Domestibot]

Yeah, just based on eyes and ears alone I'm gonna have to say that whatever Jeanne is: Definitely not human.

[Kim]

She's an Eldar!

[greed]

She looks sort of chunky to me, I'm gonna say like a troll or a ogre.

[Bard The 5th LW]

I was expecting a totally normal and even calm looking human up until now.

[Kim]

I was expecting a totally normal and even calm looking human up until now.

http://baratijasblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/johan.jpg
(http://baratijasblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/johan.jpg)

[greed]

Personally I was thinking of that one time Henry Fonda played a villain in that really good Western from the 70s. Similar idea to Johan, nice looking blue eyed blond is actually horrifying monster.

[MSperoni]

"Once Upon a Time in the West"?

That reminds me, I really need to buy that movie :P

[Bard The 5th LW]

*johan*

http://www.fitsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/nail-on-head.jpg

[greed]

"Once Upon a Time in the West"?

That reminds me, I really need to buy that movie :P

Same, wonder if it's on blu-ray. Good Westerns are awesome on blu-ray, the vistas and the cinematography. Damn.

[TDK]

Honestly, I don't like Jeanne's appearance. It isn't anything like what I pictured.

Also, she is fat and her horse is fat.

[Krylo]

She's not fat. She's built.

That's muscle size not fat size.

Might be some breed of ogre or some such, given her physical build and lack of irises and what not. Certainly not human, and almost certainly a physically imposing race.

[Melfice]

I know this isn't drawn all realistic, but I'm sure Jeanne's face would have been much rounder if she'd been fat.
Gonna join the camp of that being muscle.

Not sure if she's ogre, or what... for all we know, that's what Kit's gonna look like when she grows up on account of "hellspawn" physically changing over time.
I'm sure it'll be explained as we continue.

[Domestibot]

she may not be fat, it could just be her real boss Jacket.

[MSperoni]

A sketch I posted about four months ago on my Twitpic (http://twitpic.com/photos/mSperoni) page. She's actually gotten a tad more muscular since then. Kit's also slightly shorter now.


http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/257224569.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1310869719&Signature=X4Y401pRq5itwX6gO3ZaUK7y1WA%3D

[Bard The 5th LW]

Well if it turns out that she is portly, then I must insist that she is Burke's ex-wife.

[MSperoni]

I was gonna draw a picture of Classic Storm from the 1970s X-men comics tonight, but maybe I'll do an updated picture of Jeanne instead.

[Melfice]

I can't actually see the picture.

[MSperoni]

Hmm..well, I guess just click the link to my Twitpic page and scroll down some. There are a couple of sketches with "THE DREADFUL" written on them. They're between a picture of Pang Tong from DW7 and Solid Snake wearing the suit and "Big Boss" (red skull) Mask.

[greed]

Hey, personally I like Jeane's design, not what I expected but it's pretty cool and pretty different. Which is good. On Jeane's picture on twitpic is the really tall woman between her and Kit an early version of Judge Catherine or is she someone new?

[MSperoni]

It's Judge Catherine. She just doesn't have her coat or her hat on in that pic.

[BigDemonicBunny]

I have to say that that Twitpic ("Here's a pic of Kit from a later page of #TheDreadful") is possibly the most awesome Weird West Portrait ever.
Even rivalling the classic Deadlands Cover Art (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/deadlands/weirdwest/img/cover_lg.jpg)

[MSperoni]

I really should get to making a Dreadful Wallpaper.

[Hatake Kakashi]

It's Judge Catherine. She just doesn't have her coat or her hat on in that pic.

Man, I can't wait to see her come in and start puttin' foot to ass. Also, your fans demand MOAR cheesecake!

[MSperoni]

Fanservice, eh? I'm generally okay with a little so long as it doesn't turn into Dead or Alive and the situations are believable, as well as in character for the character who gets into them.



I was gonna draw a picture of Classic Storm from the 1970s X-men comics...

And so I did. Link (http://exmile.deviantart.com/#/d3zj4oy)

[MSperoni]

Anyone curious to see the line-work for the upcoming wallpaper?

Here (http://exmile.deviantart.com/art/Kit-line-art-242829344)

I decided to go with a basic picture of Kit this time around. I can get it done in good time and it's not so complicated as to interfere with the other stuff I have to do this week.

[MSperoni]

Page 41! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/dreadful/)

I wonder what Kit will do?

[phil_]

Shoot him with The Dreadful, which doesn't actually kill people, it just fulfills Kit's wishes. Last time, she wished Burke had a giant hole through him. This time, she wishes for the hostage to get away.

All wishes have a rebound counter-wish that comes back to bite Kit in the butt.

Time to come up with a new dramatic reveal, Peroni.

[Domestibot]

Challenge him to a math-off.

[ChaoticBrain]

Shoot him with The Dreadful, which doesn't actually kill people, it just fulfills Kit's wishes. Last time, she wished Burke had a giant hole through him. This time, she wishes for the hostage to get away.

Clever. Although if the Dreadful actually worked that way, she wouldn't be so hesitant.

Or stand aside so I can do him.
so I can do him.
do him.

D:

SHOOT HIM KIT, SHOOT HIM! FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS (un?)HOLY, NO ONE DESERVES A FATE SO HORRIBLE!

[Krylo]

SHOOT HIM KIT, SHOOT HIM! FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS (un?)HOLY, NO ONE DESERVES A FATE SO HORRIBLE!

...I don't think I'd mind that fate.

[Bard The 5th LW]

He'll be dead by the end of the day either way.

[Krylo]

He never thought he'd die that way, but he'd always hoped.

[Loyal]

She did say she would get creative.

[Melfice]

... well, I guess that explains what race Jeanne is.
She's a succubus.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

I really have no idea why there's such a need to shove a non-human race on every character that looks pretty human except for some features that may simply be stylization.

EDIT: Yeah, a succubus would make sense.

[Melfice]

Define "looking pretty human".

It wears clothes and has learned to read the time on it's pocket watch. As well, it is bi-pedal and has hands: Is this anthropomorphic rabbit a human? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Down_the_Rabbit_Hole.png)

;) (EDIT: I am aware that this is a fairly big jump from weird eyes and pointy ears to full-on anthro-rabbits, but y'know.)

But seriously, the ears and eyes are a good tell that Jeanne is not human.
The same way Kit is not human by way of her horns.

[rpgdemon]

;) (EDIT: I am aware that this is a fairly big jump from weird eyes and pointy ears to full-on anthro-rabbits, but y'know.)

weird eyes and pointy ears

How else would you define an anthro anime rabbit?

[MSperoni]

Jeanne's race is... hmm... well, I guess I'll just leave it to interpretation for now.

Her name's very French though.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

I'm biased towards any fantasy race anyway, so it doesn't matter. Call me racist if you wish, I don't give a damn. Elves just aren't real people, deal with it.

[MSperoni]

You should be in The Dreadful's version of the KKK then. If there was one. Dwarf Supremacy! Beard Power!

[A Zarkin' Frood]

If I get a cameo as a racist dwarf I'm not gonna help you translating anymore.
Because fuck dwarfs. >:(

Well... unless I'm also a really bad musician and die in an explosion A big one. But I should also be pretty damn sexy and get all the girls before that. Or maybe not die, but only if I'm redeemable. But not according to that minotaur. Because fuck minotaurs. >:(

[MSperoni]

So the only important cast member you approve of so far is Liz? What about Kit? What about Erin, the non-human bird-lady whom you translate?

[A Zarkin' Frood]

Ummmm... well... uh...
They're okay I guess. :(
But don't tell the Klansmen I said that.

[MSperoni]

Page 42 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/dreadful/)

Kit chooses.

[greed]

Very nice page.

What is he humming?

[BigDemonicBunny]

Very nice page.

What is he humming?

You see the distant flames, they bellow in the night
You fight in all our names. for what we know is right
And when you all get shot, and can not carry on
Though you die, la resistance lives on! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Wbh6HOWwA)

[MSperoni]

I dunno what he's humming. I thought of it like a hymn, but I guess it could be anything :)

[EVILNess]

I dunno what he's humming. I thought of it like a hymn, but I guess it could be anything :)

I pictured Amazing Grace, but I don't suppose that song exists in their world.

[MSperoni]

Actually "Amazing Grace" was the hymn I had in my head when I was working on it :P

Except, like you said, it doesn't exist in The Dreadful world, so I couldn't very well say that's what it was :D


Oh, and if anyone is interested, here is the colored version of my Kit picture. If the image isn't displaying, just follow the Link (http://exmile.deviantart.com/art/Kit-Reloaded-244129485):

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/203/9/6/kit_reloaded_by_exmile-d41cjil.jpg

[ChaoticBrain]

^ Damn, she got a scariness upgrade.

I still stand by my opinion that Kit did the right thing, sparing him from the greasy, toxic touch of JN.

[MSperoni]

^ Damn, she got a scariness upgrade.

Wait till ya see the wallpaper!

[Domestibot]

Don't fret, Bowers Accountant fans; It was a mercy killing.

[MSperoni]

He lives on in our hearts.

[BigDemonicBunny]

For a weird west gunslinger she's remarkably dust free

:)

P.S: I was going to say "cowgirl", but I realized that in a weird west setting that might have unfortunate implications.

[MSperoni]

Kit's no cowgirl! She doesn't work on a cattle-ranch :)

I think she'd consider farming/ranching beneath her ambition. Like if she ended up being simply a ranch-hand she'd be disappointed. However, if she owned a ranch and could boss people around I think she'd be much happier. Except that would require a bit of knowledge about cows and business and I don't think she'd be cut out for that :D

[MSperoni]

It's The Judge! (http://exmile.deviantart.com/art/The-Judge-with-a-noose-sketch-244265464)

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/204/6/a/6a7ad90bebfcfb296999bfe970f72535-d41fgfs.jpg

[Bard The 5th LW]

So she's like, Judge, Jury, and Executioner then? Anyways, nice job!

[michaelk42]

I pictured Amazing Grace, but I don't suppose that song exists in their world.
I'm just going to leave this right here, re: humming.

Tune for Two (2011) (PG-13-ish, sound down at work) (http://vimeo.com/21362582)

[MSperoni]

So she's like, Judge, Jury, and Executioner then?

mmmaybe. The rope also looks like it's been severed. So, maybe she's cut someone down? Or maybe it symbolizes she's both savior/executioner? Maybe I should stop analyzing my own stuff and let the audience find their own meaning? (She's only been in the comic for a single page so it's not like anyone has much to go by).

[Krylo]

Judge Catherine Dredd.

She is the law.

[Kerensky287]

Just saw the new page. Poe is the cutest thing.

[BigDemonicBunny]

Judge Catherine Dredd.

She is the law.

Dunno. She might be a more Here Comes The Judge style Judge of Soul. :D
Shorty Long- Here comes the Judge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQi546UqfT4)

Just saw the new page. Poe is the cutest thing.

Don't you mean Moe. :D
She even has a Hime cut (http://www.haircareresources.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/hime-cut-hairstyles-1.jpg)

[Hatake Kakashi]

Don't you mean Moe. :D
She even has a Hime cut (http://www.haircareresources.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/hime-cut-hairstyles-1.jpg)

I get your meaning, but to clarify, her name is Poe.

[MSperoni]

Dunno. She might be a more Here Comes The Judge style Judge of Soul. :D
Shorty Long- Here comes the Judge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQi546UqfT4)


Judge Catherine's song is more along the lines of something like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IStlBOX9F4o).

Though, while I was drawing the pic I listened to this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAsMkZrpoxY) a lot...

[ChaoticBrain]

I get your meaning, but to clarify, her name is Poe.

Poe is Moe.

[MSperoni]

Poe is Moe.

Moe Howard?

[Azisien]

Just read half of it on a random web surfing spree. Pretty interesting stuff.

[MSperoni]

Here is Phase 2 of the Catherine picture. The Link (http://exmile.deviantart.com/art/Judge-Catherine-WIP-244536120) if the image isn't displaying.

I'm not going to post these EVERY step of the way, though I might post one final preview after this. There's still quite a bit of work left to do on her.

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/206/c/a/judge_catherine_wip_by_exmile-d41l9a0.jpg

[ElCone1979]

Poe is Moe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moe_%28slang%29

[MSperoni]

Poe's too old and developed to be moe. (based on what I got from that article)

[Bard The 5th LW]

I assume Kit is the older sibling, is that a correct assumption?

[phil_]

Poe's too old and developed to be moe. (based on what I got from that article)"Moe" is a complicated term.

Personally, I don't find Poe moe, as she hasn't really had any development beyond standing in the background and cringing. Gotta have a character before I can get attached to it and all. You work on that, moe be damned.

[MSperoni]

I assume Kit is the older sibling, is that a correct assumption?

I'm leaning toward them being twins actually. Every picture of Poe so far is just a picture of Kit that I've traced and changed a bit (hair, expression, and outfit) :D I suppose later I MIGHT change it, and have Kit just be the oldest (or maybe twist it and have her be the young, cocky one who bosses around her older sister)

Even if I decide to make them twins, I don't think they'd look exactly alike. Kit would probably be more in shape, owing to her status as Action Girl. Kit's also a lot more "take charge" and better than Poe at pretty much everything, so she carries herself differently.

There's a lot of "maybes" floating around in The Dreadful. I really haven't sat down and done much thinking about the comic in awhile. I pretty much just have it on cruise-control and plan on working things out as I come to 'em.

[Alanim]

Oh, Poe isn't the oldest? I had always assumed that she was for some reason.

[Krylo]

Yeah. I'd see Kit as the younger, because of her more actiony outlook. It's less mature. It's hard to imagine anyone in the comic so far being younger than her.

[ChaoticBrain]

"Moe" is a complicated term.

Personally, I don't find Poe moe, as she hasn't really had any development beyond standing in the background and cringing. Gotta have a character before I can get attached to it and all. You work on that, moe be damned.

Personally, I always thought "moe" meant the same as "cute", as in the phrase "I'm dating this really cute girl." Sexually attractive, but not "hot."

Pardon my "overuse" of "quotation" marks.

[MSperoni]

Poe isn't the oldest?

Well, some back-story details are still up in the air because I haven't had the need to think about them yet. This is one of those instances... I suppose I probably shouldn't have said anything, since I'm unsure myself at the moment.

So, I guess until the comic actually says who is the oldest, it's just gonna be something everyone will have to speculate over :P

Ambiguity sometimes isn't a bad thing either.


It's hard to imagine anyone in the comic so far being younger than her.

I'd be okay with Kit being the baby of the group :D "Kitty the Kid."

[Bard The 5th LW]

Twins can make sense. We aren't totally sure of their parentage anyways, just that they are "hellspawn" according to Boozloaf, but Kit apparently doesn't use that term.

[MSperoni]

Page 43! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/dreadful/)

Hey, I know that woman (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/02/25/the-dreadful-002/) from somewhere...

[Alanim]

I've got to admit, kit looks pretty good for a person who just got shot in the head by a sniper. Although to be fair snipers back then were nothing more then rifles with scopes, as I recall.

So it's safe to assume kit is VERY lucky, like Master Chief lucky then :P

[Bard The 5th LW]

Well it isn't the first time she survived a gunshot.

[Alanim]

Well it isn't the first time she survived a gunshot.

to be fair, those were body shots, they have a chance to miss vitals/etc. That shot is square to the head, It could be that she got lucky and the bullet wasn't going at max velocity for some reason/etc. and her skull managed to stop it, which is what I assume happened, judging by the lack of blood.

[rpgdemon]

I might be reading this wrong, but I saw that as sort of a delusion/flashback that Kit was having as she passed out/died.

I mean, her face is really weird looking and bloody in the last panel, but she seems to be grinning, which I figured was her going, "Wheeehehe next Jeanne."

[Bard The 5th LW]

to be fair, those were body shots, they have a chance to miss vitals/etc. That shot is square to the head, It could be that she got lucky and the bullet wasn't going at max velocity for some reason/etc. and her skull managed to stop it, which is what I assume happened, judging by the lack of blood.

I dunno, earlier conversation seemed to imply that normal bullets don't carry the same effect on her that it would for a normal human. A headshot might certainly be able to accomplish some serious damage, but unless its a silver bullet she may just be that resilient.

[MSperoni]

The next page might help with this discussion about Kit and her durability. I actually have this thought out, which is surprising considering I typically never plan this far ahead.

[Hatake Kakashi]

Yay! More comic! Another excellent page, Matt.

Kit doesn't look so good, though... I wonder if hellspawn are frequent recipients of miracles....

[MSperoni]

Thanks!

I don't know if all hellspawn are able to pull themselves out of danger as well as Kit does. Maybe she's just extra tough. Or maybe it's something else.

[Michael Morris]

Oo ooo I know this one... It's the plot armor +5 right?

Seriously though - this is getting better with each page Matt. Keep it up.

[Arhra]

The next page might help with this discussion about Kit and her durability. I actually have this thought out, which is surprising considering I typically never plan this far ahead.

In the Dreadful universe, the brain is just a sort of sponge for cooling the blood?

This is also why nice hats are so important.

[Melfice]

The Dreadful is actually a demon that manages to change into a big-ass laser revolver.

The Dreadful is bound to Kit. As long as The Dreadful remains unharmed, so does Kit.

(You don't have to pay me, Matt. Just give me a cameo in the comic.)

[A Zarkin' Frood]

I remember we threw around even crazier ideas on what the Dreadful is. Which is why I'm really curious what Matt decided to go with. Or will decide to go with.

[MSperoni]

We got us some wallpapers (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/07/27/moving-on/)!

Here are examples of the 1280 by 1024 versions. There is also a wide-screen and a "HD" version.

KIT:

http://www.nuklearpower.com/images/wallpaper/wallpaper_kit_1280_1024.jpg


THE JUDGE:

http://www.nuklearpower.com/images/wallpaper/wallpaper_judge_1280_1024.jpg

[A Zarkin' Frood]

They look kick-ass.
I really like the contrast between the left and right halves of the Judge one. If I didn't have this no chicks with guns and/or tits as big as their heads on my desktop policy going I'd totally go for them.

I'll just put them in my folder for good fanart. Even though it's not fanart. Unless you are a fan on top of being the creator. Let's go with that.

[MSperoni]

That's not a very good policy to have about desktop wallpapers... Particularly Dreadful ones because then you probably aren't going to have ANY ever on your desktop :P (with the possible exception of two characters, assuming I make wallpapers of them, which is likely. I won't say who though)

Besides, JC's boobs aren't THAT big (though they are large).

[Bard The 5th LW]

My screen was a bit small, so I sort of cut up the Kit wallpaper. Still looks pretty good!

[Hatake Kakashi]

Besides, JC's boobs aren't THAT big (though they are large).

No complaints here. My desktop looks awesome now.

[Loyal]

I really like the contrast between the left and right halves of the Judge one. If I didn't have this no chicks with guns and/or tits as big as their heads on my desktop policy going I'd totally go for them.

That's an ... oddly specific policy.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

It's a policy that preserves self-respect. It's only a little part of a no anime girls, no space marines, no internet memes, no cannibal corpse covers and no various other things policy. I just only cited the relevant parts of it because it can get rather long.

Wanna see my current wallpaper? It has none of the above, which is why I use it.

[MSperoni]

I just put up on my desktop what I think looks cool at the time. Usually it's a pic I've made, but other times I use game art or whatever. It's not like anyone sees it but me anyway :P

To each their own, I suppose. Though it does kinda make me sad that you don't consider the characters respectable enough to use for your desktop, especially when you and the GPDC folks were so helpful in the initial stages of the comic's creation :(

I mean, it's not like anyone HAS to use them. After all, some people just like other wallpapers better. But still, I'd like to think the comic was worthwhile enough to overcome that kinda black and white appraisal (Catherine is more than a large pair of boobs after all, and it's not like she goes around dressed like Ivy), but I suppose policies are policies. I guess you wouldn't use an Erin one either?

[MSperoni]

Dun dun duuuun (http://twitpic.com/5xj9pn)

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/full/358657259.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1311922247&Signature=%2Bo8%2FqCqu9jCSI%2FNPhsDCKIoeauc%3D


This is for something in the comic awhile down the road. Not a joke advertisement either. I'm not sure if it'll be a short while or a long while or what. It kinda depends on how the story goes.

[Donomni]

El Sabueso as an actual character?

This is either gonna be really, really awkward or really, really funny.

[MSperoni]

El Sabueso as an actual character?

Yup. (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/04/12/dreadful-advertising/) Though if by "actual character" you meant actual in the sense that he exists outside of the advertisement parody thingie, then my answer to that is "yup" as well. At first I wasn't going to do anymore with him but I changed my mind :)


This is either gonna be really, really awkward or really, really funny.

Most likely both! :D

[Kerensky287]

Have you settled on a single design for him then, or is his shapeshifting going to become a running gag?

Oh gods just make him some kind of Cthulu-Spawn. It would explain EVERYTHING.

[BigDemonicBunny]

Would probably look better if the "S" looked like it was stamped or etched onto metal/leather instead of looking like it's painted on. Or?

[MSperoni]

Have you settled on a single design for him then, or is his shapeshifting going to become a running gag?

Hmmm... I will probably just stick with one basic design, though I won't try TOO hard to keep him consistent. Like, with most characters if I'm not sure about a costume detail I'll look it up on a previous page, but for El Sabueso I might just take a wild guess instead.

[BigDemonicBunny]

El Sabueso
Secret power: Projecting a Rob Lie-field

With the Rob Lie-Field active (http://twitpic.com/5xj9pn)
Without the Rob Lie-field active (http://www.westerncostumes.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Cowboy-Costumes-for-Kids-300x300.jpg)

[MSperoni]

What the! Page 44! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/dreadful/)

Shirtless Boozloaf! Furry Fanservice!

Actually I just thought it would be a nice subtle bit of characterization if he gave Kit his shirt as a pillow so she wouldn't have to lay her head on the hard cave floor. What's the expression? "Give someone the shirt off your back" ? Yes, he thinks Kit being a hellspawn makes her redemption impossible, but that doesn't mean he won't help her if she needs it. Too bad we can't say the same for all religious types.... :P

[Loyal]

It really is how Erin says "hello."

[Bard The 5th LW]

So is that Centaur dude from earlier still waiting for Kit?

[MSperoni]

He's still around, yeah.

[Alanim]

I can't wait for the next chapter where kit runs out guns-a-blazin' and gets shot in the forehead again. Giving us more delicious flashbacks.

Also, are "Demons" anatomically similar to humans? as in are they such that they have brains/hearts/etc. or are they like a solid spirit(aka ghost)Such as they're mostly soul based life forms, if you get what I mean? or perhaps it's a mixture.

^ If that made no sense sorry lol.

*edit* actually comparing them to a elemental might work better, where their knowledge cannot be forgotten due to physical injury. Meaning memories etc. do not rely on the brain. Although she appears to bleed so bodily function still appears to require brain function.

[MSperoni]

All very good questions! Now I will answer them by starting with *RUNS*

(I respectfully take the Fifth on those questions. I am toying with various ideas about demon physiology/abilities and haven't quite made up my mind yet.)

[TDK]

http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_loe4kgg3jK1qa6mg5o1_500.jpg

Moomonism!

Will your idea-stealing never cease, Speroni? :I

[MSperoni]

Nice try! But the 'Loaf is a MooMON, not a MooMIN.

[Michael Morris]

Well, the moomins could be a spin off religion. a-cow right?

[MSperoni]

It's Liz! (http://exmile.deviantart.com/#/d42t9zp) In purple! And without a cigarette! And with pig-tails! She looks pretty out of character but I like the picture anyway. This picture is slightly higher quality than a sketch, but I still didn't put all that much effort into it (I mainly wanted to toy around with some lighting things and draw her w/o a cig in her mouth). I wouldn't mind doing a version of this where I put in more effort... I did this one pretty fast, and at the end of the day too so I was rushing it (I was sleepy and I wanted to go to bed).



http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/214/9/8/liz_purple_shirt_and_pigtails_by_exmile-d42t9zp.jpg

[phil_]

Wow. Her waist is really thin. Never noticed that before. I like the split-ends.

I feel like this is some time-displaced impossible scenario involving the guys at the DMV getting carried away with license photo requirements and she just doesn't care enough to protest. They'll all be dead by the end of the day, though.

[MSperoni]

I wasn't paying much attention to how I was drawing her body. I also think I made her boobs a little too big :P

[Hatake Kakashi]

Kit's lookin slightly agitated in the newest page. She's cute when she's agitated. Can we haz whup-ass naoz, pl0x?

[MSperoni]

It's Page 45! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/dreadful/)

Ass shall be whupped in due time, don't worry.

[Michael Morris]

What are those cracks going across Kit's face?

[Loyal]

The blood that was running down her face from when she got shot.

[GeneralBeDe]

Regarding that Liz sketch, what are your prospects on getting The Dreadful colored?

[MSperoni]

Hmmm.. it's something I haven't thought much about. It'd be neat to color it, but time is kind of a problem.

If I ever get to the point where I don't have to work on anything except The Dreadful, I'd definitely consider coloring it.

[Krylo]

Hmmm.. it's something I haven't thought much about. It'd be neat to color it, but time is kind of a problem.

If I ever get to the point where I don't have to work on anything except The Dreadful, I'd definitely consider coloring it.

Could just do it now and then for special pages when you have the time.

Doesn't have to be all or nothing.

[MSperoni]

Hmm..true. That might be fun to do every so often.

Then again, pages take awhile to color sometimes, and it might be better if I used that time on another picture like the ones of Kit or The Judge, or a better picture of Liz :) (or someone else!)

[Krylo]

Hmm..true. That might be fun to do every so often.

Then again, pages take awhile to color sometimes, and it might be better if I used that time on another picture like the ones of Kit or The Judge, or a better picture of Liz :) (or someone else!)

Up to you!

I'm cool getting what we're getting and with the comic as it is. Do whatever you'll enjoy.

[Gregness]

So, I know Erin spent every strip 'till now speaking German, but did anyone else imagine her speaking in perfect unaccented English in this strip? It makes it at least twice as funny.

[MSperoni]

Well, if you heard her speak she'd have a noticeable accent (like Liz points out). I wanted to avoid hamming it up with her English though (Like if I were to write: "I vill ask you again. Vhere eez Burkez reeng!" or something). In an upcoming page she does say "ja" at the end of a sentence.

I think it'll become more noticeable that she can't speak English (or whatever The Dreadful's equivalent is) well when she tries to say more complicated sentences.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

I thought Liz just said it was an accent to hide the fact that there's, in fact, a ring involved, which might interest Kit if she knew what it's all about, maybe.

Also: It's highly unlikely a German speaker will say "Ja" randomly at the end of a foreign language sentence It's not even very common in German sentences. That only exists in American movies, I believe. Because it sounds funnier than an actual accent and typical mistakes Germans may make, ja.

[Loyal]

I'm guessing the accent is there, Liz is just exaggerating it to maintain implausible deniability. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ImplausibleDeniability)

[MSperoni]

Also: It's highly unlikely a German speaker will say "Ja" randomly at the end of a foreign language sentence It's not even very common in German sentences.

I generally dislike "Gratuitous *insert language*" components in dialog. Like "ja" or when a muchacho randomly says words of their language after speaking an entire sentence in English, comprende?

(One thing I didn't like about the dialog in Assassin's Creed 2 was this. Like Ezio would speak perfect English the entire time and then 'oh hey! an Italian word!' )

Which is why I didn't wanna ham up Erin's English speaking or sprinkle it with occasional German words.... Yet, I still put the "ja" in one balloon on an upcoming page.. I guess I figured it helped establish that she had an accent. Even tho it's kind of strange. I only do it that one time though :P

There are some things I don't want Erin to say. Like "ain't" or "dunno" or "I'm gonna" ... I think those would be words (if you can call them words) that would make her seem like she was more familiar with the language than she should be.

(I'm not done w/ German yet, so you still have a job, IG! :D)

[ChaoticBrain]

Her species in Bird-Lady? This is somewhat disappointing. I was expecting something like Harpian or Sirenoid, but Bird-Lady... meh.

[MSperoni]

Knowing what we know about Liz, I don't think she'd know a cliche-sounding fantasy word like "Harpian" and if so, actually bother to call Erin it...

Erin has wings. Birds have wings. Erin is a lady. Liz = "Bird Lady"

Liz probably doesn't know the "species" name and really doesn't give a shit. Kinda typical, really :D

[ChaoticBrain]

Wait a second... first panel of page 45... where's Kit's right leg?

[Krylo]

Wait a second... first panel of page 45... where's Kit's right leg?

http://i51.tinypic.com/27x2x6t.jpg

[Bard The 5th LW]

They cut it off and ate it for sustenance.

[MSperoni]

Unless they had a silver or magic blade they wouldn't be able to cut-through her bone. Liz has a knife though, so maybe it's a silver/magic knife.

Besides, Kit's leg is visible :P ..it's.. well, right where it should be. (as Krylo pointed out)

EDIT: Also, now that I think about it... I don't know if someone would want to eat a demon's flesh. It might drive them crazy or something. Or maybe it's like an XTREMEDUDEZHARDK0R3 narcotic. Might be something worth thinking about in regards to the story... Like demon-flesh addicted zombies or whatever. Megazombies. Uberbies. Ultraghouls?

[Melfice]

EDIT: Also, now that I think about it... I don't know if someone would want to eat a demon's flesh. It might drive them crazy or something. Or maybe it's like an XTREMEDUDEZHARDK0R3 narcotic. Might be something worth thinking about in regards to the story... Like demon-flesh addicted zombies or whatever. Megazombies. Uberbies. Ultraghouls?

Burke?

[MSperoni]

Page 46! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/dreadful/)

Hmmmmm....

[Loyal]

Gotta say, I love Kit's face in the last panel.

[MSperoni]

Something I pieced together out of various panels in The Dreadful. Some of the panels are on pages that haven't been posted, but I didn't feel there were any spoilers here.

Link (http://exmile.deviantart.com/art/The-Dreadful-Deadly-Weapons-251455653)


http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/218/d/4/the_dreadful_deadly_weapons_by_exmile-d45pkf9.jpg

[Deck Knight]

Deadly Weapons?

I take it someone didn't drink responsibly on the last one.

My guess is it was El Sabueso.

[rpgdemon]

Unless they had a silver or magic blade they wouldn't be able to cut-through her bone. Liz has a knife though, so maybe it's a silver/magic knife.

Besides, Kit's leg is visible :P ..it's.. well, right where it should be. (as Krylo pointed out)

EDIT: Also, now that I think about it... I don't know if someone would want to eat a demon's flesh. It might drive them crazy or something. Or maybe it's like an XTREMEDUDEZHARDK0R3 narcotic. Might be something worth thinking about in regards to the story... Like demon-flesh addicted zombies or whatever. Megazombies. Uberbies. Ultraghouls?

Who all lost their teeth in life, and hence have silver teeth.

[MSperoni]

So soon after page 46 there is Page 47! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/08/09/the-dreadful-047/)

Something tells me Liz ain't shootin' straight. Hopefully she can rely on Kit's short attention span + the current situation to avoid being drilled by anymore questions...

[phil_]

Vancian casting bullshit!

[BigDemonicBunny]

Vancian casting bullshit!

If it's simply a 1-per-day ability isn't Vancian, since vancian spellcasting is a way of organizing/limiting spellcasting. Ie, you have a choice between various items, but you can only choose a limited number.
Even if it's a form of spellcasting it could also be mana based ("The dreadful, Mana cost: Effing lot!) or event based ("The dreadful recharges at dawn/midnight", for example).

It could even be Skill/chance based ("The dreadful: Causes instability. Each time you fire the dreadful roll X number of D6 dice, X being the number of times the dreadful has been used previously that day. If any dice shows a 1, 2 or 3 you're sucked into a dimensional vortex. That's a bad thing)

[Domestibot]

The parallels between Kit and Black Mage continue... :P

1) evil wave of diabolical energy.
2) clicky, eye-winky gesture
3) once per day doomsday spell.

[ChaoticBrain]

If any dice shows a 1, 2 or 3

Y'know, there's this really nifty invention out there specifically designed for determining the outcome of 50/50 probability events. It's called a coin.

[Deck Knight]

There is, of course, no guarantee that Kit is not lying to or misleading Liz, given how Liz has generally proven herself to be quite untrustworthy.

[Michael Morris]

Liz untrustworthy? That's like saying water is wet.

Keep them coming Matt. And oh, Matt does commissions folks, he just finished a cool one for me a few days ago.

[MSperoni]

Page 48! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/08/11/the-dreadful-048/)

Kit's motto: Be prepared.

[rpgdemon]

Is it Julian Nash's Sour Mash Bourbon?

[Bard The 5th LW]

I don't know why it would be anything else. It gives her the confidence to do anything.

Yee haw.

[Krylo]

Julian Nash's Sour Mash Bourbon: Decreases All Cooldowns by 10%

[MSperoni]

Julian Nash's Sour Mash Bourbon: Decreases All Cooldowns by 10%

Penalty to Dexterity and Intelligence?

I'd put in a Charisma modifier, but it varies among people. Some get mean, some get more fun to be around. I'd think Kit would be the latter.

[ChaoticBrain]

Is it Julian Nash's Sour Mash Bourbon?

I thought she might actually be carrying around a bottle of Ether.

Never go dungeon-crawling in a Final Fantasy game without it. Well, except for VIII.

[MSperoni]

Page 49! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/08/15/the-dreadful-049/)

*hic*

[phil_]

I guess it has been a while since she's had anything to eat. Shouldn't drink on an empty stomach, Kit.

[Kerensky287]

I love the logic this comic runs on.

They're trapped in a cave. She has just been shot in the head. Obviously the only option is to get so fucking drunk that she can summon a magic gun to shoot back.

We know that demonkin are less vulnerable to bullets. How do they deal with alcohol poisoning?

[Bard The 5th LW]

The beings wrought of sin have low alchohol tolerance? How dreadfully ironic.

[MSperoni]

I've got a pretty decent alcohol tolerance and I've swigged down a flask of rum once and I felt pretty buzzed. That was maybe 40 proof? I imagine whatever Kit's drinking is extremely potent. Like 100+ proof.
There's a type of everclear that's 190 proof, so it could be that she's loaded up with something like that.

And then she pulls out another bottle.

[Krylo]

Yeah, I think what people are missing here is that is probably like 151 and she slugged it all back at once, as opposed to over a few hours as you would usually drink that much.

[Loyal]

The blood loss probably didn't help much, either.

[Krylo]

Or the fact that she's like, what? 120lbs? Give or take.

[phil_]

I'm just saying, we've never seen her eat anything. Does this mean demons don't have to eat? I'm not taking a position either way; I'm just pointing out the possibility.

[MFD]

Also, now that I think about it... I don't know if someone would want to eat a demon's flesh. It might drive them crazy or something. Or maybe it's like an XTREMEDUDEZHARDK0R3 narcotic. Might be something worth thinking about in regards to the story... Like demon-flesh addicted zombies or whatever. Megazombies. Uberbies. Ultraghouls?

Would make a good poison. As you said, diluted it would be a fine drug.

One thing to consider would be whatever type of barbarians you have running around. This Western is missing aboriginal peoples on the frontier. Perhaps they use demon flesh in some ceremony.

[Michael Morris]

Give it time, he's only 50 pages in.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

That's two issues and a few pages in regular print comic terms. Which is cool, I guess. Any plans to take Dreadful to print?

[MSperoni]

Thinking of The Dreadful in terms of "issues" doesn't work very well for it. It's like thinking of 8bit in terms of issues. The Dreadful has chapters, sorta, but they don't consist of absolute page counts. I prefer writing it this way because it gives me more freedom. It might seem to drag at times, but I think that's more to do with how it's uploaded. If you read it straight through it goes pretty fast (except for the earlier parts w/ all the dialog, but I've learned my lesson with those).

So it's more accurate to say we're fifty pages in, and not two issues in.

Which is something to be considered if The Dreadful is ever up for being printed. I think it would be better for The Dreadful to be printed into a big collection rather than as individual month-by-month comics. Sorta like a manga.

I'm thinking of dividing The Dreadful into sections based on the "star" character. Sorta like Osamu Tezuka's Buddha did. Like this one is "Kit and Liz" and the next one might be "Charsi" and then "Kit" and then "Jeanne" etc. The only reason I may not do that is because it could get confusing as to who the main character is. Maybe that's a good thing though because then everyone can argue about it :D

[A Zarkin' Frood]

I was more referring to issues usually being 22 pages long, I don't really view Dreadful as issues and don't think it would benefit from forcefully breaking it up. And 40-ish page long issues aren't that rare either. Collections seem to be 120+/- pages. Though, seeing as it's black and white anyway the 250-something page manga format doesn't seem like too bad of an idea. It has its charm too. As evidenced by Scott Pilgrim.

So yeah, this almost sounds like I know what I'm talking about which I definitely don't.

[MSperoni]

Does this mean demons don't have to eat?

Kit eats. Her diet consists of deep fried anything and candy. And deep fried candy. And bacon.


This Western is missing aboriginal peoples on the frontier.

It's not missing them, they just haven't appeared yet :)

[Donomni]

But no deep fried bacon?

I mean, bacon is fried to begin with, but there's regular frying and then there's deep frying.

...is it wrong that I somehow want to see deep fried bacon-wrapped deep fried candy now? And maybe actually eat it?

The Dreadful: Encouraging Death By Grease Since 2011.

Which is something to be considered if The Dreadful is ever up for being printed. I think it would be better for The Dreadful to be printed into a big collection rather than as individual month-by-month comics. Sorta like a manga.

I also now have imagery of a Japanese High School with Boozloaf as a concerned but-good-hearted sensei and Kit as a delinquent... with a giant pompadour.

This comic makes me think strange things. Or, I should say, has me post them publicly.

[MSperoni]

I forgot about deep frying. Yeah, Kit would probably like that too. Though I dunno if they had deep-frying in the Old West. I haven't researched it. But I had a grenade launcher in the comic....

There's also double-frying. Like you fry something, and then fry it again.

Like double-fried french fries.

Kit's a bad influence, we probably shouldn't hang out with her after school.

[BigDemonicBunny]

I forgot about deep frying. Yeah, Kit would probably like that too. Though I dunno if they had deep-frying in the Old West.

They did. Deep frying was invented by the ancient egyptians, and spread from Egypt to all over the world.

[MSperoni]

The big Page 50! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/08/19/the-dreadful-050/)


I guess there's a drink not even Kit can withstand...

[Melfice]

Whoever called that Kit's gonna chug down some ether... you win! (assuming those wizards in The Dreadful use ether as a catalyst)

[Loyal]

How indecent! :ohdear:

But I suppose if anything could restore The Dreadful...

[MSperoni]

I drank so much once my clothes started irritating me (luckily I was at home at the time). Kit is kinda based on that :D

Though this is as nekkid as she's gonna get (for now*). Sorry if that spoils anything for anyone.

*I say for now because who knows what her antics will bring her to in the future. I never rule out anything for this comic.

[Melfice]

Damnit, Speroni!
*puts away the lotion and paper towels*

(I can put "THAT WAS A JOKE HERE", but that'd just make it worse.)

[A Zarkin' Frood]

You're right, it made things worse.

[MSperoni]

So much worse

[Melfice]

Well, somebody had to say it.
Might as well be me.

[Krylo]

Well, somebody had to say it.
Might as well be me.

I disagree with every part of this post.

[Arhra]

Well, somebody had to say it.
Might as well be me.

No-one had to say that.

Ever.

[ChaoticBrain]

Whoever called that Kit's gonna chug down some ether... you win! (assuming those wizards in The Dreadful use ether as a catalyst)

This makes me happy.

[Kerensky287]

Well, this is one of the most 34-able comic pages I've ever seen EVER.

[MSperoni]

We all ready did the Rule 34 thing on the forums in TV-Tropes, dangit!

[Michael Morris]

Ok, I know Kit was looking to get charged up but this is ridiculous.

Speaking of "Kit", I met a girl actually named Kit yesterday.

[ChaoticBrain]

Ok, I know Kit was looking to get charged up but this is ridiculous.

Speaking of "Kit", I met a girl actually named Kit yesterday.

Could she phase through solid walls?

[MSperoni]

Page 51! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/08/23/the-dreadful-051/)

I've never tried to talk w/ a tongue full of lightning.

[Domestibot]

Kit's quite versatile to take a few bolts of lightning on her tongue, bullets to the head, and who knows what else. What species in D&D was closest to her again?

[Hatake Kakashi]

Someone mentioned a possibility of Tiefling.

[MSperoni]

There's still a general fantasy influence to this comic, but it doesn't have the DnD infrastructure like it once did :)

The comic has really developed. I think it's finally finding its legs, and I'm finding mine (They're attached to my feet!). Only took me sixty pages! (Hey, it's my first personal comic. People who are named jack ought to be cutting me some slack. After all, not even The Brian was perfect when he started :D).

[MSperoni]

Page 52! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/08/26/the-dreadful-052/)

Like the guy says, you're gonna drink lightning, and...throw up lightning?

[ChaoticBrain]

Hah! I would very much like to see this "Demon Magic"!

Well, if you're sure.

[Kerensky287]

Kit is going to have the best kind of hangover in the morning.

Or maybe a breath weapon attack.

[Amake]

I imagine if this drink brings the Dreadful out it's going to be a more lightning-flavored boomstick than usual. Hehe, boomstick.

[Scooch1]

I am just hoping that Kit kills the annoying bird woman and we can move on with the story.

[Bard The 5th LW]

This sorta is the story though.

[MSperoni]

This sorta is the story though.

More than you know...

People don't trust me enough yet :P

Also, the pages being uploaded twice a week makes the comic appear to drag more than it actually does. Once this scene is over with, and you go back and read it, you'll find it goes by at a pretty good pace.

I like to give fights attention and make them more than just single-page skirmishes. Not that I plan on going the route of DBZ, but still I want it to feel like the characters have been through something.

[MSperoni]

Page 53 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/08/30/the-dreadful-053/)!

That's a lot of lightning! Maybe Erin shouldn't have held her really long metal gun straight up in the air?

[greed]

Hahahaha great.


Love Boozloaf's face in the last panel. That subtle change to "sorry Liz"

[Amake]

From the hole where comes usually nothing but bull, a charge of lightning springs! If this becomes a recurring phenomenon Liz is going to have a cow.

[Michael Morris]

That comic certain had ohms to it.

[MSperoni]

"Ohm nohm nohm" is the sound Kit makes when she chugs down the lightning-brew.

[Michael Morris]

I can certainly see why it gave her a buzz then. Course, it wasn't her brightest idea.

[Kerensky287]

Resistance is futile, birdlady. That'll teach you to mess with a charging demonkin. Maybe if your arsenal was a little more current? The Mosin-Nagant doesn't pack quite enough power.

...Kit's skintight outfit is still a bit of a turn-on, I'll admit.

[BigDemonicBunny]

Loosely paraphrasing Ciaphas Cain, HERO OF THE IMPERIUM:

"Never say 'I'd like to see that' if you don't actually want to see it"

[Michael Morris]

Yeah. Wasn't exactly the brightest thing she could have said there.

[ChaoticBrain]

*suffers aneurysm from pun overload*

I hate you all.

[Amake]

More like a FUNeurysm am I right

[Michael Morris]

You'll be ok. I'm quite positive the charge will dissipate given time. All pun threads ground out eventually.

[TDK]

You'll be ok. I'm quite positive the charge will dissipate given time. All pun threads ground out eventually.

Only one of your italicized statements is actually a pun, and it is not a very good one.


Also: This comic continues to be utterly classy. We have a demon-girl farting lightning.

Let me grab my monocle. :I

[MSperoni]

I think Liz is probably just saying that "blowed out your other end" as a joke to annoy Kit. I have drawn Kit since this and she has no hole on her backside (except the one her tail goes through).

However, I haven't actually drawn her at an angle where one could see a hole *down there* so maybe she needs to think about buying her a new pair of pants...I wonder how much a pair of jeans costs in Ye Olde Westerne Dayse.

[ChaoticBrain]

(My surgery was a success)

Also, I approve of whatever Liz is going to do next.

[BigDemonicBunny]

Mmm. Pervy wizards. Always getting it on with outsiders/hellspawn/etc.

Or maybe he's both a hellspawn and a wizard?

[MSperoni]

Whatever it is, it will probably be fucked up. This comic is The Dreadful, after all.

EDIT: I probably shouldn't make "promises" like that. I really don't like planning on making things "as fucked up as possible" because it can come across as being fake. Or that I'm trying too hard. I just go with what I have in my head, and if it's weird then so be it :P

EDIT2: Also, come to think of it, I don't really feel the comic is all that weird :P

[Kerensky287]

Man, now I'm all disappointed because Liz canonically has a mouth. She's smiling in that one panel. I enjoyed the illusion that her jaw was nothing but a cigarette holder.

I love the hangover parallels on Kit's end though. I'm pretty sure I went "I hate wizards and the shit that they make" at least once on a good night of drinking.

[MSperoni]

Page 55! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/09/06/the-dreadful-055/)

Erin has trouble flying away, and decides to fight back! I'm assuming that wings (and a lot else) doesn't work well when you've been zapped w/ magic lightning. Erin's aim might not be super great either.

Zapped by magic lightning! Ability drain! Movement speed reduced! Unable to fly for 2 turns!

[greed]

Oooh a mauser. Love the silhouettes too. Especially the change from black to white and black again with Erin.

[MFD]

Very cool panels. Very Western (genre, not art style).

[MSperoni]

This was one of my more favorite pages I've done art-wise so I'm glad you two like it :)

I really like to use silhouettes of characters over landscapes like this (and sometimes silhouettes of landscapes). I think they have a lot of visual presence even though they're so simple.

[Melfice]

Man... if Erin lives, I'm sure she'll be right pissed.
She'll have to preen all those feathers back in shape.

[Michael Morris]

I think she's right pissed now.

That gun she pulled out looks like a sniper's SMG from Team Fortress 2. The dwarf had Demo Man's grenade launcher. This intentional Matt? :D

[MSperoni]

Hmm..nope, not intentional. I've not played TF2. The pistol Erin has is my favorite gun from Red Dead Redemption though.

[Melfice]

I think she's right pissed now.

That gun she pulled out looks like a sniper's SMG from Team Fortress 2. The dwarf had Demo Man's grenade launcher. This intentional Matt? :D

Erin's Mauser only resembles the Sniper's SMG in that the SMG looks a bit like a different, heavily modified, model Mauser (the M712).
And even then it looks more like an MPL submachine gun.

[Krylo]

Hmm..nope, not intentional. I've not played TF2. The pistol Erin has is my favorite gun from Red Dead Redemption though.

LeMat Revolver4lyfe.

Edit: Seriously though you should put someone in with a LeMat. Maybe give one to Jeanne. She seems the type of lady who likes a little shotgun in her pistol.

[MSperoni]

Seems like Erin's "German-ness" and her being in a fantasy Texas (of sorts) isn't all that un-historical: Link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Texan)


Not that I'm surprised there was immigration to Texas, it's just some people have said Erin speaking German is "out of place" and it turns out it really isn't.

However I like to think of Erin as a mysterious person hired specifically to be an assassin, and not from a family if immigrants (like she wouldn't claim to be a citizen of the country where The Dreadful takes place).

I've been reading up on the period's history, and I came across that, so I figured I'd mention it here :) (I'm also kinda sleepy so maybe it's not worth mentioning, but oh well :D)

[MSperoni]

Page 56! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/09/10/the-dreaful-056/)

Liz vs Erin Part... 2? or Part 1? LIZ'S IS UNMASKED. Her mouth is revealed! And it looks... like a little anime mouth... dun duuun

[Loyal]

Smoking kills, Liz. Erin was doing you a favor, really.

[GeneralBeDe]

That was...adorable.

[EVILNess]

Liz is adorable!

My notions of her have all been shattered!

[A Zarkin' Frood]

My god, she has a mouth! She seems like a whole different character without her smoke.

Also: On the German out of place thing, it really isn't. When Europe invaded America all kinds of cultures came to the continent, so there's probably nothing that would truly be out of place. From what I understand there were even quite a lot of Germans. And I only get that from some of the place names and less common but not exactly rare last name. Not specifically Texas, though. But it's not a stretch, really. Plus, for some reason I always assumed that Erin either came from the outside, or has that lone gunman thing going, which might explain why she talks to herself all the time. Well okay, I know that monologues in comics aren't rare, but I like to look for reasons for little details that will probably never matter..

[Domestibot]

Liz has a "Oh no you di'int" look on her face.