The Dreadful -- Chapter 7

[MSperoni]

Page 162! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/10/03/the-dreadful-162/)

Sorry I didn't put anything extra between chapters 6 and 7, but I felt that people would prefer I just get on with the story.

Is Kit about to go Super Saiyan?!

[A Zarkin' Frood]

Wow, I almost missed chapter 6 due to me moving into my new apartment. But I'm kinda back now. Weird chapter break, though. But it doesn't make a difference. Seems to get interesting, with a little action too.

[Melfice]

Akimbo laser-rocket-launcher Dreadful!?

Probably not, but it's gonna be intense. You can tell by the way Kit's gritting.

[Masterof7s]

Hey Matt, I've always kinda wondered if Kit understands the true nature of The Dreadful because it kinda seems like she doesn't.

[MSperoni]

Kit doesn't understand the full nature of the dreadful or how she can use it. There will be more on that later though :)

[SaltyKracka]

Dreadful time!

[Masterof7s]

Kit doesn't understand the full nature of the dreadful or how she can use it. There will be more on that later though :)

Good to hear. It will be very interesting to see what develops once Kit knows exactly what the hell she's doing. So far it's been a combination of skill and the devil's own luck.

Pun possibly intended. Your mileage may vary.:)

[Kalbelgarion]

That last panel of today's comic looks really neat, with Kit standing in the foreground. Nice work on the art direction!

[MSperoni]

Page 163! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/10/05/the-dreadful-163/)

Kit's hulkin' up!

[Masterof7s]

Demon Princess? Oh my, this is getting interesting.

*grabs popcorn*

[SaltyKracka]

HORN CANNONS!

[CABAL49]

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh snap did not see this coming.

[epcharles]

Erin is clearly flipping out, but I like how Jeanne has just a hint of real concern - not scared per say, but concerned. The straighten-up-and-pull-the-head-back between the last two frames works really well.

P.S. Aren't the nurse and the roving humidifier going to be in for a surprise!

.

[BigDemonicBunny]

This is one of those occasions where I wish there was a western-themed cover of Disturbed-Meaning of Life.

[MSperoni]

Not sure why there's a lack of a page today, but maybe Brian got busy and didn't get around to posting it. The day is still young though, so mayhaps there will be one posted later.

*grumble grumble*

(unless it's just not displaying for me, which is possible).

Anywho, hopefully we'll have a new one up by tomorrow sometime!

[MSperoni]

ANNOUNCEMENT! Due to circumstances (of the positive variety), the comic is going to go back to updating two pages a week for awhile. Maybe just a week, maybe two weeks. It depends on how quickly these other things wrap up.

[phil_]

Do these positive circumstances have anything to do with the "no page today" situation?

[MSperoni]

Not really. I'm not sure why there wasn't a page today, I haven't heard from Brian all day, so I hope he's okay.

I just got busy with some things around the house (projects that have long needed doing) and I've got to do a couple jobs for some friends. I'm afraid I won't be able to produce as many pages as normal, and so I want to keep my buffer up. :)

[Arhra]

Wheee, I look away for a minute and suddenly there's all these dreadful goings-on!

Is... is Jean just going to punch Kit again while she's still powering up, like a sensible person?

[phil_]

Oh, lost her gun. That's gonna be a problem.

[MSperoni]

page 164! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/10/09/the-dreadful-164/)

Nom Nom Nom Nom. Kit gets eaten by a ghost.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

Hey Matt, how dare you not give me my free entertainment five times a week.

Also: This page would probably seem really weird/great out of context.

[MSperoni]

Chapter 7 is full of insanity. It's not even gotten crazy yet!

[Hatake Kakashi]

Delayus Ex Machina! Son of a....

[Spinell]

That went well for Kit. :3:
I'm sure that powerup would have helped her greatly but somehow i disbelieve it would be enough, at least right now with her current understanding, to beat Jeanne (meaning Jeanne didn't show everything she can do as well).

[SaltyKracka]

Dammit now I want to see what Jeanne and Erin's expressions were after that.

[Michael Morris]

Matt, did you know you have a TV Tropes page now?

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Webcomic/TheDreadful

[MSperoni]

Yeah, I've known about the Tropes page for awhile. I actually contribute some in The Dreadful's trope forums. :)

[Arhra]

What a tweeeeeeeest!

Do ghosts have bad breath, I wonder?

[BigDemonicBunny]

Man. This page had me laughing so hard. Kit worked up all that steam only to have a ghost and her pet...whatever Steamer is... gobble her up and carry her off in a decidedly undignified manner. I also like the following artshift where it goes from dark grey and gritty to cartonishly clean.
Something tells me Kit isn't going to be happy about her "rescue".

[BigDemonicBunny]

What a tweeeeeeeest!

Do ghosts have bad breath, I wonder?

They do, reportedly it can be quite ghastly.

...*ba-dum-tish*

[Lord-of-Filing]

Just out of curiosity, was I the only one who looked at Jeanne after she had her coat off and said, "... Yeah, I'd still hit that."

[Gregness]

Just out of curiosity, was I the only one who looked at Jeanne after she had her coat off and said, "... Yeah, I'd still hit that."

Not even remotely.

[CABAL49]

ANYWAYS! Yeah Kit got the crap kicked out of her, but I don't think she was close to being out. We know she has above average regeneration to the point of movie Wolverine as opposed to comic book Wolverine. Kit may be a lesser fighter, but she has massive endurance.

What is not featured is Jeanne being really tired.

[MSperoni]

Page 165! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/10/12/the-dreadful-165/)

Bang

[Doctroid]

So there's Kit with her ass hanging out of a flying laundry monster being piloted by a ghost nurse, while someone is pointing an imaginary gun at them. Man, I hate it when that happens.

[Masterof7s]

Just out of curiosity, was I the only one who looked at Jeanne after she had her coat off and said, "... Yeah, I'd still hit that."

Not even close to the only one my friend. We like 'em thick, strong, and corn fed around these parts.

Page 165! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/10/12/the-dreadful-165/)

Bang

So she does carry a handgun!

[tacticslion]

So, although I'm not around so often at the present time, I'd just like to say, 'bout 16-164 (yes, I know I'm late, hush): well played, sir, well-daggum-played.

(Also reference 165: dang it, man!) :)

[Hatake Kakashi]

MzoTYh2NSdo

[Arhra]

Page 165! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/10/12/the-dreadful-165/)

Bang

Well, at least she didn't say it's over, it's finally over.

[SaltyKracka]

Could only have been better if Jeanne was sprawled out on her back, staring up towards the sky.

[Odjn]

Please don't have a magic finger pistol.

[MSperoni]

Page 166 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/10/15/the-dreadful-166/)

Jeanne shoots a magic missile! Or a soul arrow. Or a dodon-pa. Or...something.

(She just had her hand into a gun for the lulz)

[Melfice]

Please don't have a magic finger pistol.

Page 166 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/10/15/the-dreadful-166/)

Jeanne shoots a magic missile! Or a soul arrow. Or a dodon-pa. Or...something.

(She just had her hand into a gun for the lulz)

WELL!

[CABAL49]

Spirit Gun!

[Domestibot]

Okay, Now Jeanne pretty much outclasses Kit in every regard, including the diabolical energy pistol.

[SaltyKracka]

I think pretty much all the possible jokes for this development have already been made, so...

who do ghosts mayday to?

[Bum Bill Bee]

So with her speed and muscles and now this, I'd say Jeanne now qualifies as a Magic Knight type.

[BigDemonicBunny]

No wonder she doesn't carry around a gun. She's both a super-speeding brawler and a living artillery piece.

Just the kind of cheating we expect from Bosses!

[MSperoni]

Page 167! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/10/17/the-dreadful-167/)

WELL WELL WELL

[Kalbelgarion]

Wait...El Sabueso is real?!

[MSperoni]

He is now. Why not? :D

[Kalbelgarion]

I thought he was an unholy conglomeration of other successful advertising pitchmen. Like Mr. Sparkle.

[MSperoni]

El Sabueso is a bounty hunter fueled by the spirit of comics in the '90s.

If I ever do a special Sabueso Origin Issue, I will have to release it in eight different polybagged variant covers, including one special edition holofoil cover.

[Ryker]

I signed up for one post.

I find the resemblance uncanny. (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/03/23/episode-008-adventurers-1-giant-0/) However, this time, the man in the tree actually knows what's going on.

[phil_]

Brian's seminal work 8-bit Theater has deeply influenced the works of all great artists.

[SaltyKracka]

Oh. YESSssssss.

It's Sabueso Time!

[Masterof7s]

I don't know why but when I saw the chest hair, I instantly thought of Puck from the old Alpha Flight comics.

[BigDemonicBunny]

YES! El Sabueso! While I hope he's not using square guns I do hope they still perma-glint.

Also, hanging by your knees while scouting is perfectly logical, how else can you be sure that you're ALWAYS ready to dual wield? :P

"The first ten years I was constantly on the verge of fainting due to all the blood in my head, and it made me bald too. But the dual-wielding potential made it all worth it esse."

[MSperoni]

Sabueso has changed a bit from his Dreadful Advertising days. His guns are slightly more like real guns (think something like this (http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Colt_Model_1903/1908_Hammerless)), and he's not going to be consistently inconsistent anymore. So his hair/beard/costume will stay the same from panel-to-panel. He also has a distinct lack of pouches. He's not a blatant Liefeld spoof anymore, though he still has the "spirit" of an early 90s comic character (particularly one from Image).

[rpgdemon]

Is the S on his belt supposed to be backwards? Is THAT going to be consistent? I assumed it was a riff on Liefeld or something, attempting to draw an S upside down, and making it backwards instead, but I am now curious.

[MSperoni]

It's more a matter of me drawing it too fast and not paying attention.

[MSperoni]

Page 168! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/10/19/the-dreadful-168/)

Jeanne is too savvy to assume the heroine is dead "just because".

[SaltyKracka]

Well, now that all the characters are caught up on their zombies...I can't wait for Kit and Sabueso.

[Spinell]

So Jeanne knows that the zombies are Kits doing. Wonder if she cleans up after her every time she uses the Dreadful, considering that Kit apparently met those zombies the first time.

[Odjn]

She can't do the magic finger pistol all the time, right?

[MSperoni]

I'd shed some light on Jeanne, but I'm not 100% sure how her powers work yet, and so I don't want to mislead anyone.

Like, I already confused some people regarding her race, so I'd rather keep quiet about it for now.

[epcharles]

Based on her choice of fighting styles, even if Jeanne can do the finger gun at all times, she's still not faster on the draw than Kit is.

[Michael Morris]

I still say Jeanne is Akuma's grandma.

[MSperoni]

I have been wanting to do a Sakura fancomic...or find a way to put her (or a likeness of her) into The Dreadful.

Then again maybe that's Kit.

[Doctroid]

I just realized, El Sabueso has an inverting telescope (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_telescope#Inverted_images). Explains everything.

[MSperoni]

Page 169! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/10/22/the-dreadful-169/)

Miss Noelle has a lot to say.

[Hatake Kakashi]

Panel 3, Jeanne looks amazing. Jus' sayin'.

Also, I'm starting to get a bit of empathetic vibe... Jeanne isn't the evil she's largely been painted thus far, maybe....

[SaltyKracka]

Panel 3, Jeanne looks amazing. Jus' sayin'.

Also, I'm starting to get a bit of empathetic vibe... Jeanne isn't the evil she's largely been painted thus far, maybe....

YOU FOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL

Also, Jeanne fleshes out backstory and fills in plotholes.

[Yrcrazypa]

I have to say, I'm a big fan of the tall, strong woman look.

[MSperoni]

Page 170! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/10/24/the-dreadful-170/)

Jeanne's all about thickening up the plot lately.

[Doctroid]

Ah, some good ol' exposition. Finally learning something about the Dreadful!

Hm, wonder why Papa taught Kit and not Poe?

[SaltyKracka]

Ah, some good ol' exposition. Finally learning something about the Dreadful!

Hm, wonder why Papa taught Kit and not Poe?
Admittedly, not much other than that he was involved in its, and possibly Kits, development.

Also, remember that Kit is supposed to be...well...basically Super-Devikin. Something (probably Daddy Dearest) supercharged her.

Also, Kit's dream sequence with Colonel Kurtz time?

[Masterof7s]

The plot, it becomes like Campell's Chunky.

[MSperoni]

Page 171! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/10/26/the-dreadful-171/)

Ride above it all!

[Arhra]

EL SABUESO!

I think his horse might have just claimed the coveted title for Most Amazing Horse.

Also I'm not sure if El Sabueso understands what riding is.

[EVILNess]

LUCHA HORSE!

I... think I am tearing up a little.

[synkr0nized]

that pose
the mask on the horse

amazing

[Gitman]

Is... is that horse wearing a Deadpool mask? That's beyond awesome.

[Masterof7s]

Amazing. In one panel El Sabueso has become my newest favorite character. I don't know if this is because he is just that awesome or if because Matt is a BAMF of an artist. I tip my hat to you Mr. Speroni, as an artist of some talent myself I understand how difficult coming up with effective character designs is. How long has El Sabueso been trying to get out of your head?

[MSperoni]

I guess when I came up with that goofy advert a long time ago. I pretty much just make up and develop stuff as I need it unless I know for sure it's going to be important in the future.

Like, I had an idea where I wanted Kit to be and I threw in Sabueso and came up with a plot and that generated a few other ideas and another character and so on and so on. I've tried working with outlines but I'm no good with them.

[Arhra]

Haha, just noticed his left arm is missing while he's vaulting the horse.

Liefield has so much to answer for...

[SaltyKracka]

Lucha horse is now my favorite thing in this comic ever.

[Gillsing]

LUCHA HORSE!

Ah, so that's what that is. I wondered about the lack of a mane, thinking it was cut off so that it wouldn't catch fire when they jump through flames. Also to reduce air resistance, making the horse go faster. But no, I guess it's all luchador then.

[MSperoni]

Well it's supposed to be more like deadpool/spawn/diehard,etc (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks) but a luchador works too if that's how you wanna see it.

[Michael]

Also I'm not sure if El Sabueso understands what riding is.

Do you think that the horse understands it is being ridden?

Also I suspect there is some design crossover between dark age comic book characters and luchadors in the same way that Superman was essentially dressed as an acrobat of the day.

[EVILNess]

Well it's supposed to be more like deadpool/spawn/diehard,etc (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks) but a luchador works too if that's how you wanna see it.

Oh, yeah I see the pouches now.

Sorry, was blinded by the prospect of NOBLE WARRIOR LUCHA HORSE.

[MSperoni]

Happy Halloween! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/10/29/a-dreadful-halloween-2012/)

Note: All this is canon.

[Gillsing]

The might of kid Kit made me think of Hercules. Did Kit also kill animals when she was a toddler?

[MSperoni]

She probably did (maybe not as a toddler though), but I figure in a way a normal little old-fashioned country kid might. She'd catch some fish or whatever to eat, or squish icky bugs, but she's not going to collect puppies into a bag and set it on fire or anything.

[epcharles]

Interesting... I wonder what (prior) events inspired the rule about letting the pinkies out at night... clearly it is alright to feed them after midnight, and no evidence of problems if they get wet.... and, hey, isn't it ALWAYS after midnight... and isn't the air full of water... and is it just in-school pinkies who aren't allowed out in their school uniforms, or do the working girls need to find quarters by sundown... and are those the fun kinda horse pills or the "you better get some elbow length gloves" horse pills... and... and... and...

.

[SaltyKracka]

That is pretty Kit alright. She be down wit da carnage.

[MSperoni]

I wonder what (prior) events inspired the rule about letting the pinkies out at night...

When I wrote it I just had in mind it was basically a racist curfew law.

[Arhra]

That is a magnificently expressive sack-hat that Kit is wearing there.

[Gillsing]

She'd catch some fish or whatever to eat, or squish icky bugs, but she's not going to collect puppies into a bag and set it on fire or anything.

Oh sure, I caught fish and squished bugs as a kid too. But Hercules, he strangled snakes that were attacking him in his crib. So I was thinking of that kind of badass animal-killing, not the average 'hunting and pestering the wildlife', or the creepy 'murdering of pets'.

[MSperoni]

I'm sure if infant Kit had the opportunity to murder vicious hellbeasts she would have.


Also: The Dreadful will be back to updating like normal next week. I need to catch up on a few things so there may be a couple of instances where there are only two pages posted a week.

[MSperoni]

Page 172! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/11/05/the-dreadful-172/)

Lucas probably isn't going to be able to impress her...She grew up with Kit and hangs around with Jeanne. Poor guy :P

[Spinell]

And she speaks french. Did she get the brains while Kit got the powers? ;)

[MSperoni]

Poe spent a lot of time in her youth reading and studying. More on that later.

[Jalaweed]

She'll surrender to him sooner or later. Mostly later though.

Btw almost perfect french bubble, except it's "Il ne faut pas se fier aux apparences" :)

[MSperoni]

Well, like Lucas I don't speak French :D

I just copied it off some website...so either they wrote it wrong or I copied it wrong. At least I wasn't off TOO much...

[Jalaweed]

You were actually 97.37% right! That's enough to pass any exam.

[Gillsing]

Btw almost perfect french bubble, except it's "Il ne faut pas se fier aux apparences" :)

And thanks to that I could do the Google translate thing without having to type anything. Which I wouldn't have done, because it pretty much said what you'd think it would say. Though I'm not sure if she's talking about the appearance of the guy, herself, the place, or appearances in general. Maybe it doesn't matter, as she surely counted on not being understood?

[Loyal]

There is at least one Chinese man in this strip, and tea is being drunk, and in a comic done by Speroni.

That's just enough coincidence for me to decide that of Old Master Liu Wong doesn't show up at some point I will smack something.

[BigDemonicBunny]

And thanks to that I could do the Google translate thing without having to type anything. Which I wouldn't have done, because it pretty much said what you'd think it would say. Though I'm not sure if she's talking about the appearance of the guy, herself, the place, or appearances in general. Maybe it doesn't matter, as she surely counted on not being understood?

It's a proverb analogous to "never judge a book by its cover"

[Bum Bill Bee]

Dammit Ping, what are you doing out of detention!? The cyborg principal's gonna get pissed and kick your ass.


Heh, sorry, I've been addicted to the Detentionaire cartoon lately.

[Gillsing]

It's a proverb analogous to "never judge a book by its cover"
Yes, and usually people say that when a 'book' has been misjudged by its cover. So I idly wondered if this was the case.

Perhaps she intended it as an addition to her earlier admission to him that she hadn't expected him to take her to such a place? And therefore she was the one who had 'misjudged him by his appearance'? But she kind of looks like she's aiming it at him.

So perhaps she meant that he shouldn't have assumed that she couldn't speak French, and therefore he was the one who had misjudged her by her appearance? Which might be fair or unfair. Perhaps 'pinkies' are supposed to be uneducated, but if most people wouldn't know French, then his assumption that she wouldn't speak that particular language could easily have been based on probability rather than appearance.

This is all aside from her primary goal of showing him that she speaks the language he was fumbling with. Perhaps the most likely answer is that she only wanted to say something vaguely relevant in French, and didn't intend to imply that either of them had misjudged the other in the last few panels.

So much typing. :crying:

[MSperoni]

Page 173! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/11/07/the-dreadful-173/)

Trust me, Lucas, just tell Poe. You don't wanna have to go over this with Jeanne.

[SaltyKracka]

Oh lol. I pity Ping. And maybe Lucas, if he doesn't shut up and tell her what she wants to know.

[Spinell]

A customer. Probably the type who you give a little finger and he takes the whole arm. :sweatdrop

[MSperoni]

Page 174 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/11/09/the-dreadful-174/)

Well, it's a cafe, maybe this fella isn't a morning person and once he takes a hit of coffee he'll perk right on up and look less haggard and drooly.

[epcharles]

I don't think the coffee will help, but I <i>would</i> like to know if they act more manageable after eating.

Also, since it looks like there won't be time to find out:

I have been wondering what type of establishment the more normal customers might mistake this place for if they saw Poe. Will they not know who she is and mistake it for the type of place looser kids take their "dates"? ... or will they know who she is and mistake it for the type of place frequented by ruffians?

.

[Bard The 5th LW]

I don't think the coffee will help, but I <i>would</i> like to know if they act more manageable after eating.

Also, since it looks like there won't be time to find out:

I have been wondering what type of establishment the more normal customers might mistake this place for if they saw Poe. Will they not know who she is and mistake it for the type of place looser kids take their "dates"? ... or will they know who she is and mistake it for the type of place frequented by ruffians?

.

I presume the type of 'place' being referred to is some kind of brothel seeing as how Devikin apparently have a reputation for being hookers.

[Krylo]

I presume the type of 'place' being referred to is some kind of brothel seeing as how Devikin apparently have a reputation for being hookers.

Either this or a place that serves 'her kind'.

Think segregation era (and before) US.

[MSperoni]

Page 175! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/11/12/the-dreadful-175/)

He wants a cup of blood with a side order of blood.

[Hatake Kakashi]

I'm finding the zombie dialogue to be rather limited.

[Domestibot]

But what does he REALLY want?

[SaltyKracka]

dat poeface

He's thirsty...for JUSTICE!

[Domestibot]

Any wild guesses for who's telling Lucas to move? Mine: Boozloaf. Kit would be more interested in Poe. But who knows, it could be his scary sister with a meat cleaver.

In other news, gotta say, not since Abraham Lincoln himself has a crown rocked a tophat as hard as this zombie.

[MSperoni]

Page 176! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/11/13/the-dreadful-176/)

(I wasn't home when the page was posted)

[SaltyKracka]

Poe seems surprisingly ineffectual for a member of the Jeanne Noel gang...

But anyways, IT'S HEADSHOT TIEM

[Gillsing]

Time for Poe food puns? Normally she'd offer French fries, but this man just wants his Poetato as is.

[epcharles]

Actually, this setting is a bit more rustic, so its probably potage for all ;- )

.

[Doctroid]

Poe seems surprisingly ineffectual for a member of the Jeanne Noel gang...

She was caught by surprise; I'm not sure Erin, for instance, would have reacted any more effectually.

Still, you raise a good point. We've seen Jeanne, Erin, Liz, and Kit in action and they're all pretty much badasses. We haven't seen Poe kicking any butt; what we've seen of her seems pretty mild mannered. Was she taken into the gang only because they wanted Kit and Kit insisted (so she could keep an eye on her)? Or does Poe have hidden talents?

[Doctroid]

Any wild guesses for who's telling Lucas to move? Mine: Boozloaf. Kit would be more interested in Poe. But who knows, it could be his scary sister with a meat cleaver.

"MOVE, LUCAS!!!" doesn't sound like Boozloaf to me. I think it's Kit, talking to Lucas and not Poe because he's the one in the way of her shot.

[SaltyKracka]

She was caught by surprise; I'm not sure Erin, for instance, would have reacted any more effectually.

Still, you raise a good point. We've seen Jeanne, Erin, Liz, and Kit in action and they're all pretty much badasses. We haven't seen Poe kicking any butt; what we've seen of her seems pretty mild mannered. Was she taken into the gang only because they wanted Kit and Kit insisted (so she could keep an eye on her)? Or does Poe have hidden talents?

It's mostly the screaming. Oh, and Lucas having to distract the zombie.

Also, I bet she's the accountant. Or perhaps she's a psychiatrist. A...frontier psychiatrist.

[tacticslion]

... what?

'Cause 177 seems to be trying to load, but I'm not getting an image.

If it's not supposed to be up yet, it's kind of odd that that's the one that I get when I go to "last", or that I have the "next" option from 176.

Either way, I'm banking on "Move Lucas!!" to either be Poe herself (having scrabbled or teleported out of the way somehow while Lucas was trying to "rescue" her), one of the cooks, or one of Lucas' other pals (most likely culprit of all: that ghost that knew him that Kit sent to find Boozaloaf).

Also, in a bit of rather old news, what the heck is up with that guy and his absolutely ugly-as-sin horse?! (I'm not really expecting a response, yet.)

Slightly-less-old conversation, I'm guessing that Poe's presence would insinuate "that kind" of place referring to both to what Krylo mentioned (aka segregation-style serving "their kind") and seedy bad-news (aka brothel-esque, if not quite entirely a brothel). Basically, (in popular perception) Devkin = the bad/seedy people that hang out in the bad/seedy places with bad/seedy reputations. So, you know, yes, segregation-style racial politics, but with the added hint of sexual undertones (or overtones). In some ways like the old Louisiana-style treatment of "Moulattos" (Two pre-emptive apologies: First, Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulatto) spells it with no "e" on the end, while some other scholarly places (http://www.frenchcreoles.com/CreoleCulture/mulattoes,%20mixed%20race,%20creoles/mulattoes,%20mixed%20race,%20creoles.htm) do; as I'm not in the habit of using said term, I don't know it's 'proper' spelling, so I went with Wikipedia's. Second, please note I'm using this as a historical reference of terminology and racial interactions, not to enforce some racial stereotype or offensive identification upon those who self-identify using other terms, as is their right; I sincerely mean no form of insult to anyone, and apologize if it is an unpleasant term for you. Also, strangely, according to Wikipedia, I'd technically qualify myself (http://books.google.com/books?id=R8nvkAIulFIC&pg=PA19&dq=%22forced,+in+a+measure%22+%22The+mulatto+label %22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NQaTT62AG6u26QHv1rD-Aw&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22forced%2C%20in%20a%20measure%22%20%22The%20mu latto%20label%22&f=false) {links to number [7], on Wikipedia's References table}. Good luck convincing anyone, however (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White).) or Creoles. I'd suggest it may be something of said culture mixed with the rather awful Jim Crow-style (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crow_laws) racial presumptions, whether or not said things are actually legal (which they currently don't seem to be). I'd most definately put Dreadful somewhere in this alternate universe's equivalent of the Postbellum West (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_West#The_Postbellum_West) era, but probably pre-1876 (or its equivalent) and post-1865 (or its equivalent). Basically, that era after the Civil War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War) (or equivalent era), but before any sort of Jim Crow laws (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crow_laws) came into being. Ergo, it's not illegal to serve "both kinds" at the same establishment, but it's distinctly frowned upon in society.

Further, that kind of time limit (11-ish years) is enough for a young gang of ages eight-or-so in a post-war territory (a place where whatever Civil War that occurred was finished) could "grow up" into the adults that we see today. It would also explain why Kit's "The Dreadful (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/05/17/the-dreadful-023/)" looks an awful lot like a Civil-War Era Colt Army Model 1860 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Army_Model_1860) (although, aside from being German in a fiction work aside (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AllGermansAreNazis) (aplogies to all Germans, as that's definitely not truth-in-tropes), that doesn't really explain Erin's use (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/09/06/the-dreadful-055/) of what seems to be a WW2-Era Mauser C69 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauser_C-96), so, you know, it could be somewhere around 1910 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Frontier), making said item an extremely experimental, cutting-edge, or design-prototype, but more likely it's artistic licence (or I misidentified the gun).

Anyhoo, enough ramblings for now, hey?

[MSperoni]

Page 177 was supposed to have been uploaded a lot earlier, and Page 178 would've been uploaded today (friday) but things didn't go as smoothly as planned...

So...I guess page 178 will have to be up Saturday. Unless the site will allow for two pages posted in one day.

As for all that other stuff in the previous post...I'll need some time to read that :D

[tacticslion]

Page 177 was supposed to have been uploaded a lot earlier, and Page 178 would've been uploaded today (friday) but things didn't go as smoothly as planned...

So...I guess page 178 will have to be up Saturday. Unless the site will allow for two pages posted in one day.

As for all that other stuff in the previous post...I'll need some time to read that :D

Eheh, yeeeeeeeeeah, it's my semi-monthly ramble. I build up lots of words than place them all out at the same time.

EDIT: It's up and I CALLED IT (sort of)! (Look, it counts! NO ONE ELSE mentioned the cook(s)! Also, that was a typo, as clearly there's only one cook and one owner.)
Either way, I'm banking on "Move Lucas!!" to either be Poe herself (having scrabbled or teleported out of the way somehow while Lucas was trying to "rescue" her), one of the cooks, or one of Lucas' other pals (most likely culprit of all: that ghost that knew him that Kit sent to find Boozaloaf).

[Bum Bill Bee]

Hmm, so I guess its Kit who's worn the pants in their sisterhood relationship. :P

[CABAL49]

Poe is the smart one. She could probably win a fair fight against someone her power level, but nerds generally are not the best fighters.

[Domestibot]

I was starting to wonder if Ping was really more than just a frycook. Like, ya know, he's really some secret martial arts master who's only waitin' tables while the economy is bad for eastern-themed characters/genres. Gotta put bread on the table, ya know.

[tacticslion]

Poe is the smart one. She could probably win a fair fight against someone her power level, but nerds generally are not the best fighters.

I'd generally agree with this. That's what it seems like whenever they're in the flashbacks, too.

[Arhra]

Zombies are weak vs cast iron?

[epcharles]

We've seen the zombies get up before... sometimes considerably more powerful... if I were them, I'd be leaving quick.

[MSperoni]

I did a Guest Comic (http://www.girlswithslingshots.com/)!

I hope it will generate a little publicity for The Dreadful.

[MSperoni]

Page 178! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/11/19/the-dreadful-178/)

This scene was drawn about 20 pages after the previous page, that's why the style looks different. I decided I needed to rearrange the pages and this scene worked a lot better earlier.

And I rewrote this scene like three times, and I didn't actually get the dialog finalized till a few days ago :P

I'm really happy with it though. So hopefully all the extra work was worth it.

[SaltyKracka]

I wonder if I'm the only one who's come to the obvious conclusion about Poe's reluctance.

[MSperoni]

What conclusion is that?

[SaltyKracka]

Abusive boyfriend. She lied about what got her hurt, and is trying to keep Kit from finding out what actually hurt her in fear of what she would do. Kit confronting her supposed assaulters...(? Couldn't think of the proper word) would put her lie in jeopardy, so she tries to minimize the importance of what supposedly happened so as to deincentivize Kit's belligerence.

[MSperoni]

Interesting theory! We'll see if it pans out that way :)

[SaltyKracka]

This totally sounds right out of a PSA about abusive relationships and/or rape.

[Gitman]

Looking at the relationship dynamic and all the foreshadowing... I'm liking the idea that Poe shot Kit more and more. She probably did it on Jeanne's orders, but deliberately used cheap bullets so as not to do any permanent harm.

Kit won't see it that way when she finds out, though.

[MSperoni]

Page 179! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/11/20/the-dreadful-179/)

The drama continues...

[MSperoni]

Page 180 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/11/21/the-dreadful-180/)

And the scene turns.

[Gitman]

So Poe does have a ruthless streak. Support for my theory continues to accrue.

[Domestibot]

I've often wondered why Jeanne would let someone unsavvy in the art of badassery like Poe in the gang, Unless Poe were good for something. Decoy? Bait? Brains? Spy? Poe seems very learned, (what with the french and all) so all these are likely... but it also seems like she's pretty manipulative toward even her own sister. I know Jeanne is dangerous, but she should watch out for Poe, if she's really as devious as this scene seems to be making her out to be.

[epcharles]

Well... that's unexpected... Poe is going to up the anti?

[Masterof7s]

Nice does not equal good. Gentle does not equal harmless. And apparently Poe does not equal demure thing that wouldn't hurt a fly.

I have to wonder how much of this is attributable to the nature of a Devikin.

[Domestibot]

Liz has also proven herself to be an adept manipulator, but I think what would make Poe far more dangerous is that kit actually trusts her... I mean, right before Liz rode off she did seem to TRY and warn Kit about Poe, and even Jeanne herself told kit not to act like Poe was "some hostage." Kit just seems to turn a blind eye to the possibility that her sister could be anything bad.

[Melfice]

I agree Poe could be quite the manipulative devil, but right here, I don't think she's got any malicious intent.
She's completely disarmed the situation by telling Kit that she wants the guy dead. Look at the panel where Kit's taking a drink from the bottle. She looks like she's doing a spit-take! It completely blindsided her and put her from "RARR! KILL!" into concerned sister.

[MSperoni]

The site is having some FTP problems, so that's why there haven't been any pages posted this week. There are people working on it though!

[MSperoni]

I made a facebook page for The Dreadful!

Go Like (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dreadful/121129724713702) it please!

[MSperoni]

Page 181! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/11/28/the-dreadful-181/)

Poe is having some emotional/moral turmoil. Hopefully Kit can talk her out of it!

[SaltyKracka]

Page 181! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/11/28/the-dreadful-181/)

Poe is having some emotional/moral turmoil. Hopefully Kit can talk her out of it!

Kit. Talk somebody out of a funk and/or killing people.

dis gun b gud

[Domestibot]

Judge Catherine described Poe as "Kits Moral Ballast." I would not be surprised if those good qualities Kit always saw in Poe were just projected desires she had all along, Cause Poe doesn't seem too moral right now. In fact:

Kit Chasing off Poe's boyfriends, and now aborting her plans to hurt a shopkeeper... Kit seems to hold Poe to these arbitrary moral standards, not the other way around.

[MSperoni]

I love how much attention you pay to the comic :D

Well, those are some interesting theories. Curious how they'll be developed once the next page is posted!

[MSperoni]

Page 182! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/11/30/the-dreadful-182/)

Kit and Poe wrap up the drama, and Kit's tank top rides off into the sunset having proved itself wise and full of love.

[epcharles]

:'''- ( it will be missed....

[MSperoni]

So did I mention I made a Facebook page for The Dreadful (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dreadful/121129724713702)?

I think I did! But I posted a little picture of Erin I whipped up today, so you should all go check it out :)

[Melfice]

:'''- ( it will be missed....

Really? :smug:

[MSperoni]

Page 183! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/12/03/the-dreadful-183/)

Back in the present (Finally).

[Domestibot]

Kit looks almost the same age in the flashback and the present day. How much time would you say has elapsed? I just ask because it says "awhile back. Before Jeanne." Or do Devikin have a longer lifespan than humans, so it just doesn't look like a lot of time has gone by?

[MSperoni]

The flashback took place no more than a few years previous. Though I'm not sure exactly how long (I didn't think it was too important). If Kit looks about the same age then it's safe to assume she's about the same age give or take a year or so. Whatever seems reasonable.

[Domestibot]

Nah, it's not that important. Just my morbid curiosity of cat-sized proportions.

[Krylo]

Sabueso is clearly holding that gun as opposed to simply having the barrel glued to the top of his hand.

I call shenanigans sir.

Shen-an-i-gans.

[MSperoni]

Well, I draw Sabueso as if he makes a LITTLE more sense in the non-advertisement pages. :)

[MSperoni]

Page 184! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/12/05/the-dreadful-184/)

He does not shit around.

[SaltyKracka]

Just looking at Kit's pose and Sabueso's text

<_<

>_>

A...titty monster?

[Domestibot]

Just what Kit needs, a delluded rival who actually thinks he's on the same level as her when really he's a sidekick at best. Like Vegeta, Konohamaru, Joe Biden, etc.

[MSperoni]

Page 185! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/12/07/the-dreadful-185/)

LIEFELD GRIMACE

[MSperoni]

Due to rewrites, a lot had to be shifted around to make room for new pages and to make other pages fit better. To give you an idea how crazy it got:

Page 183 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/12/03/the-dreadful-183/) was actually drawn BEFORE page 155 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/09/17/the-dreadful-155/)

Pages 183-185 and 188-192 were all drawn back in September.

So that should explain why the art style in the Kit/Poe scene looks different than it does here. You're lookin' at me of three months ago :D

[tacticslion]

Due to rewrites, a lot had to be shifted around to make room for new pages and to make other pages fit better. To give you an idea how crazy it got:

Page 183 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/12/03/the-dreadful-183/) was actually drawn BEFORE page 155 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/09/17/the-dreadful-155/)

Pages 183-185 and 188-192 were all drawn back in September.

So that should explain why the art style in the Kit/Poe scene looks different than it does here. You're lookin' at me of three months ago :D

It's like time-travel!

... though I wonder if this is the closed-loop version, or the kind where I can kill my own ancestors, yet still survive.

[BigDemonicBunny]

Oh man. El Sabueso is channeling the 90s comic harder than the 90s ever did! :)

[SaltyKracka]

Now all Sabueso needs is cybernetics and a Deadpool of some sort, and he will be all of the Liefields. All of them.