The Dreadful -- Chapter 8

[MSperoni]

Page 186 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/12/10/the-dreadful-186/)

Jordan Adams's daughters...

[Kalbelgarion]

The girl blubbers. There is no room in my home for blubbering!

Poe! Wash!

[MSperoni]

Kit could take Fei.

[Michael Morris]

At age 8 though?

Chapter 8, age 8. Hmm.. Abrupt all the same.

[MSperoni]

Hmm...I dunno about age eight, though Kit's pretty tough even as a child.

[Domestibot]

Awww, they're such precious angels... wait? Devils? Hmmm.

[Michael Morris]

Hmm...I dunno about age eight, though Kit's pretty tough even as a child.

Well, not much older than. The larger the pillows are, the earlier they start. Kit and Poe both have considerable pillows.

[Hatake Kakashi]

Drawn a long time ago, or reverting art style?

Either way, they're adorable.

[MSperoni]

No this was drawn recently. I just figured they would look younger this way.

[MSperoni]

Note: Due to some "stuff" happening, The Dreadful is gonna go back to two updates a week for a bit :)

[MSperoni]

Page 187! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/12/14/the-dreadful-187/)

Introducing Penelope Adams!

[tehixe]

Tiny devikins... too much cute... head gonna asplode!

[SaltyKracka]

So...any devikin with a sister basically has a twin of a different age?

That's gotta make for some awkward confusions.

[MSperoni]

Basically! :)

[Bard The 5th LW]

This explains the early title "Penny Dreadful" then.

[Gitman]

So I'm guessing Kit and Poe haven't known each other that long if Kit still doesn't know what Poe's full name is.

[MSperoni]

Poe's full name is Poe.

That's the...

:(

[Domestibot]

Assuming you went with the early title of "Penny Dreadful," was this going to be the point where we finally saw the relevance, or did Kit's name change when the title did?

[MSperoni]

Kit's name was always gonna be Kit, though at the start of the comic Brian suggested I change it to Penny to go with the title "Penny Dreadful". I didn't want to, because I liked Kit a LOT more than Penny...

However, as the comic went along I thought it would be funny if she had a really normal sounding name, or a name that didn't suit her, and she called herself "Kit" instead. Up until recently her name was going to be "Mary" but I remembered Brian suggesting Penny/Penelope so that's what I went with.

Having her be named "Mary Kit" reminded me too much "Mary Kate" and I didn't want anyone to think she was a reference to one of the Olsen Twins...

Also I liked that both her and Poe's named started with a P.

[Gitman]

Poe's full name is Poe.

That's the...

:(

Well, right. We know that, but Kit doesn't know whether Poe is short for anything, right? Wouldn't a sister normally know that kind of thing?

... I'm probably overthinking this and I just know I'm going to feel like a complete idiot when I figure out the joke.

[MSperoni]

The joke is......


Kit is six.

[tacticslion]

Actually, I got that Kit didn't know about the poet Edgar Allen (which was funny), and that's probably because she was young (and also seems to be the less intellectual - slightly higher on the CHA slightly lower on the INT, in Pathfinder terms), but I wasn't sure if you were hinting at anything larger (I figured it could be that I simply didn't know about something that I'd inevitably look up and educate myself about later).

Nope!

Still fun, though.

(Also, occasionally, explaining the joke is perfectly fine.)

[Chaos Sepher]

Remember what El Sabueso was saying earlier about how he feels not taking Kit seriously? Doubt these chuckleheads are gonna last long.

[Gitman]

Sabueso looks very unhappy in that last panel. I'm guessing he doesn't approve of prisoner abuse.

[SaltyKracka]

Sabueso does not take kindly to the abuse of HIS prisoners.

[MSperoni]

(Also, occasionally, explaining the joke is perfectly fine.)


Basically Kit just assumed Poe's name was probably short for something because Kit is six and figures most names are probably sort for something. In fact, Poe's name is simply Poe and it's not short for anything.

[Gitman]

Basically Kit just assumed Poe's name was probably short for something because Kit is six and figures most names are probably sort for something. In fact, Poe's name is simply Poe and it's not short for anything.

Yep, I was definitely overthinking it.

[Bum Bill Bee]

The guy on the right in panel four looks like a white version of Lord Bowler from the Adventures of Brisco County Jr.

I really absolutely loved that show growing up.

[ChrisP]

Does anyone else get the feeling that Sabueso has had to deal with some form of institutionalized prejudice throughout his life, and has more sympathy for Kit and other Devilkin than most of his contemporaries?
I mean, sure, he looks human, but if he had that disproportionate bulk growing up, it isn't hard to imagine him being singled out for abuse.

Actually, do we know if Devilkin are allowed to marry? After all, I seem to recall it being said a while back that there are no male Devilkin, so any Devilkin so intent on marriage would be in an interracial relationship. I suppose there is no reason to assume that the period's biases against such relationships are present in the Dreadful universe, but then again, I see no reason to assume the opposite, especially in light of the rather defeated tone Claudia used to talk about Devilkin rights...

(Sorry if I rambled a bit there).

[MSperoni]

Rambling is perfectly fine on NPF!

If I stick with the origin story I have for El Sabueso then he SORT OF was met with prejudice. That's assuming I stick with it though. I might just have him be a total mystery man with no origin, which would fit better with his 90s Comics theme.

[SaltyKracka]

He sprung full grown from the hand of Grandpa Liefield, who made his living drawing awful portraits. Always bust shots, of course.

There. That's his backstory. USE IT.

[MSperoni]

That's not very 90s... Maybe he should be a time traveler from a post-apocalyptic future who came back in time to try to fix things and eventually ends up being his own dad.

Also his hair needs to turn white and he needs an eye that is like... a star or something. Also more vests and cyber arms/legs.

Maybe I just invented another character.

[Arhra]

Or remembered about a certain dwarf, who's probably from an alternate reality now!

[BigDemonicBunny]

If El Sabueso had a backstory it would be more like...

All devikin children are female, and look almost exactly like their mothers.
Only once has a devikin born a male child, and that was El Sabueso. The dog, the most feared bounty hunter in the west, gifted with superior strength, toughness and stamina but always shunned by society because he's too awesome, and because of his cool lone wolf mentality. Prophecied to...etc etc.

That's 90s.

[SaltyKracka]

If El Sabueso had a backstory it would be more like...

All devikin children are female, and look almost exactly like their mothers.
Only once has a devikin born a male child, and that was El Sabueso. The dog, the most feared bounty hunter in the west, gifted with superior strength, toughness and stamina but always shunned by society because he's too awesome, and because of his cool lone wolf mentality. Prophecied to...etc etc.

That's 90s.

Actually, that's Ganondorf.

[Gitman]

Jeez, Liz wasn't kidding about Kit being tough. How much punishment has she taken in the last couple hours, and she's still got that in the tank?

[Masterof7s]

Kit + adrenaline (assuming human/devikin physiological simlitude, which is a pretty safe bet since the twins have a human father) + Kit don't take nobody's shit = I saw this shitstorm coming.

[Domestibot]

yeah, considering on this day she's already been in a brawl with 2 zombies, one zombie of Nemesis proportions, Fucking Jeanne Noelle, and now 2 jackasses, I'd say Kit's stamina and fighting prowess is the stuff of legends.

Not to mention all that stuff was TODAY. Yesterday there was Burke, Erin, those random losers who woke her up, etc.

[MSperoni]

Yup, and included in all that was her being shot in the stomach with a double barreled shotgun and shot in the head with a sniper rifle.

So, yeah, Kit's pretty tough. :)

[Gitman]

Looks like in his shock, El Sabueso forgot he was holding Kit's rope. :D

[MSperoni]

The Dreadful will be back to updating next week!

[Arhra]

Oh, oh, I hope it has more shots of El Sabueso's thirty thousand teeth!

Kit can escape or something too, I guess.

[Domestibot]

Oh hey, I meant to ask. Is Steamer dead? Or is it like other ghost lore where you can just disperse them for a moment and they reappear after, I dunno... collecting themselves?

[MSperoni]

190! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2012/12/31/the-dreadful-190/)

RIGHT!!!!!

Oh hey, I meant to ask. Is Steamer dead? Or is it like other ghost lore where you can just disperse them for a moment and they reappear after, I dunno... collecting themselves?

I think it's safe to assume Steamer is dead.

[mginn82]

Oh hey, I meant to ask. Is Steamer dead? Or is it like other ghost lore where you can just disperse them for a moment and they reappear after, I dunno... collecting themselves?

I think it's safe to assume Steamer is dead.

I see what you did there... :raise:

[BigDemonicBunny]

Liefield hidden foot running pose followed by a Liefield dramatic jump.

...I love El Sabueso.

[epcharles]

So... El Sabueso is the kinda guy who can stop Kit (at least temporarily)... but also the kind of guy who might forget he is supposed to do so, unless someone reminds him....

[Gitman]

Looks like in his shock, El Sabueso forgot he was holding Kit's rope. :D

He remembered!

Liefield hidden foot running pose followed by a Liefield dramatic jump.

...I love El Sabueso.

Don't forget the Liefeld ground-level fisheye camera!

[MSperoni]

So... El Sabueso is the kinda guy who can stop Kit (at least temporarily)...

Well she's kinda handicapped at the moment.

[MSperoni]

The reason there was only one page this week was because I had to do some edits on page 191, and I planned on doing them Thursday, but I got sick so I didn't do them. Then I got busy on something else yesterday and by the time I got to making my edits it was too late to post a page. I figured I'd wait to post it starting next week.

[Krylo]

Matt, you haven't shown up for work in ages, and when you finally do, you come in for a day and then call in sick for the rest of the week.

It hurts me to do this, because you've really done some quality work for the company in the past, but we just can't keep you on the pay roll with this kind of attendance.

You're fired.

[epcharles]

Mental note.... If you need the cooperation of a really big and tough guy for the duration of a plan, you should tell him the plan before he is in the middle of it. Otherwise there is an unhappy guy you can't control stuck in the middle of your plan.

[MSperoni]

191! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/01/08/the-dreadful-191/)

Hogtyin' catoblepases!

[Masterof7s]

Hmm...methinks the shit is about to hit the fan.

Grab some umbrellas people!

[MSperoni]

It will hit the fan sooner or later.

[Domestibot]

why not just tell them to just go ask Jeanne herself... :P I mean, she is probably less than a mile away.

[MSperoni]

That would certainly get them all killed, so maybe that wouldn't be a bad idea.

[Gitman]

Hmm. That guy looks kinda like Agent Meagher from strip #5.

[SaltyKracka]

Obviously Kit needs to work on her puppy-dog eyes. This go round seems to have been ineffective.

[Hatake Kakashi]

Might he be made of sterner stuff than I? Pleading eyes like those usually are more persuasive than even the best logical arguments on me.

[MSperoni]

192! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/01/11/the-dreadful-192/)

This page was originally the ending to the previous chapter, but things got bumped around so much that I decided it was better suited here :)

EDIT: Kit wasn't laying down the puppy-dog eyes as thick as she could have.

[Melfice]

I'm betting Sabueso ends up riding off with Kit at some point.

[MSperoni]

He wishes!

[Melfice]

Uh, not as in "They got married, had lots of horrible Devikin/whatever-Sabueso-is halfbreed children and lived happily ever after" riding off.

I meant in, Sabueso's had enough and decides to "rescue" Kit, to decide what to do with her later.

But, y'know. If you say "He wishes", that probably says enough about that theory.

[MSperoni]

Well, I'd like Kit as a girlfriend so I guess I figure everyone else would, including Sabueso, but I haven't asked him :D

[SaltyKracka]

Y'know, a feel I've been getting a lot from Sabueso this whole scene is that he respects and sympathizes a lot more with Kit than he does with the guys who're employing him.

[Domestibot]

Gonna take a stab in the dark and say Sabueso is the same race as whatever Judge Catherine is.

[MSperoni]

193! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/01/15/the-dreadful-193/)

Back in town...and is that...Boozloaf?

[Gitman]

Poor Lucas, getting horribly embarrassed by his sister in front of a pretty girl. :D

[phil_]

Behind a pretty girl, actually. The art made that pretty clear. Also, it continued the trend of Poe coming to see him as a well-intentioned idiot as opposed to a pathetic idiot, so that's good for him.

[Gitman]

Behind a pretty girl, actually. The art made that pretty clear.

Gratuitous pedantry FTW!

Fine, "In the presence of a pretty girl." The point wasn't the exact angle of Poe's line of sight, it was that she did, in fact, witness him being smothered.

[Bum Bill Bee]

Thats a cute looking Deputy girl. You've gotten pretty good at drawing cute minor female characters.

The reunion betwee nLucs and his sister was also adorable.

[MSperoni]

Page 194! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/01/18/the-dreadful-194/)

Just let the Sheriff handle it...

[Locarte]

Greetings,

First time poster, long time viewer here.

I think the restaurant owner is onto something here. His conclusion is based on all the wrong reasons, but he's onto it imo.

[Bum Bill Bee]

Yeah, Kit inadvertly created the zombies so the zombies obviously just wanted to find Poe and give her a hug, because she's like an aunt to them :P

[SaltyKracka]

This won't end well for poor Boozie.

[Domestibot]

Nah, Poe has no idea who Boozloaf is, he's totally going to talk to her. Although since everything he's heard about Poe has so far been from Kit's point of view, it's very likely he doesn't suspect her loyalties might be in question... hopefully he doesn't say something stupid.

[MSperoni]

Boozloaf saying something stupid? NO WAAAAAaaaY

[epcharles]

Well... its not like two pinky sisters would be identical or something, so how would Boozloaf even know who she was? It's a good thing nothing a score of pages ago established family resemblances as being particularly strong in this world.

[SaltyKracka]

Well that was entirely sober and proper and what in god's name has happened to the Dreadful I so love.

[MSperoni]

195 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/01/22/the-dreadful-195/)

Mysteries...and Human/Cyclops romance. This comic truly has everything.

[Bum Bill Bee]

Is the cyclops man seeing multiple women, and thats why he got her name wrong?

[Gitman]

Heh heh. Reminds me of another Delmar who's also dumber than a bag o' hammers. Shout out to O, Brother, Where Art Thou, maybe?

[MSperoni]

Yup :)

[MSperoni]

I might need to make an edit on page 196 so the posting of it could be delayed till tomorrow or Monday. I'm waiting on an opinion :P

[MSperoni]

196! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/01/25/the-dreadful-196/)

Looks like it didn't need editing after all!

I finally got to put Charsi in the comic :)

[Spinell]

Boozloaf, you are full of surprises. :aaa:

[Domestibot]

Wow, didn't see that one coming.

[epcharles]

Ack! The plot thickens.... But he is definitely still praising Aurox...

[Bum Bill Bee]

Why Boozie, WHY?? We trusted you.....:(

[Masterof7s]

I knew there was more to Boozloaf than he was letting on.

[MSperoni]

197 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/01/29/the-dreadful-197/)

Back to these two... (or three)

[SaltyKracka]

The world's most dour horse...Mr. Fred.

[Gregness]

That horse could be the new face of the 'son, I am disappoint' meme.

[Satan's Onion]

No, sir--he doesn't like it.

[MSperoni]

Exactly.

[EVILNess]

This is a weird compliment for sure, but you draw the most awesomely amusing horses.

[MSperoni]

I like to give them character :)

[Melfice]

And look at that other horse. He's just staring at Jeanne's and thinking "What am I doing here with... him? I could have pulled a plough. But noooo... I wanted to be a riding horse."

[MSperoni]

Sorry for the lack of an update today. I got busy and didn't send the page to Brian so he could post it, and I feel it's kinda late for an update right now.

So I'll just post three pages next week! (Unless something happens again)

[SaltyKracka]

So, either makeouts or zombies.

My bet's on makeouts.

...

Zombie makeouts.

[BigDemonicBunny]

The horse is the real boss of the partnership, and he rules the weird west with his iron hoof.

[MSperoni]

198! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/02/05/the-dreadful-198/)

Mein Gott indeed.

[Michael Morris]

I thought you wasn't going to have Erin speak German anymore? Change your mind, or resorting to her using known phrases?

[MSperoni]

I figured simple phrases were okay so I could help let new readers realize she's got a German basis to her race.

[Krylo]

Also, '<My god>' is kind of awkward, while Mein Gott is immediately recognizable, and not awkward.

Generally when translating a character like that, at least in comics I've seen, you only do it for dialogue/monologue, and exclamatory phrases retain the original language, as: a) it's generally recognizable, anyway; b) it doesn't really matter exactly what they said; and c) it's just reads better.

[Spinell]

A demonic facehugger or just a french kiss? :aaa:

[MSperoni]

Page 199! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/02/08/the-dreadful-199/)

Slashfic!

[SaltyKracka]

yyyyyyyup

that thur's zombie makeouts, alright

[Odjn]

Hey MSperoni I would like you to make a SuperBowl commercial.

[MSperoni]

I really ought to...

[Masterof7s]

Jeanne seems terribly unimpressed.

[Gitman]

I must admit, MSperoni, you have an uncanny talent for making nauseating monsters. You should do some character design for Resident Evil. :D

[Kalbelgarion]

Poor Tidyman. He never did nothing to nobody!

...Which probably means he was a pretty crappy sheriff.

[MSperoni]

200! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/02/12/the-dreadful-200/)

I like drawing horror... maybe I should do Resident Evil stuff. Or Silent Hill!

[SaltyKracka]

Smokin', smokin'! Nobody minds, just keep on tokin'!

[MSperoni]

201! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/02/15/the-dreadful-201-2/)

Like a couple of zombies are going to bother Jeanne.

[SaltyKracka]

Jeanne Noel.

Absolutely no fucks given. Ever.

[MSperoni]

I'm sure Jeanne gives a fuck about something, but I'm not sure what yet.

[MSperoni]

202! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/02/19/the-dreadful-202/)

What's Jeanne thinking anyway?

[Domestibot]

She's thinking her nieces and nephews could use a brand new yo-yo.

[Michael Morris]

"I've got 99 problems, but zombies aren't one of them."
?

[MSperoni]

Sorry for the lack of an update the yesterday, folks. I wasn't where I could send a page to Brian.

But there will be two pages next week! At least I figure there will be...

[BigDemonicBunny]

Nice touch there with the bullet hole. Too bad for the sheriff that he was facing a creature that looks somewhat like a human but where the heart is a vestigal organ.

[MSperoni]

203! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/02/26/the-dreadful-203/)

Jeanne believes silence is golden.

[SaltyKracka]

she just got fingerbanged

[Sithdarth]

she just got fingerbanged

*rolls up newspaper and smacks on the nose*

NO! Bad! Now go to your room and think about what you've done.

[Bard The 5th LW]

Ahahahaha even the fucking zombie just straight up doesnt know how to react to this

[Masterof7s]

Well that escalated quickly.

I keep telling people that librarians have secret powers, but do they listen? Noooooooo!!

[Domestibot]

Looks like Zombie Tidyman is having second thoughts about being a zombie... maybe this whole "braaains," thing isn't for him.

[Michael Morris]

You ok Matt? You've missed a couple updates.

[MSperoni]

Yup. Things are good. There should be an update today.

Other projects + Brian traveling to ECCC kinda delayed things this past week and a half.

[Melfice]

You should just do a hostile takeover of the site anyway.
It's not like Brian ever posts anything worthwhile these days. :P

Just kidding, of course.

[MSperoni]

Page 204! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/03/06/the-dreadful-204/)

Not sure you can have a "live" zombie, but I'm not gonna argue about it with Jeanne.

[Gregness]

Is it just me or has Erin gained like three cup sizes since her first appearance (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/09/02/the-dreadful-054/)?

[Masterof7s]

I look at Mr. Dour Horse and for some reason all I can think is DAT CHIN!!

[Krylo]

Page 204! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/03/06/the-dreadful-204/)

Not sure you can have a "live" zombie, but I'm not gonna argue about it with Jeanne.
Not sure you can have a live anything if you drag it behind your horse far enough.

[mginn82]

Is it just me or has Erin gained like three cup sizes since her first appearance (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2011/09/02/the-dreadful-054/)?

I had noticed the same thing. I assumed it's a side effect of the fairy cohabitating her body. Like swelling due to the body trying to purge the foreign body.

I don't know if there have been many studies on the immune systems of Germanic flying elf ladies, but it seems as valid a theory as any.

Or maybe her body is undergoing hormonal changes because it believes she's pregnant. If she starts lactating in the next few pages, I'm taking these psychic powers to Vegas.

[MSperoni]

Well, Kit grew lips. Things sometimes just change!

[mginn82]

Well, Kit grew lips. Things sometimes just change!

Everyone knows a wizard did that... :rolleyes:

In fact, I'd like to amend my previous theories. A wizard caused Erin's change as well. :smug:

[Michael Morris]

What's with the box at the top of the panel? It looks like there was a supposed to be a "minutes later" or some such narrative panel there that didn't get drawn.

[MSperoni]

It's supposed to be a "beat panel" but I guess it was poorly executed.

[MSperoni]

Page 205! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/04/10/the-dreadful-205/)

THE DREADFUL RETURNS

[SaltyKracka]

And the dryads appear.

Was wondering when this topic was going to show back up.

[MSperoni]

Page 206! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/04/12/the-dreadful-206/)

Magical Suppression Vessel, aka "Giant Floating Wooden Egg Thing"

(I realize that "suppression" is misspelled on this page, btw)

[SaltyKracka]

Dryad sister ladies could get work as models. Those are some straight up art faces.

Also, El Sabueso falls victim to a classic fallacy. My bet is Kit commits the classic followup blunder of claiming the exact opposite of what she just said.

[BigDemonicBunny]

I wonder if Kit is purposefully lying or if she's kind of dense. Because calling summoning a beamshooting revolver of mass destruction sounds pretty magicky to me.

Although they could just define magic differently. In which case the cage wouldn't stop her from summoning the dreadful anyway.

[epcharles]

Well, Kit certainly isn't a traditional magician, so her powers might well fall outside the "this cage stops magic" category. Either way, presumably El Sabueso knows about that ability.

Maybe his suspicions are justified ;- ) It does sound juts like what I would say if I could use magic...

[Domestibot]

she could be being honest and reverse-psychologizing them at the same time... I mean, I assume if they put her in that thing she won't be hogtied anymore, and if the dreadful actually doesn't rely on magic, well, then there's nothing to stop her from using it to take aim and fire.

This all relies on The Dreadful not being dependent on magic, of course. I have no doubt her father used magic to create it, but that doesn't necessarily mean that once it was linked to Kit that Magic was the source of its power, rather than Kit herself.

[MSperoni]

Page 207! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/04/22/the-dreadful-207/)

Sabueso can predict anything, eh? Hmm....

[Arhra]

So whatever happens next, El Sabueso is going to say "Eh, saw it coming." ?!

[Red Mage Black]

I guess no one told him pattern recognition doesn't equal clairvoyance. Though that wooden egg thing opening up was somehow 'creepy imagery' for me.

[tacticslion]

I guess no one told him pattern recognition doesn't equal clairvoyance. Though that wooden egg thing opening up was somehow 'creepy imagery' for me.

Yeah, I actually popped in to ask MSPeroni if he'd purposefully made the wood thing kind of like a round face (with hints of skull-imagery).

So: did you?

Specifically, so you know what I'm seeing/asking about, the big opening is the mouth, the two small slits above it a "nose" or at least skull-like nose-holes, the big opening to the right of the "nose" speaks of an eye, and of the two opening immediately to the left the larger rounder one also speaks of an eye; because the other opening is narrower and slanted down too much it doesn't seem like an eye, even though it's technically a bit closer (it's also more similar to a bunch of other holes, whereas the ones I mention seem purposefully slightly different).

[MSperoni]

Well it kinda does look like a face, doesn't it? :D

[MSperoni]

Page 208! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/04/26/the-dreadful-208/)

Sabueso seems confident about whatever scheme he's cooked up in his beastly, monster energy drink and doritos fueled oven.

[Red Mage Black]

My review, since I missed the beginning and stuff of the comic:

I know I'm kind of late in the game for this post, but that fight between Kit and Jeanne was awesome. I especially loved Jeanne's fighting stance and how she clearly didn't give a crap that Kit was using a gun. That and she looks pretty damn solid for an outlaw. I don't think anyone could ask her, "Do you even lift?" With a straight face.

Present Comic:

Apparently hes also never heard that the best laid plans tend to go astray. Though this guy is also built like a semi, so I can see him taking quite a few hits before going down. I will say this though, even idiots can have a stroke of genius sometimes. I wonder if this is one of those times for Sabueso.

As for the previous discussion I saw in this thread, I don't think I even noticed the additions, such as Kit actually having lips. I guess I suck at observation, that or too engrossed in the story.

[Spinell]

That's one intelectual looking horse. :D
And Liz looks changed (for the better):3:

[Arcanum]

So when are we getting the side-story revolving entirely around the horses of The Dreadful?

[Masterof7s]

And then there was horse.

[MSperoni]

Page 209! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/04/30/the-dreadful-209/)

Liz returns! Also could that mild-mannered horse be Bludkolt? Noooo...I'm sure it's just a mild mannered horse. It's obviously no harm to anyone, just look at those glasses.

So when are we getting the side-story revolving entirely around the horses of The Dreadful?

Hmm...I can see that as a possibility but I don't know exactly when it would happen.

[Krylo]

haha, is that bludkolt?

Fantastic

[MSperoni]

Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. After all, Bludkolt didn't wear glasses.

[BigDemonicBunny]

...his terrible death-whinny.

[Jothki]

I think you just rendered every other page of the comic redundant.

[SaltyKracka]

Oh dear.

It looks like Mr. Fred has finally caught up to Lizzer.

[SaltyKracka]

Mr. Fred.

Master of Disguise.

[MSperoni]

Page 210! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/05/03/the-dreadful-210/)

That horse is simply there for a drink...

[Michael Morris]

A horse is a horse of course, of course
And no one can talk to a horse of course
That is of course unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed.

[MSperoni]

So far none of the horses talk. So far.

EDIT: Unless you count Rado...

EDIT2: I wish I hadn't killed Rado. This comic needs more centaurs.

[Kalbelgarion]

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee220/Ein-7919/mr__horse-1.jpg

[SaltyKracka]

So. Many. Teeths.

[MSperoni]

Page 211! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/05/07/the-dreadful-211/)

Sabueso and his toothy maw. He looks awfully sinister.

[Melfice]

Can we assume from this that El Sabueso has a mental link through Bludkolt?

[BigDemonicBunny]

Bludkolt is probably the brains of the outfit :P

[MSperoni]

Page 212 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/05/10/the-dreadful-212/)

One man. One beast. All Sabueso.

[phil_]

Spoilers, I don't want to ruin this: That's the best boobs-and-butt I've ever seen.

[SaltyKracka]

da poses

[Arhra]

MAGNIFICENT

Can't believe I missed all these updates with an equine master of disguise either.

El Sabueso seems rather put out by his slip!

[Spinell]

El Sabueso a seer? Thats something unusual.

[tacticslion]

El Sabueso seems rather put out by his slip!

I'm not so sure. He may actually have let that "slip" on purpose while he's hamming it up.

Alternatively, however, he could be worried because seeing the future is magical, and I'm not sure how happy his people would be about that.

Of course on the third hand (which, secretly, is really just the first)... it's quite possible that he purposefully let that slip because "seeing" the future is a kind of magical ability Kit would know about... and she's in a cage that negates magic... ergo he suddenly can't see her future anymore...

[MSperoni]

That "third hand" point you make is pretty interesting.

[SaltyKracka]

On the gripping hand, the dryads are probably listening to this exchange.

[MSperoni]

Yeah. The dryads are around. I just keep neglecting to draw them so I can save time and get the page done on schedule :P

[BigDemonicBunny]

I'm laughing so hard... Flick-knife horseshoe. :D

[MSperoni]

Assassin's....Steed?

Page 213 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/05/14/the-dreadful-213/)!

[phil_]

I think this horse arc is my favorite arc.

[MSperoni]

It's a lot more drawn out and complicated of an arc than it may initially seem!

[Gillsing]

I'm now suspecting that horse of all cattle mutilations ever.

[Arhra]

I'm sure he's just planning to pin an intimidating note to something.

A horse is not a killer!

[rlh7yc]

I think the horse is going to stealthy kill Liz's horse.

She will then have to ride this new horse which will take her back to Sabueso.

[Red Mage Black]

Mild mannered and slightly murderous horse by day, one of the four by evening, Bludkolt! There's seriously no way that Liz doesn't realize what's going on. A horse with reading glasses doesn't just appear from the aether 'for a drink'. Playing it cool. That's just her style.

[Domestibot]

The horses of this series really seem to take after their owners.

Jeanne's Horse - Scary as hell
Erin's Horse - Probably as scared of Jeanne's horse as Erin is of Jeanne.
Liz's Horse - Gothy eyes?
El Sabueso's Horse - Ridiculous, but badass and awesome about it.

[MSperoni]

Makes you wonder what Kit's is going to eventually be.

[Arhra]

She's going to learn to summon the Dreadful permanently... as a horse with a gun for a head.

[SaltyKracka]

Her horse is going to be Rado. You see, he's a time-traveling zombie.

[MSperoni]

214! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/05/21/the-dreadful-213-2/)

OH NO, Liz!

(also it says page 213 but it's actually page 214...guess there was a little posting error)

[epcharles]

And.... that's why you don't give up rings that make you immortal....

.

[Lord-of-Filing]

I wonder how much fun this was to come up with?

"Let's see... It's a horse, but, it has a Hidden Blade and assassinates people Altair style!"

[Severn]

I've been lurking and reading 8-bit theater since... I really have no idea. Probably eight years at least. I've been keeping tabs on all the other comics that have come along as well. I just registered with the sole intent of saying that today's comic is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen on Nuklear Power. In only the good ways. Thank you.

[Loyal]

And.... that's why you don't give up rings that make you immortal....

Well, the ring does only make you bulletproof.

[Kalbelgarion]

Hmm...

I beginning to think that horse might be up to no good. :ohdear:

[MSperoni]

I've been lurking and reading 8-bit theater since... I really have no idea. Probably eight years at least. I've been keeping tabs on all the other comics that have come along as well. I just registered with the sole intent of saying that today's comic is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen on Nuklear Power. In only the good ways. Thank you.

Well stick around because it's only going to get more ridiculous!

[Odjn]

Incidentally I don't know why Liz thought having that ring would help versus Jeanne, who has no need for bullets.

[Miketheweird]

So no one has noticed that we have two page 213s?

[tacticslion]

So no one has noticed that we have two page 213s?

Um...

214! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/05/21/the-dreadful-213-2/)

OH NO, Liz!

(also it says page 213 but it's actually page 214...guess there was a little posting error)

So, yes, it looks like someone - specifically the artist - did. :)

In any event, I'm really not sure where MSP is going with this. I'm really curious, though.

[MSperoni]

Gonna double-remind Brian that the next page that gets posted should be *215* :D

[Bard The 5th LW]

Im gonna assume Liz was wearing Burke's ring on one of those obscured fingers or something like that and didn't actually just get caught off guard by a bespectacled horse.

[MSperoni]

Page 215! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/05/23/the-dreadful-215/)

Enter the Ninja!

[epcharles]

Hmm... does any of this matter? Didn't the big guy see... urm... I mean track... yeah... track everything that this was going to happen?!?

.

[SaltyKracka]

Oh hey look. It's Sakura the ninja!

[tacticslion]

Welp. I didn't see that coming.

[Gillsing]

Only equine. Never send a horse to do a human's job.

[Red Mage Black]

Well, no blood in the back of the shirt and jacket, but that seemed like a waste of a smoke, unless that was part of the ninja-magic. No wonder that horse needed glasses!

[Domestibot]

Good ole kawarimi no jutsu.

[MSperoni]

Page 216! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/05/24/the-dreadful-216/)

Translated from horse.

[tacticslion]

Page 216! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/05/24/the-dreadful-216/)

Translated from horse.

Unless, of course, he lied...

[MSperoni]

Page 217! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/05/29/the-dreadful-217/)

The ambusher becomes the ambushee! Or...something.

[Loyal]

Girl's got some mighty big feet. All the better for planting boots to asses, I wager.

[SaltyKracka]

Ayane also seems to have some tig ol' bitties. Because from where I'm standing, they seem bigger than her head or even (maybe) those feet.

Anyways. Shit-talking horses. Greatest thing, or greatest thing ever?

[Arhra]

Man, I want to make some, if not all, of these horse reaction faces into avatars.

They are all so amazing.

[krogothwolf]

Chapter 213: http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/05/14/the-dreadful-213/
and
Chapter 214: http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/05/21/the-dreadful-213-2/

are the exact same for me. :( So sad.

[MSperoni]

Hmm...interesting...it didn't used to look like that. I'll have to tell Brian about it.

---------- Post added 05-31-2013 at 12:14 PM ---------- Previous post was 05-30-2013 at 11:02 PM ----------

Is 214 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/05/20/the-dreadful-214/) fixed?

It's displaying correctly for me now, at least.

[tacticslion]

It works for me.

[krogothwolf]

Hmm...interesting...it didn't used to look like that. I'll have to tell Brian about it.

---------- Post added 05-31-2013 at 12:14 PM ---------- Previous post was 05-30-2013 at 11:02 PM ----------

Is 214 (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/05/20/the-dreadful-214/) fixed?

It's displaying correctly for me now, at least.

Works for me! Thanks my good sir, I was wondering what I had missed.

[MSperoni]

I was hoping to see page 218 posted today, but at least page 214 got fixed.

Maybe 218 tomorrow.

[MSperoni]

218! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/06/04/the-dreadful-218/)

You got nothing on the real Liz, BludJERK!

[Masterof7s]

Horseshoeuriken?

I think my brain just exploded.

[MSperoni]

All is going according to plan, then.

[MelodionxXx]

Yay or... neigh?

Best strip ever

[MSperoni]

I'm all for any Dreadful page being "the best page ever" so ..sure!

[MelodionxXx]

The shoeriken throwing frame would be a damn fine t-shirt

[Kalbelgarion]

Did Liz get a new hat?

[MSperoni]

Sure!

---------- Post added at 02:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 AM ----------

219! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/06/05/the-dreadful-219/)

Liz has gone through a few design changes since her last appearance. I changed her pistol from a Colt 45 to a design based on a Remington. I also changed her rifle to a gun based on a Marlin rather than the standard Winchester.

Anyway, this is the first page where she gets to show off her new gun!

The reason I wanted Liz to have a gun like a Remington is because the design of it is reminiscent of the "old days" and it fits Liz's character. She's got about fifteen years on Kit, after all.

[Lord-of-Filing]

Man. Those ninja darts'd tranquilize a horse.

[Masterof7s]

I have to assume that they'll be using Liz's horse to tow Bludkolt to wherever they plan to take him, 'cause otherwise he ain't goin' anywhere unless miss ninja had some kind of teleportation magic. That or a truck that's been off-frame this whole time.

[MSperoni]

Well...you'll just have to wait and see!

[phil_]

Are they gonna use one of those boxes magicians bust people into three pieces with, and then each of them (Liz, Liz's horse, the ninja) takes a box, splitting the load?

[MSperoni]

That's a cool idea and it just helped me come up with another idea for something later, but...nope.

[MSperoni]

Page 220! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/06/11/the-dreadful-220/)

Panel 3's art level has been increased for dramatic effect.

[SaltyKracka]

That's a nice effect with the smoke subtly highlighting her position.

[Gillsing]

Page 221! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/06/13/the-dreadful-221/) :dance:

At first I thought she was gesturing to Liz, but judging by her position up in the tree in the first panel, and her gesture with the right hand, and her back towards the trunk in the second panel, she'd be gesturing toward someone on the other side of the tree. Might it be whoever is coming in to carry that horse away?

[MSperoni]

Actually Umami is in "just threw a dart" pose.

---------- Post added at 01:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:13 AM ----------

222! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/06/14/the-dreadful-222/)

Plot is thickening. Ultimate moves? Stolen artifacts? Mysterious Employers?

[SaltyKracka]

Fuu-Rin-Ka-Horse?

Also, 2 bucks says this "artifact" is what's letting Sabueso "track the future".

[Kalbelgarion]

It's time for the ol' "transform his essence into raw obliteration (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2002/06/26/episode-166-good-samaritan-laws-are-crap/)" trick!

[MSperoni]

Also, 2 bucks says this "artifact" is what's letting Sabueso "track the future".

Mmmmaybe.

Or....

Maybe not.

[Kalbelgarion]

Liz has the Ring of Immortality (And Crazy) and will soon have the Beard of Seers.

She's the final boss, isn't she?

[Bryan]

Is it just me, or are the pages not viewable right now?

---------- Post added at 10:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:51 PM ----------

Is it just me, or are the pages not viewable right now?
Nevermind...it's up.

[MSperoni]

Page 223! (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/06/18/the-dreadful-223/)

She's an Ew-Mommy.

[Arhra]

Oh no, magic horse! Magic hooooorse!

[MSperoni]

The next five-ten pages will be Bludkolt screaming as he charges up the attack.