SINISTER MONSTER DOOM LEGION pt.30
The page above holds the dubious honor of ‘Most Revisions Ever’ in SCAPULA history, as I shall explain.
In the original penciled version the traitor and Jemini’s secret lover was Hypnausea. This makes sense, seeing how Hypnausea has more than once stabbed Scapula in the back and is also a dirty man-whore who would sleep with anyone. In fact it made TOO much sense and was therefore predictable and a bit boring. In an effort to shake things up I replaced Hypnausea with Toxsick, a result which is pretty damned odd yet somehow, on some weird level, actually kind of worked (of course, if I had REALLY wanted to be brave or shocking Jemini’s lover would have been Babirus…but that may have been too terrifying of a sight to subject to readers).
The other problem, one which ended up creating more revisions than I ever though I’d need, was hair. Toxsick, whose true identity had already been revealed, originally had pale blonde hair. The problem was that he somehow looked too much like Inspector Farley and I didn’t want anyone to think, “Hey! So Toxsick was really that fat cop guy?! What the hell?! I’m going to punch someone!”. I steadily changed the color of Toxsick’s hair (about two or three times), and added some stupid little soulpatch-thing, until he no longer looked like Farley. Now he just looks like a sulky old fat guy (perfect!).
The other hairy annoyance was our new villain in the last panel (whose identity shall remain a complete and utter mystery except her name is Mira Mira and she’s a Japanese scientist who is evil). I redid the last panel five or six times, each time giving her a different “J-Pop” hairstyle, anal-retentively redrawing and recoloring the entire artwork because I couldn’t find something that clicked. And you know what worked in the end? The first draft version, which I made in my sketchbook! Aaaaaarrrgh!
Okay…that’s enough of that. The drawing of Bali also took forever.
So that brings us to the close of our biggest tale ever. After the thirty week monster that was SINISTER MONSTER DOOM LEGION, preceded by the nineteen week GANGWAY, we’re going to take a bit of a break and do a short story (Mira Mira’s tale will come afterward, another big one).
So I read through your whole woe is me blog post and I didn’t find what I wanted. What the heck are they saying in Japanese? haah
Why does she have two heads, and not two butts ?
Awesome! We finally get to see where Jemini was this entire time. You know what we like, man!
All the time was well worth it, A.C.
That is one STUNNING skyline (almost reminds me of one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s drawings)… beautifully rendered! Amazing work, sir! 🙂
Even as a fellow cartoonist (or do you prefer “comic artist”?), I forget how much work actually goes into creating a page that may take the reader only a minute to finish.
I was really impressed with today’s installment. You showcased my two favorite characters and the dialogue was natural, beautiful, entertaining and disturbing. I’m really drawn into to what’s gonna happen next. I tell ya, A, you’ve really fleshed out your background characters and have almost taken them to a point where they could carry the series without Scapula. Spin-off, anyone? 😀
@Bearman “Woe is me?”…do I really sound so emo? Let me read over my whole diatribe again….hmm….uh huh….sure, sure….okay, you’re right, I’m being a whiner. Boo hoo, waa waa.
What were you looking for?
@mehdi I consulted a physician for that answer and he called the police. They checked to see if I was on any drugs by jabbing me with many needles and finally realizing that I was just naturally a weirdo. Then they threw me out on the curb.
So, to answer your question, I’m not quite sure.
@Bobaghanooch You know it, man! Hi-YO! Har har har….wait, you’re happy about seeing Jemini, right? Because Toxsick ain’t so bad looking, either.
@SpilledInky Thanks for your kind words, although I have to confess I relied heavily on photo reference. I suppose I could have been REALLY sneaky and just cut-and-pasted a photo into the comic, but then I would go to Cartoonist Hell.
@George Muchas gracias, Georgie Boy. I wasn’t really going for a “twist” ending as much as just showing how the other characters in this world react to Scapula and his actions. It’s always great for a cartoonist (comic artist, whichever) to see his/her imaginary world expand and develop, and this installment was also one of my favorites (that’s not very modest, but hey, I redid it four thousand times, so I can afford a little ego).
As for a spin-off…SCAPULA already eats up enough time, so I’m not sure about developing any new series just yet. Who would you readers have in mind for a solo?
I look forward to seeing what evil concoction Mira Mira has in store… doubt it’s a giant mechanical brontosaur…
@JerryBenedict Oh, of course not…uh….not at all…
Goshdernit, now I’ve got to do ANOTHER rewrite!
Yes, indeed – terrific artwork today, and creative placement of the wineglass and cellphone to keep that PG-13 rating intact (and untold numbers of readers frustrated). There’s a certain teasing element to that last panel, implying a possibility that Mira Mira is going to clone Jemini, or something similar, in which case, she will have two butts! (Or, maybe more)
Let’s see… as a friend who spent time in Japan with the U.S. Navy told me, “Moshi, moshi,” translates roughly to, “Can you hear me?” He said the Japanese phone system at the time was so unreliable, you started out every call just making sure you actually had a connection with the other end. I’ll have to take his word for it, though, since my Japanese is limited to such useful words as, “Hai,” “Domo arigato,” and “Ichi ban.”
I really like these two as a couple. Have you seen this guys comics before? http://intragalacticcomic.com/ I think you two would go well together, he also draws groups protagonists and chubby women.
I mean incompetent protagonists
Did a certain gas specialist give her all the funds she needed for the project?
Excellent gratuitous inclusion of Jemini’s rear.
Wait a minute. Exactly how many body parts does she have two of, again?
@Dan well if hoomi gets his way she will be double butting. And Aidan now I know you just made up those words so bleah
@Hoomi Teasing is what I do best! If Marvel can taunt fanboys for decades on end about the mysterious origin of Wolverine then I can be a brat and only show you guys 95% of Jemini’s butt! Incidentally, she only has ONE butt (oy, but my readers have become such pervs! Maybe if I was a better role model…).
Boku no nihongo wa totemo warui desu nee!
@me (man, it feels weird writing that) Looks like cool stuff, and who can say “no” to incompetent baddies and fleshy females?
@me (the other me…again, weird) This wouldn’t be the Intragalactic creator/artist supplying the link, would it? Devious…
@InvaderZimFan Jemini has previously shown her skill in stringing along susceptible supervillains to do her bidding (I don’t need to point out who). Looks like she’s got herself another live one!
@Dan Polycephaly cases, as far as I know, tend to have individual sets of internal organs (medical students, please correct me if I’m miles off), so Jemini would probably have two complete sets of lungs and other organs within her ample frame. Again, only one rump, but it’s big enough for two.
@Bearman What, you think I make up stuff around here? This is all the TRUTH!
Dada… Love the first and last panels! The buildings on the water… gorgie-us… and I just love a cheerful “up to no gooder” … I like Mira Mira’s hair.
Am I the only person who is bummed that it warn’t Hypnausia featured here? Sigh… the poor schmuck dissed again. I liked the surprise of Toxsick though…. I do admit that at first I thought it was Farley. (sorrry).
Isn’t one rear end enough for all of us?? She’d be way too wide otherwise…
And Hoomi’s explanation of “moshi moshi” reminds me of the traditional french phone greeting–no not THAT one, but where they say “Allo, allo?” twice, as if you couldn’t hear them the first time. Yes, I’m American, so talk French slowly and loudly. None of this mile-a-minute talk. Spanish is bad enough that way.
Great finish to a great storyline. I love the wrap up that provides the beginnings of something anew. You have already got me hooked to see what is next. Good job.I just love your line work.
I see London, I see France, I see Jemini is w/o her underpants! BTW, your new character had me coming back every 2 hours for more! I know, I know, totally inappropriate, but thats what you get when its me.
no I don’t make any comics but he did create several others
Gorgeous Princess Creamy Beamy http://creamybeamy.comicgenesis.com/
Muertitos http://muertitos.comicgenesis.com/
and his very first comic “flying suit reiko”
http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20081017025726/http://www.flyingsuitreiko.com/
@squidrowmommy I’m thrilled you appreciate the Bali panel. It was a lot of work for a panel that pretty much gets glanced over in a second (there are more, uh, “important” things to focus on). I’m also happy you like Mira Mira’s spiffy ‘do. Lord knows I had to work at it!
The Farley/Toxsick confusion I figured was going to happen, and now I think I should have just changed Toxie’s hair to black and ignored his first appearance.
As for Hypnausea, he has his own storyline in the works, but it’s not going to be for a while. Solly!
@macsnafu Spanish and Tagalog are the most rapid fire languages I’ve ever heard; something tells me even if I did understand them I wouldn’t be able to pick up the words that come out of some folks’ mouths with machine gun speed.
Now then…have I offended anyone? Phooey.
@Roland Thank you very much, good sir. More to come, for sure, so be here and bring your friends and family! Excelsior and stuff!
@jynksie No need to apologize for being a freak of Nature, I says (do you think Bearman and George ever say ‘sorry’?). And hey, base instincts are there for a reason, so go out and sow some wild oatmeal!
@myself Cute stuff. The title “Creamy Beamy” had me worried that it was porn…got to be careful about that sort of thing.
Love it. Great characters and a great layout and dialogue in the scene. You weave a damn good story.
@FrankMHansen Many thanks, good sir. Your own stories have a lot of personality and a great flow to them.
See? Cartoonists can be nice to each other! Try it at home, folks!
What are you sayin’, Dada!? You insinuating that toonists can’t be civil to ones another? Huh? you trying to *BLEEPITY* start somethin’? You… *bleepity bleepity bleep bleep*!
@squidrowmama Brig, you think you all that? YA THINK Y’ALL THAT?! C’MON!
“Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!”
Next up: Gay and Lesbian Cartoonists who are estranged from their families and cheated on their significant others: who’s the father?
…and now for my Final Thought:
“When people are nice to each other it’s good….when people are not nice to each other, it’s not the same as when they are nice…but the one thing we must always remember is that nice is good, and cartoons are good, but cartoons aren’t always nice…or good. Take care of yourselves, and each other.”
Ah, the afterglow… Love that beach scene. And is this the first time you’ve had a skinny female (last panel) villain?
Oops I’m late again! Sorry.
@Jande There must have been at least one other skinny woman in this comic…I can’t think of any at the moment, and I can’t admit to ever actually having drawn one, but there MUST be one!
Maybe.
I had to come back and comment here. I love this guy. Toxsick is my favorite character shy of Scapula himself. Common sense, easy going, good with poisons (and what woman doesn’t love THAT in a man?), and hey, even a little sympathy for old Scapula.
And he can hold a day job to boot. What a guy.
@Lady Jenn As much as I like complex villains, it is a bit of a relief to see a bad guy without any emotional baggage or overriding psychoses. He’s just a sewage worker by day and a villain by night. He seems to be okay with that.
If he had a little bit more common sense he wouldn’t be getting involved with the likes of Jemini, but hey, a man has needs!