06/22/2014
I’ve ranted a couple of times in the past about not wanting to show sex or nudity in this comic, and it seems like every single time I do there’s just more flesh showing than the time before. Am I being a hypocrite or is this all a shameless ploy to get more people reading this series by baiting them with T&A?
Defending this scene with the same arguments I’ve used before probably doesn’t hold much water, since this is the first time we’ve seen…well, the actual act of love-making displayed and not alluded to; what’s the reason for it this time? The previous two instances were all about setting up a certain mood, whether it was the peaceful afterglow (the Bone China scene), or just lighthearted silliness (the Moonie scene)…but what’s the point of showing it in this context?
To me, the scene above is not really about the sex, but about how pointless the sex has become. There are obviously much bigger problems at stake than an unsatisfactory bedroom performance, and the situation almost feels like one that would lead to a marriage guidance counselor (because they deal with skull-faced husbands and two-headed wives constantly). Whatever pleasures these two may have had before is starting to dwindle down, and when that candle’s burned out…what will these two dangerous characters be left with?
…okay, so I’ve explained at great length once again why I drew a bare butt. Tune in next time when I write several paragraphs defending the orgy scene in the film Caligula.
Butts are awesome. A good butt can raise or raze a kingdom. Like Helen of Troy! The butt that launched a thousand ships! The first high seas quest for booty!
The butt is not the beginning of any great story, but always the end. Wonk wonnnk.
Didja look at that link or just shoot it down? :p It’s a great one. SFW. Or it was.
To be entirely fair, the point of including nudity in anything is either A) Tittilation, or B) to bring a point into focus, usually an intimate one. In this case, B applies quite well hun, so I don’t feel there’s much need to fuss about it. The fact is pretty clear: the honeymoon’s over, and now things are going to get messy. There’s the start of confrontations, attempts to evade them, and that nice sinking feeling you get just before everything collapses like a poorly set up tent in a rainstorm.
Simple fact: these are two egotistical control freaks and the facade is wearing thin. Sooner than later this is going to turn into a head-to-heads confrontation. Where else do arguments like this start but in the bedroom?
Very accurate sizing up of the situation. In fact, you know so much about this scenario I’m starting to wonder if you ever had a partner with a skull-face or two heads…something you wish to share with the rest of the class?!
I learned not to date other control freaks the hard way hun…… My need to control is limited to ‘heap on abuse’, but I’ve run into plenty with the kind of ego that is on display around here (just a lot less guts and a lot more whining when they get hurt). And the guy I trained under to learn how to bend peoples’ brains properly was a massive egomaniac (hmm….. he had a death’s head tattooed across his chest, does that count?)
I wouldn’t date Jemini in a million years. Too many issues there, too public. I like to keep my life very private. And I wouldn’t date Scapula either….. I don’t dig guys. That said, I would guard old bonehead readily……. people like him tend to pay real well if someone is loyal enough to put themselves between said person and incoming harm. Jemini? Not so much. She has too many disposable goons already and has shown that she doesn’t really care much about them. At least Scapula deals with people that he HAS to think about as individuals rather than ‘suits’. Plus, I doubt Scapula would make me wear a suit and tie instead of openly wearing my armor…….
I see what you’ve done with the colours there. Nice touch!
By the way, it’s kind of cute for foreigners like me to see you people of the USofA feel the need to explain any use of nudity. Even on the internet (where you usually get tons more explicit). Since here are readers from all corners, I think that is not necessary.
But it’s always interesting to hear what moved you to draw a particular scene. So, thank you for enlightening us!
Glad you enjoyed the colors! I’m not sure how the light turned off on its own, but let’s just assume it was “mood lighting” (like in the movies). No laws of physics required!
Characterization can come in lots of ways. I definitely wasn’t expecting “inattentiveness to sexual partner,” but that works too.
Well said…but what kind of inattentiveness will come next? Will Scap start ignoring the horrendous violence he always seems to encounter?
First off, I may be a BC fanboy but I truly love Jemini’s backside as much as her overall package. I am not complaining about the occasional peek, that’s for sure. So, thank you for that. 🙂
Secondly, as an artist you should not only draw what fits the story, but what you like, as well. If it just so happens that this week’s mood is to draw Jemini’s butt in all its glory then so be it! As long as you are doing it because *you* felt the story was going in a direction that warranted it, even if perhaps you embellish a bit for fanservice’ sake (am NOT saying that’s the case here, just saying even if it was …) then it’s all good, man.
The fact that you are concerned about it and are carefully watching it … I think the best way to say this is to point to a similar scene in the very first Xanth novel. The manticore asked the Good Magician if they had a soul. In return for their year’s service they got their answer: “only creatures with souls would ask that question” or something along those lines.
Because it concerns you and you try to avoid it, I don’t thin there’s an issue here, since the only issue is whether you feel your integrity as an artist is intact. Because when it comes to nice butts like Jem’s (or BC’s! :D) you know we’re right her with ya, buddy.
I’m trying to think of the last time I put in gratuitous nudity (or at least sexy poses), and I can’t think of any. Then again on any given day I can pick up a DC or Marvel comic and find a plethora of T&A thrown in that has nothing to do with the story. There, now I feel morally superior to comics that make billions more than I do (…and now I need a drink).
Glad you understand the situation, GreyWolf. I’ve never received any complaints about sex & nudity in this comic, but you never know who it’s going to drive away (then again, those people probably wouldn’t have bothered to have read my whole spiel anyway). It is what it is, so that’s the last of my apologizing for it.
And for the record I am sooooo fighting the temptation to make the first panel my cover photo on Facebook. Just so ya know. Only reason I don’t is because too many members of my extended stepfamily are friends on my page including the grandsons and they are a bit too young (the rest of them a bit too prudish, heh) for that.
…and they might be wondering when exactly you got that operation to become a two-headed woman, but that happens to a lot of people these days.
I honestly felt this scene was really well set up. The nudity really powerfully evokes how fragile Jemini Clone here is. She’s isolated, alone, has nothing, and has undergone some pretty bone-chilling abuse.
So, good work, Casserly. You should also know that I’ve drawn and sold so much XXX art in my life that I’m now immune to naughty bits.
Whoa! A confession! Now we know who is the REAL naughty artist!
In any case, glad you enjoy, and rest assured there’s only so much abuse Jem can take before she takes action.
I don’t think you’re past any lines here. Nor are you likely to be corrupting anyone. I actually see it as your characters showing more vulnerability as the storyline prepares to cut them all to the bone.
Who could I corrupt at this point? No, that’s not a rhetorical question, I really want to know who I could drive crazy with my comics!
OH my! SOOOO wasn’t expecting THAT! Your comic today is very French.
Well, I happened to notice what BIG scapulas Scapula has! I know this musta been on purpose! What a turn on!
And “Butt Glory”… a new term!
“Very French”? What does that entail? I would run off on some jokes, but considering that SCAPULA has a surprisingly large European following I think it’s best that I skip that. Never know who’s going to mail me an explosive crepe…
Embrace scenes like the one you created. It works, it fits, its no big deal! So you drew a two headed woman having mediocre, unfulfilled sex, with a masked man thats experiencing stamina issues… most married couples would tell you that was how their saturday night went! [smirk] Nothing new to see here!
It’s the same old story at every couples therapy, ain’t it? Glad you enjoyed, Jyknsie, and here’s hoping no one ever loses the spice in their dual-noggined romances!
Hmm….it appears that the symptoms of her Stockholm Syndrome may be wearing off.
This was a beautiful installment, not just artistically, but also character-wise. You’re willing to delve however deep into your characters’ psyche from all angles to show what lurks within.
I can see how Scap could be so self-absorbed and dismissive of Jem’s needs. We’re so drawn into what he needs or wants, it’s easy to forget that the others have their own desires.
You’re pretty slick, Casserly.