![[Comic 242] A Froofy Cocktail](http://www.thefarreaches.com/comics/2009-03-20-0242_cocktail.jpg "Comic 242")
Mar 20
Well, this is it. The final strip for chapter five and little story arc on the snow planet that got blown a bit out of proportion. But I’m happy with how I ended it. This will be the final page in volume two, thus the “to be continue…”.
This comic was done significantly differently than the last page. Can you tell? It still took some time to do, mainly because I was trying out new ideas. But overall I like how it came out. Next time will probably take a lot less time.
As for how I’d like to do the next chapter, we’ll have to see how it works out. Technically, this is only a four panel comic, and I think it works well. Considering how this page worked out, I may stick with the full page layout. I more limited comic strip style layout might not contain all the text and dialog that I often need.
O.o Do I see elvish script on the artifact??? Talk about references! (I want a froofy cocktail, too!)
XD Oh my word, it really does look like the Ring of Power from LotR is around the artifact. I don’t know if I ever noticed that before.
You do such a beautiful job on the night sky. =) It looks lovely. I like the flow of this page; the scribbly one-tone background in the second panel works very well, and the dialogue is winning as usual. I love how you offset the dramatic line by Bentley in the last panel with Gilrec being…well, his usual self. XD “A really froofy one. …With an umbrella.” And of course, Bentley is the perfect butler and gets him one. Poor Gilrec…everyone really does seem to want to kill him. I definitely loved this line: “Vellara has wished seven kinds of doom on me.” Overall, very good page, and a great wrap-up to the chapter! =D
I must say, I am pleasantly surprised that you’re continuing this, simply because I thought I read a while back that you were going to finish Ch.2 and then stop for work-related reasons. Are you really continueing on? If so, that is extremely awesome, and I am excited.
Good one! I like the way you homeage LotR and still keeps the spirit of TFR. Keep up the good job!
@Wanderer Thanks! I’m glad it came out ok. I wasn’t sure if I made the line a little too exact. But I thought it would be a perfect ending.
@Riverfox: Yeah, it’s a lot more obvious next to the line from LotR. This night sky was actually kind of cheated to be honest. I’m glad you liked it. There’s a book on coloring comics, Hi Fi Color for Comics. It came with some textures and things on a CD. Nothing too great by themselves, but I took a b&w pic of space, overlaid it transparently over a blue gradient, and did the same thing with a bluish CG clouds pic that looks like they rendered it from DAZ Bryce. Together I came out nice.
I’m glad you all like the end. I’m so happy I didn’t just reboot it earlier but gave it a proper ending. And yes, for now I’m continuing TFR. I was looking for work, but basically I can’t find anything. Because of a lot of health problems that I’ve had, I can’t even get a call back or interview.
But I’ve decided that I’m going to give TFR one more chance. I’m going to simplify somewhat so that one way or another I’ll be able to put out 3 comics a week. I’m going to start working on a buffer. They’ll hopefully be in color, but they may be more of a comic strip for most pages. Sort of a two panel on top of two, squarish layout. Actually it still fits on the old page template. You’ll see next week.
I’m also making an effort to seriously improve the writing to my best ability. My goal is to make each as funny as I can. Not gag strip style humor, per se, but much more of a Hitchhiker’s Guide/Terry Pratchett style to the writing. I’m still in the experimental stage right now.
Since I’m not able to find regular work, and since this is something I enjoy and seem kind of good at, I’m going to see if I can build up my audience and make a living at it. So I’m going to be taking it as seriously as I can, and I appreciate all the support from everybody.
I’m not sure about the Bentley/Gandalf thing – I see him as more Wodehouse than Mayar – but the sky is beautiful.
What would Jeeves say? Maybe “Just so. Your drink sir. Of course it might be readily disposed of in any number of ways…
Gilrec: confused reason for not getting rid of it or comment on drink
Great strip though.
He is more Wodehouse, than a Galdalf, in a way. Yet as I see the story, I felt there’s a certain appropriateness of this line. A mentor helping Gilrec to solidify his courage. He’s just been thrown off a sky scraper and smashed into a windshield which might ruffle me a bit, if I were into that sort of thing. Thankfully I’m not. But I’m glad you like the strip! Thanks.
A froofy cocktail ALWAYS helps. … Right?
As long as it has a little umbrella.
The strip looks good, and I smiled at the LotR reference. Just wondering how the uncle managed to swear in all those languages if he was “terse.” Terse means brief, concise, using few words. Like a teenager answering all his parents questions with “fine.” Did you mean “tart” or caustic?
Oops, good point. My bad. I was thinking of something different there. I think a trifle agitated is more what I wanted. I’ll change it tomorrow.
Apologies to the LOTR fans but,Gman reminds me aurhter dent to bentleys
ford prefect and the froofy is pure zaphod.from the bbc series and deadtre versions NOT the movie.this from a fellow who has just run out of umbrellas.
**** yhe luck
That works for me
I’ve just been listening to the newer Hitchhiker’s Guide audio book today, read very capably by Steven Fry. It’s been ages since I read it and I’m really enjoying the audio book. I actually liked the movie as its own thing apart from the books. But the first book is my favorite.
Oddly enough, “froofy” drinks is something a friend of mine used to always say. She always said that she only liked froofy drinks, and I have to say I always agreed with her.
Glad to hear you’ve figured out ways to get more done! I look forward to it.
Lightningbug beat me to the proofreading … EXCEPT that now you’ve fixed it to say “he a trifle agitated.” Since Bentley seems to speak Standard English, you need a verb in there!
oops. I missed the “is” when I fixed it. I’ll have to fix it again. That’s what I get for being in a rush. Thanks for catching that.
Fixed it.