"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder" Thursday November 15th, 2007

I can only say that it's been a tough 383 comics waiting to get to show this one scene. Like the time Tom first revealed the ninja yoroi or armor, it was only a matter of time before you got to see some more. Kris revealed a few comic ago, but how many would've guessed the second hero to get their armor would be Key. Then again I don't think many people imagined Key would ever become one of the main ninja heroes of the comic. I loved this comic not just because I got to draw key in Amaterasu's yoroi, but I love being able to write for Sydney since she is so utterly evil. So I have to say that this was one enjoyable comic from beginning to end. To draw, to write, to finish. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I also wanted to mention a few additional things about the comic. The first is that the design you see for Key's armor was not the original design. What you see was actually something I created pretty much when I started drawing this comic. The previous design for her armor looked good in the sketches and design drawings I made, but somehow when I actually drew them on Key, it wasn't what I wanted at all. I could say that it then took me forever to design the new armor, but it actually came in like a flash of inspiration as I was bartending. I quickly sketched what is aw in my mind and I think the only thing different from that sketch to the final version is that I added a floppy turtleneck collar. If I ever get around to making the Ninja Spirit books, I will be sure to include the original design of Key's armor as an extra bonus.

The second thing I wanted to mention is that the title of the comic comes from a song by Lee Ann Womack. I actually had forgotten about it, but it came on the radio on my way up to Syracuse with George, Michelle, and Colleen. For some reason while I was trying to figure out who was singing the song, I just imagined the song being a theme for the Key and Kelly dynamic. I often attribute songs or artists to the characters and use them as themes for the characters themselves. In this case I see Key as being someone who always chose to sit it out till she met Kelly and the others. The result of her fateful meeting with Kelly is her change as a person. I think that's something that most of us can relate to. I think we all have people in our lives that helped us to make the choice to not sit it out. Hell I hope this comic can even inspire you to take a chance. Whether it be in making a comic of your own, to tell the person you like that you like them, to go after the job you want, to just put a song you wrote on youtube. Even though I can't dance worth a hill of beans, I hope we all choose to dance.

Speaking of dancing, I did end up doing a touch of square dancing at the Barn Dance this past weekend. Michelle thought George and I wouldn't like it I think, but we both enjoyed it. As Rob will tell you I usually enjoy anything that involves free food. Unless of course that free food means I have to get a shot, in which case I will cry like a baby. Anyway it was a ton of fun and I'm sure we'll do it again next year. I just found out about a City of Heroes Meet and Greet going on in the city this upcoming Saturday. Both Dave and I are of the opinion that this could be kinda cool or completely and utterly and totally lame. Either way it's going to be at Jekyll and Hyde's, which I am sure I have mentioned to have enjoyed before. So the plan could possibly be to go out there and hang out with Dave and hit the Meet and Greet as a side event and stick with it if its cool and peace out if it sucks. Again, I will let you know it went if I end up going.

I think that's about it... So again I hope you all enjoyed today's comic more than usual and that you all have a great weekend! See you next week where we'll get to see Key's armor in action!

River's Top 5 80's Cartoons Shown in America
1. Voltron
2. Robotech
3. Transformers
4. Thundercats
5. Force Five