"Change of Pace" Thursday January 31st, 2008

It's been a while since I had to use something other than Crescent Island scenery. It was a welcome change and I did my best to really put some decent effort into the backgrounds because of it. The Yomotuskira Saka is of course a very important plot point and as such I tried to make it kind of cool looking. I was going to go with this elaborate gate thing, but the fact is that it wasn't in line with the mythology behind said gate. I'll actually be doing a whole stylized comic to tell that story in two weeks so if you don't want to go looking around for the real myth you can wait and read the Ninja Spirit version of it.

It was also fun getting the Fire Elemental to look how I wanted it to look. I was worried that I wasn't going to be able to pull it off well since it was pretty much going to be done completely on the computer. However in the end I think I am pretty happy with the way it turned out and it was surprisingly easier than what I normally do for most drawings in the comic. Not to self... next webcomic is ALL elementals, ALL the time. Heh.

Dai also remakes his appearance and you finally get to see what he's been up to this entire chapter. We'll see more about this right before the chapter ends and although I am not one to make super huge cliffhanger/revelation moments in a chapter finale, this could be the one exception. So get excited... only 5 comics to go before Chapter 5 ends! Unless, of course, I decide to be evil and add a few more things here and there...

I will point out that something in this comic is very pertinent to the ending to the series as a whole. I won't reveal what it is, but it's a bit of foreshadowing to let you know that things are in place even now for when the ending really happens.

I think that's about it for now. Oh, I tried some fried calamari from a new place this week and it was horrible. Let this be a lesson to everyone who finds a place that makes something they really like. Stick with said place. you may have to travel the extra distance and pay the extra buck, but it's totally worth it. Anyway have a nice weekend everyone and instead of a Top 5 List,  I leave you with this little survey thing that Fathobbit had done on her DA site using the NS cast.

First, WITHOUT looking at the questions below, fill in 12 of your characters

1) Misaki Yuki
2) Joe Lockhart
3) Dave Btwys-y-Cawr
4) Tom Brisket
5) Key Lime Pitrowski
6) Julienne Berlioz
7) Tenko
8) Misaki Daisuke
9) Rob Roy
10) Kris Fox-Albrecht
11) Sydney Albrecht
12) Mikail


01) Who would make a better college professor, 6 (Julienne) or 11 (Sydney)?
Definitely Julienne. Sydney was in the process of beginning college at the Kawasaki fashion institute, but Julienne is definitely more the type to actually become a college professor and has the necessary talent and skills in music to do so.

02) Do you think 2 (Joe) is hot?
Definitely not!! Some of you may think otherwise, but I think he's a fool.

03) 12 (Mikail) sends 8 (Dai) on a mission. What is it, and does it succeed?
Most likely a very evil mission that Dai himself doesn't realize he's on. I'd go into more details, but Mikail would kill you too. Knowing Dai it might not succeed since he's got his own agenda to follow.

04) What is or would be 9's (Rob) favorite book?
Hajime no Ippo?

05) Would it make more sense for 2 (Joe) to swear loyalty to 6 (Julienne), or the other way around?
It wouldn't make sense either way since they are both very independently minded people, but if I had to chose one or the other it would probably be Julienne. Then again maybe Joe since he'd be nice about it?

06) For some reason, 5 (Key) is looking for a roommate. Should he/she share a studio apartment with 9 (Rob) or with 10 (Kris)?
She'd probably choose Rob since he seems a bit more mature than Kris and would seem to be much easier to get along with personality-wise.

07) 2 (Joe), 7 (Tenko) and 12 (Mikail) have dinner together. Where do they go, and what do they discuss?
Phrew.... just on the off chance they would get together to eat, Tenko wouldn't have a say since he doesn't eat. So the chances are they would hit a nice Italian restaurant. However what they would have to say is pretty confidential as you'll eventually get to see said conversation in the NS comic.

08) 3 (Dave) challenges 10 (Kris) to a duel. What happens?
That's kind of crazy that this matchup happened. I would say Dave would beat Kris with help from Julienne, but then Kris would beat Dave in the second duel using some crazy ninja armor. As to what would happen if they dueled a third time...

09) If 1 (Yuki) stole 8's (Dai) most precious possession, how would s/he get it back?
Dai would probably get it back only because he's a lot more determined than Yuki is. Wait is that some kind of foreshadowing?

10) Suggest a title for a story in which 7 (Tenko) and 12 (Mikail) both attain what they most desire.
"Nine Tails of..." I think it's easy to say that Tenko would eventually like to become a nine tailed kitsune. It's just kind of what such spirits aspire to be. Seeing as Mikail's innermost desire is spoiler material, you'll just have to wait and see how that story plays out.

11) What kind of plot device would you use if you wanted 4 (Tom) and 1 (Yuki) to work together?
If it wasn't about saving the world from some J God of evil then I would imagine it would have something to do with going to Nick Tahou's.

12) If 7 (Tenko) visited you for the weekend, how would you get along?
Not really, Tenko would probably drive me up the wall since he never gives any straight up answers and always leaves at the most inopportune times. However I won't deny that it would be kind of cool to be hanging out with a kitsune spirit.

13) If you could command 3 (Dave) to perform any one task or service for you, what would it be?
Go on some game show and win me some fat money. Dave would totally kick Ken Jenning's record to the curb if he was on Jeopardy.

14) Does anyone on your friends list write or draw 11 (Sydney)?
In a fanart sense, Rob has actually drawn a digital painting of Sydney that I liked. Very cool.

15) If 2 (Joe) had to choose sides between 4 (Tom) and 5 (Key), which would it be?
Joe would definitely pick the side he thought was right, but if was close then he would totally choose Key's side. Whip!!

16) What might 10 (Kris) shout while charging into battle?
Something German I would say. Kris has learned a bit of German and half the times uses German words in naming his techniques.

17) If you chose a song to represent 8 (Dai), which song would you choose?
He's actually more of a hip hop guy, but unfortunately I do not listen to a lot of hip hop. However the song I used in today's comic fits his character a bit and so I'll go with "Dancing with the Devil" by Breaking Benjamin.

18) 1 (Yuki), 6 (Julienne), and 12 (Mikail) are having dim sum at a Chinese restaurant. There is only one scallion pancake left, and they all reach for it at the same time. Who gets to eat it?
Yuki's the quickest, but he'd probably be nice enough to let Julienne have it once he saw she was reaching for it as well. Mikail would hate to see others wanting the same thing he wanted and so in the end Julienne would win out.

19) What might be a good pick-up line for 2 (Joe) to use on 10 (Kris)?
"Although not so much as George, you too are too tender to pass up."

20) What would 5 (Key) most likely be arrested for?
I suppose it would have to be something like being in the middle of a protest or rally that got out of hand. I can't really see her being arrested though!

21) What is 6's (Julienne) secret?
That she has one.

22) If 11 (Sydney) and 9 (Rob) were racing to a destination, who would get there first?
I'd say Sydney if it was flat out speed, but if other considerations such as prep work were brought in than Rob's chances get better.

23) If you had to walk home through a bad neighborhood late at night, would you feel safer in the company of 7 (Tenko) or 8 (Dai)?
Hmmm... chances are Dai since Tenko is completely unreliable in dangerous situations. Also Dai has Excalibur which is a small point in his favor...

24.) If 4 (Tom) gave 10 (Kris) a birthday present, what would s/he be likely to give him/her?
Some World War II coffee table books or a plate at Tahou's. Everyone could use more Nick Tahou's in their life. In fact I could use a plate right now damn it!! Curse you quiz for making me think of Garbage Plates while I am hungry!