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Dwarf Fortress => DF Dwarf Mode Discussion => Topic started by: dbay on November 05, 2011, 05:56:20 pm

Title: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!XX Fifteen XX!!)
Post by: dbay on November 05, 2011, 05:56:20 pm
Hey all, I was reading the "Draw your Adventurer" thread and got inspired to do a little doodling myself. Until yesterday, when I started this, I'd never drawn anything beyond a stick figure with any success - so I'm ridiculously proud of this, and felt like sharing.

This all happened in my fortress this week. It's not finished yet - I'll update with more pages when I have time.
Page 1:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Page 2:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Page 3:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Page 4:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Page 5:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Page 6:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Page 7:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Page 8:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Page 9:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Page 10:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Page 11:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Page 12:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Page 13:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Page 14:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Page 15:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome. Let me know if you have trouble making out what's happening or reading the text, I'm still experimenting with the style.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book
Post by: Girlinhat on November 05, 2011, 05:59:16 pm
The last page is a little confusing, but I like it.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book
Post by: DrGravitas on November 05, 2011, 06:02:15 pm
That was great XD
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book
Post by: Yoink on November 05, 2011, 06:05:36 pm
Yeah, that is really good! The only criticism would be that sometimes it's a bit tough to tell which panel/speech box comes where. Still, great job, especially if it's your first real attempt at art! ;) Looking fowards to seeing McMayor's probable 'accident'.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book
Post by: dbay on November 05, 2011, 06:28:51 pm
Quote from: Yoink on November 05, 2011, 06:05:36 pm
Yeah, that is really good! The only criticism would be that sometimes it's a bit tough to tell which panel/speech box comes where. Still, great job, especially if it's your first real attempt at art! ;) Looking fowards to seeing McMayor's probable 'accident'.

Hmm. You're right. The text is almost always under the panel, if it helps

EDIT: added the caption "Urist McMayor works furiously!" to page 4, which should explain what was going on with the hammer scene. What's supposed to be happening on the last page are, in order, 1. Urist has spider silk, so he gets to work. 2. Count is angry because he found out Urist screwed up his chance with his strange mood (which auto-cancels the meeting, sending the diplomat home) so he sends some mooks. 3. Urist continues working on the sock. 4. the mook orders Urist to open up. 5. Urist finishes his sock. 6. Cog is still webbed in the caverns

Also, from here on I'll try to keep the speech clearly in the same panel as the action. Thanks for reading, everyone!
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book
Post by: Dave1004 on November 05, 2011, 06:48:39 pm
Dude, that was awesome! Man, I seriously wish I could draw. I love to doodle, but anything past a straight line is a no-go. These were amazing although, please make more! You are one incredible dude :D.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book
Post by: dbay on November 05, 2011, 06:50:20 pm
Quote from: Dave1004 on November 05, 2011, 06:48:39 pm
Dude, that was awesome! Man, I seriously wish I could draw. I love to doodle, but anything past a straight line is a no-go. These were awesome although, please make more! You are one awesome dude :D.

Thank you! You just made my day! Also, it was shockingly easy. I used Gimp and used the Ink tool to draw solid colours, then burn/dodge to make it lighter on one end and darker on another, then just made gratuitous use of the blur tool. What I learned is, if you really can't draw something, heavily stylize it.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book
Post by: Eric Blank on November 05, 2011, 07:24:35 pm
You should definitely make more. They're entertaining and well-drawn. Wish I could make figures that didn't look like they were composed of worms and gelatin (too many squiggles, can't draw straight lines :\)
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book
Post by: DrGravitas on November 05, 2011, 07:36:51 pm
Quote from: dbay on November 05, 2011, 06:50:20 pm
What I learned is, if you really can't draw something, heavily stylize it.

qft; that's the same principle I used to make my forum avatar  :P
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book
Post by: ASCIt on November 05, 2011, 08:25:12 pm
Cool. I'd surely read more if there were any. And drawing isn't really a matter of "well" or "badly", it's more "would people know what this is supposed to be?" In short, as long as the target audience can understand the point you're trying to convey, it's close enough.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Five)
Post by: dbay on November 05, 2011, 08:58:05 pm
Thank you everyone! Page 5 is up.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Five)
Post by: dbay on November 05, 2011, 08:59:21 pm
EDIT: sorry, double post
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Five)
Post by: King DZA on November 05, 2011, 09:07:13 pm
Loving the art style. Looking forward to further additions.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Five)
Post by: dbay on November 05, 2011, 09:09:00 pm
Question: Can people read the text? I'm considering increasing the resolution of future comics so I can have bigger text, but it'll mean more pixelated dorfs unless I redraw them.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Five)
Post by: ASCIt on November 05, 2011, 09:13:27 pm
I'm not really having trouble, but bigger is always better.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Five)
Post by: Mitchewawa on November 05, 2011, 10:00:26 pm
Post to watch.

Keep up the good work!
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Five)
Post by: King DZA on November 05, 2011, 10:41:18 pm
I can read the text just fine.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Five)
Post by: Eric Blank on November 05, 2011, 11:04:25 pm
It's perfectly legible to me, too.

So has the kid starved to death yet? :P
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Five)
Post by: Imp on November 05, 2011, 11:38:55 pm
*giggles*  More!  Can read it fine, can understand it fine, and like it lots!
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Five)
Post by: Kofthefens on November 06, 2011, 12:29:02 am
Great! keep up th- *KoftheFens cancels post: KoftheFens has been possesed!*
*KoftheFens demands more comics*
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Five)
Post by: restricted on November 06, 2011, 12:33:25 am
Quote from: Kofthefens on November 06, 2011, 12:29:02 am
Great! keep up th- *KoftheFens cancels post: KoftheFens has been possesed!*
*KoftheFens demands more comics*

I can't decide what would be better, having more comics being made, or seeing if you'll actually throw yourself in the lava pit. Both would be pretty funny.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Six!)
Post by: dbay on November 06, 2011, 01:33:52 am
Page 6 up! That'll be all for today. Thank you, everyone!
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Six!)
Post by: restricted on November 06, 2011, 01:40:36 am
Quote from: dbay on November 06, 2011, 01:33:52 am
Page 6 up! That'll be all for today. Thank you, everyone!

Definitely better than Kof tantruming and throwing himself into lava pit.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Seven!)
Post by: dbay on November 07, 2011, 02:29:13 pm
Page seven is up, and there have been some interesting turns of events in my fort. Things are getting !!FUN!!. I'd tell you, but Spoilers!
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Seven!)
Post by: Diamond on November 07, 2011, 02:46:28 pm
Catches the spirit of DF just right.
Though you are still missing beard-instruments.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Seven!)
Post by: MaximumZero on November 07, 2011, 02:51:21 pm
And now I'm posting to keep tabs on this.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Seven!)
Post by: JackoftheBox on November 07, 2011, 02:58:29 pm
Posting to watch

Awesome work, I like your style very much, keep em coming!
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Seven!)
Post by: Indricotherium on November 07, 2011, 03:37:50 pm
Posting to watch, love it.

Page 7 was a little hard to read for me, looked like the text got blurred a bit but overall love the style, story and writing.

Please keep it going!
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Seven!)
Post by: dbay on November 07, 2011, 04:41:02 pm
Quote from: Indricotherium on November 07, 2011, 03:37:50 pm
Page 7 was a little hard to read for me, looked like the text got blurred a bit but overall love the style, story and writing.

I think I finally have a handle on speech as of page 8.
Which I just posted. Again, thanks for reading everyone!
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Seven!)
Post by: ASCIt on November 07, 2011, 07:04:22 pm
Excellent. You know, it's funny - I was just thinking of doing something like this, but I guess you beat me to it. Now, I shall live my dream through YOU!
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Seven!)
Post by: dbay on November 07, 2011, 09:47:34 pm
Quote from: ASCIt on November 07, 2011, 07:04:22 pm
Excellent. You know, it's funny - I was just thinking of doing something like this, but I guess you beat me to it. Now, I shall live my dream through YOU!

Do your own, too! More is merrier.
Anywho, page nine is up, and it might be my favourite so far.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Nine!)
Post by: ASCIt on November 07, 2011, 09:57:37 pm
Gahahahahah! I always wondered why nobody asked those kinds of questions.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Nine!)
Post by: Kofthefens on November 07, 2011, 10:15:45 pm
Luminous moss growing on their beards, maybe some phosphorescent floor fungus too.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!Ten!!)
Post by: dbay on November 07, 2011, 10:43:07 pm
Page ten is up.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!Ten!!)
Post by: ASCIt on November 07, 2011, 11:09:57 pm
Oooh... tantrum spiral in 3...2...1...
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!Ten!!)
Post by: Mapleguy555 on November 08, 2011, 12:29:11 am
Your font is a bit cloudy. Other than that, good job.

( P.S. Make the beards talk to your dwarves. )
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page Eleven)
Post by: Lord Dakoth on November 08, 2011, 01:29:25 am
Them dorfs are SOOO CUTE. I want a plush one.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page TWELVE!)
Post by: dbay on November 08, 2011, 02:28:32 am
Page 12 up, and that's all for tonight.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page TWELVE!)
Post by: Imp on November 08, 2011, 07:18:34 am
You are impressively, and delightfully, prolific with your updates, art, and the enjoyment you provide us!  Hip hip huzzah!
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page TWELVE!)
Post by: MaximumZero on November 08, 2011, 11:43:50 am
I agree. You're really churning them out, man. It's impressive.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!Thirteen!!)
Post by: dbay on November 09, 2011, 04:04:53 pm
Quote from: MaximumZero on November 08, 2011, 11:43:50 am
I agree. You're really churning them out, man. It's impressive.

Thanks! Page Thirteen is up. I might have time for one more before my break ends.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!Thirteen!!)
Post by: King DZA on November 09, 2011, 04:41:28 pm
These are amazingly entertaining, can't wait to see how things turn out.

P.S.
Nice avatar.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!Thirteen!!)
Post by: Daetrin on November 09, 2011, 04:52:18 pm
This is hilarious and awesome.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!Thirteen!!)
Post by: dbay on November 09, 2011, 08:35:53 pm
Quote from: Daetrin on November 09, 2011, 04:52:18 pm
This is hilarious and awesome.

Thank you! You guys are the greatest. Seriously, the people on this forum are a lot nicer than most of the internet seems to be.

Page fourteen is up! I only realized afterwards that I had my monitor's brightness on a lot higher than usual when I made it, so it might be too dark to see what's happening. The troll is supposed to be holding Urist in the last panel.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!x Fourteen x!!)
Post by: Mapleguy555 on November 09, 2011, 11:54:36 pm
You do realize chitin is a type of sugar, yes?
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!x Fourteen x!!)
Post by: Eric Blank on November 10, 2011, 12:17:27 am
What? What does chitin have to do with anything?

Also, page 14 was still legible and well-done from my POV.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!x Fourteen x!!)
Post by: Oliolli on November 10, 2011, 12:21:08 am
Any odd brightnesses can be explained with fire. Great work!
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!x Fourteen x!!)
Post by: dbay on November 10, 2011, 01:48:48 am
Quote from: Mapleguy555 on November 09, 2011, 11:54:36 pm
You do realize chitin is a type of sugar, yes?

It's also the material that forms insect and arthropod (such as Giant Cave Spider and Desert Scorpion) exoskeletons
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!XX Fifteen XX!!)
Post by: dbay on February 27, 2012, 01:11:35 pm
Sorry for the ridiculously long wait! We're in essay/exam season again, which (because procrasti-drawing is something I do) paradoxically means I'm making these again. So far, we're still telling stories inspired by what happened in my old, pre-34.01 fort, but now that there's an update I have a new fort and will be, eventually maybe, pulling in plotlines from what's happening now. Vampires may make an appearance.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!x Fourteen x!!)
Post by: Sadrice on February 27, 2012, 01:39:31 pm
I like the style!  My only complaint is that it took me a few strips to figure out the that the noses aren't eyes, and they aren't all staring bashfully at the ground.

Quote from: Mapleguy555 on November 09, 2011, 11:54:36 pm
You do realize chitin is a type of sugar, yes?
In much the same way that all plant based natural fibers are a kind of sugar?  As he said, it's arthropod armor (though crustaceans go one further and mineralize it), as well as the tough fibrous stuff in any fungus.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!XX Fifteen XX!!)
Post by: miauw62 on February 27, 2012, 02:39:40 pm
Epic drawing!
I like 7 the most.
*poof*
:3
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!x Fourteen x!!)
Post by: dbay on February 27, 2012, 08:08:13 pm
Quote from: Sadrice on February 27, 2012, 01:39:31 pm
I like the style!  My only complaint is that it took me a few strips to figure out the that the noses aren't eyes, and they aren't all staring bashfully at the ground.
Quote from: miauw62 on February 27, 2012, 02:39:40 pm
Epic drawing!

Thank you! The people on this forum are the best. They were intended as noses, but if you want, they can be eyes for you.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!XX Fifteen XX!!)
Post by: Kaelem Gaen on February 27, 2012, 09:01:34 pm
Nice, I have to admit the way you present the impending destruction of your fortress is hilarious, I've yet to get a cat-booze-bomb though.....
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!XX Fifteen XX!!)
Post by: Korva on February 28, 2012, 05:35:20 pm
Heh, this was entertaining. More, please!
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!XX Fifteen XX!!)
Post by: Loud Whispers on February 28, 2012, 06:12:12 pm
That was a brilliant capture of DF :P
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!XX Fifteen XX!!)
Post by: Kofthefens on February 28, 2012, 11:02:31 pm
I noticed page 14 is written twice. Good job, I look forward to installment 16
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!XX Fifteen XX!!)
Post by: dbay on February 28, 2012, 11:47:36 pm
Quote from: Kofthefens on February 28, 2012, 11:02:31 pm
I noticed page 14 is written twice. Good job, I look forward to installment 16

Nice catch, I fixed it. Sixteen will probably be along in a couple of days
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!XX Fifteen XX!!)
Post by: Muffindog on April 06, 2012, 06:38:53 pm
Dwarf fortress in it's full glory, hilarious disasters included. Nice job portraying it, the drawing style was interesting too.
Title: Re: Swamback: The Comic Book (Page !!XX Fifteen XX!!)
Post by: BadLemonsXI on August 03, 2014, 09:00:12 pm
Just read this and seeing as you are still active I thought I'd tell you it was very funny. Have you made anymore since then?