Comments on: p.281 (Chapter Nine)

By: Tara

Tara — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 20:08:55 +0000

No, I never saw that one, but I will admit to being inspired by an Alan Moore era volume of Swamp Thing where the comic turned on its side in a similar fashion.

By: Kev

Kev — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:43:52 +0000

Hey Tara, did you read Batman #5 by Snyder and Capullo last year? They pulled a similar trick where the reader had to keep twisting the book around too

By: C Snook

C Snook — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 03:28:34 +0000

I live for Zan whump. That is all.

By: David

David — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 23:52:45 +0000

cookie: for those who don’t have an iPad, Tara did provide a link to a vertical version of the page. I realize that many people didn’t see the link until they had read the page sideways though. (Sort of like my not seeing the glossary at the back of A Clockwork Orange until I had finished the book.)

Would it be better to print any future pages like this vertically online with a note saying that they will appear horizontally in print and a link to a horizontal “print” version?

By: Fred

Fred — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:41:32 +0000

Tara – we understand that the print version is what you are primarily aiming for. The website is great for publicity. Like Oarboar, I would never have found Galaxion if it was not online. I’m now the proud owner of Volumes 1 & 2 and cannot wait for Volume 3. The story-telling is good and the art is gorgeous. The sideways page is an interesting experiment. I cannot recall another artist who forces the reader to turn the book. It does push the reader out of their comfort zone, but then so did the swirly hair borders, which were effective in conveying Aria’s confusion and muddle-headedness. For the online version, I think you’ll need to turn the sideways 2-page spread the right way up at sqrt(2) reduction and have a link to a full-sized image.

By: cookie

cookie — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:09:15 +0000

Tara – I will have to agree with several others that the sideways page isn’t really working too well for me. I don’t have an IPad. Try turning a desk monitor sideway! Like Oarboar I am a fan of the Folio’s Elegant and Finely Crafted Links, I think you are better off showing the comic in a vertical orientation.

I disagree with reader Gabriel, as I believe we are finally up to the point where we left the cast in the original series – Aria and Zan passed out while on the run. Now that I don’t have to worry about inadvertent spoilers any more it’s interesting to mull over how the storyline has changed from the original series.

This time there was a lot more exposition on the ship before getting to the main action on the planet. It did help fill in a lot of character backstory though, I will be frank, I found that it dragged somewhat. The first really noticable deviation from the original storyline was the survival of Patty. If I recall correctly, the original never showed her squashing the butterfly though I do remember Aria later saying that “Patty behaved very unPatty-like”. There never seemed to be any explanation for the lethal attack on Patty the first time except as cannon fodder for the other characters to emote over. Her present survival allowed much more dramatic tension in the story as the deterioration in Patty’s condition lets the reader increasingly realize that something is very wrong indeed.

This time around the interrogation of Aria is undertaken by the Miesti directly instead of by the Rautani. We find out a bit more about how the Miesti in the bargain. Again, in the original the Miesti seemed more misunderstood than anything but in this version the dread and bitterness of Vanguathe and his people is understandable. What is still not explained is why Aria and Zan found it so easy to escape. After all, the Miesti/Rautani have taken scores of prisoners over the years. So perhaps the Great Escape wasn’t so great after all, since it is obvious the pair are under observation.

In short, I like the way that you have developed and matured as a storyteller over the years. Now, at last, I look forward to seeing the story progress!

By: Oarboar

Oarboar — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:08:49 +0000

Fair point, Gabriel. But I’m still going to stand up for Tara doing it the way she wants. The great thing about webcomics is that an artist can build up an audience waiting to shell out money for the print edition, which is waaaay easier than coming up with a print version and then trying to find an audience for it. Galaxion is one of several webcomics that I’ll be picking up the print versions of when I can.

By: Gabriel

Gabriel — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:10:16 +0000

Oarboar:

I’m OK with you disagreeing with me, but I’m not OK with saying my comment is “nonsense”. The fact that you think or experience things differently from others do not imply that you are right and the others are nonsensical…

By: AndyL

AndyL — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 18:55:28 +0000

I just wanted to pipe up and say that these sorts of experiments with comic layout is one of the things I love about Galaxion.

By: HardWearJunkie

HardWearJunkie — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:54:26 +0000

Yes, this kinda “hurt”. I do understand your need to push your art and style. This is certainly a good experiment, though the result does leave some to be desired. (Not much, but some.) Please continue!

Wait, cliffhanger?! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!