Just made my way through the archives up to here. The art is, um, busy. I think I will reread everything later at a more leisurely pace so I can give it the attention it deserves. It looks like it takes a pretty insane amount of work to put in all this detail, and at the speed at which I’m going through the story now many panels are just visual noise to me while I’m focusing on the dialogue.
What I really like is the storytelling: the pacing and the contrast between silly antics and death and destruction. Things like the ranting thief escaping from the house earlier being followed up after a while with a head on a pike. I think you’re doing a very admirable job of balancing the two. Wondering what this day will do to Emily once she gets some time to slow down and think. Things like that poor group of deformed cultists getting blown up after she pulled a pin don’t seem to have really sunk in yet.
Thanks for sharing your opinion mzz. I appreciate the input.
Within’ Astray3, there is a very fine line between horrendous violence and absurd comedic antics. It’s an old fashioned mix of comic elements, but one I exploit to keep the comic entertaining. Emily can’t keep up this pace forever though, I’m sure the effects of this ordeal will hit home once all the adrenaline runs out.
Wow I found this comic today (from the blog of another comic) and had to read the whole thing at once. This world is interesting. So many neat monsters and it’s weird link to Earth. I’d love reading a book about it, though the art is beautiful so comic form is great too! Thanks!
Thanks Knuffy, happy to hear you enjoy Astray3. Unfortunately my grammar and grasp on the English language is sub-par, so a book is probably out of the question. I’m just gonna have to stick to comics.
So I just found this comic, checked the URL of the first strip, and thought, “Oh, this only started last September? It shouldn’t take too long to read.” Little did I guess that you posted TWENTY STRIPS PER WEEK, you fiend.
I couldn’t stop reading, and now it’s after 3AM and I’m hungry because I didn’t want to pause for food. Seriously, I admire your storytelling skills (and pacing, especially).
P.S. I never would have imagined a house roaring — but you, sir, have illustrated it perfectly.
Thanks Aja, glad you have enjoyed the story so far. The strip has entered a slow down phase due to other obligations, but it should keep updating for years to come.
Please do not neglect your bodily needs, get some sleep and eat occasionally.
I just figured out what this nightmare stretch of the web comic reminds me of. It’s Virgil Finlay’s drawing for “Abercrombie Station” by Jack Vance (under the pseudo Jean Parlier) in the February 1952 issue of Thrilling Wonder Stories. But you’re stretching it out several panels as a comic while he was doing only a single image, as usual.
I’m currently not aware of this Virgil Finlay drawing for Abercrombie Station, but you peeked my interest. You have any idea where I can find a copy of the illustration?
No, thanks for making me discover that blog by Aidan Moher but what I’m referring to is a black and white drawing by Virgil Finlay, where the hero (looking somehwat alrmed) is surrounded by monsters, natural and supernatural, who are biting and fighting each other.
You can see a rather low resolution version (I have a large hi res one in abook at home but my scanner is kaput) on this page, after scrolling about two screens down.
No! Not the heliworms!
O.O MONSTER HOUSE! Does anyone have any fireworks?
“There’s always a bigger…”
Wait, didn’t I say that already?
it still applies
Just made my way through the archives up to here. The art is, um, busy. I think I will reread everything later at a more leisurely pace so I can give it the attention it deserves. It looks like it takes a pretty insane amount of work to put in all this detail, and at the speed at which I’m going through the story now many panels are just visual noise to me while I’m focusing on the dialogue.
What I really like is the storytelling: the pacing and the contrast between silly antics and death and destruction. Things like the ranting thief escaping from the house earlier being followed up after a while with a head on a pike. I think you’re doing a very admirable job of balancing the two. Wondering what this day will do to Emily once she gets some time to slow down and think. Things like that poor group of deformed cultists getting blown up after she pulled a pin don’t seem to have really sunk in yet.
Thanks for sharing your opinion mzz. I appreciate the input.
Within’ Astray3, there is a very fine line between horrendous violence and absurd comedic antics. It’s an old fashioned mix of comic elements, but one I exploit to keep the comic entertaining. Emily can’t keep up this pace forever though, I’m sure the effects of this ordeal will hit home once all the adrenaline runs out.
Wow I found this comic today (from the blog of another comic) and had to read the whole thing at once. This world is interesting. So many neat monsters and it’s weird link to Earth. I’d love reading a book about it, though the art is beautiful so comic form is great too! Thanks!
Thanks Knuffy, happy to hear you enjoy Astray3. Unfortunately my grammar and grasp on the English language is sub-par, so a book is probably out of the question. I’m just gonna have to stick to comics.
I too just finished up on a massive archives binge over a period of a day or so. This one is getting added to the RSS feed.
Keep up the good work Eldon!
Thanks Amstrad! I hope you continue to enjoy the comic.
Ack!, indeed.
So I just found this comic, checked the URL of the first strip, and thought, “Oh, this only started last September? It shouldn’t take too long to read.” Little did I guess that you posted TWENTY STRIPS PER WEEK, you fiend.
I couldn’t stop reading, and now it’s after 3AM and I’m hungry because I didn’t want to pause for food. Seriously, I admire your storytelling skills (and pacing, especially).
P.S. I never would have imagined a house roaring — but you, sir, have illustrated it perfectly.
Thanks Aja, glad you have enjoyed the story so far. The strip has entered a slow down phase due to other obligations, but it should keep updating for years to come.
Please do not neglect your bodily needs, get some sleep and eat occasionally.
Haha, no worries. Working all night is actually my normal routine. I just put off my midnight snack for a while.
It’s good to hear that the story will be continuing for a long time yet. I’ll look forward to it.
Wormcopters are eaten by a Houseasaur. My brain is starting to hurt.
Helicoptopus vs Evil House Snail
GO
I just figured out what this nightmare stretch of the web comic reminds me of. It’s Virgil Finlay’s drawing for “Abercrombie Station” by Jack Vance (under the pseudo Jean Parlier) in the February 1952 issue of Thrilling Wonder Stories. But you’re stretching it out several panels as a comic while he was doing only a single image, as usual.
I’m currently not aware of this Virgil Finlay drawing for Abercrombie Station, but you peeked my interest. You have any idea where I can find a copy of the illustration?
Is this it?
http://www.aidanmoher.com/blog/covers/dying-earth.jpg
If it is, I’ve got a lot to live up too.
No, thanks for making me discover that blog by Aidan Moher but what I’m referring to is a black and white drawing by Virgil Finlay, where the hero (looking somehwat alrmed) is surrounded by monsters, natural and supernatural, who are biting and fighting each other.
You can see a rather low resolution version (I have a large hi res one in abook at home but my scanner is kaput) on this page, after scrolling about two screens down.
http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2006/10/30/the-art-of-virgil-finlay-1914-1971/
By the way, thanks also for pushing me into some Googling which made me discover Tom Kidd’s blog:
http://www.spellcaster.com/tomkidd/ablog/songs-dying-earth.jpg
No problem, I’m happy to help readers inadvertently discover new blogs.
And thank you for letting me know about the Virgil Finlay art.
Ahm, yeah, Lots of wierdness at once. Time to find somewhere slightly less scary to be.
second that.
I would also run away from the attack house. Yep. Running away seems like the best thing to do under the circumstances.
Upper F. is just… F’d up, man.