This week, the SF comic-of-the-week spotlight is on ME. So... I guess I'll just talk about "Cetiya" today. Story about this page: I started drawing it on vacation in Massachusetts back in August, got into a bad headspace over moving back to Japan, and didn't come back to it until sometime in October. This taught me the very important lesson of NEVER LEAVE A PAGE UNFINISHED FOR TWO MONTHS. (I then proceeded to do the exact same thing around December.) Anyway, finishing this page turned out to be kind of a pain in the ass and the product isn't phenomenal, but I guess that just happens sometimes. I enjoy Dav in the first panel, though. And yes, for anyone who's unclear on it, Angelus is in fact a branch of the military.

TWC incentive for the week: 2.5 linework panels from next week's page, including a 3/4 headshot of Daven that I'm personally very fond of. Check it out. ]]> http://cetiya.spiderforest.com/?comic=20100301 http://cetiya.spiderforest.com/?comic=20100301 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST http://cetiya.spiderforest.com/?comic=20100301
p.6 and Sunset Grill ; 20100301

This week's SF webcomic spotlight is "Sunset Grill" by Kat Feete, a 3D-modeled urban sci-fi tale based around the clientele of the titular grill. Got a little bit of gang warfare, little bit of class warfare, little bit of race warfare, little bit of... levitating pink fountains? Gritty but humorous with a formidable cast of characters, good writing, and interesting storylines. Oh, and she integrates really good worldbuilding notes into her news posts, which means you can follow all the action even if you haven't had time to go through her actual worldbuilding page. Give it a look: http://sunsetgrillcomic.com/

Today on "Cetiya": View Daven's bitterness, for it is vast! I really love him in the second-to-last panel... Actually, I love the range of Daven's attitudes and moods in general. He's rapidly becoming my favorite character to work with. Uh-oh...

TWC incentive for the day is a panel sketch of Daven's bitterness edging ever closer to epic proportions. And, since it's the first of the new month, votes from the masses would be GREAT. Sankyuu! =^_^= ]]> http://cetiya.spiderforest.com/?comic=20100222 http://cetiya.spiderforest.com/?comic=20100222 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST http://cetiya.spiderforest.com/?comic=20100222
p.5 and What it Takes ; 20100222

Happy Monday, everyone. This week's SF plug goes to "What it Takes," the new post-apocalyptic survival adventure comic strip (yes, strip) by KEZ. This one isn't very far in yet, but it shows tremendous potential. Art and writing are both solid (which is probably no surprise to anyone who's read her "War of Winds"), and the story looks to be going in interesting directions. If you're into the post-apocalyptic survival genre and like your stories with kickass female leads--and that's kickass females who don't look like lingerie models with guns--this one's for you. "What it Takes" is rated R for language and gore, to borrow KEZ's words.

On to "Cetiya." I like this page, mostly. Daven's desk is a surprisingly time-consuming thing to draw, even when it's small and in the background. It has become my arch-nemesis over the course of this scene. I've had a lot of fun writing this scene, since it's pretty much the first time we get to watch Daven and Nezumi interact with each other; I like the sort of big brother/little brother dynamic they have. I wonder, does that come across to my readers who don't know the characters as well as I do? I'd love to hear what you all think. ::points to comment box::

This week's incentive is the full draft layout for next week's page. Got some sexy glove-removal, got some righteous indignation... Very exciting. Check it. ]]> http://cetiya.spiderforest.com/?comic=20100215 http://cetiya.spiderforest.com/?comic=20100215 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST http://cetiya.spiderforest.com/?comic=20100215
p.4 and Smyzer & Blyde ; 20100215

Up this week is J.G. (or Jaygee) with his action/mystery/noir/ass-kicking online graphic novel, "Smyzer & Blyde." "Smyzer & Blyde" possesses a flow, artistic style, and format that is totally unique within the ranks of the SpiderForest Collective and, I believe, largely unseen in the online webcomic community as a whole. Sharp, clean lines; beautifully realized scenery; a thoroughly Western style that owes jack to Asian influences (no offense meant to anyone who draws manga, myself included); and as much intrigue as you, the reader can handle. This is gritty future London at its finest. Give it a look.

On to the goings-on in Cetiya-land: First and foremost, look at this fancy new page! My favorite panel is ironically the one I left for the very end because I couldn't figure out what to put in it: Daven's gloved hands messing around with his computer innards. God, I love it. Second (and still foremost), I finally finished that chapter cover I was supposed to post forever ago. So, if you want to hop on back a few pages to right here you can see what you've all been missing. And for those of you who are saying, "But now see here my good woman, this thing is singularly uninspiring in black and white!" I offer the full color version over in Daven's personal gallery (or right here).

But wait! There's more! As yesterday was all Valentine's Day and whatnot, we ALSO have this painting of Nine and Eve.

Full update today, no? And, as the final touch, there's an untoned panel from the next page up on TWC for your viewing pleasure.

See you next week. ]]>