Feb27
Blank has been working on his ventriloquist act
on February 27, 2013 at 1:35 amAbscondWithAPie:
I’m sure Blank doesn’t suspect a thing.
Unfortunately, there won’t be a comic on Friday because Courtney and I will be out of town starting tomorrow.
Thanks Derk. Nice job alerting the hero that mischief is afoot.
Hmmmm….now I’m starting to wonder if Blank may actually want to help. Seems like he would like to talk to the gods too.
To be fair, it’s Skärva. Blank ALWAYS expects there to be mischief afoot. Although he tried to warn the villain, he IS getting tired of him… he really is.
We’ll just have to see what new roles the Hero, the Princess, and others will take on as our villain goes on his quest!
Yup. Skärva may not be really evil, but he’s the one responsible for keeping the unending stupid cycle of evil-plan-hero-quest going on. He’s the one who makes the princess and Blank lives so frustrating because, what can they do but oppose him? The princess doesn’t want to marry Skärva, and Blank doesn’t want Skärva to force the princess to marry him, so they HAVE to fight him.
To make things worse, it doesn’t seem like Skärva benefits in any way from all of it: He is obviously ridiculously rich and powerful, being able to hire all those minions and dungeons, and he spends a fortune every time he tries a new plot…if he had saved the money he could just buy a kingdom and be done with it.
Yeah, but there’s more to it than just power and money, both of which he already DOES have plenty, as you noticed. For Skärva it’s more of the principle of the thing. He’s always wanted to emerge victorious where his father had “failed”- whereas the Third accepted defeat as an intrinsic part of being a villain in a world where fate is ruled by the gods, the Fourth has always believed that with his cleverness and power he could succeed. With a father and great-grandfather so (in)famous, our Skärva wants to make his own name for himself; HE wants to be the Tiberius Skärva people remember hundreds of years hence, not just another in the line. Of course, there’s ALSO the element of upsetting the order of Idenau and getting revenge on the gods, who spurned his family and cursed him long before he was even conceived, by beating their hero and coming to rule over their beloved kingdom.
So yeah, Skärva’s motives for keeping the process going are many. But it would be cool if he had his own kingdom, or at least a theme park. Skärvaland
…I would totally go to Skärvaland.
Can we make this happen?
Skärvaland could have a roller coaster shaped out of Ecta’s ghost tail.
Oh! And there need to be some water rides that allude to Water Temples! :’D
And one of those giant swings that swing you in a circle that’s the shape of the that mother Tree earlier, with the seats designed as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and flowers.
And a spin ride like the Teacups at Disneyland, only ice block puzzle themed.
And a “river” ride through the lava mountain, with red light in the water to make it look more like magma.
And a haunted house that looks like Skaerva’s Castle.
Possibilities are endless here, lol.
Yeah Dirk, that’s not suspicious at aaaall . . .
Poor Blank’s got his problems too, apparently. Having all of your successes be credited to “chosen” and not to your own actual effort would actually be pretty disheartening.
Does the rest of Idenau know where he lives? I can’t help but wonder if he hides in a cottage in the woods to avoid fangirls. More dangerous than any boss fight.
Oh by the way; like the fire and fireplace. Good texture as usual. Well done.
Yeah, I think my favorite part about these last few pages (besides getting to draw yet another character in pajamas) is seeing that Blank and Skärva aren’t really so different, in the end. Neither of them REALLY wins, all things considered…
Haha, maybe he’s hiding from some fish woman who thinks they have to get married now…
OK dying of laughter here from that Zelda reference . . . XD
“Thinks”? He accepted the Zora Engagement Ring! There’s no thinking about it.
And thus derk realized it’s a bad idea to tell the arch enemy of his boss that they have plans that involve the very powers that help the hero win.
I wanted him to make up some story about how he’s reconsidering Blank’s words and wanted to learn how to be closer to the gods himself… but we decided Derk is just too honest. And is really bad at lies even when he tries. (Just look at how awkward he was being when he was telling Frozio about the magic woods interview question place…)
WHAAAAA?
NOOO COMIC?
Sorry, bro D: I would try to do it tonight but our flight leaves at 6:30 in the morning, so we have to hit that hay!
Huh. There’s a bit more poignancy to Blank’s situation than I would have guessed. A bit of rage against the heavens?
More like frustration, but resignation. Although I just looked up that trope, and… isn’t that exactly what Skärva is doing?
It is, but we don’t know too much of what Blank is capable of. He may harbour some resentment, which builds to outright hatred. Every man has a breaking point.
will skervie inspect anymoar temples???? xD
In a bit of a different capacity. But the dungeon trope humor certainly isn’t over!
This can only go well. ;P
That said, I like JediMasterZelda’s idea: it might be quite interesting to see Blank coming along — and working, more or less — with Skärva and co.
I also agree with mystrylshada: that’s a lovely fireplace texture, and good fire. ^_^
I’m glad I have finally created fire worthy of your approval
(Seriously though, you’re one of the few people who gives me constructive criticism and I love it.)
MYSTERIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
btw how old is blank? and every one else. including the ghost. i am just wondering. Also who is blank and the princes moduled after? You and Victor? And Victor STAY AWAY FROM MY APPLE PIE…. its my Precious….
Hah! No one in this comic is modeled after anyone in particular. Although I have taken inspiration here and there from people I know. And sometimes when I draw Blank, before I put in the missing tooth, and before I made him quite so nose-y, I see my brother… O_o
Blank is about 18? Skärva is about 30, Derk and the Princess are a bit younger than that. The minions are all in the mid-20s (Ecta was slightly older when she died, but she gets to be stuck being pretty youthful although she’s technically about of an age with the Second…) Lorelei is… ??? Is she mature for her size or small for her age? No one can tell…
The Princess would also be about 18, not late 20s. I don’t know where you come up with these things.
I knew you would call me out on that one because we’ve never really talked about it
I always just pictured her being a bit older. But I concede to your canon… This time >:D
Has a lot of time passed, then? I could have sworn Blank was 16 and Skaerva was in his late 20s or something back in the beginning.
Victor and I have been talking. Their ages are really irrelevant, like that of video game or cartoon characters tend to be… Hence why we’ve beer bothered to set them in stone. But there are three basic age groups of the main characters… The hero and princess (about 18), the minions (mid 20s) and Skaerva and Derk (about 30). Lorelei, of course, is the outlier.
And that’s the official word!
OMG compare blanks nose in the comic to the one in the banner. LOL
Cause Haditivi
Yeah, I noticed I’ve started drawing it a lot longer, but instead of fixing it, I decided to keep it because I think he has more character that way. It won’t be the first time a character’s design has changed throughout the strip… weird, it’s always that I’m making things longer! Lurkin ears, Skärva’s hair…
The other day I was wondering if there’s a universe where The Fourth is actually a video game franchise (though, it would probably be focused on Blank and we wouldn’t get to see these things), and if so, is there a meme about Skärva’s hair getting longer in every game.
Yeah, it wouldn’t be called The Fourth, it would be called… Idunno… IDENAU *THAT’S IT*
I would definitely play Super Idenau 64.
Hmmm…a nose that keeps getting longer…why does that sound familiar…
Does our hero have a little problem with telling the truth?
At least he’s a real boy…probably.
I wonder what he’s been lying about lately.
Veronika: Well, thanks for saving me again, I guess. See you in a month or whatever.
Blank: …Ok.
Veronika: …Well? Bye? Do you want something from me?
Blank: ….No.
Interesting…I like this little bit of info here. Giving Blank some depth (and a larger nose :’D) is definately good!
Also, have fun on your trip!~ You shall be missed.
Thanks! I’ll doubtless still be responding to any comments that pop up here, on my phone
Sharkfaaaace.
How did I miss like four or five something updates. Also Blank be sporting arm hair!
It keeps him warm when he goes to North Idenau. Since he doesn’t change his clothes or anything.
I now understand why most protagonists seem to wear arm hair…
Also what an… interesting looking nightcap Blank has going on there.
hm. . . A part where Skarva has to complete a god’s Temple, or Blank does it for him. . . I think that eventually, blank should come to question the gods, maybe in his dreams too. . . Hrmmmmmm. . .