T w e n t y S i d e d
We have quite a few running series in Stolen Pixels now. Breen, Travis, “Stock photo PR people”. Some people prefer some series over others (and some people don’t like the running series at all) but I like this variety. Of course, it’s nothing compared to some people, but if I had enough imagination to write seven strips a week I wouldn’t be working on Stolen Pixels at all. I’d be too busy ruling the lot of you from my flying doom fortress high above the surface of the earth.
From the feedback I’m getting, it seems like Breen is the favorite right now.
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I’ll pass the message to DMM that he should build his own floating fortress and mind control rockets.
You are forgetting about the Overlord. He is a recurring character now too!
I personally like Breen more than I liked the L4D thing but that’s probably because never played L4D, but spent countless hours in HL2 and the episodes.
Also, I’m an avid fan of one Gordon Frhoohman so I think I’m predisposed to like Breen.
Personally I think that these recurring characters are a perfect format for Stolen Pixels. A lot of comic artists out there do that. They have their random strips, and recurring characters who show from time to time. In fact, that’s the only way to set up long term “running gags”. The secret is to interleave the different recurring characters with one-off comics and each other. This way each week is fresh and new. I think the main complaint with your L4D series (which I found amusing btw) was that it was running uninterrupted for a while.
Regular readers who like certain characters will be able to follow their plotlines of even if there are other things going on in between. :)
If it turns out not to be true, you could always say it came from the Ministry of Truth. ;)
I didn’t play the game, but I enjoyed the L4D comic series because it WAS uninterrupted, so I was able to remember each person’s personality. It then made me wonder what the characters are like ingame.
Breen is my current favorite, however, for the very same reason as Luke Maciak. Perhaps moreso, because I just recently spent two months completing the series in order (HL2, Ep1, Ep2) and only finished it all a couple days ago.
I think the running series are okay, but you have to remember that most things are only funny when you know the context. You have to be careful not to make too many jokes that only players of L4D or HL can understand. You can do it once in a while, but if you make an entire, uninterrupted series, you have to be careful to be funny to people who didn’t play the game as well.
I found this comic to be awesome. I am still laughing! (though it has only been about 20 seconds since I read the last panel)
“Research” backs you up. ;)
I remember looking at a poll of villains from a while back… maybe ten years ago, where Darth Vader came in number two in movie villains behind… Ming the Merciless from “Flash Gordon”. Because Vader’s evil was at least politically motivated. Ming the Merciless was evil because it was fun.
(Plus, Ming the Merciless had a theme composed by Queen, which adds a certain level of badassery right there.)
I quite liked this comic. Breen is my second favourite character (nothing can beat Travis)
I am amused, but I can’t help but feel like this was topical about three years ago, not today….
Time for crossovers! Breen interviews the Overlord and Travis on the same night!
Jordi, I played L4D but didn’t enjoy the strips on it, but I didn’t play Assassin’s Creed and still got enjoyment out of it. Some specific humor just appeals to different people better than others.
I pretty much like the Breen series, and I loved HL2. The only concern(heh) is that Shamus is brushing up closely to “Concerned” material, and that’s a high bar to pass. :)
Oh, speaking of Half-Life 2, has everyone seen this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1UPMEmCqZo
Yes I have, and I’m hoping they’re still working on the next part of the film.
BTW I’d say Breen is my favorite story run so far….Now if only you’d figure out how to package that map and send it along! (Kidding, if I really needed it I’d make one myself.)
Haha, had a good laugh at the end, NOOOOOO!
Chad, you can never win against the night supervisor! Or wait.. was it the day supervisor? Argh
Stock Photos are hilarious, Breen got better, Travis, I still feel an overwhelming urge to skip anytime I see him, not sure what it is.
My favourites are the comics based on and taken from whatever game you’re playing at the time, for the record ;)
It’s Voldemort, not Voldermort. :)
Or maybe Vader just doesn’t care enough to bother to get it right.
I have to agree that the Breen series is my fav not only because I’m more familiar with HL than L4D, but because you’ve done such a great job of catching the flavor of late night talk shows. This Vader sketch is one of your best!