Brett is Totally Wrong
Oh Brett, no. You’ve never been more wrong.
So this strip takes another step into mature-content waters. I know that may seem redundant based on the subject matter usually found in d20Monkey but as many have noticed, this isn’t the typical pixelated wang affair. It’s something different. I know some love it and some hate it but I will never stop challenging myself or pushing this comic in different directions. If you had asked me 3-years ago if I would present an arc like this (and this strip and strips to come) I would’ve said “probably not. No.” but such is the nature of an ongoing creative process: It is an evolving creature.
I took the comments on how I illustrated Amy in the previous strip to heart and I really worked hard on this one to get it right. I hope it shows.
More on Wednesday.
The Mouseover: Which base is showering together? 3rd and a half? Stealing home plate? I need to know. THIS MATTERS! Also, if this gets you or your partner all worked up please send $1 dollar care of Brian F. Patt–
Been foreign I could make a mistake, but wouldn´t it be like: 2nd stealing third?, or third stealing to homerun?
Calling it a Ground Rule Double, because why not.
http://xkcd.com/540/
According to this we are currently on the maginot line, possibly moving towards the pitcher’s mound, with an oncoming hard right across the plate.
You should put in a donate button on this page.
Brett’s right on one thing, the setup time on Arkham Horror takes way to Effing long, especially if you add expansions.
I keep hearing people say this, but my group plays Arkham Horror regularly (whenever one of us can’t make it to game night we play board games). Does it take longer than 10 minutes? Sure. Is it an inordinate amount of setup time? No, not really. Shuffle some cards, piece the map together (if you’re using expansions), drop clue tokens, choose a bad guy, choose characters, divvy up starting stuff, open a gate and go!
I can definitely see improvements on the proportions of Amy in this one! The only thing that’s really getting me is her right arm extending over Sam….its broken..or very noodley. I just don’t see the perspective on how her arm could possibly bend that way from where her shoulder is at and how it shows it extending more down than over on that side of his neck. I hope that makes sense?
Yay for pushing yourself and expanding directions. I look forward to more experimenting and laughter inducing shenanigans.
Shit! I actually noticed that before posting but got so wrapped up in proof reading I forgot to fix it. Done and done!
And thanks for the compliments! I love to try new things and well, sometimes folks just hate change of any kind.
Ahhhh~ much better!
Anytime 🙂 And yeah, there are those types that just have to inch slowly into the water while hating and bemoaning it before finally adjusting and enjoying themselves, instead of jumping in, getting it overwith, and realizing it feels great in there and that change can be good!
Brian, it sounds like maybe you need some practice with this kind of thing. May I suggest…
1) watch lots of porn
2) pause and draw
3) sell us mail-order d20MonkeyPorn sketches
4) relocation fund!
Just add in a plot point about her having elastic powers later on when you are reasonably sure we’ve forgotten about this and pretend it was completely intentional.
I know it’s minor, but the only thing that really bothers me on this strip is Sam’s hip. It’s just so… pointy? Pointy. It’s like he had a double jointed thumb sticking out of there and when he sat down he bent it back and it broke off, and now there’s just that second joint. Sticking the f*ck out.
Heh… heh… “noodley”…
… What? Stop looking at me like that!
ARKHAM BONERS
BEST BONERS? MAYBE!
Arkham Boners would be terrifying.
Wouldn’t that just be hentai at that point?
dork 😛
Careful, that’s how you wind up with Wilbur Whateley.
To be honest Brian, 2 and a half years ago (when I started reading) I’d have NEVER expected this. I mean you always titillated with sex, mostly in jokes, and romance has been present in one form or another, but even after Brett started dating Jeanie sex between them was more of a joke in the comic. Now, sex, or foreplay in this context, is a useful, serious, and classy plot device. Kudos. Also, showering with others is the bees knees.
Thank you so much for this Alexander. Knowing that folks who have been here for a long time dig the progression and experimentation means a lot to me. Huge smile on my face, Sir.
Just keep it rocking. Been reading from the start and it just keeps getting better.
Well after 2.5 years of readership, backing the Kickstarter, I’m pretty much here for the long haul. 🙂 I look forward to see what campaigns and dramas are in store for our band of gamers.
I may have not been reading for that long, but I can assure you that I’ve read every comic up to this one.
I’m pretty sure showering together is past 3rd base and moving past the shortstop heading to home. Also, her right hand would would more likely be just over Sam’s shoulder and him holding her hand, given the appearance that her upper right arm is down from the position of the right shoulder… Don’t get me wrong, it looks good.
I’m glad Sam is not hung up on the past possibilities and is embracing the opportunity in front of him, [ok, standing behind him, really ] so to speak 😉
May not be hung up, but possibly..
Huh. Angry mobs arrived earlier than normal..
I think the hand placement he’s got pretty accurate. I just tested over the shoulder of my own Samuel, and my hand comes down on him to about where hers is on Sam. She is pressed pretty close against the back of him, so that helps the extension.
I think the base thing (despite being based on a horrible metaphore, more in this TED talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/al_vernacchio_sex_needs_a_new_metaphor_here_s_one.html) is really an it depends situation. You can showe with someone and still be in first/second base territory. You can also do it in a very “home run†kind of way. It’s all a question of what the people in the shower are doing.
With a loofa on his junk and how Amy is positioned this seems a past second base and probably pushing third (at least) kind of shower.
In the interest of seventh-inning-stretching the baseball analogies, what would be the situations designated:
1. Butcher boy
2. Ground rule double
3. Triple play
4. Grand Slam
5. Sacrificial bunt/fly
6. Intentional walk
7. Hit by pitch
I’m curious to see what folks come up with. 😉
being hit by a pitch is also called “taking one for the team”, or hooking up with the ugly friend so your buddy can get the hot one. See also “being an excellent wingman”.
Now we know who’s on third!
(See: Abbot and Costello)
No, who is on first.
Idon’tknow is on third.
It’s good to see Sam found someone who appreciates the old Chuck Berry Song. “My ding a ling… my ding a ling, I want you to play with my ding a ling…” Ah Chuck, such a visionary.
humna humna humna humna BONER lol….i kinda wish there would be a tiny bit more nudey with the women as geek chicks are the hottest thing around and im so in love with (i forgot the girl sam is withs name x.x)
*COUGH*Amy*COUGH*
Oh! Is that on the horizon? Does SAM forget? Does he call Amy by another name? Could be a great BAM! moment. And does Amy in the next shot laugh and call Sam “Trevor” mid-coitus, just to F#%€ with him?
Well this was both unexpected and slightly arousing. I am pleased.
Knowing that I’ve posted previously on the subject, just wanted to say that I never had a problem with Amy’s body! 😉
I think showering with another moves past third base. It’s not even a home run, it’s where that home run was the bottom of the ninth winning run and now the team is carrying you on their shoulders, the crowd is flooding the field…
Great stuff, Brian! I’ve really enjoyed your evolution as both an artist and a story teller. I can’t wait to continue reading your work.
Wow. You really outdid yourself, man. I love the direction you’re taking the comic and how you’re growing as an artist. Fantastic stuff.
Also: *sends dollar*
Just chiming in to say that I absolutely LOVE the Samy story arc – it’s extremely well-written and I keep awaiting the next installment.
Also, if I had a friend like Brett, I would never stop hitting him, not until my fists disintegrated. Which is a credit to your character narration ability, ’cause it’s hard to feel strongly about a character (good or bad) unless they have layers and nuances to their personality.
TL:DR – keep being awesome, your comic is great
Given the current status of Sam, I would say they are rounding third and being waved home by the base coach (in this case likely the boner fairy.)
I also approve the use of Sam having a good time to make Brett look like a fool.
|4. Grand Sam|
Fixed that for you.
So, torn. It’s great your extending your artistic and I really enjoy seeing your work grow and take on more and more depth.
On the other hand, I’m a huge Arkham Horror fan and I cant never get people to sit still long enough to play it.
I can’t figure out which storyline I want to see more of!
Love the work, keep it up!
Arkham Horror is awesomely fun. Setup time can be rough, but my group has it down to a science.
Also, I am truly enjoying this comic, every single one is amazing, and it only gets better. This one was better than I expected. Thank you for making my long days a bit better, good sir.
Is it me or does Amy look like Sam? The face are almost brother/sister like. So ew on the the shower scene.
… O_o Just you, just you.
You had to try to ruin it for us huh?
I disagree, their faces don’t look alike, the noses are slightly different (Sam’s nose is larger, Amy’s is a bit pointier) and their mouth are nothing alike. Their eyes maybe, but that’s probably because they’re closed. So for me no ew.
Also Brian I would’ve send a dollar but I’m kinda broke…
Yeah, their facial shapes are completely different (now that I really look for it) but the closed eyes may cause it.
lol I noticed the details like the shape of the nose and completely missed the fact that their face didn’t even have the same shape xD
Nah – whilst I’m on record as saying that Amy looks like Garth in some cells I think Sam is a dead ringer for Steve from American dad (to the point he has his voice in my head) so nothing alike for me
I think you are totally correct that Sam is a dead ringer for Steve from American Dad! Good eye!
So, are they singing? Or just breathing heavy? Can with Amy, I can see it going either way, or both. This is a good thing 😉
I think you did a great job with the pose and anatomy (of course, I”m seeing the corrected version). I like especially the way Amy’s nearer breast is pressed against Sam’s shoulder, with just a hint of nip showing.
Actually, typing that and giving it another look, the boob is almost tentacular in the way it’s creeping up towards Sam’s head* Amy carries the spirit of Cthulu whereever she goes!
* in no way a criticism. Just the oddity of inspiration for my odd mind. 🙂
I’d say this would be called “sliding into home,” complete with losing some skin in the process. A loofah? Ouch.
I had a similar thought, while the sentiment and illustration are great, the actual implications would be rather painful. I guess this would be running over the catcher to get home.
Don’t worry, it’s a soft fabric loofa!
Even those soft fabric loofas can chafe.
I’m gonna call it 3rd stealing Home, because it’s pretty much guaranteed that one follows the other.
Yes, Brett…keep telling yourself that…
Also, I’d like to comment, good work on the “breast physics” in the third panel, very realistic looking!
I favored “Third, Leading Off.” It’s likely that this is an in-the-park home run, but it may well stop due to unforeseen conditions on the field.
Excellet job, with both story and art. Yes, she’s hot (well done!), but I’m more intrigued by the experimentation and your courage in doing so. Great characterization too, because I’ve never been more angry and disgusted at Santa Claus. Curious about the upcoming comeuppance.
Hey thanks! There will indeed be comeuppance!
I just wanted to thank you all for the VERY nice comments and emails. Like I said, I am trying new things and taking some risks that not everyone will dig. Thankfully, most everyone who is not sure about it or isn’t super onboard isn’t being a total jerk about. That’s all I can ask for, really.
Wholly on board and loving it – keep ’em coming!
SAMS GETTING LAID!!! Best-est birthday EVAR!
Really though its about time something good happened to the poor boy. But am I sensing a wee bit of jealousy with Mel? Or is it just because she’s made at them for not choosing a game?
I really like where the comic is going. Sam needs someone and Amy is amazing. She is every geek/nerd’s wet dream on top of, as you said before, knowing who she is and loving it.
P.S. Depends on what is done in the shower determines what base it is, unless you define third base as seeing each other naked. Second base is usually heavy petting through clothes where third base the clothes come off and people usually get off.
This isn’t a criticism, and it’s probably just me, but
On every first read of a comic with Amy in it, I parse her as a man, because that piercing looks like a soul patch at a casual glance!
It’s not just you, I was actually just posting this comment when I saw yours:
Hmm, first reaction on seeing the shower panel was “who’s the blond guy with a soul patch behind Sam?!?”
Then I realized it was Amy.
Then I looked again, and she still looked like a man.
Maybe I need my eyes checked?
…$1
…$1
…$1
…nope, couldn’t go for four.
I think I see juuuuust the edge of nipple, thank you. This kind of annoys me though; the pizza is really small in comparison to the people.
I can kind of see Brett’s point about Cthulu I’ve never really got the appeal myself, but this may have been due to my introduction to call of Cthulu via a not very good GM.
I keep having a brain fart when it comes to Amy, every time I see her my brain goes “she has a soul patch” because I’m misinterpreting her stud….. just my brain not your drawing (which I love by the way!).
(nipple)
I’ve been reading the backlog all of today, and maybe you won’t read something this far back, but I wanted to say that I really like this strip/arc. It reminds me a lot of my partner and I’s first few dates, and especially ending in a shower together. So thanks for dredging up these sweet memories for me.
I do see these and I am happy to provide the happy trip down memory lane. 🙂