True subjective view

[Snails]

#843 panel 2 shows something unusual: a true subjective view from V's perspective.

Can anyone think of another example of this used in OotS? It is the only non-4th wall perspective I can think of.

We get to peer over Belkar's head in his Animal Empathy induced flashback (#807), but even that is not a true eyeball perspective of an actual character.

Kudos to the Giant. I like how it induces a sudden sense of claustrophobia and/or being surrounded. And then he snaps us back. Very effective.

[rbetieh]

#843 panel 2 shows something unusual: a true subjective view from V's perspective.

Can anyone think of another example of this used in OotS? It is the only non-4th wall perspective I can think of.

We get to peer over Belkar's head in his Animal Empathy induced flashback (#807), but even that is not a true eyeball perspective of an actual character.

Kudos to the Giant how. I like how it induces a sudden sense of claustrophobia and/or being surrounded. And then he snaps us back. Very effective.

Belkars dream...where you can see that it's going on in his head because he is the background of the etire strip. Mr Scruffy is licking his hand still too. Does that qualify?

[King of Nowhere]

Yes, I also felt that sense of claustrophobia and being surrounded at that panel. It was nicely effective. That, or we two are weird.

[Goosefarble]

This is fairly close (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0452.html), but it's not really a subjective view.

[The Giant]

I don't think I've ever done it before, because in a series where characters sometimes break the Fourth Wall, it can easily be misinterpreted as addressing the reader (which I have done). What I usually do instead is include the top or side of the P.O.V. character's head to reinforce it, but that didn't really get the feeling of being cornered that I thought was necessary to explain V's reaction. I just took a chance that the current serious subject matter would cause the reader to instinctively discount the idea of a meta-gag.

[Ron Miel]

The next to last panel here:
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0759.html

Flashback, but seen through Elan's eyes, possibly.

[Ron Miel]

Also, imaginary Roy, as seen through Elan's eyes.

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0388.html

[Goosefarble]

The Roy in Elan's mind's-eye one I agree with, yeah, but I think the flashback is just a general view. Otherwise Haley would be looking at the "camera" for lack of a better word.

[Finagle]

#843 panel 2 shows something unusual: a true subjective view from V's perspective.

Can anyone think of another example of this used in OotS? It is the only non-4th wall perspective I can think of.
I saw that, too. I actually thought it was an artwork policy or established style or something to always show everything left-right. There's an example above looking over the characters' heads, but this was definitely the first first-person view ever.

It would be great to see a whole comic drawn from first-person view. Whoever got the Kickstarter bonus should have asked for that instead of the CPPD.

[Finagle]

Oh, while we're at it here's Xykon with a unique look. Xykon only has "fierce (normal)" eyes, "surprised" eyes and "closed" eyes. In this comic, he shows "sad" eyes for the only time (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0462.html).

[SpaceBadger]

I don't think we have ever seen Roy's back with his greatsword strapped on as in panel 1 of #843 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0843.html).

Lots of new art in this one. :smallsmile:

[Whiffet]

I don't think we have ever seen Roy's back with his greatsword strapped on as in panel 1 of #843 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0843.html).

Lots of new art in this one. :smallsmile:

I'm certain we've seen it a few times, with #843 only being the most recent.

And #842 is the second most recent. Page 2, Panel 4. :smallwink:

[ti'esar]

Oh, while we're at it here's Xykon with a unique look. Xykon only has "fierce (normal)" eyes, "surprised" eyes and "closed" eyes. In this comic, he shows "sad" eyes for the only time (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0462.html).

I also think he only uses this "embarrassed" expression (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0097.html) in the linked strip.

[Math_Mage]

Oh, while we're at it here's Xykon with a unique look. Xykon only has "fierce (normal)" eyes, "surprised" eyes and "closed" eyes. In this comic, he shows "sad" eyes for the only time (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0462.html).

Those are the half-closed eyes of someone who has taken massive damage. You can see this in many other strips, but it's easier to just look at Redcloak's eyes in the same strip.

[rbetieh]

Oh, while we're at it here's Xykon with a unique look. Xykon only has "fierce (normal)" eyes, "surprised" eyes and "closed" eyes. In this comic, he shows "sad" eyes for the only time (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0462.html).

What I find funny about the comic, is with the hole Soon gave him, he kind of looks like a piggy bank.

[MeanMrsMustard]

What I find funny about the comic, is with the hole Soon gave him, he kind of looks like a piggy bank.
What's up with that, anyway? Right before Soon smites him, it looks like he's going for a downward movement. But then it looks like he sort of... stabbed... through Xykon's skull or something. :smallconfused:
Back on topic, though, yeah, I noticed the POV shot as well. Great job, Giant, this was one of the best-done comics in a while. Can't wait until #844! (And 845, and 846, and...)

[Herald Alberich]

Xykon's actual sad eyes are here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0466.html). He's joking, of course.


I just took a chance that the current serious subject matter would cause the reader to instinctively discount the idea of a meta-gag.

I'd say that was a good bet.

[Finagle]

Xykon's actual sad eyes are here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0466.html).
Wow! I didn't realize Xykon had another expression. Nice catch!

[Goosefarble]

Like in My Little Pony when Pinkie Pie's talking to the camera and everyone gets angry at her because she's breaking the fourth wall even though she's just talking to Twilight Sparkle and we're seeing through her eyes.

...what?

[Herald Alberich]

Actually, I think I just found another subjective view, also from the point of view of Vaarsuvius, also when (s)he's under high stress, and also evoking a feeling of being cornered.

#634 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0634.html), when the Directors are making the final part of their pitch, and just before V speaks the fateful four words and accepts the accursed bargain.

[titan_monarch]

We also see Xykon's sad eyes long before that, in #190 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0190.html).

[Finagle]

We also see Xykon's sad eyes long before that, in #190 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0190.html).
Whoa! Another nice catch!

Yaknow, one of the things I like most about Xykon (as well as Rich Burlew's method of drawing him) is how he can be so awesome with only a couple of facial expressions. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! I admire artists who intentionally set limits on their expression. :smallamused:

[MyNameIsSecret]

Can anyone think of another example of this used in OotS? It is the only non-4th wall perspective I can think of.

SoD. (A few spoilers here)

Xykon has just arrived back after finding the location of Dorukans gate, and RC has just busted MitD out of the circus with Right-Eye. When Right-Eye refuses to work for Xykon again, Xykon tells him that he knows only two types of goblins - 'those who work for him, and those whose organs are distressingly... external.' We see a non-4th perspective from Right-Eyes view here, looking at Xykon, with his kids and wife in the background.

AND when MitD is presented on stage, we're seeing it from his eyes.

[raymundo]

Like in My Little Pony when Pinkie Pie's talking to the camera and everyone gets angry at her because she's breaking the fourth wall even though she's just talking to Twilight Sparkle and we're seeing through her eyes.

...what?

In which episode? You know.. just to satisfy my curiosity.

[Chronos]

Well, it certainly worked, and the fact that we've seen it so few times before just made it have that much more impact (even if that's not the reason it's seldom used).

[Han]

Actually, I think I just found another subjective view, also from the point of view of Vaarsuvius, also when (s)he's under high stress, and also evoking a feeling of being cornered.

#634 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0634.html), when the Directors are making the final part of their pitch, and just before V speaks the fateful four words and accepts the accursed bargain.

Also, where the small devil looks at the cards two strips earlier #632 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0632.html)

[cloudland]

Wait...if these panel are all subjective view, wouldn't that means there is meant to be a parallel between the 3 fiends and Roy and Elan? But Roy is Good isn't he? And Elan isn't evil either. So what could it be? Hard to think the 3 fiends are good, but it's possible.

[ti'esar]

Wait...if these panel are all subjective view, wouldn't that means there is meant to be a parallel between the 3 fiends and Roy and Elan? But Roy is Good isn't he? And Elan isn't evil either. So what could it be? Hard to think the 3 fiends are good, but it's possible.

The parallel is more in the trapped/claustrophobic view both panels aim to evoke.

[JCarter426]

I can think of a couple, but they're more "see what the character is seeing" in the literal sense than a stylistic choice.

First, Haley spotting a ridiculously trapped door in Snips, Snails, and Dragon Tales.

And of course, See what the Mind Flayer is thinking! (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0031.html)

[Snails]

Well, it certainly worked, and the fact that we've seen it so few times before just made it have that much more impact (even if that's not the reason it's seldom used).

I would add that I give extra points because it was not logically necessary. The dialogue in panel #2 could have been put in panel #1. The look in V's eyes in #1 adequately telegraphed the possible reaction of V in panel #3. Panel #2 could have simply been left out.

In some of these other rare examples of a true subjective view, the story sort of suggested that view to tell the tale. Much less true here. It was an artistic choice that added a nice emphasis and enhanced the pacing.

[MrThurk]

Wait...if these panel are all subjective view, wouldn't that means there is meant to be a parallel between the 3 fiends and Roy and Elan? But Roy is Good isn't he? And Elan isn't evil either. So what could it be? Hard to think the 3 fiends are good, but it's possible.

Well, Rich himself has just said that he didn't remember ever doing a subjective view panel before, so I guess any intentional parallelism can be ruled out.

[Bogardan_Mage]

What's up with that, anyway? Right before Soon smites him, it looks like he's going for a downward movement. But then it looks like he sort of... stabbed... through Xykon's skull or something. :smallconfused:
No, the panel before shows Soon smiting Redcloak, we don't see Soon's swing at Xykon at all. Note that he says "Smite Evil" twice, and that Redcloak is prone in the panel that Xykon gets hit when he was standing (and less injured) previously.