En Guard - A 40K comic

[Bryn]

Yep, I'm trying my hand at this webcomic thing. It's a WH40K comic, that will, in time, centre on the Imperial Guard regiment the Death Korps of Krieg.

http://www.smackjeeves.com/images/uploaded/banners/9de91cd76859.png (http://enguard.smackjeeves.com/comics/82834/)
(That will take you to the first comic).

At time of posting, there are only two comics, but it will update at weekends.

I hope you like it :smallbiggrin: Feedback is very much appreciated, especially if it involves constructive criticism.

[ufo]

I can't really judge yet, with only 2 comics, but it would seem to get good :)

I'm a big fan of Warhammer 40.000 myself, so i would love to follow this and see how it envolves.

[blackout]

Ooooh, sweeeeet. :)

[The Orange Zergling]

Ooo, nifty. I love the IG, so I'll check back often. d('.'v)

[Adlan]

Imperial Navy for the Win!

Will the ships Commisar kill them all for incompetence? Will the Navigator's thrid eye spawn forth warp deamons? I wanna know!

[Bryn]

Thanks for the kind words :smallbiggrin:

A new comic is up. I absolutely a-door this one... Sorry for that.

There will indeed be... no, actually, I think I'll let you find out.

[ufo]

Thanks for the kind words :smallbiggrin:

A new comic is up. I absolutely a-door this one... Sorry for that.

There will indeed be... no, actually, I think I'll let you find out.

Well, this seems to get good, but yeah, not many people that don't know Warhammer 40,000 will get the joke :smallsmile:

[wodan46]

good work so far, as far as I know this would qualify as the first time that a lengthy attempt was made to derive humor from 40k, which is kinda of suprisingly, given how much of a exaggeratedly gritty sci fi setting it is.

[Bryn]

Not so at all. Try Turn Signals on a Land Raider (http://www.tsoalr.com) - that's a 40K comic and it's been going for years. Another I don't read, but is linked from TSOALR: Battle Barge (http://battlebarge.hughesd.co.uk/). For the non-comic variety, have a look at Warhammer Radio (http://web.mac.com/finerty/iWeb/Warhammer_Radio/Podcast/Podcast.html), which is a podcast. Lost In Space existed a while back, but that went down - another comic.
Thanks for the comments, I'll see if I can give the next one a more universal appeal.

[Athelis]

Not a bad start for a new webcomic, good art style to.

[Lord Herman]

The art is indeed very nice. More detailed than the giant's style, and fitting for the warhammer 40k universe.

One nitpick: I think the text balloons are a bit too big. I'd suggest drawing them with the pencil tool instead of the ellipse tool; right now, there's a lot of empty space in the balloons.

As for the text itself, I think you should go for a uniform text size. The size you used on panel #3 of strip #1 is fine.

[Bryn]

Thanks for the pointers, I'll have a look at that panel and use that size in future. If I adjusted the text to fill the balloons a bit more, do you think it would work? Or should I switch to square baloons?
OOTS appears to use round baloons.

[Lord Herman]

Hmm, I checked, and you're right. OOTS uses round balloons. But it also uses a pretty small font, and the text is fitted neatly into the ellipse. In En Guard, the large font makes the white space more apparent, and the text is fitted into a square inside the ellipse, leaving more white space.

Another tip: some of your text balloons have pretty thick borders. I'd stick with a maximum of 1.5 point lines for the borders. Remember, every text balloon covers up part of the art, and every bit of the balloon you don't use is a part wasted. And as I said before, the art is very good, so we want to be able to see as much of it as possible.

One other thing: you know the saying, 'a picture is worth a thousand words'? This is not always the case. In a comic, seemingly obvious comments can be very useful to get a point or feeling across, or to tell the reader what is happening. For example, the last strip had very little words; I'd either have the adjudant say where he's going ('Gosh, I sure hope I can still get to the airlock'), or use one of those narrator bars at the top of a panel ('On the way to the airlock...'). This is, however, also a matter of personal taste.

[Bryn]

Hmm... you've given me a lot to think on there. Thanks for the criticisms, they're just what I'm looking for. I'll certainly try to incorporate more, smaller speech bubbles in future, and make events clearer through additional text.

Everyone else, too, thanks for your comments.

[Daedrous Avari]

Great comic, I posted it a comment. (I'm Valorform.)

[Mr._Blinky]

Heh, I love the heretical door crack. Especially since I've been playing a lot of Dark Crusade lately, and read a few more of the books. I definately like IG, though I still say that Space Marines are my favorite (I play Dark Angels).

[Shadow of the Sun]

No! Demonhunters for life!

[Bryn]

Thanks for all the kind feedback. New one is up, I think I've overdone the 'small text' thing in some places. It varies between 14 and 12 - 14 seems to be the right size. All feedback, but especially constructive criticism, appreciated.

[Shadow of the Sun]

I like it- it wasn't a particularly funny strip, but it has had exposition, so it is fine.

[Bryn]

Yay! A new strip is up!

Now you know what happened to the Captain...

[Jewel Thief]

I'm a huge 40k fan with my own Cadian +1500 army, so seeing an IG webcomic is, quite literally, awesomeness incarnate. I've already book-marked it, and can't wait for more! :wink:

[Baltek Grimm]

YAY! Cool. I like the stuff. I play WH40k a couple of years now and NEVER saw some humor in it... but you did. It's cool and i wait for new stuff!

[Kjata]

Damn dude, you need to update more... at least 3 times a week.

[Bryn]

I would, but life gets in the way a bit :smallwink:

Thanks for the compliments! :smallbiggrin:

[Penguinizer]

I like it, very oots like. But thats a good thing.

[Dretch]

Finally, a 40k comic that isn't squeezed into a space the size of a business card... and well written, too! Kudos!

[Yo-jimbo]

I've enjoyed it so far, Z, do you have any other 40k avatars you've made?

[Bryn]

Let me see...
I can do any En Guard character, and I have an old, not-really-OOTS Space marine I made a while ago. I also made Inquisitor Eisenhorn, but king.com got that.
I still owe someone a Tau avatar, so I will be a while processing any requests. Feel free to make them though.

As for everyones' comments on the comic, :smallbiggrin:

[Bryn]

New comic (http://enguard.smackjeeves.com/comics/) is now up. Comments and critique appreciated.

[Ceska]

Finally! I was waiting for it. You say you still have no clear post days? That's a shame, I was hoping for a more reliable schedule.

[onasuma]

made me laugh more times in the first few strips than OOTS did. Now all we need are fire warriors or plauge bearers or tyranids or traitor guard or Damn i collect too many armies

[Bryn]

Thanks for the comments :smallbiggrin:

I'm afraid I can't promise anything with the update schedule. Exams loom, and they have to be more important than a webcomic. Nonetheless, I will try to update where possible.

[Korias]

Eh. Everybody has problembs.

But theirs one thing I want to ask. Your Techpriest: Is that a full servo harness? or just a single arm?

[Bryn]

Just a single arm.

[Bryn]

Another new comic (http://enguard.smackjeeves.com/comics/) - hopefully not too morbid for everyones' tastes.

[onasuma]

Any news on when a new comic will be up?

[Bryn]

Sorry for the long lack of updates, although I'm afraid it will last longer still. Blah blah blah RL busy etc. There won't be a comic this weekend but there *will* be next weekend as that is the start of a holiday and there'll be less pressure.

In other words, next weekend. I'm really sorry about the lack of updates, but RL is like that sometimes.

[Peter Harris]

I LOVE WH40K. Definitely going to follow along.

[Bryn]

New comic is up (http://enguard.smackjeeves.com/comics/).

[Scientivore]

Looks interesting! I read through the archives and you got some laughs. :smallamused:

Typo in panel 1: "Type 8Imperial Guard supplies."

Dan Glasl uses 75% opacity on his speech bubbles for The Bastard Swordsman (http://thebastardswordsman.com/index.htm). Before learning that, I used 80% when I made fan re-letterings of one of his strips. (I didn't use borders and it looks to me like he applied the same transparency to his borders as to the fill.) I think that something near those numbers would be an attractive and useful way of minimizing the impact of speech bubbles on art visibility while retaining big text. I'm not as sure about those thought bubbles in the second and fourth panels but I have an intuitive feeling that their fill could've benefited from reduced opacity too.

I'm always impressed when people find creativity in themselves, express it and share it. Best wishes! :smallsmile:

[Bryn]

Thanks for the pointer, and the advice. The thought bubbles are already slightly transparent, and perhaps making them more so would be a good idea. I'll just correct that typo, I don't think I'll modify the opacity of the various bubbles for now - although I will in the next comic.

Thanks for the critique!

[cph]

ah.. very nice.. we want more! =)

[onasuma]

Woot under a month, which means,
BUMP
(I can't let a great webcomic stay on page two)

[1dominator]

Woot! A 40k comic YESSHHHH, awesome, keep up the good work!
-Dom

[onasuma]

There are others (like mine) if your that excited about it.

[Threeshades]

i really like it so far. The backgrounds are very detailed for a stick figure comic.

[Bryn]

Thanks for the kind words!

As I said over there, there should be a new comic tomorrow.

[Deidara]

Ah, Z-Axis, I knew I'd find you here. First page of the web-comic forum. You are a sly dog I give you that, but nontheless, I shall eradicate you!
And I see you have a new En Guard up, I shall check it out. If I know you (which I do) I'm sure it'll be as great as the rest, which of course - reach uber-greatness! But seriously, get some Kroot in there. :smallbiggrin:

Farewell Z-Axis! When I see you again, you're mine! :smallfurious:

[Bryn]

As it happens, a new comic (http://enguard.smackjeeves.com/comics/) is up.

[Scientivore]

The page won't load. :smallfrown:

Edit: got it now.

[Bryn]

Arr, me 'earties! Thar be a new comic (http://enguard.smackjeeves.com/comics) on tha horizon!

[Bryn]

And, the latest hiatus is over! After two months, we have a new En Guard (http://enguard.smackjeeves.com/comics/)!

They said it couldn't be done. They said I was mad, mad! But I'll show them, I'll show them all! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!

Hopefully, double-necro-posting will be acceptable in this instance, as the comic has gone un-updated for over 2 months and I want to let people know :smallwink:

[onasuma]

Thats what me continuosly nagging does for us.

[Mc. Lovin']

Another great comic Z

[The_Hunting_Enemy]

Can somebody explain the "Heretical Door" gag to a non-40ker? (I'm gonna get marines soon, but until then, I'm clueless to the world) It was still funny, but I don't think I could fully appreiciate the gag until I understod it's origin.

[onasuma]

Ok, here we go.
In the 40k universe, the imperium of man reigns supream. However, a great tragerdy befell them. Half of their greatest warriors, The space marines, fell to dark powers, the chaos god, Khorne, Nurgle, Tzeech (which is spelt wrong there) and Slannesh, each representing a failing of people.
Since that day, the imperium has been strict to stamp out any heretical behavior. I.e. not following the emporor (god of man kind)'s guidence. This door, didnt do what it should, so therefore was shot to purge the heretic. This wouldnt happen in the actual game, but did for commical effect.

[The_Hunting_Enemy]

Ok, here we go.
In the 40k universe, the imperium of man reigns supream. However, a great tragerdy befell them. Half of their greatest warriors, The space marines, fell to dark powers, the chaos god, Khorne, Nurgle, Tzeech (which is spelt wrong there) and Slannesh, each representing a failing of people.
Since that day, the imperium has been strict to stamp out any heretical behavior. I.e. not following the emporor (god of man kind)'s guidence. This door, didnt do what it should, so therefore was shot to purge the heretic. This wouldnt happen in the actual game, but did for commical effect.

Somehow, that makes it all the funnier. It's like making fun of a serious situation.

[onasuma]

Thats how people get funny stuff out of warhammer. See my comic (www.cktm.smackjeeves.com), for more examples

[The_Hunting_Enemy]

Now, once there is a comic based of WH:Fantasy Battles, I will be complete.

[onasuma]

*Goes to find link for Warpedhammer*

Edit: found it http://s7.invisionfree.com/warpedhammer_comic/index.php

[The_Hunting_Enemy]

*Goes to find link for Warpedhammer*

Edit: found it http://s7.invisionfree.com/warpedhammer_comic/index.php

I love you.




(That was meant to be humor, BTW)

[onasuma]

Curses. Oh well, back to hiding my love for someone, and never letting her know i like her. Im sure that will work sooner or later.

[Bryn]

En Guard is back. (http://enguard.smackjeeves.com/comics/428599/pseudoscience/) Now bigger, and hopefully better, than ever before. I have a nice lengthy post over by the comic, which should contain any relevant information.

Apologies for the Raise Thread, but it seemed more appropriate than dedicating a second thread to my comic. May the Mods correct me if I'm wrong. :smallamused: