Oculama

I think your use of mixed media is really interesting and clever, particularly how you lay out the rest of the comic in the first few pages. It's great foreshadowing. The 3D-rendered pages are moody and atmospheric in contrast to the high contrast pages that follow. The choice of scar for the first scar match of Oculama sure is a choice. A funny turn of events from a serious start. Finally, while I enjoyed the narration as a delivery of a fable, you lean heavily on large bodies of text to tell the story in the black and white portion of the comic. You did well showing, not telling, story elements in the first half and I hope that in future comics that will be the case all the way through.

One of your greatest strengths is your coloring and this comic shows it off. The contrast of Xerxes paint to the muted background makes him seem all the more otherworldly. Heartwell's shaded eyes are great foreshadowing for the scar reveal by the comic's end. The texture of the sea spray and space work very well in parallel and really lend a sense of scale to the scenes. I appreciate how you take Heartwell's profession as a storyteller and elevate it with an additional motive with your story and choice of scar. Watching paint never sounded so ominous. This was a fun intro to both characters, and I'd be excited to see where both of them go from here. Maybe someone else will take Xerxes' deal in the future...

This is a very interesting read. Your comic is a very nice piece of prose - very nice. I really liked the story and the atmosphere that was being built. The story was intriguing and same with the resolution. You've really crafted an interestingly laid out world and without the visuals added, I would be quite interested in reading it regardless. The character and his book is intriguing and I'm curious how his precognition has lead him here.

However, when it comes to the actual drawn aspects of the comic, there is deficiencies that definitely need to be addressed. I think a big question I'd like to know is what you're creating your comics with, whether it's Paint, Photoshop, or some other program. There's parts that can be improved and a basic one would be to more appropriately utilize your fill-tool. Your drawn figures and backgrounds are the weakest part of the comic currently, but you seem to be aware of this as you made mention of that when first joining the site. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, because we're wanting to see everyone improve by being here. I would challenge you to try some gesture drawings and begin working on that aspect of yourself.

Your 3D elements have a lot of charm, but it still leaves a bit to be desired for your draftsmanship. While your storytelling is quite interesting right now, there's a fundamental lack of design skill currently. Staying in a safe 6 - 8 panel set up each time doesn't help your storytelling, because just as making a sentence composed of different lengths helps make reading it engaging, so too does that apply to your panel design. If you have any favorite comics, I would definitely begin examining them closer. Not just as a reader or a fan, but as a participant in the craft yourself. You could find a lot about how you like comics laid out.

I hope I've given you something to think about with this. You definitely have skill there as a storyteller. I really can't wait to see what you do in the future on this site, because this is something interesting and special. Really nice job.

Short and sweet. Xerxes' Godlike nature makes for a really cool existential storytelling thread. Color me intrigued in seeing how he'll develop because he's currently a very cool enigma. This comic in general is a great introduction to him and while I know you've stated you've enjoyed doing the 3-pager comics, I would certainly like to see more of him in a long form story. However, for someone who's supposed to be related to paints, I couldn't help but feel your colors are a little on the pastel and muted side. I think you could really push for a much stronger and brighter palette within his comics to give it more of a burst, especially if you were to put his powers on display. Still, I really enjoyed this first comic of Xerxes and I can't wait to see more. Great job!

I love the medium used in the first half of the comic, it uses the 3D really effectively and feels like an adventure game. The 2D artwork is also very fun, but feels like it isn't as experimental, with the rigid paneling becoming more restrictive and the cinematography taking a hit. The one time it breaks out of the 8 panel structure is for a very text heavy section that is sort of hard to read. That said, I still enjoy the storybook tale and the use of a 4th wall commentary is really clever. Going back to explain the details in previous panels is especially cute.

The yellows and purples pop really well as a base, using them as a visual basis for the supernatural feels strong enough at first but really hits with the ending panel. The paneling is really majestic at points too, it's great at both leading the focus and showing off absolute scale without betraying either. The comic does feel like its linework and its painted colors are fighting each other a little, as the linework doesn't have a ton of weight variance to it, but sometimes it's the only thing keeping objects of similar colors from bleeding into each other. The sky and the ocean in page 3 seems the most glaring example. This can also be a strength though, as when Xerxes fades into the cosmos in 4. Very dramatic, it's neat.

Mihnea - You have a gift for writing and words. This was such a good tale with and even though it's pretty wordy for a comic, I really enjoyed reading it. The first few pages were so ominous. I really love the eerie lighting you got that gave me a feeling of dread and mystery. I suggest in the art department to try and study fundamentals like anatomy and maybe even painting shadows and light. Nice moody atmosphere seems to fit your writing style. I know you're not going for super realistic approach in your art but having studied fundamentals will really help sell your stylization. There seems to be some settings that need to be adjusted in your digital art program of choice (like some white ink bleeding out in your lines). I think Kozi mentioned this in the Discord so if you could work on that, that would also improve the quality of your art. And now we get to the scar. The Ending. How you built up the climax was nothing sort of genius lol. I thought we were going to get a Maui-like (from Moana) scar on Paint Watcher, immortalizing Heartwell's people and history...the frikkin twist got me laughing for a full minute. No kidding!

Ninja - Gorgeous colors! And wow, it's really neat how you incorporated Oculama's eyecon in the comic like it's part of the plot. I really liked that. Short and sweet comic you got here. At first I was wondering when the scar was going to happen because I was already in page 4 and expecting that a fight needs to happen soon. Then BAM! There it is at the end and I audibly gasped when I saw it. Surprisingly, even though this comic only has four pages, it really told us a cohesive story that allowed us to fill in the blanks of what happened (and what could happen) in our minds. It didn't need more and it didn't need less and I was very impressed by that. Well done!

MINHEA- It's so great to see artists going outside the usual digital format in comics to explore different media and programs and this is no exception. Your choice of warm lighting from the get on this first page really sets the scene for something of a fairytale I'd definitely check out some classic references as to how books are portrayed in media like the opening of old Disney films to see the most ideal way to present the content therein.

Your writing is definitely intriguing. You are crafting something within theme. A tall tale, a similar forewarning like your opponent did in their comic, set to a book. Talk about hivemind, I wonder if you two agreed upon that beforehand? I'm excited to see where you go from here because there are so many things you can push and explore by way of the crit received. It'll only serve to make your next battles and comics even better.

NINJA- you never fail to hook us from the get with those eye catching comic covers. The color story you got goin on is so whimsical despite these foreboding themes! It's disarming in a good way. I will note the choice of font was a tough one to read though. But onto the story!

I don't know if its the Twilight zone I've been binging, but your choice to go meta with a story within a story of some eldritch being that lives beneath the sea was super neat. your choice of those telltale watercolors did a good job to herald the arrival from the sea. In little more than 4 pages you not only managed a really neat scar ,but gave us something of your birds eye view of the given universe. Geez, not even a bird, galaxy view!

I think narratively, it would've been kind of rad to have seen Heartwell gather this rally warning of doom only for the crowd not to believe him. I don't thin kit makes or breaks your comic, but I personally think it would've packed more of a punch. Just a foregone conclusion despite having someone knowing what's to come. Still ,all in all, great comic!

I do like the concept of narrator character, but the execution could do more work, but don't worry that's what we are here for. The 3d generated pages were quite ok, but the jump towards the black and white panels are somehow feel somehow bereft of more love. I also have noticed, that the bucket tool was used a lot in creating this comic, therefore, I shall say this - try to fill those gaps or try adjusting the tool settings so that it encompasses the are that you are trying to fill, to reduce the jarring effect of those lines.
Also, I would put in your way, to try utilizing the wide array of fonts available to us all. A story teller character would be engaging if you consider that besides crafting a story, an engaging way of presenting them would lure us readers in. Take a page of the Mouse's Tale from Alice's Adventures Under Ground.
I did enjoy reading the comic aloud, letting the words seep and caress my auditory faculties, and it's very rare that happens nowadays, as I've always had a predilection for the power of words and a good narrative story.
In conclusion, I would say, besides having enjoyed what you have cooked for us, there is still room for improvement and we here at the site are always willing to lend a helpful push in the right direction. Keep making more comics and tell more tales. Huzzah!

Allow me to dissect the dishy comic you have allowed us to consume. I cannot say much about the colouring style as colours are not my forte, but let me veer towards the linework, first and foremost, as I have an unhealthy obsession with lines. Try to use variations when doing linework and you'll sail the ocean comics blue with profound adroitness. Secondly, perspective. Perspective as in real life and also in comics is an immensely delicious arsenal in our work, so I would posit that try implementing it more, especially with a gigantic character. It will aid in making those panels pop out and hook us readers in. That cover page was inherently good as it showed that you have a certain proclivity for utilizing, and I would eagerly anticipate using more of that skill in future comics. Lastly there is also a typographic error in one of the dialogues, but I would surmise 'tis only the confines of time which allowed it to slip.
In conclusion, I would say I have supped on the comic you have provided, and my taste has been sated. Thank you for that delectable meal.