Oculama

That opening shot...WOW! The composition of the Haunt's orbital drop is gorgeous, and your prowess in fitting a lot of story movement into this one page is a fitting prelude for how cool of a set-up and fight you've fit into just 3 pages. Leyland comes across as ruthlessly pragmatic, and the Haunt as appropriately menacing before Leyland reveals his trap. I would have liked to see a bit more done with the Haunt before they beefed it, but since we only had a week for this contest, I think you've given them a fair showing. Great concept, and excellent execution, pun very much intended ;)

This is a wonderfully entertaining tale of cat and mouse you've woven here, one where the most dangerous participant isn't fully clear until the very end, and even then feels wonderfully well-matched. Your art, as always, makes all the action a treat to consume, and the island setting feels real enough to stand on. Most of all, however, I have to commend you on thorough and captivating use of your opponent's character. Leyland's monologue throughout was a fun read, and the silence at the conclusion made his death feel all the more real. My one nitpick would be that the actual cause of his death, re: the overconfidence in the success of his own thoroughness, while perfectly fine and well-executed, does feel a touch underwhelming/ overshadowed by the excellent set-up it gets. The actual conclusion, with the shot of the bullet in the (trophy?) case IS a solid punctuation to the comic regardless, so bravo on a strong work from start to finish.

OH boy Molo. I Could read something like this all day, this legit feels like it could be a legit Predator comic and I am living for it. You have such an incredible sense of buildup here and giving us just a bit more information than the Null Haunt has, pretty ingenious to have the spiked log hidden in the background, having us think the bear trap was going to work and then BLAM. And by god every panel you have with that waterfall is just an absolute treat, the very liney hatchy like nature of when something is behind it and then it fully taking shape when it crosses over is such an amazing detail. And taking that final bullet as the trophy, OOOOO phenomenal. I loved this comic Amazing job.

Your black spotting here Camel is just amazing. I really loved how when it's being used in full effect it makes the ship look so cramped. Even though alot of it is blacked out what you have left for us is just filled with machinery, really shows off how tight the spaceship is. Your First page is gorgeous, I wish oculama was better suited to host a page like that , I had to open it in a separate page to view it fully and read it all, it's really nicely done, just a shame that the site doesnt allow for it to be shown off in all of its true glory. Great Job on this comic

You did the match up great justice with this match. Goes without saying the visuals are fantastic and keep the atmosphere just right. You wrote your opponent's character as the cunning personality he is. Obviously gore is nice, can't really go wrong with it. The kill felt just like one in a slasher. Really I don't know what to put as a critique; the worst aspect I could find about the comic is that the writing was only good. Not bad by any means, but not as great as the other aspects either.
Also a title page is always nice, so nice to see one.

It's actually comics like you and Molo's that make me reconsider my star ratings. When I see your artwork and think I rated much less impressive artworks 4/5 stars it makes me regret to think I can't go above that. The gore in the kill was splendid! Actually seeing the spine split along with the other bits and blood is such a great touch it really brings the kill home.
Still, with art so great it's understandable you couldn't go for a longer format. The kill did feel a bit simple with a twist that was a tad bit too small.
The artstyle choice is also a brilliant choice for a comic like this, really makes me surprised this isn't a comic-book published strip.

I gotta say Molo the tentsion in this round is...It's so freaking good. I loved that you foucsed on your opponents character as he tries to surive alone on an island while being hunted. Very powerful stuff. I just really love how you wrote Leyland, got me into this character.

My only minor nip pick was I would of liked to see more of null. But I totally get why you didn't show him more. Aka you where doing a jaws/ predator thing (Not showing off the monster to build tension). And it works you really pulled that aspect off

The art also really complements the writing style you have. You do a lot of good showing with the days passing and the judge really made me feel like it was a jungle.

You also had a very powerful ending and makes me wanting more to see how Null handles other peoples characters and what trophy

I really love the art style you did. The hard black colours really made everything pop for me. It's very cinematic for this level of quailty in a week I am very impressed.

I would of liked to have more sceens focusing on Leyland. Get to see more of his characterization because what I saw it was pretty intresting. It's clear that he has some cool indepth lore and it would be fun to learn more of it.

I do like how you showed that he is creative when fighting a person who is cleary more powerful. I would love to see you explore this guys story in future comics!

i'll give the [i]grievous factual inaccuracy[/i] that this is the final round when it's actually the first a pass and say this is a deeply cool comic! the art style feels right at home with this pulpy sci-fi encounter with the unknown, and the action is both clear and engaging. i was well and truly invested in this one by the climax, and i really wanted leyland to pull through, despite knowing the bounds of the tournament! the only thing i could say against this is that on the more static untoned shots, the thick lines stick out more than they do when they're toned and look a little goofy.

hey, this one is also really cool, as expected of camel! i love what you're doing with the first page here, and it's a shame oculama isn't the [i]best[/i] at presenting it, but i gotta encourage using the medium of the webcomic to its fullest. this also looks great, with all its spot blacks; we love to see a character illuminated only by the gun they're firing. admittedly, i had to stare at page 3 for a while to figure out what was happening; i couldn't get out of my mind that the octagon was some sort of reactor core, and the beam after that was something null haunt had pulled out itself. it's unfortunate that, paired next to your opponent, this battle feels protracted, with your opponent hardly getting to do anything but loom intimidatingly; perhaps in another pairing, this wouldn't stick out to me, because given a normal human page count, this is still great stuff!

No major complaints on the artwork, jus an acknowledgement that quantity was prioritized over extreme polish. Everything is still conveyed extremely well and I was never confused as to the action.

Molo has made an artform of characterizing silent killers, and that's on full display here. We get a great sense of Null's patience, observation skills, and general tactics without it ever speaking a word. The same is true of Leyland, establishing him as a well-schooled and resourceful fighter. There's great satisfaction when they collide, as both get to show off their strengths and produce an outcome that feels well-earned.

From the characters to the flow to the tension, it's a knockout.

Absolutely brilliant lighting and well-conveyed sense of impact. It definitely suffers from its brevity, though, particularly in the (lack of) characterization of Null Haunt. Plus, while entertaining, Leyland's dialogue is a bit longwinded and clunky.

I'm trying to think of a good, long-winded way to fill the rest of the space, but it really does just boil down to lack of setup. Null is drawn and framed beautifully, but its entire role in the comic consists of strolling to the ship and getting violently kabob'd, so it's not as satisfying when Leyland gets the drop on it. Simultaneously, Leyland doesn't get a chance to show off his resourcefulness or much of his personality outside of his bravado.

I really loved the long set up for this comic it really gave the comic a sense of life and room to breathe and feel innately about your opponent with your own character feeling like a threat which I thought was really clever. It is very hard to find fault with this comic it has soo much going for it that it is a bit hard to say. I do think some of the environments feel a bit barren with the stuff scattered around in the forground while not exactly a blank void I feel some color may have made the world he is stuck on feel more deep.

The art for this comic was great and probably one of my favorite comics I have seen you your comics I had to give a near max art score with only some minor issues. Its hard to find anything bad to say about this comic because from the writing to the art was damn near perfect. I feel the only issue and maybe was more on the site than you was the really wide page doesnt seem to be formatted very well for the site and I had to open it in a new tab just to read it. Overall an amazing comic!

Camel this was gorgeously done. You're tone work, use of blacks with your line work were consistent, and just felt like a real fun, gritty sci fi action comic. It all was very visually cohesive and you did some real strong action scenes, and that KRUNCH on the final page? Delicious. That whole sequence looks so bad ass.
My only real critique is the first page is difficult to read? I really had to zoom in to read and figure out what was happening in the first few panels, which I think we ended up losing some clarity on your artwork. Im also willing to say it could be an issue with my browser, or the site might not be set up quiet yet to handle a page layout like that effectively. But IT looks beautifully rendered from what I can tell.
I still enjoyed this and had a lot of fun reading it, you really make some strong comics dude. I cant wait to read more from you.

I was so impressed with this entry. Fantastic writing, honestly dude. This is such a strong comic and such a strong first round entry. The pacing and build up to the showdown behind the water fall was excellent.
Youre line work was great and your use of value in some panels to establish the focal point were spot on. You're lettering and balloon placement was spot on, overall good flow there.
The only thing I really can note is I would have liked to see more consistency throughout the comic visually. same level of tone and color, if that makes sense? but I think that's more so a factor to the time constraints.
Fantastic work Molo, I am excited and looking forward to reading more of your work.

I'm just gonna say it, this is my favorite comic of the round. I usually bounce off of the more serious/straightforward takes on themes like this, but your work is just so good here. Especially because you just had a week to get it done! 16 pages in a week!! Your writing is so good, Leyland seems to be spot on to what I imagined him to be. And despite him being more or less the focus of the comic, the Null Haunt didn't feel absent, quite the opposite. This whole ass Predator comic was a great way to introduce your character and a great use of your opponent. Your art obviously isn't at consistent levels of doneness (16 pages! In a week! Madness!), but everything is crystal clear. The mix of shots you use, the flow of your action, the way your character comes across despite literally saying *nothing*, it's just. Wow. Like, masterful work. I can't wait to read something you have even longer to work on!

GOD you guys both did so well! I'm not familiar with Molo's work, but Camel, I know you can deliver a great comic and you didn't disappoint. This is a tight, polished comic done in just a week. Your use of spot blacks and then the tones for your shading and effects is so good, it's what I had planned to do before I went off the rails lol. The amount of detail you got into some of these panels is straight up WILD. That death panel and your first page especially, just look amazing. I think honestly the only thing I could kind of critique is that I had to open the first page in another tab so I could actually zoom in and see it, but that's more of the format of the site. Something to keep in mind, but not really an issue. Stellar work, seriously!!

A thing I love about your writing is how much effort you put into portraying your opponents with respect and really selling them as cool characters. The character survival stuff on the beach pays off in making the trap fight feel more real. I like Null Haunt's trophy case (peepy!) and hope we see more of it if you proceed!
It is a little distracting how your panels are at different stages of shading/coloring. Very understandable given the short time limit but saving color for really important bits might feel smoother. On page 13 I think a beat where Leyland or just the audience realize with horror that Null Haunt is NOT dead before the final knifing might be good? Like a pause to soak in the indestructability would elevate this from a good fight scene to Jason getting back up for one more kill.
The backgrounds here really make the fight scenes shine, especially the waterfall effects! It feels like the characters are really moving through a thought out enviroment. Really great art all around!

I think Leyland is a cool concept in general! The military semi-body horror stuff is very fun. I think the ending reveal where Leyland is more of a threat than he appears is satisfying. The beginning of the comic where we see things from Null Haunt's perspective is cool and good character flavor.
Kind of a minor thing, but keep the Oculama page size display in mind. it kind of breaks up the reading flow to have to open your first page in another window. I think your dialogue isn't bad here, but it would be more impactful if you edited it down into something more concise? I'd also like to see a few more panels of Null Haunt being a scary threat besides the bullet pinging off it? But that would probably be difficult to do with the one week limit.
Really nice faces and expressions! I also like how you push the action poses really hard. The deep black shadows look really cool and dramatic. Also the panel of Null's guts getting blown out is really fun and gross! Your sound effects also look really nice.

the level of story telling in the comic is stellar and I love the details and well thought out page to page plot! I can barely decide on which parts I love more as they were all great. the internal monologue this looming terror of the null hunter and the clever resourcefulness of Cmd Leyland are handle amazingly and with a nice stead pacing I felt as if I was watching cartoon episode <3. the backgrounds and angled shots do so much to really help drive in the scope of the setting and thick jungle the two are in but still makes it feel neatly constrained to the conflict and game of cat and mouse the two are locked in. The focus on your opponent and how well Leyland thought his plan out was done so well for a second there I thought I was reading camels entry as I was sure there was no way null was pulling a win ( side note the slice through the waterfall was such a good panel!) and then wham knife to the neck! UGGHHH just wow.

CAAMEL! UGGHH this comic is just as good as Molo's and I hate that I have to choose between the two I feel like I'm watching a prize fight between two champs! first of all your first page is amazingly well done and explains whats going on crystal clear and the terror of being hunted and the the lethal presence of Null. The wounded deer play that Leyland displays is great followed by the explosion of expression from him and the font helps to really accent that the turn about when he goes on the offensive against his would be killer. The use of spot blacks and tones work super well throughout the comic and ferocity of this brief but exciting desperate struggle between the two that climaxes in the violent gruesome end that is EXCEPTIONALLY detailed and gory!! I cannot wait to see more of your comics and tip my hat to your ability and skill!

Molo - This comic brings me back to when I watched the movie Predator (one of the fave movies that I've seen more than once). Stellar art and writing all around. I felt like I was with Commander Leyland, preparing myself for the inevitable ambush from this strange being that's been following me. The way you set the mood and the environment and everything else really is such a masterclass in storytelling. It is very cinematic. This is the first time I have seen your work and I am SERIOUSLY impressed and in awe as I am typing this. BRAVO!

Camel - You've gotta be one of the most versatile artists I have ever seen. I don't know how you do it. This black-and-white comic is on a PROFESSIONAL LEVEL. The spot blacks, the tones, EVERYTHING. The comic is short but it does what it needed to do in jaw-dropping gorgeous detail in your artwork. Everything looks so polished and well-executed. I felt the anticipation in every meticulously drawn panel. The scrolling first page was such a neat idea and did an excellent job of bringing the reader right into the story. I want to be able to make a black-and-white comic like you do one day. What an inspiration.

I love how this from the start feels like an inspired and unique take on an even sci-fi-ier version of Predator. I love the character narrative, I love that they aren't saying this out loud. Why would they? they're alone and covert, its perfect they're mentally laying out their intentions and its something I wish more comics utilized. I don't know if this was intentional or due to the time crunch (and really, who cares?) but I kind of love the minimalist use of color page to page and even panel to panel. It makes the starry space scape pop when its the backdrop to a simplified white character or really drives home the dusky grayscale to a shadowy planet tundra.
The fake out attack behind the waterfall had me leaning forward in my chair as I read. Way to build up that tension and disappointment with the first trap failing! It's nuts that once the spiked log is swung and you think its over, Leyland gets that grisly stab in the throat. You have such great valleys and swells between these two VERY capable warriors where you keep the reader guessing as to how this will pan out. Too often you read comics like these where the outcome is obvious, but the fact this teeters back and forth makes for great tension! Honestly, really killer first round- the irony (and comics whole theme) is really in the comic title here.

GOSHHH YOUR SPOT BLACKSSS. This is sexy as heck camel, wtf. Your inks are so heavy in this comic and considering the tone and theme make for a pretty ominous opening. There is some grisly action here that you do not skimp on when it comes to detail. Really, panel to panel, there is so much TLC had here. you used your week to the fullest (and I'm convinced you have a time machine stashed somewhere. Your quality is nuts). I think if I had to pick a favorite, it has to be the first page. The horizontal progression of this alien finding its way to Leyland is such an inspired method of showing that forward motion of travel as quarry is hunted. You've got us scrambling to ensure methods like this are better featured on the site so they can really sing.
You two definitely made this a tough ass vote and I love it. I am gonna be gutted to lose either of you, this match up was stellar.

Honestly I'm struggling to say much about this because it's so incredible, the art, the atmosphere, the motion, the visual language, the suspense... wow!!! I really love the symbol of the "final round," it encapsulates the tone of the story so well and is such a clever double entendre. The way you convey so much through the visuals is incredible, nothing is ever overworked or overexplained, there's always a pitch-perfect amount of detail in every panel. The characterization of Leyland is great, you really captured the feeling of like a guy who is desperate to survive by any means necessary, despite how hard the universe is trying to kill him.
Incredible comic and I can't wait to read more of your work in the future!

Absolutely mindblowing level of detail in these panels, but it's never overwhelming. The composition and layouts of each page are so dynamic and impactful, and Leyland has amazing facial expressions!
I think the one thing I'm wanting here is an exterior view of the mech when it's revealed, since it's just a silhouette earlier. Although the conflict is pretty brief, it doesn't feel abrupt at all; the pacing is perfect and the level of tension is maintained so well.
Definitely one of the most hype matchups of the round and you both delivered SO strongly. I'm so glad I got to read these.

HOOO Boy okay, lets see what is there even to say that probably has not been said already

So i guess the only real thing i can say is that some of the pages seemed to not be as shaded or complete as the others art wise? But like, idek if i can call that a flaw when they still work just as effectively, AAAAA

okay so like uh this comic rocked my fucking neck sideways? I fucking loved it in every sense of the word and the way you built up the dread and intensity in the face off between these characters is fucking awe inspiring and makes me want to be better as a creator?????

yeah i think that about does it.

MOLO TOP MOTHER FUCKER FOREVER

GODDAMN what a ghoulish fucking comic i adore that wide shot in the beginning that was something else man, from that to achieving so much in such a limited page count that is some impressive comic shit, the start black and whites lend such an eerie and perfected mood to this that i will NEVER FORGET

i will be studying comics like this in the fucking far future to try and attain quality paneling and flow just like this one, god. This is so fucking close of a match and that final impact of the kill makes this comic so GODDAMN SATISFYING. I would print out every page and slap it across my walls like a mural.

Fucking GOATED. A true contender for the grimiest motherfucker out there