The Low Roads, Chapter 4 (comic, M/F: ribs; various).

[Low_Roads]

Thank you, Senshi! :happy: The comic's creation is indeed many-staged and laborious, and I do employ a computer as part of the process. The program I use isn't an art program: it's called Flexi-Sign Pro, software designed for professional sign-making. That's the work I do, so I already had access to it and understood its capabilities and possible art applications (which are really rather limited). Flexi-Sign Pro helps me create the panel layouts and work in the dialogue fonts (working with lettering is something the program does extremely well), then apply block coloring once the linework is finished. It's a cumbersome, jerry-rigged system (though one I'm now comfortable with)... I'm sure there are art-specific programs out there that do a far better job.

 

[Darth Godflesh]

Thanks for your reply Littlebighead!
My next comment maybe a little "off-line" but I think it's valid
I'm glad you're familiar with Lovecraft, and I liked your Dunwich Horror picture, I remember during the early '90's I religiously bought Fangoria magazine, and they released a special Lovecraft issue, featuring several artwork from a never made "Shadow Over Innsmouth (by the way, my fav H.P.L. tale - name yours!)" movie and also art from storyboard from several unmade Lovecraft movies, they said it was nearly impossible to achieve his reading work to the film.
If you saw the "Dagon" movie from a few years ago, it was a nice effort, but it stunk, and not because of the sea creatures, nowadays perhaps Computer Graphics may help to improve FX.
What do you think?
Any more horror related art to show?
I'm sure there's more
Best Wishes

 

[Low_Roads]

I have indeed seen "Dagon", Darth Godflesh, and while I highly respect Stuart Gordon's directorial skills (it's one of the few movies to successfully tell its story in "real time"), I found it ugly in its visceral cruelty. Lovecraft's stories achieve a creeping, diffused sense of looming horror that's proven very difficult to capture on film. I picked up issues of Fangoria magazine sporadically... evidently I missed the Lovecraft issue. "A Shadow Over Innsmouth" would be tough to film accurately, as the main character is isloated and there would be very little chance for dialogue. The storytelling would have to be done entirely visually. Perhaps David Lynch could pull it off... I doubt anyone else would even try.

My personal favorite Lovecraft story is "A Color Out of Space", one which offers even less opportunity for successful celluloid adaptation (at least with "Innsmouth" the hero has a whole town to explore). That hasn't stopped Hollywood from trying: it's been filmed twice, to my knowledge, first as the Boris Karloff/Nick Adams vehicle, "Die Monster, Die" (entertaining, but it ain't really Lovecraft), and later as a low-budget stinker called "The Well". I always thought "The Dunwich Horror" had spectacular potential to be a hit movie, if filmed as written. I'm not holding my breath waiting for it to happen, though. I suspect it would fail due to poor approach (the visuals would be pretty easy to achieve with current FX technology)... modern filmmakers would crass up the plot, just as was done with "Dagon".

Last year I created a thread to offer some of my non-fetish pictures. Most of them were horror related (more amateur film related stuff). Here's the link... if you haven't seen it, you may want to check it out:

http://www.tickletheater.com/showthread.php?t=20433

 

[Jaynin]

Wow... I'm actually kinda flattered that you remembered about my stories, since I gave up posting them here. XD;

 

[kopfhorer1]

Thank you, Senshi! The comic's creation is indeed many-staged and laborious, and I do employ a computer as part of the process. The program I use isn't an art program: it's called Flexi-Sign Pro, software designed for professional sign-making. That's the work I do...

No kidding? You and cartoonist/sign painter Justin Green (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Green), who recently chronicled his years in that trade in his cartoon collection "The Sign Game". What kinds of signs do you do, if it's cool for me to ask?

 

[Low_Roads]

Just finished part 6, Jaynin! Wow! Lots of radical, surprising plot development... I in no way anticipated the regime change that took place toward the end! Xion is a bizarre new character (vividly described), and the "Achilles Heel" trap set for Shuni is a real novelty! I'm definitely going to be checking in more regularly... don't want to miss part 7!

Thanks for the info about Justin Green, Kopfhorer! His autobiographical comics sound like good reading. I'll do a bit of searching later to see what I can track down! As for our sign business, my brother and I produce mostly small signs for businesses and real estate concerns (rarely larger than 8'x8'... real estate agents have a constant need for temporary signage advertising the properties they represent). These signs are MDO (pre-painted plywood), with vinyl lettering. Vinyl (paper thin, rolled into various widths, and cut on special machines) has taken the place of paint for almost all lettering applications. This is especially necessary for the real estate jobs, as key information must be changed constantly as the property is developed. Under optimal conditions, I can have a sign relettered and re-installed in a matter of hours, something that would be impossible if painting was involved. We also do vinyl banners, window signs (applied directly onto the glass with latex paint), sandblasted redwood signs, coroplast lawn signs (coroplast is light-weight corogated plastic), Trovacil signs (Torvacil is a 1/4 inch thick sheet plastic)... but MDO is our bread-and-butter.

 

[rajee]

Great comicstrip Low Roads. 😀

 

[Low_Roads]

Thanks so much, Rajee! I love having an excuse to do this sort of material! Creating it is fun, but a bit sterile by itself. Creating it and sharing it... that's where the real enjoyment comes from!

 

[a1532b]

I don't know why, but this comic has been on my mind for days. I can't explain it, but I keep thinking about. It is very well thought out, I wouldn't be surprised if you already had the whole series planned. Your art style just fits the premise of the comic so incredibly well. I couldn't imagine low roads with a different art form. It just...fits. I would pay if this was an actual comic! 😀

 

[Low_Roads]

Thank you, A1! That's very kind! It's enormously gratifying to hear that the story has made such an impression! You're right, I do have the plot thought through to the end, but only in vague terms (only 3 of the next chapters have been finalized, with things exactly as I want them ). Many complications and contradictory details still need to be resolved; sub-plots and new characters occur to me, and including them alters the course of events slightly. In a way, it's good that the process takes so long... it gives me plenty of time straighten things out!

 

[Jaynin]

and the "Achilles Heel" trap set for Shuni is a real novelty!

Maybe I'm just getting old, but... what were you talking about? ^_^;; I re-read that chapter and I wasn't quite sure what you meant. o.o Bear in mind that I frequently pester people to ask what they like so I know if I'm onto something or not.

 

[Low_Roads]

Maybe I'm just getting old, but... what were you talking about? ^_^;; I re-read that chapter and I wasn't quite sure what you meant. o.o Bear in mind that I frequently pester people to ask what they like so I know if I'm onto something or not.

Sorry. Sometimes I get a little too cute for my own good! I was being a trifle flip in referring the trap as "Achilles Heel" trap, trying not to be too specific about it (and so not compromise the sense of discovery for any new reader encountering the material for the first time). Since the condition focused on Shuni's feet and since the torture session also involved her "special spot" (her personal Achilles Heel), the wording seemed appropriate. The trap I meant was the one exacerbating her natural clumsiness, creating a condition that could only be cured with Vorkaan's blue antidote. I found it a novel way to subvert her clothing defenses, as well as provide increased surface area for the demons' tickle exploration! To be fair, I thought the anklet trap was pretty cleverly conceived, too. It slipped my mind that both incidents occurred in the same chapter... coupled with my intentional subterfuge, it's easily to see why there was confusion.

 

[Jaynin]

Ahh, I see. Don't worry about it, I was just wondering if I had done something and forgotten about it, which is entirely possible. But I shan't bug you about that here, since this is your thread. ^_^

 

[Kalamos]

Oh, let us chant together: hijacking is good. 😉

 

[Low_Roads]

Hey, I like folks to enjoy themselves on my threads! Please (anyone!) feel free to discuss whatever you like with whomever you like!

 

[cosquillero1]

The story is clearer now, i like it more now, some details begin to appear. Well drawn and narrated too !!. Thank you for sharing Littlebighead !! 😉🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂.

 

[Low_Roads]

You're making mighty in-roads, Cosquillero! Once again, thank you for the bump! This chapter was inspired by a discussion Kalamos and I had concerning "necro-tickling" (a term he'd devised to describe a tickling scenario involving the dead. The trend was actually a bit more prevelant than I had thought). I was eager to try out the concept myself... anything to vary the formula a bit. The fractured narrative structure, voice-over and flashback were attempts to distract from the potentially unappetizing nature of the scene. I'm not sure it fooled anyone, but it sure is busy!

 

[Featherdemon]

Wow!

I have taken it to re-read your story my friend so that I might get a better and fuller taste of the wonderful that is unfolding. And I am bound to say that what I have seen in the later chronicles is but the shining tip of the iceberg; for all that have come before, thus far at least, leaves a hunger for more not unlike that infernal desire that possesses the bogeys. 😀 😀

There is something wonderfully scary and unsettling about the sunken town. It holds the dark terrors of the underwater abyss at the same time offering the delicacies of the Bogey's hunger. 😀😀 What a wonderful cocktail, and so splendidly captured!! 🙂 I especially loved the underwater scenes - the two colours with varying hues worked very well.

And poor Sally!! What a fiendish fate!! Heheh. I like this grey skinned character more and more. 😀😀😀

Thank you for this! 😀

 

[Low_Roads]

Wow! I have taken it to re-read your story my friend so that I might get a better and fuller taste of the wonderful that is unfolding. And I am bound to say that what I have seen in the later chronicles is but the shining tip of the iceberg; for all that have come before, thus far at least, leaves a hunger for more not unlike that infernal desire that possesses the bogeys. 😀 😀

There is something wonderfully scary and unsettling about the sunken town. It holds the dark terrors of the underwater abyss at the same time offering the delicacies of the Bogey's hunger. 😀😀 What a wonderful cocktail, and so splendidly captured!! 🙂 I especially loved the underwater scenes - the two colours with varying hues worked very well.

Man, this chapter hasn't seen the light of day for ages! Thanks so much for breathing life back into it, Feathers! It's extremely flattering to learn that you're choosing to reread these stories... it's my fondest hope that they'd hold up under repeated examination! And your kind words of appreciation are so artfully phrased! An uplifting, heart-warming joy in and of themselves!

It's so enormously satisfying to me that you've focused on the creepy ambience of Unterburg! I shed a great deal of flop-sweat praying that the moodiness and monotone coloring would translate as evocative, and your spirited affirmation prompts much relief as well as joy! Unterburg itself (as I think I may have mentioned elsewhere) finds its roots in a genuine community swallowed up by the rising waters of our local Lake Berryessa; anyone interested will find a succinct recitation of that history in the following article:

http://nrs.ucdavis.edu/Quail/Natural/Human_dam.htm

A few decades back, during a severe drought, the lake water receded to a level that allowed shadowy remnants of roads and building foundations to be glimpsed... images as haunting as the grim fiction they've inspired!

And poor Sally!! What a fiendish fate!! Heheh. I like this grey skinned character more and more. 😀😀😀

Poor Sally indeed! You're prescient to comment on her; absent though she's been lately, she'll be of most vital importance to upcoming events! Likewise for the imp, Little Big Head (though that eventuality is easier to spot)... he'll be climbing back into the action very, very soon!

Once again, let me offer my humblest thanks for your ongoing and very eloquently detailed interest in this series! It's the sort of thing every storyteller dreams about... the satisfaction is as fond as I could ever wish!