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Post by Michael on May 29, 2011 17:00:35 GMT
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Tom
Ex-Hume
Hume-who-used-to-think-he-was-in-charge
Posts: 3,786
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Post by Tom on May 29, 2011 17:15:33 GMT
And sadly the last issue to be graced by our wonderful colourist Fast, who is leaving.  A really good strip to go out on too! |
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Post by Pete on May 29, 2011 17:25:32 GMT
If it doesn't load from that link, just refresh the page.
I just want to say thanks to Nigel Dobbyn for the cover! I asked him a while back if he wanted to do a wallpaper or something similar for the 20th Anniversary, and without any hesitation, he agreed to do the whole cover!
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Post by Devo DrakeFox on May 29, 2011 17:32:12 GMT
First of all, ABOUT BLOODY TIME! Second, love the cover! I think I saw it on Dobbyn's DA page a short while back, but I wasn't expecting it on here.  Now, as for the stories... Sonic - I kind of have mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, it's cool to see Sonic and Amy fighting each other while not under any villainous influence or some such. On the other hand, I thought it would be a multi-parter and/or possibly end without Sonic making much headway in winning back Amy's trust. Amy - Oh dear lord, WHY DID YOU BRING BACK FABIAN VANE!?! DX *ahem* Well, at least he's better-written now than he ever was in the original comic (IMO, anyway), and his contribution to the war effort is kind of amusing. Tekno - Wow, dark much? Still not a fan of the art for this story, but I am intrigued by the plot direction and I wonder how or indeed IF Shorty and Tekno will reach a resolution and maybe salvage their friendship. House Of The Dead - No comment. |
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Post by L. T. Dangerous on May 29, 2011 18:06:12 GMT
Sad to see the Fast one leave STC-O, but maybe we'll get some more watercolours out of it on the plus side Alright, let’s do this. Cover is brilliant! I’d already seen the lineart, but the coloured version is fab! New wallpaper (shame my screen resolution isn’t gargantuhuge but bigger than the other size, though). Sonic’s story and WHOA AMY IS VERY VERY TALL. Her legs are longer than the rest of her body! Last speech bubble of page one should say “equal to or better than”. Bit taken aback at Sonic calling Amy a stupid girl. Is that a weird thing for me to get thrown by? I know he used to do it in STC’s early days, I guess it took me by surprise since it’s been so long. Amy turning this into Sonic being afraid of losing to a girl just doesn’t work. At least not with her expression, she looks playful. What the holy COCK HELL is wrong with Sonic’s body in the last panel of page three?! It’s nice to see the Insta-Shield back, I have missed it! Top panel of page four is hideous. A net trap? That’s Amy’s genius idea? I thought she was clever. Just... what is going on with Sonic’s body? I cannot get over this. Not much to say about page six. Amy just lets Sonic leave. Long Sonic is long. THIS IS WHAT IS DRIVING ME NUTS THE MOST. Tails knows the truth! WHY DOESN’T HE TELL ANYONE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! AAAAARRRRGHGHHGGLNSBRLBKNRN;LRJHNBRPEJNRTPOJ. Sorry. Panel three: THAT IS NOT HOW KNEES WORK. GOOD NIGHT. “We’ve all kinda grown up a little bit recently!” says our blue hero. Like three feet up in the stomach area, apparently. Tails’ last line is excellent, though, points for that. I dunno, the story’s good but the art really, really, REALLY subtracts from it. I'll echo Devo's sentiment that this could have benefitted from a second part... buuuut at this point we've waited long enough for some story progression, so a single parter works too. Onward to Sonic’s World, then. Fabian Vane is back! Hooray!! A Fabian story was looooong overdue for STC-O. Vibrant art, this is excellent and so suited to the strip. Last panel of page one made me cackle with laughter. Page two panel two, great character joke. The “intellectual” music fans made me laugh. Amy and Robotnik unable to hear one another made me howl. Song lyrics at the top of page five are excellent. Commit this to music now. And the last song of the strip made me lose it. Good, fun story. Just a shame it’s taken this long to see Robotnik and it was in a silly story! All the same, top art and a great story that wouldn’t have seemed out of place as a Sonic’s World strip in the print run. Tekno and Shorty.... oh, man, I am not looking forward to this one bit... Having found the Eternity Ring, STC-O’s readers thought this storyline might be finally over. Set has other ideas, however! “Neglected to hit any major organs”. Really? That’s the best we can do? Really? Really? Really? REALLY? All the same, no visible wound. Hm. Shorty’s dialogue is a mess. “I thought you’d killed him... But I didn’t think you’d KILLED him!!” You’re breaking my balls, man. “Please be silent, this bores me”, says Set, summing up the thoughts of the readers. And then Tekno... falls over? And loses an arm? Shortfuse uses Instant Transmission to teleport above Set’s head, then strikes a mighty pose as Set cricks his neck. “She’s not my [girlfriend]” is a nice shout-out to the Sonic/Amy relationship. Tekno’s reaction surprised me, though. Tekno bumps into a plot convenience and somehow turns Shorty into Shortfuse(  ). I’m not sure what happens or how she figured it out. Oh, wait, I forgot, she’s super smart and arflgortibhsrbln (not a crack at the writing here btw). Tekno, you fiend, how could you put Shortfuse in a suit when, in previous instances, he has been using a SUIT! You [censored]! Seriously, why is he mad? What indication is there that he’s trapped? Of course, I may be forgetting, but this story has been going on nineteen years now. Ye Gods! Set has a Curly Wurly and he’s going to smear it on Shortfuse!! Oh, no, crisis averted. And Tekno kills again! SEE, Shortfuse is free! WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM?!?!?! Shortfuse claims to have made a life for himself in Crazy Egypt World that’s better than what he had on Mobius. I genuinely do not see how given how miserable I seem to recall he was a few parts back. Tekno goes all crazy-ex girlfriend (and I’d know!) and activates a button. Wow, what a [censored]. And the Ring is dead. Way to go. Is this what it feels like when canaries cry? Shorty tries to get angry but instead remembers it’s Derp O’Clock and derps off derpishly. Tekno sits down and watches a giant tree with black leaves. Tekno and Shorty will return in the future. God, I hope not. God, where to begin? Okay, immediately you’ll notice I wrote a lot more here than I did for the other two strips. That’s because there’s more to pick apart than a lengthy Sonic torso. I’m sorry if I upset you guys for being brutal. As creators, though, I’m sure you know criticism is good. This story has been running since September 2005. And you know what? WE STILL DON’T KNOW WHY SHORTFUSE WAS KIDNAPPING THOSE PEOPLE. Was Set controlling him? If that was previously explained and I’ve forgotten, I totally apologise. If, however, it wasn’t explicitly spelled out then, congratulations, you’ve spent six years not finishing a story. To be fair, it may have been explained and I’ve forgotten in the three decades that have passed as this story has gone on. The art is pretty good, though there are a few glitches here or there, Tekno’s hair still seems weird and Shorty’s teeth are inconsistent. I’m sure there’ll be plenty further discussion on this strip so I’ll join in as necessary and use this as a starting point because I’ve written a ton. I’ll say this, though: Shorty may yet be saved; Tekno is ruined permanently. House of the Dead time! Once again, I don’t know much about HotD so my opinion may be skewed by that. I can’t get the page selector to scroll for this one for some reason. Har har “Limeys”. Har har “bad teeth”. High-larious. Page two is pretty great. Unusual caption work putting “Part Two” in a yellow box, mind. Then somewhere blows up. I guess. Okay. I don’t get what the building is. Should I recognise it? I’m not from London so I don’t know. Nice melty zombie river things, they look cool. And just as it’s getting cool it ends very abruptly. Hm. Like the art, it’s clearer than it has been in past instalments. The story was better in this part, I thought, though I really wish I got what that building was. Any clues Mr Frazer? I’m a bit keener on seeing the next part this time. A pretty decent issue. Some good stories, some nice art, though some bad stuff too. An improvement. And, finally, Robotnik. Please ensure he keeps popping up in at least Sonic’s World. |
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Post by ShayMay on May 29, 2011 18:11:53 GMT
Last speech bubble of page one should say “equal to or better than”. *looks pointedly at Pete* *taps foot* (<3) |
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Post by Pete on May 29, 2011 18:24:36 GMT
Last speech bubble of page one should say “equal to or better than”. *looks pointedly at Pete* *taps foot* (<3) That line, for some reason, was changed about three times. It just seemed to read differently to different people. |
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Post by Charles on May 29, 2011 19:17:30 GMT
NIGEL DOBBYN HOLY GRUD ITS NIGEL DOBBYN WHOOOAAAAAA Ahem. Anyway, Vane Hope - this comes from deciding during 250 to throw Fabian in for a laugh. Chris G did such a good job of it that it made me want to use the guy again, though sadly Chris was busy. (Originally it'd be about Fabian becoming famous again but I decided it'd be funnier if he already was) So I wrote up the script and waited to see if any artist wanted it. Adamis, the most in-demand artist of all STC-O, wanted to do it, making the voluntary decision to draw Fabian drokking Vane over everything else. It was then I realised that Adamis was clinically insane. The third panel on page 2 is my favourite one of the strip because of the gag with Amy's lunch dropping down with her - that was Adamis' idea, and I wish I'd thought of it cos it's brilliant. Holly from the Ultimax was always in the script; aside from an extra voice to show how Vane is getting everywhere, I like the idea that many of the heroes are mates and do stuff together when they're not fighting. I don’t get what the building is. One Canada Tower at Canary Wharf. |
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Post by Alex on May 29, 2011 19:18:52 GMT
Why are Sonic and Amy completely out of character for the whole of Sonic's story?
Why does the Fabian Vane story take place after the next issue, but is shown now? I know there are always issues with timings with STCO, but to literally give us the follow-up to a story before it actually happens? Is there any real reason this couldn't have shown up in 256 where it clearly was meant to be?
I just can't give a care about the Tekno and Shorty story any more. I got to the end of the first page and just realised that the entire story has just gotten to the point where if it were quietly forgotten about, I could live with that.
Cover art is cool, but I remember seeing it before for something else? I'm pretty certain I've seen it before anyway. It's great that it's by Dobbyn, but it seems kind of odd to make a huge deal out of it on the home page. I dunno why, but it just sits weird with me.
Artwise, ignoring the House of the Dead stuff 'cos it's House of the Dead and the cover for being Dobbyn, the Fabian story was the shining star - especially since the Sonic story just never really seemed to get it right at any point.
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Post by Charles on May 29, 2011 19:35:23 GMT
Why does the Fabian Vane story take place after the next issue, but is shown now? I know there are always issues with timings with STCO, but to literally give us the follow-up to a story before it actually happens? It's not a follow-up to a #255 story, but it does follow on from Vane's appearance in #250. |
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Post by Alex on May 29, 2011 19:36:53 GMT
Never mind me, numberlexia strikes again.
Other complaints remain, though. Especially the excruciating personality change for Sonic and Amy.
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Post by Devo DrakeFox on May 29, 2011 19:47:03 GMT
Because no one would believe him. It's just one boy's word against the opinion of an entire planetary population. If Sonic wants to clear his name, then like all disgraced heroes he's going to have to work at it.
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Tom
Ex-Hume
Hume-who-used-to-think-he-was-in-charge
Posts: 3,786
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Post by Tom on May 29, 2011 19:49:18 GMT
Further to that, it would fundamentally undermine his new role as the iconic hero that Mobius can believe in, as Sonic asked him to be. Sonic needs to clear his own name in his own way.
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Post by L. T. Dangerous on May 29, 2011 19:56:51 GMT
Tails' word isn't the word of "just one boy", it's the word of a planetary hero with the respect of Zone Leaders across Mobius. Tails seriously can't even tell Sonic's friends?As for him being the iconic hero of Mobius... Amy's been doing more so far, and more noticeably too. So no. |
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Post by madhair60 on May 29, 2011 20:01:14 GMT
Thoughts: - Why is the cover so small on the front page? Anyway, I looked at it and Tails' head has come off. It has become detatched from his body! Sonic- "Equal to or better to", on the first page. For goodness' sake, guys. - Really derpy art. - "Now I know I didn't just hear you make a weight joke!" MM-MMMM GULLFREEYYND, MM-MMMMM, WHAT CHARACTER IS THIS- HAHAHA CIGARETTE SONIC - What's going on, with the bottom of page 4? Amy's sitting down while her feet fire out smoke? This is horrible! - If you click on page 7 of the Sonic story, you get an error. - Overall, didn't care for it. And I can barely read the lettering. Too small. Sonic's World- "Stay in smoke and don't school". Legitimate laugh out loud. Well played. - "OMG Fabian squeee" made me cringe. - I like the really narked-off looking character towards the top-right of the throng on page 4. I suspect an in-joke. - Quite a good little light-hearted strip. Tekno- ...Does... does that say "ESTABLISHING GATEWAY MONG"? - This is the most incoherent thing you've ever run. - Drivel. - "Tekno and Shorty will return in the future". No, thank you. HOTD- Good. That "artistry/artisanry" line didn't work at all, and it was short as heck, but still good stuff. No review? Hmm. Next issue Sonic's face made me laugh quite loudly, which I hope was the intended effect. Anyway, poor overall. Sorry. That line, for some reason, was changed about three times. It just seemed to read differently to different people. Yes, I'm sure that in its current form it reads exceptionally well to idiots, or illiterates, or the mentally unsound. BECAUSE IT IS INCORRECT. |
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Post by Knuckles on May 29, 2011 20:05:39 GMT
Happy Birthday STC ;D
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Post by Devo DrakeFox on May 29, 2011 20:06:36 GMT
If Tails were to tell any of his friends, they might just dismiss him as being naive. The citizens would likely react the same way, thus - as Tom stated - would undermine his current status as Mobius's hero. After all, Tails is only now starting to be recognized by the people for the hero he really is rather than just a sidekick. Anything he says to defend Sonic now could destroy that image and maybe even make Tails look like a sympathizer.
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Post by projectzuel on May 29, 2011 20:08:22 GMT
I was actually expecting Madhair to tear into my art a lot but derpy art sounds about right. Considering I'm still learning that sounds fine.
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Post by madhair60 on May 29, 2011 20:15:17 GMT
You're like ten thousand times better than me at drawing, so, you know.
ESTABLISHING GATEWAY MONG
This had better become a meme.
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Tom
Ex-Hume
Hume-who-used-to-think-he-was-in-charge
Posts: 3,786
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Post by Tom on May 29, 2011 20:20:43 GMT
Tails' word isn't the word of "just one boy", it's the word of a planetary hero with the respect of Zone Leaders across Mobius. Tails seriously can't even tell Sonic's friends?What would he tell them? He doesn't have any evidence beyond Sonic's word. Which he chooses to believe, and Amy doesn't. |
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Tom
Ex-Hume
Hume-who-used-to-think-he-was-in-charge
Posts: 3,786
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Post by Tom on May 29, 2011 20:22:14 GMT
You're like ten thousand times better than me at drawing, so, you know. ESTABLISHING GATEWAY MONGESTABLISHING GATEWAY FINDING:// MOBIUS is how it appears to me. |
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Post by Pete on May 29, 2011 20:24:12 GMT
You're like ten thousand times better than me at drawing, so, you know. ESTABLISHING GATEWAY MONGESTABLISHING GATEWAY FINDING:// MOBIUS is how it appears to me. Tom is correct, but I like "Mong" better. |
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Post by Nam on May 29, 2011 20:30:33 GMT
Right okay, firstly I'm gonna assume that the half a dozen news ticker stories I wrote for Stiv t'other night are either being kept in spare, or are [censored]. Either way, I'm not doing badly as most minor contributor now, some line art and about fifty words of text  Sonic's story was just sorta... well it kinda sucked, only without the kinda. Yes, it was nice to get some progress but it was anti-climatic. Amy walks down a busy street. Sonic appears, the street suddenly empties. They argue a bit, there's some weapons fired, and attacks done, but nobody takes any injuries. They talk some more, then part ways and Sonic and Tails get nostalgic for a bit. Lots happens, but none of it holds interest. Also, as many people may point out, the art is genuinely unappealing. Problem is that there's really nowt wrong with it, if you were to strip out sections of the body, then it would look fine. But it really does look like someone has stretched Sonic in a longcat-esque fashion. Amy's also way too curvy. Sure Amy is a bit curvy in all other verses now, compared to the pre-SA days, but the thighs are always two tubes with the same distance apart, not the curvy thighs and butt she has there. No offence to the artist chosen, but looking at the posters, I kinda wish that Matt, Infamatt and Pete had done the whole strip in the style of the third poster Amy's story is much better. Some funny comments, a fantastic art style, a nice light story that isn't overly serious or heavy and, most importantly, includes Robotnik I'd nearly forgotten what he looks like for how long he's been away. I just hope more writers take the notion, and write stories with Robotnik in, even if they don't really set anything up for Robotnik, it's nice to know he's there in some form. Tekno seems like a cop out. "I did try to kill him, but now I didn't, but now I did properly cos I regret not doing it". The whole story gives in to mellowdrama, Tekno gets a bit upset because Shorty doesn't care for Tekno. Took me a second read to notice though, first time I thought it was just out of character, but TBH Tekno's character is now a case of "what mood am I in today", and is sleeping into complete crazy in an uninspired and annoying way. The character evolution feels so stilted and forced, but it's nice to see the end of her, just hope she doesn't come back anytime soon. Certainly this writing of Tekno is nothing like the "gadget for every situation", lesbian lover, laughs off everything portrayal she had in the comic. Tekno always seemed most rational of all the cast, and here it's like you've deliberately tried to make her wangsty, but it just, hasn't, worked. And finally House Of The Dead. I'm just going to sheepihly apologise here. I tried to read it, I really did, but before the end of the first page I had alrady lost interest. The art is dull and boringly grey. The script doesn't really seem to deliver anything but talking about things I'm not introduced to, and don't feel inclined to be introduced to, and generally I just gave up on it. I'd say I'd re-read it, but I'll be honest, I just don't care. The story did nothing to try and grab me, and I don't think it would unless I read it with knowledge of HOTD, something I don't have. Same complaints as last issue. The story doesn't grab. The art makes it hard to follow, and is unappaling to look at. The over-reliance on patriotism and jokes about Britain as perceived by foreigners are grating. The actual story itself is very difficult to penetrate requiring several re-readings, and I genuinely still think it's a shame, that with so many ongoing dangling plot threads in the current Sonic World, that a quarter of the issue is given to a story I, and I'd assume several others, genuinely don't give a toss about. I'm not even going to bother commenting on it next time unless it really does something to enthuse, because anything more I say regarding it is just repeating myself. Posters ae awesome. The blur on the cover poster is annoying, but you genuinely can't fault the actual artwork. Pete's done an amazingjob working with Dobbyn, and also working with Infamatt and Matt, as mentioned above. Speedlines is actually the highlight of the issue. In spite of the actually decent Fabian Vane story, and the plot resolution in the Sonic story, Speedlines is still the best bit. The replies are some of the funniest things I have read in the comic in a long time, and it's just a shame that this talent for comedy isn't used elsewhere. Next issue picture is interesting. Sonic Vs Robotnik at last? |
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Post by madhair60 on May 29, 2011 20:37:04 GMT
You're like ten thousand times better than me at drawing, so, you know. ESTABLISHING GATEWAY MONGESTABLISHING GATEWAY FINDING:// MOBIUS is how it appears to me. That's weird because it looks 1000x more like "mong" than the thing you said TAILS' HEAD IS OFF IT IS _GONE_ FROM HIS NECK Also I just noticed www.stconline.co.uk/254/comic3_2.htmlWHERE DOES THE COMPUTER GO IT DISAPPEARS PERHAPS IT HAS GONE THE WAY OF TAILS' NECK |
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Post by Nam on May 29, 2011 20:40:18 GMT
TAILS' HEAD IS OFF IT IS _GONE_ FROM HIS NECK I didn't notice when I looked, but now you mention it, it's incredibly detached. Shame, cos that's now all I'll see when I look at it >_< |
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A really good strip to go out on too!
Now, as for the stories...
). I’m not sure what happens or how she figured it out. Oh, wait, I forgot, she’s super smart and arflgortibhsrbln (not a crack at the writing here btw).
