Lackadaisy Posthaste

The letter is probably rendered in a warmer colour because it's the subject in the picture that you should have your eyes on. After all Mordecai's field of view is completed taken up by it.

Ace Hope Hiser

I'm probably making something out of nothing, but is there a special reason the letter is colored so much more warmly than the rest of the page?

PricklyPear

You're telling me that you do all of that rendering with photoshop?!

Ace Hope Hiser

Whatever he's become by now, at one point at least he was a good son, and cared for his mother. Deep character development. This one got me in the feels a little bit.

Joshua Edwards

I can't get over the dust in the light beams of the last panel. I love how warm/cool and colorful the pages are getting lately while still seeming so sepia toned!

Erika Hapke

I just realized late--that this is like a Mother's Day post! Hahaha...

Thysania

Thank you very much!

Ava

Woah, I didn't even notice that- good eye!

Maklarr4000

I seem to recall Tracy saying he met Atlas in like 1920-21? So I'm thinking he's 21ish here :P

PricklyPear

If you zoom in closely you will notice swelling around his left eye and a cracked lens, thus assault is very likely.

Pho-Kadat

Ava

How old is Mordecai at this point? 18?

Stacey Chronister

As far as I'm concerned this definitely looks like a train car. Whether the train is moving or not can be ambiguous but that doesn't really matter since the speed wouldn't bring anything to that trapped and isolated feeling you wanted to convey. I guess? Anyway, just my opinion about it.

Mae

This page shows how much control you have over tone and personality. Its so apparent that Mordecai's still a scared babby at this point, in contrast to his cold, calculated present self, and you haven't needed to say a word. Its kind of marvelous. Also this is one of the only webcomics I read that nails perspective to such a high degree that talking cats seem real. Sorry just needed one comment where I let you know you're amazing. :)

Mert

Hmm. The last panel is designed to look sort of like an odd combination of being trapped in a box while also being quite isolated. If it doesn't also convey 'train car', though, clearly I've done something wrong. Thank you for the thoughtful feedback.

Tracy Butler

Just a suggestion, but the bottom panel seems static for a moving train, it looks like they are in a parlor. The easy thing might be a ¨clickety-clak¨ sound effect although a visual signal that they are on a moving, rocking '20s rail car might be better. Please don't think I'm being negative, it's so good that little things get magnified and maybe I'm all wet anyway and its great the way it is.

David Driscoll

I love the colour pallet on this one, all the cold colours really drives home that this isn't a happy memory :(

Strange Trees

Hehe - I'm glad someone noticed! It was originally more complicated gematria, using the small numeric values of three different names. Though that seemed more in line with Mordecai's methods, it took up too much of the note and obfuscated its purpose story-wise, so I pared i down.

Tracy Butler

I like Mordecai scoping out potential threats in the car. The close ups of the guys far back in the car and of the guy whose arm we see in the right corner of the last panel, shows his concern so well. Great stuff!

TEB

This is so good, Tracy!

Duster

Oh yeah not literally baby, but with the equivalent cuteness of one for sure :)

Sue Donem

The complexity of each character is a blessing. It's the cherry on the cake, really. It gives to the comic another dimension. And I love how you're able to convey that in the expressions, especially this panel...

Mae

Ouch. Poor Mordy! I wanna hug him! Oh wait - what was it again? "Full body recoil"?. Right.

Mae

More Mordecai backstory? So much yes in that! Absolutely love learning more about the character!

Ashton Sutherland

An accountant...with a wink and a nod. He's attempting to be vague, but the letter still gives away a lot more than he'd like about what he'd been up to.

Tracy Butler

I about screamed when I saw this. Tracy, you never disappoint. I'm so excited to see what comes next!

blueeyedintrovert

Hehe...well, not quite a baby, but he certainly had some growing up to do.

Tracy Butler

The fact that Mordecai has random nosebleeds makes him somehow a thousand times more loveable. Don't tell him I said so.

David Lillie

Ohmygosh I'm freaking out over baby Mordecai, he somehow manages to be adorable and covered with blood at the same time

Sue Donem

Mae

Did Mordecai just use gematria to encrypt a rotary lock combination? Awesome :D

Sopbucket

I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS WOW

StarPoke

Okay, I knew this next page was going to be good, but not THIS good. In a word, WOW! Superbly crafted Ms Butler! Rock on!

Maklarr4000

Yay! Little Mordecai. I love how varied the facial structures are and the detail of the letter. The mix of cold black and white and warm sepia tones really make the page while showing its a flashback

Freya