Page Commentary No. 23

Psu: Why the hell did I start doing this in color. I would've been paid the same without the color.

Gunwild: Well, maybe fewer people would be giving to the Patreon, which would be less pay! Possibly.

Psu: Oh yeah, that's true... Anyway there were a lot of things that were missing when the comic wasn't in color. You can't have different colored aliens without color. And the biggest example of that was going to start making an appearance really soon. That said, the decision to start making this page in color came really late. It was a different process too, consider it more of a post process thing where I added a layer of color over the black and white. Some spots it makes for a really nice effect but overall it's a little muddy. Especially the top panel.

Gunwild: I think a lot of it was that you wanted the audience to be able to tell the brightly-colored Vanaa apart, which is why it goes color here and not later.

Psu: It also helped to show that it was a big scary blood red skull ship. And look at how peaceful looking that planet is from up here. I'm really happy with the expressions in the last two panels by the way. You never quite see Maddy looking that sharp ever again.

Gunwild: Or WON'T THEY? Or WILL THEY?!

Psu: Heh. Of the pages with potential design notes, I feel like this one had the most NEW stuff going on. Stuff that wasn't just going to appear on one page and disappear forever, requires that I need to design a bit more thoughtfully with an eye to the future. You see our second Admiral, who has a somewhat different manner to him than the previous admiral in one tiny corner, but he appears throughout the series. And of course you have the Vanaa ship and the interior. We knew this was going to be the major setting for the this chapter, AND the ships needed to look distinct enough that you knew which one was the "alien" ship and which one was the Regency.

Gunwild: I wrote Kettlehead as looking uneasy in that last panel when Farring says that, but I think you added him busying himself with a readout on his gauntlet. I wonder what he's doing, there... maybe updating his will?

Psu: I kinda of think of it like a nervous tick. It'd be not unlike checking his phone here. He might be checking his space twitter.

Gunwild: Hopefully he doesn't tweet anything classified.

 Gunwild: I think that was a plot point in Fred Van Lente's G.I. Joe run...

Psu: Bout to meet Alien Diplomats, LOL. Back soon. Hopefully not Eaten.

Psu: No wait, the Lol would be mean, and sarcastic. Kettering isn't mean...

Gunwild: Lol  

PAGE 4

(Panel 1: This one’s different. It’s a small, full-body hologram of Senchel floating right above Maddy’s wrist. It exists next to Toyn’s head on the screen. Toyn may even be looking over at him from his portrait, if that makes sense – at least it's kinda funny. He’s holding a datapad of his own – I get the feeling that Senchel has a full-body holo conference device in his office to really give that personal touch, even if he’s seventy systems away. He puts in effort – much like Steve Buscemi's character in Boardwalk Empire.)

ADMIRAL SENCHEL 1: Sorry to interrupt, sir, but we have pressing orders for Captain Vrax.

ADMIRAL SENCHEL 2: A personal request for a meeting. And you'll never believe who it's from.

(Panel 2: Betraying no further interest in the colony, Maddy has turned around and is leaving them behind, still talking to the small holograms hovering above her wrist. Ison is looking at her captain adoringly, like she’s a flippin’ hero. The only one who seems dissatisfied with this turn of events is First Officer Russ, who has turned a somewhat furrowed brow on either the colonists or Maddy. Naturally, they’re doing a lot of hugging and some of them are even smooching or holding up their kids. Perhaps Lynx is being hugged by the Sexy Widow. Only Tomboy is looking at the departing Navy officers, impressed by their leader. Hopefully this gives the right impression; that Maddy’s no heartless, implacable foe for Cassiopeia. She’s a decent lady who should really not have to take her ship getting stolen this hard, but the society she lives in insists upon it.)

MADDY 1: I’d like to continue this on-ship for security, sirs.

MADDY 2: I’ll be on the bridge in five minutes.

(Panel 3: Okay, time for an establishing shot of the Vanaa's big emergency medical carrier ship. It's in orbit around an uninhabited gas giant world – not a remarkable place, but good a good landmark for a rendezvous. What is a landmark in space called, anyway? A spacemark? Er, moving on... Maddy and the crew's new ship, the Iphicrates, is flying up to it. They're angling towards an open docking port that's lit up and calling attention to itself. In fact, it could have harmless lasers or something sticking out as three-dimensional landing lights of sorts. Useful! Important note: it would be preferable if this is the kind of docking where one ship just kind of locks right onto the hull of another. That'll matter soon. On the side of the ship are both the Vanaa symbol for healing and our own red cross, so everybody who needs help in this war can get the idea.)

TEXT BOX 1: DAY 14

TEXT BOX 2: High Orbit Over Planet Bemar, Demilitarized Zone

(Panel 4: A door in an interior hall is sliding apart with Maddy visible through it, adjusting her cuffs or collar on this formal occasion. We both know that she's got no trouble appearing self-confident to those she commands, so her face doesn't betray worry. She's maybe got her chin tilted down a bit though, to suggest seriousness.)

MADDY 1: Everyone will show courtesy. Everyone will be helpful.

MADDY 2: We're at war with the Vanaa, but not THESE Vanaa.

(Panel 5: The doors have slid open all the way, to show that the rest of the crew, minus Russ and Theira, are flanking Maddy. Those missing two are waiting back on the Iphicrates; it'll come up later. Anyway, Ison is there looking around, curious about this other ship. Farring's looking dead ahead and has his arms crossed, ready for trouble. Kettlehead's adjusting one of his control gauntlets with an un-gloved hand, while the other gauntlet is tucked under his arm. He's the only one here who seems downright nervous, and might be adjusting his hand-wear because he was looking to Maddy for guidance last panel while she was doing something similar. Maddy's now ready to go though, perhaps with her hands at her sides, preparing to walk. As long as she's not doing the Janeway walk!)

MADDY 1: They might be a warrior race, but these are their sworn healers. They uphold that oath, even with us.

FARRING 1: Good thing, too. Their appendages can trap. Bind up.

FARRING 2: SUFFOCATE.

FARRING 3: grrk

ackk