AntiSocial Commentary

#130 Moisture in the System

2008-06-20T21:56:01Z

Oh, we all know Ron's last line is far from the truth. In reality, the reason why she's so diligent is that before, Ron would write "Wash Me" in the dusty water debris if she didn't get it off before she went to "sleep."

Well, it's true. Not that Ron would admit to ever doing it.

Sometimes, I just want comics to be simple. This is one of them.

#129 This Is Not My Crappy Home

2008-06-19T19:19:10Z

Ron, stop being nice, it doesn't suit you.

Thing is, though, she's being completely sincere about everything. She gets along better with her parents when they're miles away. And the best person in the boardinghouse is the one most don't even consider a person.

I think one of the major themes of the strip is outcasts supporting outcasts.

#128 Philosophy By Lillian

2008-06-12T19:21:31Z

Actually, that's my personal philosophy, based off of MST3k. EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW IN LIFE I LEARNED FROM MST3K!

I have to admit this was partially based off a conversation on LJ with a fellow MiSTie on my own crackpot philosophy (which is something I specialize in, making up weird philosophies, anyway.) So total credit does not belong to me, if any at all.

#127 Unconventional Beings

2008-06-12T18:04:16Z

Yeah, Ron has some...unresolved issues from her upbringing. Although I have to cheat and explain it doesn't have to do with her being angry with the religions themselves, but the people who spread them, shove them down people's throats, etc...mainly her parents. They weren't too fond of her discovering all the stuff covered up about the religion she was raised. (Pretty much an analogue of Christianity, to simplify it.)

All that aside- AWWWWWWWW. :) I think Ron's trying to make up for her major faux pas there.

#126 Totally Out There

2008-06-09T20:42:53Z

Yes, for the love of Pete, if you want to remain friends, drop the subject!

Yes, one of the great things about being an intelligent being is that you're able to think (relatively) big thoughts, but sometimes you gotta wonder- should you, or are you wasting brain cells agonizing over things you can't understand, and will never truly know the answer to? Like an ant trying to comprehend computer science, sometimes it seems like we're really hopeless in trying to understand our world, and even each other. We still do so much to mess up our planet with the best of intentions, and still have baseless hate against each other. What hope do we have to understand the greater questions?

But then again, we are the type of creatures that climb mountains, explore undersea caves, and go out into space, simply because they are there. It is our nature.

#125 Faith

2008-06-09T01:08:02Z

Ron's face in the last panel is rather curious. Makes you wonder, huh? Maybe she just always hoped with Lillian she'd never have to deal with the whole religion thing. It's already been made kinda obvious she isn't too fond of it. Or maybe it's something else. Who knows?

One thing I can tell you is that more than anything, Ron wants control in her life. As time goes on, she'll learn that no matter what, complete control is just something you can't have.

Make whatever you want out of that statement.

#124 Sore Spot

2008-06-08T21:34:47Z

Ron, your social graces took a BIG step back there. GOOD GOING.

Seriously, though? One of them was going to screw up in the conversation. That's why normal people don't talk about this kind of stuff.

Maybe I should take a hint from this...

#123 Mystic Mythos

2008-06-05T21:23:02Z

Silly Ron, playing devil's advocate even though you probably know full well platypi make a heck of a lot more sense than gryphons or dragons.

Don't worry, this won't become a religious comic by any means, it's preeeeeeeeettty much a fantasic allegory through and through. So while it won't be preachy about religious values, it may be preachy about my own twisted opinions! >)

#122 At Least It's Not Politics

2008-06-05T17:34:36Z

Oh no! Spiritual/religious/philosophical discussion ahead! This can only end in tears. :(

And for pete's sake, folks, as I go ahead with this, make sure to remember that none of this pertains to the real world or anything I personally believe about the world we live in. This is a fantasy, folks, our world is a liiiiiiiittttle different. ;) (Besides, in a way, in the ASC universe, I'M THE GOD, I'M THE GOD! I know all the answers! >:D)

State of the Comic Address

2008-05-25T19:26:50Z

Well folks, as the more astute of you may have been able to tell, I've been absent for a few weeks from this thing we call a webcomic.

It's been a culmilation of stress, stress relief, possible jobs, and insurance companies screwing me over that's kept me away. But mostly here I want to focus on the possible job that may keep me away from doing my comic as I wish. Although I can't go into it in full I am trying to work out a deal in which I'll be doing illustration work for a book. Hate to sound all "hush-hush" and stuff, but I was told to be, but the fact is I don't know how well the comic will fare while I'm trying to illustrate a book over the summer. As with most webcomics, this webcomic is a labor of love, something I do for little to no money, and in the end, things that will land me with money to spend on things like food and stuff will have to take front place in my workload. I'm sure we understand this.

Still, I have to say I'm a little regretful of this, as I was really getting into the heat of the story and have major plans for the next coming storylines. But the world revolves around money, alas. And drawing for a job sure beats working at McDonald's.

Secondly- don't beat me if this is too silly a question- I have a problem in my house. I have too much art. Way too much art. While some I have to send to the people who own the characters or are just stuck with me because they are fanart, I have currently 121 comic strips in my possession. The later 63 of these are actually done on regular 8.5" x 11" cardstock, at a 2 x 2 orientation. The ones before that were done on sketchpaper, landscape orientation, but still usually 2 x 2 panels. Not all of them are lookers, a lot of them look rather different from the originals, even taking into account add the text and balloons digitally. But, they are all here, and they are taking up a massive amount of space in my art file.

So. I bet you know what I am going to ask. Is there any possible interest in the buying of originals? I have tried selling originals of my other artwork sketches, but perhaps the original artwork for my comics will have more appeal? I will always scan the originals so you can see what they really look like before I cut them apart in Photoshop so you can see what it actually looks like.

Cameo strips are off limits, obviously. Those are gifts to those who were cameoed in them.

I feel this question is silly considering what a small fanbase I have, but it doesn't hurt to ask, right?

Oh, and in case you're wondering, I keep high-resolution copies of the completed strips, and have them backed up several places. The completed strips are what matter to me, as I learned with Anxiety Cafe- a comic is really no good if you don't remember what words were supposed to go there.

That's it for now. In the immortal words of Bill and Ted:
Stay excellent to each other!

#121 What We Do With Free Will

2008-05-25T18:23:05Z

For those of you who don't know what Peeps Joust is, go here. Messy.

Sorry for the lack of updates, will be having a State of the Comic Address soon.

Stay frosty.

#120 What Haunts Us

2008-05-08T05:59:38Z

Interesting. I've never been one to say unicorns are all sunshine and rainbows, myself.

Doing these darkly-lit comics can be fun. But time consuming. Even grayscale is time-consuming. Colour would just eat away at every last bit of time I have. Besides, I like the stark contrasts of grayscale comics. My colour comics, in contrast, just don't have the nice contrast my grayscale ones do.

Okay unhappytiems over now.

#119 Echoes

2008-05-08T03:20:28Z

...

More of what's been hidden.

#118 Late Night Talks

2008-05-02T19:28:35Z

Hmmmmm. Just hmmmmm.

Told you the dragon would be back.

Cookies to those who get his name and its significance. (Note- "Xin" is pronounced like "yin.")

#117 Into the Sunset

2008-05-02T05:24:47Z

For some reason, even in prose, they were walking off into the west in the end. I don't know why. It pretty much became established that Dr. Macaulky's place was east of Thorton, because it popped up in a future bit in which we'll see hi-

You didn't hear me say that.

I think I'm doing well for someone whose pens are dying art-wise now.
Remember: There will be moar before this storyline closes!

#116 I Always Depend On The Kindness of Strangers

2008-05-01T23:23:48Z

Awww, now this guy's a class act!

As you can tell, we're getting near the end. Got one more comic, some epilouge-y comics that shed some light on some issues, and then we'll finally move on from this story.

Although what I have planned isn't too much lighter. Well, a little. At least it doesn't have GRAPHIC SCENES OF ROBOT INJURIES!!!!11 (I guess I created a likeable enough character if people really care about it getting "hurt" even if she's a robot. Wow.)

#115 Support

2008-04-30T03:41:23Z

Ron, you're acting awfully weird.

And I think I may have achieved something very hard in character development and creation, if people's reactions to this whole dealie are anything to go by. I guess if I'm getting people to feel for a robot, I'm doin' something right.

#114 Not Exactly Lasik

2008-04-29T03:18:21Z

You never want to hear your "doctor" say they're worried, even if you do happen to be a self-aware robot. It's never a good sign.

(In case it isn't obvious- Macaulky would care less if the damage warnings were left on if it were just a normal robot. No mind to notice all that "pain." Also, in case this isn't obvious either, he can't shut off such things without doing a computer hookup, and as has been established, Lillian runs on a proprietary OS and programming language- one only one person knows, and lord knows where he is right now. Ron knows this, obviously, as it's been stated before, and don't you think what kind of OS and such a robot runs is one of the things a roboticist has to know before doing any work on it?)

In other words, more gaps due to the fact that this was poorly translated from prose. Oops.

#113 No Pain-Be-Gone

2008-04-25T03:56:00Z

AWWWWWWWWWWW, Ron! You're actually showing sympathy!

Man, maybe this should've stayed a prose-only story. There's so many things that go unsaid that was told through the first-person narration that I feel like are leaving gaping holes here. :\

BUT- as to the question over whether Macualky is suspecting something? Hmmmmm.... :) He does have the training to know what's normal for a machine-based intelligence and what's not...

#112 Smarter Than Your Average Robot

2008-04-24T06:44:04Z

Lillian, if you would just shut up people would be fine with you!

AUUURG. Sorry for the comic lag peoples. As you can see, I've forgotten how to draw. :P And ink. Life's been throwing curveballs and I'm just doing my best to keep my head above water. Drawing this thing hasn't been high on the priority list due to all the wangst and going-ons.

Hopefully things will buck up. For the people in the comic, too.

#111 Sassy and Brassy

2008-04-10T15:52:11Z

Everybody's tempers are wearing a bit thin, it seems! We kinda have Lillian jumping to the defensive here, which normally isn't her bag. (She'd rather look meek and not call too much attention to herself- at least, more attention than she already gets just for being what she is.)

Notes: New character. Yes, he'll show up here and there after this. And you'll have to forgive my learning curve as I try to draw this guy, not only did I insist on keeping him human which is a weakness of mine but I couldn't for the world of me get his design to match what I saw in my head. It probably would've helped if I started developing it a more than a few days before I had to draw this.

And for once- a different speaking font. It'll probably get more obvious as time goes on, but he's not from here. He's Australian(!!!) Don't ask me why, when I was writing this story he wandered in with that accent and I kept it. I was hoping that maybe there'd be a nice readable font that could get the point across like Vinci's Greek font in Vinci and Arty, But I didn't really find any and just found a font I liked. :P

Lillian, unlike most robots or computers in comics doesn't have a special word balloon or font treatment for a very deliberate reason: If you were talking with her, and there was a panel between the two of you, you wouldn't be able to tell from any voice inflictions (or lack thereof) or anything that she's a robot. There are slight electronic artifacts to her voice, but not much. And throughout the course of the comic, it's probably been noticeable I've been using just as much "fone-net-ick" spelling on her than any of the others. Her speech patterns have evolved over time through the people she knew and TV shows and such.

Okay enough commentary.

#110 Weirded Out

2008-04-08T04:23:23Z

YES Lillian, you're weirding me out with that bad eye, shut up and get it fixed already! 8|

Ron just is seriously in over her head. And when Ron gets in over her head and gets stressed, she gets rather short-tempered. Hence why it may seem like she's apathetic.

So, as my friends can probably tell by now, she takes after me. :P

EDIT: Oops, I knew there was going to be an error in this strip; I lost the original Word file with the dialouge I wrote a month ago when I upgraded the hard drive on SAINT Edwards. I SHALL BE ON IT.

EDIT2: THAR SHE BLOWS.

#109 Fragility

2008-04-03T04:13:23Z

I wish I could say electronics are tough, but souls are fragile, but my computer seems to want to prove me wrong. (Once again, it is giving me major problems, hence the lack of updates.)

Nevertheless, what the two Expositioners are trying to get across is that with mage-borne beings, the soul, the actual mind, whatever you want to call it, cannot last long in a non-functioning body.

I'm just really poor at writing fantasy laws like that and introducing them seamlessly into a narrative.

Just enjoy the backgrounds.

EDIT: Also, the artist can not tell left from right. True fact.

NCAA- Tossed Ending For ASC

2008-04-01T05:00:23Z

I know how the conflict to ASC ends, but for months I've been tossing around an actual "resolution", if you catch my drift. This was one of the tossed ones, if you catch my drift.

Second half is behind the cut:

Oh, lighten up, if you didn't know that was a joke just from looking at the comic, you can't see through cellophane. ;) Besides, I ain't cool enough to do a comic swap with anybody yet. And considering this year's April Fool's comic is a Short Circuit joke, I probably never will be cool enough. (I always think this is how the second one should end when I watch it.) REVENGE OF THE ELITE GEEKS!

Yeah, I could've come up with my own newscaster, but why do so when I can feature my favourite canine newscaster? Wolfram=love.

#108 The Value of a Promise

2008-03-29T05:01:09Z

Lillian, stop trying to hide things! You're terrible at it!

Ya ya I know you guys are going to/have been asking questions I'M GETTING TO THE ANSWERS OKAY? Well, some of them. If I don't reply to your question, CHANCES ARE they're either a) going to be revealed in the next couple strips or so or b) are more along the lines of major plot points that will be revealed even later.

(I know panel 2 looks odd; Ron's left handed so I put her left hand under Lillian's "chin" but then I forgot a minor detail that I had been carrying through the other panels. I'm sure there's some way to rationalize it. Just forgive me and be happy I did this large batch of comics without much major errors until now.)