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EDIT: The Japanese people need your help. On the right bar you’ll find links to two great organizations providing vital aid; please donate anything you can. More details here.
Alright. As you have probably noticed, I just missed a week and a half’s worth of updates. The good news is that Underling will now resume its regular update schedule.
The bad news is that the regular update schedule is now once a week, on Fridays.
Although I’m proud of how far my art has come since I started this thing, and I’m glad that I managed to go over a year without missing my two-a-week schedule, I feel that I no longer need to force myself to draw in order to get things done. Producing two full page, full color, and complexly shaded comics a week takes a rather ridiculous number of hours, and in order to get things out on time every time certain sacrifices had to be made. Namely, the sacrifices of quality and consistency as well as my ability to draw anything *but* Underling in my personal time. Having to give those things up wasn’t just stifling my creativity in general terms, it was killing my enthusiasm for producing this comic. As a result, I’ve been pushing back working on it until closer and closer to the due date and this last chapter has been rushed, sub-par, and full of mistakes – as some of you have been noticing and pointing out.
I’ve taken the last week to re-examine my ethics and I have decided that I’m going to be taking the Valve approach to publishing. I will be trying my best to get pages out every Friday, and hopefully with this schedule I’ll be able to not only work ahead some more but also work on some other projects. But I’ve scrapped everything in my buffer past this point, and I don’t plan on releasing another page before it’s fully cooked. If my update schedule ever falters past this point, I hope you’ll bare with me and understand. I also hope that the jump in quality on this page speaks for itself. When this story reaches its conclusion in a few years I think we’ll all look back at this decision favorably.
It would break their hearts if they only knew;
There’s a world outside, you can feel it coming in
Enter Elf 🙂
Oh and here is a question. Would you say the pyramid style is more Ziggurat or more Middle Eastern in style. I noticed there is a sort of “desert folk” theme going on. As long as we don’t have fountains of blood and sacrifices ( Ziggurat ) or the Iranian / Brazilian Temple style, which is oddly similar to the Iranian Chogha Zanbil in Khūzestān.
Whuuuuuuut?
I’ll be looking forward to Fridays then. I got hooked with this story as soon as I found it, I enjoy both the art and the plot. Thanks for sharing it.
Don’t take a Valve aproach I’m still waiting for Half life 2: episode 3. If we get lucky they might release it before 2020 gets here. Lets hope they drop some hints that they are at least considering releasing it this decade in Portal 2
Fair ‘Nuff. After all, no point on trying to produce an enjoyable webcomic if you hate the thing – which you would’ve if you kept on like that. Now I look forward to my Fridays.
Once a week is fine with us. I’m new to webcomics, and I’m still gobsmacked by how much talent there is out there, and that you all are willing to share your work with us for free.
So go with the updates on Friday plan. All the best webcomics are doing it. =)
All of us that read and enjoy Underling support you, Dave. Like any good artist, you need to progress and evolve. The people I work with think this webcomic is awesome, and often study your art technique, particularly your 3-D and background shading. Keep up the great work you do within your own schedule, don’t let it burn you out, ok? (By the way, Quetzacoatyl is our studio mascot, now, hehe…)
“Slow” is better than “stop,” I say. Now I’m curious as to what horrors poor Laz will be thrown (perhaps literally) into. Eshita’s done it before.
Like I’ve said before, we are understanding and that definitely shows. Do what you need to do, all I ask is to not drop the project in the middle. And trust me, your ‘sub-par’ is better than what I could ever wish to do.
Wait a second… don’t Rakshasa have two left hands? Why is she so good at knots!
Can definitely see the change in quality, and I’m generally in favor of taking the time to get something right instead of rushing out the half-baked version, personally. It’s your comic, though, do what works for you; we’ll be happy either way.
…..Also, I’m suspicious about that bird. Maybe it’s just me being paranoid, but it looks like it’s trying to listen in on them.
No matter where you are, or where you go, there is always a bird watching…
its going to become a dragon and atack them both
(well, since a giant snake god became a small book, it shouldnt be inpossible for a small bird to become a giant creature of destruction)
Good point on the bird though silver. Maybe its with that washed up, bent beak, sun god.
this web comic is awesome so as long as you keep drawing it ill keep reading it
Friday updates aint that bad better then no updates right? Awesome comic keep it goin
Why would we not bare with you? Your art and story are great and only improving with time, I can honestly (and from experience) say that with Underling quality work I would check daily if you took the approach of update whenever i have the time.
That being said looking forward to you making my weekends more awesome and the new story arc.
Definitely the best way to go Dave. Don’t get burnt out, your comic is wonderful. I really love the color work on this page with the different lighting
Heck if you have to take a break. Lots of artists release them in bulk once a month so that they can keep up with their own work.
Wait a second… Have you been editing your pages… Either I am really tired or you have been improving on your pages lol.
For comic junkies, here’s an additional way to help Japan:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1932174840/japan-needs-heroes
All proceeds of this comic go to aid, and it’s written by comic writers just like david.
I feel bad about not checking my moderation queue earlier and delaying this post. That is a pretty great link.
Helping Japan/ keeping an eye out for new post. I don’t blame you for wanting a break, I wish that I had more time fore my own comic
Well put, sir, well put. I’ll ctearinly make note of that.