Monday, December 21

New Thread

Hey, I am still alive. On the other hand, my computer did not successfully make the trip to Boston. So that was unfortunate. I honestly haven't read a PvP strip in about two weeks, and am woefully unprepared to make any comments. I should have a laptop by Christmas; until then I can try and put up some new threads when appropriate.

Happy Holidays!

19 comments:

  1. Well, we seem to be dead here, but I gotta say, I really liked the Monte Cristo gag. The sort of goofy confusion that actually happens.

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  2. It has been dead. Here, and at PVP. The individual strips just haven't motivated me to comment (or, anyone else, apparently). Thanks for breaking the monotony, Russ.

    But, as a whole, I have a few words to say about the past month of PVP.

    Prairie Dogs - I know that I intended to write more about the whole Prairie Dogs bit. But, after the first two strips, there really wasn't any impressive material, bad or good. Once again, I had gotten my hopes up for nothing.

    Kringus - While the guest art was exceptional, it's the energy of the story-line that's really hooked me for the past couple of years. Although not as awesome as the Jingle Force Five, this year wasn't *too* disappointing.

    We had what seemed to be a very Harry Potter inspired Scratch Fury, who went completely the wrong way for his character. This is the first year that Scratch ditched his trademark technological assault on Christmas magic in favor of some Dark Magic of his own. Past Kringus assaults included a christmas tree retrofitted with rocket lauchers and an r/c mobile base unit, as well as a power-suit that would make Iron Man jealous (although it looked very much like Juggernaut).

    (For those of you new to PVP: Scratch was kicking major deity ass with ray-guns and math equations just about 1.5 years ago, immediately following the Fountaine-Sienna wedding.)

    I'm sort of amazed that Kringus could win in a battle where he could prove himself powerless.

    But,... the resolution of this year's Kringus was quite un-expected for me. In a bold twist worthy of Steve Martin (The Man with Two Brains), Scratch Fury is now the proud keeper of Santa's brain. Yet, the brain isn't dead, so let's see if the story continues next year.

    SCAD strips - It's been a while since I've read them, but these were excellent submissions by some very talented people.

    However, what really made an impression on me wasn't the art. It was yet another plug for SCAD.

    It's a fine institution, I'm sure. But, they can't be the only art school around.

    My prediction (often wrong, of course)- I've commented in the past that it appears that Scott is moving more towards motivating and teaching comic art, than producing.

    After more than a decade of success and undeniable growth, I can see a major life change in his future. I'd bet that Scott is looking for a full-time position as a teacher at SCAD.

    If so, good luck, or break a leg (or whatever works best) to you, Mr. Kurtz. I'm sure you'd make an excellent professor. But, are you prepared to make PVP an enterprise, rather than a labor of love?

    The latest arc -

    story - I nice shot at character development for Francis. He cares more for Marcy than he would have admitted to just last year.

    And, the usual Brent/Cole dynamic is at work, producing good material. However, I have to break a promise I made here because of it. Scott Kurtz has finally revealed the source of his best, mature material...his wife. Check out Scott's personal blog for verification. Thanks Mrs. Kurtz, for being the Abbott to Scott's Costello.

    art - Check out Brent in panel 3 (his eyes/glasses):

    http://www.pvponline.com/2010/01/12/for-the-love-of-god-montresor/

    now look here (panels 2 & 4):

    http://www.pvponline.com/2010/01/13/butting-in/

    Much better, huh? (I don't just mean panel 4.)

    Ok, now look at this panel 4:

    http://www.pvponline.com/2010/01/14/tushie-subject/

    Scott's now added Brent's eyes to his profile view. And, his glasses are now separate objects that rest on his face, rather than a natural extension thereof.

    Nice added detail.

    Is that guy at Hooters supposed to be Jere Burns (http://www.fandango.com/jereburns/photos/p9707?ImageId=0&type=Special%20Events) or Owen Wilson (http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/wilson-disgusted-by-movie-chicken-and-milk-diet_1001990)? I can't seem to identify/locate the model used for this guy.

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  3. Good stuff, OriginalJes, but since we've seen 2 posts in the month of January I am going to have to agree, PvP just isn't generating much interest anymore, at least amongst our usual crowd. It's been two months now since I've read the strip.

    It was fun, though. Maybe a crazy Kurtz storyline, like CAD's abortion one, will jack up site interest again someday =)

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  4. This last arc has been so well put together. I was in almost this exact situation as Cole back in the 8th grade. It's funny, and so true.

    I especially enjoyed Cole's steadfast hold on fantastical realities as he's looking for "Sam Elliot" in the booth. I couldn't imagine being in such a mood after having my bell rung like that.

    Point of fact; after it happened to me, I went home and accidently stepped on a garden rake (propped up by our back door). It hit me in the exact same spot I was punched, but twice as hard.

    The art has been well done and fairly consistent throughout the arc. With the exception of Cole's tie, of course (see panel #1 of Eyesore and panel #1 of Obi One Ton Trailer).

    Thanks, R.W. I hope Massachusetts is being good to you.

    People grow. People move on. I was a regular at other forums, that I haven't visited in almost 2 years.

    It's been fun, but I'll check in...from time to time.

    Thanks, everyone!! It's been nice. See you on the Dark Side...Scott.

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  5. I have noticed a decided lack of interest from myself towards PVP over the last few months. Perhaps you all have, as well? :)

    Tragically it's the sort of thing that I can MAKE interesting to other people... but I haven't been able to stomach making the time to do so, lately. The time to read PVP, that is. I have no idea if it's been good or wretched, or if it's managed to find a sense of continuity or anything else that people can depend on seeing when they visit. I last saw the Kringus arc; it was miserable to read and really made me question the value of resuming this task of swinging at such a low-hanging target as PVP. I'm just not interested right now.

    Oh, maybe I should bring up SK's Blaminations (Feat. the tireless and effervescent Kris Straub)? Those have been really fun!

    Incidentally, I *also* moved. Glad to hear that RW survived his, unlike Sage. :)

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  6. I have absolutely no idea what "Well, hello mistah Kot-teah" is referencing... Google is failing me...

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  7. At first I thought it was supposed to be a Welcome Back Kotter reference, but I don't think anyone on that show wore glasses like that. So now I don't have any clue either.

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  8. Actually, Kotter's girlfriend wore similar glasses.

    I think it needs to be said that the effort Scott's been putting into drawing Brent, as of late, has shown some great strides forward.

    Most notably, in 'Malignant Rumor', the detail and shading of Brent's face and hand in panel #3, as well as the perspective and line work for panel #4 (minus the left hand) just seem brilliant to me (when compared to previous work. Now, if only Jade's eyes would just stay in her head...

    I'm enjoying that Brent seems to have completely shed the Elwood Blues motive of never seeing his eyes. His glasses, like the real thing, periodically fall forward to reveal authentic facial expressions that are setting Brent apart from just about any character style I've seen in the strip (as done by Scott, himself).

    Also, the background is colored well. There's a wall outlet and baseboard to sell the over-the-shoulder POV in panel 3.

    But, I'm not sure about the natural lighting effect in panels 1 & 2. It almost looks like there are multiple sources shining from different directions on only specific objects. (i.e., Cole has his own lighting separate from the window effect on the wall in panel 2.)

    And, if Brent remained stationary in his seat, based on the way the light hits Cole in panel 1; shouldn't the light be:

    A- in Brent's face, and;

    B- not shining on the wall behind Cole?

    Of course, I'm not entirely sure what the layout of the room is supposed to be. Outside of the chair and the bulletin board, I don't see any other reference points.

    Any thoughts?

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  9. Return of the Kirby Hand? Kurtz is pretty good at pulling off the Marvel-style figures...

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  10. Considering that there are probably hundreds of exemplars to borrow from, I'm not surprised.

    What does surprise me, is how it's tied into the current story. Not that it's a bad thing. Just a pleasant surprise.

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  11. The Apple Tablet one off strip is the first I have read in a while, and I must confess to pleasant surprise. Nice punchline, good artwork, topical, Kurtz usually seems like he is at his best when he has a topic that he himself is enthusiastic about to draw on. (Or when he is working with PA)

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  12. Nitpicking, but Superappledude's sash changes shoulders between frames 1 and 2...

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  13. A Breach In Protocol - Being a Trekkie from way back, I can't help but love this one. Along with the author's note, this strip is hilarious!

    I couldn't help but notice how Brent and Cole have traditional Next Gen uniforms, while the (rankless) andorian is in one that, I'm sorry to say, I can't identify. Admittedly, I'm not much of a gamer. So, I'm speculating that her's came from the game while theirs came from their closets.

    (Caution, Dangerous Geekage Ahead!)

    I know that these strips were about the new MMO, and not Star Trek itself. And, we're probably not going to see any more of these strips. But if we do, I have a whole list of things that I'd love to see as fan:

    - New ship designs - I've read three of the technical manuals cover-to-cover (the Okuda's are AWEsome). And, there's as much IDIC in the ship designs as there is in the different races. Although I do love some of the choices that were made with Cole's ship (which should have a name, dammit);

    - A Captain's Log sequence - This should have preceded A Breach In Protocol, and would have given us the name Cole would have chosen for his vessel. Also, it would have been a perfect opportunity to show off some real geekage;

    - A tri-dimensional chess scene - (an homage to DeForest Kelley, so-to-speak) I would have Cole and Brent chatting over a game, with Skull in attendance. This would be at the PVP office, not in-game. (And, yes, this game can be played. I've built boards and studied the rules. This game has actually haunted people's dreams.)

    - Reggie and Miranda - You can't tell me that these two aren't perfect for re-enacting the tension between Nurse Chapel and Mr. Spock!

    And for the piece d' resistance - The Kobayashi Maru!

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  14. App-solute Power - that last panel is what really makes web-comics stand out from print comics. The only way to get that kind of shine on paper is with radium-based ink. And, even that will glow green.

    I'm definitely going to try loading this strip into my flat-screen.

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  15. Bannergate - I love Francis' insinuation that he and Jade could have an affair. Great dig.

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  16. I think that Scott deserves a big thanks for his blog post, in where he implies that his fans simply don't qualify as good enough with whom to share his experiences. Yet, they're good enough to be told that they're not worthy.

    Great job!

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  17. Hmmm. That's not really how I took it. From what I know of Scott's trip, there were some pretty personal things that took place. I'd imagine this is an "I have a lot to reflect on, but I'm still processing how much of it is relevant and appropriate to share with fans" statement.

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  18. I realised today that I haven't read PVP all year and don't really care. I think I understand Scott's plan now: maintain such an utterly inane standard that only sycophants could possibly put up with it forever, such that one day all of his readers will be true fans.

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  19. Hi, I have read your entire blog at pvp makes me sad and every single pvp comic... :) You're website has made for enjoyable reading info and is the only thing that keeps me coming to PvP. I just wanted to say this because I've always wanted to comment and now that I've finally caught up to the newest comics(I started reading from the beginning, way after the strips were actually drawn) I can now actually write comments!

    Oh... wait... no one has commented in more than half a year... Looks like I'm too late again.

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It's unlikely I'll delete anything but spam (Spam spam spammity spaaam), but a little civility never hurt anyone. In fact, it will make you appear a good deal smarter than you already are -- try it out today!