ComicGet version -75 slightly alpha, Selkie archive

Tue Jul 19 08:35:17 2011

Selkie122My google searches are a bit conflicting on whether the building in panel 1 is part of General Mitchell International, or the Quadracci Pavilion of the Milwaukee Art Museum. I can only hope I gambled correctly.

Thu Jul 21 06:41:15 2011

Selkie123Paul is kind of a big scaley Falcor (from the Neverending Story).

Mon Jul 25 06:39:28 2011

Selkie124I've had this dream-sequence chapter opening running through my head for MONTHS. I am so glad to finally get to it.

Thu Jul 28 06:40:30 2011

Selkie125I was tempted to throw in a Girl Genius reference, what with the talking mad scientist castle and all, but it felt a bit forced.

Mon Aug 1 06:39:41 2011

Selkie126My original drafts just had Ricky and Tony blasted into space and disappearing into a twinkle of light. If you've seen Pokemon more than twice you know what I am referring too. I like the idea more of them being launched into space for a purpose, though.

Thu Aug 4 06:39:49 2011

Selkie127I was going to have the scene-change in the last panel as a smooth gradient, but I think the abrupt difference is more appropriately dream-like. Or it is for my dreams anyway.

Sat Aug 6 06:39:45 2011

Deleted Scene

Mon Aug 8 06:39:45 2011

Selkie128Before I settled on the concept of ballerina centaurs Amanda Keisha and Heather were, at one point, going to be magical wizard-knights dressed like Sailor Moon villains.

Thu Aug 11 06:48:30 2011

Selkie129For a brief time I considered having the centaurinas call their dance the Paul Pena, but that would imply Selkie knows about him, and it doesn't fit to me that an eight year old would know who Paul Pena is.

I may be overthinking this a bit. ._.

For those that don't get the reference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioT_1zxsYME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dnGj5YF8F0

Sat Aug 13 06:42:03 2011

Background Character Concepts

Mon Aug 15 06:42:14 2011

Selkie130Tried to make the shadows and texturing on this one a little darker than the previous "desert landscape" backgrounds. I also think it's kind of funny how panel three cold be interpreted as Selkie running away from a action movie explosion.

Thu Aug 18 06:42:06 2011

Selkie131This dream sequence went through a LOT of re-writes over the course of it's run. There was actually going to be a third act after the centaurinas which led in to the Big Fall that I cut entirely. I even had pencils done, but it would have extended the dream sequence right to the middle of SEPTEMBER. I was also going to have Selkie simply wake up due to the fear and the fall, but I had an idea for another option that also allowed for me to use my Giant Crook idea after all. :D

Mon Aug 22 07:01:14 2011

Selkie132I was going to put a translated sample of the Selkie Language in the dream sequence, but decided it would fit better here.

Thu Aug 25 06:41:55 2011

Selkie133I try not to do the "talking with a closed mouth" thing a lot of comics seem to do (even the professional ones!), but I enjoy Selkie's pursed lips face in panel 2 too much. :D

Mon Aug 29 09:44:01 2011

Selkie134I decided to add a few touches to the apartment that I didn't fully think about previously (appliances, functional handles on the stove and refrigerator, etc). I have learned that I can not draw can openers.

Thu Sep 1 06:41:54 2011

Selkie135Marla B. Sanderson is a former mayor of Calumet City (where the comic takes place) who had a strong presence in the education system.

Mon Sep 5 06:41:56 2011

Selkie136I think "psychic devil orphan" sounds like something that might come out of Georges mouth.

Mon Sep 5 18:42:32 2011

Selkie136I think "psychic devil orphan" sounds like something that might come out of Georges mouth.

Thu Sep 8 06:41:42 2011

Selkie137Trying a new thing for backgrounds. Dunno if I like it, kit's a bit abstract. What do you all think?

Mon Sep 12 06:41:43 2011

Selkie138Sometimes drawing Selkie is a fine balance between "adorable" and "horrifying". Too much realism or detail and she becomes alien and, visually speaking, difficult to relate to. This is why I usually only draw her top row of teeth when speaking. I want her fangs to remain visible on a "day to day" basis so they don't become jarring or unnerving when they DO appear (in the visual language of comics and animation suddenly-appearing fangs tends to signify malicious intent, a trope I try to subvert with Selkie's design); but when both rows of teeth become visible it can create a "baring her fangs" look.

I mention this because I personally find the close up of Selkie's mouth here a bit unnerving. She's a sweet stubborn and smart kid, but she also has a mouth filled with razor sharp fangs. She can't help it but it's unavoidable that, to a human perspective, her mouth is a bit scary if you look too closely.

Thu Sep 15 06:41:58 2011

Selkie139There haven't been background kids in this strip or the last one because I was afraid background comedy would detract from the mood. I don't follow the Harold Zoid method of drama.

Mon Sep 19 06:41:27 2011

Selkie140I have three separate story arcs intended for this chapter. Welcome to storyline #3.

Thu Sep 22 06:41:22 2011

Selkie141Panel 3 is my attempt at an "interesting" transition panel. Feels a little random to me, but hey now I can say I drew an extreme close up of a bumper.

Mon Sep 26 06:52:50 2011

Selkie142I don't have anything special to say about this one, sorry.

Thu Sep 29 06:42:06 2011

Selkie143The previous comic's reader comments brought up a lot of questions about what sort of teaching techniques Selkie's school uses that I must admit, I did not think about. :x After doing some reading, I decided that the classroom uses a whiteboard instead of a chalkboard (easier on potential asthma issues) and uses light colors on the walls and floors to encourage a "bright" atmosphere (the background shadows are also a little paler than the "outdoors" scenes because of this. I left the character's shadows regular so they stand out more), and has some potted plants at the front (not visible in this strip) for color and a sense of life. I read a few articles about computers and even iPads in modern classrooms, but decided that equipment that runs $300-$500 per unit would not be a good investment for excitable and inattentive elementary students, so the kids will use books and paperback journals. The desks have cubbyholes instead of flip tops to reduce accidental finger-slams.

GAWD that is a lot of commentary. XD

Mon Oct 3 06:41:55 2011

Selkie144

Thu Oct 6 06:41:57 2011

Selkie145Jessie's re-emergence requires a little bit of a retcon to her backstory; Wool Mart shoe clerk is now her job she works during summers and between classes while working towards her elementary education degree.

When I created her way back when, I turned out to like her as a character more than I thought I would, and many readers grew attached to her very quickly. So I decided on "student teacher" as a means of giving her a more stable supporting cast position.

Mon Oct 10 06:42:15 2011

Selkie146I don't yet know much about Chanelle, but apparently she loves math!

Thu Oct 13 07:03:23 2011

Selkie147I didn't mention it last time due to forgetfulness, but I am playing with no panel borders, based on some critical feedback from one of my professors during a student work critique.

Mon Oct 17 06:41:51 2011

Selkie148I was going to have Todd offer Andi a beer, but then I remembered it's still late morning at this point in the narrative. This almost led me to include a line about how Todd decided to stop keeping beer in the apartment because of post-adoption inspections, but it was too wordy to squeeze in.

Thu Oct 20 06:41:46 2011

Selkie149I mentioned in Andi's cast page entry that she has an in-progress back tattoo themed around the Epic of Gilgamesh. I wanted to get at least one shot of it worked in. I think it will probably become a continuity nightmare. XD

Mon Oct 24 08:46:10 2011

Selkie150Due to poor time management, I couldn't do shadowing on this one. Sorry.

Tue Oct 25 00:43:54 2011

Selkie150Due to poor time management, I couldn't do shadowing on this one. Sorry.

-EDIT- And one whole update day later, I've gone and retroactively shaded the comic. Also added some classroom details to panel 3 that I forgot earlier. Yay retcon!

Thu Oct 27 00:41:30 2011

Thu Oct 27 06:41:44 2011

Selkie151I think Jessie must watch Regular Show.

Fri Oct 28 08:36:34 2011

Selkie151I think Jessie must watch Regular Show.

Sat Oct 29 06:41:40 2011

Selkie Ico Sketch

Mon Oct 31 06:51:20 2011

Selkie152I don't know at this point if we will see a lot of the gym teacher Mr. Thompson beyond this scene, so just for fun here are some factoids about him:

-First name: Chris.
-Has a Masters Degree in health science.
-Baseball enthusiast.
-Collects turtles.

Tue Nov 1 09:31:04 2011

Thu Nov 3 02:53:31 2011

Selkie153I had written a "good to see you" line for George before I remembered that seeing Sandy and Wu isn't a reunion meeting for him. Doh. XD

Mon Nov 7 02:39:52 2011

Selkie154This is mostly how I recall dodgeball games: a volley of cannon fire.

Thu Nov 10 02:40:02 2011

Selkie155I think this may be the first strip with no dialog since the early days. O_o

Mon Nov 14 02:39:48 2011

Selkie156The volley of dodge balls are fun to organize. :D

Tue Nov 15 00:40:11 2011

Selkie156The volley of dodge balls are fun to organize. :D

Thu Nov 17 02:39:32 2011

Selkie157If this were a war movie, dramatic music would be playing right now.

Sun Nov 20 19:02:54 2011

Selkie157If this were a war movie, dramatic music would be playing right now.

Mon Nov 21 02:39:57 2011

Selkie158I could not for the life of me figure out how to make Mr. Thompson NOT look like some kind of giant in panel 1. XD

Thu Nov 24 03:39:58 2011

Selkie159I considered changing the first two panels to show Selkie explaining to her teachers that she left gym class to get her bag for a bathroom trip, but I think the progression works better without the expo-speak that scene would have required.

Sat Nov 26 03:39:19 2011

Thanksgiving2Since my handwriting is atrocious, I am going to use the transcript box for it's intended purpose for once. :D

Grandma (Mari): Anybody want catfish?

Grandpa (Theo): So, does that make this Fish-giving?

Todd: Fish-mas!

Selkie: Eeee! Yums!

Marta: Anybody want pie? I'm taking the pie.

Antoine: That's cooked, right? This a sushi thing?

Mon Nov 28 03:39:17 2011

Selkie160I almost chickened out of this particualar story point at least twice.

Thu Dec 1 03:40:32 2011

161 Temp

Fri Dec 2 06:39:18 2011

Selkie161Writing the dialogue for this fight/break-up/argument has been a little difficult for me. Partly because it is derived from real-world experiences, partly because I keep wanting to pepper the dialogue with hard swears and having to go back and re-evaluate it. If I was writing Todd and Andi's dialogue the way I tend to talk in real life when upset, there'd be a LOT of little black bars on the speech bubbles.

Sat Dec 3 19:39:40 2011

Mon Dec 5 03:39:13 2011

Selkie162If Todd's face rash seemed MIA in the last strip, I sort of flubbed my continuity check on that one. Thanks to Luna_et_Noctis for catching my error, it has since been fixed.

Thu Dec 8 03:42:06 2011

Sketch Day Selkie’s MomJust putting something here to have the Transcript box available. All interesting info is in the regular blog. :D Yay pointlessness!

Mon Dec 12 03:39:22 2011

Selkie 163I thought I would try drawing the background regularly since I was pressed for time. It's sloppy and rushed and I freaking hate it. >_<

Thu Dec 15 03:39:16 2011

Selkie’s VengeanceI am keeping the identity of the shirt thief a secret, because I'm mean.

Mon Dec 19 03:40:40 2011

Selkie164My original exit line for Andi was going to be "You know Selkie's eventually leave for the ocean, right?" The whole scene was originally a lot angrier and more bitter on both sides, but after actually sitting down to work on it, it became more... "world crashing around you" -y, and I feel that original line is a bit too snipe-y for what Andi's feeling right now.

Thu Dec 22 03:39:23 2011

Selkie165More experimentation with the backgrounds. Stating to think using vector lines all this time was a bit of a crutch. :(

Sat Dec 24 03:39:25 2011

Selkie Christmas 2011

Mon Dec 26 03:39:29 2011

Selkie166As always with Tony's french, if "Quoi" is inaccurate for a flat "what?", feel free to inform me.

Thu Dec 29 03:39:13 2011

Selkie167This was originally gonna be two comics, but I compressed it a bit.

Mon Jan 2 03:39:23 2012

NewYearsEve2012 SelkieNewYearsEve2012 Selkie

Thu Jan 5 03:40:43 2012

Selkie168Amanda's reactions actually surprised me a little. I sketched panel four with more of an "exclamation" expression, but it didn't look right no matter how I drew it. Tried a few other expressions, and this is the one that felt right to me.

Mon Jan 9 03:39:26 2012

Selkie169It may not be very clear, but Lisa Miazelli is the principal's secretary. I figure calling the parent is something the principal would delegate while he finds out the details.

Thu Jan 12 03:39:41 2012

Selkie170Gonna be a long commentary today. :D

In addition to many moving testimonials about the impact of bullying, the last strip also brought up a lot of questions about how much the school does and doesn't know about Selkie's nature. I tried a coule times to work this information in to the school strips, but it always felt so out-of-character on the dialogue. So, I thought I would delve into some of my background logic concerning Selkie and the school officials.

I established previously that Selkie attended this school while at the orphanage, and also that the orphanage only realized she is not human through observation and induction and a little experimentation. My thinking is that the orphanage would share this information willingly with someone like Todd, who will be responsible for Selkie the rest of her life and will need vital information like this to care for her.

School system employees are another matter, though. For Selkie's safety and security, certain details and specifics about her nature were/are withheld from the school employees, and many of her odities are explained as an "undiagnosed condition" and/or "birth defects".

Her gills are an example of this. Most of the school system employees understands them to be abnormal growths that cause chronic chest congestion issues. Selkie's tried telling a few people that they are gills, btu they just assumed she was compensating for her differences with imaginative stories (she is a kid after all). Selkie has been accustomed to taking a bottle of dechlorinator to school even before being adopted by Todd, and the orphanage has told the school that due to her condition she needs freedom to use the bathroom at will.

A couple people have witnessed Selkie inhaling water, but mostly they assume she must have been drinking it and they were mistaken. I make pretty shameless use of the "people create their own context" philosophy. XD

Mon Jan 16 03:39:18 2012

Selkie171I am as glad as the rest of you to see Selkie re-shirted.

Thu Jan 19 03:39:24 2012

Selkie172I think after I finish this arc, the between-chapter shorts are going to be saccharine as all get out to make up for all the dramabombs. XD

Mon Jan 23 03:39:33 2012

Selkie173I deliberately left the emblems off Heather and Amanda's shirts in Jessie's flashback. I don't think her attention to small detail is very top notch. XD

Thu Jan 26 03:39:24 2012

Selkie174

Sat Jan 28 03:39:17 2012

Sketch Saturday Senior Project: Ghost Peach Party

Mon Jan 30 03:40:00 2012

Selkie175The little piece of backstory Keisha is starting here was something I wanted to drop in at the time she grabbed the shirt to explain her indignation, but there wasn't space to relate it properly and still convey the more important events. I think it works better at this scene, anyway.

Rest assured, Mark was VERY sternly punished.

Thu Feb 2 03:39:24 2012

Selkie176I haven't drawn Lillian and Mary in a loooong while. I had fun drawing Lillian in a pose besides "standing elegantly".

Mon Feb 6 03:39:41 2012

Selkie177It's strange how things can evolve in your mind when writing a story. My original drafts had Selkie being more sympathetic to Keisha, but the more I think about their history and Selkie's personality, the more I realized Selkie would not be in a sympathetic mood right now.

Thu Feb 9 03:43:32 2012

Selkie178I feel like this page has a lot crammed into it. But sometimes that happens.

Mon Feb 13 03:39:16 2012

Selkie179After the last few pages of drama, it was fun to break the mood with some bickering. XD

Thu Feb 16 03:39:24 2012

Selkie180We're soooo close to the end of this arc, and yet... there are still a few more story points to cover. ._.

Mon Feb 20 03:39:12 2012

Selkie181I almost cut panel three and redid it more realistically, but to be honest the big angry fireball is what I remember every phone call to my angry parents feeling like whenever I did something bad.

Thu Feb 23 10:11:38 2012

Selkie182I've missed the happy-squeal.

Mon Feb 27 03:39:20 2012

Selkie183Principal Ashton has no hand in panel 3. When drawing this one I put a text bubble at the bottom that obscured half his hand, so I decided to just not draw it since a text bubble was going there anyway. XD

Thu Mar 1 03:39:17 2012

Selkie184I really liked the way this one looked without shadows and almost left it at flat colors. Changed my mind though.

Mon Mar 5 03:39:50 2012

Selkie185Dialogue in a previous strip implied Amanda had already left the office between strips. I didn't really mean for that to be the case. :(

Tue Mar 6 03:40:00 2012

Selkie185Dialogue in a previous strip implied Amanda had already left the office between strips. I didn't really mean for that to be the case. :(

Thu Mar 8 03:41:12 2012

Selkie186I sometimes google trawl for adoption-related articles for background research on the comic, and Heather's minor panic attack was inspired by one. The article described an adoptive mothers experience taking her daughter to see Despicable Me.

At the scene where the three girls get taken back to the orphanage for being too demanding of Grue's time, the kid started hyperventilating and had to be taken out of the theater until she calmed down.

Mon Mar 12 04:39:59 2012

Selkie187I may re-draw Barbara's pose in the second-to-last panel later. Really unhappy with it.

Thu Mar 15 04:40:50 2012

Selkie188Mina's dialogue in the last four panels was originally a lot more verbose, but I had to cram it in legibly. XD

Mon Mar 19 02:46:09 2012

Selkie189Thought I'd try the old flat/vector background style again. Looks kind of awkward after all the drawn stuff in the last few pages. honestly.

Also, I just realized I only drew one sheet of paper for three assessments... doh.

Thu Mar 22 04:40:27 2012

Selkie190Decided to switch to a smaller font to avoid crowded speech bubbles that make Selkie appear to be growing a tail. ;P Hopefully it isn't too small.

Mon Mar 26 04:39:27 2012

Selkie191This epilogue takes place shortly after Andi left Todd's apartment. Should provide some answers to those wondering what is up with Andi. For those that despise her... sorry. :D

Thu Mar 29 04:41:19 2012

Selkie192Remember when I said I was both excited and apprehensive about this epilogue... yeeeaaaahhh...

Mon Apr 2 04:39:29 2012

Selkie193The idea for the graphic speech bubbles came to me after a very weird dream.

Thu Apr 5 04:40:03 2012

Selkie194My original plan was to refrain from identifying the child until much MUCH later. After thinking about it more than I care to admit, I decided the information felt appropriate right here.

Mon Apr 9 04:39:50 2012

Selkie195At some point years in the past, I conceived of a comic strip idea featuring college-attending housemates. I never got it off the ground but the characters still pop in my head from time to time. I decided to use them for the polygamous quintet. Their names are Tarah (holding the pizzas), Sammy (Doing tai chi in the corner), and Corwynn and Brad have Maven on their laps.

Thu Apr 12 04:40:46 2012

Selkie196I almost made Annabeth's dialogue in the last panel the chorus to "All About the Benjamins".

Sat Apr 14 04:39:38 2012

Adventure Time With Alex And Jess

Mon Apr 16 04:39:27 2012

Selkie197Thought I'd try for more line width variation, see how it looks. Reminds me of Gunshow.

Thu Apr 19 04:39:26 2012

Selkie198Unused rhyming words: aggressive, expensive, expansive, pensieve

Sat Apr 21 04:39:37 2012

The Maiden And The Eel Spirit

Mon Apr 23 04:39:31 2012

Selkie199I dunno why, but I went back and forth on whether Marta should say "totally" or the more slang-y "totes".

Tue Apr 24 04:40:33 2012

Selkie199I dunno why, but I went back and forth on whether Marta should say "totally" or the more slang-y "totes".

Thu Apr 26 04:40:22 2012

Selkie200I see a lot of my own humor and speech patterns in Marta. It doesn't show up much in the comic, but in the real world I could use a fudge-ripple swear jar.

Mon Apr 30 04:39:17 2012

AquagirlSee if you can find Wonder Woman's invisible jet. Hint: it's invisible.

Thu May 3 04:40:26 2012

Selkie201I've read in a few places that, if allowed to do so, characters can develop traits that will surprise even the author. Selkie's love of eating is one of those aspects of her character for me. She's shown on multiple occasions an excited and enthusiastic reaction to the prospect of eating. I don't know where it came from, but I feel like it's a part of her character that's asserted itself organically somewhere along the line.

Mon May 7 04:40:00 2012

Selkie202Believe it or not, I have a backstory for that small table Selkie's sitting at. It used to be the "Kitchen Helper Corner" when Todd Marta and Antoine were little, and Mari got it out of storage for Selkie's visit.

Thu May 10 04:39:19 2012

Selkie203Todd's dialogue on this page was borrowed from real life. I was INSUFFERABLE as a teenager.

Mon May 14 04:39:33 2012

Selkie204I used some selected Selkie comics for my senior art exhibition, and one of the criticisms an instructeor gave me during our oral defense was that he felt the vector speech bubbles and blocky Lucida font looked out of place with the hand drawn lines of the artwork. So I thought I'd give changing the font and speech bubbles a try.

Thu May 17 04:40:26 2012

Selkie205I went back to the old font and speech bubbles for now. I tried some of the hand-written fonts floating around, but I missed the crispness of the Lucida I've been using.

Mon May 21 04:39:12 2012

Selkie206Version 3 of the speech bubbles, due to a few people wanting to see what a combination of styles would look like.

Thu May 24 04:40:28 2012

Selkie207More text bubble experiments, this time back to ovals but with thicker outlines. I think this may be a good mix.

Mon May 28 04:39:54 2012

Selkie208I always kind of feel like the drama moments of the comic teeter on an edge I can't quite articulate or describe. I feel they need to be very carefully handled... or they careen.

Tue May 29 04:39:17 2012

Selkie208I always kind of feel like the drama moments of the comic teeter on an edge I can't quite articulate or describe. I feel they need to be very carefully handled... or they careen.

Thu May 31 04:45:44 2012

Selkie209I had originally wanted Selkie to run away, upset, into the woods behind the house. I decided not to go that route because it felt a bit... over-dramatic and overdone.

Mon Jun 4 04:41:09 2012

Selkie210I had a really hard time with the writing on this one. In the original draft Selkie, both to prove a point and due to feeling hurt and angry, licked Todd's hand instead of the quick peck I went with in the final version.

In my head, Selkie licking Todd's hand looked humorous and exaggerated, like a cartoony dog lick. But once I sat to actually drawing it, it looked... kind of weird and creepy. Plus, even though Selkie is an eight year old kid with some anger and coping issues, I think she's been raised well-mannered enough not to lick people. Once I started putting the licking out of my head and on to paper, it didn't look funny or cartoony at all; it looked creepy disgusting and disrespectful to a degree that it just did not work at all.

So, after a bunch of redraws, we got the panel three we have now, and Todd gets spared the effects of a more potent exposure to Selkie's saliva.

Thu Jun 7 04:41:18 2012

Selkie211In my background thought processes, the orphanage has carefully observed regulations against things like kissing, for the kid's protection.

Mon Jun 11 04:40:33 2012

Selkie212I actually didn't write this scene in until I read all the questions wonderings musings and speculations on if Selkie's saliva would be put to the test. For great science!

Thu Jun 14 04:40:43 2012

Selkie213I wanna thank everyone at this time for the questions and speculations about Selkie's saliva over this past arc. It gave me the idea for this scene, and I think it's addition makes the issue more solid.

Thanks for being awesome!

Fri Jun 15 14:41:15 2012

Mon Jun 18 04:42:05 2012

Selkie214The last panel gave me an interesting chance to draw Selkie's face in a little more detail than usual. The eyebrows return. XD

Thu Jun 21 04:43:02 2012

Selkie215I really liked the dialogue-less flashback we had for Andi earlier, and felt like returning to that idea.

Mon Jun 25 04:39:22 2012

Selkie216I feel like Selkie's other language is something Marta and Antoine would have been told about behind the scenes when Theo and Marigold were preparing them for the meeting. Todd knows of it's existence simply from living with Selkie the past few weeks.

Thu Jun 28 04:40:56 2012

Selkie217I'm glad I got the chance to give Antoine a little spotlight. I feel like he's been stuck in the background just a tad.

Mon Jul 2 04:52:18 2012

Selkie218Marta and Antoine have been through a lot of character and background changes since their first draft. Originally Todd was the YOUNGEST of three siblings, Marta was married with two biological children, and Antoine was transgender.

Over time as I worked out more of Todd's background it made more sense to me for him to be the first kid adopted, so Marta and Antoine got an age downgrade.

I still think Marta will have two children down the line, but somewhere along the way Antoine became gay instead of transgender. I don't really have a point-to-point on how I came to change that part of his character; he just... started dialoging in my head as a gay man and I ran with it.

Thu Jul 5 04:41:00 2012

Selkie219Trying some mood lighting, since it's sunset and all.

Mon Jul 9 04:41:12 2012

Selkie220These night time effects are surprisingly fun.

Tue Jul 10 00:36:07 2012

Selkie220These night time effects are surprisingly fun.

Thu Jul 12 04:39:18 2012

Selkie221Making up fake search engine results is trickier than I thought.

Mon Jul 16 04:40:25 2012

Selkie222Sandy's missing tooth was a last-minute idea that I really think adds character to her.

Thu Jul 19 04:41:39 2012

Selkie223I have no idea what kind of cards they are using. To paraphrase the Mighty Morbo: POKER CARDS DO NOT WORK THAT WAY! GOOD NIGHT!

Mon Jul 23 04:40:23 2012

Selkie224A piece background info: Lillian's attire started when members of her husband's family began giving her kimonos and qi pao's as gifts. She liked them so much that wearing them became a regular habit.

Tue Jul 24 14:40:27 2012

Thu Jul 26 04:40:20 2012

Selkie225I feel like I let myself get a bit lazy with the interiors of the Smith house earlier. I wanna try to pay more attention to that this time around.

Mon Jul 30 04:39:37 2012

Selkie226I do not approve of the Fairweather's actions in this comic. What they are doing here is reprehensible and someone needs to step in and take action to make sure they never commit a travesty like this again.

Mashed potatoes are one hundred times better with the skins ON, Ken and Barb! COME ON!

Tue Jul 31 04:40:14 2012

Thu Aug 2 04:39:47 2012

Selkie227Selkie final word balloon almost said "Because I's hungry", but something felt wrong about Selkie wanting to eat a pony.

Mon Aug 6 04:40:33 2012

Selkie228Early on in plotting things out, as far back as when I introduced the Fairweathers even, I considered the possibility of having Barb turn out to be Todd's biological sister.

I discarded this idea a long while ago for a variety of reasons, the big one being a bit of a tipping-point on the coincidence/believability meter.

In fact, I decided to use this tidbit for the Commentary just to get the idea out of my head and make it stop trying to convince me to use it. XD

Thu Aug 9 04:40:26 2012

Selkie229There's something indefinable about Barb's head shot in panel 3 I really like.

Sat Aug 11 14:40:17 2012

Sketch Nightmare

Mon Aug 13 04:40:19 2012

Selkie230Barb is displaying a tendency to over-react that... that just makes me chuckle. XD

Thu Aug 16 04:40:17 2012

Selkie231Heather's happy face in the central panel was the first thing I inked, before I even set up the panel borders. <3

Sat Aug 18 04:39:49 2012

AmandaAnnieAnnie's title in League of Legends is The Dark Child. You see where I'm going with this.

Mon Aug 20 04:39:38 2012

Selkie232In the first draft of this sequence, Heather and Selkie were playing a co-op video game together. I changed it to an outdoor activity because it felt like I was forcing my own interests on Heather and Selkie. Heather doesn't strike me as the kind of kid who likes video games much.

Thu Aug 23 04:41:17 2012

Selkie233Listening to a live version of the Decemberist's Mariner's Revenge Song as I worked on the last few pieces of this strip. I think it's kismet.

Sat Aug 25 04:39:09 2012

KeishaEzrealI knew I wanted to do Keisha for the next LoL sketch, but wasn't sure which champion fit her. Then it hit me that with the way she likes climbing trees and learning about animals, she suggests an inquisitive personality that felt like a good fit with Ezreal, who is an archeologist and explorer character.

Mon Aug 27 04:39:13 2012

Selkie234I believe this is the most panels yet crammed into a Selkie comic. Just had... a lot of stuff I wanted to include.

Thu Aug 30 04:39:22 2012

Selkie 235In my original draft of the Shirt Theft arc, Selkie didn't go home early and she and Heather had (most) of this conversation while waiting at the pick-up area for their respective parents.

Mon Sep 3 04:39:16 2012

Selkie236Selkie's ability to screech is something I was originally going to reveal in a more comedic-context in a between-arcs short one day, but I like it here.

Thu Sep 6 04:39:21 2012

Selkie237Almost all of the characters in the comic have a little something from myself. I am starting to see some of my own weaknesses in Heather.

Sat Sep 8 04:41:22 2012

Selkie Test Heads

Mon Sep 10 04:40:05 2012

Selkie238There is a part of me that distresses over Heather's use of the term "real kids", but I also feel "biological kids" is a bit of a mouthful for her, and I don't feel her thought process would phrase it that way.

Thu Sep 13 04:40:28 2012

Selkie239Tony and Moonsong have surnames which they retain from being given up by their parents post-infancy; Tony Mollier and Moonsong Starfall.

(Moonsong hates his surname)

Sat Sep 15 04:39:08 2012

Selkie Test Heads2

Mon Sep 17 04:40:48 2012

Selkie240I try to minimize the overt pop-culture references because the in-comic time moves a LOT slower than real-time. I started the comic in 2010, which means right now it is still loosely set in 2010.

I mention this because Kenny is in for a sad sad day at the next Super Bowl.

Thu Sep 20 04:41:03 2012

Selkie241The last two sketch-updates gave me some color ideas that, while I don't think work for the comic in general, fit well in a memory/flashback context. So, orangey-bluey shadows. XD

Sat Sep 22 04:42:39 2012

Selkie Test Heads3

Mon Sep 24 04:39:27 2012

Selkie242Plo Quar's name comes from a story I wrote back when I was 12 about two twin monsters, Fing Mar who had scorpion tails and created smog and storms, and Plo Quar who had caterpillar legs and created rain and breezes.

I drew them both on notebook paper and cut them out and made them fight when I should have been paying attention to history.

In Selkie canon, Plo Quar has a twin sister named Fing Mar who I have yet to include as anything more than a piece of background information.

Thu Sep 27 04:39:19 2012

Selkie243I love drawing quizzical expressions.

Fri Sep 28 04:39:32 2012

Selkie243I love drawing quizzical expressions.

Sat Sep 29 04:39:22 2012

Selkie Test Heads4

Mon Oct 1 04:39:14 2012

Selkie244Alternate joke dialog for panels 3-7 because it is 2am and I am insane:

B: That poor deluded sap.

K: Indeed. Heather, did you complete your mission?

H: Yes, commander. The launch codes are now in the Herald's hands.

K: Excellent. Go report our success to the Yellow One.

H: F'Tagn, Commander!

T: They... they know we can hear that, right?

S: For your kindness, you shall be spared the Great Devouring.

Thu Oct 4 04:40:29 2012

Selkie245I was going to have the drive home at twilight again like the Grandparents visit, but it seems to me that they wouldn't stay at a dinner party quite as long as they would a family gathering.

Mon Oct 8 04:40:08 2012

Selkie246

Tue Oct 9 04:39:24 2012

Selkie246I was going to have Todd give a little more detail on his background, but I chose to save it for later so I can give it a bit more fleshing out than a two-panel blurb.

Thu Oct 11 04:39:28 2012

Selkie247Gonna be an adjustment period on the artwork for a bit. In addition to the tweaks to Selkie and Todd's faces, I switched to the brush tool instead of the pencil tool to try and get softer lines overall, but after correcting for all the little nooks and crannies the brush tool leaves behind, the end result is more or less the same... (which is honestly no surprise, based on the sketch pages awhile back)

>_<

It also took way too long, but that comes with changing up a workflow process.

Mon Oct 15 04:40:05 2012

Selkie248There's hasn't been a lot of reason before to show Selkie's feet in detail, so this marks the first usage of the partial ball-joints on her toes that allow her to fan out the webs.

Thu Oct 18 04:40:21 2012

Selkie249Up until this Stroll in the Park storyline, I used the pencil tool to draw the comic, which has the benefit of really hard edged sharp lines. Been using the brush tool for this arc, and part of me feels like I've taken training wheels off. I like the variety and softer feel of the lines... but good god, do I hate having to search every panel for nooks and crannies. Brush tool doesn't color-fill quite as nicely as the pencil tool did. XD

Those underwater panels kick Pencil Tool's butt, though.

Mon Oct 22 04:39:40 2012

Swimming Wallpaper 1680×1050

Thu Oct 25 04:39:37 2012

Selkie250The original punchline was Marta calling Todd "Worst vegetarian EVER!" because he wasn't even trying to discourage the fish-hunting, but it required too much explanation to avoid giving the impression that she doesn't know why Todd would have meat. (She knows, at least, that Selkie eats meat, even if she has not yet experienced Selkie's particular fish-cravings)

Mon Oct 29 04:39:36 2012

Selkie251I've always seen Todd as someone who is vegetarian because he doesn't care very strongly about the taste of meat, versus the more political/social reasons.

Thu Nov 1 04:39:10 2012

Selkie 252Selkie and the grandparents are playing for pennies. My family used pretzels, which generally led to people eating their sticks instead of paying out.

Fri Nov 2 04:39:56 2012

Selkie 252Selkie and the grandparents are playing for pennies. My family used pretzels, which generally led to people eating their sticks instead of paying out.

Mon Nov 5 03:39:19 2012

Selkie253I mentioned way back when that Selkie is cold blooded, but I also feel like from what we've seen so far, Selkie's temperature sensitivity must be somewhat more rugged than standard endo-therms. Otherwise she'd need to live in a glass cage with a heat stone and a big plastic wheel for exercise.

Thu Nov 8 03:40:24 2012

Selkie254When you spend the afternoon reading Dr. Calvin instead of doing your math homework, your brain goes Kablooey.

Mon Nov 12 03:39:12 2012

Selkie255Because it is in my head but I am leaning towards not using it in a regular strip, here is Jessie's reaction when she gets home to Alexis tonight.

Thu Nov 15 03:39:46 2012

Selkie256Head trauma is an odd choice for a running thing, I admit.

Mon Nov 19 03:39:14 2012

Selkie257Trying a new hue for the shadows.

Thu Nov 22 03:39:18 2012

Selkie258A concept sketch for Big Tammy can be seen here.

I drew this in ballpoint pen on notebook paper very shortly after I introduced Keisha Wu Moonsong and Sandy (which was practically back at the beginning!). You can see them at the top row since they were new and I felt like drawing them at the time, but below that are some early background-character sketches.

Big Tammy is the girl with the ponytail (which I think may have influenced Jessie's design a bit, so Tammy's ponytail will probably be lower when we cameo her next strip to distinctify her a little).

The Indian girl with the braid became Savitribai (seen in the foreground of panel 1 here.) He hasn't made a visible appearance yet, but the hippie-looking kid with the glasses and poofy hair became "Star" (the little boy whose parents wish him to be un-named on the seating chart).

I have yet to find a use for the kid with unruly hair covering his eyes and the butterfly-eater.

Sat Nov 24 03:39:20 2012

Selkiegiving2Happy Belated Mad Turkey Science Day

Mon Nov 26 03:39:10 2012

Selkie259Amanda lost one of her pigtail holders solely to satisfy my love of asymmetry.

Thu Nov 29 03:39:43 2012

Selkie260My original draft ended on a different "punchline", but I re-wrote it to focus a little more on the Selkie/Amanda interaction. Here is the "deleted scene" of what the last two panels were originally going to say:

-----
Todd and Mina stare blankly at the readers.

T: She wears a kimono and no purse... where does she keep a cell phone?

M: I don't want to think about it...
-----

Mon Dec 3 03:39:19 2012

Selkie261I think Jessie takes very strongly after a somewhat-negative trait I have: when panicked, I default to the truth.

Wed Dec 5 03:39:28 2012

Selkie261I think Jessie takes very strongly after a somewhat-negative trait I have: when panicked, I default to the truth.

Thu Dec 6 03:39:22 2012

Selkie262I had some trouble with the second-to-last panel's dialogue. Jessie was going to offer to stream Sue and Kathryn on her laptop for Selkie, but my dialog involved her mentioning that she has a webTV account and could pull up the station's website for her to watch. I was trying to simplify the dialogue when I realized.... just put a damn TV in the lounge. Bam.

Fri Dec 7 03:40:08 2012

Mon Dec 10 03:39:18 2012

Selkie263Extended Mina dialogue I didn't have room for, for those that like this sort of thing:

"I probably shouldn't tell you this, but... well, I believe her story. Plus, she's young, and new, and inexperienced. An incident like this, even if not directly her fault, could destroy her career before it even starts. So, I'm... covering it up... on the condition that she is no longer allowed to take work home."

Thu Dec 13 06:39:13 2012

Selkie264The episode title is "Terror at 1600". Through an implausible series of events, Sue (a zombie) is invited to serve as head chef for a dinner at the White House. It's not one of the show's best episodes.

Mon Dec 17 03:39:24 2012

Selkie265I don't know enough details about Dune to make a Bene Gesserit punchline, but the temptation was there.

(Never read the books, and I only know the phrase Bene Gesserit from a PVP Online strip.)

Wed Dec 19 03:39:26 2012

Thu Dec 20 03:39:17 2012

Selkie266I have a tidbit of background development info I've been meaning to share for awhile now, and since it pertains to Alexis this may be my last chance for the info to be relevant. XD

One of my first Webcomic attempts was a sci-fi/superhero story that I've had running through my head since high school (I can't link to it because the website went down and I lost the source files and drawings years ago. It's for the best as they were terrible, although one day I'd like to try it again).

The story took place five years after an alien invasion and featured four humans tasked to save the world: Rita, Russell, Mari, and Leon (Russell's eleven year old son).

As a personal joke/nod, I lifted the character designs for three of those characters to become Selkie characters (albiet with different names and personalities).

Rita was actually split into two characters: Her general look was used for Marta, but her skin tone and hair color palettes were used for Mary (the orphanage staff member who first interviewed Todd). So if you palette-swap Mary's skin and hair colors onto Marta, you have Rita. Before the alien invasion, Rita was an automotive engineering student, a trait I chose to preserve with Marta.

Leon's design was used for Ricky (one of the orphanage boys picking on Selkie near the beginning). A slight difference between them is Leon has green eyes, but I gave Ricky grey ones. Also, Leon is a "gentle soul" type of character, while Ricky is a bit rougher and wilder and more jock-y.

And Mari became Alexis, which is probably the biggest personality overhaul of the bunch. Mari was a caustic venom-tongued lone-wolf who was smart and ruthless and not much of a people-person. Alexis is kind of a lazy sponge. XD

I have yet to figure out a place to incorporate Russell's character design, but you'll know him when you see him; he is a large-framed redhead with an Alabama accent.

Oh, and I almost forgot this, but Jessie's hair stripes come from this same story. One character was a cyborg human race traitor working with the enemy aliens. Her bright blue hair stripes are the only thing she and Jessie have in common. XD

If I ever revive this story it'd be fun to see how many "Selkie did it first!" moments people can find.

Sat Dec 22 03:39:21 2012

Andi As ViPunch first, ask questions while punching.

Mon Dec 24 06:39:23 2012

Selkie267There may be more shoes stabbed into drywall in the future.

Tue Dec 25 03:39:09 2012

Selkie Christmas 2012The swordfish amuses me. Happy Fishmas!

Thu Dec 27 03:39:11 2012

Selkie268Took me two and a half years to portray the month of August. Lets see how September fares.

Fri Dec 28 03:39:12 2012

Selkie268Took me two and a half years to portray the month of August. Lets see how September fares.

Mon Dec 31 03:40:48 2012

Selkie269I was originally going to have George wear a Noh theater mask, but I feel like the luchador flavor is more in his spirit.

Thu Jan 3 03:39:41 2013

Selkie270Todd and Selkie's neighbors began as a tip of the hat to one of my favorite things, but I think if I am going to use them more than sparingly, I should probably retcon their names or appearance or something.

Fri Jan 4 03:39:43 2013

Mon Jan 7 06:39:15 2013

Selkie271I'm enjoying the chance to do more with Mary, as I feel she's been in Lillian's shadow up to now, character-importance wise.

Thu Jan 10 03:39:52 2013

Dishonored SelkieAn actual transcript, since the last one had legibility issues

Selkie-as-Emily: Cans I haves an asassin mask fors my birthdays?

Todd-as-Corvo: If you're good.

Mon Jan 14 03:39:29 2013

Miami WeddingThe real world wedding had no fish-carrying intruders and was a beautiful event. :3

Thu Jan 17 03:39:37 2013

Selkie272Mary's supervisor insists that the playdate be made work-related in order to authorize it.

Mon Jan 21 03:39:11 2013

Selkie273If you can't quite make out the words on the poster, it says Cypress Miller. She is an in-universe kid's entertainment star. TV, Songs, etc.

Wed Jan 23 03:39:19 2013

Selkie274I forgot the wallpaper strip that goes across Selkie's walls in the previous strip, so... just pretend the "camera" was aimed below it. XD

Fri Jan 25 03:39:22 2013

Selkie275I feel like Selkie would have a lot of fun with paintball when she's older.

Mon Jan 28 03:39:34 2013

Selkie276Selkie's screeching capacity was referenced briefly back in strip 236 (http://www.selkiecomic.com/selkie236/).

My background philosophy for the screeching is that Selkie will use it in anger or for effect (to scare or intimidate for example), but on some social-awareness level, Selkie knows that humans don't screech, so screeching makes her look less human.

Wed Jan 30 03:39:15 2013

Selkie277I am of the opinion that censoring curse words makes them funnier than just having them spoken regularly, censor bleeps being a prime example. Hence, I love coming up with little graphic doodles for curse words. XD

Mon Feb 4 03:39:16 2013

Selkie278I can't decide if Mrs. Tarenberg and the Ikaris are being concerned neighbors, or just a little nosy. XD

Wed Feb 6 03:39:20 2013

Selkie279I have the inside-my-character's-heads background thinking that George, when he met Asuka in the hallway earlier, thought she was really pretty.

And now she's giving the "accident" line.

Fri Feb 8 03:40:25 2013

Selkie280Euphemia Tarenberg grew up reading Lovecraft and likes her horror stories eldritch.

Mon Feb 11 06:39:32 2013

Selkie281A few readers correctly guessed that the Haunted House game Selkie and George are playing was inspired by Betrayal at House on the Hill. I don't have it detailed out enough to be a fully-fleshed out game, but I made enough details up for the characters to be able to talk about it, and to give it my own flavor instead of just quoting someone else's material. XD

The game features up to six characters, Chad Tommy Larry Carrie Tina and Lucy, each one possessing four statistics: Muscle Brains Charm and Health. Each one also has a special ability unique to them and is strong in one stat but weak in the others. Chad and Carrie are Muscle and specialize in direct combat. Larry and Lucy are Brains and specialize in evasion disarming traps and solving puzzles. Tina and Tommy are Charm and specialize in confusing or even recruiting enemies.

The game has multiple victory conditions and part of the challenge is figuring out what sort of victory condition the other players are aiming for, while working towards victory yourself in some way or another.

Escape is a co-operative victory where you work together, avoid dying, and escape the House. without getting caught or killed.

Save the World involves figuring out Baron Khan's Evil Plan and thwarting it, whether through combat or trickery.

Judas is a victory condition where you defect to work WITH the Baron, and aid in the death or capture of the other players.

Last Man Standing involves killing the other players and escaping with your own life. It can cross over with a Judas victory.

Wed Feb 13 03:39:36 2013

Selkie282I feel like I should have given the game a better name than Haunted House. The Baron's Lair or something.

Fri Feb 15 03:39:15 2013

Selkie283Selkie's character is a Muscle based character who can sometimes add extra damage to attacks.

Sat Feb 16 03:39:17 2013

Selkie283Selkie's character is a Muscle based character who can sometimes add extra damage to attacks.

Mon Feb 18 03:39:10 2013

Selkie284On the subject of the Haunted House game, I basically made up enough details to give the characters something to talk about, but from what's been presented, I don't think it would work well as a real-life game without a lot of tweaking.

The most intuitive victory condition (attack the Evil Boss) is reportedly impossible without a full party of six, limiting smaller play-groups in their choices.

And as George displays here, the Last Man Standing victory condition basically turns the game into an arms race of deceit and mistrust which can assassinate players from out of nowhere.

(Geoge WAS going to save that nuke combo for the Baron, but well... he had to leave. XD)

Wed Feb 20 03:39:17 2013

Selkie285I seem to remember saying I was going to try to write shorter arcs for awhile. I looked back over the archives and realized this arc started December 27 2012.

...I SUCK at short. XD

Fri Feb 22 03:39:17 2013

Selkie286The name of Selkie's other language is "tensei". I mentioned this in narrator text during an earlier flashback sequence on strip #241.

Sat Feb 23 03:39:09 2013

Adult Selkie

Mon Feb 25 03:39:15 2013

Selkie287Dunno why I wrote a body humor joke today. Must have craps on the brains.

Wed Feb 27 03:39:11 2013

Selkie288I narrowly avoided another butt joke.

Fri Mar 1 06:40:23 2013

Selkie289It helps to speak dialogue aloud when writing. For example, Brown's last piece of dialogue was originally going to be "Accidents are just infant incidents". Infant Incident is a bit tongue-twistery to say aloud, so I went with new-born.

Maybe it's because I am writing this at 3am, but I can't stop saying it to myself now.

Infant incident.
Infant incident.
Infant incident.

Mon Mar 4 03:39:22 2013

Selkie290The original ending to this arc was very different in tone in all the wrong ways and I'm glad I revised it.

In the original draft, Mary left the apartment building to get her car brought around, and found a note on the windshield, "You're not very good at keeping secrets." signed with a capital B.

I feel like that ending would have been ominous in all the wrong ways, and more than a little cliched. Not that I'm beyond cliches, mind you. ;P This revised version works a lot better for me.

Wed Mar 6 03:39:36 2013

Selkie291Selkie's winter weather kit prioritizes insulation and heat retention as much as shielding from the cold temperatures. Insulated thermal underwear, insulated jacket, and special pockets sewn in by Grandma to hold portable heat pads close in.

I believe I mentioned this before, but Selkie goes through a LOT of portable heat pads.

Fri Mar 8 03:40:22 2013

Selkie292The action and dialogue in the final two panels was originally something different (that I may reuse later so no telling), but discussions in the previous strip's commentary gave me cause to meditate on how cold dry air would affect Selkie's breathing, which I hadn't considered. So, thanks gang! :D

Mon Mar 11 04:41:26 2013

Selkie293The spelling of Selkie's cuss words have been modified to accommodate mucusy gill-speech.

"Nezzui Joh'de" translates politely to "Unlucky Poop". Selkie's using it as an exclamation but it's actually a moderate insult.

"Kransa bi Cholek" and "Baalu" are much worse and she really shouldn't be saying them at all.

Wed Mar 13 04:41:17 2013

Selkie294In Soviet Russia, frog wears hat with you on it.

Fri Mar 15 04:39:24 2013

Selkie295Sandy's heterochromia and freckles make for fun close-ups.

And Wu is mad at me because a lot of the Orphanage Crew has kind of slipped into Tertiary Character status over time.

Mon Mar 18 07:39:21 2013

Selkie296I consider it something of a problem that Selkie's bullies have gotten more screen time than her friends at this stage. I think Wu may actually be mad at ME.

Wed Mar 20 08:39:19 2013

Selkie297Gave Jessie pink hair stripes as a spur of the moment thing. Today is a pink day.

Fri Mar 22 08:44:48 2013

Selkie298

Sat Mar 23 02:40:51 2013

Selkie298I'm playing with giving Tony more head stubble to make it clearer that his bald head is voluntary. He likes the look.

Mon Mar 25 08:39:34 2013

Selkie299

Tue Mar 26 02:41:13 2013

Selkie299This strip is, I believe, the first time Mina's wardrobe has not been monochromatic.

Wed Mar 27 08:39:45 2013

Selkie300The First Day of School arc, waaaay back when, underwent some re-writes midway through when the original ending I had intended stopped feeling "just right" to me. A consequence of this that I've regretted since then is a removal of the follow-up to Amanda's duo-prank on Selkie and Hamud. It's not a huge or important thing, but I hated that the incident just dropped off as a result of the rewrites.

Fri Mar 29 08:39:13 2013

Selkie301Why is Sandy's spirit animal a velociraptor?

Because she's a clever girl.

Fri Mar 29 18:39:20 2013

Selkie301Why is Sandy's spirit animal a velociraptor?

Because she's a clever girl.

Mon Apr 1 08:39:15 2013

Selkie302I've felt for awhile now that Tony has more of a "rival" feel than an antagonist. Time to step up his game.

Wed Apr 3 08:40:38 2013

Selkie303While sketching out the character, alternate nicknames for "Tommy the Truck" were Brick, Tank, and (briefly) Block. I chose his real name (Tommy) after I settled on his nickname, for alliterative reasons. If I had settled on Brick or Block, he would have probably been named Barry.

Fri Apr 5 00:39:14 2013

Fri Apr 5 08:39:32 2013

Selkie304"Snowmageddon" comes from my cousin, who used it to describe a 10-inch snowfall blizzard we had in my area a couple weeks ago. Which turned to warm sunshine in less than a week. What the hell, Midwest?

Mon Apr 8 08:39:20 2013

Selkie305I tried putting Tony and Amanda in the background of that last panel, but something about it looked really off. *shrug*

Wed Apr 10 08:39:16 2013

Selkie306I'm still figuring out Truck's design. His first appearance looked too much like a taller and fatter Young Todd. Tweaked his head to emphasize the unruly hair a bit more, and now he's basically a fat Goku. XD

Fri Apr 12 08:39:19 2013

Selkie307Something about the final panel of today's comic made me think of the confrontation between Atreyu and Gmork from The Neverending Story. One of my favorite scenes in one of my favorite movies.

Mon Apr 15 08:40:52 2013

Selkie308For today's commentary, I wanna talk Ricky.

Even though he's been part of the Orphanage Crew since the strip's inception, I feel like Ricky's never really established much of a role for himself. He's Tony's friend/hanger-on, he likes roughhousing, and... that's about it. Of all the kids in the Orphanage Crew (and I include Selkie and Heather in this despite their adoptions), I feel Ricky is the weakest link story and character wise.

What made me realize Ricky had this problem? Two strips ago, I forgot to draw him. The last panel, the overhead shot showing the entire snowball fight skirmish breaking out. I drew it, I inked it, I even did a head count to be sure, and yet somehow it wasn't until I had gotten halfway through coloring the strip that I realized I hadn't included Ricky in the cluster.

I "fixed it in post" by drawing him in with my tablet, but I felt bad that I had completely forgotten to include the guy in the group shot.

Fast forward to this strip. My original scripts had Chanelle talking with Keisha and Heather in this strip. But while thinking about Ricky, and reading over Giselle's "Smear the orphans!" line I got to thinking... Ricky is one of the orphans too. He's part of the group as much as any of the others. Does he hear this comment and just not care? That's dumb. Yeah he'd care. So why are Keisha and Heather the only ones getting mad at it?

I rewrote the script and replaced Chanelle with Ricky for this part. I'd like to give Ricky a chance to grow a bit more and find a stronger place in the story than just Tony's hanger-on. Plus, Ricky is part of the Crew. He should be more involved.

This means downgrading Chanelle's role in the scene a bit, but she's a "school friend", tertiary support cast. Ricky can and should have dibs on "screen time" over a character who basically disappears when the kids aren't at school.

And if you were wondering, the final panel's dialogue was VERY different when Chanelle was in the scene. Went something like this:

Keisha: Oh HELL no!

Heather: Right?!

Chanelle: But, I thought Heather had parents?

Keisha: Yeah, but she USED to be an orphan. Same thing.

Heather: [scoops two fists full of snow and lofts them over her head] SOLIDARITY!

(I like the idea of Heather yelling "Solidarity" at the top of her lungs, but I'm not convinced she would know that word unassisted.)

(Longest commentary ever.)

Wed Apr 17 08:40:17 2013

Selkie309So, as the regular blog post mentions, the strip shown here is not the original scripted installment for today. It's actually very very different.

The original version of this strip focused pretty heavily on Moonsong. I've had him planned out from the beginning as being blind in his left eye (hence the bangs covering it), but initially and for the past three years up until now I had intended for him to have a false glass eye, not just a blind eye.

The original script for today had Moonsong take a snowball to the back of the head which popped out his false eye. While he was scrabbling on his hand and knees to find it and trying to call a Time Out, Michael made ready to lob another snowball at him, only to be stopped by a barrage of snowballs from Keisha Heather and Ricky. Sandy runs up to Moonsong expressing concern over his false eye being popped out and the action sort of pauses while he looks for it. Ricky finds it in the snow and picks it up, only to be grossed out by the residues left on it ("Eeew! It's all slimy!") Moonsong snatches the false eye out of Ricky's hand angrily and glares at him. With his hair being blown to the side and his empty socket exposed Moonsong retorts to Ricky, "Of COURSE it's slimy! It's been in my head!"

I've had that scene and the "Of COURSE it's slimy! It's been in my head!" line running around my mind for almost as long as Moonsong's been around. In fact, the original draft of this snowball fight arc was ALL ABOUT the reveal of his false eye and Moonsong's "origin story" before I rewrote it to focus on Selkie.

But as the snowball fight built up to the "Moonsong loses his false eye" moment, I started thinking about all the complications it brought up and it felt less and less like a good idea to have included in the arc.

Even if I chose to ignore the fact that the whole scene is unnecessary and does nothing but add ANOTHER character thread to the arc, the whole image of Moonsong having a false eye pop out and run around with an empty socket has a lot of squick and gross-out factors involved that would only detract, and not add, to the whole. And I had already been drawing his "false eye" as if it were a "blind eye" anyway, so taking the extra time out of the arc to emphasize and draw attention to it brought nothing to the table.

In the end, I chose to re-draw and re-write this strip to focus more on the group as a whole galvanizing and banding together. Which has the benefit of greatly shortening the time away from Selkie's crisis. And as for the false eye, since I was already rendering it as a blind eye anyway I decided to null the false eye premise and just leave it exactly as it appeared to be: a blind left eye.

Second Longest Commentary Ever.

Thu Apr 18 08:40:51 2013

Sat Apr 20 11:09:26 2013

Selkie310Paul Griers is the fourth member of the supporting cast to be a repurposed character from a superhero story I have had bouncing through my head ever since high school. The other three are Ricky (the orphan with the triangle hair) Marta (Selkie's aunt) and Alexis (Jessie's ex-girlfriend).

Mon Apr 22 08:39:32 2013

Selkie311I drew the damn thing and this page kind of scares me...

Wed Apr 24 08:39:44 2013

Selkie312The background kids on the playground should PROBABLY be included for continuity's sake, but I feel this works better if Selkie Amanda Tony and Tommy the Truck are... isolated.

Fri Apr 26 08:40:54 2013

Selkie313I went through multiple iterations of what action Selkie should take to defend herself against Truck in this strip and had a hard time weighing pros and cons of different reactions.

First draft of this scene, she bit him. And I did not miss all the readers calling for that particular action beforehand, either. ;) But I decided biting him, with her sharp teeth and venomous saliva, presented too many problems story-wise. How does she explain it to witnesses? How drastic of an effect does it have? Does Truck even LIVE through it? A different iteration on this theme had her spit a huge loogie in his face instead of biting, but that had the same problems.

Another draft had Selkie screeching right in his face and slashing with her claws. The problem here is that Selkie, by the nature of her character design, walks a very fragile line where she can easily become too "monstrous" and lose empathy. Plus slashing with her claws creates more witness and severity of reaction problems on top of that.

In another draft, she dodged the grab, returned snowball fire, and knocked Truck over on top of Amanda and Tony. It's funnier and more light-hearted than the other ideas and was a strong candidate for awhile, but made her victory too easy and robbed "Tommy the Truck" of his chance to establish himself as a valid threat in the Rogues Gallery.

Ultimately, I went with the groin kick because it allowed Selkie to obtain a victory over her aggressor without overdoing the combat elements of the scene or making her victory too easy (you could probably argue that I made it a little TOO difficult for her actually...).

Eventually, though... I'd like Selkie to utilize her saliva in self defense. But it's still too early for that. Someday, though.

Someday...

Sat Apr 27 02:39:15 2013

Sun Apr 28 02:39:12 2013

Mon Apr 29 08:39:13 2013

Selkie314Truck's gravity-defying tears are an art oversight that I chose not to modify because I really like how his face came out and don't like it as much with the tears running downward. Can't articulate why, it just loses something to me.

Wed May 1 08:39:16 2013

Selkie315"Shake it off" is probably a very poor choice of words.

Fri May 3 02:39:20 2013

Selkie Guest Comic (The Merry Lurker)I love the next to last panel. :3

Mon May 6 02:39:08 2013

ColoringBook1SELKIE wants to learn Bubble Beam! But SELKIE can not learn more than four moves. Delete a move so SELKIE can learn Bubble Beam?

>Tackle -Hi Jump Kick
-Water Gun -Poison Sting

1... 2... 3... POOF!

SELKIE forgot Tackle!

SELKIE has learned Bubble Beam!

Wed May 8 08:41:59 2013

Selkie316One of Tony's Random Acquaintances (Lynni, the girl with the wavy blonde hair in the last panel) is basically a walking accident. She is a caucasian girl with long blonde hair in an orange jacket. Heather is ALSO a caucasian girl with long blonde hair in an orange jacket. Both also have very similar colorings in terms of skin hair and clothes. I wasn't thinking about the similarity when I put Lynni in an orange jacket and it's been driving me batty. XD

Fri May 10 08:39:25 2013

Selkie317Forget it, Giselle; It's Chinatown.

Sun May 12 00:39:21 2013

Selkie317Forget it, Giselle; It's Chinatown.

Mon May 13 08:39:25 2013

Selkie318A reader mentioned Chanelle in the last strip's commentary and how she sort of... disappears from the scene in the last two pages.

This is partially a result of me avoiding excessive panel crowding, but also part of my earlier effort to work Ricky into the scene a bit more strongly than he was initially written. I feel, as before, that this scene works better overall if the Orphanage Crew is prioritized over "at-school-friends" like Chanelle.

Even though her physical presence is being downplayed, I think there's enough information to work with from previous strips for Chanelle's fate in the incident to be inferred.

Wed May 15 02:39:19 2013

Selkie319Giselle is turning out to be a bit more malicious than I thought she'd be the first time I drew her. I love drawing her, though. :D

Sat May 18 08:39:18 2013

Selkie320When I was first drafting Mina, I wanted to make sure I got an authentic name, so I turned to Wikipedia for name ideas. I settled on a combination of real-world writers/human rights advocates Mina Assadi and Mahnaz Afkhami. I turned to the same list today for a name for Mina's daughter (Who I don't THINK I've named yet, but if I have I'm retconning it. XD), and chose to name her after Goli Ameri, President for the Center for Global Engagement.

Mon May 20 08:39:17 2013

Selkie321While out of town last week I carried my nine year old cousin in my arms up three flights of stairs to put her properly to bed. Having carried a kid Selkie's age and build that far in real life, I now find myself wondering if Jessie secretly works out.

Wed May 22 08:39:39 2013

Selkie322I can't decide if Todd has racked up enough goodwill at work to just traipse out on a moments notice like that, or if his supervisor Bill is just that much of a laid-back boss.

Thu May 23 08:39:16 2013

Selkie322I can't decide if Todd has racked up enough goodwill at work to just traipse out on a moments notice like that, or if his supervisor Bill is just that much of a laid-back boss.

Fri May 24 08:39:22 2013

Selkie323Speaking Selkie's slurred-speech aloud is kind of wrongly fun.

Mon May 27 08:39:20 2013

Selkie324God help you if you interrupt Lisa during the swashbuckling denouement.

Wed May 29 08:39:27 2013

Selkie325This was originally going to be a Friday strip for cliffhanger purposes, but holding this strip out for Friday required my Wednesday strip to be full of fluff and non-essentials. It was basically a full page of Mina and the Principal bickering. I think this page offers enough of that to get the point across.

Fri May 31 02:39:13 2013

Selkie326I was gonna have Amanda make the Charlie Brown AAUUGH face, but remembered I already did that. I think the facepalm is funnier, anyway. XD

Sat Jun 1 02:39:39 2013

Third AnniversaryGleeful confetti. :D

Mon Jun 3 02:39:16 2013

Selkie327This is the first time we've seen Lisa standing up. I figure her for being a bit tall and gangly, although bear in mind that Jessie is also short.

Mon Jun 3 18:39:36 2013

Selkie327This is the first time we've seen Lisa standing up. I figure her for being a bit tall and gangly, although bear in mind that Jessie is also short.

Wed Jun 5 08:39:39 2013

Selkie328My original drafts had Selkie give Amanda a dismissive flip of her hand when Amanda told her not to blame her. Excised it for space constraints, so just imagine a dismissive wave of her webs.

Fri Jun 7 02:39:17 2013

Selkie329I now have an urge to make up nicknames for the other cast members.

Fri Jun 7 11:41:30 2013

Selkie329I now have an urge to make up nicknames for the other cast members.

Mon Jun 10 02:39:13 2013

Selkie330

Mon Jun 10 18:39:16 2013

Selkie330

Wed Jun 12 08:39:24 2013

Selkie331I had a few more plans for the "Wu is Mad at Selkie" sub-thread, but (1) I feel like Wu wouldn't continue to hold a grudge once they came under mutual attack (especially knowing she got hurt) and (B) my original plans would work better as it's own dedicated arc, I think, so I'm gonna backburner them for awhile.

Fri Jun 14 02:39:20 2013

Selkie332I may start referring to Principal Ashton as "Peaches".

Mon Jun 17 02:39:13 2013

Selkie333I figure Selkie's warmed up back to lucidity but she'd still really like some heat pads please and thank you.

Wed Jun 19 08:39:30 2013

Selkie334Todd probably shouldn't have made that hobbit crack. I mean, hobbits are peaceful farm folk who want nothing more from life than a good pipe underneath a large oak on a balmy day. It's almost a compliment. Unless you count Smeagol.

Thu Jun 20 11:39:53 2013

Fri Jun 21 02:39:18 2013

Selkie335If Amanda ever finds out that groin kicks = week off school.... well, she just shouldn't ever know this.

Mon Jun 24 02:39:18 2013

Selkie336There is a very small numerical symbology reference embedded in the strip's dialogue if you wish to puzzle it out. Hint: there are also three affronted faculty members.

Wed Jun 26 02:39:18 2013

Selkie337"That escalated quickly" would make an appropriate title for this whole arc, honestly.

Thu Jun 27 00:39:19 2013

Selkie337"That escalated quickly" would make an appropriate title for this whole arc, honestly.

Fri Jun 28 02:39:13 2013

Selkie338When I worked at a cable company tech support center, I had a customer once who, when I called him Mister Jones (not his real name, don't even remember the real name) he got severely indignant and demanded I call him Doctor Jones. It always struck me as a really egotistical and conceited thing to do to a complete stranger. That experience is a small part of where Professor Trunchbull comes from.

Fri Jun 28 18:39:23 2013

Mon Jul 1 02:39:11 2013

Selkie339Drawing contorted exaggerated facial expressions may be one of my favorite things.

Tue Jul 2 08:39:32 2013

Selkie339Drawing contorted exaggerated facial expressions may be one of my favorite things.

Wed Jul 3 02:39:33 2013

Selkie340Selkie's original line in panel four was "I's not s scareds of hims, ands I's nots scareds of YOUS!", but I felt that came off a bit too adult-ish in tone. Changed it to give Selkie my insult-of-choice when I was her age: JERK!

Fri Jul 5 02:39:22 2013

Selkie341Mrs. Trunchbull is named after a literary character who hates lies.

Mon Jul 8 02:41:06 2013

Selkie342Selkie's part of their world.

Mon Jul 8 18:39:55 2013

Selkie342Selkie's part of their world.

Wed Jul 10 08:39:23 2013

Selkie343One of these days I need to make a nice big template for that "rabbit-ears" photograph instead of copy-pasting the original one from back in strip 148.

Fri Jul 12 02:39:26 2013

Selkie344On days that feature veggie-heavy menus, Selkie usually just asks the line cooks for some hot dogs.

Mon Jul 15 02:39:20 2013

Selkie345Sometimes the surprise is jalapenos. Sometimes it's bell peppers, summer squash, or in one horrific incident bubblegum.

Wed Jul 17 08:39:30 2013

Selkie346Commentary to be updated wen the comic is posted.

Wed Jul 17 11:39:47 2013

Selkie346My original intent was to have each individual cell be a different background color, but I didn't think it worked well. Wild background color shifts tend to be more of a memory/dreamscape/emotional reaction thing in Selkie strips, and non of this is imagined.

Fri Jul 19 02:39:14 2013

Selkie347Grandpa Theo used quite a bit of hair gel to turn his forehead tuft into a mighty horn.

Mon Jul 22 02:39:24 2013

Selkie348Very very VERY early in the comic's formation, I had a story arc idea where Selkie stays over at her grandparents, but nobody knew yet about her being carnivorous so they gently coerced her into eating vegetables, she got sick and they all felt very very bad. I pretty much killed the "grandparents don't know she's carnivorous" idea when I realized there was no good reason for that information not to be shared with them, but the base components of that arc became this bit.

Mon Jul 22 18:39:24 2013

Wed Jul 24 08:39:27 2013

Selkie349Todd didn't just say "I'll call Lillian" because his parents haven't ever met the orphanage staff.

Fri Jul 26 02:39:25 2013

Fractured Mind FillerLast couple days have been inSANE.

Mon Jul 29 02:39:18 2013

Selkie350I love drawing the wrinkles on Lillian's face.

Mon Jul 29 11:39:37 2013

Selkie350I love drawing the wrinkles on Lillian's face.

Wed Jul 31 02:39:57 2013

Selkie351Special Affairs Agent Then (rhymes with "Hen") is not the doctor in question.

Wed Jul 31 14:39:25 2013

Selkie351Special Affairs Agent Then (rhymes with "Hen") is not the doctor in question.

Fri Aug 2 02:39:15 2013

Selkie352Dr. Pohl De'Madiea has been bumping around my head nearly since the comic's beginning. I've been looking forward to finally introducing him.

Mon Aug 5 02:39:16 2013

Selkie353Grandpa Theo's washed out the unicorn hair gel by now. A tragedy.

Wed Aug 7 08:39:31 2013

Selkie354"The Plan" is a combination of Hit-and-Run and Divide and Conquer.

Wed Aug 7 17:39:36 2013

Selkie354"The Plan" is a combination of Hit-and-Run and Divide and Conquer.

Fri Aug 9 02:39:24 2013

Selkie355I love that cloud brush. I also love drawing Giselle. Maybe cloud-brush Giselle?

Mon Aug 12 02:39:19 2013

Selkie356My original "punchline" for the bottom row was a silent beat panel followed up with Sandy pictograph-cursing. I love the pictograph-cursing, but it's probably an easy thing to over-rely on.

Secondary re-write "punchline" before I settled on the current one was, "Yeah, well YOU wanted to play TAG for the hundredth-billionth-millionth time! At least i went outside the BOX!"

Mon Aug 12 14:39:43 2013

Wed Aug 14 02:39:22 2013

Selkie357I feel like when she gets a bit older, Amanda might identify a bit with The Blues.

Wed Aug 14 08:39:25 2013

Selkie357I feel like when she gets a bit older, Amanda might identify a bit with The Blues.

Fri Aug 16 02:39:28 2013

Selkie358After drawing this one I was so eager to get to the follow-up strip I drew the first three panels while the inks dried. XD

Fri Aug 16 08:39:53 2013

Selkie358After drawing this one I was so eager to get to the follow-up strip I drew the first three panels while the inks dried. XD

Mon Aug 19 02:39:12 2013

Selkie359Occasionally when I post half-finished to-be-completed later updates, people tell me they like how the blank white background lends a different emotional tone than when the backgrounds are done normally. Thought I'd use that intentionally this go-around.

Wed Aug 21 02:39:12 2013

Selkie360Had to give the dialogue a few passes to give Heather the right words to say without it sounding too far beyond her years.

Fri Aug 23 02:39:28 2013

Selkie361The reflection SLAM panel was one of the first things I conceived of when working out this scene.

Mon Aug 26 02:39:31 2013

Selkie362If Giselle can truly master the fist-shake she'll make an excellent evil mad scientist when she's older.

...I feel like her theoretical evil mechanical minions would be pony-themed. Not THOSE ponies, mind you. Or maybe...

Wed Aug 28 02:39:26 2013

Selkie363The last few strips have used greyscale watercolor washes overlaid on top of the standard flat colors, to add a little more texture.

Fri Aug 30 02:39:19 2013

Selkie364I had a few issues when I was younger of getting befriended by kids who just wanted to manipulate me or case my house out for stuff to steal. It suuuuuuuuucked.

Fri Aug 30 08:39:22 2013

Selkie364I had a few issues when I was younger of getting befriended by kids who just wanted to manipulate me or case my house out for stuff to steal. It suuuuuuuuucked.

Mon Sep 9 00:06:31 2013

Pohl's bunny ears were one of my first mental images of the character. I almost didn't use it but... nah. XD

Mon Sep 9 02:39:23 2013

The bunny ears just sort of disappeared in panel 6 originally and I wanted to address that. Decided to make Agent Brown be a jerk. XD

Wed Sep 11 02:39:58 2013

I considered doing a close-up of Selkie's open gills, but it's not really necessary to see her gooey irritated membranes when I could use the panel space for story-pertinent stuff.

Wed Sep 11 08:39:59 2013

I considered doing a close-up of Selkie's open gills, but it's not really necessary to see her gooey irritated membranes when I could use the panel space for story-pertinent stuff.

Fri Sep 13 02:40:04 2013

I love peaches, but then again I'm an omnivore.

Fri Sep 13 08:40:04 2013

I love peaches, but then again I'm an omnivore.

Mon Sep 16 02:40:20 2013

I had to ask my mother the difference between chicken soup and chicken broth to make sure I used the right wording. Apparently broth is the second easiest thing in the world to to cook if you count boiling water as the first.

Wed Sep 18 02:39:54 2013

I bet you'll never guess which panel backgrounds in this strip I like best.

Fri Sep 20 02:41:33 2013

Brown may be one of the most frustrating things.

Mon Sep 23 02:43:08 2013

I feel bad for pretty much every character on both sides of this discussion. SO FRUSTRATING.

Wed Sep 25 02:40:01 2013

Can I just say how happy I am that I can now stop double-checking everything I type regarding Selkie to ensure I didn't use the word "sarnothi" prematurely? XD

Fri Sep 27 02:40:35 2013

Theo is an amateur conspiracy theorist; he's used to reading between lines.

(You can't go pro without the tinfoil hat)

Mon Sep 30 02:40:07 2013

Oh hello again, actual backgrounds. How've you been?

Mon Sep 30 14:40:32 2013

Oh hello again, actual backgrounds. How've you been?

Wed Oct 2 02:40:32 2013

Initially I was going to draw Pohl using crazy-black-and-green stuff to make a padlock-shape on his phone before dialing to suggest he was securing the line, but I think making a phone call to his wife is a lot less risky than using crazy-black-and-green stuff in, well, a PUBLIC STAIRWELL.

Fri Oct 4 02:39:26 2013

The sculpting tool only LOOKS like a blade. It's blunted, and lighter than it looks. Also, hitting or trying to carve something with it would probably chip and break it. It can also be difficult to control properly for the inexperienced user, but at a certain level of craft you can make both big sweeping cuts with it as well as smaller fine-tuned polishes.

Fri Oct 4 14:39:15 2013

Mon Oct 7 02:39:15 2013

I was gonna do the desert panel in color but then I got to thinking of Sai Fen's silliness as having a really really hokey and bad "spaghetti western" dialect, hence the sepia. XD

Mon Oct 7 17:39:14 2013

I was gonna do the desert panel in color but then I got to thinking of Sai Fen's silliness as having a really really hokey and bad "spaghetti western" dialect, hence the sepia. XD

Wed Oct 9 02:42:10 2013

Was gonna write Suko giggling in panel 1, but I think his face says it all.

Fri Oct 11 02:39:21 2013

Lot of dialogue juggling involved to balance expo-speak with not SOUNDING like expo-speak too much.

Sat Oct 12 14:39:15 2013

Lot of dialogue juggling involved to balance expo-speak with not SOUNDING like expo-speak too much.

Mon Oct 14 02:40:01 2013

Eventually I want to work out a full tensei alphabet for the Ancillary Art page.

Wed Oct 16 02:39:05 2013

The upper case I and lower case l in the font I use for Selkie look identical. Did not consider that when making substitution-cypher dialog. XD

Fri Oct 18 02:39:07 2013

Every time I see a red pickup truck, I think of Smallfoot from the Go-Bots.

Mon Oct 21 02:39:21 2013

I wanted this strip to look looser than usual so I drew it all freehand straight into Photoshop, no sketches or penciling first.

Wed Oct 23 02:40:38 2013

I like the colors on this one.

Fri Oct 25 02:39:11 2013

A variation on this dream sequence, featuring a dark and scary forest instead of a seashore, was going to be part of the doctor visit arc but I shelved it until later.

Mon Oct 28 02:42:11 2013

I don't think I'd want this much loose wobbleyness as a regular feature, but I do like the speed at which this dream-sequence method makes strips.

Wed Oct 30 02:39:11 2013

I estimate this strip to be 42% lasers.

Fri Nov 1 02:39:17 2013

Freehanded this one the same way I did the dream sequence strips before it. No sketches or thumbnails. Not sure it works as well for the strip's "regular" style as it did for the line-less dream-world.

Mon Nov 4 02:39:12 2013

Panel 1 is partially inspired by real life. While on vacation and sharing a hotel room with my family two weeks ago, I was informed that I murmer and talk in my sleep. Loudly, apparently. No one would tell me if I said anything embarrassing...

Wed Nov 6 02:39:31 2013

Can't tell if Squishy Face or Rapid Nod is best face.

Thu Nov 7 02:39:34 2013

Can't tell if Squishy Face or Rapid Nod is best face.

Thu Nov 7 17:39:21 2013

Can't tell if Squishy Face or Rapid Nod is best face.

Fri Nov 8 02:39:14 2013

My initial concept for the sarnothi's mode of greeting was an east-asian inspired hand-clasp and bow at the waist. I wanted a sarnothi greeting to be something that disabled or impaired use of the hands/claws as a sign of trust. But the use of a bowing gesture didn't make sense to me. The act of bowing doesn't "feel" to me like something an underwater culture would develop. So it makes more sense to me that, since sarnothi are hunters and predators by evolution, a sign of trust in their culture would be to blind yourself and "sheathe" your weapons.

Although the premise of "lowering yourself" before a superior does exist in Sarnoth, in a fashion. Culturally, it is rude to float or swim at a higher elevation than a social superior. If traveling together the social lesser does so at a lower elevation, and if addressed or summoned the social lesser must be the one to take initiative to correct any discrepancies in elevation (for example, if a social superior addressed Pohl while Pohl was currently swimming above him, it would be Pohl's social obligation to swim downward and place himself at a lower elevation while addressing his social superior.)

Backstory bonus extra: During his first year or so on the surface, while taking medical school courses, Pohl had to learn not to be very uncomfortable with being taller than some of his instructors. He had a lingering social obligation impulse to "swim lower".

Fri Nov 8 08:39:25 2013

Fri Nov 8 20:40:47 2013

Mon Nov 11 08:39:15 2013

When Suko was originally introduced, I mentioned in commentary (but not at that point in the strip) that he was 4. I wrote him with the intent of "toddler-speak" initially but upgraded him to 4 later without modifying the dialogue for reasons I can only describe as "making sense at the time". Readers with more parenting experience than me were quick to point out, however, "4 year olds don't work that way".

I'm willing to admit a mistake when it happens, and I'd rather keep the toddlerspeak and make him 2 than change the dialogue I envision for him. So I'm canonizing him at "2 and a bit over" now.

Mon Nov 11 14:39:29 2013

Tue Nov 12 20:39:20 2013

Wed Nov 13 02:39:08 2013

Considering this list of baby names, I may as well and just go ahead and officially confirm the fandom speculation that, yes, Suko is named after Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender. XD

For this reason the baby's name was originally going to be Asu La, but... well, it's an unlucky name. XD

For those unfamiliar with the Last Airender franchise, the names listed are all sarnothi pronunciations of ATLA character names.

Suko = Zuko
Tai Li = Ty Lee
Kio Shi = Kyoshi
Bei Fon = Bei Fong (Toph's surname)

Wed Nov 13 14:39:14 2013

Fri Nov 15 02:39:21 2013

Selkie's not huge on history.

Fri Nov 15 08:39:19 2013

Selkie's not huge on history.

Mon Nov 18 02:39:12 2013

I originally was going to put a green dash line between Pohl's hands in panel 6 to suggest motion, but I thought it might come across as Pohl using crazy-black-and-green-stuff to display his point, which I don't want to suggest him doing.

Wed Nov 20 02:39:34 2013

You all sussed this out years ago. XD

Wed Nov 20 14:39:27 2013

You all sussed this out years ago. XD

Thu Nov 21 02:39:18 2013

Fri Nov 22 02:39:18 2013

Stuffing is dressing.

Fri Nov 22 08:39:45 2013

Stuffing is dressing.

Mon Nov 25 02:39:27 2013

The four Clans are loosely based on the premise of Mind Soul Heart Body (in the same order listed in panel 5). If I were to place them into a framework of the four classic Western elements, Tel'Dora would be Water (fluid and adaptable), Mor'Kama would be Air (restless and ethereal), Jin'Sorai would be Fire (passionate and dynamic), and Sar'Teri would be Earth (conservative and solid).

Wed Nov 27 02:39:25 2013

Sarnothi culture is divided amongst the four Major Clans discussed previously, but each Major Clan also has it's own system of sub-clans branched within it. Many of these clans, including the four Major Clans, began as families of influence within Sarnoth's government until they evolved into social and political entities unto themselves.

The term "clan" is largely divorced from the concept of a family structure in sarnothi society and generally refers to the established political and socially-influential groups of the city's government. Almost all sarnothi belong to one of the various sub-sects of their Major Clan due to Sarnoth using a form of caste system with varying amounts of rigidity. However, the individual's surname is unrelated to the clan you are born into (or in some cases move into). For example, there is no Clan De'Madiea; Pohl De'Madiea is a member of Clan Sho'Shen within Clan Tel'Dora.

Among Sarnothi, this sentence structure would not be confusing.

Wed Nov 27 14:39:12 2013

Fri Nov 29 02:39:14 2013

The Clan of Laborers and Peacemakers (Sarnoth's law enforcement body) are also the Clan with the most control over industry, finances, and other resources.

Fri Nov 29 08:39:13 2013

The Clan of Laborers and Peacemakers (Sarnoth's law enforcement body) are also the Clan with the most control over industry, finances, and other resources.

Mon Dec 2 02:39:36 2013

I......... I really like the curse word cryptography.

Mon Dec 2 14:39:26 2013

I......... I really like the curse word cryptography.

Wed Dec 4 02:39:21 2013

Behn's last name was Su'Todai. His wife is named Thei Foh, and his children are Voh and Pe Geh.

Fri Dec 6 02:39:19 2013

At the round table you can see the Voice (a leadership position which leads in-Clan matters) of the Mor'Kama, Tel'Dora, Jin'Sorai, and Sar'Teri (clockwise from top).

Jin'Sorai and Mor'Kama are easiest to tell apart; Jin'Sorai are generally light blues and violet skin tones, and have a tendency for green eyes. Mor'Kama are pale greeny-yellow with coal-black hair, and do not develop body markings.

Tel'Dora and Sar'Teri can look similar at a glance, but Sar'Teri generally have darker forest-green or olive-green skin tones; their markings are lighter in tone than the rest of their skin, and develop in geometric tendencies. Tel'Dora are a light green-gray to aqua and have stripe-patterned markings.

Mon Dec 9 02:39:31 2013

I actually haven't yet decided which Major Clan the Maiden in Sai Fen's sculpture belongs too. We'll see....

Wed Dec 11 02:39:24 2013

I settled on Mor'Kama, since the story involves spirits and the Mor'Kama are the spiritual clan. Also as another reader pointed out, the Mor'Kama have yet to be spotlit in the narrative so here we go.

Thu Dec 12 08:40:54 2013

Fri Dec 13 02:39:29 2013

In my very early iterations of Sarnoth they were a more directly high-fantasy magic-using people, and a very common multi-purpose cantrip that would have been used regularly in the comic was "Han Shin Jian Tho". Eventually I moved towards a more magitech-y theme for Sarnoth, but Han Shin Jian Tho was still something bouncing around my mental notes. So when I needed a name for the Eel Spirit, I jumped right away to repurpose the former "magic phrase" into his name.

Back when I teased an early drawing of "The Maiden and the Eel Spirit" I had not yet worked out the Eel Spirit's proper name. Which is why it wasn't mentioned back then. XD

Mon Dec 16 02:39:42 2013

My non-canon goofy nicknames for the maiden and her mate are Wai Fu and Huzubando.

Wed Dec 18 02:39:45 2013

That big strand of hair blocking panel 1 was an afterthought. Got a little R-Rated for a moment there.

Fri Dec 20 02:39:42 2013

Tragic endings are awkward to explain.

Sun Dec 22 22:39:37 2013

A cut-for dialogue-flow panel from this page was Selkie grasping her throat in mock-gagging and saying, "Ughs! MORALS..."

Mon Dec 23 14:39:32 2013

A cut-for dialogue-flow panel from this page was Selkie grasping her throat in mock-gagging and saying, "Ughs! MORALS..."

Tue Dec 24 22:41:12 2013

Truck looks constipated.

Wed Dec 25 14:39:53 2013

Truck looks constipated.

Fri Dec 27 02:39:49 2013

The quote about fleeing comes from sarnothi hand-to-hand combat traditions. Meaning, yes, there IS mermaid karate. The techniques don't do much on land though. XD

Fri Dec 27 08:39:24 2013

The quote about fleeing comes from sarnothi hand-to-hand combat traditions. Meaning, yes, there IS mermaid karate. The techniques don't do much on land though. XD

Mon Dec 30 02:39:42 2013

I'd ask how many people had wondered about where Selkie's speech patterns come from, but I am afraid the amount of affirmative responses would crash the comments server.

Tue Dec 31 17:39:48 2013

Sarnothi religion includes the concept of a dual-spirit. There is a spirit-self which is comparable to the idea of a "soul", but also a second spirit (a separate entity entirely) that serves as a bridge between the corporeal and spiritual worlds. Pluralized word forms are commonly used to address both a person's spirit-self and their spirit-bridge counterpart simultaneously, to avoid disrespecting one or the other.

Tue Dec 31 22:39:20 2013

Fri Jan 3 02:39:24 2014

Pohl puts the "magi" in "magitech".

I wanted to close out the De'Madiea family's appearance with something unique that Todd and Selkie couldn't necessarily see/hear, but not something that ended the arc on a huge plot-related WHAM note like the "last of her clan's survivors" exposition from the hospital scene.

Fri Jan 3 08:42:30 2014

Mon Jan 6 02:39:31 2014

There's some pretty big continuity errors here that I didn't catch in time to fix (or if I did go back to fix them it would delay the comic to the point of a skipped update). Lets make a Where's Waldo game of it instead.

Wed Jan 8 02:39:32 2014

If anyone asks Andi whether the irreparable damage to those pumps as a result of being wrenched into drywall is representative of some aspect of the work as a whole, I hope to god she has a good answer for that because I do not. And yet, I would totally ask that question. XD

Wed Jan 8 14:41:24 2014

Fri Jan 10 02:39:49 2014

Andi's tattoo list now includes hearts and clovers. I think maybe horseshoes or blue moons should be next.

And to get that Gilgamesh tattoo completed.

Fri Jan 10 08:40:50 2014

Andi's tattoo list now includes hearts and clovers. I think maybe horseshoes or blue moons should be next.

And to get that Gilgamesh tattoo completed.

Mon Jan 13 02:39:22 2014

I love Paul.

Wed Jan 15 02:39:22 2014

Someone in the previous strip's commentary said they read Paul's dialogue in a hippie voice. Now I can't unhear it. XD

Fri Jan 17 00:39:13 2014

Mon Jan 20 02:40:50 2014

The man in the helmet is named Gladiator.

Wed Jan 22 02:39:23 2014

Was originally going to have Todd say "Marjorie" or "Ophelia" or something else old-fashioned sounding, but then realized it was a good "callback joke" opportunity. :3

Wed Jan 22 14:39:25 2014

Was originally going to have Todd say "Marjorie" or "Ophelia" or something else old-fashioned sounding, but then realized it was a good "callback joke" opportunity. :3

Fri Jan 24 02:39:24 2014

Cramming in all those S's was fun. :D

Mon Jan 27 02:39:29 2014

Very briefly considered ending the fake faint on panel seven as a cliffhanger, but that'd just be cruel.

Wed Jan 29 02:39:34 2014

I have a very loose catalog of what the colors of each "emotive panel" mean. Some are more intuitive than others.

Fri Jan 31 00:39:35 2014

Todd makes angry voicemails the same way Light Yagami eats potato chips.

Mon Feb 3 02:39:30 2014

Considered drawing a Solitaire game behind the word processor window in Trunchbull's desktop, but wasn't sure it would convey well at that size.

Mon Feb 3 14:41:04 2014

Considered drawing a Solitaire game behind the word processor window in Trunchbull's desktop, but wasn't sure it would convey well at that size.

Wed Feb 5 02:42:35 2014

I've been looking forward to drawing Angry Trunchbulls berating Principal Ashton. :3

Wed Feb 5 14:40:28 2014

I've been looking forward to drawing Angry Trunchbulls berating Principal Ashton. :3

Fri Feb 7 02:39:27 2014

I need to show Selkie reading more. Literacy is Awesome and all that.

Mon Feb 10 02:39:55 2014

The Professor's dialogue needed a lot of tweaks, many of them to make things a bit less... OVERT.

Wed Feb 12 02:43:13 2014

Panel 6 in a nutshell: Error 404, culpability not found.

Fri Feb 14 02:39:36 2014

I should have just made panel 1 nothing but the cussing pictographs.

Mon Feb 17 02:39:22 2014

As the retail worker who has had to clean up these messes from unsupervised kids browsing toy, this strip was painful for me. XD

Wed Feb 19 02:39:16 2014

I tweaked my background texture brush to be more random in it's orientation so the spread of texturing feels less patterned and clumpy. The pink emotive panel is also using a new watercolor-ish brush I made that selects colors semi-randomly along preset fore and background colors (pink and white, in this instance).

Thu Feb 20 22:39:32 2014

My younger cousin was watching me draw this while visiting last weekend. He thinks Amanda looks like The Grinch. I told him he's basically right.

Fri Feb 21 14:40:03 2014

My younger cousin was watching me draw this while visiting last weekend. He thinks Amanda looks like The Grinch. I told him he's basically right.

Mon Feb 24 02:39:26 2014

I think I may have to admit to myself that I can't freehand straight lines... -_-

Wed Feb 26 02:39:17 2014

I've filmed college games from the sidelines where soccer players took one hundred mile per hour flying balls right into their gut, shook it off and started running back down the field to help score a goal. Soccer players are a lot tougher than me.

Fri Feb 28 02:39:17 2014

Amanda's got a temper and, occasionally, a potty mouth.

Mon Mar 3 02:41:34 2014

May have slightly overdone it on the emotive reaction panels. Maybe.

Wed Mar 5 02:39:52 2014

This is not my first violation of the 180-degree rule, nor is it likely to be my last. -_-

Fri Mar 7 02:39:32 2014

I was originally going to put a little "editors note" narrator-box mentioning that Lynni is in a different class from the rest of the kids, only to remember that Wu and Sandy are ALSO not in Selkie George and Giselle's class. So, blam, Lynni's with them. So is Ricky because why not.

Fri Mar 7 08:39:17 2014

Mon Mar 10 02:41:20 2014

I can't hear "How you doin'?" without flashing back to the 1990s and "Friends".

Wed Mar 12 02:40:52 2014

Never really found an organic spot to fit this in during the snowball fight arc and it still feels a bit forced here, but I wanted to just touch base on how Tony knows all these kids well enough that they'll come running to a crew call:

-Mike Rob Gideon and "Tommy the Truck" are friends from a community football league run through the school (He also has Rob Mike and Gideon as classmates).

-Giselle is friends with Rob through their mothers (http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie352/), and friends with Tony and Mike through him. Also a classmate.

-Lynni is Gideon's fraternal twin sister. She's in class with Sandy and Wu. Knows the rest through her brother.

Fri Mar 14 02:39:33 2014

Was gonna have Mike mention the bit about Truck to Tony, but decied to shift that dialogue to Giselle because the last page was already wordy enough. Original dialogue on this page was mostly just more taunting back-and-forth.

Mon Mar 17 02:39:20 2014

My original concept for the library was a towering array of bookshelves filled to the brim. But I scaled back a bit owing to the strip's semi-realistic approach to things (I don't think public elementary schools have towering bookshelves).

Ceiling's still ridiculously high up, though.

Wed Mar 19 02:41:08 2014

My mental image of the librarian while working up this arc boiled down to Crazy Red Hair All Over the Place.

Fri Mar 21 02:39:22 2014

Just a innocent game of chase your friend down and hit them.

Sat Mar 22 14:39:21 2014

Just a innocent game of chase your friend down and hit them.

Mon Mar 24 02:39:26 2014

I'd censor the beach scene but it's so non-detailed I barely see a point.

Wed Mar 26 02:39:25 2014

In some variations of the selkie story, the selkie continues to visit her children secretly in seal form, or even visits the fisherman husband as a seal to stare sadly at him. This portrayal is one of the versions where she flees outright the moment she has the opportunity.

Fri Mar 28 02:39:30 2014

Panel 2, I added in BULLCRAPS for fanservice. :3

Mon Mar 31 02:39:26 2014

Tried to re-create the way young me used to draw and write for this page, including the use of actual ballpoint pen and notebook paper and holding the pen in the really ham-fisted way young me held it.

Wed Apr 2 02:39:31 2014

Someone needs to get a fish-flavored sugar-free ice cream cone after all this.

Fri Apr 4 02:39:17 2014

An early draft of panel 4 was a dream sequence bit I cut out from a much earlier point in the comic. In that original draft, Plo Quar (her mother) shifted to a 1930s cartoon style complete with big white gloves and noodle-arms, gave Selkie a left-handed salute while saying, "So long, Screwy! See ya in Saint Louie!" before jet rocket flames erupted from her feet and she blasted off into the dreamscape's stratosphere.

It's a really fun idea, but I think a simpler rendering distracts less from what the imagery suggests about Selkie's inner thoughts.

Fri Apr 4 14:39:29 2014

Mon Apr 7 02:40:52 2014

Dagger Stare, like Incandescent Light Bulb Head, is more classic cartoon iconography. Mina does not have super dagger-manifestation powers. Well, not at this point of the story, anyway...

Wed Apr 9 02:39:18 2014

I'm undecided on if Heather forgot about "smear the orphans", or if she just chose to forgive and overlook it.

Fri Apr 11 02:39:30 2014

Cookie cake is one of my saddest losses. #screwyoudiabetes.

Sun Apr 13 17:39:22 2014

For so very long have I been looking forward to drawing Panel 8.

Wed Apr 16 02:39:24 2014

This scene needs more popped collars and sideways caps.

Fri Apr 18 00:41:05 2014

As a soccer player, I gotta figure Heather is used to an occasional head-butt. Moreso than Giselle, at any rate.

Sat Apr 19 00:41:12 2014

As a soccer player, I gotta figure Heather is used to an occasional head-butt. Moreso than Giselle, at any rate.

Sat Apr 19 08:39:20 2014

As a soccer player, I gotta figure Heather is used to an occasional head-butt. Moreso than Giselle, at any rate.

Mon Apr 21 02:40:05 2014

Wanted to have Amanda sing "Do you wanna build a snowman" in panel 3 but didn't feel the association between that and stacking kids atop each other was quite readily apparent enough.

Mon Apr 21 14:39:46 2014

Wanted to have Amanda sing "Do you wanna build a snowman" in panel 3 but didn't feel the association between that and stacking kids atop each other was quite readily apparent enough.

Wed Apr 23 02:39:25 2014

Never give the Big Laugh before your victory is assured. Someone get this girl the Evil Overlord list.

Fri Apr 25 02:40:50 2014

I've been referring to this whole scene as Operation: Fuster Cluck in my head.

Fri Apr 25 22:39:26 2014

I've been referring to this whole scene as Operation: Fuster Cluck in my head.

Mon Apr 28 02:40:08 2014

I try to speak Rob's accent aloud, and even I am not wholly sure what I've concocted here.

Mon Apr 28 14:39:33 2014

I try to speak Rob's accent aloud, and even I am not wholly sure what I've concocted here.

Wed Apr 30 02:39:43 2014

Four-row Selkie strips are rare spawns. Tap it first for extra loot.

Wed Apr 30 17:41:03 2014

Four-row Selkie strips are rare spawns. Tap it first for extra loot.

Fri May 2 02:39:23 2014

Stupid ordeals...

Mon May 5 02:39:23 2014

Almost gave Jessie cartoony flailing anime arms in panel 4. Not quite sure she's THAT big of a spaz though. XD

Wed May 7 02:40:26 2014

Thought this layout would be more interesting than my original draft of layering Selkie's first few lines of dialogue over two or three panels of Truck climbing stairs.

Fri May 9 02:39:28 2014

First blood.

Sat May 10 08:39:15 2014

First blood.

Sat May 10 17:39:49 2014

First blood.

Sun May 11 17:39:40 2014

Alternate dialogue for Lisa in panel 3: "Bend over, and prepare for drama."

Mon May 12 14:39:47 2014

Alternate dialogue for Lisa in panel 3: "Bend over, and prepare for drama."

Wed May 14 02:39:13 2014

In my mind, Selkie is humming a song to herself as she watches this happen. Possibly the Mariner's Revenge Song. I think she'd enjoy that song.

Fri May 16 02:39:12 2014

Putting the novel in "graphic novel"

Fri May 16 17:39:13 2014

Putting the novel in "graphic novel"

Mon May 19 02:39:22 2014

One of my favorite character traits of Selkie is how she can be both a little sweetheart and a vindictive cuss.

Tue May 20 14:39:29 2014

One of my favorite character traits of Selkie is how she can be both a little sweetheart and a vindictive cuss.

Wed May 21 02:40:24 2014

Took my time to try and get the Big Friendly Smile juuuuust right. XD

Fri May 23 02:39:19 2014

This library scene went through two versions before I arrived at this final sequence of events.

Version 1 was more physically aggressive. Truck tried to jump Selkie, she ran away. She climbed the bookshelves and taunted him by running from shelftop to shelftop, using misdirection and trickery to confuse and bewilder him as to her location. I think it would have made for a fun sequence, but it would have gotten Selkie in a hell of a lot of trouble to be jumping across bookshelves like Batman.

Version 2, Truck wanted to sit and talk with her instead of wanting to pick a fight with her. Conversation entailed Truck demanding Selkie apologize for kicking him, with threats to keep hurting her friends if she didn't. The whole thing was just a bit more sinister and methodical than I felt was fitting for Tommy and it didn't really fit with any of his pre-established behaviors. Plus the whole concept of "assaulter demanding his target apologize for defending herself" was just a bit too creepy to go through with and not really something that feels right for the character's age range to be doing.

Fri May 23 14:40:35 2014

Mon May 26 02:39:15 2014

Jessie should also probably say something about climbing on the library tables...

Wed May 28 02:39:22 2014

I thought this one would end up being half-now/half-later again. Glad it wasn't, I don't wanna get behind again. XD

Fri May 30 02:40:23 2014

Icing on the cake would be for her to call him that to his face.

Fri May 30 17:41:43 2014

Icing on the cake would be for her to call him that to his face.

Mon Jun 2 02:39:19 2014

Gonna save those cogs for future use. tic-toc-tic-toc...

Mon Jun 2 14:40:59 2014

Gonna save those cogs for future use. tic-toc-tic-toc...

Wed Jun 4 02:39:15 2014

Not a good day for Mike.

Wed Jun 4 14:39:28 2014

Not a good day for Mike.

Fri Jun 6 02:40:09 2014

There is a small chance I am getting bored with the straight-square panel format. Small chance. Snowball's chance in Coldharbour.

Mon Jun 9 02:42:20 2014

I don't have a name for Tommy's teacher in panel 2. Reader Roulette?

Wed Jun 11 02:39:19 2014

Was gonna include a doodle of Tommy the Truck hugging his mother in the bottom panel but (1) SO MUCH BUBBLEZ and (2) this monologue is really the Professor's moment.

Fri Jun 13 01:33:55 2014

Some real life inspirations for the fictitious song The Buccaneer's Vengeance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI_l7U-nUmg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Sw61oITuts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy8NdJTOR9E

Fri Jun 13 17:38:59 2014

Mon Jun 16 01:09:09 2014

Panel layout fail, I didn't give panel 1 enough room to preserve the ABBA structure properly.

"I was a lad from Cozumel,
kind as the world could see.
Then you meet me, beat me, mistreat me.
Now I'm throwing your guts to the swells!"

Wed Jun 18 02:39:04 2014

This would be a great time for a six month hiatus.

...

If I wanted to get lynched.

Fri Jun 20 02:39:54 2014

I actually intended for the first flashback bubble to include a little doodle of an octopus with the Selkieverse brand name of the phone on the screen: the kRaken. But it made the phone look more like some sort of DS-style portable game unit than a phone so I nixed it.

Fri Jun 20 14:39:32 2014

Mon Jun 23 02:39:29 2014

One of this whole arc's first scenes to pop in my head was Selkie willingly handing over her phone in panel 5. In the initial drafts it was the final panel of a strip.

Wed Jun 25 02:39:23 2014

Discarded dialogue:

Prof: Dick? Really?

Selkie: (sheepish) I forgots his names?

Prof: You just called him "Tommy" three times a moment ago.

Selkie: ...I remembereds?

Fri Jun 27 02:39:12 2014

I still fully intend to use the pictograph swears as a general self-censorship format, but on a case-by-case basis they're of questionable appropriateness.

Mon Jun 30 02:39:13 2014

I may or may not offer an explanation for the Star Trek shirt. We'll see. :3

Wed Jul 2 02:39:06 2014

I was originally going to have this be a Friday strip but the way things worked out that would have required using an entire strip to pad/bloat the flow just to delay the reveal. Meh.

Fri Jul 4 02:39:15 2014

Probably shouldn't tell the police officer about Giant Death Pony plans.

Fri Jul 4 14:40:45 2014

Probably shouldn't tell the police officer about Giant Death Pony plans.

Mon Jul 7 02:39:06 2014

Flee from the omnipresent brown walls, please.

Wed Jul 9 02:39:28 2014

Head-canon says Lisa is speaking that last line in a G.I.R. voice.

Fri Jul 11 02:39:15 2014

Selkie isn't really using "kransa bi cholek" correctly. I intend to define it specifically at a later point, but here's a hint. "Kransa" means "teeth".

Fri Jul 11 20:39:11 2014

Selkie isn't really using "kransa bi cholek" correctly. I intend to define it specifically at a later point, but here's a hint. "Kransa" means "teeth".

Mon Jul 14 02:39:15 2014

I wanted this to be a Friday strip, but some script revisions to condense things slightly threw my Machiavellian plotting off kilter.

Wed Jul 16 02:39:21 2014

Selkie loves tuna, but come on... SWORDFISHIES!

Wed Jul 16 22:40:47 2014

Selkie loves tuna, but come on... SWORDFISHIES!

Fri Jul 18 02:39:20 2014

Also my favorite Avenue Q song.

Fri Jul 18 20:39:17 2014

Also my favorite Avenue Q song.

Sat Jul 19 20:39:15 2014

Also my favorite Avenue Q song.

Mon Jul 21 02:39:23 2014

Very very very briefly considered having Mina hold a grudge about Todd's lashing out previously, but (1) it didn't really feel right for her and (B) there's been enough prolonged grudges by this point, I think.

Mon Jul 21 22:39:16 2014

Wed Jul 23 02:39:31 2014

In my head, "Rumpshaka" has a heavy bass line with an electronic edge to it.

Thu Jul 24 02:39:20 2014

In my head, "Rumpshaka" has a heavy bass line with an electronic edge to it.

Fri Jul 25 02:39:13 2014

Unless I've committed a research fail on Islam and Muslim dietary restrictions, coffee is allowed but not endorsed. It's not advised to drink it, but it is not specifically prohibited either.

Sat Jul 26 02:39:21 2014

Unless I've committed a research fail on Islam and Muslim dietary restrictions, coffee is allowed but not endorsed. It's not advised to drink it, but it is not specifically prohibited either.

Sat Jul 26 08:39:17 2014

Unless I've committed a research fail on Islam and Muslim dietary restrictions, coffee is allowed but not endorsed. It's not advised to drink it, but it is not specifically prohibited either.

Mon Jul 28 02:39:38 2014

I hold my stylus the same awkward and uncomfortable way I held a pencil when I was a kid to create Selkie's handwriting. It's... not much of an improvement on my adult handwriting, to be honest.

Wed Jul 30 02:39:19 2014

I was gonna draw a bare butt instead of the second "pile" in panel 1, but with the lack of definition at the small size, it kept looking like rippled pecs. I don't know how that happened either.

Fri Aug 1 02:39:23 2014

I thought about leaving the tails off the angel and devil speech bubbles since it's technically "thoughts", but it was a bit confusing who was saying what.

Mon Aug 4 02:39:38 2014

I love Devil Todd's tail-wags. Too bad I only have him for two strips. XD

Wed Aug 6 02:40:04 2014

I probably should have done this bit before revealing the sarnothi in full... HINDSIGHT. XD

Fri Aug 8 00:39:12 2014

How do you borrow time, anyway?

Sat Aug 9 02:39:14 2014

How do you borrow time, anyway?

Mon Aug 11 02:39:13 2014

Those bat'leths are sanitized for food serving. .. probably. XD

Wed Aug 13 02:39:10 2014

For brevity's sake I cut out a small scene where Lillian herds the orphan kids out of the classroom. They'll be plenty of Lillian later, anyway...

Fri Aug 15 02:39:25 2014

In an earlier draft of this, the conversation happened before recess ended and Mina's deal was that if they all wrote out "I will never hit people again" two hundred times before recess ended they'd be off scot free. They all pulled it off but had severe hand cramps from all the speed-writing.

I like scary blood-voice Mina better. :3

Mon Aug 18 02:39:10 2014

It will forever be one of my biggest regrets that I did not use Panel 6's Selkie as this strip's Sneak Preview. ;P

Tue Aug 19 02:39:12 2014

It will forever be one of my biggest regrets that I did not use Panel 6's Selkie as this strip's Sneak Preview. ;P

Wed Aug 20 02:39:22 2014

The final decision on the name debate went through about four revisions, one of which included what might have been a cute (or more likely super-cheesy) scene where she used her chosen name to re-introduce herself to Todd and they hugged.

Wed Aug 20 08:40:10 2014

Fri Aug 22 02:39:31 2014

Original drafts involved Selkie being way too meta fourth-wally about the name thing.

Mon Aug 25 02:39:17 2014

If a sincerely given apology is still commanded of you, does that cheapen it?

Wed Aug 27 02:39:13 2014

Sandy was established early on as a hyperactive sugar junkie. That part of her character hasn't gotten a lot of attention, but she still is canonically a massive sweet tooth fiend.

Fri Aug 29 02:39:15 2014

Dialogue cut for brevity:

T: I-I don't... wait, why aren't you... laughing and stuff? You were laughing yesterday.

S: Nots recordings you nows.

...

S: (scared face) Oh craps, I shouldn'ts have saids thats!

T: I-It's okay... Can... can sit here?

Sat Aug 30 08:40:58 2014

Mon Sep 1 02:40:51 2014

I tilt the kids a bit heavily towards Lisa Simpson syndrome sometimes but having a nine year old talk about visiting a child psychologist feels like a delicate balance of terminology and word choice vs properly conveying things.

Wed Sep 3 02:39:13 2014

Inner Voice Debate Round 2! FIGHT!

Fri Sep 5 00:39:15 2014

A rule of thumb I have is that Selkie speaks without pluralses in dreams, fantasies, mindscapes, and when writing things out (such as her "buff butterfly" science essay). My basis for this is that Selkie "hears" her own voice and thoughts as perfectly normal, so in her own mind, she talks/thinks in normal speak.

Mon Sep 8 02:39:16 2014

Now don'ts trys and kids me, Truck-Cub; I'lls makes a deals withs you...

Wed Sep 10 02:39:24 2014

For now.

Thu Sep 11 20:39:17 2014

For now.

Fri Sep 12 02:39:10 2014

I was considering having Keisha call them [PINK DOG SYMBOLS] under her breath in the last panel, but... eeehhhhhhhhhh, naw.

Sat Sep 13 02:40:32 2014

Mon Sep 15 02:40:49 2014

Both of them need a time out and a hug.

Wed Sep 17 02:39:11 2014

The emotive pigtails are a "visual cue for the readers that characters in-universe don't outright notice" thing. If they were, she'd have a bad poker HEAD.

Fri Sep 19 02:39:14 2014

Been waiting so very long to finally draw that lovecraftian limb-hork. :3

Mon Sep 22 02:39:13 2014

Half-dressed girl versus pick-up truck. Round 1: FIGHT.

Wed Sep 24 02:39:21 2014

Belatedly I realize I should have dressed Selkie up as Kagomi, since the Dream Truck is all red like Inu Yasha. It shall be the meta reference that never was, XD

Fri Sep 26 02:39:16 2014

I have an unnatural love of octupus tentacle sushi.

Mon Sep 29 00:39:12 2014

I have an unnatural love of octupus tentacle sushi.

Mon Sep 29 02:39:27 2014

So while putting together this next arc I realized I'd overlooked a timeline blunder: Selkie unleashes the Cell Phone Gambit on a Monday, then on the following day (a Tuesday) has the final confrontation followed with a dream sequence. Originally I wanted the strategy meeting to take place on the Tuesday of that week because the PTA meeting is on Wednesday evening.

HOWEVER, I wrote a dream sequence as the ending scene of that whole bit, which suggests the finale piece takes place Tuesday night... which I realized too late means that for the strategy meeting to happen on a Tuesday, the comic's narrative has to make some awkward and clumsy timeline skips if the next arc takes place AFTER the first 95% of the previous arc but BEFORE the last 5%.

Requires less narrative juggling to have both the strategy coffee AND the PTA meeting happen on the Wednesday of the week this all takes place in. If that gives Todd Selkie and Mina a very very busy Wednesday, well c'est la vie. :3

Wed Oct 1 02:39:12 2014

Been meaning to make a vector template background for that kitchen for awhile. Finally did it for this strip. May add a few more details to it for later use though.

Wed Oct 1 22:39:19 2014

Been meaning to make a vector template background for that kitchen for awhile. Finally did it for this strip. May add a few more details to it for later use though.

Fri Oct 3 02:39:18 2014

Ever since the playdate arc where George came to visit Selkie and the Ikaris popped in and joined the game, I've felt like my usage of them extends beyond geeky paradoic reference humor. They popped in to play board games, Asuka teaches Selkie german... at this rate, I don't feel like they're "just" humorous nods; they're basically supporting cast in their own right by this stage.

So I've essentially decided to make them more stand-alone and more... "mine"; mostly with some palette alterations and some light design modifications (Asuka's bangs are more like how I draw everyone else's bangs, now).

I was also going to change their surname to something else, probably Horaki. But I don't think that much retconning is necessary.

Fri Oct 3 08:39:20 2014

Mon Oct 6 02:39:21 2014

Considered using a photo of an actual Vegas skyline, but photo-insert backgrounds just look tacky to me.

Mon Oct 6 14:39:18 2014

Considered using a photo of an actual Vegas skyline, but photo-insert backgrounds just look tacky to me.

Wed Oct 8 02:53:02 2014

My cousin is a big Ravens fan. This strip is a blatant troll.

Love ya, Talon. :D

Fri Oct 10 02:39:11 2014

I initially wanted to draw the bow unfolding and shifting like a Transformer, but I can't help but think having that sort of mechanism function to it would make it way too heavy for Selkie to be wearing every day like she does. XD

Fri Oct 10 08:39:14 2014

Mon Oct 13 02:39:18 2014

"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" was what I wanted to use, but it seemed a bit too verbose for Selkie's age level.

Mon Oct 13 08:39:34 2014

"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" was what I wanted to use, but it seemed a bit too verbose for Selkie's age level.

Wed Oct 15 02:40:59 2014

I have intentions for the cafe that will BREAK ME.

Fri Oct 17 02:39:20 2014

Alternate nickname: "Minnie"

Mon Oct 20 02:39:17 2014

I googled "turkish men" for reference while drawing the barista. My results were half dressed young men with smoky eyes, and travelogues about holiday romances. It was not super helpful for drawing a coffee shop employee.

Wed Oct 22 02:39:14 2014

Whether selkie isperceived by readers as light-grey or light-blue tends to depend on their monitor settings.

Wed Oct 22 08:39:34 2014

Whether selkie isperceived by readers as light-grey or light-blue tends to depend on their monitor settings.

Fri Oct 24 08:39:17 2014

Goat is so good.

Mon Oct 27 02:39:13 2014

New math; so simple only a child can do it.

Wed Oct 29 02:39:14 2014

Wed Oct 29 08:40:48 2014

I love red-eye and hate morning-blend.

Fri Oct 31 02:39:38 2014

Hot dogs: all the stuff you never want to know you just put in your mouth.

Mon Nov 3 02:41:11 2014

Excised a two-to-three panel sequence of Todd methodically and deliberately unbuckling Selkie's seatbelt for brevity's sake.

Wed Nov 5 02:39:19 2014

Gotta poke'em all.

Wed Nov 5 08:39:20 2014

Gotta poke'em all.

(...and why wouldn't Water give Grass root rot or swamp it out by deluging it instead of being... I dunno, absorbed or whatever the rationale is. XD)

Fri Nov 7 02:39:19 2014

I was going to give Agent Brown mussd-up/uncombed hair for his "civilian attire" look like Todd gets, but in initial sketches it looked too much like fwoopy boy-band hair.

Fri Nov 7 08:39:18 2014

I was going to give Agent Brown mussd-up/uncombed hair for his "civilian attire" look like Todd gets, but in initial sketches it looked too much like fwoopy boy-band hair.

Mon Nov 10 02:39:20 2014

Selkie 551Dialogue from panel 5 excised for brevity:

Brown: ...You KNOW I mean Selkie. Be more subtle about phishing for information, Todd.

It would have gone along with other dialogue/body language intended to imply Todd was trying to covertly find out information about the sarnothi. Again, cut for brevity.

Wed Nov 12 02:41:05 2014

Selkie 552Avery Brown's a CIA agent, he knows bad lies and flimsy excuses well.

Fri Nov 14 02:39:27 2014

Selkie 553Some readers may recall a previous Secret Commentary where I mentioned the word "kransa" in the "kransa bi cholek" cuss word Selkie's thrown out intermittently meant "teeth". "Teeth and Scales" is the translation of the entire phrase. It's an invective, a dire insult, and very very rude to say; it's also a fairly common "anger phrase", comparable to the F-Word in English.

It references a darker member of the Sarnothi spirit pantheon, Kehl Nin Fa Tho. He's associated with doom and destruction and takes the form of a school of spectral trout with translucent ribs violet eyes and rending teeth.

Mon Nov 17 02:39:12 2014

Selkie 554The writer of the Dawngate Chronicles, as part of Waystone Game's "sharing all of our behind the scenes stuff since the game is being shut down" shared a PDF file with the community that showed his scripts for all of the Dawngate Chronicles strips to date. Reading his scripts and how he described things for his artist really inspired me and I decided to give that a go for myself.

Up until now I've worked out the dialogue for each strip on-the-fly from my outlines and the notes I've written down for key story points, but for this one I wrote it out in a proper script format before drawing. It really helped a lot.

Wed Nov 19 02:39:11 2014

Selkie 555Biggest jumpingest eyebrows yet.

Fri Nov 21 02:40:57 2014

Selkie 556Making a mental note to brush up on Robert's Rules of Order

Fri Nov 21 08:39:21 2014

Selkie 556Making a mental note to brush up on Robert's Rules of Order

Mon Nov 24 02:39:26 2014

Selkie 557I'm still up in the air if I want to tag and name all these assembled people or not. Right now I've only given names to the three people at the head table: Howard, Miranda, and Nathaniel.

Tue Nov 25 00:39:10 2014

Selkie 557I'm still up in the air if I want to tag and name all these assembled people or not. Right now I've only given names to the three people at the head table: Howard, Miranda, and Nathaniel.

Wed Nov 26 02:39:06 2014

Selkie 558The script for this page was two pages long. I'm entirely too verbose.

Fri Nov 28 02:39:06 2014

Selkie 559A lot of people out there are not well informed on what they do or do not have a right to.

Mon Dec 1 02:39:09 2014

Selkie 560I settled the issue of what to use for names for all the background parents by referring to them in the script collectively as Angry PTA Assembly.

Mon Dec 1 20:40:52 2014

Selkie 560I settled the issue of what to use for names for all the background parents by referring to them in the script collectively as Angry PTA Assembly.

Wed Dec 3 02:40:27 2014

Selkie 561FLAIL FLAIL FLAIL THE ARM

Fri Dec 5 02:40:43 2014

Selkie 562If she was allowed to play Rachel's totally-not-Pokemon, I kind of think I can see Selkie taking the Fire starter.

Fri Dec 5 08:39:29 2014

Selkie 562If she was allowed to play Rachel's totally-not-Pokemon, I kind of think I can see Selkie taking the Fire starter.

Mon Dec 8 02:39:11 2014

Selkie 563I kind of wish I'd done a bit more with the spiky-haired redhead, but I've got a glut of side characters as is.

Wed Dec 10 02:39:32 2014

Selkie 564Deleted scene that I excised for brevity.

---

John: I'm going to have to quit my job over all this.

Selkie: Pffft. Knews you weres a quitters.

(John glares in quiet fury while Selkie grins smugly)

---

Brevity, and also because I don't think even Selkie has quite that much nerve. Maybe when she's older.

Fri Dec 12 02:39:14 2014

Selkie 565He was not a great Princi-PAL.

Sat Dec 13 00:39:07 2014

Selkie 565He was not a great Princi-PAL.

Mon Dec 15 02:38:57 2014

Selkie 566Rachel being John Ashton's daughter originally had more of a "shock reveal" to in regarding Selkie (YOU'RES HIS KIDS?! WHATS THE CRAPS?!?!?!) but I trimmed that reaction scene out of the final draft. Still wanna show the relationship, though.

Mon Dec 15 08:39:00 2014

Selkie 566Rachel being John Ashton's daughter originally had more of a "shock reveal" to it regarding Selkie (YOU'RES HIS KIDS?! WHATS THE CRAPS?!?!?!) but I trimmed that reaction scene out of the final draft. Still wanna show the relationship, though.

Wed Dec 17 02:38:57 2014

Selkie 567When I tried to find people to model the smooch panel for me to draw, they just stared at me funny and ran screaming.

Wed Dec 17 08:38:57 2014

Selkie 567When I tried to find people to model the smooch panel for me to draw, they just stared at me funny and ran screaming.

Fri Dec 19 08:39:04 2014

Selkie 568Juggled a few different options for how the "Kiss Scene" played out over the course of the last few months as it built up to this bit. Mina was the one to kiss Todd in some of the iterations, but it never really felt right to me for her to do that.

Mon Dec 22 02:39:05 2014

Selkie 569Been trying to think of commentary for ten minutes. I got nothin', sorry.

Mon Dec 22 08:39:03 2014

Selkie 569Been trying to think of commentary for ten minutes. I got nothin', sorry.

Wed Dec 24 02:38:57 2014

Selkie 570I designed Nate Jr. before I designed Nathaniel Sr, and after drawing the kid I thought, "It'd be fun if they both looked so much like the other they were practically clones". And so, Nathaniel Sr. got the awkwardly bad bowl haircut from his son.

Wed Dec 24 08:38:56 2014

Fri Dec 26 02:40:49 2014

Selkie 571Thought about working a snarky, 'Boys will be boys' line in there somewhere, but it doesn't feel lie something Nathaniel would say.

Fri Dec 26 08:38:55 2014

Selkie 571Thought about working a snarky, 'Boys will be boys' line in there somewhere, but it doesn't feel lie something Nathaniel would say.

Mon Dec 29 02:38:59 2014

Selkie 572Opted out of the pictograph curse words for panel five.

Tue Dec 30 00:38:54 2014

Selkie 572Opted out of the pictograph curse words for panel five.

Wed Dec 31 02:39:03 2014

Selkie 573I'd like to think I was Nate as a kid, but I wasn't ever that polite.

Thu Jan 1 08:40:25 2015

Selkie 573I'd like to think I was Nate as a kid, but I wasn't ever that polite.

Fri Jan 2 02:40:31 2015

Holiday Hangups

Mon Jan 5 02:38:55 2015

Selkie 574Going in Trunch's head-space is weird.

Tue Jan 6 00:38:57 2015

Selkie 574Going in Trunch's head-space is weird.

Wed Jan 7 02:38:57 2015

Selkie 575I just like the idea of smacking an invisible person.

Fri Jan 9 02:40:00 2015

Selkie 576I wanted Then's stealth effect to be subdued and hard to notice because I hate it when stealth effects are portrayed in media by methods that are visible to the viewer's naked eye.

Also so he wasn't noticed too early. :P

Mon Jan 12 02:38:59 2015

Selkie 577I only just now realized Then's facial markings look like Naruto's.

Wed Jan 14 02:38:51 2015

Selkie 578Then doesn't count the colony Sai Fen mentioned in #381 as a fulfillment of "finding us a place to live"

Wed Jan 14 08:38:57 2015

Selkie 578Then doesn't count the colony Sai Fen mentioned in #381 as a fulfillment of "finding us a place to live"

Fri Jan 16 02:38:51 2015

Selkie 579Choked back the urge for a meta joke. "Whys are you still mads?! Thats was, likes, three MONTHS agos!"

Fri Jan 16 22:38:53 2015

Selkie 579Choked back the urge for a meta joke. "Whys are you still mads?! Thats was, likes, three MONTHS agos!"

Mon Jan 19 02:39:05 2015

Selkie 580This strip showed me my notes on tensei are grossly disorganized. >_<

Tue Jan 20 00:38:57 2015

Selkie 580This strip showed me my notes on tensei are grossly disorganized. >_<

Wed Jan 21 02:39:00 2015

Selkie 581Thought about having Selkie speak to the image of her mother in tensei, but it would look weird to have her dialogue translated while the image's isn't. Plus it makes more sense to me that she would be excited and default to the language she's been primarily using for the past three years instead of switching gears on-the-fly.

Wed Jan 21 08:39:09 2015

Fri Jan 23 02:39:18 2015

Selkie 582I didn't translate any of the message previously because I intended for Selkie to provide that directly. :3

Sat Jan 24 14:40:04 2015

Selkie 582I didn't translate any of the message previously because I intended for Selkie to provide that directly. :3

Mon Jan 26 02:39:58 2015

Selkie 583I considered for a little bit having the bow glimmer as it was replaced on her head. But prior to this the bow hasn't reacted in any way when removed or touched, so that made no sense to me.

Mon Jan 26 17:39:09 2015

Wed Jan 28 02:40:36 2015

Selkie 584I don't know when I decided Selkie is a sleep-drooler, but... yeah, totes a sleep-drooler.

Wed Jan 28 08:39:58 2015

Selkie 584I don't know when I decided Selkie is a sleep-drooler, but... yeah, totes a sleep-drooler.

Fri Jan 30 02:39:04 2015

Selkie 585I was going to go with a silly ending, but I felt this whole arc deserved something with a bit more closure.

Fri Jan 30 08:39:17 2015

Selkie 585I was going to go with a silly ending, but I felt this whole arc deserved something with a bit more closure.

Fri Jan 30 22:39:08 2015

Selkie 585I was going to go with a silly ending, but I felt this whole arc deserved something with a bit more closure.

Mon Feb 2 02:39:03 2015

Selkie 586

Mon Feb 2 08:39:08 2015

Selkie 586

Tue Feb 3 02:39:07 2015

Selkie 586

Wed Feb 4 02:39:03 2015

Selkie 587I need to practice drawing biscotti. This is a thing I've learned about myself.

Wed Feb 4 08:39:14 2015

Selkie 587I need to practice drawing biscotti. This is a thing I've learned about myself.

Fri Feb 6 02:40:43 2015

Selkie 588The day I drew this strip was also the final day of Dawngate's servers being available for play. I felt like doing something small to say goodbye to the game, and decided that since my intent for the backgrounds of the flashback was to look jumbled and confused, I'd also incorporate "splashes of color" in honor of one of my favorite Dawngate characters, Zeri.

Rest in Peace, Miss ahb Kareiya.

Mon Feb 9 02:39:10 2015

Selkie 589My own parents had me at eighteen-ish. They kept me, but in another life and another set of circumstances, I could've been Amanda.

Wed Feb 11 02:39:05 2015

Selkie 590Andi's hair may look silly, but I like drawing it. It's distinctive.

Thu Feb 12 20:39:32 2015

Selkie 590Andi's hair may look silly, but I like drawing it. It's distinctive.

Fri Feb 13 02:40:03 2015

Selkie 591I am planning a hectic morning for the girl's dorm.

Mon Feb 16 02:40:54 2015

Selkie 592I entered a spontaneous place for Zeri's antics.

Tue Feb 17 00:39:12 2015

Selkie 592I entered a spontaneous place for Zeri's antics.

Wed Feb 18 02:39:04 2015

Selkie 593Keisha's hair is like my hair: it grows UP, not down.

Fri Feb 20 02:39:06 2015

Selkie 594Initial sketches had a mistake where Amanda was facing the front of the bus while giving the "eyes on you" gesture, which is all kinds of wrong compared to Panel 2.

Sat Feb 21 14:40:37 2015

Selkie 594Initial sketches had a mistake where Amanda was facing the front of the bus while giving the "eyes on you" gesture, which is all kinds of wrong compared to Panel 2.

Mon Feb 23 02:39:06 2015

Selkie 595Giselle's cookies are marzipan.

Tue Feb 24 00:39:06 2015

Selkie 595Giselle's cookies are marzipan.

Wed Feb 25 02:38:59 2015

Selkie 596For the longest time I had trouble pegging down Amanda's interests. She hasn't had a lot of on-screen room that wasn't an antagonist role. I started thinking about her anger, her sadness, and the way she seems like she constantly feels like her insides are boiling. I started thinking "maybe Amanda has some stuff to say. Maybe she has stories to share."

So I gave her a notebook.

Fri Feb 27 02:39:03 2015

Selkie 597I was so tempted to draw this with crayons and notebook paper in real life, but I like my Ctrl-Z too much.

Mon Mar 2 02:39:08 2015

Selkie 598That birthmark was a last minute addition because why not.

Wed Mar 4 02:39:07 2015

Selkie 599I sketched little flags to hang from the tips of Lillians hairsticks, but it looked kind of silly so I didn't include them.

Fri Mar 6 02:39:07 2015

Selkie 600I was going to draw "panel" 3 as a long shot of Amanda with the injuries on her limbs, but... I couldn't, I just couldn't.

Mon Mar 9 02:39:09 2015

Selkie 601A line of trimmed dialogue I didn't have room for:

Andi: I wanted to make things right with her, but I didn't realize how MUCH there was to make right...

Wed Mar 11 02:39:08 2015

Selkie 602I listened to four entire Sleater-Kinney albums (Dig Me Out, One Beat, The Woods, and No Cities to Love) just while doing the outlines. The colors are devoted to Smashing Pumpkins (Adore).

Thu Mar 12 00:39:15 2015

Selkie 602I listened to four entire Sleater-Kinney albums (Dig Me Out, One Beat, The Woods, and No Cities to Love) just while doing the outlines. The colors are devoted to Smashing Pumpkins (Adore).

Fri Mar 13 02:39:03 2015

Selkie 603George Sandy Wu Tony Ricky Hamud Moonsong Zeri and Mikella are part of the crowd in Panel 1, but I'm not going to tag them because they're too small to discern with any clarity.

Fri Mar 13 08:39:10 2015

Selkie 603George Sandy Wu Tony Ricky Hamud Moonsong Zeri and Mikella are part of the crowd in Panel 1, but I'm not going to tag them because they're too small to discern with any clarity.

Mon Mar 16 02:38:59 2015

Selkie 604Keisha's love for dancing is something that's on her cast page entry but hasn't been showed in the strip yet. Glad I got the chance to show her revelry.

Mon Mar 16 08:39:21 2015

Selkie 604Keisha's love for dancing is something that's on her cast page entry but hasn't been showed in the strip yet. Glad I got the chance to show her revelry.

Wed Mar 18 02:39:07 2015

Selkie 605Wanted a second line in the last panel for a punchline but (1) I think it would've detracted from the scene a bit and (2) the best thing I could come up with was something-something "If you're a cop, you have to tell me or it's illegal".

Wed Mar 18 08:39:05 2015

Fri Mar 20 02:39:08 2015

Selkie 606Was going to use the standard cartoony hearts instead of the anatomical-ish one, but I thought that looked like it suggested Valentines Day, romance and etc. I like this approach more for conveying that pounding behind the ribcage.

Mon Mar 23 02:39:10 2015

Selkie 607The "are you really my mom" conversation is gonna be next strip because I don't want to compress it too much for this one.

Wed Mar 25 02:39:00 2015

Selkie 608In the pencil sketches, I drew Amanda's eyes in panel 4 a bit too quickly and she ended up with askew irises. She looked like a chameleon.

Fri Mar 27 02:39:01 2015

Selkie 609There was a point in the early drafts where Keisha was so hurt by not being taken along, she did a heel-turn into villain territory. About 3/4 through the Truck arc I started thinking, "Christ, do I really want this revenge theme to keep being a thing?"

Fri Mar 27 08:39:01 2015

Fri Mar 27 20:40:16 2015

Mon Mar 30 02:39:27 2015

Selkie 610In an early draft, Amanda deliberately refused to bring Keisha along since it was her biological mom reclaiming her and not an adoption. I feel like Amanda is closer to Keisha than anyone else and wouldn't deliberately reject or deny her, but she'd still much rather not share her new life if given a choice.

Wed Apr 1 02:39:08 2015

Selkie 611In my head canon, Andi just had no idea how to set up a room for an eight-year old so she's winging it with a shopping trip.

Wed Apr 1 08:39:22 2015

Selkie 611In my head canon, Andi just had no idea how to set up a room for an eight-year old so she's winging it with a shopping trip.

Fri Apr 3 02:39:03 2015

Selkie 612Was going to imply Sandy gets one of the macaroni scoops, then I remembered she's a sugar junkie. Hence, pudding.

Fri Apr 3 08:39:13 2015

Selkie 612Was going to imply Sandy gets one of the macaroni scoops, then I remembered she's a sugar junkie. Hence, pudding.

Mon Apr 6 02:40:27 2015

Selkie 613I would like to thank the readers for giving me the idea for the antennae joke. :D

Wed Apr 8 02:40:32 2015

Selkie 614If Amanda was an Argonian right now, she'd be Dances-With-Abandon.

Fri Apr 10 02:39:02 2015

Selkie 615I'm technically a black belt in Tae Kwon Do but so long out of practice and so out-of-shape I probably couldn't even get a Hap Ki Do pulled off on an errant bunny.

Mon Apr 13 02:39:00 2015

Selkie 616Bit of a narrative slip on this one, don't think I gave the kids enough time to properly eat. Woops.

Wed Apr 15 02:39:15 2015

Selkie 617Octopus intellect studies can be kind of trippy. They're capable of a lot of cleverness and deduction,and some studies even show signs of emotive states.

Although, I also enjoy tentacle sushi. I'm kind of a monster that way.

Mon Apr 20 02:41:13 2015

Selkie 618I probably should have just copy-pasted the last page's Big Ringing Bell, but naaaaaah.

Mon Apr 20 08:39:05 2015

Selkie 618I probably should have just copy-pasted the last page's Big Ringing Bell, but naaaaaah.

Mon Apr 20 22:42:08 2015

Selkie 618I probably should have just copy-pasted the last page's Big Ringing Bell, but naaaaaah.

Wed Apr 22 02:39:09 2015

Selkie 619She doesn't "skip" a beat.

Wed Apr 22 08:39:20 2015

Selkie 619She doesn't "skip" a beat.

Thu Apr 23 00:38:59 2015

Selkie 619She doesn't "skip" a beat.

Fri Apr 24 02:39:07 2015

Selkie 620Panel 2 is going on my Favorite Things list.

Fri Apr 24 08:39:14 2015

Selkie 620Panel 2 is going on my Favorite Things list.

Mon Apr 27 14:39:30 2015

Selkie 621Amanda likes having her cake, eating it too, then reminding everyone she ate the entire cake for herself.

Wed Apr 29 02:41:38 2015

Selkie 622'Kay.

Wed Apr 29 08:39:20 2015

Selkie 622'Kay.

Thu Apr 30 00:39:03 2015

Selkie 622'Kay.

Fri May 1 02:39:06 2015

Selkie 623Toytime: like Teatime, but without the Assassin's Guild.

Fri May 1 08:40:54 2015

Selkie 623Toytime: like Teatime, but without the Assassin's Guild.

Mon May 4 02:39:00 2015

Selkie 624I had the idea for Andi's pink truck because my dad drives a pink-ish Chevy.

Wed May 6 02:38:51 2015

Selkie 625If your loved ones engage in bloodspeech, consult a priest and run like hell.

Fri May 8 02:39:01 2015

Selkie 626I blame that 2% genetic link to chimpanzees.

Sat May 9 08:40:04 2015

Selkie 626I blame that 2% genetic link to chimpanzees.

Mon May 11 02:38:57 2015

Selkie 627It occurred to me halfway through this that this makes the second time Grandma and Grandpa have been written as being unavailable for joining the function du jour (first time being when they had a previously arranged party to attend and couldn't babysit Selkie during the coffee incident).

I probably don't strictly NEED to specifically state what activity they are undergoing that prevents them from joining the current arc, I just hate the idea of them being absent without explanation.

Plus, hey, meet Steve. Bonus.

Wed May 13 02:38:54 2015

Selkie 628May not be a good idea to teach her the concept of weaponizing.

Fri May 15 00:38:55 2015

Selkie 629Pohl's plan is solid until Suko learns hydroplanes are a thing.

Fri May 15 17:38:52 2015

Selkie 629Pohl's plan is solid until Suko learns hydroplanes are a thing.

Mon May 18 02:38:57 2015

Selkie 630In America, you go on 'shrooms. In Sarnoth, 'shrooms go on you.

Tue May 19 00:38:52 2015

Selkie 630In America, you go on 'shrooms. In Sarnoth, 'shrooms go on you.

Wed May 20 02:38:53 2015

Selkie 631My original draft was for Pohl to say, "She's an egg, Todd. She doesn't really need much from us until she hatches", but on further thought I think the De'Madieas know better than to discuss such things openly.

Fri May 22 02:38:53 2015

Selkie 632A reader comment by Dawn ("Selkie needs to know that an octopus isn’t a fishy, but a cephalopod.") inspired the cephalopod bit. The desk guy just kept staring and saying "uuuhhhhh" in my original draft. Thanks, Dawn!

Fri May 22 08:38:53 2015

Mon May 25 02:39:16 2015

Selkie 633I make no claims towards the scientific or taxonomic accuracy of these fish. ;)

Wed May 27 02:38:51 2015

Selkie 634I don't think I drew Selkie bouncing gleefully enough in Panel 5.

Wed May 27 08:38:54 2015

Selkie 634I don't think I drew Selkie bouncing gleefully enough in Panel 5.

Fri May 29 02:39:00 2015

Selkie 635Scripted sound effects for Panel 6, but I think it's more effective without.

Mon Jun 1 02:38:57 2015

Pohl strikes me as the type whose smartphone is filled with small casual games that he's played once or twice then forgotten about.

Wed Jun 3 02:40:24 2015

Selkie 637I wrote the security guard in then out then in then out then in again. I'd like to avoid clutter and drag in the arc vis-a-vis extra character interactions, but I just can't see security NOT responding to a shouting kid.

Fri Jun 5 02:38:56 2015

Selkie 638Telling off people who passed her up for adoption is kind of an ongoing revenge fantasy for Amanda.

Fri Jun 5 08:39:03 2015

Selkie 638Telling off people who passed her up for adoption is kind of an ongoing revenge fantasy for Amanda.

Mon Jun 8 02:38:54 2015

Selkie 639Looked up a lot of strange and interesting trivia while reading up on octopi for this arc. Here's one: apparently octopis don't survive mating. Males die shortly afterward and females die shortly after the eggs hatch.

Mon Jun 8 08:38:53 2015

Mon Jun 8 14:39:00 2015

Wed Jun 10 02:38:55 2015

Selkie 640Little bit of artistic license on this one: out of water Felix would probably not be holding his head upright due to lack of buoyancy and bones.

Fri Jun 12 02:40:32 2015

Selkie 641I considered for a time having Felix spray ink upon seeing the sarnothi members, but changed my mind about throwing that bit into the story flow. Which is a shame, because Selkie's wearing such a ruinable dress...

Fri Jun 12 08:39:00 2015

Mon Jun 15 02:38:57 2015

Selkie 642Been thinking about moving to thinner lines, finally figured I'd see how it looks. Been looking at drawings on deviant art and liking the thinner outline look.

Mon Jun 15 08:39:01 2015

Selkie 642Been thinking about moving to thinner lines, finally figured I'd see how it looks. Been looking at drawings on deviant art and liking the thinner outline look.

Wed Jun 17 02:38:53 2015

Selkie 643In a parallel universe, Felix is offering Amanda and Selkie three wishes for his freedom. But they're monkey-paw wishes...

Fri Jun 19 02:38:52 2015

Selkie 644I feel like I probably made a mistake not putting the urn in the background of past strips, but at the time I didn't really consider the foreshadowing possibility.

Fri Jun 19 08:38:55 2015

Selkie 644I feel like I probably made a mistake not putting the urn in the background of past strips, but at the time I didn't really consider the foreshadowing possibility.

Mon Jun 22 02:38:55 2015

Selkie 645Panel 4 is about as far as I wish to go in terms of physical violence.

Mon Jun 22 08:39:01 2015

Selkie 645Panel 4 is about as far as I wish to go in terms of physical violence.

Wed Jun 24 14:39:34 2015

Selkie 646I still slip and forget Amanda's earrings sometimes.

Thu Jun 25 00:38:56 2015

Selkie 646I still slip and forget Amanda's earrings sometimes.

Fri Jun 26 02:39:03 2015

Selkie 647

Fri Jun 26 08:38:55 2015

Selkie 647When noodling over this scene I had the idea in my head to have Anthony discuss some sort of color-based communication system they had worked out with Felix. Something like directing him to do different tricks with different colors of light, maybe even communicate Felix's emotive states. Ultimately I axed it because I didn't want to sidetrack things too much, plus I think it felt a bit too far towards fantasy-fiction.

Mon Jun 29 02:38:57 2015

Selkie 648Selkie joins the animated hair club.

Wed Jul 1 02:39:10 2015

Selkie 649The pigtailed skull was a spur-of-the-moment addition.

Wed Jul 1 08:38:59 2015

Selkie 649The pigtailed skull was a spur-of-the-moment addition.

Wed Jul 1 20:38:53 2015

Selkie 649The pigtailed skull was a spur-of-the-moment addition.

Fri Jul 3 02:38:54 2015

Selkie 650Andrea has discovered Amanda Lore: Perceptive

Andrea has gained a level in Amanda Lore.

Brutal Difficulty is now unlocked.

Fri Jul 3 08:42:10 2015

Selkie 650Andrea has discovered Amanda Lore: Perceptive

Andrea has gained a level in Amanda Lore.

Brutal Difficulty is now unlocked.

Sun Jul 5 20:38:59 2015

Selkie 651Like watching a jigsaw puzzle assemble itself.

Mon Jul 6 02:38:48 2015

Selkie 651I liked working out Panel 1.

Wed Jul 8 02:40:25 2015

Selkie 652REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Wed Jul 8 20:38:57 2015

Selkie 652REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Fri Jul 10 02:38:52 2015

Selkie 653

Fri Jul 10 08:38:52 2015

Selkie 653

Fri Jul 10 22:38:49 2015

Selkie 653

Mon Jul 13 02:38:51 2015

Selkie 654Giving Amanda a motorcycle would be a terrible idea, for the obvious reasons but also because she'd probably just do donuts in the cafeteria to show it off.

Tue Jul 14 00:38:52 2015

Selkie 654Giving Amanda a motorcycle would be a terrible idea, for the obvious reasons but also because she'd probably just do donuts in the cafeteria to show it off.

Wed Jul 15 02:39:05 2015

Selkie 655Amanda's former GameKid handheld pretty much only had a pet store game and some puzzle games, and the orphanage's video games were all PG games. Car smashing is new delicious territory.

Wed Jul 15 08:39:05 2015

Selkie 655Amanda's former GameKid handheld pretty much only had a pet store game and some puzzle games, and the orphanage's video games were all PG games. Car smashing is new delicious territory.

Fri Jul 17 02:39:00 2015

Selkie 656Real balancing act on this page to not tilt it too far towards either super-sad or super-angry

Fri Jul 17 08:39:05 2015

Selkie 656Real balancing act on this page to not tilt it too far towards either super-sad or super-angry

Mon Jul 20 02:39:10 2015

Selkie 657Panel one had Amanda's pigtails curved in a sickle-shape in my original sketch, but I wasn't sure what emotive state it properly conveyed. Plus it made her look a bit like Mini Moon.

Mon Jul 20 08:39:02 2015

Selkie 657Panel one had Amanda's pigtails curved in a sickle-shape in my original sketch, but I wasn't sure what emotive state it properly conveyed. Plus it made her look a bit like Mini Moon.

Wed Jul 22 02:39:04 2015

Selkie 658WHOMP! POW! HA HA HA!

Thu Jul 23 08:40:34 2015

Selkie 658WHOMP! POW! HA HA HA!

Fri Jul 24 02:39:04 2015

Selkie 659Andi's probably going to need the sort of patience that allows you to sit outside the temple for a week being denied entry before you are allowed to join the other monks.

Mon Jul 27 02:40:31 2015

Selkie 660Amanda's dialogue in this strip is an intricate labyrinth of layers and wordplay.

Wed Jul 29 02:39:08 2015

Selkie 661Don't screech and drive.

Fri Jul 31 02:39:07 2015

Selkie 662I foresee road rage in Selkie's future.

Fri Jul 31 08:39:03 2015

Selkie 662I foresee road rage in Selkie's future.

Sat Aug 1 00:39:04 2015

Selkie 662I foresee road rage in Selkie's future.

Mon Aug 3 02:40:34 2015

Selkie 663On an unrelated note, I love Tina Belcher.

Wed Aug 5 02:39:11 2015

Selkie 664This is at least a better idea than the Secret Snowball Fight.

Wed Aug 5 08:39:20 2015

Selkie 664This is at least a better idea than the Secret Snowball Fight.

Fri Aug 7 02:39:28 2015

Selkie 665Ten minutes on their butts... oh cruel irony.

Mon Aug 10 02:40:25 2015

Selkie 666Strip number Six Hundred Sixty Six...

ALL HAIL LORD GOLAN!

Wed Aug 12 02:39:07 2015

Selkie 667I find Andi's hair being squished by ear muffs hilarious

Thu Aug 13 02:39:06 2015

Selkie 667I find Andi's hair being squished by ear muffs hilarious

Fri Aug 14 02:39:08 2015

Selkie 668STOPS COPIES ME! STOPS COPIES ME!

Fri Aug 14 08:39:11 2015

Selkie 668STOPS COPIES ME! STOPS COPIES ME!

Mon Aug 17 02:39:05 2015

Selkie 669Stone Fox was written in 1980 and used as reading material when I was about the girl's age (I'm 33). I doubt it's still in circulation in modern curricula, but durnit I'm using it.

Wed Aug 19 02:39:07 2015

Selkie 670Original panel two dialogue was, "Yeah yeah, I know, I'm bad". But I couldn't decide if it read like "misbehaved" or "bad-ass" in tone.

Wed Aug 19 08:39:01 2015

Selkie 670Original panel two dialogue was, "Yeah yeah, I know, I'm bad". But I couldn't decide if it read like "misbehaved" or "bad-ass" in tone.

Fri Aug 21 02:39:11 2015

Selkie 671Pretty big script change for this strip. Originally had Amanda making fun of Selkie for (presumedly) being in trouble due to a Parent/Teacher Meeting, but after thinking about it while penciling it made more sense to me that with all the info running around her head she'd take the opportunity to ask Todd some of her questions early.

Fri Aug 21 08:39:20 2015

Mon Aug 24 02:39:05 2015

Selkie 672Todd's been a parent for a bit under four months by this point in the story, I doubt he even thought about how the situation would look.

Wed Aug 26 02:39:01 2015

Selkie 673I think getting busted by Nathaniel is running through Todd's mind right now, but I chose not to do a flashback to that because it would've needed to be shoehorned in pretty hard.

Thu Aug 27 00:39:12 2015

Selkie 673I think getting busted by Nathaniel is running through Todd's mind right now, but I chose not to do a flashback to that because it would've needed to be shoehorned in pretty hard.

Fri Aug 28 02:39:02 2015

Selkie 674Sometimes i can't think of commentary text.

Mon Aug 31 02:39:32 2015

Selkie 675Someone done got called out.

Mon Aug 31 08:39:07 2015

Selkie 675Someone done got called out.

Wed Sep 2 02:39:05 2015

Selkie 676Panel 2's original dialogue was funnier to me, but made no sense in context: "Dads, permissions to unleash Hells?" "Nei Li Selkie Smith, there will be no unleashing Hell."

Fri Sep 4 02:39:38 2015

Selkie 677Three strips in, I realize Andi's purse is on the wrong side. She's LEFT handed, but that purse is slung right-handed. >_<

Mon Sep 7 02:39:24 2015

Selkie 678Selkie has not watched super accurate television.

Fri Sep 11 02:39:09 2015

Selkie 679The rainbow speech bubble has been in my back pocket for about four years now.

Sat Sep 12 02:39:05 2015

Selkie 679The rainbow speech bubble has been in my back pocket for about four years now.

Mon Sep 14 02:40:36 2015

Selkie 680I thought about using this part to re-create the scene where Selkie is surprised by the racial differences between Todd and his parents, but it makes more sense to me that Andi would want to prepare Amanda for it ahead of time to avoid awkwardness.

Mon Sep 14 08:39:13 2015

Wed Sep 16 02:39:13 2015

Selkie 681Fear is the cookie killer. Fear is the little death that denies me chocolate chips.

Wed Sep 16 08:39:10 2015

Selkie 681Fear is the cookie killer. Fear is the little death that denies me chocolate chips.

Fri Sep 18 02:39:10 2015

Selkie 682When i was a kid, studying foreign languages was mostly done to learn creative insults.

Fri Sep 18 08:39:21 2015

Selkie 682When i was a kid, studying foreign languages was mostly done to learn creative insults.

Tue Sep 29 22:38:53 2015

Selkie 686As some readers pointed out correctly on the previous strip, Selkie wasn't aware of the GameKid's smashing. It happened after she'd left.

Wed Sep 30 02:38:55 2015

Selkie 687I failed Headroom 101 and had to tweak dialogue. Some of it was mildly longer.

Wed Sep 30 22:39:08 2015

Selkie 687I failed Headroom 101 and had to tweak dialogue. Some of it was mildly longer.

Fri Oct 2 02:38:56 2015

Selkie 688She's forgetting the part where magic fairies fix everything forever.

Sun Oct 4 17:39:05 2015

Selkie 688She's forgetting the part where magic fairies fix everything forever.

Mon Oct 5 02:38:51 2015

Selkie 689I. Like. Punctuated. Sentences.

Mon Oct 5 08:38:55 2015

Selkie 689I. Like. Punctuated. Sentences.

Wed Oct 7 02:38:58 2015

Selkie 690Not sure how Selkie would get a tummy tattoo of a farmhouse pond.

Thu Oct 8 00:39:02 2015

Selkie 690Not sure how Selkie would get a tummy tattoo of a farmhouse pond.

Fri Oct 9 02:39:00 2015

Selkie 691Was going to say "Sharpie" instead of marker, but (A) I dunno if that brand name is used outside America and (2) I've got a pattern of parody-brand-names I'd like to stick too but didn't want readability of the joke to get obscured. So, "marker".

Fri Oct 9 08:38:51 2015

Mon Oct 12 02:38:55 2015

Selkie 692I think Felix made an impression on Selkie

Tue Oct 13 00:38:58 2015

Selkie 692I think Felix made an impression on Selkie

Wed Oct 14 02:38:51 2015

Selkie 693So tempted to draw the first panel of the next strip in a Star Wars lightsaber duel mock-up, but I don't think it would fit Amanda's personality. Selkie'd love it though.

Fri Oct 16 02:40:31 2015

Selkie 694Had I gone ahead with media references anyway, Amanda probably would have been Disney's Cinderella.

Mon Oct 19 02:39:06 2015

Selkie 695I really love Panel 2.

Mon Oct 19 08:39:00 2015

Selkie 695I really love Panel 2.

Wed Oct 21 02:38:59 2015

Selkie 696I felt Selkie deserved a chance at some sweet Emotive Hair action.

Thu Oct 22 00:39:21 2015

Selkie 696I felt Selkie deserved a chance at some sweet Emotive Hair action.

Fri Oct 23 02:38:56 2015

Selkie 697In the initial draft of this arc Amanda was putting up the sweet and innocent act to the adults faces while being a royal shit to Selkie in secret. I chose not to pursue that because I don't want to create a narrative where Amanda is portrayed as some master manipulator or prescient mastermind. She's not above using the batted-eyelashes don't get me wrong, but I feel a route like that leans a bit too one-dimensional.

Fri Oct 23 08:39:24 2015

Mon Oct 26 02:38:58 2015

Selkie 698My family has never completed a game of Monopoly. We all reach the two hour mark and call whoever has the most properties the winner.

Tue Oct 27 00:39:00 2015

Selkie 698My family has never completed a game of Monopoly. We all reach the two hour mark and call whoever has the most properties the winner.

Wed Oct 28 02:38:59 2015

Selkie 699I basically chose to make up a board game for this strip that called to mind some of the board games from my childhood with slightly over-blown design gimmicks.

The Treasure of Dragon Mountain is won by being the first player to climb to the top of the mountain, defeating Monsters Hazards and Traps along the way. The six player tokens each have an advantage against one a disadvantage against a second and are neutral with the third, so climbing to the top is a lot of luck with a little bit of trickery in applying the Tool cards everyone gets to hold.

The Dragon at the top is also... well I'll discuss that on Friday. >:D

Wed Oct 28 08:39:25 2015

Fri Oct 30 02:39:26 2015

Selkie 700To continue off Wednesday's commentary, the Dragon at the top is basically an egg timer attached to a small motor. Every twenty minutes or so it Awakens and shakes the mountain. If your player token falls over you can set it back up where it lays, even if it moved you up a space. But if it falls off the mountain entirely, you go back to Start. The black squares are magnetic and hold your player token in place during Awakenings.

There are cards that positively and negatively alter the time between Awakenings, as well as Tool and Trap cards that can save you from falling off the mountain, which Selkie has pointed out here. Plus Amanda still has one Lasso and a Bear Trap...

Sat Oct 31 14:38:57 2015

Mon Nov 2 02:38:56 2015

Selkie 701I put the description of the black spaces in the comic for the benefit of archive bingers who may miss or not read the extra commentary and commentaries.

Tue Nov 3 00:38:49 2015

Selkie 701I put the description of the black spaces in the comic for the benefit of archive bingers who may miss or not read the extra commentary and commentaries.

Wed Nov 4 02:40:28 2015

Selkie 702Amanda's angry voice is "Impact"ful.

Fri Nov 6 02:38:54 2015

Selkie 703There is no in-game mechanic that says "You punch the goat in the face", but when you successfully win a Monster Space there's no harm in narrating the victory a bit.

Fri Nov 6 08:39:06 2015

Selkie 703There is no in-game mechanic that says "You punch the goat in the face", but when you successfully win a Monster Space there's no harm in narrating the victory a bit.

Sun Nov 8 20:39:08 2015

Selkie 703There is no in-game mechanic that says "You punch the goat in the face", but when you successfully win a Monster Space there's no harm in narrating the victory a bit.

Mon Nov 9 02:38:56 2015

RL Sucks

Wed Nov 11 02:39:18 2015

Selkie 704The original name of Selkie's final card was "Monster Bait", but then I said it out loud and there was no way.

Wed Nov 11 08:39:13 2015

Selkie 704The original name of Selkie's final card was "Monster Bait", but then I said it out loud and there was no way.

Fri Nov 13 02:38:59 2015

Selkie 705If Treasure of Dragon Mountain were a real game, I think the annoyance factor of getting shaken off the mountain every so often would need a lot of balance tweaking to prevent, well, exactly the scenario Theo just pulled here (effectively hard-resetting the whole session).

Defensive cards like the Lasso are good, but player mobility and speed of ascension up the mountain would need to be factored around the periodic shaking.

Not going anywhere with this, just a thought.

Fri Nov 13 08:38:56 2015

Mon Nov 16 02:38:57 2015

Selkie 706wow very dragon such mountain

Mon Nov 16 08:39:05 2015

Selkie 706wow very dragon such mountain

Wed Nov 18 02:39:04 2015

Selkie 707Theo's suggestion is a Grand Melee. Sharpen your blades, polish your armor, thump your squire 'twixt the eyes to cure sloth.

Wed Nov 18 08:39:09 2015

Selkie 707Theo's suggestion is a Grand Melee. Sharpen your blades, polish your armor, thump your squire 'twixt the eyes to cure sloth.

Fri Nov 20 02:39:59 2015

Selkie 708The next arc takes place on the set of Maury Povich.

Mon Nov 23 02:39:02 2015

Selkie 709Alternate dialog for the last panel had Amanda saying "God, be quiet for once in your stupid life". I decided the current version was funnier (comparatively, anyway)

Mon Nov 23 08:39:08 2015

Selkie 709Alternate dialog for the last panel had Amanda saying "God, be quiet for once in your stupid life". I decided the current version was funnier (comparatively, anyway)

Wed Nov 25 02:39:03 2015

Selkie 710I made a meta-writing decision not to fully recap Amanda's past with the Sandersons because the readers have already heard it, so I figure the details can be gone into off-camera a bit. Flows quicker this way.

Fri Nov 27 02:38:59 2015

Selkie 711I wasn't originally going to have Todd flinch back quite so dramatically in the last panel, but after the reactions to yesterday's strip where he storms forth upon Andi I thought maybe a little bit of counter-storming would be fun.

Also, I wanted to with "that" dialogue choice but felt the pictograph cuss words wouldn't work in this moment, so I went this route. I suppose you could just assume she's saying "Rock" and Todd's head is hiding the short leg of the R.

Sat Nov 28 02:39:04 2015

Mon Nov 30 02:39:10 2015

Selkie 712

Mon Nov 30 08:39:44 2015

Selkie 712

Wed Dec 2 02:39:01 2015

Selkie 713This page is cheating art-wise, but a part of me kind of likes the condensing-down of dialogue to be honest.

Fri Dec 4 02:40:33 2015

Selkie 714Probably don'ts needs that Selkie heads.

Mon Dec 7 02:40:18 2015

Selkie 715Selkie's favorite topping for that sugar-free unflavored ice cream is fish oil.

Tue Dec 8 00:40:07 2015

Selkie 715Selkie's favorite topping for that sugar-free unflavored ice cream is fish oil.

Wed Dec 9 02:40:11 2015

Selkie 716"Talk".

Thu Dec 10 03:05:12 2015

Selkie 716"Talk".

Fri Dec 11 02:40:24 2015

Selkie 717Everything is stupid

Mon Dec 14 02:40:26 2015

Selkie 718I feel like it makes more sense to me that Todd would discipline Selkie for her outbursts privately to avoid placing her on the spot in front of someone he knows she has trouble dealing with.

Tue Dec 15 00:40:17 2015

Wed Dec 16 02:40:18 2015

Selkie 719For those that read Skin Horse, the Amanda/Selkie split screen in the bottom row makes me think of UNITY.

Fri Dec 18 02:40:22 2015

Fire Emblem Cosplay

Mon Dec 21 00:40:08 2015

Selkie Hiatus #1: Isabelle

Wed Dec 23 00:40:13 2015

Selkie Hiatus #2: Jade Griffin

Fri Dec 25 00:40:15 2015

Selkie Hiatus #3: Kilyle

Mon Dec 28 00:40:23 2015

Selkie Guest Comic #4 – Hadiyah

Wed Dec 30 00:40:18 2015

Selkie Hiatus #5: Chris

Thu Dec 31 00:40:16 2015

Selkie Hiatus #6: Batgirl1

Fri Jan 1 00:40:14 2016

Selkie Hiatus #7: ChaosKai3000

Mon Jan 4 00:40:16 2016

Selkie 720Jenny last appeared in strip #420 ( http://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie420/ ). She's Andi's friend, and the owner of the gallery space where Andi has been setting up her exhibit.

Wed Jan 6 00:40:10 2016

Selkie 721Amanda is eating a pink strawberry-flavored cereal that may or may not have Frankenstein's Monster as a mascot.

Fri Jan 8 00:40:13 2016

Selkie 722I was allowed three no-questions-asked Mental Health Days a year during elementary school by my parents. Invoke them, they call me in, I stay home for the day.

Bad idea to use those all at once though. Made the rest of the year hell. XD

Mon Jan 11 02:40:22 2016

Selkie 723

Wed Jan 13 00:40:10 2016

Selkie 724I added the "Rude" speech bubble at the last minute to cover up some text on the sign behind Andi. it read too me like it was "meant" to be dialogue, and that wasn't intentional.

Fri Jan 15 00:40:21 2016

Selkie 725If she has her way, Amanda's just going to scrunch-eye through this whole day.

Mon Jan 18 02:40:14 2016

Selkie 726How can you say no to that Keisha face?

Wed Jan 20 00:40:13 2016

Selkie 727I put Amanda's earrings back in because I figured she'd grab them quick before going out for the pizza. *shrug*

Fri Jan 22 00:40:16 2016

Selkie 728I can hear some of you clapping from here.

Mon Jan 25 02:40:22 2016

Selkie 729Long or short, up or down, Amanda's hair betrays her heart.

Wed Jan 27 02:40:18 2016

Selkie 730Actually drew this one the night before update day because I was drawing the Art Exhibit strips when I realized I'd forgotten to draw this scene. Woops. :x

Fri Jan 29 02:40:16 2016

Selkie 731One of these pieces is by a familiar artist.

Mon Feb 1 02:40:09 2016

Selkie 732I figured at least one of Selkie's friends should join the show.

Wed Feb 3 02:40:13 2016

Selkie 733Makes me wonder how Selkie and Sandy would feel about the chewing-oriented artwork series "Gnaw".

http://www.moma.org/collection/works/82028

Wed Feb 3 08:40:29 2016

Selkie 733Makes me wonder how Selkie and Sandy would feel about the chewing-oriented artwork series "Gnaw".

http://www.moma.org/collection/works/82028

Fri Feb 5 02:40:04 2016

Selkie 734"Oms noms noms! Mmm, Face!"

Mon Feb 8 02:40:21 2016

Selkie 735They're not Weasleys, Kenneth. -_-

Mon Feb 8 08:43:08 2016

Selkie 735They're not Weasleys, Kenneth. -_-

Wed Feb 10 02:40:16 2016

Selkie 736So many teeth

Fri Feb 12 02:40:24 2016

Dave’s 34th BirthdayHappys Birthdays to mes
Happys Birthdays to mes
Movies ares awesomes
Nows feeds me fishies

Mon Feb 15 02:40:12 2016

Selkie 737I gave Andi's colored bangs a little fancy flip for the occasion.

Wed Feb 17 02:40:15 2016

Selkie 738The refreshment attendants, Brad (glasses with poofy hair) and Sammy (mohawk and stretched ear lobes) are from one of my really early attempts at a webcomic project about four roomates in a college dorm. It was pretty bad, so it's not online anymore. Just mentioning it for trivia.

Thu Feb 18 00:40:18 2016

Fri Feb 19 02:40:28 2016

Selkie 739Thought about using Chris Ofili's "The Holy Virgin Mary", but that would require too much context. "Piss Christ" conveys it's medium more succinctly.

Mon Feb 22 02:40:21 2016

Selkie 740I feel like I could stand to do more with breaking the three-layer panel layouts I default to.

Wed Feb 24 02:39:14 2016

Selkie 741"You're not a bad person. You're a terrific person. You're my favorite person. But every once in a while... you can be a real ****".

-Bill, <em>Kill Bill, Vol 2.</em>

Wed Feb 24 08:39:57 2016

Selkie 741"You're not a bad person. You're a terrific person. You're my favorite person. But every once in a while... you can be a real ****".

-Bill, Kill Bill, Vol 2.

Fri Feb 26 02:41:13 2016

Selkie 742This right here is why you don't leave witnesses.

Sat Feb 27 20:40:04 2016

Selkie 742This right here is why you don't leave witnesses.

Mon Feb 29 02:39:48 2016

Selkie 743I don't see Giselle as having a lot of artistic ability, so I chose to reflect that in her "flashback style".

Wed Mar 2 02:39:56 2016

Selkie 744I was originally going to have Giselle tell a more elaborate fib than "she did it out of jealousy", but I think the more subtle fib fits her better.

Fri Mar 4 02:40:11 2016

Selkie 745*squuuuiiiiiiiiiint*

Fri Mar 4 08:40:20 2016

Selkie 745*squuuuiiiiiiiiiint*

Mon Mar 7 02:41:07 2016

Selkie 746I like Giselle and I'd like to do more with her, but as a character she's going to need some juggling between good traits and whatever traits make her a person who responds to being snitched on with "spend a week plotting complex revenge schemes".

Wed Mar 9 02:41:56 2016

Selkie 747Temporarily switching back to Lucida while I try out some other font ideas.

Thu Mar 10 00:40:48 2016

Selkie 747Temporarily switching back to Lucida while I try out some other font ideas.

Fri Mar 11 08:40:14 2016

Selkie 748The font and speech bubble fluctuations continue apace. They grow more unstable with each passing minute. There are no other survivors, and the last of my firewood burns to embers before me. Never before have I feared the stars, yet now I see them not as divine protectors watching from the firmament, but as looming predators waiting for the right opportunity to present itself.

Mon Mar 14 02:40:24 2016

Selkie 749I think she still would have gone through with it even if she had known, but a different conversation would have happened.

Wed Mar 16 02:42:06 2016

Selkie 750Not sure about continuing with the hand-drawn bubbles, at least for as long as I'm using a standard font anyway.

Thu Mar 17 00:40:09 2016

Selkie 750Not sure about continuing with the hand-drawn bubbles, at least for as long as I'm using a standard font anyway.

Fri Mar 18 02:40:18 2016

Selkie 751Definitely need to think harder about composition with this paneling format. Last two strips had people hidden behind insert panels, and that's just not gonna cut mustard.

Fri Mar 18 08:40:36 2016

Selkie 751Definitely need to think harder about composition with this paneling format. Last two strips had people hidden behind insert panels, and that's just not gonna cut mustard.

Mon Mar 21 02:40:13 2016

Selkie 752Buckstars Coffee! Now with new dropping-shaped sprinkles!

Wed Mar 23 02:40:31 2016

Selkie 753I don't think of Kenneth as being a bad person, but I do think of him as being a bit "money-blind". He has money, he's probably grown up with and always had money, so its natural for him to show kindness and extend courtesy through transaction.

Fri Mar 25 02:41:06 2016

Selkie 754I was firmly a "if you give me $20 I will spend $20" kid.

Fri Mar 25 08:40:18 2016

Selkie 754I was firmly a "if you give me $20 I will spend $20" kid.

Mon Mar 28 02:40:26 2016

Selkie 755Now all we need is for someone to sneak behind the counter and raid the cookies, and Shenanigans will be complete.

Mon Mar 28 14:42:22 2016

Selkie 755Now all we need is for someone to sneak behind the counter and raid the cookies, and Shenanigans will be complete.

Tue Mar 29 22:40:35 2016

Selkie 756

Thu Mar 31 02:40:27 2016

Selkie 756

Fri Apr 1 02:40:32 2016

Selkie 757Happy April Fools. :3

Fri Apr 1 14:41:33 2016

Selkie 757Happy April Fools. :3

Mon Apr 4 02:40:20 2016

Selkie 758Thought about having Amanda butt heads here and insist, as she has before, that she's right and everyone else is stupid. But Amanda's not made of stone, and she's shown before a glimmer of awareness in what her actions are resulting in.

Mon Apr 4 08:41:10 2016

Wed Apr 6 02:41:17 2016

Delay of Comic, minus 50 points from Ravenclaw

Thu Apr 7 02:45:45 2016

Selkie 759When I was running late yesterday on this strip, I was tempted for a short time to simply do this one as prose instead of a regular strip. But I couldn't deny myself the opportunity to draw these reactions.

Fri Apr 8 02:40:22 2016

Selkie 760There's a part I decided to trim out to move things to the end of the arc a little more neatly: Lillian escorting a hyper-caffienated Tony, along with Keisha and Sandy , out the door and back home. Partly I decided not to shuttle Keisha off the "stage" before the full reconciliation of The Trio could happen, but also partly I just decided it was... well, trimmable.

Sat Apr 9 00:40:33 2016

Mon Apr 11 00:40:24 2016

Stuck out of state

Mon Apr 11 22:40:14 2016

Selkie 761

Tue Apr 12 02:40:26 2016

Selkie 761

Wed Apr 13 02:40:23 2016

Selkie 762I had fun breaking Sai Fen's spine.

Wed Apr 13 22:40:26 2016

Selkie 762I had fun breaking Sai Fen's spine.

Fri Apr 15 02:40:34 2016

Selkie 763I only know that line from Imgur, never seen or read Game of Thrones.

Fri Apr 15 22:40:16 2016

Selkie 763I only know that line from Imgur, never seen or read Game of Thrones.

Sat Apr 16 02:40:30 2016

Selkie 763I only know that line from Imgur, never seen or read Game of Thrones.

Mon Apr 18 02:40:26 2016

Selkie 764Running joke in my family, "Fine" NEVER means "fine".

Tue Apr 19 00:40:24 2016

Selkie 764Running joke in my family, "Fine" NEVER means "fine".

Wed Apr 20 02:40:14 2016

Selkie 765

Fri Apr 22 02:40:52 2016

Selkie 766Selkie wouldn't actually set anyone on fire. I hope...

Mon Apr 25 02:40:17 2016

Selkie 767"I means, it's nos "sets her ons fires and dance ons the ashes", buts I'll takes its.

Wed Apr 27 02:41:57 2016

Selkie 768I don't normally like over-explaining myself about the comics, but after the commentary on the previous strip I feel I may need to speak a bit more directly than normal about the current scene. and Selkie's rapid calm-down.

Todd, in previous times of crisis with Selkie, has not hesitated to Papa Wolf onto people. He's passionate about doing right by his daughter and defending her from attack. That hasn't changed, and Selkie trusts him when he says he'll take care of things and make everything better because he has generally done that in the past.

So, she trusts him to fix everything. Although I don't think Todd and Selkie would agree on methodology.

Fri Apr 29 02:40:15 2016

Selkie 769I really like drawing smug grins. :3

Mon May 2 02:42:04 2016

Selkie 770No, Selkie, egging Amanda's apartment is NOT an appropriate activity.

Wed May 4 02:40:20 2016

Selkie 771I had toyed with dialogue where Andi compares Amanda's comments to racism, but that would imply Andi knows Selkie isn't "a human with several esoteric issues" as most who see Selkie assume she is. And Andi is not privy to that. Amanda has gleaned it over the years from context, but has no formal information on sarnothi.

Thu May 5 00:40:18 2016

Fri May 6 02:40:15 2016

Selkie 772I had a little bit more I thought about putting in here but it was mostly fluff banter, and I'd rather do the week-ending strip like this and do a clean scene-change Monday.

Mon May 9 02:39:05 2016

Selkie 773The mildly inappropriate ringtones are back!

Wed May 11 02:39:00 2016

Selkie 774Been awhile since I used the Selkie Swoosh. Seemed a good time. :D

Fri May 13 02:39:06 2016

Selkie 775

Sat May 14 08:39:17 2016

Selkie 775It's a hot topic debate.

Mon May 16 02:39:06 2016

Selkie 776...I like Utena. A lot.

Wed May 18 02:39:06 2016

Selkie 777Props to everyone who saw Tai Li's shape in the egg and predicted a "tadpole" stage. :3

Fri May 20 02:39:10 2016

Selkie 778Some of the toys new and some of them are Suko's hand-me-downs. Non-toxic plastic infant toys that won't leech bad things into water if submerged.

More fun for her than a bubble-clam would be, anyway.

Sun May 22 00:39:07 2016

Mon May 23 02:40:34 2016

Selkie 779Tai Li's just swimming, she don't care what you call her.

Wed May 25 02:38:54 2016

Selkie 780He should've been named Monty.

Thu May 26 00:38:57 2016

Selkie 780He should've been named Monty.

Fri May 27 02:39:03 2016

Selkie 781I figure Sai Fen remembers the different sounds Suko made when he was younger to identify "happy" from "hungry" pretty reliably.

Mon May 30 02:39:01 2016

Selkie 782Today's Selkie is brought to you by wildberry beer.

Mon May 30 08:38:54 2016

Selkie 782Today's Selkie is brought to you by wildberry beer.

Wed Jun 1 02:39:02 2016

Selkie 783The green-and-black tool in panel 2 is a combination filter and aerator. The "kelp leaves" Tai Li's egg was sitting in are actually an aesthetic camouflage for the parts that extend into the tank itself.

Fri Jun 3 02:38:56 2016

Selkie 784In early drafts of the story, all sarnothi were basically waterbenders. And just for extra super-crazy trivia, in that same VERY early draft, there were slated to be two OTHER races revealed to be living under humanity's notice on Earth at a later stage of the story: avian "airbenders" living in cities disguised as clouds, and fire-breathing dragonoids who consume stone and react to water as if it were acid. In this draft of the story, humans were to be eventually revealed as "fallen" earthbenders who forgot their elemental artform. Todd would have been the first human to regain the ability.

This concept essentially evolved into the four Clans of Sarnoth, whose general personalities are very loosely based on the same four elements in terms of "feel" (Sar'Teri: Earth, Stoic. Jin'Sorai: Fire, Passionate. Mor'Kama: Air, Aloof. Tel'Dora: Water, Nurturing.)

Fri Jun 3 08:38:58 2016

Mon Jun 6 02:40:33 2016

Selkie 785Sneaky McSneakerton who is sneaking sneakily.

Wed Jun 8 02:40:35 2016

Selkie 786When I was a little kid I designed a superhero who manipulated surface tension and controlled water. He lived in Venice which is really the best possible city for a superhero like that, I think.

His name was Captain H20. I was not good with names.

Thu Jun 9 00:40:35 2016

Fri Jun 10 02:40:38 2016

Selkie 787Time for a seven month cut-away to a side plot.

Mon Jun 13 02:41:10 2016

Selkie 788I like jasmine, chai, pecoe, and earl grey, strongly brewed.

Tue Jun 14 00:39:00 2016

Selkie 788I like jasmine, chai, pecoe, and earl grey, strongly brewed.

Wed Jun 15 02:39:00 2016

Selkie 789I considered mentioning an off-camera moment where Selkie got sick from eating meat with too much barbecue sauce on it, but I don't want to confuse the "can she or can't she" issue.

Fri Jun 17 02:39:08 2016

Selkie 790I frequently run outside under dressed in the winter. Bad idea. Baaaaad.

Fri Jun 17 08:39:02 2016

Selkie 790I frequently run outside under dressed in the winter. Bad idea. Baaaaad.

Fri Jun 17 20:39:01 2016

Selkie 790I frequently run outside under dressed in the winter. Bad idea. Baaaaad.

Mon Jun 20 02:38:56 2016

Selkie 791Selkie still has hand warmers tucked under her shirt, but I felt showing an active temp control component (the warm water) would also be a good idea.

Wed Jun 22 02:38:59 2016

Selkie 792I had written a bit where Todd walks in to the room catching Sai Fen still in the water bubble, but on thinking about it I decided it didn't make much sense that Sai Fen wouldn't quickly floop that water bubble back into the tank before calling the human in to chat about war crimes.

Fri Jun 24 11:11:56 2016

Selkie 793In earlier drafts, Plo Quar had been a close friend of the De'Madieas, in other drafts she had escorted them out of Sarnoth and defended them from enemy soldiers. I chose not to go with the route of a personal relationship, but they're still aware of her existence.

Wed Jun 29 02:38:57 2016

Selkie 794The four Clans each have traditional roles in Sarnoth society, but individuals are free to work outside of those roles if they choose. Plo Quar's job as a Peacekeeper was/is atypical of Jin'Sorai, who are traditionally artisans and builders.

Fri Jul 1 02:39:00 2016

Selkie 795Selkie, it's "Jin'Sorai", not "Genie'Sorai".

Mon Jul 4 02:40:28 2016

Selkie 796Saw this on Imgur earlier today, made me laugh.

http://i.imgur.com/M4gAwBj.png

Wed Jul 6 02:38:58 2016

Selkie 797Delicious wonderful kale smoothies.

Thu Jul 7 00:38:59 2016

Selkie 797Delicious wonderful kale smoothies.

Fri Jul 8 02:39:09 2016

Selkie 798Selkie's stubbornness makes me chuckle.

Fri Jul 8 20:40:40 2016

Selkie 798Selkie's stubbornness makes me chuckle.

Mon Jul 11 02:39:11 2016

Selkie 799

Tue Jul 12 02:38:58 2016

Selkie 799

Wed Jul 13 02:39:04 2016

Selkie 800Panel 4 is killing me. I tried to sketch while holding a teacup for model reference. It, uh... it didn't come out so well. I may re-draw that one later.

Thu Jul 14 14:39:03 2016

Selkie 800Panel 4 is killing me. I tried to sketch while holding a teacup for model reference. It, uh... it didn't come out so well. I may re-draw that one later.

Fri Jul 15 02:39:01 2016

Selkie 801Probably shouldn't set your toddler on the lip of an aquarium in real life, but I figure this one is big enough it's not going to tip. Also, the visual amuses me.

Mon Jul 18 02:39:02 2016

Selkie 802Time for Todd and Selkie to bow out.

Wed Jul 20 02:39:08 2016

Selkie 803He has no Pohlker face.

Wed Jul 20 14:39:05 2016

Selkie 803He has no Pohlker face.

Fri Jul 22 02:38:58 2016

Computer’s broke

Sat Jul 23 00:39:04 2016

Computer’s broke

Mon Jul 25 02:38:59 2016

Selkie 804

Wed Jul 27 02:39:26 2016

Selkie 805

Wed Jul 27 14:39:13 2016

Selkie 805

Thu Jul 28 00:39:08 2016

Selkie 805AAAARRRGGhhh

Fri Jul 29 08:39:12 2016

Selkie 806UGH.

Mon Aug 1 02:39:14 2016

Selkie 807I'm sure bringing up the subject of politics will have zero ramifications on my sanity.

Mon Aug 1 08:39:11 2016

Selkie 807I'm sure bringing up the subject of politics will have zero ramifications on my sanity.

Wed Aug 3 02:39:14 2016

Selkie 808I decided awhile ago that getting a haircut would be a good move for Andi with the new phase of life and everything, but waffled a bit on the style. Almost went with a shaved-sides floppy-mohawk.

Fri Aug 5 02:39:05 2016

Selkie 809Blue-ish skin, rainbow hair, dashes everywhere...

Mon Aug 8 02:39:06 2016

Selkie 810also considered bunnies.

Wed Aug 10 02:39:00 2016

Selkie 811Yes, panel 4 is intentional. :P

Fri Aug 12 02:39:03 2016

Selkie 812Not literally "to the death", girls.

Fri Aug 12 22:39:12 2016

Selkie 812Not literally "to the death", girls.

Mon Aug 15 02:39:08 2016

Selkie 813When my computer crashed I lost my custom brush files. Found an older version of the palette on my laptop and got my main texture brush back. Yaaaay.

Wed Aug 17 02:39:09 2016

Selkie 814Time kompression is weird.

Fri Aug 19 02:39:38 2016

Selkie 815Todd's apartment building is set up with 2 two-bedroom apartments per floor and 1 Efficiency in the middle between them. The building overall is U-shaped (there is a courtyard in the back of the building that has not yet been shown in the strip) and the efficiency lives in the "base" of the U while the two-bedrooms are in the "legs". Their neighbors Asuka and Shinji, for comparison, live in the first floor Efficiency.

Mon Aug 22 02:39:16 2016

Selkie 816Electric fireplace was a last minute decision because I realized I didn't draw a chimney flue the last time I drew Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Tue Aug 23 00:39:20 2016

Selkie 816Electric fireplace was a last minute decision because I realized I didn't draw a chimney flue the last time I drew Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Wed Aug 24 08:39:29 2016

Selkie 817I haven't really drawn much "winter-wear" thus far in the strip's long (in real time) winter because I kind of figure they have a good cold tolerance in Wisconsin, and the last few winters in the real world have been fairly mild, so I outfitted people accordingly for a not-all-that-harsh winter. But today seemed like a good day to finally put a damn hat on everyone.

Fri Aug 26 02:39:51 2016

Selkie 818Clyde is a fully grown beagle-terrier-something, but if he's like my terriers he'll have a puppy's energy until he drops of age.

Sat Aug 27 00:40:12 2016

Selkie 818Clyde is a fully grown beagle-terrier-something, but if he's like my terriers he'll have a puppy's energy until he drops of age.

Mon Aug 29 02:41:09 2016

Selkie 819I was originally going to have Marta slinging colorful illustrations at Antoine in the last panel, but I don't think she'd knowingly do that around kids. Unless pressed too far. >:D

Wed Aug 31 02:39:30 2016

Selkie 820Eel is my favorite sushi meat. Just sharing that.

Fri Sep 2 02:39:51 2016

Selkie 821Still kind of figuring out just HOW curly to make Richard's hair. As the owner of hair that goes from business to clowntown in just a couple weeks, it's a delicate issue.

Mon Sep 5 08:39:55 2016

Selkie 822The Lannister Scale of Website Management:

Tommen: Hands-off, don't do much.
Jaime: Precision Strike on domain-threatening targets on an as-needed basis
Joffrey: Moderate everything that causes dislike.
Cersei: Full manual approval needed for all comments, nobody may speak without review.

Wed Sep 7 02:39:06 2016

Selkie 823Andi please include raisins in that rum cake, lest thou be a heathen.

Fri Sep 9 08:39:15 2016

Selkie 824Grandma Mari knows darn well Selkie is not inclined to take a bite of any type of cake, rum-infused or otherwise. But dialogue wise it felt more "grandma-y" to me for her to express concern over both kids accidentally imbibing liquor, instead of singling one out over the other.

Mon Sep 12 08:39:06 2016

Selkie 825This scene has gone through so many iterations it's insane. In the cruelest version, a version which probably borders on character-breaking in it's awfulness, Mari wrapped up the urn as a gift, with paper and bow and everything, and gave it to Andi during the gift exchange in front of everyone.

Interestingly, every discarded variation has a common reason for not being used: I just can't see a feasible scenario where Mari would give Andi the urn or have this conversation in front of the girls.

Wed Sep 14 08:40:18 2016

Selkie 826Can't think of transcript
Here is a shitty haiku
I'm very sorry

Fri Sep 16 02:39:03 2016

Selkie 827It was a whirlwind of color and fury

Mon Sep 19 02:38:59 2016

Selkie 828I actually get dizzy pretty easily in real life but I used to love spinning in circles as a kid. Go figure.

Mon Sep 19 14:40:58 2016

Selkie 828I actually get dizzy pretty easily in real life but I used to love spinning in circles as a kid. Go figure.

Wed Sep 21 08:39:06 2016

Selkie 829bleargh. Dust in my nose.

Wed Sep 21 22:39:00 2016

Selkie 829bleargh. Dust in my nose.

Fri Sep 23 08:39:12 2016

Selkie 830My real-life grandmother made from-scratch vanilla extract this past summer. I learned it is made with vodka, which is also how I learned why it is I love vanilla extract so much.

Mon Sep 26 02:39:11 2016

Selkie 831cdvs

Wed Sep 28 02:39:00 2016

Selkie 832Or is the opposite of cry "calm"? I forget.

Fri Sep 30 08:39:08 2016

Selkie 833Todd has three false teeth due to these kinds of scuffles.

Mon Oct 3 02:40:46 2016

Selkie 834"Selkie sweetie, if you ever get kidnapped by ninjas you have my permission to spit on all of them right in their eyes."

Wed Oct 5 02:39:15 2016

Selkie 835Due to a moment of what I can only call utter madness on my part, I chose to free-hand Panel 4's inks without penciling it first. O_o

Fri Oct 7 08:39:05 2016

Selkie 836Too much "grape juice"

Mon Oct 10 02:39:01 2016

Selkie 837I like undercooked pancakes and bananas so black they're almost zombified.

Wed Oct 12 02:39:06 2016

Wed Oct 12 22:38:59 2016

Selkie 838I used to have a sweet tooth before I gave up soda, now I lean more towards full-flavored zesty-spicy things,.

Fri Oct 14 08:39:01 2016

Selkie 839At one point the food of choice was sour candies, but I decided fresh-brew lemonade was better because I'm very thirsty.

Mon Oct 17 08:40:33 2016

Selkie 840Oh uuhhhhh christ I put half the characters in green shirts and the kitchen is a green background RIP my life.

Wed Oct 19 02:39:03 2016

Selkie 841

Wed Oct 19 22:39:09 2016

Selkie 841I wonder how many strips in a row I can work in a "regret" punchline...

Fri Oct 21 08:39:05 2016

Selkie 842All dripping sauce all over the floor.

Mon Oct 24 02:39:08 2016

Selkie 843Thought I'd move back to digital inking, because I'd like to try working some stuff I've been looking up out. Also, my pens dried up and the place I get them from is closed on Sundays. >_>

Mon Oct 24 08:39:07 2016

Selkie 843Thought I'd move back to digital inking, because I'd like to try working some stuff I've been looking up out. Also, my pens dried up and the place I get them from is closed on Sundays. >_>

Wed Oct 26 08:39:09 2016

Selkie 844Bacon is love, bacon is life.

Fri Oct 28 02:39:11 2016

Selkie 845Marta has a strong opinion on the consent-related aspects of being picked up and carried around. If it's a Yes, have fun with it. If No, prepare to lose some blood.

Fri Oct 28 22:39:12 2016

Selkie 845Marta has a strong opinion on the consent-related aspects of being picked up and carried around. If it's a Yes, have fun with it. If No, prepare to lose some blood.

Mon Oct 31 08:39:05 2016

Selkie 846Just grab some forks to act as lances and run right at each other, it'll be fine.

Wed Nov 2 08:39:18 2016

Selkie 847

Wed Nov 2 22:39:00 2016

Selkie 847

Fri Nov 4 08:39:17 2016

Selkie 848The layout here was going to be more complicated, with some flashbacks to Lillian encouraging supporting Amanda and helping her grow past her problems, but I opted to strip things down to the core of things.

Mon Nov 7 02:41:50 2016

Selkie 849I actually dislike thought bubbles philosophically (I prefer internal cut-aways like the previous strip), but they have a time and place.

Wed Nov 9 08:39:35 2016

Selkie 850The Patricia head was a last-minute decision, but I think it works.

Fri Nov 11 02:39:01 2016

Selkie 851Original dialogue from the last panel was to be "Oink oink, mother trucker", but spacing wouldn't allow it.

Sat Nov 12 08:39:05 2016

Selkie 851Original dialogue from the last panel was to be "Oink oink, mother trucker", but spacing wouldn't allow it.

Mon Nov 14 02:39:05 2016

Selkie 852Amanda has tact and subtlety worthy of a President.

Wed Nov 16 08:39:12 2016

Selkie 853Remember, kids: spying on private conversations is okay if it advances the plot.

Fri Nov 18 08:39:04 2016

Selkie 854Now that I'm actually seeing this page live-and-on-air, I'm really glad this isn't running on Actual Christmas. I'd be bumming everyone's holiday out.

Mon Nov 21 08:39:09 2016

Selkie 855Think I need to get back into a shading habit.

Wed Nov 23 08:39:05 2016

Selkie 856Here I am making the feel-sads before a holiday. Everyone join me in eating the feels away.

Thu Nov 24 11:27:23 2016

Selkie 856Here I am making the feel-sads before a holiday. Everyone join me in eating the feels away.

Fri Nov 25 08:39:08 2016

Selkie 857We built pirate spaceships.

Mon Nov 28 08:41:18 2016

Selkie 858Amanda can pretty solidly operate at the level of "30 minute sit-com detective".

Wed Nov 30 08:40:53 2016

Selkie 859Panel 4 originally had scrawled words peppering the colored expanse to expand on Amanda's inner thoughts, but I thought it felt a bit too heavy-handed.

Fri Dec 2 08:39:15 2016

Selkie 860I claim this hat in the name of Amandavania.

Mon Dec 5 08:39:10 2016

Selkie 861Clearly she's smarter than everyone else, who is clearly stupid.

Wed Dec 7 08:39:23 2016

Selkie 862I re-wrote panel 5 a bit. It was originally written to be Todd clasping Amanda on the shoulders comfortingly, but after some discussion on the last strip that Todd doesn't appear to feel very affectionate towards Amanda, I re-wrote it to be a hug instead.

Wed Dec 7 22:39:01 2016

Fri Dec 9 08:39:15 2016

Selkie 863It's a playful punch. ...I think.

Fri Dec 9 14:39:04 2016

Selkie 863It's a playful punch. ...I think.

Sat Dec 10 08:39:12 2016

Selkie 863It's a playful punch. ...I think.

Mon Dec 12 02:39:05 2016

SickGarfield was right, Mondays are terrible.

Wed Dec 14 02:40:27 2016

Selkie 864Let the savaging of dead trees commence.

Fri Dec 16 08:39:05 2016

Selkie 865Mari and Theo are loosely based on my own maternal grandparents, and many of the gifts I've gotten from them over the years have been practical things I didn't ask for, but appreciated very much once I'd put them in action. One of them is the space heater that's been keeping my room toasty in winter for ten years now.

Mon Dec 19 08:39:33 2016

Selkie 866It's interesting and funny to me how many of you sometimes run your minds along the same wavelength as me. The last comic I wrote in "Little Ravens Writing Desk" as an Alice in Wonderland joke, and a couple readers ran it off into the Baltimore Ravens. Hadn't intended that, but I DID intend for Marta and Steve to get football tickets and engage in a little sports-team trash talk in the strip after it.

I love that you all went right to football chatter ahead of me. 😀

Wed Dec 21 08:40:04 2016

Selkie 867It sounds like a great gift until ten years pass and it's all blown in one semester because inflation.

Fri Dec 23 08:39:17 2016

Selkie 868I like The Last Airbender a bit too much.

Wed Dec 28 02:40:37 2016

Selkie 869Initially I wanted Richard to recite a piece of Dunmeri poetry related to conquest or victory, but I couldn't find anything on https://www.imperial-library.info/ that felt like it would fit on panel. Back-up plan was a recitation along the lines of, "Thank you Mother, Lord, Wizard, and Four Corners, for these blessings." Buuut it kind of felt a bit weird to have him say a whole litany, like it implied he literally believed in it. So I settled for a simple name-drop reference.

Fri Dec 30 08:40:11 2016

Selkie 870There's a silver lining to this. But inside that silver lining is some steel and burned wood.

Mon Jan 2 02:39:45 2017

Selkie 871

Wed Jan 4 02:39:04 2017

Selkie 872

Fri Jan 6 08:39:11 2017

Selkie 873

Sat Jan 7 02:39:04 2017

Selkie 873

Mon Jan 9 02:39:09 2017

Selkie 874A short visitation with Heather and Keisha is next, then... moving on to some other stuff.

Wed Jan 11 08:39:04 2017

Selkie 875Heather's dialogue on this page was inspired from real life. My brother and his family spent Christmas in Miami with his in-laws, and he said their 5 month old son hated the heat down there and was fussy and crying the whole time.

Fri Jan 13 08:39:14 2017

Selkie 876I've never actually read Treasure Island. It's the one where they make dinosaurs from fossilized mosquitos, right? Or is it the one with the spider and the talking pig?

Sat Jan 14 00:39:07 2017

Selkie 876I've never actually read Treasure Island. It's the one where they make dinosaurs from fossilized mosquitos, right? Or is it the one with the spider and the talking pig?

Mon Jan 16 08:39:14 2017

Selkie 877A friend of mine has been after me for months now to show Keisha and Heather's reactions to the Selkie/Amanda sister thing.

HERE. YOU. GO.

Mon Jan 16 22:39:10 2017

Selkie 877A friend of mine has been after me for months now to show Keisha and Heather's reactions to the Selkie/Amanda sister thing.

HERE. YOU. GO.

Wed Jan 18 08:39:07 2017

Selkie 878The building is laid out with three units per floor. the A and C apartments sit in the wings and are full-size with kitchen bath living area and two bedrooms. The B apartments in the center of the horseshoe are smaller units with only one bedroom and a half-kitchen that rent at a lower price.

Fri Jan 20 08:39:10 2017

Selkie 879Probably should've given the Ikaris coats, but I wanted it clear at a glance they are heading of to work.

Mon Jan 23 08:39:12 2017

Selkie 880Don't be a baka.

Wed Jan 25 08:39:08 2017

Selkie 881I considered including some text bubbles of Todd and Selkie shouting more flustered things, but it's crowded enough as it.

Fri Jan 27 08:39:12 2017

Selkie 882Ta Sai Tho is the patron deity of Clan Tel'Dora. Then is saying "leaves" because Ta Sai Tho takes the form of a coil of aquatic plants constantly moving against the currents.

Mon Jan 30 08:39:06 2017

Selkie 883I considered mentioning in dialogue that the "shell" is a soft hard-light projection, but that felt a bit confusing to word out.

Wed Feb 1 08:39:08 2017

Selkie 884Most Sarnothi tech is controlled by gliding motions. Some items, like Sai Fen's stone carving tool, also utilize pressure sensitivity.

Fri Feb 3 08:39:13 2017

Selkie 885Sarnothi venom doesn't affect other sarnothi very strongly but it's still unpleasant. Their culture doesn't do "kissing" for that reason.

Mon Feb 6 08:39:03 2017

Selkie 886Especially if she's going to be biting it.

Wed Feb 8 08:39:10 2017

Selkie 887I promise Then is going to give some sort of explanation in the next strip. I promise not to cut away from here on Friday.

Just saying.

Thu Feb 9 00:40:31 2017

Selkie 887I promise Then is going to give some sort of explanation in the next strip. I promise not to cut away from here on Friday.

Just saying.

Fri Feb 10 08:39:04 2017

Selkie 888Now if only I'd drawn Then as a giant with a bushy beard.

Mon Feb 13 08:39:05 2017

Selkie 889Turtles may chew on glowing green items as much as they wish though, that's totally radical.

Wed Feb 15 08:39:13 2017

Selkie 890May be a bit of a road trip ahead of us.

Fri Feb 17 08:39:04 2017

Selkie 891Probably could have gotten way with a "damn butts" there, hun.

Mon Feb 20 14:39:15 2017

Selkie 892So very tempted to add a "bro" at the end of Then's "Whatever".

Wed Feb 22 08:39:05 2017

Selkie 893Avery's family is one of those little things that's been sitting in the back of my head for years now.

Fri Feb 24 08:39:09 2017

Selkie 894I had a joke that popped in my head for this strip but chose not to do it since it wasn't really relevant.

Selkie: I cans marries a humans?! This changes everythings...

Todd (grinning jokingly): Hmm? Got your eye on someone, do you?

Selkie (pausing for a moment before answering): ...Yeahs. James Bond.

Avery: Wow. Really?

Selkie (smug/decisive): Hes wills be mines. I'll tames hims.

Todd: Well good luck with that one, hun.

Mon Feb 27 08:38:14 2017

Selkie 895Not the kind of Fallout where you get to be all S.P.E.C.I.A.L. about it, either.

Wed Mar 1 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 896Was up in the air on if I wanted to put a big pink emotive cloud behind Selkie's head, but I'm a little afraid of overdoing that visual gimmick the way the symbolic image cuss words got to be a bit overdone and tired. I think her expression works without it anyway.

Fri Mar 3 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 897Writing problem: How to insert a reminder about Todd's security clearance into the narrative while avoiding the "characters telling each other what they already know" trope.

Solution: Have Selkie violate federal law.

Good job crew, drinks are on me.

Mon Mar 6 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 898Now throw her phone into Mt Doom, Todd.

Wed Mar 8 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 899No water pressure, Todd.

Thu Mar 9 00:38:12 2017

Selkie 899No water pressure, Todd.

Fri Mar 10 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 900900 down 100 to go. Then after that... I dunno, another thousand comics? ._.

Mon Mar 13 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 901Everything is all natural, except the pee.

Wed Mar 15 08:38:14 2017

Selkie 902...What? She can't drown.

Fri Mar 17 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 903

Mon Mar 20 02:38:17 2017

We use ketchup because real blood makes the actors faint

Tue Mar 21 02:38:21 2017

Selkie 904I kind of named Johnnie on-the-spot. It felt right.

Wed Mar 22 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 905

Fri Mar 24 08:38:14 2017

Selkie 906Frustrating dialogue on this one. Not happy with it, but moving on.

Mon Mar 27 08:38:09 2017

Selkie 907Avery isn't above some dominance-assertion laps.

Wed Mar 29 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 908Internally, I think one of the reasons Todd is as permissive of Selkie's sass and questionable behavior as he is is that he doesn't want to discourage her from being brave enough to speak her mind bluntly.

Fri Mar 31 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 909Insert Cupid joke here

Mon Apr 3 08:38:15 2017

Selkie 910Experimenting with adding a bit more volume to hair.

Wed Apr 5 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 911Minor change to Benny's appearance from his first showing in Avery's wallet photo is his cheek markings. I realized while drawing this that he's old enough that he should be developing facial marks by now. I'm rationalizing the discrepancy by the wallet photo being slightly outdated.

Fri Apr 7 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 912Fire Emblem Fates has some questionable stuff in the Marriage options. The characters being referenced here are actually the protagonists adopted sisters.

Mon Apr 10 08:38:12 2017

Selkie 913Amanda's making one helluva pie.

Tue Apr 11 00:38:12 2017

Selkie 913Amanda's making one helluva pie.

Wed Apr 12 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 914http://selkiecomic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/gargoyles.jpg

Fri Apr 14 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 915Now if only she had ten-fold shields

Mon Apr 17 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 916As long as nobody does the See Food joke, it should go mostly fine. Should.

Wed Apr 19 08:38:12 2017

Selkie 917Andi doesn't have a role in this arc, but I felt it'd be a good idea just to show why she isn't joining the dinner.

Fri Apr 21 08:38:16 2017

Selkie 918Please yes cannibalism.

(not really)

Mon Apr 24 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 919The skull opens up to release the Mecha-Kraken.

Wed Apr 26 08:38:13 2017

Selkie 920

Fri Apr 28 08:38:41 2017

Selkie 921I'm actually still on the fence for if Benny is literally smelling human fear pheromones or not.

Sat Apr 29 02:38:10 2017

Selkie 921I'm actually still on the fence for if Benny is literally smelling human fear pheromones or not.

Mon May 1 08:38:12 2017

Selkie 922Briefly considered an Evangelion joke about an "Accidental Terror Field", but would've been too convoluted to work in.

Tue May 2 00:38:12 2017

Selkie 922Briefly considered an Evangelion joke about an "Accidental Terror Field", but would've been too convoluted to work in.

Wed May 3 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 923ffs

Fri May 5 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 924Carrie can talk without pluralses, but it's something she needs to deliberately think about.

Mon May 8 08:38:12 2017

Selkie 925I think this might be the first time I've shown Sarnoth style buildings in a non-blobby way.

Mon May 8 14:38:17 2017

Selkie 925I think this might be the first time I've shown Sarnoth style buildings in a non-blobby way.

Wed May 10 08:38:12 2017

Selkie 926Good detective work, everyone.

Fri May 12 08:38:13 2017

Selkie 927I feel like Amanda would share Selkie's enjoyment of adventure fiction, just not quite as voraciously.

Mon May 15 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 928Selkie's better about not doing S-s when quoting things.

Wed May 17 08:38:12 2017

Selkie 929All he needs to complete the ensemble is a little white eel to pet as he hatches his schemes.

Fri May 19 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 930I forgot to give them menus earlier. >_<

Sat May 20 08:39:12 2017

Selkie 930I forgot to give them menus earlier. >_<

-EDIT- and apparently I didn't actually forget. Thanks, Alpo, for the catch.

Mon May 22 08:38:13 2017

Selkie 931Dining to the death is actually possible, just as Se7en. Then ask what's in the box.

Wed May 24 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 932if you need help with identifying Suko's song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsnRQJxanVM

Fri May 26 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 933I do need to revive the bunny ears thing, though.

Sat May 27 00:38:13 2017

Selkie 933I do need to revive the bunny ears thing, though.

Mon May 29 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 934One could also replace civilian wit that OTHER c-word... <i>customers</i>... brrr...

Wed May 31 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 935"I gots you a rock. It's totallys froms the underwaters colony ands nots from outs in the parking lots."

Fri Jun 2 08:38:14 2017

Selkie 93611 Murderglitter Lane
Doom Precinct, Terrorhammer Isle 733786

Mon Jun 5 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 937Had to do some blobby backgrounds after two months of brown walls.

Wed Jun 7 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 938Thankfully however, very few supervillains poop on your carpet.

Fri Jun 9 08:38:40 2017

Selkie 939With all the supervillain fascination, I can see Selkie developing an interest in firearms when she's a bit older.

Sat Jun 10 02:38:10 2017

Selkie 939With all the supervillain fascination, I can see Selkie developing an interest in firearms when she's a bit older.

Mon Jun 12 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 940Just wanted to do at least 1 strip of road-trip banter.

Wed Jun 14 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 941Last strip of the rooster-blocking. Promise.

Fri Jun 16 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 942My layer names for those illuminating lights are "phallic lampposts".

If I can't unsee it, you can't either.

Mon Jun 19 08:38:14 2017

Selkie 943At least it wasn't the Terrorhammer Monologue...

Wed Jun 21 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 944Initially I had Then bantering with the two new sarnothi in the final panels, but got to thinking about the reader comments about Selkie breathing in a wetsuit and a funnier idea came in my head. Thanks, everyone.

Thu Jun 22 00:38:18 2017

Fri Jun 23 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 945Selkie's issues with cold (and by extension all sarnothi) aren't an intolerance so much as a need to avoid hibernation during winter-level temperatures. It's especially important on the surface to avoid hibernation states, because fluctuating temperatures can pull them in and out of torpor, which isn't all that much fun.

Mon Jun 26 08:38:15 2017

Selkie 946My original draft of Scar included a big bushy beard, but after some soul-searching it just doesn't make sense to me that sarnothi would have facial hair. I can barely rationalize the hair they have already. 😉

Wed Jun 28 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 947Selkie is fortunate enough to see "evil" as big flashy toys and cool robot minions instead of... well, the other thing.

Fri Jun 30 08:38:14 2017

Selkie 948Feel the eel veal, for real.

Mon Jul 3 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 949Pohl understands the importance of getting the kids gifts from Dad's trips.

Wed Jul 5 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 950Cats In Action.

Fri Jul 7 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 951Don't wear that while eating escargot, Selkie. It'd be a bit rude.

Mon Jul 10 08:38:09 2017

Selkie 952Really the only way to Kan Ge Tho's bad side is to diss his slime trail.

Wed Jul 12 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 953Gien's idea of personal space is "Mine."

Fri Jul 14 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 954so damn tired

Sat Jul 15 00:38:10 2017

Selkie 954so damn tired

Mon Jul 17 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 955I'm sure nothing bad will come of this.

Wed Jul 19 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 956Will go in detail about the talking in a later strip. For now... PANTS PANTS PANTS.

Fri Jul 21 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 957The children of Han Shin jian Tho are the gift that keeps on taking.

Mon Jul 24 02:38:10 2017

Selkie 958If I could make plushies, a PAAAANTS plushie would not be off the table.

Wed Jul 26 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 959"Sorry we ain't got much in th' way'a salad, Todd."

Fri Jul 28 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 960Panel 4 was worth being up until 3:30 am.

Mon Jul 31 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 961It's either a glove, or a very large bracelet.

Wed Aug 2 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 962It costs four hundred thousand dollars to fire those lasers for twelve seconds.

Fri Aug 4 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 963The emblem on Scar's flashback outfit is the Fangs of the Father. It's a symbol relating to the sarnothi pantheon.

Mon Aug 7 08:38:09 2017

Selkie 964The pale-green gentlemen in panel 2 is one of the few Mor'Kama who came to live in the settlement. Not many of them left the city.

Wed Aug 9 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 965bleargh.

Thu Aug 10 00:38:10 2017

Selkie 965bleargh.

Fri Aug 11 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 966"They aren't feeding her any of that "bacon" nonsense, are they?"

Mon Aug 14 08:38:09 2017

Selkie 967Echo... echo... echo... echo....

Wed Aug 16 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 968Seemed like a good idea at the time?

Fri Aug 18 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 969A line of dialogue got cut from this one to keep the focus on the suppression aspect of the device (which is really the important bit). The proximity trigger for the message display Selkie had been watching was set too far. Hence why it first went off while she was already in the car driving away from the building.

It's a detail I meant to show the thing was assembled hastily, but I left t out of the comic proper for space reasons.

Mon Aug 21 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 970Preliminary dialogue for this bit had Pohl attempting to gently remind Gien that he's overstepping his boundaries giving him such an order, only to be pushed into it anyway. Trimmed it back for space, but here's the original extra dialogue.

Pohl: Um, technically Gien, I'm not Jin'Sorai, so... you CAN'T really give me an order like that. I mean, just... you know... technically.

Gien (glaring): Hmm. Well, tell me this then Tel'Dora; if I were to find your local Whisper and tell her this situation, would they give you a similar order?

Pohl (realizing he's a bit trapped.): Ummm... well, yes. Most likely...

Gien: Then MOVE.

Wed Aug 23 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 971Next time I need to draw that eel cage I'm gonna be lazy and copy-paste it. fffffffffffffff

Wed Sep 13 14:38:16 2017

WE’RE BACK!

Fri Sep 15 08:38:12 2017

Selkie 980Not much in the war of warring stars down there.

Mon Sep 18 08:38:14 2017

Selkie 981Drew and erased and redrew the big final panel like three times trying to get a good positioning for it. 😡

Wed Sep 20 08:38:12 2017

Selkie 982I can't hear or read the word "wonderful" without humming the Everclear song of the same name.

Fri Sep 22 08:38:24 2017

Selkie 983Ban Ii Tho takes the form of a water moccasin, and is generally pretty chill as long as people seek fairness and not self-gain.

Mon Sep 25 08:38:15 2017

Selkie 984Drink some water, that always helps a headache. ...wait.

Wed Sep 27 08:38:25 2017

Selkie 985Doctor, he can really move. Doctor, he's got an attitude. Doctor, he's the fastest guy allliiiiiiiiive.

Fri Sep 29 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 986Freakings TOLDS YOU I was a science-witch!!!

Mon Oct 2 08:38:12 2017

Selkie 987OKAY SO I GUESS I'M JUST GONNA WALLOW IN MY INCONSISTENCY ON THE CENSORING STYLE OKAY

Wed Oct 4 08:38:16 2017

Selkie 988Everyone floats on, okay?

Fri Oct 6 08:38:16 2017

Snafucon Break

Mon Oct 9 08:38:19 2017

Selkie 989Panel 5 was one of my earliest pieces of Pohl dialogue, conceptually.

Wed Oct 11 08:38:16 2017

Selkie 990A flicker of the flame, embers in the great black.

Fri Oct 13 08:38:13 2017

Selkie 991It also isn't affecting her voice in any perceptible way either,

Mon Oct 16 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 992Not "bit" like an eel on the face, but bit like... well, you get what I mean.

Wed Oct 18 08:38:21 2017

Selkie 993I'm leeeeaavviiiing, ooooon a submarine

Fri Oct 20 08:38:19 2017

Selkie 994dun dun dun

Mon Oct 23 08:38:30 2017

Selkie 995Selkie being half Sar'Teri is the final mutation of one of the original story draft concepts: in some of the first drafts Selkie's Clan was the oppressor, and not the oppressed.

Wed Oct 25 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 996Alternate dialogue for Panel 4 that I chose not to use:

Todd: "I don't mean to be insensitive, but that meat cooler looks like it's waiting to unleash some demons."
Selkie: "Tasty, tasty demons..."

Wed Oct 25 22:38:41 2017

Fri Oct 27 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 997Three to go...

Mon Oct 30 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 99897, 98, 99...........

Wed Nov 1 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 999does this mean friday's strip will make Selkie a millenial?

Fri Nov 3 08:38:13 2017

Selkie 1000Spoiler Alert: other interesting things happened, indeed.

Mon Nov 6 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 1001I felt moved to ladybug it up. >_>

Wed Nov 8 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 1002All it needs is a llama for the drama.

Thu Nov 9 00:38:11 2017

Selkie 1002All it needs is a llama for the drama.

Fri Nov 10 08:38:12 2017

Selkie 1003

Mon Nov 13 08:38:14 2017

Selkie 1004I'd say she must never use that power for evil, but... well. It's gonna be used for evil.

Wed Nov 15 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 1005"Keep it up and I'll take fifty points away from Slytherin."

Fri Nov 17 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 1006ba-dum-psh-BWONG CRASH SMASH Oh god there's fire WHY IS THERE FIRE

Mon Nov 20 08:38:15 2017

Selkie 1007"This Little Light of Mine", for those unfamiliar with it, is a children's church song. Here is a sample of it (albeit one that's a lot more fun to listen too than the ones I got to sing along with as a kid): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXiddJlR2cA

Wed Nov 22 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 1008"Sparkles" is her new name. She's not Amanda anymore. This is her life now.

... am I joking? I dunno, it's 4am. Nothing makes sense anymore.

Fri Nov 24 08:38:16 2017

Selkie 1009Selkie should probably say that in her opinion the Jedi are evil, but Amanda has the high ground.

Sat Nov 25 00:38:15 2017

Selkie 1009Selkie should probably say that in her opinion the Jedi are evil, but Amanda has the high ground.

Mon Nov 27 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 1010She's off a bit, the comic's eighth birthday is in 2018.

Wed Nov 29 08:38:12 2017

Selkie 1011"But Dave! How could Amanda invite other kids to her party without definitively knowing the venue?!"

Me: "Every garden needs a few holes dug in the plot."

Wed Nov 29 22:38:11 2017

Selkie 1011"But Dave! How could Amanda invite other kids to her party without definitively knowing the venue?!"

Me: "Every garden needs a few holes dug in the plot."

Fri Dec 1 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 1012It's a strawberry cake. Because pink.

Sun Dec 3 22:38:13 2017

Sick Day

Wed Dec 6 02:38:12 2017

Selkie 1013Good lord it's been a long time since I drew Kenneth. Had to go back waaaay to near the beginning of the comic to remind myself how he looked.

Thu Dec 7 00:38:10 2017

Selkie 1013Good lord it's been a long time since I drew Kenneth. Had to go back waaaay to near the beginning of the comic to remind myself how he looked.

Fri Dec 8 08:38:10 2017

Selkie 1014Everything is permission if you spin it right.

Mon Dec 11 08:38:14 2017

Selkie 1015It's not their fault, that whole building is one big Green Light.

Wed Dec 13 08:38:09 2017

Selkie 1016"It's likes Daredevil, excepts beings also a Sith Lords. Ands a vampire for reasons."

Thu Dec 14 02:38:21 2017

Selkie 1016"It's likes Daredevil, excepts beings also a Sith Lords. Ands a vampire for reasons."

Fri Dec 15 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 1017My nature gets me running around doing errands.

Mon Dec 18 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 1018Screw you, plaster.

Wed Dec 20 08:38:12 2017

Selkie 1019Not gonna lie to you folks, I allowed the readers to put a few words in Lillian's mouth in panel four. 😉

Thu Dec 21 02:38:12 2017

Selkie 1019Not gonna lie to you folks, I allowed the readers to put a few words in Lillian's mouth in panel four. 😉

Fri Dec 22 08:38:14 2017

Selkie 1020I should've had Amanda put the sunglasses on then give finger-guns as she rebounds off the wall and turns her back to an explosion.

Sat Dec 23 20:38:13 2017

Selkie 1020I should've had Amanda put the sunglasses on then give finger-guns as she rebounds off the wall and turns her back to an explosion.

Wed Dec 27 08:38:12 2017

Sick Again. I hate winter. Not that this had anything to do with winter, I just hate it. XD

Fri Dec 29 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 1021I try to avoid copy-paste when drawing the characters but it felt right for the bottom row of this one.

Sat Dec 30 08:38:11 2017

Selkie 1021I try to avoid copy-paste when drawing the characters but it felt right for the bottom row of this one.

Mon Jan 1 08:38:10 2018

Selkie 1022I kinda wanted to do a thing where Todd acts likehe's about to leap off the balcony to get down to the girls and Lillian grabs him by the collar: "We use STAIRS, Mister Smith." Coudn't quiiiiite manage to justify it to myself as a thing Todd would do though. >_>

Wed Jan 3 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1023Amanda is missing a good opportunity to practice her web-crawling a bit more.

Fri Jan 5 08:38:13 2018

Selkie 1024I loathe mushrooms as a pizza topping

Mon Jan 8 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1025RIP mushrooms

Wed Jan 10 08:38:14 2018

Selkie 1026A bounce house employee has no name.

Sun Jan 14 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1027"It's my party, she can cuss if she wants too..."

Mon Jan 15 08:38:14 2018

Selkie 1028Didn't realize until tonight that I don't think I've actually DRAWN Mary and Theo in attendance at the party yet. ... woops.

Wed Jan 17 08:38:10 2018

Selkie 1029Pizza Topping Wars Part 2... BEGIN

Thu Jan 18 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1029Pizza Topping Wars Part 2... BEGIN

Fri Jan 19 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1030Barb has the daintiest possible snicker in that last panel

Fri Jan 19 22:38:10 2018

Selkie 1030Barb has the daintiest possible snicker in that last panel

Mon Jan 22 08:38:14 2018

Selkie 1031Don't stare directly at it.

Wed Jan 24 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1032And lo, a great beast did fall from the sky, a fury of steel and flame crashing upon the land. It stood upon many legs, brandishing a different weapon in it's many arms. Astride this beast, mounting it with the ease of a conquering warlord, stood The Destroyer. The Herald of the Apocalypse. The Destroyer spoke in a mighty voice, which flew across the land in a peal of thunder that all may hear and witness the great proclamation:

"BASKS IN THE GLORY OFS DOCTOR TERRORHAMMER!!"

Fri Jan 26 08:38:10 2018

Selkie 1033See also: Hork, Hwarf, Bworrgh, and Yyyynghhughhllllll

Mon Jan 29 08:38:13 2018

Selkie 1034Beast Wars, "Code of Hero", if you didn't know.

Wed Jan 31 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1035I did not puke on her, I DID NOT! Oh, hi Ralph.

Fri Feb 2 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1036Weave the information in between puke breaks.

Mon Feb 5 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1037"Because her mad science has finally gone too far, Barb."

Wed Feb 7 14:38:12 2018

bleargh

Fri Feb 9 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1038Damn that blog post would have been better dialogue. Oh well.

Mon Feb 12 08:38:10 2018

Selkie 1039The theme song of Goldilocks: Bear Rider is two minutes of speed metal layered with real bear growls.

Wed Feb 14 08:38:10 2018

Selkie 1040Lets WOLF down chocolate together

Fri Feb 16 08:38:10 2018

Selkie 1041Hefting a battleaxe like that WOULD explain why Goldilocks needed to eat through three bowls of porridge. Just saying.

Mon Feb 19 08:38:10 2018

Selkie 1042"And their son's kind of cute but he's also an ass and I hate him maybe"

Wed Feb 21 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1043Amanda seems the "if you can't handle me at my worst" type on occasion.

Thu Feb 22 02:38:11 2018

Selkie 1043Amanda seems the "if you can't handle me at my worst" type on occasion.

Fri Feb 23 08:38:11 2018

Day Late

Sat Feb 24 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1044I mean it's not technically cannibalism? I think?

Mon Feb 26 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1045Who would ever suspect the clown of being evil?

(Also because people keep expressing worry about Selkie's 'evil' schtick, yet-another reminder that Selkie has an eight-year-old's perception of it. She's not evil, she just wants big robots and cool-ass lasers.)

Tue Feb 27 08:38:11 2018

Wed Feb 28 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1046tak tak tak PING PING PING

i r gud dyelog.

Fri Mar 2 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1047"Murderfloof the Big Bad Wolf" is my new headcanon.

Mon Mar 5 08:38:13 2018

Selkie 1048It is not part of the program at all.

Wed Mar 7 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1049I wish I could change tags without having to manually replace each one, Avery deserves a first-name tag by this point.

Thu Mar 8 02:38:10 2018

Selkie 1049I wish I could change tags without having to manually replace each one, Avery deserves a first-name tag by this point.

Fri Mar 9 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1050yi'Sar'Teri is a given surname, it comes with the position. ...FORMER position.

Sat Mar 10 17:38:11 2018

Selkie 1050yi'Sar'Teri is a given surname, it comes with the position. ...FORMER position.

Mon Mar 12 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1051Oh mah gawd, Cern, you don't just TELL people about covert ops!

Wed Mar 14 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1052I dunno what it is but there's something about Giselle I really enjoy drawing. Been looking forward to working with her again.

Wed Mar 14 17:38:12 2018

Selkie 1052I dunno what it is but there's something about Giselle I really enjoy drawing. Been looking forward to working with her again.

Fri Mar 16 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1053Half my time on this comic was f.... FUSSing over the dialogue

Mon Mar 19 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1054Sarnothi clause is comin' to town

Wed Mar 21 14:38:13 2018

aargh

Fri Mar 23 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1055my copy-pasting is too subtle, no one will ever notice it. mwa ha ha ha ha ha

Sat Mar 24 00:38:13 2018

Selkie 1055my copy-pasting is too subtle, no one will ever notice it. mwa ha ha ha ha ha

Mon Mar 26 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1056Disregards the glowings eyes. Your futures empress commands its.

Wed Mar 28 08:38:13 2018

Selkie 1057>_>

Thu Mar 29 00:38:11 2018

Selkie 1057>_>

Fri Mar 30 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1058

Mon Apr 2 08:38:13 2018

Selkie 1059"And while we're on the subject, please do not google the phrase "Spin Doctor". Thank you."

Wed Apr 4 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1060Am I full of crap. Maybe. After all, it's not a story the Jedi would tell you.

Fri Apr 6 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1061All it takes is one time.

Sat Apr 7 02:38:11 2018

Selkie 1061All it takes is one time.

Mon Apr 9 00:38:11 2018

Dave’s Break-cation #1: Hillary

Wed Apr 11 14:38:11 2018

Dave’s Break-cation #2: Dawn

Fri Apr 13 02:38:11 2018

Dave’s Break-cation #3: Ellie

Mon Apr 16 02:38:10 2018

Selkie 1062This statement is a lie

Wed Apr 18 00:38:14 2018

Selkie 1063REASONS!

Fri Apr 20 02:38:12 2018

Selkie 1064Pohl is probably the Spock in this analogy anyway.

Mon Apr 23 02:38:11 2018

Selkie 1065Stay awhile, and listen...

Wed Apr 25 02:38:10 2018

Selkie 1066What we need here is a training montage. I recommend this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJq7tqjSwe8

Fri Apr 27 02:38:15 2018

Selkie 1067Had to do some last minute tweaking to this one because originally Todd had dialogue talking to Amanda from off-screen, but I realized after re-reading it that her dialogue "felt" better if she didn't realize she was thinking out loud. Not that big of an apartment, though.

Mon Apr 30 02:38:16 2018

Selkie 1068Tentacle Party Summer Camp is a cartoon, it's probably fine.

Wed May 2 02:38:10 2018

Selkie 1069Mister Stoney is not recommended for children who like throwing things and live in glass houses.

Fri May 4 02:38:10 2018

Selkie 1070Dwindling embers just mean it's time for baked apples.

I dunno what that means if anything, I just flashed back to Boy Scouts.

Mon May 7 00:38:16 2018

A delay

Wed May 9 08:38:13 2018

Selkie 1071Ran out of space in that last panel, the rest of the dialogue was supposed to be "real monsters!"

(only 90s kids will get this)

Fri May 11 08:38:10 2018

Selkie 1072Hair themed night, lets watch Sweeney Todd next!

Mon May 14 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1073VERY long hike.

Wed May 16 08:38:15 2018

Selkie 1074I think, inwardly, Amanda is quietly regretting some of the "fish" cracks right now.

Fri May 18 02:38:12 2018

Selkie 1075Anyone who throws a spitball gets Pantsed.

Sat May 19 20:38:10 2018

Selkie 1075Anyone who throws a spitball gets Pantsed.

Mon May 21 08:38:10 2018

Selkie 1076AndiHair strikes again

Wed May 23 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1077Tehk's and Selkie's hair is about as light as sarnothi hair tends to get.

Fri May 25 08:38:13 2018

Selkie 1078The beautiful shiny button... the jolly candy-like button...

Mon May 28 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1079They aren't Grey enough to be aliens, anyway.

Wed May 30 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1080Deleted two other layouts before setting on the full pager. Bleagh. Still not big on it. Moving on.

Fri Jun 1 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1081You can't spell Agency without Girl... um... Gerl... Genl.. Gency. You can't spell Agency without gency.

....

Dammit, I should have named her Gency.

Mon Jun 4 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1082Ands wheres is my freakings Death Rays?!?!??!

Fri Jun 8 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1083Deleted dialogue:

"You know evolution is just a theory right?"

"Of course it is! "Theory" means it's been proven. An unverified guess is called a "hypothesis". "

Mon Jun 11 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1084I got nothin' for this today. 😡

Wed Jun 13 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1085This is me trying to answer the "why is cold 'bad' when they live in freaking Lake Superior?" question.

Fri Jun 15 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1086Wait'll you hear about their pancreatic enzymes.

Sat Jun 16 00:38:11 2018

Selkie 1086Wait'll you hear about their pancreatic enzymes.

Wed Jun 20 08:38:10 2018

Selkie 1087And let the Webhosting Shopping Spree... COMMENCE!

Fri Jun 22 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1088Spin The Bottle and Die

Mon Jun 25 08:38:10 2018

Selkie 1089It's Andi. I'm referring to Andi.

Wed Jun 27 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1090The elephant in the room.

Fri Jun 29 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1091Amanda's personal hell, school at home.

Fri Jun 29 22:38:10 2018

Selkie 1091Amanda's personal hell, school at home.

Mon Jul 2 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1092I can't unhear the word "banana" whenever the M-Word gets thrown around.

Wed Jul 4 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1093a last name that rhymes with the first name like that is considered cute in Sarnoth culture, but very kidd-ish. It won't serve her well when she grows up.

Wed Jul 4 17:38:10 2018

Selkie 1093a last name that rhymes with the first name like that is considered cute in Sarnoth culture, but very kidd-ish. It won't serve her well when she grows up.

Fri Jul 6 08:38:14 2018

Selkie 1094Kids seriously love touching ceilings, though. My cousin's five and six year old can't get enough of it.

Mon Jul 9 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1095Mental sound effects for panel three: scoot-scoot-scoot

Wed Jul 11 08:38:09 2018

Selkie 1096

Fri Jul 13 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1097I like sometimes to give the impression the cast does stuff off-panel.

Mon Jul 16 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1098In Circle of Hell, Paper works YOU!

Wed Jul 18 08:38:12 2018

Short moving break

Fri Jul 20 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1099Starting up a convoy.

Sun Jul 22 08:38:18 2018

Selkie 1099Starting up a convoy.

Mon Jul 23 08:38:14 2018

Selkie 1099Starting up a convoy.

Tue Jul 24 14:38:13 2018

Selkie 1100The egg will be fine.

Wed Jul 25 08:38:13 2018

Selkie 1101Pohl is the kind of Sim City player who thinks purposely deploying the natural disasters is slightly monstrous.

Me, I like watching Godzilla try to outdo a UFO for most kills.

Fri Jul 27 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1102All in all, that's just a
few more bricks for the wall.

Mon Jul 30 08:38:10 2018

Selkie 1103Plo Quar sleeping under a pile of dirty laundry, fumbling for the telephone when Pohl calls, "I'm not even supposed to be in today!"

Wed Aug 1 20:38:12 2018

Selkie 1104ugh

Fri Aug 3 08:38:48 2018

Selkie 1105This tea is reds likes my angers.

Mon Aug 6 08:38:10 2018

Selkie 1106For anyone wondering about Pohl's shirt, it's a World of Warcraft joke. I can't explain it in further detail without going down two or three rabbit holes of memes.

Wed Aug 8 08:38:13 2018

Selkie 1107Also blerp.

Fri Aug 10 08:38:13 2018

Selkie 1108Engineering as profession, of course. Gotta make her some bombs.

Sat Aug 11 00:38:12 2018

Selkie 1108Engineering as profession, of course. Gotta make her some bombs.

Mon Aug 13 08:38:15 2018

Selkie 1109Soon the Gaze of Terrorhammer shall be nigh

Wed Aug 15 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1110

Thu Aug 16 00:38:13 2018

Selkie 1110

Fri Aug 17 08:38:14 2018

Selkie 1111"Beams" can also be "construction beams". 😛

Sat Aug 18 17:38:13 2018

Selkie 1111"Beams" can also be "construction beams". 😛

Mon Aug 20 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1112"I still wants the giants crab-tank ones day, thoughs."

Wed Aug 22 08:38:13 2018

Selkie 1113Ihadn't drawn the Cypress Miller poster on Selkie's wall because I wanted to replace it, but had't came up with an idea I liked. Decided to just throw a Kathryn on there.

Fri Aug 24 08:38:32 2018

Selkie 1114The almonds will be fine in small powder-y doses, fyi

Mon Aug 27 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1115Step 1, complete

Wed Aug 29 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1116Proactively saving the world.

Thu Aug 30 02:38:12 2018

Selkie 1116Proactively saving the world.

Fri Aug 31 08:38:28 2018

Selkie 1117Own your glow

Mon Sep 3 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1118Selkie has a new theme song. "I'm gonna be awesome!" Look for it in stores... maybe?

Wed Sep 5 08:38:14 2018

Selkie 1119I've had this bit of backstory running through my head so long I legitimately cannot remember if Ive already told it or if it just feels like I did. Running with it regardless.

Fri Sep 7 08:38:16 2018

Selkie 1120I eagerly await the comments that last panel will bring

Sat Sep 8 02:38:12 2018

Selkie 1120I eagerly await the comments that last panel will bring

Mon Sep 10 08:38:10 2018

Selkie 1121I'm 80% sure cadaver studies are still done. ...maybe

Wed Sep 12 08:38:14 2018

Selkie 1122What do you call the medical student with the worst grades in his class?

Doctor.

Thu Sep 13 02:38:12 2018

Selkie 1122What do you call the medical student with the worst grades in his class?

Doctor.

Fri Sep 14 08:38:34 2018

Selkie 1123Ouch

Mon Sep 17 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1124Deleted scene that I liked but cut to keep overall progression moving:

Young Pohl wakes up at the hospital, with tubes and fluids. Sai Fen lurches over to him, hugging and talking very very quickly in Tensei. Pohl looks apologetic, she looks both worried and angry.

Two of the nurses are close by.

Nurse 1 (observing the interaction between Pohl and Sai Fen): Phew. Wish I knew what was going on, there.

Nurse 2: "How could you?" "Why did you do it?" "Did you even think about how this would make me feel?"

Nurse 1: You can understand that... whatever that language is?

Nurse 2: Not a word. But "angry wife pissed that her husband did something stupid"? That's a universal language.

Tue Sep 18 08:38:13 2018

Wed Sep 19 14:38:12 2018

fffffffffffffffffffffff….

Thu Sep 20 00:38:11 2018

Selkie 1125It's the studs.

Fri Sep 21 08:38:21 2018

Selkie 1126
"That's MISS Mussolini, to you!"

Fri Sep 21 20:38:12 2018

Selkie 1126"That's MISS Mussolini, to you!"

Mon Sep 24 08:38:13 2018

Selkie 1127Dada! Expo speak! EXPO SPEAK, DADA!

Wed Sep 26 08:38:11 2018

Selkie 1128Is raw ham just pig sushi?

Thu Sep 27 20:38:13 2018

Selkie 1128Is raw ham just pig sushi?

Fri Sep 28 08:38:17 2018

Selkie 1129I'm kidding Hunters, I love you, please don't Misdirect onto my face.

Sat Sep 29 00:38:15 2018

Selkie 1129I'm kidding Hunters, I love you, please don't Misdirect onto my face.

Mon Oct 1 08:38:12 2018

Selkie 1130"Bleagh" is the only word I can say until my seventeenth cup of coffee.

Wed Oct 3 08:38:17 2018

Selkie 1131I don’t know if putting her on the bed for hang out time is a good idea. I’ll find out the fun way when she weighs 80 pounds instead of 15.

Fri Oct 5 08:38:41 2018

Delay

Sat Oct 6 08:38:14 2018

Selkie 1132I did speech therapy as a kid, it didn't take all the way to be honest. At least I can semi pronounce R and Ch sounds now though.

Mon Oct 8 08:38:33 2018

Selkie 1133That was sarcasm.

Wed Oct 10 08:38:15 2018

Selkie 1136

Thu Oct 11 00:38:16 2018

Selkie 1136"Hows ands wheres cans I buys ones? I wants a pets."

Fri Oct 12 08:38:22 2018

Selkie 1135Gen mo means "be good". Tehk hears that one a lot.

Mon Oct 15 06:18:14 2018

Selkie 1136Hmph.

Wed Oct 17 06:18:15 2018

Selkie 1137I am a compelling and thought-provoking dialogueist.

Fri Oct 19 06:18:14 2018

Selkie 1138I've never known Pop Quizzes to be anything more than a TV trope, but... doing it anyway. >_>

Mon Oct 22 06:18:15 2018

Selkie 1139Thought about having Te Fahn call her Sel Kie because that's the naming style she'd be used to, but didn't wanna work in an explanation for it and it isn't arc-relevant.

Wed Oct 24 06:18:14 2018

Selkie 1140Mrrgrrgrr

Sat Oct 27 06:18:15 2018

Selkie 1141Thank you for your patience and readership.

Mon Oct 29 06:18:14 2018

Selkie 1142Pak means "yes", or more of a general affirmative.

Wed Oct 31 06:18:16 2018

Halloween 2018Be good, now.

Fri Nov 2 06:18:15 2018

Selkie 1143OOOOOOOOOOO

Mon Nov 5 13:19:43 2018

Selkie 1143OOOOOOOOOOO

Wed Nov 7 06:18:14 2018

Selkie 1144Giselle, no.

Fri Nov 9 06:18:14 2018

Selkie 1145"drippy cloaca" rolls off the tongue so nicely though.

Mon Nov 12 06:18:15 2018

Selkie 1146George's actions here are inspired by an incident from my youth involving butter-and-sugar sandwiches and regret.

Wed Nov 14 06:18:16 2018

Selkie 1147"And I'm Wu, by the way."

Fri Nov 16 06:18:15 2018

Selkie 1148poof

Mon Nov 19 06:18:12 2018

Selkie 1149Hey, why am I standing on the edge of a razor suddenly?

Wed Nov 21 06:18:13 2018

Selkie 1150Slipped off a little bit on the sleep-schedule-fixing tonight but at least it's not 4am again!

zzzz...

Fri Nov 23 06:18:13 2018

Selkie 1151apple pie is good, fight me

Sat Nov 24 06:18:17 2018

Selkie 1151apple pie is good, fight me

Mon Nov 26 06:18:12 2018

Selkie 1152She sure chilly-chilly; She positively glow-glow.

Wed Nov 28 13:18:15 2018

Selkie 1153Such LANGUAGE! tut tut.

Fri Nov 30 06:18:13 2018

Selkie 1154"I woulds do The Voice, buts I heards the agents takes alls the moneys."

Mon Dec 3 06:18:14 2018

Selkie 1155Loose lips blow up Death Stars, Selkie.

Wed Dec 5 06:18:13 2018

Selkie 1156Freaking out younger siblings is important

Fri Dec 7 13:18:13 2018

Selkie 1157I actually do kind of love that, though.

Mon Dec 10 06:18:15 2018

Selkie 1158History will remember this decision as the moment that kids never get correct on their tests.

Tue Dec 11 06:18:19 2018

Selkie 1158History will remember this decision as the moment that kids never get correct on their tests.

Wed Dec 12 06:18:13 2018

Selkie 1159A happening happened to happen today.

Sat Dec 15 06:18:13 2018

Selkie 1160Are we Alduin puns, now?

Mon Dec 17 06:18:12 2018

Selkie 1161Or good ninjas. They're assassins either way.

Wed Dec 19 06:18:14 2018

Selkie 1162Almost uploaded this without censoring the fucks.

...Fuck, wait.

Fri Dec 21 06:18:10 2018

Selkie 1163

Mon Dec 24 06:18:13 2018

Someone tell the guy above me he talks too much.

Wed Dec 26 06:18:12 2018

Selkie 1165Todd v Avery wouldn't even be a contest, honestly.

Fri Dec 28 13:18:13 2018

Selkie 1166

Mon Dec 31 06:18:12 2018

Selkie 1167

Mon Dec 31 13:18:12 2018

Selkie 1167

Wed Jan 2 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1168I really wish the Philidelphia Experiment was real. Anything involving teleporting between dimensions is A-Okay by me.

Fri Jan 4 06:18:14 2019

And stay out of the third left drawer. Don't ask why, just stay out of it. And ignore any weird noises.

Mon Jan 7 06:18:10 2019

Selkie 1170Beatrice Heisenberg isn't all that bad of a break.

Wed Jan 9 06:18:12 2019

Selkie 1171*Nots responsibles for mutations

Fri Jan 11 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1172Also I'm very bad at remembering to draw purses. Andi has had words with me on this.

Mon Jan 14 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1173Amanda's bedroom being the same dark-ish red as the rest of the apartment didn't fit her, so she and Andi did a paint job.
Don't tell the landlord.

Wed Jan 16 06:18:16 2019

Selkie 1174If I can make a third Roswell reference,e you all get a Bingo

Fri Jan 18 06:18:12 2019

Selkie 1175

Mon Jan 21 06:18:15 2019

Selkie 1176

Wed Jan 23 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1177She's accidentally correct about it being a spy code, but that passphase only acts to alert nearby agents that it's fifteen minutes until lunch break.

Fri Jan 25 06:18:12 2019

Selkie 1178Those lyrics refer to card game strategies Selkie, not your enemy's spines. I just want to be clear about that.

Mon Jan 28 06:18:12 2019

Selkie 1179HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!

Wed Jan 30 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1180I did not want something, I did not! Oh, hi Tehk.

Mon Feb 4 00:18:13 2019

Selkie 1181I am THAT uncle

Wed Feb 6 06:18:11 2019

Selkie 1182

Wed Feb 6 13:18:14 2019

Selkie 1182

Fri Feb 8 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1183I've kind of missed Amanda's cloying side. A little.

Mon Feb 11 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1184Opted not to use the colored emotive background in that last panel because I like how the face expressions speak for themselves.

Wed Feb 13 06:18:15 2019

Selkie Valentine Day!

Wed Feb 13 22:18:16 2019

Selkie 1185

Fri Feb 15 06:18:15 2019

Selkie 1186Kin Ro's surname Tu'Daire means "I have good luck".

Mon Feb 18 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1187I mean, Sarnothi God will ALSO eat you, but he does it in a good way. Somehow.

Wed Feb 20 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 118817 in some states.

Fri Feb 22 06:18:12 2019

Selkie 1189Either giant robots or giant nuclear lizards. Depends on if her major ends up being Engineering or Biochemistry.

Mon Feb 25 06:18:12 2019

Selkie 1190Ssssssssssssssssssssss

Wed Feb 27 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1191Also, Echos mostly only do brain surgery for the purposes of integrating cybernetic components. Not so much fixing speech impediments.

Fri Mar 1 06:18:12 2019

Selkie 1192The slang-y speech was originally going to be so dense it bordered on uninterpretable. I chose the path of mercy.

Fri Mar 1 22:18:19 2019

Selkie 1192The slang-y speech was originally going to be so dense it bordered on uninterpretable. I chose the path of mercy.

Mon Mar 4 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1193Kind of a second moment of feedback response, on this one. Original draft was Amanda intercepting Selkie here, but Keisha's absence form screen time was mentioned on Friday's comments, and while I had bene intending to work some Keisha and Heather time into the scene while we're in the school setting anyway, it occured to me that this would be a good moment for it. Won't change the end result any.

Wed Mar 6 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1194I miss the pseudo-emojis sometimes, it was something distinctly "me" and I had fun coming up with them, but they were just causing too many legibility problems.

Sat Mar 9 06:18:18 2019

Selkie 1195

Mon Mar 11 06:18:15 2019

Selkie 1196This girl thinks she can learn to be an Echo!

Wed Mar 13 06:18:39 2019

Selkie 1197My original draft had this bit happening at Amanda's home, and Tehk being hurt to find out Amanda just wanted something from him, but the melodrama of that didn't feel right for Tehk's character. Laughing in people's faces is more of a Tehk move.

Fri Mar 15 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1198Notte is pleased.

Mon Mar 18 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1199Technically Amanda's plan is more feasible than Selkie's.

Wed Mar 20 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1200

Thu Mar 21 00:19:41 2019

Selkie 1200

Fri Mar 22 06:19:44 2019

Selkie 1201Momma... just killed a man. Put my gun against his head, pulled the trigger, now he's dead.

Mon Mar 25 06:18:16 2019

Selkie 1202Or just play Control Mono Blue, both work.

Wed Mar 27 06:18:23 2019

Selkie 1203This strip is a good one for her to have a bit more cheek, anyway.

Fri Mar 29 06:18:16 2019

Temporary Delay Placeholder, might delete later

Sat Mar 30 06:18:16 2019

Selkie 1204Apply liberally to affected area for relief of burning and itching sensations. Not to be taken internally. Side effects include burning and itching sensation.

Mon Apr 1 06:18:20 2019

Selkie 1205Check the Date

Wed Apr 3 06:18:17 2019

Selkie 1206

Fri Apr 5 20:31:13 2019

Selkie 1207I fervently deny the accusations that I am setting up a follow-up story arc, how dare you.

Mon Apr 8 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1208I had made Andi's hair a white and black swirl, but that lent itself to too many easy Cruella De Vil jokes.

Wed Apr 10 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1209I don't think Selkie's ever been grounded for, like, a whole arc or anything, but she's not gone without some chastisement.

Fri Apr 12 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1210

Sat Apr 13 06:18:11 2019

Selkie 1210Forgot to make a transcript commentary until Saturday. Uh........ cheese is good?

Mon Apr 15 06:18:12 2019

Selkie 1211From an early point in things, I knew I wanted Wu and Sandy to eventually become, at some stage, either a couple or siblings. I hope it's clear which of the two I chose.

Mon Apr 15 22:18:12 2019

Selkie 1211From an early point in things, I knew I wanted Wu and Sandy to eventually become, at some stage, either a couple or siblings. I hope it's clear which of the two I chose.

Wed Apr 17 06:18:18 2019

Selkie 1212

Thu Apr 18 00:18:14 2019

Selkie 1212

Fri Apr 19 06:18:12 2019

Selkie 1213Scott Pilgrim has taught me that Brandon has secret superpowers.

Mon Apr 22 06:18:18 2019

Selkie 1214So rude.

Wed Apr 24 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1215Not fond of the linework on this one, but a photoshop crash cost me most of it so... bleargh.

Ctrl-S people, Don't be like me.

Fri Apr 26 13:18:15 2019

Mmmph

Sat Apr 27 06:18:12 2019

Selkie 1216"Benevolence"

Mon Apr 29 06:21:12 2019

Selkie 1217No really feeling with it. Someone take a blowtorch to the spiderwebs in my brain please.

Tue Apr 30 00:19:31 2019

Selkie 1217No really feeling with it. Someone take a blowtorch to the spiderwebs in my brain please.

Wed May 1 06:20:15 2019

Selkie 1218

Fri May 3 13:18:13 2019

Selkie 1219 (Partial)

Sat May 4 00:19:45 2019

Selkie 1219

Mon May 6 06:18:15 2019

Selkie 1220The Selkie sequel comic is just one panel a day of people making dumb faces. No dialogue, no plot. Just faces.

Wed May 8 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1221"Tastes like sadness" is how I describe the McDonalds $1 cheeseburgers.

Fri May 10 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1222Wild eels don't say silly things like "I am pants!" (the handlers taught him that, due to a perverse sense of humor). Wild sarnothi eels are more likely to mimic cries for help, or the wails of a lost child.

Mon May 13 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1223interjecting

Wed May 15 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1224The Chair and Rope thing is a hard nut to crack.

Fri May 17 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1225For dancing being in her bio, I think this may be the first time I actually drew Keisha doing it. >_>

Mon May 20 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1226

Tue May 21 00:18:12 2019

Selkie 1226

Wed May 22 06:18:12 2019

Selkie 1227

Fri May 24 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1228Spookybacon

Mon May 27 18:18:13 2019

Selkie 1229

Wed May 29 06:18:12 2019

Smol Delay

Wed May 29 13:18:14 2019

Selkie 1230

Thu May 30 00:18:12 2019

Selkie 1230

Fri May 31 06:18:11 2019

Selkie 1231Jackets in Selkieverse can just apparate and disapparate out of thin air. It's an inherent power of all people in the setting, and not at all caused by me forgetting to draw Te Fahn's mother in a jacket last time.

Mon Jun 3 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1232Todd will probably chastise this next comic. Maybe.

Wed Jun 5 06:18:23 2019

Selkie 1233

Fri Jun 7 06:18:20 2019

Selkie 1234Somewhere in another Universe, the devil is frowning at me ever so sternly.

Mon Jun 10 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1235But if you just go, remember your brown coat.

Tue Jun 11 00:18:15 2019

Selkie 1235But if you just go, remember your brown coat.

Wed Jun 12 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1236Google never steered me wrong on translations before... I think.

Fri Jun 14 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1237What is your obsession with my Forbidden Closet of Mystery?!

Mon Jun 17 06:06:30 2019

Selkie 1238He strikes me as a Hufflepuff.

Mon Jun 17 22:18:13 2019

Selkie 1238He strikes me as a Hufflepuff.

Wed Jun 19 06:18:15 2019

Selkie 1239I mean you do have poison spit, Selkie. Find somebody's water bottle and...

Mon Jun 24 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1240The powerhouse of the cell is
A: Ritalin
B: Mitochondria
C: The Cosmic Radiation Occupying the Eternal and Terrifying Void of Outer Space
D: Your mother

Wed Jun 26 13:18:17 2019

Selkie 1241Original plan may or may not have been a venomous space skunk crashing through the wall offering an interstellar alliance between their people and the true masters of Earth, the termites.

"Not" being the most likely option.

Wed Jun 26 22:18:13 2019

Fri Jun 28 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1242Tells all day

Mon Jul 1 06:18:17 2019

Selkie 1243Half of them really overdo the music element tho.

Wed Jul 3 06:18:19 2019

Selkie 1244VERY big, apparently.

Fri Jul 5 13:18:16 2019

Selkie 1245Keisha channeling her inner Stampede.

Mon Jul 8 06:18:16 2019

Selkie 1246I'm not calculating the minutes.

Wed Jul 10 06:18:19 2019

Selkie 1247

Wed Jul 10 18:18:16 2019

Selkie 1247Google est très utile pour les gens comme moi qui sont assez bêtes pour écrire un dialogue dans une langue qu'ils ne parlent pas.

Sat Jul 13 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1248It's actually five dollars short. Inflation has not been kind to axioms.

Mon Jul 15 06:18:16 2019

Selkie 1249

Wed Jul 17 06:18:16 2019

Selkie 1250The Universe is big and scary, and I doubt my will to challenge it.

Thu Jul 18 00:18:16 2019

Selkie 1250The Universe is big and scary, and I doubt my will to challenge it.

Fri Jul 19 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1251

Mon Jul 22 06:18:20 2019

Selkie 1252She'll live, fyi.

Wed Jul 24 06:18:15 2019

Selkie 1253

Fri Jul 26 06:18:20 2019

Selkie 1254Narrator: he worried about it.

Sat Jul 27 00:18:16 2019

Selkie 1254Narrator: he worried about it.

Mon Jul 29 09:09:03 2019

Selkie 1255So much abridging.

Tue Jul 30 04:53:14 2019

Selkie 1255So much abridging.

Fri Aug 2 06:18:17 2019

Selkie 1256

Mon Aug 5 06:18:12 2019

Selkie 1257They're for Algernon.

Wed Aug 7 06:18:14 2019

Selkie 1258Not that such an action ever stopped irate clients in the past.

Thu Aug 8 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1258Not that such an action ever stopped irate clients in the past.

Fri Aug 9 13:18:14 2019

Selkie 1259Finn and Jake want to know your location

Sat Aug 10 06:18:13 2019

Selkie 1259Finn and Jake want to know your location

Mon Aug 12 13:18:22 2019

Selkie 1260

Wed Aug 14 15:18:20 2019

Selkie 1260

Fri Aug 16 07:18:18 2019

Selkie 1261"The things I do for love."

Mon Aug 19 07:18:24 2019

Selkie 1262

Wed Aug 21 15:18:29 2019

Selkie 1263

Thu Aug 22 00:18:18 2019

Selkie 1263

Fri Aug 23 15:18:22 2019

Selkie 1264Selkie in a bad 80s cop movie:

"YOU'RE A LOOSE CANNON, SMITH! TURN IN YOUR BADGE!"
"The wholes SYSTEMS is a loose cannons!"

Sat Aug 24 00:18:18 2019

Selkie 1264Selkie in a bad 80s cop movie:

"YOU'RE A LOOSE CANNON, SMITH! TURN IN YOUR BADGE!"
"The wholes SYSTEMS is a loose cannons!"

Mon Aug 26 07:18:18 2019

Selkie 1265

Wed Aug 28 07:18:21 2019

Selkie 1266Alternate punchline that I felt was worded too weakly to make sense: "Major like a Disney soundtrack."

Thu Aug 29 00:18:31 2019

Selkie 1266Alternate punchline that I felt was worded too weakly to make sense: "Major like a Disney soundtrack."

Sat Aug 31 00:18:27 2019

Selkie 1267Thank you for the kind thought, whoever recommended the Neti Pot, but that thing was an ungodly nightmare of an experience and I know know what it's like to drown in the ocean.

Mon Sep 2 15:18:34 2019

Selkie 1268

Wed Sep 4 07:18:33 2019

Selkie 1269Next comic: Te Fahn is woken up during the night by a tapping on her window. She opens it to see Selkie standing on the lawn outside her bedroom. Selkie is holding a boombox over her head. It starts to rain. "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel begins to play.

Fri Sep 6 07:18:35 2019

Selkie 1270I wish AMC would commission a new trailer for their cell phone shaming ritual. Tired of seeing the MnMs.

Mon Sep 9 07:18:32 2019

Selkie 1271

Wed Sep 11 07:18:36 2019

Selkie 1272

Fri Sep 13 07:18:29 2019

Selkie 1273

Mon Sep 16 07:18:19 2019

Selkie 1274something something "cooties"

Fri Sep 20 15:18:18 2019

Selkie 1275Everyone's favorite kid is back

Mon Sep 23 07:18:21 2019

Selkie 1276

Fri Sep 27 07:18:21 2019

Selkie 1277

Mon Sep 30 07:18:17 2019

Selkie 1278Zapping leaves a Scar

Tue Oct 1 22:18:19 2019

Selkie 1279

Thu Oct 3 00:18:20 2019

Selkie 1279

Fri Oct 4 07:18:21 2019

Selkie 1280Today's comic was reader-inspired, round-aboutly.

In a much earlier comic, one of the other classmates referred to Giselle by a shortened form of her name, "Gis". And I had frankly not at all sounded out in spoken form how that sounded, but it didn't take long for a reader to comment, "Should they be calling her such a rude word?" So now we have this thing.

Mon Oct 7 07:18:18 2019

Selkie 1781Had to tweak dialogue for the last panel. Original line was a dark joke that I found funny, but decided it wasn't tonally appropriate.

"Last time I got in trouble, Mom was so mad she said next time she'd throw me a Donner Party."

For my non-American readers, TLDR: it's a cannibalism joke.

Wed Oct 9 07:18:20 2019

Selkie 1282

Fri Oct 11 07:18:21 2019

Selkie 1283Alternate dialogue for the last panel that I cut because I couldn't see Keisha knowing the reference:

"Are you sure she didn't get scared because you always talk like you just launched the bomb thirty-five minutes ago?"

Mon Oct 14 07:18:17 2019

Selkie 1284Yellow coat kid creeps me out a bit

Wed Oct 16 07:18:19 2019

Selkie 1285Was originally going to do Selkie's final speech bubble in SpOnGeBoB MeMe TeXt but I deemed it utterly un-readable.

Wed Oct 16 18:15:33 2019

Selkie 1285Was originally going to do Selkie's final speech bubble in SpOnGeBoB MeMe TeXt but I deemed it utterly un-readable.

Fri Oct 18 07:18:23 2019

Selkie 1286

Mon Oct 21 07:18:19 2019

Selkie 1287

Tue Oct 22 07:18:18 2019

Selkie 1287

Wed Oct 23 07:18:18 2019

Selkie 1288I should not draw meat patties when hungry, those things are huge

Fri Oct 25 07:18:37 2019

Selkie 1289"At least it isn't raining"

Mon Oct 28 00:18:16 2019

Selkie 1290"please don't get me fire, please don't get me fired"

Wed Oct 30 15:18:20 2019

Selkie 1291

Fri Nov 1 15:18:26 2019

Selkie 1292is "scape" even a word? I didn't check

Mon Nov 4 07:18:17 2019

Selkie 1293It's a Long John Silver's reference. Such delicious fried garbage.

Wed Nov 6 07:18:18 2019

Selkie 1294

Wed Nov 6 22:18:20 2019

Selkie 1294I think of Crook's little "zaa" a sounding like a chirp. Had a maine coon a few years back who did that. She didn't meow, she chirped.

Fri Nov 8 15:18:32 2019

Selkie 1295Considered and declined the usage of "ectoplasmic cockblock" instead. Don't want to overdo the "hurr hurr its funny because the kid cussed" bit.

Mon Nov 11 07:18:25 2019

Selkie 1296They still keep the aquarium for a playpen though.

Wed Nov 13 15:18:21 2019

Selkie 1297

Fri Nov 15 07:18:19 2019

Selkie 1298Drawing idea: Cookie Monster, except Selkie and fish

Mon Nov 18 00:18:26 2019

Selkie 1299I made a terrible secret agent

Wed Nov 20 07:18:20 2019

Selkie 1300Scar is wearing a hoodie. I planned to draw him hood-up originally, but I wasn't sure if he'd be recognized with his mound of scar tissue hidden.

Fri Nov 22 15:18:19 2019

Selkie 1301I didn't consider until drawing this strip that Suko should probably be jabbering some sarnothi child's rhymes at some stage. For now, I'm gonna say he's picked up the human ones off "Flixnet".

Mon Nov 25 07:18:16 2019

Selkie 1302

Wed Nov 27 07:18:18 2019

Selkie 1303PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNTS!

Thu Nov 28 07:18:17 2019

Selkie 1303PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNTS!

Fri Nov 29 07:18:18 2019

Selkie 1304"If you use the Mi'Traia Regimen, you may as well put a shunt into her forehead, grind the textbooks in a blender, and pour the slurry directly into her skull cavity. It'd do just as much good!"

"So.. is option, yes?"

Mon Dec 2 07:18:16 2019

Selkie 1305Does a SLAP make them PALS?

Wed Dec 4 15:18:19 2019

Selkie 1306The Neverending Story original novel had a concept in it where the Fantasticans who fell into the Nothing weren't killed, but corrupted from Stories into Lies. That one stuck with me.

Fri Dec 6 15:18:24 2019

Selkie 1307

Mon Dec 9 15:18:21 2019

Selkie 1308

Wed Dec 11 15:18:22 2019

Selkie 1309

Thu Dec 12 00:18:31 2019

Selkie 1309

Fri Dec 13 15:18:17 2019

Selkie 1310Scartopia? Scartown? Scarville? Chicago?

Mon Dec 16 15:18:20 2019

Selkie 1311

Wed Dec 18 07:18:19 2019

Selkie 1311

Thu Dec 19 00:19:07 2019

Selkie 1312

Fri Dec 20 15:18:19 2019

Selkie 1313It's both Hell and The Devil, really. Pleasant fellows. They require me to say that.

Mon Dec 23 15:18:23 2019

Selkie 1314

Fri Dec 27 15:18:17 2019

Selkie 1315Technically, Selkie is present for this.

Sun Dec 29 15:29:38 2019

Selkie 1315Technically, Selkie is present for this.

Mon Dec 30 07:42:22 2019

Selkie 1316Someone got in arm's way.

Wed Jan 1 14:22:03 2020

Selkie 1317Me a couple months ago: it's kind of getting annoying to have things revealed to the audience, but not to the main character.
Me now: Oh no

Fri Jan 3 14:23:32 2020

Selkie 1318

Mon Jan 6 14:22:16 2020

Selkie 1319Or if you must punch the laser wizard, make it count.

Wed Jan 8 14:22:00 2020

Selkie 1320Original draft had scar referring to "The histories of Arth Pa'Giss the Wise", but it felt (1) a bit clunky and (B) a bit too forced.

Fri Jan 10 14:22:54 2020

Selkie 1321

Mon Jan 13 14:25:05 2020

Selkie 1322

Wed Jan 15 14:23:02 2020

Selkie 1323

Fri Jan 17 14:23:20 2020

Selkie 1324

Mon Jan 20 14:23:04 2020

Selkie 1325

Wed Jan 22 14:23:18 2020

Selkie 1326

Fri Jan 24 14:23:36 2020

Selkie 1327

Sat Jan 25 00:23:05 2020

Selkie 1327

Mon Jan 27 18:23:29 2020

Selkie 1328

Wed Jan 29 14:23:19 2020

Selkie 1329Pane 5. Very rude.

Fri Jan 31 07:23:45 2020

Selkie 1330Dear Ambellina,
Science wishes you
To raze the city,
Oh oh-oh oh oh

Mon Feb 3 14:23:59 2020

Selkie 1331

Wed Feb 5 14:23:30 2020

Selkie 1332

Fri Feb 7 14:41:36 2020

Selkie 1333Still better than my dream involving The Magic School Bus and a colonoscopy.

Mon Feb 10 14:23:27 2020

Selkie 1334

Wed Feb 12 14:23:36 2020

Selkie 1335Not helping

Fri Feb 14 14:23:34 2020

Selkie 1336

Fri Feb 14 22:24:01 2020

Selkie 1336

Mon Feb 17 14:23:55 2020

Selkie 1337

Wed Feb 19 14:23:37 2020

Selkie 1338

Fri Feb 21 14:23:26 2020

Selkie 1339Needs more montages.

Mon Feb 24 14:25:21 2020

Selkie 1340

Wed Feb 26 14:26:43 2020

Selkie 1341Enthusiasm and band-aids.

Fri Feb 28 14:23:42 2020

Selkie 1342Ralphie should have worn one when shooting off those bandits.

Mon Mar 2 14:24:45 2020

Selkie 1343Brain go splortch. Don't drink and drive, teenagers.

Wed Mar 4 14:25:05 2020

Selkie 1344Original draft had Theo smacking Selkie's hand away from the tablesaw, but that felt a bit out of character.

Thu Mar 5 14:23:30 2020

Selkie 1344Original draft had Theo smacking Selkie's hand away from the tablesaw, but that felt a bit out of character.

Fri Mar 6 14:24:20 2020

Selkie 1345

Mon Mar 9 00:23:42 2020

Selkie 1345

Mon Mar 9 14:29:16 2020

Selkie 1346Iaey

Wed Mar 11 14:24:13 2020

Selkie 1347Gross, gross eye stuff.

Fri Mar 13 14:24:04 2020

Selkie 1348Allison is named semi-randomly. Not sure yet how much story content she'll be involved in but figured I'd at least name her so I have options later.

Mon Mar 16 14:23:53 2020

Selkie 1349I did not expect the vaping slam on the last page to go off in the comments like it did. Honestly? I just hate the smell of them, and felt like taking a small jab. They smell like fake-ness. All I can smell is artificial agents. Same reason I dislike perfumes and colognes. They all just smell like "processed stuff.", underneath the intended smells.

Oh, and Red Hots too. All they taste like is fake-y flavoring agents. That's not how cinnamon tastes, every candy maker ever.

Wed Mar 18 14:26:59 2020

Selkie 1350Amanda would nail the Wednesday look tho

Fri Mar 20 14:23:11 2020

Selkie 1351

Mon Mar 23 14:23:27 2020

Selkie 1352

Wed Mar 25 14:24:31 2020

Selkie 1353

Fri Mar 27 14:24:51 2020

Selkie 1354

Mon Mar 30 10:10:35 2020

Selkie 1355

Wed Apr 1 14:35:33 2020

Eikles 6531

Thu Apr 2 15:25:39 2020

Eikles 6531

Fri Apr 3 15:05:45 2020

Selkie 1357

Mon Apr 6 11:36:02 2020

Selkie 1358

Wed Apr 8 11:39:31 2020

Selkie 1359

Wed Apr 8 16:59:42 2020

Selkie 1359

Fri Apr 10 13:59:02 2020

Selkie 1360

Mon Apr 13 14:19:37 2020

Selkie 1361

Tue Apr 14 03:20:01 2020

Selkie 1361

Wed Apr 15 14:19:33 2020

Selkie 1362

Fri Apr 17 14:19:26 2020

Selkie 1363

Mon Apr 20 14:19:39 2020

Selkie 1364

Wed Apr 22 14:20:20 2020

Selkie 1365

Fri Apr 24 14:20:00 2020

Selkie 1366More legs than a 9 Chickweed Lane strip.
(Yes, I do follow Dave Willis's twitter.)

Mon Apr 27 08:20:09 2020

Selkie 1367

Wed Apr 29 03:20:16 2020

Selkie 1368

Mon May 4 03:21:05 2020

Selkie 1369

Wed May 6 14:20:51 2020

Selkie 1370Gonna... wear out... my... period key... at this... rate.

Fri May 8 14:19:59 2020

Selkie 1371

Sat May 9 03:19:53 2020

Selkie 1371

Mon May 11 08:20:24 2020

Selkie 1372https://imgur.com/Bwunsxy

Wed May 13 14:20:39 2020

Selkie 1373

Fri May 15 14:20:06 2020

Selkie 1374

Mon May 18 14:19:49 2020

Selkie 1375The fairy was the real villain of Beauty and the Beast.

Wed May 20 14:20:19 2020

Selkie 1376Stupid amount of writers block on the last two panels.

Sat May 23 00:10:07 2020

Selkie 1377

Mon May 25 08:19:46 2020

Selkie 1378

Wed May 27 14:19:59 2020

Selkie 1379

Sat May 30 01:18:50 2020

Selkie 1380

Sun May 31 03:19:54 2020

Selkie 1380

Mon Jun 1 14:20:26 2020

Selkie 1381

Wed Jun 3 14:21:42 2020

Selkie 1382

Fri Jun 5 14:20:01 2020

Selkie 1383

Mon Jun 8 14:20:15 2020

Selkie 1384He's no one's favorite.

Wed Jun 10 14:22:35 2020

Selkie 1385

Fri Jun 12 14:22:46 2020

Selkie 1386

Sat Jun 13 03:22:37 2020

Selkie 1386

Mon Jun 15 14:22:40 2020

Selkie 1387

Thu Jun 18 00:07:53 2020

Selkie 1388

Fri Jun 19 14:19:42 2020

Selkie 1389

Mon Jun 22 14:20:39 2020

Selkie 1390

Wed Jun 24 14:19:49 2020

Selkie 1391The followup arc involves cyborg eels, maybe.

Fri Jun 26 14:19:19 2020

Selkie 1392

Mon Jun 29 14:19:39 2020

Selkie 1393

Wed Jul 1 14:20:21 2020

Selkie 1394

Thu Jul 2 00:05:16 2020

Selkie 1394

Fri Jul 3 14:20:20 2020

Selkie 1395

Mon Jul 6 12:19:35 2020

Selkie 1396

Mon Jul 6 22:19:29 2020

Selkie 1396

Wed Jul 8 12:20:13 2020

Selkie 1397Don't let the tags fool you, Te Vahn and Te Fahn just have similar-sounding names.

Fri Jul 10 12:20:14 2020

Selkie 1398

Mon Jul 13 22:19:46 2020

Selkie 1399

Wed Jul 15 12:19:34 2020

Selkie 1400

Fri Jul 17 12:19:20 2020

Selkie 1401It was me

Fri Jul 17 18:19:43 2020

Selkie 1401It was me, and it happened.

Mon Jul 20 12:20:13 2020

Selkie 1402

Wed Jul 22 12:19:28 2020

Selkie 1403*throws Gien a shovel* So, what was that about working?

Fri Jul 24 13:19:19 2020

Selkie 1404Gien: Hmmph. I thought you would see my side of this.

Gien: You put your OWN child to work after all.

Te Vahn: Ya leave m’boy OUTTA this, Gien.

Te Vahn: Mehn’s old enough t‘have his markings, an all he does is feed cattle and clean th’ work space.

Te Vahn: Yer talkin’ about havin’ a girl ain’t barely past growin’ her legs do HARD LABOR.

Gien: I am TALKING about teaching the girl her PROPER PLACE.

Gien: As an Echo, she has obligations to the Clan.

Te Vahn: She ain’t even PART of th’ Clan!

Te Vahn: Gien, she may be Jin’Sorai Born, an’ I’m glad ta help her learn what that means, but we ain’t her life.

Te Vahn: Her home an’ family‘s up on th’ surface. Are ya really deludin’ yerself inta thinkin’ she’ll ever CHOOSE ta live down here?

Mon Jul 27 12:19:42 2020

Selkie 1405Gien: The NERVE of you!
I am TRYING to do what is best for ALL of us!
To reclaim what we have LOST!

Te Vahn: Ain’t nothin’ here to reclaim.
This ain’t Sarnoth, Gien. An’ it never will be.
It’s a fool’s errand to treat this place as anythin’ else but it’s own.
Yer the only one here who can’t see that.

Wed Jul 29 12:20:20 2020

Selkie 1406Avery: Gien. Everything okay?

Gien: My disappointment in my fellows remains boundless in the scope and breadth of it's travesty.

Avery: ...Right. Listen, can I impose on you to help Carrie for a moment?

Gien With what?

Avery: Todd and I need to replace our air tanks

Carrie is going to watch the kids. Give her a hand, please?

Gien: It would be my greatest pleasure, Avery.

Fri Jul 31 12:19:11 2020

Selkie 1407

Fri Jul 31 22:19:52 2020

Selkie 1407

Mon Aug 3 12:19:18 2020

Selkie 1408Carrie: B-Benny, please! Be p-polite.

Gien: I would heed your mother, boy.

Selkie: What do you want to talk me about?

Gien: Simply your training, and your duties as an Echo.

Selkie: OH, that! Yeah, I’m doing real good at that! I can turn it on AND off now!

Gien: I... well. How wonderful.

Wed Aug 5 12:19:11 2020

Selkie 1409Gien: So, that's... all the progress you've made? Off and on?

Selkie: Yeah.

Selkie: But I'm working really hard, to get better!

Selkie: And I have a lot of ideas for how I can help, and be a really good Echo!

Gien: Oh? And what would these ideas be?

Selkie: You know how it's just Mister Pohl and Mister Scar who are doing all of the work?

Gien: Of course. They are the Echoes. That is their responsibility.

Selkie: Well, I decided that's an INCREDIBLY STUPID IDEA!

Gien: ...You'll have to walk me through that one. Carefully.

Fri Aug 7 12:44:35 2020

Selkie 1410Selkie: Mister Pohl and Scar should just let others help!

Gien: That’s not really possible. The Echoes are the only ones who can generate the energy necessary to cut and
shape blocks for houses.

Selkie: No, they aren’t. Humans don’t have Echoes, but they still make giant buildings. They just build tools to help them do it better!

Gien: I promise you, we have thought of that. Pohl and Scar can make tools for the rest of us to help with small labor, but not large-scale production.

Selkie: Then why not use human tools? We’re already friends, and Mister Brown loves helping!

Gien: Human construction tools don’t work underwater, child

Selkie: Then don’t build underwater! Build on the surface! One of us! One of us!

Mon Aug 10 12:32:39 2020

Selkie 1411Gien: You want us to move up on land? Impossible. We can’t survive on land long-term.

Selkie: Whaaaaat? I’ve been up there three years! And not just me.
My school has Tel’Dora and a Mor’Kama there.

Gien: The MOR’KAMA have a presence on the surface?!

Selkie: Yes, sir. But I don’t see any other Jin’Sorai yet.
Mister Gien? How do you feel about being the
last one to finish a race?

Gien: The only outcome I would consider worse...is realizing I didn’t even know I was losing.

Selkie: Yep, yep. Same.

Wed Aug 12 12:28:54 2020

Selkie 1412Selkie: What do you think of my idea, sir?

Gien: Hmm...

Gien: You have given me much to think about.

Gien: Please excuse me. Enjoy the rest of your visit, Daughter of Jin’Sorai.

Selkie: Okay! Bye!

Benny: How did you DO THAT?!

Selkie: Do whats?

Fri Aug 14 12:20:51 2020

Selkie 1413Benny: C’mon, spill it! How’d you get him to agree with you?

Selkie: I was just tellings him my ideas. I didn’ts do anything.

Benny: Oh come on. Gien doesn’t agree with anybody but Gien. You tricked him! Tell me how.

Selkie: That’s mean! I didn’ts trick him! Stop makings fun of me!

Benny: I’m not making fun of you!

Selkie: YUH HUH!

Benny: Aaargh!

Mon Aug 17 12:20:29 2020

Selkie 1414Carrie: Selkie, I-I thinks you did a very g-goods job.

Carrie: Y-You communicateds yourself very well.

Carrie: G-Goods work.

Carrie: N-Nows, lets go backs to the town’s square.

Carrie: T-There’s a s-surprise there.

Benny: Shouldn’t we wait for Avery and... blonde guy? Seems a bit impatient to run off.

Carrie: B-Benny, I ams your mother. All the patience I haves, I-I reserve fors you.

Benny: Oh.

Benny: ...HEY!

Carrie: Hee hee.

Mon Aug 17 13:19:57 2020

Wed Aug 19 12:20:41 2020

Selkie 1415Sai Fen: Ooookay. Very close to done.

Sai Fen: Can either of you tell me, what is the last thing this statue needs?

Female Student: Uuummm... more smoothing?

Male Sculpture Student: Maybe we need to scratch our signatures on it?

Ke Ban (VO): A name! It needs a name!

Sai Fen: That's Righ... AAAAH!

Sai Fen (VO): You look so good!

Ke Ban: Aaaah, shimmers! Thank you, Miss!

Ke Nan: I can't wait to get this started!

Fri Aug 21 12:19:24 2020

Delayed Comic

Sat Aug 22 12:19:24 2020

Selkie 1416Todd: So, what's going on up here?

Avery: Remember what Sai Fen said earlier about celebrating the sale of that eel?

Avery: It's actually a big deal for them.

Avery: Engaging in trade, in some commerce, means new opportunities, new potential.

Avery: A lot of them want to celebrate the arrival of opportunities, of chances at business, of revitalizing amd enriching their lives.

Avery: If you recall, Jin'Sorai are the "Artisan and Storyteller" Clan.

Avery: They're big on celebrating publicly.

Mon Aug 24 12:19:51 2020

Selkie 1417Gien: One side, girls. I’m going to make a speech first.

Gien: And I DO hope you’ve been diligent about practicing.

Ke Ban: Eep!

Ke Nan: Y-Yes, Whisper! Of course, Whisper!

Ke Ban: Ugh! Rude!

Ke Nan: SO rude!

Gien: Friends, I won’t take up too much of your time.

Gien: As the Whisper of the Havei Jin’Suir Jin’Sorai, I just want to say a few words before we get started.

Gien: In these uncertain times, we children of Sarnoth struggle.
We struggle to hold to what is ours. And we struggle to see where we will be at the end of it.

Wed Aug 26 12:19:17 2020

Selkie 1418Gien monologues:

But as we look to the end, we must try to keep fast to a vision of what we want that life to be.

We have all lost much, and have much to rebuild ahead of us.

But I would also call on us to look to new roads, as we travel onward.

We of Jin'Sorai are Sarnoth's dreamers and forgers. Above all else, we honor our history by moving forward and advancing.

I would invite all present, Jin'Sorai Tel'Dora Mor'Kama, and the Sar'Teri who have chosen to stand with us, to join in this vision.

But for the current moment, I have taken up enough of your time.

Allow me to present Ke Ban and Ke Nan Be'Mara. Two of the finest dancers Havei Jin'Suir has had the pleasure of knowing.

Fri Aug 28 13:19:57 2020

Selkie 1419Today's comic has no dialogue

Fri Aug 28 22:19:24 2020

Selkie 1419Today's comic has no dialogue

Mon Aug 31 12:19:00 2020

Selkie 1420The twins dance, aglow with the joy of their art. Benny stares up at their performance, dumbfounded, as Carrie and Avery look on with parental amusement.

Wed Sep 2 12:19:27 2020

Selkie 1421Ke Ban: Thank you, everyone! We hope you enjoyed our dance!

Ke Nan: Everyone, please come join! Lets have fun!

Todd: That was very nice.

Selkie: Yeahs... buts I haves a question.

Selkie: Howd's hey make those colors?

Todd: Um what colors, Selkie?

Fri Sep 4 12:19:39 2020

Comic Will Be Late

Fri Sep 4 22:19:26 2020

Selkie 1422Carrie: B-Benny, why d-don’ts you go asks one of thems t-to dance?

Benny: I have never been so choice-paralyzed in my life.

Selkie: So, you don’ts see that? The rainbow-y stuffs?

Sai Fen: You can see that?!

Selkie: You can sees it too, Miss Sai Fen?

Sai Fen (VO): No, but Pohl sometimes can. It’s a side-effect of being an Echo. He says it pops up sometimes when people feel very strong emotions.

Sai Fen: Seeing it means you’re making progress!! I can’t wait to tell him!

Selkie: Eeeee!

Avery: We probably have about ten minutes until Benny’s brain resets. Dance with me, love?

Carrie: Y-Yes.

Benny (tranced): Heads... tails... heads... tails...

Mon Sep 7 13:19:37 2020

Selkie 1423Todd: Selkie, I’m so glad to hear this!

Todd: So, do you see it all the time now, or...

Selkie: Don’ts thinks so. Only sometimes, maybe?

Todd: Well, I’m really happy for you. You’re getting better at Echo stuff! Great work!

Selkie: Thanks, Dads!

Todd: What say you celebrate by having a dance with your old man?

Selkie: Sures. But's I'm leading.

Todd: Ha ha, I expected no less.

Wed Sep 9 12:19:18 2020

Selkie 1424Todd (VO): Watching the Jin'Sorai move upwards to dance was a sight to see.

They had singers providing accompanying music. Couldn't understand a thing, but it sounded nice.

Have to say, I'm glad we came here again.

Seeing Selkie joining in her people's celebrations, happy to be part of it all...

I'm glad she found this place. Despite the occasional eel.

I noticed Gien sitting on the sidelines, watching. Might be the first time I've seen him smile.

Fri Sep 11 12:19:29 2020

Selkie 1425Todd: Hey, Selkie? Can you stay with Mister and Misses Brown for a moment?

Selkie: Gonna go fights Mister Scar?

Todd: GOD no. I'm just going to talk to him a bit.

Selkie: Rights, rights. Brings me back a tooth.

Todd: ...I think maybe we should consider setting you up with your sister's anger-management counselor.

Mon Sep 14 12:19:56 2020

Selkie1426Todd: Mister K'Limdai.

Scar: Oh... To--Mister Smith, yes? Am sorry, was not of trying to intrude upon festivities.

Todd: No intrusion. You're not joining in?

Scar: Ah ha ha, no no. Is happy day, is good day. I am not needing to make it sour, yes?

Todd: ...Speaking of "making it sour". I need to talk to you, for a moment.

Todd: This may sound like "oversharing", but hear me out. When I was younger, me and my girlfriend-of-the-time had a kid.

Wed Sep 16 12:20:40 2020

Selkie 1427Todd: Through circumstances I won’t bore you with the details of, I thought that kid didn’t “make it”. I found out that was wrong just last November.

Todd: We’ve been working on building a relationship with each other, but I still can’t help thinking about all the time we COULD have had together, but didn’t.

Todd: And please let me be clear. I can’t, and WON’T, acknowledge you to Selkie as being her father.

Todd: There’s just simply no way to prove that to be the case. Her father could be someone from after, or even BEFORE, Plo Quar knew you.

Todd: However. I feel like you’re trying, genuinely, to make amends for your past.

Todd: So I will talk to Selkie, and see if she’s willing to interact with you as a “family friend” only. But it’s HER decision. Fair?

Scar: Thank you. Is more than I am deserving.

Fri Sep 18 12:19:07 2020

Selkie 1428Gien: K'Limdai. A word?

Scar: Aah! Gien!

Scar: Gien, I am promising of you, I was not bothering him. He was wishing to spekaing with me and--

Gien: Scar, calm down. I'm not here to berate you over the myriad terrible decisions you've chosen to call a life.

Gien: I simply wanted to tell you that I am going to be making some changes to the housing development plans.

It has been brought to my attention that our needs may be better served by expanding Havei Jin Suir to the surface surrounding this lake.

I will be working the details out with Then when he returns from his offices, but I wanted to ask for your support.

Mon Sep 21 07:19:31 2020

Selkie 1429Scar: Yes, yes Gien. Am happy to be supporting of this.
But, why are you changing of minds now?

Gien: What are you talking about?

Scar: When I was asking of seeking assistance from the humans, you were opposed.

Gien: BAH! Why would I EVER say such a thing!
I have a celebration to return to, and I'll not have you souring my good mood with your fabrications. Good day.

Scar: ...Spirits strengthen my peacefulness.

Scar: That man is giving pains in backside in areas that have never known touching, yes?

Wed Sep 23 07:22:48 2020

Selkie 1430Selkie: So whats were you sayings to Mister Scar?

Todd: I was just giving him an olive branch.

Selkie: Hmmph. Good!
He deserves stinky vegetables.

Todd: Selkie, "olive branch" means "peace offering."

Selkie: Wells... I still stands by the stink thing.

Selkie: Hmmmmm...

Selkie: Okays, okays. I guess Mom dids zap him, ands he's being okay abouts it.
So... let him eats olives, or whatevers.

Fri Sep 25 12:19:55 2020

Taking a break

Mon Sep 28 12:20:08 2020

Selkie 1431Todd: So, what do you want to do? Go back to the dancing?

Selkie: Cans we grab a snack?!

Todd: Ha ha, sure.

<HAHAHAHAHA!>

Voiceover: <BOTH at ONCE?! Seriously?!>
<HA HA HA HA!>

Todd: I can't tell what they're saying, but I'm guessing you took your shot, hmm?

Benny: I want to eat fermented eel fat until I forget this entire YEAR happened.

Todd: Do you need to be 21 for that?

Wed Sep 30 12:20:02 2020

Selkie 1432[Flashback]

Benny: Heya. Great job dancing out there.

Ke Ban: Aaaah! Thank you, Benny!

Benny: Sure, sure. So... I wanted to ask you something?

Benny: How would you two like to see what dancing on the surface is like, sometime?

Ke Ban: PFFT! Did you just ask me and my SISTER out on the SAME DATE?!

Benny: I'm up for it if you are, baby.

[Present time, diner]

Todd: I’m sorry to hear about your wax wings, Icarus.

Benny: Dude, if I COULD fly straight into the sun right now, I ******** WOULD.

Wed Sep 30 22:19:38 2020

Fri Oct 2 13:19:47 2020

Selkie 1433Avery: Sorry to keep you all waiting.

Avery: Did we miss anything interesting?

Todd: Benny asked out the twins.

Carrie: Oh! G-Goods for y-you! W-which ones?

Todd: He asked out BOTH of them.

Carrie: Um... wows.

Carrie: A-Ats least you... trieds?

Benny: KILL. ME.

Group: Ha ha ha ha!

Selkie: I likeds this visit! We mets some new people. I learned sarnothi dancing. Ands there was even a comedy show!

Benny: I LOATHE you.

Mon Oct 5 13:21:28 2020

Selkie 1434Todd: Well, sweetie, you had a good time?

Selkie: Yeahs!

Selkie: This visits was a lot ofs fun! Even ifs it did haves less eel-punching.

Todd: I, for one, approve of the lack of eels.

Benny: Grr...

Carrie: I-It's okays, Benny. M-Maybe whens we get home, you c-cans takes real dance lessons?

Carrie: Ke Ban's m-mother has already s-saids yes...

Benny: Mom! Did you wingman me?!

Carrie: I o-only wants happy memories f-fors you.

Wed Oct 7 12:19:30 2020

Selkie 1435Todd: So, what did you like best about our visit today?

Selkie: Whats DIDN'TS I like?!

Selkie: I likeds watching the dancings best, I thinks.

Todd: I enjoyed that too.

Selkie: Ands I had a goods talk with Mister Gien.

Todd: That's right. What did you talk about, anyway?

Selkie: I tolds him how I thinks Jin'Sorai shoulds move to the surface, because the others already dids that, ands we don's wants to be lefts behinds.

Todd: Sweetie, I think you accidentally engaged in tribalism.

Selkie: What's tribalism?

Todd: ...I'm not going to know if saying that was a bad idea until your adult years, am I?

Fri Oct 9 12:19:43 2020

Selkie 1436Todd: ...And that's why we judge others on their own qualities, not where they come from.

Selkie: I agrees, buts to be fairs, likes FIVES cartoons ahve already taughts me thats.

Selkie: Ands speakings of cartoons... glee hee hee!

Selkie: Times for Sue and Kathryn. A perfects ends to a wonderful day.

The Bringer of Dawn: STOP BEING LAZY WITH THE BACKGROUNDS, YOU HUMAN BEACHBALL!

The Bringer of Dawn: I swear to Myself, if you don't get your animators whipped into shape, I'll leak the season outline to Reddit!

Hensuka: Oh, GREAT,. Someone cheesed off the Devil. Awesome...

Selkie: UGH! Reruns! DAY RUINED!

Mon Oct 12 18:19:11 2020

Selkie 1437Transcript to be added later this evening

Wed Oct 14 12:19:25 2020

Selkie 1438Heather: Wow, so you two really MADE those things?

Amanda: Yeah. Grandpa's trying to work us up to making a chair.

Amanda: Mom's Anger Therapy Guy thinks it's really about getting me to like making things more than I like smashing things.

Keisha: Amanda, I love you, but that is FAIR.

Amanda: I LIKE smashing things, though! I wanna get the chainsaw and throw wood bits EVERYWHERE.

Keisha: Ugh. I don't like when people like destroying stuff. It's creepy.

Amanda: Heeeeyyy... Keisha?

Keisha: Yeeeaaaah?

Amanda: Chainsaw go BRRRRR.

Keisha: Stoppit!

Fri Oct 16 12:19:13 2020

Selkie 1439Transcript coming later

Fri Oct 16 18:19:05 2020

Selkie 1439Selkie: THIS is MY BONE! There ares many bones likes it, but THIS bone is MINES.

Sandy: That’s co cool!

Wu: Ha ha hey, Sandy, that reminds me of the story Dad read us last night.

Sandy: Huh?

Wu: Yeah, that spooky comic?

Wu: “This is my hole! It was made for me!”

Sandy: AAAAAH! WHYYYYY?!

Wu: It’s about people being summoned into haunted torture caves.

Selkie: Gives to me this story.

Wu: Heh heh...

Mon Oct 19 12:19:40 2020

Offline

Wed Oct 21 12:19:48 2020

Selkie 1440Heather: You know, I think I like THIS kind of teasing a lot more than the punchy kind.

Amanda: When was the last time I even DID that?

Heather: In this calendar year?

Amanda: Hmmph.

Amanda: You have gotten FAR too comfortable with the concept of sassing me.

Heather: Yep!

Keisha: PFFT!

Selkie (VO): bbbrrrrr...

Selkie and Wu: Brr! BRR!!

Amanda: What are they...

Sandy: You don't want to know. I wish I DIDN'T know, but I do. TRUST ME, you don't want to know.

Fri Oct 23 12:23:03 2020

Selkie 1441Wu: And then the twisted, mutated creature advances towards the exit, creeping and creeping...

Amanda: That doesn’t sound so scary.

Wu: Yeah, well, I’d like to see YOU do better.

Amanda: ME?! Scary?! Wu, did you forget who you’re talking to?

Amanda: Buckle up, buttercup. Because My mom told ME a spooky story too.

Amanda: A tale of terror called...

Amanda: The Creature of Helford Manor

Mon Oct 26 12:19:30 2020

Selkie 1442In long-forgotten Helford Manor, the songs and fancies of life have given way to the clamoring silence of abandon.

A lone caretaker, one Harold Melphrin, tends to the dwelling, ceaseless in his futile crusade against the dust and detritus of aging stone.

The looming charge lays moldering and stern upon the hillsides of old country, where the wind still carries the whispering song of lives lived long past.

"Come to me!” The whispering wind, “It is the end of day. O father, my father, Sing to me, and play!”

Tue Oct 27 12:20:05 2020

Selkie 1443

Wed Oct 28 12:19:51 2020

Selkie 1444The singing of old voices dredged from the abyss of Harold's memory the lost days of the creature's origin.

Sylvan and innocent, exploring forest and hill across the manor's primeval country.

A childhood friend, treasured above all. A life built in the embrace of the dark woods.

A family born of two worlds. "O father, my father! It is time to play!"

Thu Oct 29 12:19:47 2020

Selkie 1445A shattering that rent sound and soul sent glass spraying across Harold's bedroom.

He huddled in his bed, a child in the night, as his visitor breached Harold's slumbering security.

"O father, my father. Come hither. Dance, sing, and see."

"We've song in the treetops. We've a feast to feed!"

"Made by my hand, my gift to thee."

"Father, sweet Father. Are you not proud of me?"

Fri Oct 30 12:21:21 2020

Selkie 1446The wailing of ambulances sang Harold's finale.

His estranged wife and son were called to the scene. A weakened heart, the official decree.

Harold's long years tending the Manor, his service in solitude, were spoken well by the nearby villagers.

But behind closed doors and turned backs, they spoke of a bewitching madness.

Screams in the night. Guttural, inhuman. The Manor's countryside a howling calamity of a man besieged, fortified behind ancient walls.

Harold Melphrin. The solitary warden. The lone caretaker. The howling creature of Helford Manor.

Mon Nov 2 18:20:39 2020

Selkie 1447Amanda: Well, what do you think of the story? Creepy, huh?

Wu: Do you have a version where you don’t talk like you’re a hundred years old?

Amanda: Ggrrr...

Amanda: WELL, my MOM says I’m smart enough to read BIG KID stuff. So THERE

Sandy: Oh, yeah same. Our Mom and Dad want to teach us to read Chinese.

Wu: It's really hard!

Selkie (VO): I tolds you My Dad's gots me German lessons, right?

Sandy (VO) Oh, yeah! I forgot! Are you any good?

Selkie: Ich benutze es meistens für beleidigungen.

Mon Nov 2 22:21:22 2020

Wed Nov 4 12:21:21 2020

Cloud Bad

Wed Nov 4 22:22:24 2020

Selkie 1448Heather: My Mom and Dad want me to try different sports clubs. Might try hockey.

Sandy: Oooh, that sounds fun! I should ask my parents about it.

Recess Bell: RRIIIIIING

Keisha and George: Ugh, finally.

Keisha and George (thought bubble): I wish they'd shut up.

Fri Nov 6 12:19:25 2020

Selkie 1449Heather: Yeah, the Hockey club is probably gonna be the best one, but Mom says I should consider Tennis, too.

Selkie: Sounds like ans excuse to smack things. I ships it.

Amanda: Same.

Heather (VO) Ha ha ha! I'll tell Mom you said that! She'll laugh!

Keisha: Hey, uh... I gotta go. I told Jill I'd meet her for hanging out.

Amanda: Jill? Who's Jill?

Keisha: She's... another friend. I'll see you later.

Mon Nov 9 12:19:40 2020

Selkie 1450George: Hey, I'm gonna go to.

Selkie: You are? Why?

George: I got a... an extra credit project. See ya, Sel.

Selkie:. Huh. Is George followings Keisha? Does he haves a crush on her or somethings?

Amanda: Naw, he's still crushing on Te Fahn.

Selkie: ACK! You knows abouts that?!

Amanda: Everyone knows about that.

Heather: Yeah, I sat next to Te Fahn at lunch one day, and she kept drawing little hearts with, like, a black triangle on top.

Selkie: Aaaaaw!

Selkie: Buts then... whys are they being sneaky...

Wed Nov 11 12:19:47 2020

Selkie 1451George: Hey, Keisha!

Keisha: George? Why'd you follow me?

George: I, uh... I don't really know, honestly?

Gorge: Sorry if I'm interrupting you and Jill.

Keisha: OH. Oh, uh... yeah, Jill isn't even... uh...

Keisha: Ugh... Jill's not real. I made her up, because I'm a bad friend who tells lies.

Keisha: I was just gonna go find someone to hang out with who can not talk about FREAKING PARENTS for five minutes.

George: You, too, huh?

Fri Nov 13 13:19:47 2020

Selkie 1452Keisha: Wait, George, YOU'RE mad, too?

George: Uuuh, YEAH. Duh.

George: "Oooh, lookit us, look at AAALLL the stuff our new PARENTS are doing, we're so special and great and learning Chinese!"

Keisha: Tsch. Like they weren't right there in the orphanage with us, like, TWO MONTHS ago.

George: RIGHT?!

Keisha: Hey, so, I was gonna go find Chanelle and hang out. Wanna come?

George: Is she gonna talk about parents all day?

Keisha: No, WORSE.

Chanelle: Okay, so, the Minotaur moves two spaces, and Theseus moves one. But the Minotaur only moves if he can get CLOSER to Theseus, horizontally or vertically. Now we have to escape the maze!

Keisha: Told you it was worse.

George: Don't we do enough math in CLASS?

Chanelle: NO! Not at all!

Mon Nov 16 13:19:42 2020

Selkie 1453Chanelle: "Worse"? Keisha, are you okay? You NEVER make fun of me like that.

Keisha: I'm sorry.

Keisha: I'm just mad at my other friends for being stupid.

George: Same.

Chanelle: Oh! Well, that's easy to fix!

Chanelle: You just have to use conflict resolution! Tell your friends they hurt your feelings, and tell them why it hurt your feelings, and address the grievances civilly.

George: That sounds like something--

Chanelle: That's what my Dad would say!

George: There it is!

Keisha: Ugh.

Wed Nov 18 12:20:50 2020

Selkie 1454Chanelle: Wait, so you're mad about their parents?

Keisha: Ugh. Kinda.

Chanelle: Then tell them that. They won't know if you don't!

Chanelle: They're your friends. You can tell them if they're hurting your feelings.

(Selkie is spying from around the corner. Her face looks briefly sad, then she bolts off)

Fri Nov 20 12:20:27 2020

Selkie 1455George: So... I dunno, you wanna tell the others about this or...

Keisha: Naw. I’ll be okay. And I don’t wanna be starting drama, you know?

Selkie (VO): Hey! You mades it!

Heather, Selkie, Amanda (in creepy unison): Glad to see you again!!

Mon Nov 23 13:21:21 2020

Selkie 1456

Wed Nov 25 07:21:26 2020

Selkie 1457Transcript will be up later today

Mon Nov 30 12:20:38 2020

Selkie 1458Todd: Good afternoon, sweetie. How was school today?

Selkie: Friggen awful.

Selkie: It was ones of those days, where everythings starts off wonderful, then it turns wierd...

Selkie: Ands then everything is spiders.

Todd: I've heard this pattern before. You didn't meddle in other people's business again, did you?

Selkie: Yes, buts its was an ACCIDENTAL meddle.

Todd: Nei Li Selkie Smith...

Selkie: A small meddle! The tiniest of meddles!

Wed Dec 2 12:20:28 2020

Selkie 1459Todd: Selkie, from what you're telling me, it sounds like George and Keisha are upset because they feel left out.

Selkie: Maybes...

Selkie: Buts I don't know how longs he's been mad at me.

Selkie: When I inviteds him over to play board games, was he having fun? Or was he mad?

Selkie: Shoulds I... stop beings his friend, if I just make him mad?

Fri Dec 4 12:20:08 2020

Selkie 1460Todd: Selkie, you don’t need to stop being friends with ANYONE.

Todd: This is just a moment to start thinking about sensitivity. About how important it is to think about how your words and actions affect people.

Todd: When you see George and Keisha tomorrow, just tell them you're sorry. I'm sure they aren't so mad that they can't understand you didn't mean anything by it.

Todd: Don't feel like you have to make some big emphatic gesture, either. Just say "sorry" and invite them to play at recess. I'm sure you can work it out.

(Author's note) The text in this comic becomes increasingly obscured as Selkie's background "emotional spatter" overtakes the words being said. The transcript reflects words that may be obscured or even erased by Dave's artistic snobbery.

Mon Dec 7 12:20:11 2020

Selkie 1461I remember how it felt.
When other kids would get
parents, and I stayed behind.

It was just me and George
for, like, EVER. Even after
Wu and Sandy started hanging
out with us, we were still
the besties.

And now, I’m being
a complete jerk
for no reason.

I hope he can forgive me.

I hope everything will be okay.

Wed Dec 9 12:20:27 2020

Selkie 1462Te Fahn: Boo!

Selkie: AAAH!

Te Fahn: Hee hee. Got you!

Selkie: Ha ha, oh man you.. TE FAHN?! Is thats really YOU?!

Te Fahn: Y-Yes. I saw these bracelets at the thrift shop, a-and thought maybe I'd... try human fashion. A little?

Te Fahn: So... is George's bus here yet?

Selkie: No, I'm waitings on him too... heeeeey!

Fri Dec 11 12:20:15 2020

Selkie 1463George: Hey, guys. Good mor--- wooooah!

Te Fahn: H-Hello, George.

George: Hi, Te Fahn! How are you?

Te Fahn: I'm good!

Selkie: Hey, George? Got a sec?

George: See ya later, Sel. Te Fahn, you wanna walk to class?!

Te Fahn: S-Sure!

Selkie: Mrrgrrgrr...

George (VO): Hey, did you do something with your hair?

Te Fahm (VO): Uhhh... ha ha, yeah? A little?

Mon Dec 14 12:20:26 2020

Selkie 1464

Wed Dec 16 12:19:26 2020

Selkie 1465George: I dunno about snails... but maybe they're not so bad?

Selkie: Meat is meat, dude. You guys waaay overthinks it.

Selkie: So, Georgie? Cans I talks to you abo--

George: If I try some snails, do you think she'll like me?

Selkie: Do... do you thinks she DOESN'T?

George: I dunno! Maybe?! What should I do?

Selkie: ... Sometimes your Dad tells you nots to meddle, and sometimes the universe just says "Do it".

George: You've spoken to THE UNIVERSE?!

Fri Dec 18 12:19:48 2020

Selkie 1466Selkie: Okay, sos, you need to eat ALL OF THE SNAILS.

George: ALL of them?!

Selkie: Okay, not ALL. Buts do it likes you love it! And say "thank you" likes you just got the best Christmas present ever.

George: Huh... okay. Thanks, Sel.

Selkie: Welcomes, George. I just want to be a good friends to you again.

George: What do you mean "again"?

Selkie: NOTHINGS! I said nothing! How dares you pull me into your delusions!

Mon Dec 21 12:20:05 2020

Selkie 1467Selkie: Towards you I roll, you all-destroying but unconquering MATH! From Hell’s heart I stab at thee!

George: Save it for English class, Sel.

Selkie: Bllleeaarrggh! MAAAAATH!

Session Bell: BRRRRRRNNG

Mina: That's the lunch bell, everyone. Lets line up and head to the cafeteria.

Selkie: Oh boy, oh boy! You ready fors this, George?

George: Oh boy, snails, yeah am I ever.

Wed Dec 23 12:19:33 2020

Fri Dec 25 12:19:56 2020

Christmas 2020

Mon Dec 28 07:20:50 2020

Selkie 1468George: I-I dunno about this, Sel...

Selkie: Georgie, relax. It's easy. ANDs, it'll makes a good impression. Hints hints.

George: Uuuh, hi Te Fahn.

Te Fahn: Hi, George. D-Do you wanna sits with me?

George: Yeah. Uh... do you remember earlier, the... snails...

Te Fahn: Oh, yeahs! Dids you want to try it?

George: Uuuuuuh... yeah...

Te Fahn: O-Okay! Heres. I-I hopes you like it.

[Location text] The Nurse's office. Five minutes later.

George (VO): *drippy vomit noises.*

Wed Dec 30 07:20:07 2020

Selkie 1469Te Fahn: I killeds him... I'm a murderer!

Selkie: You're nots a murderer. ...I thinks.

Selkie: I'M the murderer! Georgie ate the snails because I tolds him too. I wanteds to help him impress you.

Selkie (VO): But now I gots him sick, and he's already mad at me for being rude about stuff, and I'm being a bad friend all overs the place.

Te Fahn: Selkie, you're NOTS a bad friend! Honest.

Selkie: You sure?

George (VO): Eugh...

Selkie: Because there is a full toilet of evidence that says I ams.

Te Fahn: Ok, that's just... EEW.

Fri Jan 1 13:20:17 2021

Selkie 1470Te Fahn: Selkie, you're fines! I promise.

Selkie: Ifs you say sos...

George: Sel, why're YOU moping?

George: I'm the one who'll be tasting snail vomit until the day I die.

Lisa: He'll be fine. Just a bad case of poor life choices and melodrama.

George: I'm sorry I didn't like your food, Te Fahn.

Te Fahn: It's okay, George.

Te Fahn: J-Just means mores for me! Sweet, gooey treats for me.

George: Duuude, I JUST got done puking!

Mon Jan 4 07:20:13 2021

Selkie 1471Lisa: Okay, you're all clear to go back to class. TECHNICALLY, you girls should have been gone already.

Te Fahn: Thank you for letting us be here for our friend, Miss.

Lisa: Yeah, yeah. Go on. I got Incident Reports to fill out.

Selkie, George, Te Fahn: Bye!

George: Uuugh. Well, at least we got to miss some class.

Te Fahn: Hee hee!

Selkie: ...George, I's sorry.

George: Huh? For what.

Selkie: Fors beings crappy.

George: WHAT?!

Wed Jan 6 07:21:31 2021

Selkie 1472George: Sel, why're ya saying you're crappy?

Selkie: I... I heards you ands Keisha yesterday. How you were mad ats us.

George: Oh... you did?

Selkie: Yeahs... I'm sorry fors beings a bad friend.

George: Sel. You're not a bad friend. You're my BEST friend.

Selkie: Sos.. you weren't angry?

George: Oh, no, yeah, I was angry. SUPER mad. "Break stuff" mad.

Selkie: Buts I like stuff...

Fri Jan 8 13:22:48 2021

Selkie 1473

Mon Jan 11 12:21:19 2021

Selkie 1474

Wed Jan 13 12:32:23 2021

Selkie 1475Narrator Text: At the end of the school day

SELKIE is waiting by the sidwalk for TODD to pick her up.

Selkie: Uuuggh. Mans. Not a great day.

Amanda (VO): Hey. How'd YOUR thing go?

SELKIE looks over her shoulder at AMANDA, slightly confused.

Selkie: Huh? Things?

Amanda: Yeah. You talked to George, right?

Amanda: I KNOW you did. LOTS of people saw him getting sick at lunch.

Selkie: Oh yeah? Dids YOU talk to KEISHA?

Amanda. YES. I passed a note, we joked, done. And no one PUKED. Why are you so bad at this?

Selkie: UUGH!

Fri Jan 15 12:21:19 2021

Selkie 1476Selkie: I thinks we shoulds tries to be nicer to the others.

Amanda: Yeah. Totally.

Selkie: ...Sos, you waitngs on your Mom?

Amanda: No, Dad's taking us... WAIT. Did you forget?!

Selkie: Forget what?

Amanda: OH my GOD, you DID forget! This is hilarious!

Selkie: Looks, don'ts mess with me, please. It's beens a craps day and--

SELKIE performs the Face of Sudden Memory

Selkie: AAAAH! BRIDESMAID DRESSES!

Amanda (singsong): You forgoooOOT, and I'm gonna teeeeEELL.

Mon Jan 18 12:29:56 2021

Selkie 1477Seamstress (VO): Okay, just lift your arm up for me.

Selkie (VO): Whys?

Seamstress: Because I need to check how long to trim your sleeves.

Selkie: I thoughts we just came in and grabbeds one off a shelf, or somethings.

Seamstress: First wedding?

Todd: First wedding.

Selkie: Ands with two words, I'm now utterly terrifieds.

Wed Jan 20 12:24:20 2021

Selkie 1478AMANDA writes in her notebook, as she waits her turn for measurements.
"And Wondergirl walked into the stage. She wanted to sing her new song."

MARTA (VO): Hey there. How's it going?

AMANDA: Hi, Aunt Marta!

MARTA: Hey there, youngling. Been measured yet?

AMANDA: No, not yet. I can't wait, though! I wanna see what the dresses look like!

MARTA: Well, the wedding colors are lime green, lime green, and tangerine. So you can imagine that, if it helps.

AMANDA: THOSE colors? Really?

MARTA: Yep. Like the snakes and devils in my dreams.

AMANDA: REALLY?!?!

TODD: She's joking, sweetie. Those are lyrics from a song that's so old, Aunt Marta shouldn't even know it exists.

MARTA (sticking out her tongue): Todd, the first song you spewed out of your guitar was when Dad taught you Tom Sawyer, don't you give me this shade.

Fri Jan 22 12:21:34 2021

Selkie 1479Seamstress (VO): Next for measurements!

Amanda: Oooh ooh! ME ME!

Todd: So, Steve didn't want to come?

Marta: For the dresses? Hell no.

Marta: Dad took Steve to hold our table at the restaurant and do some "bonding"

Theo: Now you TELL ME, son! Are you ready to marry my daughter?!

Steve: YES SIR!

Theo: I don't FEEL IT! Gimme some gusto!

Steve: YES SIR! ONE HUNDRED PERCENT, SIR!

Theo: Still not FEELING IT, soldier!

Steve: YES! SIR!

Todd: You let Dad and Steve go alone? They'll be thrown out before we ever get seated.

Marta: They better not. If I don't get three pints and at least five-hundred-thousand scovilles of wings, they get to deal with Hangry Marta.

Mon Jan 25 12:20:24 2021

Selkie 1480Selkie: So, you'res really into this. It's a bigs deal, huh?

Amanda: Yeah!

Amanda: You don't think it is?

Selkie: We'res just standings in a line, rights?

Amanda: Yeah, but we also get to dress up really nice! And hear everyone say how cute we look!

Selkie: I don'ts think I've EVER beens calleds cute. Maybe once as a joke.

Amanda: TryingRealHardNotToThinkAboutHowThatsProbablyMyFault.

Selkie: Coulds you repeat that, I hads something guilty ins my ear.

Wed Jan 27 12:20:32 2021

Selkie 1481Selkie: Amanda, it's fines. I'm nots mad at you. I barely ever think abouts eating your face anymore.

Amanda: Barely?!

Seamstress: So, is it okay if I ask what they’re talking about?

Todd: The sarnothi girl is my daughter by adoption. The redhead used to be her school bully. We later found out the redhead is also my estranged biological daughter, which made the former rivals into sisters, and they've been working on their relationship since then.

Seamstress: Really?

Todd: Yes, ma'am.

Seamstress: BWA HA HA HA!

Seamstress: Oh my lord! It's right out of a soap opera! Oh, that's funny. You should take up comedy, sir.

Selkie: Why's she laughing?

Todd: Sometimes people react to serious things with laughter.

Marta: The absurdity of life is it's own punchline.

Sat Jan 30 07:20:25 2021

Selkie 1482TODD: Hey there family.

MARI: Oh, good, you made it. You can take over Hooligan-Sitting duty for me.

SELKIE AND AMANDA: Grandma!

MARI: Well, hello, girls!

SELKIE AND AMANDA: Grandpa!

THEO: Hey-hey!

(AMANDA and SELKIE stare silently at STEVE as he grins expectantly.)

AMANDA: Heeeyyyyy... you.

SELKIE: Hello... dude.

MARI (Laughing): STEVE, I think you need to visit more often!

STEVE (Laughing): Ha ha, I guess I do!

SELKIE: Steve! Hello, Steve. I knews that all along.

Mon Feb 1 13:20:12 2021

Selkie 1483AMANDA: Do they have those cheese mushrooms?

SELKIE: Chicken! Chicken, please!

TRACY: Did I just hear appetizer requests?

THEO: Ha ha, I think you did!

TRAY: OH! Hey wow, are you one of those “sarnothi” people?

SELKIE: Yes, ma’am. Fors the last eight years.

TRACY: Okay so, like, settle a bet? Do you REALLY only eat meat?

SELKIE: Plants makes me puke purple.

AMANDA: I can confirm this. I have witnessed the vivid violet violence.

TODD: Could we have a plate of the cheeseshrooms, a plate of grilled chicken fingers, and put the invasive questions on the side, please?

Tue Feb 2 07:20:50 2021

Wed Feb 3 12:20:04 2021

Selkie 1484TRACY: Oh, uh, yeah sure, shrooms and strips, no problem sir.

TODD: Thank you.

TODD: ...Make it two mushrooms. And some jalapeno poppers for the hooligans.

THEO: Hooligans, he says! Thought I taught you to respect your elders, boy.
Your punishment is that I get your poppers.

TODD: Thank you, Father. May I have another?

AMANDA: Should... should I try one of those “holly pen yo” poppers?

SELKIE: Shoulds you eat spicy food? Yes, yes please. I enjoys comedy.

Fri Feb 5 12:20:26 2021

Selkie 1485TRACY: Here you go, folks. Chicken fingers, two cheesey mushrooms, and some jalapeno poppers.

AMANDA: May I try a popper?

SELKIE: Woah, waits, I was jokings!

AMANDA eats a jalapeno popper. Her eyes pop open. Her perceptions of reality warp around her, a surging tsunami of endorphic radiance, glorious and terrible in it's ascendent majesty.

AMANDA stares forward, temporarily disconnected from the world around her, as Todd grins and pats her back proudly.

AMANDA. I. Am. Awakened.

Mon Feb 8 12:20:13 2021

Selkie 1486STEVE: Okay, well, now I'm curious. How'd you like to try this with that popper?

STEVE: Raspberry Chipotle. Don't under estimate it because it sounds sweet. The sugars bind to the spicy oils, and makes an edible napalm.

STEVE (VO): How brave are you REALLY feeling?

SELKIE: Yoink!

AMANDA: You know that's spicy fruit, right?

SELKIE: Yeah, but he's talkings it up a lot. Ands Mister Pohl says I should be eatings a bit of plants to toughen up, so why no--

SELKIE (VO): Oh, BLEARGH! Ugh!! Too sweet!

TODD: What did we learn?

Wed Feb 10 12:20:25 2021

Selkie 1487

Wed Feb 10 22:20:17 2021

Selkie 1487SELKIE: Ugh! Bleargh! GROOOSSSSS!

KAREN: You know, I think it’s just SHAMEFUL when people feel like they need to make a scene of this “sarnothi” business.

KYLE: I agree.

KYLE: Parading them around just to show off how “progressive” they are. Despicable.

KYLE: We are privileged to be living through First Contact, one of the most momentous times in modern history, and SOME PEOPLE have to treat it as a status symbol.

KAREN: It’s sad, really.

KAREN: They’d be better off back with their own kind than being somebody’s smug virtue-signal.

Fri Feb 12 12:22:56 2021

Selkie 1488TODD (VO): Excuse me, folks?

TODD: Could I ask you to keep the conversation to yourselves, please?

TODD: We're trying to absorb ambiance, not ignorance.

MARI: You know, Theo, I’ve always found it grossly distasteful when people feel like they need to interject their opinions into the conversations of others.

THEO: I agree. Crass and classless.

KAREN: Hmmph!

SELKIE: Is... is this a fight? It feels like a fight, but there's no yellings.

AMANDA: Uuuugh, adults always do things the BORING way.

Mon Feb 15 13:20:18 2021

Selkie 1489MARTA: Heeeey, fam. Sorry I'm late. I backtracked to give a seamstress an earful.

MARTA: ... Wait. Todd has his "Is Murder Legal Yet?" face. What happened?

STEVE: Oh, somebody at another table was being rude.

MARTA: Oh, oh wait, let me guess. Was it "Which one of you is the REAL kid?"

TODD: I have NO IDEA why they never guess me.

MARTA: "You know he's not your real brother, right?"

TODD: "Wildly inappropriate 'Step-bro, what are you doing?' joke."

MARTA (VO): "Did your actual parents not love you?"

TODD (VO): Oh, god, I forgot about that one.

MARTA (VO): Right?! Fastest break-up EVER.

TODD (VO): Didn't I keep one of his teeth?

MARTA (VO): You give me that trophy right now.

THEO: Heh.

Wed Feb 17 12:20:01 2021

Selkie 1490SELKIE: Sos... people say mean things to you... buts it's funny?

TODD: Selkie, do you remember the times we've talked about not letting insults get to you? It's like that.

SELKIE: Likes when people call me names.

AMANDA: Who's been calling you names?

[A silent "are you serious?" moment ensues between the sisters.]

AMANDA: Oh...

SELKIE: "FISH FACE!"

AMANDA: Aaaargh! One or twenty times, I said that.

Fri Feb 19 12:20:29 2021

Selkie 1491

Mon Feb 22 13:22:55 2021

Selkie 1492MARTA: Okay, lets change the subject up to something a bit less god-awful.

MARTA: Sparky, Reflex, I got something for you both.

SELKIE: Ams I Sparky?

MARTA: Sure, why not.

MARTA: So, the wedding's in summer, yeah? And I know you two were in the orphanage for your first few summers, so...

MARTA: Steve and I thought we'd treat our junior bridesmaids to an actual summer vacation. Hope you like beaches.

SELKIE: I love beaches! I thinks!

AMANDA: I DON'T KNOW BUT I'M SURE AS HELL GONNA FIND OUT!

Wed Feb 24 22:36:50 2021

Selkie 1493

Fri Feb 26 12:38:41 2021

Selkie 1494Transcript to be updated later

Mon Mar 1 13:20:19 2021

Selkie 1495MARI (VO): So, while we're on the subject of the wedding, I'm just curious Marta, why you're having it so far from home.

MARTA (VO): Well, Mom, Steve's family is in Michigan, it's going to be a road trip for one of our families no matter where we hold it.
Figured we may as well make it a destination wedding and inconvenience absolutely everybody equally.

TODD (VO): It sounds like a fun idea!

MARTA (VO): It better be!

AMANDA: Kinda quiet. You okay?

SELKIE: Yeah, just thinking.

AMANDA: So... are you not hungry, or....

SELKIE: Steals my fish at your own perils.

AMANDA: Well if you're gonna put your hands all over it...

Wed Mar 3 13:20:31 2021

Selkie 1496TODD: Thanks for dinner, guys.

MARI: Oh, you know it's our pleasure, dear.

MARI: Now, I want you to be sure to bring everone by this weekend for a game night while we have your sister in town.

TODD: Of course. Wouldn't miss it.

MARTA: KNIFE MONOPOLY!

STEVE: The deadliest game.

TODD: Don't pick fights you can't win, little sister.

MARTA: Oh, you'd better come ready to DANCE, boy!

AMANDA (dreamstruck): Knife Monopoly, you say...

TODD: Knife Monopoly isn't real.

SELKIE: But it coulds be...

Fri Mar 5 12:20:30 2021

Selkie 1497Amanda: Man, I really wanna do that water park beach whatever thing.

AMANDA: You're gonna ask Mom tonight, right?
You won't forget, right?!?!?

TODD: Amanda, YES, okay? I'll ask tonight.

TODD: Why do you keep asking? Are you afraid she'll say that she hates water parks?

AMANDA (Absolute Terror Field Activated): WELL I AM NOW!!

Mon Mar 8 12:20:16 2021

Selkie 1498TODD: Okay, we're here. So, I forget am I NOT asking her, or...

AMANDA (vo): ASK ASK ASK!!!

SFX: knock knock

UNKNOWN VOICE: ACK!

ANDI (VO): Oh crap, that must be Todd.

UNKNOWN VOICE: Already?! AAAH!

AMANDA: What's going on...?

SELKIE: Who's that?

TODD: ...Hey, girls, do me a favor?

TODD: Can you both go to the lobby and get some snacks from the vending machine?

AMANDA: Huh? Why?

TODD: ... To bribe your mother. For the water park.

AMANDA: YES! Finally, Dad's talking my language!

Wed Mar 10 12:20:10 2021

Selkie 1499ANDI: Heeeeyyy... Todd. Todd-o. The Toddster... sup?

ANDI: Uhhh, where's Amanda?

TODD: I put them on an errand. Sounded like... something delicate going on?

ANDI: Christ. I am so sorry, I know how this looks. I was working on a client's logo, and...

ANDI: I've been... seeing someone. Covertly. Amanda doesn't know yet, and I let it slip she'd be gone most of the evening, and a... surprise drop-in happened.

ANDI: Look, uh... I'm not ready yet to tell kiddo. Uncertain status versus stable home environment?

TODD: No, I get it. I'll tell her we heard the TV.

ANDI: Yeah... okay. Thanks, Todd. I just... I have NO clue when the right time to tell Amanda about her is yet.

TODD: "Her"? Andi!

ANDI: HIM! W-WHAT EVEN ARE PRONOUNS? SOCIAL CONSTRUCT!

Fri Mar 12 13:20:34 2021

Selkie 1500TODD: So, she's here?

ANDI: Yeah. But I don't think she's up for meeting my ex yet. So...

TODD: Right. I AM LEAVING! I, THE EX-BOYFRIEND, AM VACATING THE PREMISES!

ANDI (laughing): Go on, scram! Nobody wants you, loser!

TODD: Ooooh noooo, my feelings!

ANDI (aused): Ha ha.. god. That dork.

JESSIE: ...He's actually gone, right?

ANDI: Yes, dear. Now stop being shirtless in my daughter's room.

JESSIE: I'm sorry!!! It was the first open door I saw, you bully!

Mon Mar 15 13:20:28 2021

Selkie 1501JESSIE: AAAAH! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!!

ANDI: Todd sent the girls away, no idea how long!

JESSIE: I'm sorry I'm sorry! I shouldn't have come over, but you had the place to yourself, and I, like, NEVER get to see you!

JESSIE: And now I'm going to die. Selkie ad Amanda will see me and they'll tell everyone at the school and I'll be homeless and DIE because those girls can NOT keep their traps shut!

JESSIE: ...With all due respect?

ANDI: Wow. I mean, accurate, but still... wow.

Wed Mar 17 13:21:42 2021

Selkie 1502ANDI: Hey, listen, before you... well, flee.

ANDI: So, I didn't drop names obviously, but Todd knows I'm seeing "someone" now. And it occurs to me...

ANDI: Maybe I can ask him if we can arrange a regular night for Amanda to stay over there. Like, a dedicated Date Night?

JESSIE: YYIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!

JESSIE: Gotta go, save my job, but don't you dare think I won't hold you to that!

ANDI: Ha ha, yes dear.

Fri Mar 19 13:23:15 2021

Selkie 1503SELKIE: Okay sos, what’s the plan? Cookies?

AMANDA: Naw, I don’t see any chocolate-chip.

SELKIE: Veggie Chips?

AMANDA: Eeew, gross.

SELKIE: Hot Bombs?

AMANDA: No, but I may try those later.

SELKIE: Mister Tennis Ball?

AMANDA: Maybe...

SELKIE: Ocean Waves?

AMANDA: YES!

AMANDA: Now, the delivery. This will take all of my tact and cunning...

AMANDA: I GOT YOU A BRIBE PLEASE GIVE ME A WATER PARK!!!

ANDI: What the hell?

Mon Mar 22 13:23:22 2021

Selkie 1504ANDI: Todd, can you please explain chips and... water parks?

TODD: My sister got a treat for the girls.

AMANDA: PLLLEEEEEAAASSEEEEE!

ANDI: Yeah, that sounds fun. I’m good with it.

AMANDA (VO): YES!!

ANDI: Amanda, what? Did you think I'd hate it or something?

AMANDA: I dunno... maybe?

ANDI: I’m not freaking Cinderella’s Stepmother, kiddo. I’m fine with you having fun!

AMANDA: Then why can't I play games on your phone?

ANDI: Because "Pretty Puppy's Pajama Party" isn't a game, it's a casino.

AMANDA: But I just needed ten more pulls to get Pandora!

Wed Mar 24 13:20:38 2021

Selkie 1505Transcript to be updated later

Fri Mar 26 13:20:23 2021

Selkie 1506ANDI: Hey so... I wasn't gonna say anything about "her" yet, but since you know now... can I ask a favor?

TODD: What's up?

ANDI: Well... like I said, I’m not telling kiddo about it yet. So...

ANDI: I was wondering if I could talk
you into a dedicated day of the
week for Amanda to do a stayover?

TODD: Setting up a “Date Night”?

TODD: Alright, but I reserve the right to ask the same favor later.

ANDI: Ha ha, go for it. Maybe try smooching Ms. Afkhami again.

TODD: OH GOD. Are people talking about that? How do you even know that?

ANDI: UUUUUHHH RIIIGHT how DO I know that...

Tue Mar 30 00:23:03 2021

Selkie 1507TODD: Oh LORD, I know who told you.

ANDI: Look, Todd, I can explain...

TODD: I thought Nathaniel said he’d keep it to himself.

ANDI: The transitioning guy? I mean YEAH. Yep. Good ol’ Songbird Nate.

TODD: Look I’m uh.. gonna take Selkie home.

ANDI: Woah, wait up. Todd, I’m sorry if I did something..

TODD: No, you didn’t. It’s just... The Mina thing was not a decision I’m particularly proud of.

Wed Mar 31 12:20:51 2021

Selkie 1508AMANDA'S STORY: Cindy walked to the street. She looked both ways for cars drving past then she went to Floras house.

Flora was Cindys oldest friend. She would know how to help find the killer.

Flora made some tea from flowers and gave Cindy some chocolate cookies.

"I want to find who killed my step sister." Cindy said. She drank some tea and it was good.

Flora smiled. She looked like she had heard a really funny joke.

SELKIE: It's goods so far. Can I gives an idea?

AMANDA: What?

SELKIE: Make the Fairy Godmother the killer!

AMANDA: AAARGH! You already guessed it!

Fri Apr 2 12:21:05 2021

Selkie 1509TODD: So, Amanda. How would you feel about coming by and hanging out on Friday nights?

AMANDA: Yeah!! That’d be great!

AMANDA: Can we watch a movie?!?!

TODD (VO): Sure. Selkie has to do some “sarnothi education” with Mister Pohl that night, so pick whatever you want.

AMANDA: A MURDER MYSTERY!

TODD: You want a murder mystery?

AMANDA: Yeah. For RESEARCH.

SELKIE: Important research.

Mon Apr 5 18:20:15 2021

Selkie 1510TODD: Ha ha, okay. I'll see if I can find a murder mystery that won't cause nightmares.

AMANDA: A little nightmare is okay! Thanks Dad!

TODD: Ha ha, just don't tell anyone at school.

AMANDA: Who at school would I even--

AMANDA: AAAAH! It's Ms Flower!!

TODD: Huh? Your class's TA?

AMANDA: Yeah, she lives down the hall!!

TODD: Why are you so scared?

AMANDA: SHE ALWAYS ASKS ABOUT HOMEWORK, RUN!

TODD: Pfft!

JESSIE: I wasn't even gonna ask this time1 But you SHOULD still be doing it, though!

Wed Apr 7 13:20:33 2021

Selkie 1511

Fri Apr 9 00:20:20 2021

Selkie 1511

Fri Apr 9 13:23:16 2021

Selkie 1512TODD: Hey, wait. Are you two...

JESSIE: UUHHHHHH

[ANDI types on her phone with breackneck speed, perilously racing against time to send TODD an emergency text message. In the blink of an eye, the mighty electrons reach TODD's phone with a resounding mighty "bleep"]

[On TODD'S phone is a series of text messages regarding past conversations from earlier in the evening, followed by ANDI's emergency text]

ANDI (TEXT): Todd, please please, shut up. I was NOT lying about keeping Amanda in the dark. pleeeeeeeaaaasssee

TODD: Hey, Selkie, lets get a move on home. We'll chitchat another time.

JESSIE: (quietly) thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou

Mon Apr 12 13:20:34 2021

Selkie 1513TODD: So, did you know Miss Flower ives in Amanda's building?

SELKIE: Yeah, she's mentioned it.

SELKIE: I thinks it's part of her big secret plan!

TODD: Oh? Miss Flower has a plan, huh?

SELKIE: Yeahs. Super secret. All teachers do it.

SELKIE: I think Miss Flower is trying to give Amanda... DOUBLE HOMEWORK.

TODD: And you haven't told Amanda this? You monster.

SELKIE: Somestimes, you have to do tough love.

Wed Apr 14 01:22:16 2021

Fri Apr 16 12:20:35 2021

Selkie 1514Location Tag: Marla B. Sanderson Elementary The Next Day

SELKIE: Good morning!

AMANDA: 'Sup?

SELKIE: Dad saids he found a murder movie that might work for you.

AMANDA: Excellent...

TEHK: Did someone say MURDER?!

AMANDA: AAAH!

AMANDA: No touching, butthole!

TEHK: Worth the broken ribs!

SELKIE: Well pounced, Tehk.

TEHK: So, why are you watching a murder story?

AMANDA: Why do you want to know?

TEHK: Why else? EDUCATION.

AMANDA: Heh heh heh...

Mon Apr 19 12:21:48 2021

Selkie 1515AMANDA: If youMUST know, I’m writing a story.

TEHK: OH, those. Yeah, you said that in Show and Tell I think.

TEHK: Is that what you’re sharing today?

SELKIE: Nope! We're co-sharing.

AMANDA: BIG thing. Huge

SELKIE: The biggest news.

TEHK: Is the news that you decided to stop being dramatic psychos?

AMANDA: NOPE! We’re just gonna go EVEN PSYCHO-ER!

SELKIE: MEGA PLUS-ULTRA DRAMA-LLAMA!

TEHK: Father feed me to the Frenzy, for I have created monsters.

Wed Apr 21 13:22:58 2021

Selkie 1516MINA: Okay, it's Show and Tell day. Would anyone like to go first?

SELKIE AND AMANDA: WE DO WE DO WE DO WE DO!

MINA: Oh, my! Such enthusiasm! Go ahead, girls.

SELKIE: So, we haves an announcement to make.

AMANDA: WE'RE BRIDESMAIDS!!!!!

SELKIE: Yeah! And we're goings on a trip!

AMANDA: TO a waterpark!

SELKIE: I just realized... road trip?

AMANDA: Is that a good thing? Don't care! ROAD TRIP!!

Fri Apr 23 13:22:33 2021

Selkie 1517TE FAHN: Um, I'm sorry, buts... what's a "bridesmaid"?

KEISHA: They stand around and look pretty.

TEHK: What? Who told them they're "pretty"?

MINA: Tehk! That is inexcuseable.

SELKIE: Murder?

AMANDA: Murder.

SELKIE AND AMANDA: MURDER!!!

MINA: That's enough. Sit down and stop yelling "murder" or you'll be skipping recess with him.

SELKIE: Mord.

AMANDA: Moidah!

MINA (VO): Languages and bad accents count, girls.

Mon Apr 26 12:21:12 2021

Selkie 1518LOCATION: Recess

AMANDA: I still say we should have tried to torture Tehk a little

SELKIE: Next times.

TE FAHN: Cans we please PLEASE not talk likes that?

GEORGE: Aaaw, they don't mean it.

TE FAHN: I know. Just... please don'ts Echo Zap my cousin, okay?

SELKIE: No promises.

GEORGE: Tehk's your COUSIN?! Why didn't you say so?!

TE FAHN: I-I'm sorry! I didn't knows the right word at first!

GEORGE: I'm sorry, if I knew he was your cousin, I wouldn't have been calling him a jerk.

TE FAHN: Wells he IS a jerk, so...

AMANDA: Hey, you heard that part about "Echo Zap", right?

SELKIE: Mmmmm HMM!

Wed Apr 28 12:21:20 2021

Selkie 1519AMANDA: “Echo” is that stuff you work on with the doctor-guy right?

SELKIE: Weeelll, since you’ve beens so good...

SELKIE: It’s like super-rare sarnothi magic. I’m still learnings it, but...

SELKIE: Remember that giant laser beam a few months back? Echo Stuff.

AMANDA: SHOW ME! SHOW ME!

SELKIE: Well I don’t wants to brag, but...

AMANDA: BRAG! Humility is for cowards!

Fri Apr 30 12:20:49 2021

Selkie 1520SELKIE: Okay so, I really really REALLY shouldn'ts
do this but.... Just this once...

SELKIE: I can LIGHT THINGS UP!

AMANDA: I’ve SEEN that. That’s still all you’ve got? Where’s the lasers, hmmm?

SELKIE: Well, I'm still practicing.

SELKIE: Plus, I dunno ifs Mister Pohl actually WANTS to teach me lasers and blasty stuff. I think the word he used was "ethical culpability"?

SELKIE: I thinks it's an adult word for "I don't wanna".

AMANDA: Ugh, whatever. Turn that off, it's annoying me.

Mon May 3 12:20:26 2021

Selkie 1521TE FAHN: Turn that off! TURN THAT OFF!

SELKIE: Aaah!

AMANDA: Ugh, thank you.

TE FAHN: Y-you can't, you CAN'T do that at school, Selkie!

SELKIE: Aaw, no one saw.

TE FAHN: When they were preparings us to come here, they told us we can't ever ever EVER talks about Echoes. Its will make people scared of us.

TE FAHN: A-And I know I made the joke first, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have. But you can'ts EVER jokes about hurting people with Echo powers.

SELKIE (VO): Why nots?

TE FAHN (VO): The... the city made rules for the Echoes. Because of the war. If they t-think you're going to hurts people... they'll kill you.

Wed May 5 12:20:45 2021

Selkie 1522SELKIE: Ha ha ha, okays, you got me. Good joke. ...Rights?

TE FAHN: I-I don'ts think so. I heard it from m-mys neighbor. Before we left h-home.

TE FAHN: His dad worked w-with Echoes. He said they were being ordered to obey the Council. If they said no, they went away.

TE FAHN: I-I know it isn't like that here, but I-I-I d-don't want you to... gets hurt.

SELKIE: "Went away" like.... to the surface, maybe?

TE FAHN: I hopes so.

Fri May 7 07:20:49 2021

Selkie 1523GEORGE: Jeez, Sel, can we stop talking about murder for ONE day? Besides, you'll be fine, dude.

SELKIE: How do you knows?

GEORGE: Didn't you tell us your dad is friends with a government guy? No one's gonna fight that.

GEORGE: You'll be okay, stupid.

SELKIE: Haha... yeahs. Thanks, Georgie.

AMANDA: Maybe next you can stop being so loud?

SELKIE (VO): I AM NOTS LOUD!!

Mon May 10 12:23:06 2021

Selkie 1524:SCHOOL BELL RINGS:

GEORGE: Ugh, class.

GEORGE: But listen, Sel, don't stress it, okay? I'm sure Te Fahn wasn't serious.

SELKIE: Yeah, okay.

GEORGE: Besides, with all the supervillain talk, you're probably on a hit list already anyway.

SELKIE: HA!

SELKIE: Okay, yeahs. Maybe everything will be alrights.

:BIG TRANSITION PANEL:

TODD: Selkie, I KNOW I've told you not to light up the Echo Eyes at school. I'm going to have to ground you.

SELKIE: Ugh, everything's NOT alright! It's not alright at alls!

Wed May 12 12:21:00 2021

Selkie 1525TODD: Selkie, you understand WHY I'm grounding you, right?

SELKIE: You hates fun?

TODD: Knock it off. I'm grounding you because lighting up at school and talking about using it as a weapon is NOT okay. You're learning how to use a tool, NOT a toy.

SELKIE: ... Okay. I'm sorry.

TODD: Now, go get ready for Mister Pohl.

SELKIE: I'm not grounded from training?!

TODD: I'm not grounding you from IMPORTANT stuff, you goon.

SELKIE: Jokes on you, I'd rather keeps that than TV!

TODD: Don't give me ideas.

Fri May 14 12:20:21 2021

Selkie 1526TRANSCRIPT UPDATE TO BE DONE LATER

Sat May 15 07:22:40 2021

Selkie 1526TODD: Heya. Good evening.

POHL: Hello again, friend-o.

TODD: So, need to let you know something.

POHL: Oh?

TODD (VO): Selkie decided to be dramatic, and she lit up her eyes at school today.

IMAGINARY SELKIE FIRE-EYES: *manic laughter intensifies* HA! HA! HA!

TODD: I may be over-stating HOW dramatic she got with it, but...

POHL: No, no, I can see her doing that.

Mon May 17 12:20:31 2021

Selkie 1527TODD (VO): Selkie, Mister Pohl is here. Start getting ready.

SELKIE: Okay!

TODD: Oh, one more thing. Gonna have Amanda over tonight again. Just thought I'd say something.

POHL: Are you sure that's a good idea, having her here during lessons?

POHL: I'm worried she may be hearing things she shouldn't.

TODD: Selkie probably would have told her anyway. And maybe this way we can at least get them BOTH on the same page regarding shutting of mouths.

POHL: True.

TODD (VO): Oh, and Selkie also said something about one of the sarnothi kids scaring her with stories about being kidnapped if she mis-uses Echo powers. Soshe may bring that up.

POHL: Oh, that. Yeah, no, that's completely true.

Mon May 17 13:20:14 2021

Wed May 19 12:20:24 2021

Selkie 1528POHL: Do you remember what I've said before about Echoes in Sarnoth, Todd? Echoes are meant to serve.

POHL: We serve the interests of the people, of the city. Our abiliie are a gift form the Great Father, but they come with that responsibility attached to them. We serve the city.

POHL (VO): However, the weaponized potential of our abilities is NOT part of that. Echoes may only use that facet of the Resonance with the authorization of the Council or their direct subordinates. Well, FORMER Council now, I guess.

POHL (VO): That's one of the reasons Selkie's mother is listed as a war criminal: unsanctioned use of Resonance firepower.

POHL (VO): Echoes who don't obey the City's call to serve, or who threaten violence with their abilities, tend to be taken away for re-education. Some return... some don't.

POHL: But I want to stress, Selkie is in NO danger of that. She's outside the borders and authority of Sarnoth.

POHL: Besides, I don't think they're INTERESTED in reclaiming Echoes. Scar and I would have been the first ones they contacted if that were the case.

POHL: But if we WERE in Sarnoth, and she was making jokes about using lasers on people, drilling that habit out of her would be the first priority of her trainers.

Fri May 21 12:20:30 2021

Selkie 1529TODD: Pohl, hold up! Are you saying if she were still in Sarnoth, she'd be thrown into some shady "camp"?

POHL: Only if she were a threat of mis-using her abilities. Of causing harm, or insurrection.

POHL: I know Scar told you how he got his injuries. Imagine if Plo Quar had NOT been acting in self defense? What someone aggressively-minded could have done.

POHL: Sarnoth can be a bit more... "structured", than Americans are used too, but regarding us Echoes? It's generally for a good reason. No one benefits from a society where the laser-priests rule with impunity.

Mon May 24 12:20:22 2021

Selkie 1530TODD: I'm sure there's good reasons for how Sarnoth does it, but I can't say I agree with treating an EIGHT year old so severely.

POHL: Well, ideally, it won't even be an issue. I HAVE been trying to teach her responsibility, after all.

POHL: The main goal, on either tact, is teaching her to treat it safely.

TODD: That much, at least, I can support.

*DOOR-KNOCKING NOISES*

TODD: Ah, and that must be Amanda.

TODD: Good evening. You just missed a riveting socio-political conversation.

AMANDA: I'm allowed to laugh if someone got in trouble, right?

Wed May 26 12:20:26 2021

Selkie 1531POHL: Hello, again.

ANDI: Heya.

AMANDA: Hi.

POHL: Not going to scream again, are you?

AMANDA: Night's young, sir.

ANDI: Okay, Kiddo, have fun with your Dad and sister.

AMANDA: Bye, Mom!

POHL: Wow. What a fascinating tattoo on her back.

AMANDA: It's from some old poem, I think.

AMANDA: She tried reading it to me once, but I kind of zoned out after the forest monster.

POHL: I suppose everything after a forest monster may be... anti-climatic?

AMANDA: I prefer killer fairies, anyway.

Fri May 28 12:22:46 2021

Selkie 1532POHL: Okay, time to start lessons. What's your two's plan for the evening?

TODD: Amanda has developed an interest in murder mysteries.

AMANDA: I crave... inspiration.

TODD: Thanks, now I'm terrified.

AMANDA: Good! Ha ha ha.

AMANDA: Oh! Did you find those candies Aunt Marta said I should try?

TODD: Yep. Spicy Cinnamon Bites, I got some poppers in the oven, and I found some jalapeno pickles if you feel like it.

AMANDA: Sounds like suffering. I'm in!

Mon May 31 12:22:31 2021

Selkie 1533POHL: You in here, Selkie?

SELKIE: Yes, Mister Pohl. I'm doings a meditate.

POHL: Very good. Are you noticing any difference from before?

SELKIE: Kind of. When I start doing eye-glows, I can hear something now. Kind of likes humming music?

POHL: Good! Because I'd like to try something today, to help strengthen that connection.

SELKIE: Try what?

POHL: Supercharging.

SELKIE: YESSS!!!

Wed Jun 2 12:20:44 2021

Selkie 1534TODD: Did I hear an idea with terrifying potential ramifications?

AMANDA: Explosions?!

POHL: Oh, no, nothing explodey.

POHL: I was thinking about how her abilities manifested in the first place. If you recall, when Scar initiated his own Resonance connection nearby her, it kick-started the latent suppressed ability in Selkie.

POHL: What I'd like to try is to see if I can draw in enough extra charge myself, and see if that pings back to Selkie and broadens her own access potential.

SELKIE: And THEN explosions?

POHL: Please recall that I am explicitly teaching you to AVOID explosions.

Fri Jun 4 12:22:45 2021

Selkie 1535TODD: We'll be in the living room watching murders if you need us.

AMANDA: Call me for the booms!

POHL: Okay, Selkie, I'm going to do this slow, so I'd like for you to staRt by focusing.

POHL (VO): Harmonize, and listen. Try to hear the Eternal Song.

POHL: What I'm hoping for is a steady increase in the volume of what you're hearing.

POHL (VO): All I want you to focus on is listening, and let me know if it gets any louder.

Mon Jun 7 07:22:00 2021

Selkie 1536POHL: Don't try to force anything. Just listen.

POHL: The song is all around you. Like something on the radio, and I'm just turning the volume up.

POHL: All you need to worry about is see if it gets any louder.

POHL. If I'm right about this, it should be like putting a hole into a dam.

POHL: A little bit to start, a trickle, then chip away at the hole as it opens wider.

Wed Jun 9 07:20:57 2021

Selkie 1537PERTURBED COP: Ma’am, please stop kicking the body.

AMANDA: Detective Granny's mean to dead people.

TODD: She plays by her own rules.

AMANDA: HHNG!

TODD: Amanda?!

AMANDA: Ow, ow! Turn that down!

AMANDA: Why did this show get so LOUD?!

SELKIE: I think it's workings! I can hears it more now.

POHL: Yes, good! I'm starting to get a bounce-back. That's good, by the way.

SELKIE: I love bouncings!

Thu Jun 10 22:20:35 2021

Selkie 1538POHL: What was that? Selkie! Are you okay?

SELKIE: That wasn't me...

AMANDA: Make it stop!!!

Sun Jun 13 22:29:18 2021

Selkie 1539TODD: What in the hell!

AMANDA: OH MY GOD, THIS IS HELL?!? AAAAHH!!

POHL: What happened?

SELKIE: HOLY SHIT!

AMANDA: What did you DO TO ME?!

SELKIE: ME?!

SELKIE: If I could do that, I'ds have done it to MYSELF, you thief!

AMANDA: AAAH!

TODD: Amanda, it's going to be ok. Can you turn it off?

AMANDA: I DON'T KNOW HOW I EVEN TURNED IT ON!

TODD: Pohl, what's going on here?

POHL: I have no idea what in the Frenzy I'm even seeing right now.

Wed Jun 16 00:22:43 2021

Selkie 1540POHL: Can you tell me what you're seeing?

AMANDA: TOO MUCH!

AMANDA: Everything's all green and squiggly!

POHL: I see.

AMANDA: It's like a bunch of worms and screaming. SCREAMING EVERYTHING!

AMANDA: Turn it off! please!

POHL: I can help with that. But I'll need you to do something for me.

POHL. Hold still. Boop!

Fri Jun 18 00:30:43 2021

Selkie 1541AMANDA: It's... it's gone. Kinda...

POHL: Well, that's good! You'll need to keep your hand in place there for a few moments, okay?

POHL: I have to confess, I wasn't sure I could replicate the technique on the spot. Glad the study is paying off.

TODD: Study?

POHL: Since Scar made the original suppression device, I've been poking him with questions about it whenever we work together. To try and understand it's workings. I re-created the matrices and relays that power the basic suppression functions, temporarily anchoring them through Amanda's harmonics.

POHL (VO): I meant the study of it to help Selkie improve. Never expected to use it on you! Ha ha.

Mon Jun 21 00:22:57 2021

Selkie 1542SELKIE: Whys are you TAKING this froms me?!

AMANDA: Excuse you?!

TODD: Selkie, nobody took anything.

SELKIE: Like crap! Echo stuff is MY thing! I'M the one whos beens working on it! I'm the one who's gonna help people!
I'M THE FREAKING MAD WIZARD, HERE!!!

SELKIE: WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO PUSH ME DOWN AGAIN?!

Wed Jun 23 07:21:08 2021

Selkie 1543TODD: Selkie, lets calm down, okay? No one is... OH MY GOD.

SELKIE: Oh your God, what?!

TODD: Selkie! Your eyes! You got better!

SELKIE: I dids?

TODD: Yeah! You set your eyes on fire! Good job!

TODD: ... Wow, that's a combination of words I never thought I'd say.

SELKIE: I'm gonna gets my phone, Momma's gotta record her first smiting!

Fri Jun 25 07:21:19 2021

Selkie 1544TODD: Sweety, before you worry about your phone and your thunderbolts, can we talk this out together?

TODD: The four of us? Please?

SELKIE: ... Okays, buts I'm keepings smiting ons the table.

TODD: Thank you. Amanda? How are you holding up?

AMANDA: BLEARGH!!!!

TODD: Oh.

SELKIE: It's likes The Universe smited for me.

Mon Jun 28 07:22:51 2021

Selkie 1545POHL: Todd, if you need to take care of Amanda, I'm good here.

TODD (VO): 'Preciate it, thanks!

AMANDA (VO): WUURGGHH!

POHL: So... you seemed a bit peeved?

SELKIE: Why can SHE do it? How did she learn how to do it so quick?

SELKIE: And why is she already BETTER AT IT than me?!

POHL: I really don't know, yet. She SHOULDN'T be able to at ALL. NO human should.

SELKIE: Oh great, she cans do something impossible. So, what, is SHE the main character now?!

POHL: Dial it back a bit, you're not a cartoon Selkie.

Wed Jun 30 00:23:22 2021

Selkie 1546POHL: Selkie, whatever is happening here, NO ONE knew about it. We're all going to have to work together to figure out what's best.

SELKIE: It's just nots FAIR. Why's she get to takes the Cool Thing for herself?

POHL: Selkie, no one has taken anything from you, and you aren't going to help YOURSELF by teling yourself that.

POHL: Whatever is causing this to happen to Amanda right now, I think I can safely say she didn't set out to do it, and she DOESN'T want it.

AMANDA (VO): BLEEARGH!

POHL: Because I'm pretty sure whatever it is... it's hurting her.

AMANDA (VO): BWAAARGLLL!!

Fri Jul 2 00:23:48 2021

Selkie 1547AMANDA (VO): BWWAARGH!

SELKIE: Uhhh.. you okay?

AMANDA: I've had worse. Lillian's jiaozi...

SELKIE: I'm sorry I yelled ats you.

AMANDA: Ugh... you are? Why? I mean, you were right.

AMANDA: I'm awful, remember? I knew you'd stop liking me eventually.

SELKIE: Only a... little awful.

AMANDA (VO): BWWARGGH!

Mon Jul 5 00:22:05 2021

Selkie 1548POHL (VO): I asked you to set your hand on your head earlier because I used the flow coming form you as a temporary anchor. This should be a more sustainable version of that.

POHL: Don't take this hairclip off, or you'll get the screaming worms again.

AMANDA: YES SIR!!!!

TODD: Amanda, are you going to be okay?

AMANDA: I don't know...

TODD: Why don't we all go sit down and talk it out. You too, sweetie?

SELKIE: Fines...

TODD: I can refill the snack plates first, if anyone needs chit-chat treats.

SELKIE: I'ms good.

AMANDA: Make mine spicier. I need to tell my stomach whose boss.

Wed Jul 7 00:21:39 2021

Selkie 1549TODD: Okay, now. While I think we should discuss this and share our feelings, I want you both to know first, that you can ask to stop if you wish. Okay?

AMANDA: 'Kay.

SELKIE: Nots even started yet. It's not FAIR!

TODD: What's not fair, Selkie?

SELKIE: I've been workings really REALLY hard at the Echo thing! And now she can just... DO IT?

SELKIE: It's not fair. It's NOT. It feels likes she's BULLYING me agains.

AMANDA: I know. I'm sorry.

Fri Jul 9 07:20:26 2021

Selkie 1550AMANDA: I know I'm terrible.

AMANDA: I was super mean to everyone. Mister Caulfield said people would never forgive me.

TODD: Amanda, your therapist did NOT say that. He said that people you'd hurt might be angry even if you apologized, and to remember that those feelings are valid in their own way.

SELKIE: Damn right they are.

SELKIE: I... I've had nightmares about you.

Mon Jul 12 00:20:27 2021

Selkie 1551AMANDA: You've had nightmares about ME?

SELKIE: Ugh... yeah.

SELKIE: My "favorite" one is when you threw me down into a volcano for not being a pretty pony.

AMANDA: Pfft.

AMANDA: HA HA HA!

AMANDA: Pony?! Seriously?! HA!

TODD" Amanda, that's not an appropriate response to what Selkie just shared.

AMANDA: I know, but PONIES?!? HA HA HA!

Wed Jul 14 00:20:57 2021

Selkie 1552[SELKIE rushes out of the living room giving the door to her bedroom a SLAM]

TODD: Amanda. Laughing was NOT appropriate.

AMANDA: I didn't mean it! I'm sorry!

TODD: I'm not the one you need to say that too. Stay here, while I talk to your sister.

SFX: [clink!]

[POHL is staring mutely at the viewer while holding a bowl of ice cream and looking mildly guilty]

POHL: Everyone seemed to have kind of temporarily forgotten I was here, so... I stole ice cream. As one does.

Fri Jul 16 07:20:28 2021

Selkie 1553AMANDA: ...What kind of ice cream? I like stealing...

POHL: Something sarnothi-friendly I recommended. Auntie Roswell's Neversweet. It's an ice cream made without any sweeteners. Bit of rosemary in this one.

AMANDA (VO): I don't like stealing that much.

AMANDA: So... you're a doctor, right? Do you think bad people are bad forever?

POHL: No, I do not. In fact, one of my friends is a recovering Bad Person.

AMANDA (VO): How did they recover?!

POHL (VO): Work. Working HARD, all the time.

POHL (VO): Putting more good into the world than the bad isn't automatic. Or easy.

POHL (VO): Especially when, sometimes, you didn't know at first how big it was.

Sun Jul 18 22:22:17 2021

Selkie 1554TODD: Sweetie, do you want to talk about it?

SELKIE: It's not fair. I've beens working REALLY HARD to do the Echo thing. Really DARN hard.

SELKIE: Ands Amanda just... TAKES IT, all easy.

TODD: Sweetie, I don't think anything about what happened to her tonight was "easy".

TODD: And I'm sure it wasn't on purpose either.

SELKIE: ...Maybe.

SELKIE: It's just... I don't want to be pushed around again.

TODD: That's not gonna happen. And it's not what's happening here.

SELKIE: How sure are you? Because I cans points to about three years of data thats says otherwise.

Wed Jul 21 00:19:49 2021

Selkie 1555TODD: Look, I know you're probably scared. And that's okay.

TODD: But you're my kid, and that's a forever thing.

TODD: But I hope you can understand that, right now, whatever is happening is not anyone trying to take anything from you. Or use it to push you around.

SELKIE: ... I know. I just don't want to... to not be special.

TODD: Selkie Smith, you are eSPECIALly wonderful. Even when you are eSPECIALly difficult.

SELKIE: ... I can'ts even be mad, that's a good burn.

SELKIE: Alright. Lets go back ins there.

Fri Jul 23 00:19:54 2021

Selkie 1556SELKIE: Hey.

AMANDA: Hey...

[Dramatic pause. Intense staring.]

AMANDA: I... I wasn't trying to take anything from you. But I know why you feel like that. I'm sorry.

SELKIE: Hi, Sorry. I'm Sister.

AMANDA: You did NOT do that! I will END YOU!

SELKIE: Braver ands better than you have tried.

Mon Jul 26 00:20:11 2021

Selkie 1557SELKIE: And... I'm sorry too. For yelling at you when you were scared.

AMANDA: I... I don't know what it is. I hate it.

POHL: You know, I might be able to help BOTH of you by studying this phenomenon.

POHL: With one having too little Resonance flow, and the other having unprecedented flow, you may be each other's answer. Or not. No clue yet.

SELKIE: Wait a sec... is thats my special ice cream?

POHL: Selkie, I am a DOCTOR. Do you have any idea how many people would love it if I took payment in desserts?

TODD: The perfect conspiracy between Big Pharma, Big Insurance, and Big Dairy.

POHL: And Big Herb. This is rosemary.

Wed Jul 28 00:20:04 2021

Selkie 1558POHL: I'm going to propose we table lessons for the evening.

POHL (VO): I need to work out how best to help TWO students, after all.

POHL: Todd, the agents will have questions for me anyway, so how about I handle informing them, and you can focus on Amanda's mother?

TODD: I'd appreciate that, Thank you, Pohl.

POHL: My pleasure. Have a good night.

[POHL fishes out his smartphone]

POHL: Hey. Yeah, it's me. I need to report something, but I want to get the unpleasant part of this conversation over with quick.

POHL (VO): I owe you ten bucks.

THEN: Did I win THE bet? Oh, you haven't even SEEN how unpleasant I'm about to get.

Fri Jul 30 07:19:57 2021

Selkie 1559THEN: Okay so, if I won THE bet, that means you actually FOUND a human Echo?

POHL: Yes. It happened just tonight. Went very VERY poorly.

THEN: I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE!!!

POHL: I'm reeling a bit, to be honest. This could potentialy vindicate the Heresies of Ti'Veirn. He speculated that sarnothi may have been the true source for human legends of--

THEN (VO): Yeah yeah yeah, unravels generations of philosophical theory, don't care.

TEHN (VO): Tell me how it happened. Did someone come to the hospital with burning eyeballs?

POHL: Not since Mardi Gras.

POHL (VO): It was the biological daughter of Selkie Smith's father. She triggered during an Echo lesson.

THEN (VO): HA HA HA HA HA!

POHL: Could I convince you to handle the incident that renders completely worthless our understanding of the phenomena we've based our entire culture on with a TOUCH more gravitas?

THEN (VO): You can NOT! HA HA HA!

Mon Aug 2 07:19:57 2021

Selkie 1560THEN: Okay, serious time. Briefly. I'll write a report first thing in the morning.

POHL (VO): Thank you, Then.

POHL: And, one recommendation if I may?

POHL (VO): I'm still assessing the details of the situation. I advise minimal intervention, until I can complete that.

THEN: I'll note that. Good night.

THEN: Hmmm... The Heresies of Ti'Veirn...

THEN: The exiled scholar who dared to suggest that the human legends of wizards and witches, of visions and prophecies... may have been humans that could tap into the Resonance. If Ti'Veirn was right, then...

THEN: It can be learned.

Wed Aug 4 00:19:44 2021

Selkie 1561ANDI: Oh, hey. You're Todd's friend, right?

POHL: Amanda's mother, yes? Nice to see you again.

ANDI: We were just swinging by to get the kiddo. She cause you any trouble?

POHL: HA HA HA! Ha ha... err... no. No, no trouble.

POHL: But, um... I may have Todd give you my number? She's... HIGHLY likely to have some sarnothi-related questions for me.

ANDI: Oh, sure, thanks. Nice of you.

POHL: And... well, Todd can fill you in on what happened.

ANDI: "Happened"?!?

POHL: It's fine, it's fine. Just don't lose Amanda's assistive device, and call me if there's any screaming.

JESSIE: What in the HECKERS?!

POHL: The minute the words left my mouth...

Fri Aug 6 18:20:00 2021

Selkie 1562

Mon Aug 9 00:20:06 2021

Selkie 1563ANDI: Where did you GET this thing, Todd?

AMANDA: No no no no no...

ANDI: It feels like stone, but warm-ish?

AMANDA: Nnnng..

ANDI: Uh, kiddo? You're flinching?

TODD: Andi, clip it back! Hurry!

SELKIE: You'll dooms us ALL!!!

ANDI: What?

AMANDA: Hhhhnn...

TODD: That IS the assistive device! It's sarnothi tech, and it's staving off a bad reaction!

ANDI: A bad reaction?!

ANDI: Oh, God, are you allergic to Selkie?

AMANDA: No, but I am allergic to people GRABBING my STUFF. MOM!

Wed Aug 11 00:19:46 2021

Selkie 1564ANDI (Placing barrette back on Amanda): Jeez, kiddo, what was that in your voice?

AMANDA: Nothing fun, thanks.

ANDI: Todd, what the hell kind of "reaction" was this?

TODD: Long story...

SELKIE: It was me! I dids it to her!

ANDI: You did?

SELKIE: With MAGIC!

SELKIE: That's rights. I'm learnings witchcraft. Praise me.

ANDI: snerk!!

ANDI: If you're feeling religiously curious, I know a couple covens.

SELKIE: Okay I WAS jokings, but now lets talk deals.

Fri Aug 13 07:23:00 2021

Selkie 1565ANDI: So, tell me about this reaction?

TODD: I'm not sure where to start.

TODD (VO): It's based on something... very unique to sarnothi culture.

TODD: Is someone in the hall?

JESSIE (VO): Eeep!

POHL: Hi, sorry, just me again. I know I said I was leaving, but ran into Amanda's mom and... well, questions.

JESSIE (whispering): Thank you.

POHL (whispering): Someday, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me.

Mon Aug 16 00:20:33 2021

Selkie 1566ANDI: Thanks for coming back. What the hell is this about a reaction?!

POHL: Nothing too major.

POHL: Sarnothi have an ability to screech at very high decibel levels. It can cause some problems with the inner ear and the related balance systems in humans.

POHL (VO): Amanda had a bad reaction to some playful screeching between Selkie and I. Hence the discomfort.

POHL (VO): The barrette on her head is a piece of sarnothi tech that helps stabilize such reactions. It's CRITICAL that she keep it on her person until I can confirm a proper recovery.

POHL (VO): This information also needs to stay inside this apartment. It'll look bad if people think sarnothi can inflict destabilizing reactions at-will.

ANDI: So... that's all it was? Some nausea from being screeched at?

TODD, SELKIE, AND AMANDA: YEP!!

Wed Aug 18 00:19:58 2021

Selkie 1567ANDI: Are you sure about this "screeching" thing?

AMANDA: Mom...

AMANDA: Can we just go home, please? I really don't feel good.

ANDI. Sure, kiddo. Of course. Todd, just text me what I need to know, okay?

TODD (VO): Sure thing. You got it.

ANDI: Right... see ya.

TODD (quietly): Damn. Saved by the bell.

[A PANEL FULL OF PEOPLE STANDING AROUND STARING]

JESSIE: Heeeeeeey! Heard you weren't feeling good! Thought I'd... see how that was?

AMANDA: How did YOU hear that?

JESSIE: Uhhh... TEACHER PSYCHIC NETWORK?!

Fri Aug 20 07:19:56 2021

Selkie 1568JESSIE: I'm sorry, it's just, you ran away so fast, and I WAS gonna go but that felt crappy, and I wanted to make sure things were okay and...

AMANDA: Waaaiiit...

AMANDA: You can't fool me. I know why you're REALLY here.

JESSIE: I'm so sorry.

ANDI: Jess, I--

AMANDA: YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON ME!

ANDI (VO): Amanda!!

JESSIE (VO): WHAT?!?! EEEWWW, NO! I have a crush on your mom!

ANDI (VO): Jessie!!

SELKIE: Dad, is this goings to be one of those nights where things keep happening, ands it feels like it lasts for three months?

TODD: Always has been.

Mon Aug 23 07:20:13 2021

NEXT COMIC WEDNESDAY AUG 25TH

Wed Aug 25 00:20:24 2021

Selkie 1569TODD: Andi, do you want to have this conversation, like... INSIDE?

ANDI: ALL OF THE YES PLEASE.

JESSIE: So... this is a nice place. You have a... n-nice place, Mister Smith.

AMANDA: Are you sure you aren't here for homework?

ANDI: Jess, I thought the plan was we split at the door and you go home?!

JESSIE: I know, I'm sorry!

ANDI: God, I did NOT want to have this conversation yet...

JESSIE: I was worried! I couldn't just GHOST on you, if Amanda might have been hurt!

SELKIE: Hey, waits. If your Mom is datings a teacher, doesn't thats mean LESS homework?

AMANDA: ... YES! YES IT DOES!

POHL: Hi, sweetie? Tuck the kids in, I'm going to be late. ..Yeah. Yeah, it's drama again.

Fri Aug 27 00:20:12 2021

Selkie 1570TODD: Pohl, if you need to go home, I think we can handle "the situation" here for now.

POHL: Thank you Todd, but I need to make sure I stress that it be kept as tightly under wraps as you can for now.

POHL (VO): Amanda could be the first of a whole new wave... or she could be experiencing proximity effects. We need to determine Ifs and also Whys and Hows with some conclusivity.

POHL: And I don't mean to be excessively dramatic, but I'd really rather avoid a scenario where she needs to be isolated for any safety or security reasons.

TODD: Pohl, you make it sound like I'd be the guy in a Fight the Shadow Government movie.

POHL: Well, if you DO know how to murder seven ninjas at once, no reason not to brush up on the skill.

Mon Aug 30 00:21:24 2021

Selkie 1571TODD: Look, seriously, go home. You've done enough here.

POHL: I can't leave if I can help. For all I know this could be MY fault!

TODD: It'll be fine, I think the topic is shifting, anyway.

AMANDA: Can you give me all As?!

JESSIE: No! No favoritism!

AMANDA: One A?!

JESSIE: No!

ANDI: Kiddo, I'm sorry I didn't talk to you about this sooner, but we need to set some expectations here.

AMANDA: Name a holiday after me!!!!

ANDI: No!

SELKIE: She wants her own holiday. I taught her thats.

TODD: I knew one day you two would start co-operating, but I may have been naive to believe it to be a beneficial act.

SELKIE: Withs great power, comes a great responsibility to reminds you how powerful I am.

Wed Sep 1 00:20:00 2021

Selkie 1572ANDI: Can we be serious a moment?

AMANDA: No. Hee hee.

ANDI: I'm glad you seem to be taking this well.

AMANDA: Why wouldn't I?

ANDI: I didn't know how to ask you what your feelings were about me dating.

AMANDA: It's okay. Plus, I'm gonna get better grades now.

JESSIE (VO): NOT like THAT, you aren't!

JESSIE: I'm really sorry to barge this in on you, Mister Smith.

TODD: Don't worry about it.

POHL: Since that seems settled may I, as physician, make a small suggestion?

POHL: Have Amanda stay the night here, for observation.

Fri Sep 3 00:22:01 2021

Selkie 1573TODD: Do you think "observation" is necessary?

POHL: I think it's... safer, yes.

POHL: The reaction Amanda's had is something that needs... more care. I'd feel more comfortable if we could remove potential variables to ensuring there's no "lasting effects".

POHL (VO): I'm also not wanting to see what happens if the... "reaction" pokes up again before she can get a proper look-over.

ANDI: Um, no? If she's fine enough to not go to the Emergency Room, then I think a sick kid should be in her OWN bed.

TODD: ...I can't really say "no" to that.

POHL: Just... please PLEASE keep that barrette on!

ANDI: ... Yeah. Sure.

AMANDA: THIS IS MY BARRETTE! IT WAS MADE FOR ME!

Mon Sep 6 07:19:48 2021

Selkie 1574ANDI: If you're feeling up for it, why don't we get some milkshakes on the way home, to settle your stomach.

AMANDA: Sure, thanks Mom.

JESSIE: Hey uh... look, I'm really sorry, and I understand if I crossed a huge line and if you don't want me around I--

*smooching*

ANDI: Jess, you were worried for my kid's welfare, and Amanda took the "reveal" well. I'm not mad, you adorable trainwreck.

AMANDA: I think seeing that kiss got me three As.

ANDI: Kiddo, hard stop on that okay? It's not funny.

AMANDA: AArrgh. Okay.

JESSIE: ...Also telling anyone at school is against the rules, okay?

AMANDA: Fine. But I'm getting the BIG milkshake.

Wed Sep 8 07:22:45 2021

Selkie 1575POHL: Well... that could have gone better.

TODD: Yeh.

POHL: You okay?

TODD: Okay-ish.

TODD: I don't feel good about lying to Andi. There's... some history of that between us. I feel like I'm being hypocritical.

POHL: Todd, we don't even know what the security clearance on this is yet. We'll talk to The People in the morning, she shouldn't be out of the loop for too long.

TODD: Yeah... Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Pohl.

*In the morning... a phone rings.*

TODD (blearily): 'ello?

CALLER: Todd.

TODD: Who this?

CALLER: TODD!

Fri Sep 10 07:20:42 2021

Selkie 1576ANDI: Todd... use small words... pretend I'm INCREDIBLY stupid... and explain to me WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THAT BARRETTE?!

TODD (VO): Um... what happened?

ANDI: TODD MARION SMITH! Amanda woke up SCREAMING "Where is it where is it?!"

ANDI: And now there's a HOLE in her WALL, and a DILF in a SUIT in my living room!!

TODD (VO): A what in a suit?

AVERY: Madam, I am a happily married man.

ANDI: ...Nevermind, you're better off not knowing.

Mon Sep 13 07:20:33 2021

Selkie 1577AVERY: May I talk to Todd, briefly?

ANDI: You gonna hack my phone, or something?

AVERY: No, that's not my department. We have drama-mongering twenty-somethings for that.

ANDI: ... Speaker phone. Ten seconds. Go.

AVERY: Todd, this is Avery. Call in to work, call your daughter out of school. I need both of you here within the hour.

TODD (VO): What, now? Why?

AVERY: Todd, I am not talking to you as a friend, I'm talking as an overseer. Get dressed. Get caffeinated. Get HERE. NOW.

ANDI: So... Todd's buddies with a Fed?

AVERY: I'm afraid I need something from you before I can answer any questions, Miss McClellan.

ANDI: Oh, God. WHAT?

AVERY: Non-Disclosure Agreement. Welcome to the hell of government paperwork.

Wed Sep 15 07:22:36 2021

Selkie 1578ANDI: Why do I need an NDA to know about my OWN DAUGHTER'S health?

AVERY: Here's what I can tell you.

AVERY (VO): What I've been informed you were told last night, is that Amanda experienced a reaction to sarnothi presence. Our working hypothesis is along those lines. Due to my own NDAs and the sensitivity of the Sarnoth situation, I can't explain further without your signature.

AMANDA: Wait, that WASN'T a fib? SELKIE gave me eye lasers?!

ANDI: Ha ha, eye lasers?! Kiddo, it's a bad time to play pretend, okay?

*Amanda makes another hole in the wall*

AMANDA: ... Eye lasers.

AVERY: I'm afraid I have to insist on the NDA.

ANDI: PEN! PEN!

Fri Sep 17 07:20:43 2021

Selkie 1579SELKIE: Mmm mm mm. La da dee.

TODD: I'm glad ONE of us is in a good mood.

SELKIE: Why wouldn'ts I be?! Today's already a FANTASTIC day!

SELKIE: No school! Get to just watch cartoons all day!

SELKIE: Lookin' cute! Feelin' great!

SELKIE: Today is gonna be AWESOMES. BELIEVE IT!

AVERY: Good morning. Happy Friday. Amanda's already figured out eye lasers.

TODD: Nnnhh... Nnngg. NNHHHGGNNN!

SELKIE: Oh, WHAT the HELL even IS this day?!

Mon Sep 20 07:20:07 2021

Selkie 1580SELKIE: Okay, everyones BUCKLE UP, because I'm about to tell you ALL OFS THE WAYS this is COMPLETE BULLCRAPS.

TODD: Selkie, lets not get mad before we've even discussed the situation, okay?

SELKIE: Well, the situation is whats I'm mad at, so nyah.

AMANDA: Look, I don't like it either, okay? It's wierd and scary and I hate it.

SELKIE: What, you expect me to believes you don't think having LASER EYES is cool?

AMANDA: I... I didn't say it... wasn't kind of cool...

SELKIE: I KNEW IT! LIAR!!

AMANDA: AARGH! 1.. 2.. 3...

Tue Sep 21 00:20:39 2021

Wed Sep 22 07:20:45 2021

Selkie 1581ANDI: Todd, oh thank GOD you got here!

TODD: Yeah, not a problem. Do you need--

ANDI: WHY ALL THE FORMS?!

ANDI: NDA! FBI! CIA! DOD!

ANDI: Why is there an entire paragraph on maritime jurisdiction?!

TODD: Um... I assumed you'd have questions about--

ANDI: Todd I just watched our daughter blast HOLES in her WALL with her EYES, and I would very much like to get stressed about normal things before I get stressed about DEATHBLINKS.

TODD: Is this a bad time to point out you're on the Next of Kin page?

ANDI: VERY BAD TIME AAAAAHH!

Fri Sep 24 07:21:10 2021

Selkie 1582AVERY: Miss McClellan, please calm yourself. You risk scaring the children.

ANDI: ERK!

AVERY (VO): I understand youhave a lot of concerns, and I promise you I will answer them as best I can. But, as I'm sure you can imagine, it's controlled information.

ANDI: Yeah... yeah, okay.
ANDI: Signed! Give classified secrets, please!

AVERY: Of course. What you witnessed in Amanda's bedroom is a phenomena usually reserved solely to sarnothi. They're called "Echoes".

AVERY (VO): Approximately one-percent of sarnothi are born with an ability to produce significant amounts of energy.
ANDI: Like that giant laser beam a few months ago?

AVERY: No, that would have been one of the weapons the Echoes built.

ANDI: eeeeeeppp

Mon Sep 27 07:24:04 2021

Selkie 1583ANDI: Can I get a moment to process this "Amanda can make weapons" thing please God please?

AVERY (VO): Of course.

ANDI: Thanks.

AMANDA: Can I really make stuff with this?

SELKIE: Yeah! That's what I'm tryings to learn!

SELKIE: Echoes make buildings and machines and stuff. Mister Pohl helps build houses for people who need it!

AMANDA: Really? It's NOT murder-magic?

SELKIE: Only, like, halfs murder. I think.

Wed Sep 29 07:19:54 2021

Selkie 1584AVERY: At this point, I feel it’d be best if we re-convened elsewhere for an official meeting.

ANDI: W-wait. Meeting?!

TODD: No one mentioned a meeting.

AVERY: We need to make sure ALL parties are on the same page regarding info and rules about what can and can’t be talked about.

AVERY (VO): Especially you two.

AMANDA: Why?!

SELKIE: We didn't do anything!

AVERY: You didn't do anything "yet".

AMANDA AND SELKIE: HEY!!

Thu Sep 30 07:19:59 2021

Sat Oct 16 12:37:35 2021

Selkie 1591

Mon Oct 18 07:22:39 2021

Selkie 1592TODD: Oh. Great. HE made it.

ANDI: Oh... is that Agent... Adverb?

THEN: Hahaha! "Agent Adverb"! I certainly haven't heard THAT one a thousand times a day!

THEN: Girls, come here. I want to show you something.

THEN: You're both Echos, despite all reason and rational decency. Can you tell me what you see when you look at this?

AMANDA: What do you think?

SELKIE: It's a trick. Mister Pohl said you needs fire-eyes to see Echo stuffs. THAT'S what he wants to see.

[SILENT STARING]

AMANDA: If I puke, you can't laugh at me.

SELKIE: I promise nothings.

Wed Oct 20 07:20:46 2021

Selkie 1593TODD: Selkie! Your voice changed!

ANDI: I'm glad ONE of us is used to that.

THEN: I'll give the kids credit, they're half right. I DID want to see what their output looked like.

THEN (VO): But I still want to know if you can see anything special.

SELKIE (VO): It' looks just likes a big version of that thing Mom gaves me.

AMANDA (VO): I don't see anything but bright green Literal Hell.

SELKIE: Oh no, wait, there! Do you sees that?

AMANDA: What? ...Oh.

SELKIE (VO): There's something movings in it.

Wed Oct 20 12:22:52 2021

Fri Oct 22 07:21:40 2021

Selkie 1594SELKIE: It looks likes it's moving.

AMANDA (VO): I'm pretty sure it's making that "singing" noise too.

SELKIE: I don'ts hear that.

SELKIE: But it's moving... between these green bits?

AMANDA: The singing is getting louder when you get closer! Careful!

[The invisibility harness blips out of sight.]

AMANDA: Aaaand you killed it. You freaking disintegrated it.

SELKIE: Evens I can be TOO amazing.

Mon Oct 25 07:19:52 2021

Selkie 1595THEN: Um... wow. I did NOT expect that reaction.

AVERY: *snerk*

SELKIE: What happeneds to it?

THEN (VO): I can't really tell you that without checking with a few people first.

AMANDA: Whatever you did, it's not gone. The singing got LOUDER.

SELKIE: Hmmm....

AMANDA: You should poke it again.

SELKIE: What?! What if it disintegates ME?!

AMANDA: Then that will be a very important lesson.

SELKIE: ...Don't hates me if I haunt you for this laters.

Wed Oct 27 07:21:30 2021

Selkie 1596SELKIE: Okay, aaands... here we go. Pokings the things.

[FWOM goes the ball of fire]

SELKIE (VO): Woooaahhh... it cames back! Buts on fire!

AMANDA: Holy CRAP, that got loud!

SELKIE: Wait... dids it come back, or... maybe it wasn'ts really gone?

SELKIE: Oh oh oh! What if I mades it INVISIBLE?!?!

AMANDA: I think you probably just broke it.

SELKIE: With fire! I'll takes the win.