Many of the conversations online that concern “genre fiction” generally mean sci/fi, fantasy and horror. This stuff is distinguished from “mainstream” genres like contemporary dramas and comedies, and period pieces that are…well, dramas and comedies. it also doesn't include big genres like romance and psychological thrillers.
The ...
The Crime Genre
Banes at 12:00AM, Dec. 17, 2020Drawing Lies
Banes at 12:00AM, Dec. 10, 2020
Drawing Lies - Deception, Insincerity and Sarcasm
Stories and characters have many contexts where emotion is needed - the happy and sad and angry and scared of it all is a big focus of my own comic drawing - I keep it cartoony (with as few lines as possible) and maybe slightly exaggerated ...
The Mystery Box
Banes at 12:00AM, Dec. 3, 2020
what's in the box?
Ah, December!
We're in the final month of the year, and Christmas is in sight. If you celebrated Christmas, or any other gift-oriented holiday, you probably remember the anticipation before the big day, and the excitement over what would be waiting for you.
It ...
Figments in Fiction
Banes at 12:00AM, Nov. 26, 2020
I've never seen this movie, but does he have a bevy of dead girlfriends?
always seemed like an odd concept for a lighthearted romantic comedy. “Matthew
and Jennifer! Learning the power of love! Piles of dead bodies!”
Talking to the Dead - Sort of
How many times have you had ...
Gimme Strength
Banes at 12:00AM, Nov. 19, 2020
Plenty has been said about giving characters flaws - we've talked about it around the site, on the Quackcast and out loud, to ourselves, on the bus and in the park.
Characters gotta have flaws!
But something I've thought about more lately, in the years well after starting my ...
The Curtains are Closing - Drunk Duck Awards 2020
Banes at 12:00AM, Nov. 12, 2020
Today I simply want to give big thanks to Niccea, as well as Tantz-Aerine, and bravo1102, and everyone else who helped bring us the Drunk Duck Awards this year.
There were judges, presenters, comics that were submitted, and people who read the comic that made it a lot of fun ...
Uncompressed Storytelling
Banes at 12:00AM, Nov. 5, 2020
stretchin' out them stories!
I think I first heard the phrase “uncompressed storytelling” via the great John Byrne, comic artist and writer, and man of very strong opinions. He was criticizing some other writer or comic series (I don't remember which one) about hinting at stories that wouldn't ...
The Walking Dead
Banes at 12:00AM, Oct. 29, 2020
The Walking Dead has been a successful comic-to-screen adaptation. Back when the show started, in 2010, the comics-on-film trend had not hit high gear.
High gear wasn't far off, though. Iron Man had already come out and was huge, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe was soon going to take ...
Hidden Horror - Lifting up the Rock
Banes at 12:00AM, Oct. 22, 2020
On our last Quackcast I had a realization about one of the recurring elements that shows up in a lot of horror I like.
It's the hidden nature of horror. When someone, or something, appears normal or even extra sweet or appealing, but hides nasty stuff beneath.
It's ...
Horror - Immersion and the Slow Burn
Banes at 12:00AM, Oct. 15, 2020
I just started the Netflix series called “The Hanting of Bly Manor”.
It's hard to say how it's going to turn out in the end, since I'm just at the beginning. But overall so far, I'm enjoying the thing. There are many unanswered questions already, and ...