I’ll admit off the bat, I’m nervous trying to get into the history of my characters because I know for each topic, every reader has their own experience and pain attached to various topics. I did my best to base my characters on people I really know and have taken versions of their stories and applied it to my characters. Of course, the point of this comic is awesome bear battling action, but I did also jump into it as a training ground for myself to practice writing somewhat deeper stories. My dad is not military, nor is he a Mormon. In fact my mom was pretty supportive of me when I was growing up and I never felt like I wasn’t good enough. It was much more my peers, and my own self image that made me feel not good enough most of the time. This is an area where Andrea becomes one character I sympathize with a lot. I can’t imagine being raised by a family who believes something very passionately and you just can’t. Hopefully I am able to communicate that sympathy as the story goes on, but I also don’t want to make Mormons out to be villains. There are enough religious people = evil stories out there and the truth about people and life is often much more complex than that.
This is not Bearmageddon, but I wanted to share this preview for the new Axe Cop animated comic series that will be coming out weekly starting on Friday. Rugburn is producing a large number of episodes and this preview is just awesome in my opinion.
That’s all I’ve got for now. I am considering opening up sales on commissions again because I could use the money and people have been showing interest. Check out my Instagram to see a bunch of the ones I have done so far. If you would be interested in getting one of these let me know.
Ethan
Don’t worry about offending Mormons.
I’m a Mormon my self and can relate letting your mega Mormon dad down
love the comics by the way! keep up the good work!
I’m a Mormon, too. I can say plenty of us can well relate to the idea with no offense taken; the “bishop’s kid” scenario is common enough and Catholics can’t lay a monopoly on guilt and shame alone. 😉
The rabid religious and the antagonistic anti-religious can go slug it out if they have to, but I sincerely doubt anyone’s calling for a cage match. A cage match with bears, sure, but not Team Self-Righteous vs. Team Intellectually Smug. Carry on, Ethan.
That was nothing. Certainly not A Bear. Excuse me for a bit. I’m gonna go for a walk.
KTHUD! KTHUD! KTHUD!
Wait… is it Louis or Louie?
I’m totally in for that camping trip though. =)
I just assume he calls him both. I have multiple names for my brothers.
Axe Cop. Bearmagedon. Too much good stuff! 🙂
Thanks for keeping this up, Ethan.
I’m calling it right now. Dickinson and Besser, the Wow-Mart sporting goods section dude, are totally related somehow. Not too sure as to what the KTHAP and KTHUD are all about though.
It’s interesting that you’re trying hard not to be all offensive because… well… the hippy-brigade seems to come on kinda strong. See, I’m not a fan of the unthinking “yay, nature!” peoples. In fact, you mentioned Jurassic Park on the last page, I detest how anti-science it is, how characters profess the idea that nature has some kind of divine plan, that it’s come conscious entity. However, even I think that this webcomic is kinda harsh on them.
I mean, I get that you’re going for the inept and naive group of losers kinda deal… but I feel as though it’s missing some kind of balance. I mean, as new characters are getting introduced, they’re kinda balancing the cast a little bit, but it still all feels sorta… I dunno.
I’m not saying it’s mean-spirited because it doesn’t seem to be. Nor is it enough to put me off the story. However, it just feels like… I dunno… that the ineptitude, naivocity and loserdom of certain characters is higher than it needs to be.
Yeah, I think I see what you are saying.
Currently, the I think the issue with the balance is because Nigel is very loud and no one has yet emerged as his counterbalance yet. Dickinson isn’t his counterbalance because he is removed from society and is part of nature. Someone from the group has to step up to the plate — someone who can respect the horrifying and sublime part of nature as well as its beauty and the philosophies that it has inspired.
However, the anti-hippie thing also probably feels more off balance than it is in reality. Webcomics must update so slowly, so Nigel has had months to be obnoxious for people reading from the beginning. When the story can be read as a whole it will feel different. Graphic novels read so quickly — I usually can finish one in one or two sittings.
Fair enough, and I don’t want to speak for Ethan here, but keep in mind that this is still basically the exposition of the story in many ways. The main characters are only now at the very beginning stages of experiencing some of the conflict of the larger storyline. They haven’t really had much of a chance to change and adapt to these new and traumatic circumstances. Yes, the story starts out with a group of ‘inept’ characters that are thrust into unbelievably challenging circumstances… but this is generally done to show some form of character growth as the story progresses.
This is a pretty common trend in stories… I’m sure we could each come up with dozens of examples of that kind of storyline. Essentially, you have a group of inexperienced and inept characters thrust into chaos and conflict. Some characters will adapt and their personalities will evolve in a way that allows them to overcome and survive. Those who cannot change will die off and be destroyed in the conflict.
It’s simply ‘survival of the fittest’. Evolve (as a character) or die. All stories that follow this pattern are, essentially, psychological Darwinism. You can’t have a positive character arc if you don’t start with characters with some negative traits. We’ve been following this comic for a long time, it seems, but keep in mind that it is really still in its infancy. Give the characters time to grow. If you don’t have that time, or don’t care, then go read something else… or make your own story where everyone BEGINS as expertly trained mutant bear-hunters right from the start. Not only would that be extremely unrealistic, it would be a pretty dull narrative and we wouldn’t give a damn about any of the characters after the first few pages.
Yes. What he said.
Definitely true. Yeah, I can see that. It’s funny, I was thinking earlier and I think my problem is that Nigel, solely based on things up until this point, should be the main protagonist. I think that’s my problem. He’s so outspoken and kinda douchey and is sorta the one that kicks the whole thing of… I guess I feel like this should be the story of how he learns to cling to his principles whilst adapting them to be more realistic… however, as it stands in the story, he shows little sign of that.
That said, the plot is moving now and Joel has started to take control over Nigel, and Nigel is being given an opportunity to wise up. However, based off of the first act, I feel that I know more about Nigel. Unlike the others in the loserbrigade, he’s actually driven. Alright, he has no idea where he’s going, but he’s more proactive. It’s just a shame all my genre savviness is telling me that he’s going to, not only die, but also die in a way that is detrimental to the rest of the group. I could be wrong there… but I somehow doubt it.
I bet Nigel is up to something.
Damn it bear! Joel was trying to bond with the cute girl, stop being a cockblocker!
Hey man, I mean, I like your comic and stuff, but like maybe you could, you know, like tailor it more to my personal needs and tastes. I mean, why don’t do a survey so we can all decide exactly what happens and how each character is developed. I mean, it’s your call, but whatever you do I’m gonna bitch about it.
Haha favorite comment.
I’m a Mormon as well and I’m definitely not offended. I have friends that used to be active in the church but decided to leave for basically the same reason as that girl. I just see it as a commentary (accurate I might add) of the way some mormons live their lives not the teachings of my church so ROCK ON MAN!
Dickinson- Impatient, loyal
Joel- Lazy, arrogant
Nigel- Arrogant, borderline narcissitic
Burton- Lazy, selfish
Andrea- Arrogant, pensive
Keller- Confused, frightened
Gogs- Full of bravado, possible adrenaline junkie
Mutant Bears- Gonna eatcha face
This comic- Full of win.
I love seeing people comiserate. it’s really a great way to bond.. because we’ve all had some hard times with situations we can’t escape.
Whens the camping trip to talk about our families in expository ways to total strangers that have had a brush with bear-death (bearth? opposite of birth).
“I can’t imagine being raised by a family who believes something very passionately and you just can’t.”
That’s what I’m going through now, and it certainly does suck.
And a bear sneaking up seems too obvious, so I’m wondering if it’s something else.
I’m kinda disappointed that no one mentioned the impromptu sleeping bag…
Was trying to be subtle with that one.
I do not think the sound they hear is a bear.
I think it is either Nigel or a fellow survivor.
Cake.
would be into a commission or two if you opened them back up, Ethan. where should I hit you up about them?