Comic #973: Super Soaker (Patreon)

This was one of those comics that came to me instantly. I was thinking back to #964, and about how I liked the simplicity of it, and wished I could focus just on one role, like the tank. I thought of an ideal archetype of a tank who only cared about his group members and soaking up all possible damage.

I thought about him saying a version of "Don't worry friends, I am the tank, I take ALL the damage!" And instantly I pictured him looking down at Donald sitting in a patch of fire and someone apologizing for him.

I ended up using the Paladin from previous comics, "Pal", instead of a guild tank. I felt like Nyte explaining Donald do the tank made it funnier, and that wouldn't work if the tank was a guild member.

As I started making the comic I tried to over-perfect the dialogue more and more, and eventually I had the tank saying the following: "Fear not, brethren, no harm shall befall you while I draw breath, for I am your tank!" I realized just as I was making this post, that simpler was better. I need him to just say he's the tank, and nobody was going to take damage on his watch, and nothing more. The thematic language was cute, but ultimately I felt like it took away from the joke.

I also realized late that the 2nd to last panel really needed the tank to shine (literally), to help sell that final panel. Originally the background in that panel was the same as all the others. So I put in rays of light, as well as Gigz and Nyte's dialogue showing they are in awe.