Vol 2 Wrap Up/Cover/Q&A (Patreon)

The Wrap Up!

Being at the end, it feels… odd, to be honest. It’s been a weird few months and it hasn’t really hit me yet I’ve crossed the finish line on this chapter. I know I had a lot to say, random notes I made while I worked, but now I’m just left with the broad, lingering impressions.

If pressed with what I’m happiest about, it’s how Red evolved. I knew going in he wasn’t going to die, largely because most people would expect him to die, but I had no sense of him as a character when I started. His relationship with Swift was a surprise to me as it unfolded, gentle and calm, something for Swift’s brashness to play against. He is one of the things I’m really excited about for Volume Three. That and-- well, you'll see in the epilogue shortly.

While Volume Three feels like wide-open territory, much of Volume Two was been rattling around in my head for a long, long time. The scene with the raven eating Seral, for instance, lived rent free for years, well before the first volume was even finished. Honestly, It can be mentally taxing to carry things around in your head for so long. There’s real catharsis to have finally gotten here, to see these scenes on the page rather than just in my mind. Overall, I’m satisfied with my effort but I’m glad it’s over, and I’m looking forward to the next thing — which is the artist process in a nutshell, hah.

It’s hard, being alive, creating. I think as far as a ‘fursona’ or representation of myself, choosing a coyote twenty something years ago ended up being the right pick. I often feel like I’m just screaming into the void—but that’s what coyotes are made for, in my humble opinion. One long laugh in the face of the abyss, ever onward.

But then someone might leave a casual comment, along the lines of ‘hey stranger, this character/this part/this story affected me,’ and on that particular day, it might bring me to tears. I’ll get overwhelmed by that feeling of being seen, of someone hearing me in the dark. It’s a simple connection but it’s good. It’s grounding; I feel incrementally further back from that abyss’ edge.

I know this story is odd and niche and I see all the flaws (usually, I only see the flaws.) It’s some reflection of myself, I suppose, if we’re being terribly analytical and I’m up my own ass about it— but yeah. I keep making art because somewhere out in the dark, people keep reading and connecting to it.

So… thank you for being here. I’m glad we found one another, for however long or short that is.

The Cover!

Here is the (nearly) finished cover for Volume Two! There are a few things I’ll keep picking at over the next few weeks but overall, I’m pretty happy. I ended up changing Swift’s pose from the original concept— she started to feel really static and it was becoming a struggle-fest. I couldn’t escape this uncanny valley vibe like the box art from old Disney VHS, where none of the characters look on model. So, I re-drew her and started a few things from scratch, and I got there in the end.

Q&A!

If you have any questions about whatever—the comic, the future, the price of weather—drop them in the comments (or send me a message if you want to remain anonymous when I post answers.) I’ll answer the ones I can and post 'em before the end of the month!

KickStarter!

Still happening, details still coming very soon! I have have some ancillary artwork for the launch to finish and one price quote I’m waiting on before I work out my final numbers.