Detectives Haworth and Steiner return. I love Caroline Belmont playing the sarcastic, femme-fatale and a foil to Steiner in this strip. I also thought the second panel was the most Al Williamson-esque thing I’ve done to date, so obviously was pretty pleased with how it turned out.
- JEP
The second panel is beautiful Jay. Beautiful.
I love Steiner’s comb over. Your attention to detail is fabulous!
Such talent! You magnificent bastard! You give the genre a legitimacy not seen since Melvin Van Peeples!
Jay … the asides like “they all looked alike” are a great layer to what you do. Propers. You leave us waiting on the “favor” — and it’s interesting that the second time we see Pastor deal in his stock-in-trade, it’s not calling in one that he’s owed, but simply asking for one.
Crap … just remembered it’s her asking for the favor, not the other way around. Need … more … coffee.
The wood? paneling, and circular floor pattern, just priceless. Plus I love your drawings perspective in the last frame where she’s answering the detective looking up. Beautiful work Jay!
Mrs. Thor-
Thanks! Steiner’s such a jerk, that I want to make him as unkempt and ridiculous as possible to get back at him for being so belligerent and hostile.
- JEP
Jay Kelley-
A Patton reference and a Sweetback reference in the same comment? That’s two great tastes that taste great together! I’ll try not to let it go to my head, because I also remember the line at the end of Patton, where in the voiceover he reminds us that “All glory is fleeting.”
- JEP
Doug G.-
I haven’t forgotten about Caroline’s favor. It will come into play in The Thrill-Seeker’s denouement. (Actually, it doesn’t, I just wanted an excuse to throw out the word, “denouement.” Now I can throw away that page from my Word-A-Day desk calendar.)
- JEP
Jessica-
Thanks! I loved that panel, too. Most of the time, after I post a new strip, I have to wince and squint for a while before I stop seeing the problems with it. The second panel is one of the very, very rare occurrences when I liked the drawing immediately and could look at it all day, probably because I was finally able to capture some of the fine line technique and spontaneity of Al Williamson’s work.
(I tried to mention this in my response to Tracy’s comment below, but WordPress ate my post, dammit! I ain’t igoring you, Tracy. Look up here!)
- JEP
Dude im a fan…this is some solid writing and beautiful angles.
Mrs. Thor-
Also, if you look closely, you can see the hint of a pair of granny specs on Steiner as he leafs through his notes. That was my favorite touch.
- JEP
Man, this is some of the best art out there. I’m salivating here.
Found your site yesterday while looking for SC web comic artists .. WOW! I went through the entire series today and am really blown away by your artistry. There are so many details, I know I’ll need to read through again and again to catch them all.
Radi the Great-
Thanks, Radi. (I swear, my readers have the best handles!)
- JEP
George-
You’re too kind, sir. Thanks!
-JEP
AA-
Thanks, AA. I’m hypercritical of my own work, but recently I re-read the whole thing, and I actually surprised myself with how well it held together. I may tweak a couple lines of dialogue for the eventual collection, but I’m really glad with how WORLD OF HURT has turned out so far, and I’m really thankful that others have been pleased with it.
Are you a South Carolina artist, too? I’m not sure if you’ve been to his site already, but John Aston over at OldeTowneComix.com, also has a great Blaxploitation-themed webcomic called Rachel Rage.
- JEP
Amazing level of skill in the artwork here. Who says webcomics can’t be masterpieces?
Beautiful job, Jay.
Once again, you are showing some great storytelling and pacing here. And I agree, that last panel brings it all together in a very nice Al Williamson touch.
Bravo, man.
Another artist you are starting to remind me of is Leonard Starr. Check out his “Mary Perkins on Stage” strip and see a Master Craftsman at work.
Cant wait to see what Pastor’s next move is.
Mr. Patton-
Thank you so much, sir. I’m holding Volume 5 of Mary Perkins On Stage in my hot little hands, right now. The reproduction in those compilations by Classic Comics Press is just beautiful and crisp.
-JEP
Doug beat me to it, but… “They all looked alike.” Classic!
Sure thing! Hypercritical / attention to detail .. whatever it is, it just works.
I’m not in SC anymore, but try to stay involved with the community. Actually, I sent you an email about a convention I’m volunteering for; it may have come across as spammy, but I’d really like to talk to you about being a speaker if you’re so inclined.
Thanks for the tip about John Aston! I’ll definitely check out his work.
HAHAHA! i love it! that look on her face says it all. DEAD AT THAT! LOL the angle on the second panel is nice too
A’Omare-
Thanks! Once I finished penciling the face, I knew I had it. That rarely happens, so I was glad I could capture that in the inks.
- JEP