Seat of Wrath

A group of adventurers uncover an age old evil, an evil that was almost forgotten but is now coming back. In a world where anything can happen, can this ragtag band of heroes rise to the occasion or fall with the world?

Story: There are differing interests all growing in tandem with each other in SoW, and by that I mean there's a great potential for an immersive story with much detail and devlopment as multiple plotlines converge. First, you have your heroes who are in a fix over their heads that just goes from bad to worse, as both external and internal forces threaten to tear their band apart. We don't yet know really who they are or even why they're together, but they're doing everything they can to survive. At this point, they remain cut off behind enemy lines as the world edges closer to an unseen doom. It feels like the ball is rolling and rolling pretty well for this story, and it just has to pick up more steam before it takes off completely.

Art: The art style is reminiscent of many knight in shining armor adventures, with strong heroes, exotic weapons and fiendish monsters, in a style that resembles both western and korean comics. While some pages skimp on backgrounds for dramatic effect, others have a staggering amount of detail and realism. Characters themselves are all worthy of attention, since even the generic troops have unique suits of armor. Most pages are done in pencil, and others are inked with both solid and hatched shading, but the effect and style is transistent throughout both mediums, and panels are clean and expressive enough to where you could discern much of the plot without even looking at the words.

Conclusion: I enjoyed reading SoW, even though right now I don't really understand all that much about the world or its characters when so much is hinted at. Still, with solid art and what's shaping up to be an engaging storyline, I definitely give this one my recommendation.

I gotta say, Seat of Wrath has perhaps one of the most engaging openings I've read in a long time. This is especially impressive considering that it runs upon a genre of story that is well worn and sparse in terms of new ideas and concepts. SoW really grabs you from the start and really doesn't let go.

The author really does a great job of fleshing out these characters. The tension between the Troll and the Ojmir is very well done. I also enjoyed the Goblin thief becoming the defacto leader after the failed "Bane Hunt". The writer of this comic should really consider submitting something to Blizzard or a fantasy gaming company. I'd love to play this as a RPG of some sort.

The art is hit and miss. Some pages are inked, others are penciled. Some pages even look rushed, so much so that you can't tell what's going on. The flash back that occurred on pages 11 and 12 completely confused me. The orc attack later in the comic was very unclear on some parts. Also it seems as though a completely different artist did the second half of the comic, which simply leads to more confusion.

By the way, I can think of few comics that scream "color me" more than this comic. The line work (when its polished) is really well done. A colorist of some sort would really make this comic shine, and fully compliment the great writing that's attempting to build this world. I'd personally recommend finding a colorist who has a "painter" style instead of a traditional comic colorist. A painted style would make this comic go from mediocre to epic in a blink of an eye!

To wrap things up here, SoW is a well written comic hampered by its neurotic artwork. I understand that the creator is unsure of whether to drop this or start something else because the comic isn't where s/he wants it to be. Here's my advice; Its all about consistency. Whether is updates, your writing, or your art, consistency is key. Anytime you fail at consistency, you have to start all over again.

I know this too well, because MY web comic isn't where I want it to be today because I wasn't consistent in my updates. Now I have to work harder to get to my goal. In the case of SoW, its inconsistent updates AND inconsistent artwork holding the comic back. Thus, they're going to have to work even harder than I do to reach their goal. I don't envy their position, but with such a strong writer at the helm it can be done. They just have to buckle down and do it.

7/10

This is a really nicely done fantasy comic.

There are some minor detractions, like spotty inking - many pages are not inked at all, and just seem far too light and indistinct - but the artwork carries it anyway. Backgrounds are never too complex, but sometimes too simple. The pacing is excellent, and quality never falters.

It all does feel a bit familiar, and there doesn't seem to be anything new here - but what there is, a solid fantasy adventure, is still good. And if you're a fan of this sort of thing, there's a lot to be said for the comfort of familiar characters and storylines.

I do agree with Hanzou that the pages need coloring, because they look like a professional comic that might have come from DC or Marvel twenty years ago, so the lack of color makes it feel incomplete. However, I disagree that a reliable schedule is needed; this is not a syndicated-strip style comic, but more a graphic-novel style comic. Something like this doesn't happen on a regular basis, but in one massive shot... it's a privilege to see it in progress, and I don't expect this sort of comic to be done all at once or on a consistent schedule. Quality this high takes time.

Seat of Wrath scores a couple extra points in my book, because this genre in particular is heavily plagued with bad artwork and simply pathetic storylines... so it's a pleasant surprise to find something that looks professional and reads as good as it looks.

8/10.

Overall

Think there is potential for this to be a fun read. An cast of character that could be interesting. It has that whole fellowship of the ring vibe. The world is based in fantasy so there is a lot of room to grow and exciting stories to tell.

The main thing holding it back is the art. Not saying that the art is bad. The characters are well done. But comics are about telling a story first and I was totally lost after page 10. The crazy helmet guy? What was that all about?

Story

Not much of a story yet. Basically a group of hunters that took a job to big for them and they stumble from one thing to another. It gives the story an exciting start, but I am not really sure where it is going. Maybe it is a simple adventure story, one mishap after another, in which case it works great.

Art

Characters are really nice, anatomy and what not. The environment is what is missing for me. I never really sure 'where' they are. Once they opened the door on page 10, I was lost and stayed lost until the bird attacked the orc. I admit that I didn't try really hard to figure out what is going on.

Another issue with some of the earlier pages was that the line art was so faint, that my eye would focus on the word balloons and not the art. I think that last few pages, the art had a little 'thicker' line.

Closing

The artwork would be good enough if the story was taking place in the real world and normal people. But since this is a fantasy story, you have to create the world for us. That is a lot more work you need with environments. It is also really hard to draw a spell/magic.

Overall:

Very enjoyable. I love fantasy themes, and you've put a very interesting and engaging spin and style to this one.

Story

Praise:

The story moves at a very nice pace. I think the characters are very believable.
I think this is a good comic, but it could be great if it were colored, and if the artist practiced anatomy more (particularly the faces).

Art

Criticism: Your penciled pages are great, but I wonder if you've considered inking them? I would recommend using a Windsor & Newton brush, #2, and a Hunt #102 quill pen. Your pencils are perfect for that. It takes some practice, but I think each page will really shine.

Praise:

You are very good at setting up a believable environment and sticking to it.

Great understanding of anatomy.

Fantastic choice of "camera" angles, it really keeps things interesting.

You characters all have very readable and unique expressions. You can easily see what they are thinking before even reading the words.

Your concept art of the man with the sword is fantastic, easily your most powerful piece on here. The composition is very interesting, and the pose is very cool - it's believable and suspenseful (it looks as if he's seconds away from springing into the air and adding you to his pile).




Lettering

Criticism: I think the font and text boxes looks a little computerized, and doesn't mesh well with your awesome hand-drawn artwork. Perhaps a box with rounded corners?

And if you're not going to ink your pages, maybe you could tone down the black in the text to help it mesh better with the art?

Conclusion
Keep doing what you're doing. I think the only suggestion is how far you want to take this. I think to really make an impact, it will probably have to be in color, and all pages should be inked. But that takes a lot of time, and I understand most artists have little of it!

8/10

Woooow! I love it ^^

Beyond just that statement think I will put this in the form most people are!

Artwork: For me, A comics artwork is a glimps into the soul of a artist. I really enjoyed the artwork, the qaulity was really high and well sustained. The characters where well designed and kept to there seeming roles in the cast. My favorite was your wolfie scout, his artwork in the beginning and implementation into the story was flawless.

Story: It was a bit confusing at times, but I should not be one to point that out since that would be hiporitic of myself hihih.
Everything was well thought out and seemed to stream and flow. Characters interacted within there own niches easily. It ligned up the sequences well and flowed. I like that most characters got a even amount of focus except for the dead ones.

Lettering:

I enjoyed the lettering and at no time was it illegible, It went with the feel of the story.

Overall:

I will deffinetly keep reading which is not something I say often since I spent 6 to seven hours on my comic a day and have time for little else ^^


Score: A lovely experience!

Story:
The storyline has promise. The mix of characters should lead to some interesting interactions in the future - the issue I'm having right now is that none of the characters have had a chance to be fleshed out (except Blice, and only sort of). Page after page of battling monsters we know nothing about gets dull after a while. I'm not saying the story isn't good - it's definitely well-written... but I'm just not engaged yet. I have no vested interest in the characters, and I don't get the impression that the author does, either.

Art:
The characters look phenomenal! Action scenes are well done, and the layouts look nice. When it's polished, the inking looks top-notch; however, the inconsistency is a bit distracting, so I'd say pick one avenue and go with it. When they exist, the backgrounds look amazing - but there are entirely too many background-less panels that make the comic look empty. Amazingly drawn characters can only carry the art so far - there has to be more to draw the eye.

Again, I have to stress the pile of potential here. I personally won't be sticking around to watch this develop, but that's mostly due to the lack of consistant updates. If you're not dedicated to the comic, why should I be?

I must say, this was quite enjoyable, and I'm not really into the fantasy genre in general. The artwork is quite well done, especially when it's inked, and the story makes sense as it goes along. The characters are different enough to tell them apart (though I sort of wished that list of characters came sooner rather than added in later during the comic; I'd organize it so that page came much sooner so I can get whose name is who and what they are).

Whoever said consistency totally had it dead on. Things aren't consistent from page to page, from pencil/ink to image size to background/blank space. My biggest complaint was actually the page sizes. When they're smaller, I can't get all the details and I can't read the comic itself as well. I think if you practice keeping the pages at consistence sizes (say, 700 pixels across?), it'd be much easier to read and we'd get the full enjoyment of the art.

You gotta ink this. The pencil work is tight and works well, but maaan, the inking. I love that inking, especially the black spotting on the pages. My one recommendation for the inking would be to have thicker/thinner lines on certain things and characters to make them pop or recede. Sometimes it's difficult to see who's where since the outlines are one line width. Making one bolder will bring them up closer and really bring out the page.

If I were you, I'd avoid using blank panels. Use your backgrounds. The reason I say this is because this story is quite a bit about the setting, like when they're in that castle-thing. The setting really drives the story, and blank panels will lose readers story-wise.

Overall, it's really quite a well made comic. The consistency thing was the only thing that really dragged me out of the work. Otherwise, it's a very well made comic and quite involving. It makes me want to see who is who and how each character acts. I'd say keep going with it, just have a more developed system of how you do things.

Ah, now here's a comic right up my alley as a fantasy writer. Only 21 pages, unfortunately, so not a HUGE amount to go through just yet, but enough to whet the appetite.

Artwork

As said by one of the other reviewers, INK this puppy. The pencils are good, but the inks make it pop. One thing I like right off the bat... you don't use stereotypical characters. This is probably one of VERY few comics I can think of off the top of my head with a character that's overweight, and excessively so, without that being a comical joke for the character. The cleric is fat, and it hinders him... and judging by some of the flashbacks he's already had, he has every right to drown his fears in food.

Your body architecture works well, nothing looks too stiff and all the muscles are in the right places. Out of curiosity, however, why do some people have irises and some do not? I mean, as long as it's used consistently throughout, it'll be fine... just an odd touch I picked up on.

Also, as someone else mentioned... pick one size and stick with it. Make every comic scaled to the same size. When I have to scroll left and right to see all the comic when my resolution's set for 1024x768 (ok, admittedly I don't use the biggest resolution around, but come on, I'm a writer, not an artist, that's plenty big for me), it tends to annoy me.

Writing

So far, a solid piece. A nice touch is the dog humanoid that speaks via sign language. It's hard to really get into the meat of the writing in just 21 pages though, beyond that so far, it's a solid read.

As a side note, I had to re-read the page or two where the cleric was having his flashback a few times to really get it down that THAT particular scene wasn't happening right then and there. Not sure how you'd show that that is a flashback, unfortunately, but there ya go.

Overall

Going to add this one to my watch list.

Well thank you to everyone that reviewed this. I appreciate that more than you know. You guys give me the desire to carry on. Unfortunately though it might not be with this title. My writer has called it quits for now, and the friend that did ink a couple of pages is too busy to do anymore than that. Honestly I don't know what to do with it if anything. I do have something I am working on which is fantasy, but first I need to figure out what needs to be done. Most of you have stated that you wanted it inked, which isn't my strong point, so I need to work on that. Plus I might try to color it as well, but I have really never done that, so practice is called for that as well. But all the reviews and views of the comic has really made me want to do this again. Thank you everyone for reading.