Page 109: Orders
Tuesday, December 4th, 2007The first sequel graphic novel, tentatively titled Last Blood: The First Zombie, will feature flashbacks that tell the story of Francis and Sullivan — how they became friends as children, how they built the tunnel for protection against vampires, how they went off to war together, and exactly why they both became the thing they hated and then the most powerful beings on Earth.
The first page of the second GN will hopefully be up by the end of the month. Prior to that, and after this first GN ends with Page 112 in a matter of days, I’m going to be working hard to write the Last Blood screenplay. I’m considering posting some script pages as updates in that time. I won’t post every page, but I’d highlight new scenes that weren’t in the comic and scenes that were significantly altered. Post in the comments if you’d be interested in reading those.
And just to let you know, when Sullivan says “save you” he means all the remaining humans (and vampires), not Math specifically. In the film you’d see that he’s telling this to all the humans gathered around (and Devian listening in from overhead). That line will probably change anyway, though. Not happy with it.
CLICK HERE to see my mouse drawn MS Paint sketch of this page!
December 4th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Lookin good as always, pity this is coming to an end soon.
December 4th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
That artwork rules!
December 5th, 2007 at 12:02 am
woo, 3rd place. Awesome page
December 5th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Really looking forward to the next few pages. Good job and keep up the good work, guys!
December 5th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Wow, I’m really curious aobut that whole story with Sullivan and Francis;> did they destroy world because of a girl?;>
December 5th, 2007 at 12:03 am
a little part of me wanted Sullivan Davis to say, “I’m Sullivan Fucking Davis!”
December 5th, 2007 at 12:04 am
Love the first panel, the back of Sully’s right arm/hand especially.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:08 am
Or:
“I was once Sullivan Davis”.
Might be a little too cliche, though.
“Swords are on the right flank”? Does he mean the zombies on the right have extra swords, and for the vampires to get some, or that some swords have been stashed off to the right? And I presume he means “lead *the people* to the pond, where supplies are waiting… For a second there, I thought he meant for them to lead the zombies there for some reason.
Doc.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:09 am
SWEET
He looks awesome in panel 3 i think.
Eee he he this feels so fast paced, i love how Owen always makes things feel moving even though they’re still on the page.
Mad props Owen and Bobby both, and it takes a lot to make me say something like “mad props”.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:10 am
One word for the creators!
AWESOME!
December 5th, 2007 at 12:27 am
Second that awesome, Dam this is getting good
December 5th, 2007 at 12:34 am
Dude, Anko hasn’t posted yet?
W00h00! I post! =3
Sullivan Davis is still my hero and I want that on a frakkin’ t-shirt. Owen, Bobby, mind if I do so?
=D
December 5th, 2007 at 12:36 am
Every page makes me more sad that it’s ending soon.
Oh well, there’ll be the sequels, and yeah Bobby i’d be really interested in seeing bits of the screenplay. I’m kinda hoping to write one for a story i’m working on, and it’d be neat to see yours.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:42 am
…Whoa. Dun’t comment often, and generally only when there’s something significant to say.
So understand how much I mean this.
Sullivan Davis is freaking AWESOME.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:50 am
It’s always freaking awesome when the saviour has gone through hell to save the day.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:58 am
I want to make sure you don’t misinterpret this post so let me start by saying that Last Blood is absolutely fantastic, and that I can’t wait to see the final panels, and that I’m sad it’s ending but glad there will be sequels.
That being said, well intended criticism can be a wonderful artistic tool, and for the sake of the screenplay I have some to offer you regarding the plot. I feel like the ending that seems to be coming is a little bit too much of a deus ex machina to be effective onscreen. Sullivan Davis is clearly a badass, but I think you have him showing up just a little bit too late in the storyline, after things have gotten just a little bit too bleak. It’s clear by now that if he hadn’t shown up then it was all over. By not having his zombie cavalry show up to save the day until after there was no other hope remaining, I feel it weakens the impact of the other characters, and particularly their moments of heroism. There were several moments where various characters did awesome things, made tremendous sacrifices, or were just generally badass. I kind of feel like those heroic moments were wasted, though, because despite it all, they still failed. The characters we’ve been following throughout the story failed. Then Sullivan Davis showed up and saved the day… but it just doesn’t feel like as strong of an ending as it could have been.
Of course I realize you have three more pages coming, and of course it’s possible that you have something planned for those pages that will negate all my concerns, but at least at the moment this is how I feel. I’d be curious to see if other people agree or not.
In any case, thank you so much for this fantastic story, I can’t wait to see how it ends. Keep up the great work!
December 5th, 2007 at 1:00 am
Panel 3 is the coolest shot ever.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:12 am
Tai: First, I see no problem with any of that. (I see many problems with other things in the story, which the screenplay will change, but I don’t see any problems at all with the timing of Sullivan’s arrival on the scene.) Second, I see no way of changing it without changing basically everything in the story for the worse. Can you think of any way to fix this problem that you have with the story? Also, I automatically disregard anything that anyone who uses the term “deus ex machina” says, just to let you know.
“I kind of feel like those heroic moments were wasted, though, because despite it all, they still failed.”
I don’t understand that. They bought time until Sullivan arrived. Without their heroics Sullivan would have been too late and everyone would have died.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:43 am
the second gn is going to help alot of people who didn’t have the comments to read understand who sullivan davis is and how the sheamiac works. (god i know i didn’t spell that right) i’m glad i found this here first and got to read it with all the extra from bobby. thanks again bobby for all the inside info. aslo yeah panel three most amazingly badass moment of all.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:53 am
cool!
December 5th, 2007 at 1:56 am
Gotta agree with Tai on this one–it doesn’t really work. What you’ve done here is the very definition of “deux ex machina,” but if that term is too literary for you, let’s put it this way: by introducing this 11th hour, previously unencountered Saviour of the World, you lose a great deal of narrative potency. It helps that you refer to the guy earlier in the story, but it doesn’t quite make up for what amounts to a cop-out.
As for the heroic moments being wasted, I see your point, but the fact is that the emotional payoff of the survival of all these characters goes flat when it happens like this. As for making the story worse, well . . . with all these family connections, nick-of-time rescues, improbable meetings, and generation-gap look-alikes, the story is already riddled with the kind of coincidence-fueled sloppiness that makes discerning movie-goers–and readers–shudder.
I love the world you’ve created here, but a little revamping–no pun intended–could be the difference between a great movie and a mediocre blanditude–or worse, a screenplay that never gets produced.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:57 am
I agree with what Tai says, frankly…and I think you’re being a little too defensive. He’s not attacking you, and is, if anything, giving you very sound advice. Also, disregarding someone’s opinion because of the literary term deus ex machina (which is exactly the manner of conflict resolution you chose, whether you like it or not) is rather childish…
Anyway, been a fan of the comic for a while, but give thought to what Tai says…viewers (and readers, too) can often feel cheated when authors/creators employ those types of other worldly, almost impossibly convenient conclusions, and it often gives the impression of the author having written him or herself into a corner.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:23 am
Gotta agree with Tai either, thats exactly what I was afraid of on my last words on page 104.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:25 am
“It helps that you refer to the guy earlier in the story, but it doesn’t quite make up for what amounts to a cop-out.”
It’s not in any way a cop-out, and he’s referred to a million times, and another schaemiac is referred to twice, the one in Bulgaria, which gives us that hint of the fact that it’s possible there could be another one, and this explains the 3,000 zombies that Math mentioned to Addison earlier. It all fits in a cool way. I could go on for ages about this, but it’s pointless. The only people who would say this is a “deux ex machina” are people who are trying as hard as they can to find anything to criticize. People said the same thing about the tornado earlier, even though the tornado was COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY TO ANYTHING IN THE STORY. It’s quite humorous and also a bit disgusting when people use terms like that without having any clue what they mean.
Again, someone please tell me how you would improve it. Are you saying to remove Sullivan completely? That sure would make for a boring ending and it would ruin about a trillion aspects of the story and of the sequels/prequels, basically eliminating most of those stories. Morons throughout history have often complained about many great stories/films being filled with cases of “deux ex machina.” Search for “Lord of the Rings” and “deus ex machina” on Google and you’ll find 32,800 results. Boy, if only Tolkien removed all those cool, interesting parts, it sure would have been a great book that could have been a great series of films!
“could be the difference between a great movie and a mediocre blanditude–or worse, a screenplay that never gets produced.”
There is zero chance of it not being produced, since I’ll be making it myself in a worst case scenario.
And about deus ex machina in general: That’s what’s REAL, that’s how things REALLY HAPPEN in real life. CRAZY SHIT happens at the most opportune moments to save people all the time, and those are usually the most interesting, best stories, the ones they make movies based on. The fact that it’s so improbable is what makes many of these real life stories throughout history so exciting, so compelling. If everything always happened exactly as expected, we never would have heard of many of history’s greatest figures. Anyway, if you want to write a really boring movie, be sure to leave out all the cool coincidences and anything that at all seems out of the ordinary or out of left field.
Any more comments from Alex or GrandpaMasaki that talk about me personally instead of the comic will result in a ban.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:43 am
YAY 25th post! Sullivan is hot in a zombish kinda way.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:49 am
Personally I think if the Bulgarian Schaemiac had been the one to show up guns blazing it would smell a little of D.E.M. but Sullivan doesn’t. Sullivan has been mentioned right from chapter one, for most of the plot he was the probable villain. If I hadn’t been spoiling myself with the comments I would have been surprised by his entrance but I would remember clues, D.E.M’s don’t lead with clues.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:49 am
as a 26 or maybe a 30th post if such people are sooo lonely and pathetic that they have to cling on this webstite…. Having sullivan come into the scene is AMAZING. How many times in a movie have you seen two zombie groups go at it? FRIGGIN NEVER YOU JACKHOLES! Let them write the story as they see fit, have you not gotten the hint that everything that you think you has already been planned out by the developers? You’re not smarter then everyone, leave it be! These guys are doing an awesome job. I couldnt ask for better bieng the zombie vampire freak that i am! GET A LIFE!
December 5th, 2007 at 2:50 am
I know he has more important things to do first, but Im really pining for the moment Sully and April first talk {:)
December 5th, 2007 at 2:52 am
And to put it secondly, if you jackholes decided to critisize my job, id smack you all into sunday! These two are making this comic from the love of their hearts! Who do you think you are to critisize it! Do you have any Spectacular talent to make something as impressive as this? if you do, i would gladly add you to my favrorites, untill that point dont critisize, just love!
December 5th, 2007 at 2:53 am
Sorry, Bobby, I’ve got to stand by my opinion on this one. I haven’t seen a deus ex machina like this since Aristophanes, and at least those were supposed to be funny. I’m afraid I do know the term means–quite well, actually, and I also am aware of the “million” references to Sullivan. You should consider whether or not the ending fits in as cool a way as you think it does. (And nobody said Tolkien was perfect!)
“Any more comments from Alex or GrandpaMasaki that talk about me personally instead of the comic will result in a ban.”
Now that’s just silly. Not one thing in my previous post is personal. Nobody’s trying to start a flame war here–I just have some genuine criticism for you, the sort of thing that I, as an author myself, value very highly. Like I said, I love this world–it’s one of the more original sci-fi universes I’ve seen in some time. I also think it’d make a great movie, but there’s nothing I hate more than a sloppy narrative or thoughtless character development, both of which have reared their ugly heads more than once in this comic series.
As a writer, you should relish the opportunity to get a fresh perspective on your story and characters. If you want to talk about Tolkien, then I think it’s worth noting that the Inklings were known to be some of the harshest literary critics around–C. S. Lewis told J.R.R. to throw the whole thing out more than once, J.R.R. took it like a man, and the two were friends until the day they died. Nobody’s persecuting you here, so keep it civil.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:54 am
Waou!!! FOUR PAGES TO GO!!! Anyway thanks fot the comic Owen and Bobby, it is symply an awesome compilation of graphic and narrative awesomeness.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:57 am
This is an awsome comic, and I will sure as heck be splurging the money to get this on DvD assuming it comes out in that format and not in blueray or HD….. Anywhos, on the topics above, it really isnt “Deux ex Machina” as Crosby stated, there have been multiple suggestions of this occuring, even when the humans assume that Francis is Sullivan, and he says something like, ” Even now the bugger outshines me”, suggesting he shall do so yet again.
Cherio!
December 5th, 2007 at 3:00 am
I am not an english speaker and I didn’t understand what Sullivan meant with “double back”. Is it “return here”?
December 5th, 2007 at 3:06 am
Francis died too easily. Something that wiped out the entire population of Earth (minus one small town in middle America) deserves at more than 3 pages and a stake to the heart.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:08 am
Double back means go back to where you were before. In this situation, the schoolhouse abd surrounding buildings.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:08 am
KiZeR, everything is “Mortal” in the end, nothing is superior in the end. A zombie will die just as easily as a human, and a vampire will too, given you know how to kill the vampire.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:10 am
Obviously Alex has been banned for spending most of his last post talking about me personally and telling me what to do about a trillion times and implying that I wasn’t being civil somehow instead of just talking about the fucking comic. I’m also pretty sure he’s been banned at least once before — I know I’ve banned multiple people named Alex in the past.
It’s also telling that he of course failed to answer my repeated question of how he would re-write it to improve it, even though he likes to call himself an author.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:11 am
I hope you dont plan on banning anyone named bronwhyn bobby
December 5th, 2007 at 3:12 am
In my opinion, this comic jumped the shark when Addison Payne died.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:13 am
I’ve banned so many people from these comments that it wouldn’t surprise me if I had banned a Bronwhyn before, even though that name isn’t quite as common as Alex.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:14 am
Honestly what did addison payne do? except give everyone a special name to call him by? i mean Addison fucking payne! we still dont know what was in his case that he had cuffed to him. now since his demise he isnt anything special, not like the human April, or the vamp Matheson. Hell, Val had more sway then what payne did.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:15 am
thank god for the uncommon name!
December 5th, 2007 at 3:21 am
“Honestly what did addison payne do?”
Addison’s death was the last gasp of human-vampire resistance. From her on out its good controlled zombies vs. evil zombies. I miss the comic that was about vampires vs. zombies, and the concept of humans living in a world where they have little choice but being vampire cattle or a fate worse than death.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:22 am
I’d just like to take a moment to say that “Revamping” would make a *great* title for a sequel.
Clearly it’ll have to involve a “cured” human being re-turned.
And Bob, I have to agree. They’ve *spoken* of Sullivan, and at the penultimate climax, clearly thought Francis was Sully, but there’s been no other indications. As already said, he’s an 11th hour out-of-left-fielder, and if shown in the movie as depicted here, will *very* much strike thge average viewer as a deus ex machina. There simply hasn’t been enough buildup.
Everybody thinks TFZ is Sully for 4/5th of the movie/story, find out he’s not, kill him, and run away straight into the arms of their heretofore unseen savior, who turns out to be the real Sullivan.
No, I’m not a good enough writer to say how it should be improved. I may not have been able to write “Matrix: Revolutions” but I could still tell that it sucked.
For a movie, you might only need some ominous “armies of zombies converging” scenes, perhaps with shadowed, flickering glimpses of Sully (his dogtags glinting) and quick frames showing the zombies carrying the machine guns. Do that three or four times- as a sort of cutscene, perhaps- with one shortly before Francis appears, then, to add a bit of confusion to the moment, shortly *after* we finally see Francis.
That would add some buildup- the menace of the *armed* zombies- and a bit of last-minute confusion, as the viewer had ben led to believe that Sully was Francis a little more directly than simply referring to sixty-year-old tunnels and a few basketball scores.
Also, how about having that post-Francis-reveal scene to be Sully (or the shadowy, poorly-lit shape that will eventually become him when the moon finally clears some clouds) reacting to Addison’s death?
TFZ’s smell blood; live, untortured zombies still have some blood and can be smelled by the TFZs, so it stands to reason that the white heat of the staking should be a noticible and distinctive smell to them.
Have the reaction a sudden shift of the head in a “what was that?” motion- Sully’s vampire eye starts to glow a low red, the line of zombies behind him raise their machine guns with a stereotypical “clickety-click-clack” cocking foley, and start to run. (Or start running again.)
Just some ideas, for what they’re worth. It’s a great comic, I’ve already “bought” ther Wowio and plan to get the paper versions. But I think it’ll need a little work as a screenplay.
Doc.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:25 am
I’ve never posted in the comments before, but I’ve been spurred to by this bickering I’m being forced to watch. I love the comic, and I respect whatever Mr. Crosby does with it. It’s his creation – he has final say. But what I’m seeing here is a complete breakdown of the author/fan relationship. While Alex was being quite frank and a bit abrasive, his points were totally valid. I saw him doing nothing but trying to give constructive criticism and help to improve the comic from an author and fans prospective. He wasn’t belligerent, harassing, un-civil or controlling. For him to be banned over this makes me lose a little faith in Bobby, who seems to have been dealing with these things fairly well up until now (the backlash in http://www.lastblood.net/main/2007/12/04/page-109-orders/#comment-12053 was just over the top). All I know is that if I have any criticisms that could potentially help the comic…I’m staying quiet for fear of the ban-stick. I’m sorry my first post here had to be so negative, but I feel that it had to be said.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:25 am
And wait a minute, Tai’s main criticism makes no sense at all, I somehow just realized!
“It’s clear by now that if he hadn’t shown up then it was all over.”
This is COMPLETELY FALSE. You think vampires can’t outrun zombies? The story clearly sets up that there are hardly ANY zombies to the West of the school, other than the 3,000, and that the millions of zombies are coming from the East. The humans and vamps escaped from the school after killing Francis and are now running away from the millions. “Big Black” himself could probably carry five humans and still out run any zombies. The only reason it SEEMED bleak and hopeless is because we saw the 3,000 zombies (the good ones!) that made it so the humans (and vamps) were surrounded. But they were not surrounded by the enemy — they still only had the enemy to one side, an enemy which they can obviously outrun and get away from. So no, they did not need Sullivan at all in order to survive this. Jeez.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:27 am
There was never any choice about the humans bieng vampire cattle. There were 6 billion Zombies, and only a handful of vampires, The vamps could not have killed everyone of the zombies, Matheson even said that they need rest, not as frequent as a human but still, they needed rest, they would not have been able to keep going to kill them all. As i said before, what did Addison payne do? To the vampires he was this “GURU” but to the humans he was nothing. Matheson was the liason with the humans, they would trust him more then Addison. And now since the intro of Sullivan and His zombie horde They may have only had to face at best odds 3 billion zombies, we’re still not sure what sullivans about. he may want the world to himself with out francis interfiing.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:28 am
A question about the movie, I hope it’s pertinent here. I love this comic but I see a risk when it’s put on the screen. There’s been a billion zombie movies; now they’re making fun of themselves, I just watched Shawn of the Dead and it’s simply hilariously perfect.
The question is not, will you make a perfect movie. The question is, and I ask it with all the respect and admiration for your work: doesn’t the movie risk to be too… How to put it, “self-serious”?
December 5th, 2007 at 3:32 am
Wow, so he definitely has to give the zombies FULL undivided attention in order to do specific commands. Great work Bobby and Owen! Answers are being revealed very nicely.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:38 am
Bron, I’m saying it was better before it was revealed that all the zombies were unified and controlled by one consciousness that wanted to kill vampires. 6 billion mindless, disorganized zombies versus a few vampires, protecting the last sources of fresh blood on the planet. Evil vampires forced to be protectors, heroes of humanity, for their own survival. Humans realizing how precious they are to the vampires and the power struggles that would develop from such a situation. If you ask me, that would be an interesting story. Excuse me while I write it.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:44 am
God I hate how WOWIO is for US only. There are a lot of us Canadians (and I’m sure a lot of others from other countries too) that would really like the download. Oh well. Keep up the awsome work, and the screenplay thing sounds great.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:53 am
So…this is going to be over soon…? NOOOOOOoooo.
keepup the goodwork, till the end!
December 5th, 2007 at 4:05 am
What I find most funny about alot of post on commics these days.. Is how people want to “Improve” other peoples stories. Why cant people who dont like something just go create their own. I never thought of a comment section to be about what “You Would Do”, cause.. well.. You AINT doing it.
Bronwhyn:
A.F.P Thought out everything in advance, Were it not for him, the last humans would already be dead by now and the last vampires dying of hunger.
A.F.P’s background may not be of any direct significance to the people on the school atm ( they got enough to think about ), but everything he’s done for the last 3 weeks have been nothing less that saving human ( and vampire race ).
If Sully wanted dominant control over the world, he wouldnt even need to save them would he? His 3k zommies wouldnt even need to kill the other zommies. TFZ already dead, he have already won then rigth?
December 5th, 2007 at 4:14 am
“Dude, Anko hasn’t posted yet?”
The page came up less than an hour after I left for school, ugh.
“Evil vampires forced to be protectors, heroes of humanity, for their own survival.”
Evil? Who ever said they were evil?
“His 3k zommies wouldnt even need to kill the other zommies. TFZ already dead, he have already won then rigth?”
Not sure exactly what you mean, but Sullivan can’t take over Francis’s zombies. I think Bobby recently hinted there might be a way to do it, just Sullivan doesn’t know how.
December 5th, 2007 at 4:17 am
Mike: Nothing you said made any sense.
“I’ve been spurred to by this bickering I’m being forced to watch.”
Oh, who’s forcing you?
“I saw him doing nothing but trying to give constructive criticism and help to improve the comic from an author and fans prospective. He wasn’t belligerent, harassing, un-civil or controlling.”
You apparently didn’t read his post or my posts. I specifically told him that if he talked about me personally at all instead of about the comic, he’d be banned. What did he choose to do? Chose to call me uncivil for no reason and complain a ton more about ME PERSONALLY, not about the comic. Re-read his posts.
“makes me lose a little faith in Bobby, who seems to have been dealing with these things fairly well up until now”
LOL. You obviously haven’t read many comments pages. I’ve been about a trillion times meaner before.
“All I know is that if I have any criticisms that could potentially help the comic…I’m staying quiet for fear of the ban-stick.”
People are banned for TALKING ABOUT ME PERSONALLY AND WASTING EVERYONE’S TIME, LIKE ALEX DID, never for simply criticizing the comic. In light of this, you choose to talk about me personally for a long comment and waste everyone’s time. Great idea! I’ve banned many people who have had nothing but glowing praise for the comic while at the same time wasting everyone’s time and annoying everyone by whining about things I say in the comments like you just did.
“I’m sorry my first post here had to be so negative, but I feel that it had to be said.”
Yes, you felt like you had to be the 3,000th person in the comments to say that exact same thing. Nice.
“doesn’t the movie risk to be too… How to put it, ’self-serious’?”
Grady’s line at the end of 108 doesn’t seem very self-serious to me.
“What I find most funny about alot of post on commics these days.. Is how people want to ‘Improve’ other peoples stories. Why cant people who dont like something just go create their own.”
The toughest and most important part of writing is thinking of a good idea, a good concept. With a good, original concept, a lot of other aspects of the writing can be shit and a lot of people will still like it, as this story proves. Even the biggest critics seem to love it overall somehow.
December 5th, 2007 at 4:39 am
Hi there (insert longtime shorttime cliche) Just wanted to pop in and say I am absolutely loving this comic. Your strory is suberb, I have been rivited since I found you a couple months back and now regularly stalk your site for the next update. I do try to read all the comments but there are just so many I can’t keep up, so I appologize if you’ve addressed this. I was wondering if the prequel we are about to see will go a little more into the science of how a vampire becomes a TFZ. You’ve mentioned for instance about how if a vampire takes damage during the transition it remains but gets no worse once they reach the 65 year mark… I just feel once this goes public (that is to say in the mass media of movies obviously this website is public) you will have introduced a new take on the vampire legend and am curious how you will interpret it. I am also looking forward to seeing a bit more of the history of SFD. He’s a wonderful character and would love to see perhaps how he fended off the past occurances of TFZ’s.
December 5th, 2007 at 4:43 am
Wow. Look at what just THREE WEEKS did to the entire world!
December 5th, 2007 at 5:05 am
Martha: “Three weeks” means that he emerged from his 65 years three weeks after Sullivan, which was about 10 days ago in the story. It’s been one month and one day now since Francis came out of the ocean.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:07 am
Excellent idea for the next GN – I hope there will also be more details on the first days when the zombie infestation spread around the world: the panic, the nuclear war, etc.
Seeing Sullivan and Francis fighting in the war would be sooooooo cool
And it would also be cool to have a GN about the 12th century Schaemiac, as well.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:09 am
Anyone who claims that Sullivan’s arrival is deus ex machina, should re-read the comic. The clues are scattered throughout the storyline so far. While some questions are unanswered at this point by the comic alone, we can trust that they’ll be explained in time. Bobby hasn’t let us down so far.
The way he reveals the plot is kinda like Lost. They give a little bit a time, enough to still keep you interested, while slowly answering the qu
For those complaining about Alex’s banning:
He ignored Bobby’s warning:
————
“Any more comments from Alex or GrandpaMasaki that talk about me personally instead of the comic will result in a ban.â€
Now that’s just silly. Not one thing in my previous post is personal. Nobody’s trying to start a flame war here–I just have some genuine criticism for you, the sort of thing that I, as an author myself, value very highly. Like I said, I love this world–it’s one of the more original sci-fi universes I’ve seen in some time. I also think it’d make a great movie, but there’s nothing I hate more than a sloppy narrative or thoughtless character development, both of which have reared their ugly heads more than once in this comic series.
As a writer, you should relish the opportunity to get a fresh perspective on your story and characters. If you want to talk about Tolkien, then I think it’s worth noting that the Inklings were known to be some of the harshest literary critics around–C. S. Lewis told J.R.R. to throw the whole thing out more than once, J.R.R. took it like a man, and the two were friends until the day they died. Nobody’s persecuting you here, so keep it civil.
—–
As a writer, I have to agree with Bobby and Narfen. There are few things that are more irritating than having someone tear apart your history while claiming they’re trying to help you improve it. If a writer wants help, they’ll ask for it. Bobby’s concept is awesome! I can’t say I blame him for banning any flamers like Alex.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:11 am
“And it would also be cool to have a GN about the 12th century Schaemiac, as well.”
The next GN is also about that person, as Addison’s last words hinted at.
“I hope there will also be more details on the first days when the zombie infestation spread around the world: the panic, the nuclear war, etc.”
Practically none of that in the next GN, but I plan to do an entire GN about that topic alone at some point, probably the fourth one.
Amy: Don’t know why some of your post seemed to get cut off there in the middle of a sentence — WordPress error apparently. Feel free to re-type that part.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:16 am
Hm… big fan (though only recently), first post, sorry it’s bitchy, etc.
Now that that’s out of the way…
First of all, let me say that I really love the writing (and of course art) of this comic (not to mention Marry Me, which I’ve been reading for much longer), and I do NOT think that Sullivan was DEM. Not only was his appearance hinted at, but there was certainly a build up, which IMO is the opposite of Deus Ex Machina. After all the build-up to Sullivan being TFZ, and the bait-and-switch, I was left curious what happened to Sullivan – there was obviously too much time spent developing that character to have him simply be the bait for a mastermind that proved much less impressive. That expectation for a payoff was fulfilled with his appearance (also, I do not feel like everyone else’s efforts were wasted – when I read that, my first thought was that, as you said, if they hadn’t fought and sacrificed everyone would already be dead and Sullivan’s efforts would really have been useless – I have read stories that had this problem, and they are very unsatisfying; yours does not and is not).
However, being someone that pays a lot of attention to writing, I would like to make a point that Deus Ex Machina is a legitimate concern. It happens when a story reaches a climax and is only resolved with something totally unprecedented and unrelated to what already occurred. Of course people would like to have an unexpected ending, but it is not satisfying if it does not build on the rest of the story. That is, DEM is the same as a non-sequiter between the introduction and conflict and the resolution. People call it a wasted payoff because everything that led up to that point is not followed-up-on, and a cop-out because the author cannot think of a resolution using what they already have, so they bring in something entirely new just to solve the problem at hand.
Once again, I’d like to stress that I do not think this is the case with Last Blood. I don’t even think that it is “coincidence-filled” (this is another thing I payed attention to while reading, and it bothered me at first, after enough information was provided it made more sense – for instance, it seems for a while that the last remaining humans happen to include the granddaughter of people involved in all this mess, but by now it’s clear to me that when TFZ intentionally left one place on Earth with humans, he probably picked his own hometown on purpose).
So why am I taking so long to make this point if I don’t have a problem with Last Blood’s writing? Because it seems like you are quick to completely disregard the idea of Deus Ex Machina as something that should be avoided. I think that a writer shouldn’t simply ignore any kind of writing traps or concerns like that. Your attitude makes it seem like, for all I know, you avoided a DEM ending by chance. You should know what DEM actually is, and why it’s bad, to make sure you don’t do that sort of thing because you’re not looking for it.
For that matter, even if you think that a critic is wrong, what they say shouldn’t be totally disregarded. Even if they are claiming that Sullivan is a non-sequiter, or the vampires were useless, and those claims are obviously wrong you should try to figure out WHY they came to those conclusions. They certainly did so while reading the same comic I did, so it might be because of the writing.
Now, I’m not going to apologize for any offense, because that’s your call, but I do apologize for being extremely wordy. I have a tendency to over-explain for the sake of clarity. And I also apologize for all the compliments I intended to give being kind of back-handed and hidden in that rant.
The truth is, while it’s not the best writing I’ve ever read, story composition-wise, it’s extremely good, and leagues better than some extremely popular mainstream stuff I’ve read.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:16 am
Just a silly and random question. I know that the rest of the world has been wiped out, but is this group really the last group of humans on the entire planet?
I just ask because I’m curious about off-shore oil platforms, small islands that are pretty well isolated, and the one that really makes me wonder if a zombie could even function…Antarctica.
What about the population of the research stations there. Three weeks is nothing for them when it comes to supplies as they stock up for months in anticipation of not getting fresh supply drops due to the weather and the extreme cold makes me wonder if a zombie (dead and having no internal heat…or if they did, not enough to counter the deep freeze) could even function without becoming a zombie-cicle.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:17 am
I’ll probably get banned for this, but I don’t really care. This is the first time I’ve ever commented on a comic, and may be the last.
The Crosbys (both Bobby and Chris) are famous for 2 things. Making awesome comics. And being complete assholes when it comes to taking criticism.
And you know what? They’re completely justified. If I had to deal with even a tiny fraction of the stupidity they wade through on a daily basis, I’d have gone on a shooting spree long ago. So I say ban the critics, ban me, ban everyone. Just keep on making comics, and we’ll all be happy.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:18 am
Keep up the good work Bobby, I really did enjoy this update, really gave Sullivan some more character other then “The big hero”.
By the way I am NOT the Alex you banned, you have however banned me before the past for suggesting a FAQ (Think you were in a angry mode) at the time, but doesn’t matter, people were asking silly things at the time.
keep up the good work. Just want to see the next panels sooner then later, but they are worth waiting for.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:21 am
Skruddgemire every is dead, everyone! No one else is left, not in subs, underground, in space or anywhere. These humans are all thata re left! TFZ (a.k.a WLB) used Nukes and all sorts to deal with any remaining humans where ever there were.
There was no place to hid from him! He could smells human blood from miles around… soon as he had zombie agents across the world it was already too late.
Remember Zombies don’t need to sleep, they don’t get tired, the don’t need to eat like we do… all they did was follow TFZ orders.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:23 am
Are the vampires exhausted by now? Francis specifically waited to chain them until they were worn down from building the pile. Were they able to recover their strength while Francis went through his dialogue or are they going to have to start draining some blood from the humans?
December 5th, 2007 at 5:23 am
It does feel a little like Sullivan popped up and started kicking ass.
On the other hand, it´s nothing that can´t be forgiven (Sullivan looks damn nice btw).
I think your comic kicks ass, Bobby o.o
December 5th, 2007 at 5:25 am
Oh yeah… I totally forgot to ask.
Just a random question I thought of, spurred by Sullivan’s “Three weeks” line.
The hunger of a person first turning vamp, before feeding, is the same as a The Hunger Pains, right? Does that mean that someone who goes into that phase but isn’t fed any blood will turn into a schaemiac, or is it something different entirely? And if the former then, hypothetically, would it have given Sullivan a head start on the process if he never drank blood? (that is, come out one week later instead of three weeks later).
Just wondering, since the thought crossed my mind.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:27 am
Bobby, I’d like to drop a line here just to let you see why the comments above were written, from my experiences in writing.
You’ve created a world, a storyline, and events happening that are very clear in your mind. You know the people, the vampires, the zombies, TFZ 1 and TFZ 2, the timing of everything that is happening. You already have the movie in your mind. Because you do have that insight, nothing that is happening is a surprise to you, nothing seems out of place or contrived, because that is how you saw it coming together from the beginning. You knew how many zombies were marching with Sullivan, what they were going to do when they got to the school, and what the timing of Sullivan’s arrival would be like. It makes perfect sense to you, and to those of us that are reading your comments all along, because of your omniscient insight into the events surrounding the story.
That is also what makes the story so compelling and so well-developed.
However, you and the critics are both right and wrong at the same time. Remember that the average reader doesn’t have your insight into the world of Last Blood and the movie-goer will not have pages of your comments to prepare his or her mind for the suspension of disbelief regarding Sullivan’s timely appearance on the scene. I agree with DocN’s suggestions for lessening the implausibility of Sullivan’s appearance with a moment of foreshadowing somewhere, perhaps even with Francis looking out and whispering, in a quiet moment, “You can’t stop me now, Sullivan. They did this to us, they have to pay.” Or even, at the schoolhouse, Francis reacting to Math’s assumption that he is Sullivan with scorn, “I’m not Sullivan Davis, he was too late to save me, too late to save the world, and now he is too late to save you.” A little gloating from jealous Francis, but showing his time crunch to beat Sullivan to the goal, a race between TFZ’s for saving or destroying the vampires forever.
You have created a fascinating world with solid characters and a great storyline. Remember though, only you know every thought, plan, and event occurring in that world, so what seems perfectly logical and natural to you might come off differently to others. If it does, don’t dismiss it as petty nitpicking. Everyone is entitled to their feelings, and if they feel that part of the story is a little off, then see it as an opportunity to look from their perspective and see if there is something that can be done in a small way to address it without corrupting the world that you see so clearly in your mind. In the end, it’s your story, your comic, your movie, not ours. I think most of those that add their input are merely trying to help you improve the work out of their love for the story (obviously, those that only say, “you suk” are to be ignored in this case), and they want to see it succeed. I know I want to see the movie, the other graphic novels, and the last few pages.
Keep up the great work!
December 5th, 2007 at 5:35 am
Skruddgemire: Read Page 101. (Or practically any comments pages from the whole comic.) You think figther jets can’t go to Antarctica or what?
“The Crosbys (both Bobby and Chris) are famous for 2 things. Making awesome comics. And being complete assholes when it comes to taking criticism.”
Neither of us are famous for making awesome comics (or famous at all) and only total fucking morons who can’t read think that I’m bad at taking criticism. And since when has Chris ever been known as an asshole for anything at all? He’s nice to a fault, even to people like the fucking morons who have posted (and tried to post) on this page. You should see the comments that weren’t approved.
Author X: I originally planned for Sullivan to never drink any human blood, to never “officially” become a vampire, but that doesn’t work anymore, because now the plan is for him to have searched the ocean floor for his two-week pre-paralyzed with pain period (PPPP!), trying to find Francis and avoid this whole mess 65 years before it started. He needed to drink the blood in order to be able to search. But he only had that first pint.
“see it as an opportunity to look from their perspective and see if there is something that can be done in a small way to address it without corrupting the world that you see so clearly in your mind.”
All of your suggestions would corrupt the world, and Doc’s. It needs to be a surprise. It’s the cool TWIST and we’ve already foreshadowed QUITE A LOT — anything more would make it too obvious, and your suggestions are just CRAZY — you’re suggesting to COMPLETELY ruin the big twist moment and flat out tell people that another schaemiac is coming to save them and even who it is. I don’t get it. Also, you’re wrongly assuming that Francis somehow knew about Sullivan coming after him. He had no clue, and the last he knew, Sullivan was a human and planned to be one for life.
“Remember though, only you know every thought, plan, and event occurring in that world, so what seems perfectly logical and natural to you might come off differently to others.”
Do you think I’m four years old? I don’t need to be reminded of that obviously.
“I think most of those that add their input are merely trying to help you improve the work out of their love for the story”
LOL, you’re definitely wrong about that. Trust me.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:57 am
This comment is longer than 10 words, so you will probably delete it, but please at least read it before doing so. I’m really sorry for the few rude/ignorant remarks a few pages ago. I’ve read most of the comments from previous pages, and I read all of the comments on each new page, but there are still a few things I’ve missed. I would like to apologise for all of this.
I really like the way the story has developed. Those dorks who say Sullivan’s appearance is a deus ex machina obviously havent been paying much attention – there were clues all over the place. His appearance is the perfect way to end a story; unxpected, but in retrospect it was practically inevitable.
Now, some serious – and hopefully not stupid – questions.
Did Sullivan pump himself full of enbalming fluid before he went into the hunger pains? It would have made a lot of sense, but if he did, it doesn’t seem to have worked very well. At least he was better preserved than Francis.
Are zombies concious? Are they aware of the fact that they are wandering arround, rotting, and eating the living? Are they in pain? I’ve heard of some stories where zombies seek the blood of the living because it helps to ease the agony of their decomposition, which is really cool. Does anything like that apply here?
Do most/all schaemiacs have one vampire and one zombie eye? Francis has his right eye zombified, while Sullivan has only his left eye zombified. Is there any significance behind this? I’m guessing that Owen just drew whatever he though would look the best, but it would be really neat if there was something behind this.
One final nitpick – it wouldn’t take too long for Matheson to grab a sword, and that uzi he is being given will run out of ammo fast. Of course, showing him grabbing a sword would waste valuble space, and uzis are cool, so there is not much of a problem here.
Awsome comic! I can hardle wait to see what the second one is like!
December 5th, 2007 at 6:02 am
“I’ve read most of the comments from previous pages, and I read all of the comments on each new page”
Herb: Almost all of your questions were answered in the comments in the past five pages. Also, I think you should write a book called “Unanswered Questions: Questions I’ve Asked Bobby Crosby about Last Blood which He Still Hasn’t Answered, the Herbert West Story.” You should also write a book called “How Do Vampires Die?: One Million and One Theories and Possibilities From the Mind of Herbert West.”
“I would like to apologise for all of this.”
You are forgiven.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:05 am
Bobby, fuck the haters. Your comic is great, and the best part is, it’s YOUR comic. So keep up the excellent work.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:12 am
Sullivan as a Deus Ex Machina? Ha! A Deus Ex Machina would have showed up before nearly half the named non-backgrounc characters got eaten, staked, died of natural causes, zombified, etc. Christ, a Deus Ex Machina would have SHOWED UP, and not made the surviving characters run to where he was.
Besides, a Deus Ex Machina is supposed to wrap things up instantly, just like the original greek plays where the audience was becoming bored and rowdy and the god lowered from the machine would just declare the resolution of the scene and the other actors could move along to something more entertaining. Sullivan didn’t show up and just blow every bad zombie to pieces right away, the guys still have a hell of a fight ahead of them.
Maybe it seems a bit rushed for some people. That’s because it kinda is. Bobby was estimating, long ago, that the comic would run for one issue more than he’s currently constrained to. So the ending had a lot of ground to cover and a little room for it. Be patient people.
And to anyone who thinks that they can do a better job than Bobby: FUCK YOU. Do you have any idea how goddamn arrogant it is to tell a writer that you can tell HIS story better than HE CAN? I am an author myself, and I know how much it pisses me off when some jackoff says he can do better than I can and yet he’s never done anything to lend creedence to that. You want to write a vamipe/zombie story better than Bobby? Stop telling Bobby about it and DO IT.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:18 am
“Maybe it seems a bit rushed for some people. That’s because it kinda is.”
It’s extremely rushed, yes, as I’ve discussed many times — good thing the screenplay and eventual movie won’t be! Things take forever to tell properly in comic form and there wasn’t time for it in this case. Won’t be making that mistake again.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:29 am
Amazing, as per usual. This story and suspense is soon coming to an end, correct? That’s kind of depressing, actually. Can’t wait to read the next few scenes!
~CassieMadison~
December 5th, 2007 at 6:30 am
I went back and did some reading. Originally, I agreed with a little more foreshadowing would have been good, but after going back, I see it was there. The page-at-a-time nature of a webcomic like this often leads us readers to forget some foreshadowing or those moments where we think: “huh, that didn’t make much sense to me.”
AFP tells Matheson not to go after the 3k that are running. Why? Cause he knew that TFZ wasn’t with them, someone else was. Seems like he might have known all along who was coming from the west, which is why he drew the diagram on chalk board only showing the approach from the east – only the approach of the enemy.
I had, incorrectly, assumed the 3k from the west had joined in fight at page 91 (I think having Matheson say something more along the lines of “He’s here? How did he get here so fast?” would have been a better hint that the western 3k did not arrive at that time). Further, thinking that Matheson had run into the 3k and TFZ, I thought those were the ones following him back on page 93.
The hints are there, and going back reveals how wrong my assumption was. I think that, given how little we can see of the local or of time passing, a few more hints that the running 3k hadn’t arrived might have been helpful in understanding it, but none of this impacts my enjoyment of comic. The art is great, the story is awesome, and everything builds up wonderfully. Keep up the good work!
December 5th, 2007 at 6:34 am
I highly doubt Bobby needs my defense, but I understand where he’s coming from about the some of the criticism dished out. Coming from a background in literature, I know what constructive criticism is supposed to be, and the general theory is that when you make a criticism you offer some insight up as a means to fix or improve the area criticized. It’s early so I might have missed the offered up suggestions, though I recall seeing Bobby ask for them at least twice. I can’t, and don’t, blame him for his reaction, when I would have done either the exact same, or something very similar.
What Bobby and Owen have created is a tantalizing story with really amazing artwork, and its my personal belief that when remarkable things are made, someone always has to show up to be captain bring-down. I disagree with most of what JD said, but I do agree on one point:
“Keep making comic, and we’ll all be happy.”
December 5th, 2007 at 6:38 am
Did it occur to anyone to simply stop reading the comic if they thought it was becoming so cliche? And if you think you can do a better job, YOU write it. Damn. People can be morons.
To the authors: I watch a lot of webcomics. I mean a LOT of webcomics. This graphic novel has to be one of the most creative, and one of the best-drawn on the net. I definately got addicted, and now I come back to the page about three times a day, even though I know it won’t be updated that often. Just wishful thinking. Keep it up, and I look forward to the next novel.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:44 am
Are you kidding?!?!? I -and probably everyone else- definently would like to see the screenplay as it develops! That would be the coolest thing ever.
Looking foreward to finale, screenplay, and sequel. Definently sequel.
Keep the awesomness coming!
This page rocked like a rocking thing. I wonder where Sullivan is going??? On some secret… schaemaic… business. (did I spell that right? HUH? If anyone wants to spaz on me, feel free. It would be an honor to be spazzed on by you amazing people.)
Can’t wait till friday!
December 5th, 2007 at 6:51 am
Altair: He’s going after his own zombies so he can control them better and see what’s going on, make sure they kill as many zombies as possible in the best way possible, working with the vampires. He’ll probably take a position on the roof of the school so he can see everything better.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:57 am
You know, in a few days I’m going to have to go back to the comments for page 1 and write “This is the best page so far”. Then, I’m going to have to go to page 2 and add “_This_ is the best page so far”. Then on Page 3, “Well, this is the best page so far”.
When I get to Page 112…
Well, you get the idea. Great job, guys. This just keeps getting better and better.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:57 am
Are the onslaught of Mormon advertisements any indication of Owen or Bobby’s religious beliefs? No worries if you’re not comfortable answering this.
Great job with the page by the way. Panel 3 is my favorite snapshot of Sullivan so far.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:02 am
hell yes i would like to see pages of the screeenplay, this stuff is to awesome not to, far to awesome not to
December 5th, 2007 at 7:03 am
Another great page, thank you.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:07 am
“Are the onslaught of Mormon advertisements any indication of Owen or Bobby’s religious beliefs?”
Didn’t even know there were Mormon ads. We have no control over such things and I personally don’t care. I am not Mormon.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:14 am
Just wondering, would Math or one of the other vamps that have the enhanced sence of smell; would they be able to “smell” the blood of humans on say a submarine? This would possibly be a source of additional humans, but this seems to have been done before.
Just was wondering?
BTW, just followed the link here from TWB! Read it all in a day from my office, blew a day but WHAT A STORY!!!
Thanks Bobby and Owen! Please dont let :
–”It’s extremely rushed, yes, as I’ve discussed many times — good thing the screenplay and eventual movie won’t be! Things take forever to tell properly in comic form and there wasn’t time for it in this case. Won’t be making that mistake again”
-Bobby
-be a harbinger of never doing a GN again. I shudder to think of the entertainment lost too all of the rest of us if that were true.
Anyway, making my first post a long one just to say….GREAT STORY and GREAT GN, THANKS!!
December 5th, 2007 at 7:19 am
Asylum: Just meant that I’d never put myself in a situation where I have to finish a story in a certain number of pages unless I’m absolutely certain that I can easily do so.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:21 am
Ok, everyone, for the last time, this is Bobby’s story, STFU.
As far as stories go, it’s really great. Most original zombie story i’ve ever fricking heard. This guy has a great mind, and if you think you know so much better go write your own. Also, we’re lucky there’s even a comment thread. Most webcomics don’t have one, specificly to avoid idiots. Also, if there wasn’t a comment thread i bet half of you wouldn’t pick it apart so much. If you wanna say something, find something worthwile to say, don’t tell the author he’s doing it wrong. And don’t try to claim it’s cause you love ti so much.I don’t think Sully showing up like this is contrived at all. Also i dont’ want to hear about stupid literary terms, i have a poetry exam in an hour, i need to be calm.
Do you think there’s a possability we could be peaceful for the last 3 pages? Or are we gonna have to be blockheads till the end?
December 5th, 2007 at 7:26 am
Yeah, I have had trouble dealing with those ads before on my webpages.
Love the page. It gives you the “there’s something deeper to this” feeling, foreshadowing what is coming in the next pages and the sequel.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:27 am
I’m just curious as to why people can’t just shut the fcuk up, and just enjoy the comic. Why do people nit-pick at every little thing? I mean sure a few things might not make sense to you. But when it comes down to it, it doesnt matter if say, the uzis dont look like they are real uzi or whatever the fcuk it was that someone said before, because, in real life ZOMBIES ARENT REAL! Leave bobby alone, and go make your own fucking comics instead of constantly picking at everything in every panel of every page.
/end rant.
Sorry about that, but it just shits me to tears that someone is going out of their way to put quality material on the internet for FREE, and all he gets is people with nothing better to do complaining that a comic full of vampire and zombies isnt true to life.
Anyway bobby, awesome page, awesome story.
Vasili out.
P.S FUCK DEUS EX MACHINA
December 5th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Hmmm just realized i pretty much wrote the same thing as Arilean.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:39 am
Kind of an irrelevant question, but, were/are there any vamps who were born in the Roman Emprie or any of the Greek cities(before Christ, that is)?
Also, I forgot, and I need to run pretty soon, but how old is Addison again? I’d search if I had the time.
Thanks.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:49 am
“were/are there any vamps who were born in the Roman Emprie or any of the Greek cities(before Christ, that is)?”
Yes. Addison Payne was one of them. He was 2,087.
December 5th, 2007 at 8:11 am
Is it me or does it feel like this is a little..i dunno whats the word convienient? Meh I dunno. Havent seen someoen bark orders liek that since i was i nthe navy.
December 5th, 2007 at 8:20 am
Long time reader, first time poster blah blah blah
Bobby,
Have loved the comic from day one. In a sea of rehashes and remakes and reinvisionings your original idea is a lifeboat for the comic reader. I don’t think I’m exagerating when I say this either.
Owen,
Great art! It’s awesome to see an artist get better and better on a story as time goes on.
December 5th, 2007 at 8:24 am
“Evil vampires forced to be protectors, heroes of humanity, for their own survival.”
Evil? If you pay more attention to the comic, you will notice that AFP said that they should show the humans what vampires “what we’ve done for thousands of years– trying to save them.”
December 5th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Awesome Comic. Awesome Page. Keep up the great work and as always you guys are the best. Without a doubt one of the best pages of the whole book. Screw the guys that say they can do it better. I dont see any of their comics on WOWIO. There is a reason LAST BLOOD is #1 on topwebcomics. That is because it is the best out there.
December 5th, 2007 at 8:27 am
I don’t see this as a Deux Ex Machina. There was a hekuva lot of buildup to Sullivan Davis’s introduction, though in a completely unexpected fashion for anyone who hasnt been reading the comments (which people in a movie would not be privy to).
Plus, even if someone was to descrbie Sullivan’s arrival as unlikely and a ‘nick of time’ cliche (I personally see nothing about this graphic novel as cliche – it’s the most original thing I’ve read in the zombie or vampire genres ever), but even if someone was to describe it as a cliche…. there are other movies which have a lot of ‘nick of time’ rescues which are now modern classics.
Just a couple off the top of my head:
Star Wars – Han Solo coming in the Millenium Falcon in the nick of time to save Luke Skywalker by blasting the tie fighter that had Darth Vader in it, before Vader was about to destroy Luke’s fighter. Anyone remember that?
Han Solo: “YAHOOOOO! You’re all clear, kid. Now let’s blow this thing and go home.”
Lord of the Rings 2 (Mr Crosby already referenced this in his comments):
When Gandalf arrives in the nick of time, like Sullivan did, to save an army which has only been able to stave off the inevitable… but if that army had not held them off for so long, Gandalf would have been too late to save them. That doesn’t make Aragorn any less of a hero just because Gandalf and the Riders of Rohan saved them as they made their ‘last stand’.
Gandalf: “Look to my coming on the first light of the fifth day, at dawn look to the east.”
A new movie will soon be added to this list of awesome nick-of-time saves… Last Blood. It’s in good company.
Sullivan Davis: “I had no choice but to become a vampire and follow him into hell. I was three weeks to late to save the world, but maybe I can save you.”
Seriously… a deux ex machina is something which comes out of nowhere, no build up to it, and saves the day… an example of character shields gone to the extreme. Mr Crosby has already shown that he doesn’t tend to do ‘character shields’…. allowing characters who you don’t expect to die to… well… die. Like Addison Payne. Or characters who you don’t expect to die just yet to die. Like Francis. Which makes his story utterly unpredictable. And that translates very well in both a graphic novel and doubly so in a movie. Especially since for most of the comic we were being led to believe that Sullivan Davis was the ultimate BAD guy, not the ultimate GOOD guy.
December 5th, 2007 at 8:35 am
this one will be a lot off topic but this has been bugging me for a while now.
is there ANY connection between Last Blood and chris’s comic Wickedpowered (in a humorous way)? one panel of this page: http://wickedpowered.com/d/20071112.html bears a startling similarity to a particular panel of page 29. is this a pun of sorts or is math somehow involved in WL or did UV read Last Blood or do the Crosbys just like to kill off a particular person? anyway, I find this quite amusing.
I’m sorry if this has been asked before, but I’ve got home from college just minutes ago and I’m too tired to search the past comments.
Another great page BTW!
December 5th, 2007 at 8:50 am
“I think you should write a book called “Unanswered Questions: Questions I’ve Asked Bobby Crosby about Last Blood which He Still Hasn’t Answered, the Herbert West Story.†“
Actually, that seems like a (sort of) good idea. We already have a very good FAQ (thanks, Anko!) but it just isn’t detailed enough to keep nitpickers like me happy. Perhaps LB fans who want to show of their knowledge of this really cool fictional world could converge on the wikipedia article. It certainly needs cleaning up, something that I plan on doing when I find the time.
“Almost all of your questions were answered in the comments in the past five pages.â€
My google skills must really, really suck. After your scathing rebuke a few pages ago, I’ve become very careful about asking questions that have already been answered. There has been plenty of discussion about similar topics, but I’m pretty sure there have been no definitive answers, especially regarding embalming fluid (it probably wouldn’t work as well underwater, but it would still be better than nothing). The only thing I managed to find was some inscrutable ranting about formaldehyde and zombies on page 22. Never mind; none of this was important to the story, but curious minds still like to speculate, and speculating is just as fun as having clear and definite answers. Maybe some of these questions will be answered in more detail in the sequels and prequels.
“You should also write a book called “How Do Vampires Die?: One Million and One Theories and Possibilities From the Mind of Herbert West.†”
Actually, I have already written something quite similar. At Camp Lone Cloud, we have a game called mafia, which involves people dying in various ways. I somehow acquired a reputation for coming up with very interesting deaths, so I made a list of a few dozen ways to kill people to use in these games. Luckily, most of the kids I was working with weren’t very young, or easily traumatised.
Killing people is much more fun than killing vampires; there are just so many more ways to do it! Acid, dissection, dismemberment, fire, blunt trauma, mechanical trauma, evisceration, asphyxiation, poisoning, freezing, baking, skinning, crushing, scraping to a pulp . . . FUN!
Oh, and did I forget to mention earlier that Sullivan looks especially spectacular in panel 3?
December 5th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Red Griffin: Not sure if you were aware, but Owen also illustrated and I believe co-wrote “WICKEDPOWERED.” I’ve only read about 10% of those strips. Anyway, I don’t understand your confusion. It was just a crazy gag. No connection between LB and WP in terms of actual story stuff.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:06 am
Ok, I don’t comment often but I have to this time. One: This type of last minute rescue by a bad ass hero is not something new, as pointed out HUNDREDS of times. Hell, look at Romero’s works. (If you dont know who Romero is, shame on you. The man is the reason we EVER had good horror/zombie flicks, and by that I do -not- mean the over the top SpFX shit we suffer through now but movies that had enough gore to make a point and acting that is still TO THIS DAY dead on.)
Two: Someone was bitching about how it was Vampires + humans vs mindless zombies and how that was not the case
Cough BULLSHIT cough!
3 million NOW out of fucking control, MINDLESS HUNGRY zombies that Sully CANT take control of… vs 15 vampires, one Super Zombie, and 3k normal zombies…and you CAN’T see -any- deep drama power struggles going on with that?! Not to mention Sully’s as of yet undisclosed plots of his own. FFS, if he was a D.E.M, he would have taken control of those 3m zombies (and named himself the Zombie King and a Crown of bones.)
On a side note, Bobby..have you read Lord of the Dead, the vampire story of Lord Byron. If not, you should, I think you would enjoy it.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:07 am
In my post I said
“Two: Someone was bitching about how it was Vampires + humans vs mindless zombies and how that was not the case”
plainly I meant
Two: Someone was bitching about how it was Vampires + humans vs mindless zombies and how that was NOW not the case”
Sorry, typos happen to the worse of us
December 5th, 2007 at 9:16 am
Have never read a vampire or zombie book. Both subjects bore me in general.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:20 am
I admittedly haven’t read a lot of the comments, so I’m not sure if this has been asked before. I was wondering what if any inspriations Owen has had for the art, particularly the way he handles the faces. Thanks
December 5th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Third Panel = Super Sayan Sullivan? Zombie vegeta? lol
I just remembered…what happened with AFP’s suitcase?
December 5th, 2007 at 9:29 am
I just have to post that you are completely owning the TWC board this month, Mr. Crosby. So, congrats to that. I have no comments about this page that have not already been said, so I’ll leave it at that. It’s been a pleasure reading this, and I look equally forward to the sequel book and its insights to the past. I toast your continued success, sirrah!
This be Claen’tor, signing off.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:34 am
Sorry in advance for the double post, Bobby.
Rez, Google is your friend. -end very familiar Bobby quoting- Check the comments of the past few pages and you’ll see an answer to that (though I’m replying in answer as well). It’s probably in Anko’s little FAQ as well. They left it back at the school. Please use the FAQ and/or Anko’s FAQ in the future.
This be Claen’tor, signing off.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:36 am
“Actually, that seems like a (sort of) good idea. We already have a very good FAQ (thanks, Anko!) but it just isn’t detailed enough to keep nitpickers like me happy.”
I was going to keep the upcoming FAQ that answers every single question ever asked on the comments a SECRET. Mainly because I don’t really have the time to do it right now, partly because I should focus on the fan comic more and also because Bobby would say I’m wasting my time (totally true by the way). Anyway, you have something big to look forward to in the next month, Herbert.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:38 am
“Yes. Addison Payne was one of them. He was 2,087.”
Woah. Where was he born, if you’ve thought of that(I didn’t really make any exact guesses, now did I
)?
December 5th, 2007 at 9:39 am
SO FRIGGEN COOL!
I really hope you keep writing sequels to this. Is it possible for sullivan davis to be so good looking? and is he a vampire or a zombie??
December 5th, 2007 at 9:45 am
It’s obvious why April’s grandma chose Sully over Francis! He’s pretty hot for a dead guy! (and not in a necrophiliac way, just in a ‘man he’s awesome’ way, don’t want to start that whole discussion again)
December 5th, 2007 at 9:47 am
Stalker: Haven’t decided.
Alice: He’s a schaemiac like Francis was.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:47 am
Sorry for the double post! But…
You should definitely post the script pages! That way we won’t be confused when the movie comes out and I won’t have to whine about it being different from the comic (to my friends, not you)!
December 5th, 2007 at 10:21 am
I just came across this comic a few days ago, and I’m generally not one for comments, but after reading through the stuff for this page, I just wanted to support the idea that this doesn’t feel ‘deus ex machina’ when you’re reading through it at one go. There’s plenty of foreshadowing for it, and even disregarding all that, Bobby’s right. In the real world, things that seem impossible happen daily. (but of course, this event never really seemed impossible if you pay attention to the cues)
This comic is great – I’m looking forward to everything that stems out of it!
December 5th, 2007 at 10:22 am
The reason people feel like Sullivan is a DEM is because that’s how it feels right now. But remember how long we have been reading this compared to a single movie. While I personally would have liked a little more on Sullivan, maybe from Math and Val, he has been well introduced. And I took latin for 4 years, trust me, I know a DEM when I see one. It would be a DEM if the Bulgarian came and took over all of WLB’s zombies, and suddenly stakes appeared and WLB got the Caesar treatment (tons of stabs by those recently loyal to you). Or if Sullivan came in and bombed people. That’s DEM. This is still a rough fight, and will be better in the movie, simply because we will be able to see more.
And Bobby, if you really want a suggestion on how to make this comic better. then too bad. Because it can’t be. It has to be rushed to fit in the page length you’re stuck it. And it should be a little rushed, considering how many pages are happening in the course of a few hours. How many days have we had in almost 110 pages? I think maybe 3 at most.
Bobby, Owen. You two are gods among men. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Well, Addison’s age blows my theory (which I did not bother to comment about) out of the water. The defintion of Addison is ’son of Addy/Addie’. Addy/Addie is another (medieval) pet form of the name Adam
In the Bible, Cain was Adam’s son, and God and 4 archangels cursed Cain for murdering Abel, so I was thinking privately that maybe Addison Payne (rhymes with Cain) was Cain, son of Adam, and the curse was vampirism. But he’s too young for that.
btw, why are so many people saying how ‘they are authors as well’ when they give nit-picky, frequently incorrect and unwelcome, rude criticisms? If they’re authors, where are their books… comics…. anything? They’re authors in their own minds.
Anyway, knowing now that he’s -not- Cain, I’d make a guess that Addison Payne is either a) not his original name or b) Roman, from the end of the Roman Republic and not too far (100 years or so) from the beginning of the Roman Empire, since his rebirth would be around 80 BC, and his human birth a few decades before that. Addison is an old english name, but a lot of old english names were derived from earlier Roman names.
Of course, the last name Payne is just because he’s a bad mamma jamma.
Seriously though, the family name “Payne” is english in origin as well, leading me to again believe that Addison Payne was either a Roman because the source of the name can be traced to the Old English word “paien”, which was derived from the Latin word “paganus” meaning “rustic or countryman”. It later also came to mean “heathen”. It makes sense since the name likely came shortly before the foundation of the Christian religion’s formation, when Roman rule was prevalent in Europe (the romans being pagans at the time).
I really think it be cool if it was his original name, because the modern family name of Payne is actually rather awesome.
Some notable things about the family name Payne:
Motto: Malo mori quam foedari. Translation: I would rather die than be dishonored (i.e., Death before Dishonor). Doesn’t that just totally mesh with Addison’s speech about how he wanted to go out fighting, protecting the humans? And how he would have proposed the vampires all killing themselves if he thought they’d all go along with it and if it would save the humans?
Blazon of Arms: Gules a fesse between two lions passant argent. Translation in english – Gules denotes Military Fortitude and Magnanimity. The lion is the symbol of Strength, Courage and Generosity. Again, totally describes Addison Payne. He became the ‘de facto’ leader, who all the other vampires look(ed) to for answers; he kept them (and the mission) going. He was magnanamous, even up to the point of his death. He was strong – physically and as inspiration. He was definitely courageous. And he was generous to a fault, spending a lot of his long long life (unlife) coming up with medical breakthroughs to help the humans, never taking any of the credit (even through pseudonyms).
Crest: A lion’s gamb couped argent grasping a broken tilting spear.
So that’s my theory. Addison Payne is a Roman who spent at least a good portion of his life in England. (Backup theory is a Pict, but a Roman works so much better) I guess I’ll find out if I’m right in prequels or sequel flashbacks. I’m not even sure if Mr Crosby knew the name’s history, but whether he did or didn’t, it fits really well.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Yeesh, I didn’t think my post would be that big….
December 5th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Tegu: It’s been about 41 hours now since Page 5.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:42 am
To anyone who still thinks this ending is too “Deus Ex Machina” -
*Sullivan Davis has been mentioned a dozen times, in plot-relevant ways
*Sullivan Davis was BELIEVED to be a Schaemiac (this is why they thought Francis was Sullivan)
*This group of zombies was believed to be Schaemiac-controlled, because they were running. And the other Schaemiac is dead
*Francis was complaining about how he was ALWAYS upstaged by Davis. What better way to cement this than to ultimately foil his entire revenge scheme?
Even if I hadn’t been reading the comments, I probably could have made a solid guess that there was a second Schaemiac controlling that group of 3000 to the west, and that Sullivan was that Schaemiac (or possibly the 12th century one, especially given AFP’s dying comment, but that seemed less likely). If something is repeatedly foreshadowed and fairly easily guessible (and also NOT required to save the day. As Bobby said: No Sully = no west zombie horde = they get away) then it is NOT Deus Ex Machina.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:09 am
May I suggest a contest for this comic? Use http://www.ugo.com/channels/comics/heromachine2/heroMachine2.asp and have fans make there own version of characters.
For example, copy bellow into the load box.
2.1*m1*Sullivan Davis*Hair:Standard,messy1,5A3410,202020,100,100,30,Eyebrows:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,20,Eyes:Standard,pharoah,FFFF00,FFFFFF,100,100,19,Nose:Expansion1,thinslant,FFFA9C,FFFFFF,100,100,24,Mouth:Standard,fangs,FFFA9C,FFFFFF,100,100,17,Beard:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,22,Ears:Standard,elf1,FFFA9C,FFD08C,100,100,18,Skin:Standard,hide,FFD08C,FFFA9C,100,100,6,Mask:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,16,Headgear:ModernCommon,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,31,Undershirt:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,12,Overshirt:Expansion1,gloved,732C00,9C4108,100,100,15,Coat:Standard,fraBlank,202020,181818,100,100,27,RightGlove:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,25,LeftGlove:Standard,forearm,FFD08C,FFFA9C,100,100,14,Insignia:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,10,Neckwear:Expansion1,fur,636363,848484,100,100,21,Belt:Standard,ww2,5A3410,4B4B4B,100,100,26,Leggings:Socks,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,7,Overleggings:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,23,Pants:Expansion1,briefs,101C42,182863,100,100,13,RightFoot:Expansion1,banded,313131,202020,100,100,11,LeftFoot:Expansion1,banded,313131,202020,100,100,8,Back:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,3,Wings:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,4,Tail:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,9,Aura:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,2,Companion:Humanoids,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,29,Background:Standard,horizontal,395C08,598AC5,100,100,1,RightHand:Firearms,mp5,313131,434343,100,100,28,LeftHand:Polearms,fraBlank,313131,434343,100,100,5,#
And Bobby, thanks for responding. Now everyone else can see why it is rushed. Hundred pages in less than 2 days.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:14 am
“Now everyone else can see why it is rushed. Hundred pages in less than 2 days.”
I don’t get it. That would be the opposite of your point. Logically, the shorter the time period, the less time you’d need to tell the story, not the more. Obviously it all depends on how much important stuff is happening in that time period, but either way, your argument would make more sense if it was 100 pages to cover 100 years instead of two days.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Can I be a zombie for the live action movie
Id be willing to send like..headshot and growling sounds. Haha
December 5th, 2007 at 11:27 am
I meant that, given so much story (which is great by the way) over only that time period might seem rushed to those people. Personally, I think it is really good. And when you consider you started this as a story board for the movie, it makes sense to have a lot of action in a small amount of time.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:37 am
had to weigh in on the angry Bobby vs. petulant whiny please-me fanbase:
I like the story as it is. I have not heard a single suggestion to “improve” the story that has not been incredibly retarded.
I mean come on. Having Francis whisper “You cannot foil me now, Sullivan Davis!”?? Why not just add a maniacal laugh?
This is why I do not read fan fiction.
Here is a little “constructive criticism” for all the whinyfans: How about, instead of gimping at the story author, you simply either read the story and like it or take your toys and go home? If you are soooo offended at Sullivan showing up, and about Bobby rejecting your Totally Awesome Ideas for “improving” the story, the solution is at your fingertips: stop reading and go away.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Jhon: If I end up making it myself, all of you can be zombies, sure.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Can you make a sign up so we can know when and where to show up?
And is there any chance a random fan can be a vampire or background human? Zombie makeup just takes so long to get on.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Agreement with eyelid.
The people offering ‘improvements’ which frankly seem out of a corny 1930’s era comic book really haven’t shown me they’re 1/10th the author/screenwriter that Mr Crosby’s shown himself to be.
Question for Mr Crosby:
Regarding Addison Payne (and for that matter the names of some of the other vampires), did you do any sort of research into the names’ histories (either before or after you named them)? Or did you just make them up because they sounded cool? I only ask because of when I looked up information on Addison Payne’s first and last name histories, and it seemed to so closely mesh with how you portrayed him, and the fact that other names like Matheson are rather unusual, rare names (Matheson is a scottish name which means “Bear’s Son” … bears being seen as animals who are both mighty in battle and caring for their young, and Clan Matheson comes from the gaelic ‘Mic Mhathghamhuin’ meaning ’son of the bear’ or alternatively ’son of the heroes’).
December 5th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Btw, when I say ‘did you make them up’ I mean did you just see the name and pick it because it looked cool, not that you made up and invented the name out of thin air.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Owen suggested Matheson after Richard Matheson. I liked it. No research on Addison’s name.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
wait, for Sullivan to be controlling 3000 zombies, doesn’t that mean he had to kill them? idk if thats been answered already, or if its going to be answered in the comic soon, but…. I got the impression that if a schaemaic kills a human, he can control the zombie that results. So did Sullivan kill 3,000 humans? Cause that seems like kinda a bad move >
December 5th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Yes, he did. Or the zombies he made did. It’s a pyramid effect thing. It’s why he calls it “hell.” And I bet it is ripping him up inside.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
oops, the rest of my comment got cut off.
or can a TFZ control whatever zombie he wants? In that case, why doesn’t he control Francis’s zombies?
Or maybe they were just dead non-zombie people?
Confused!
December 5th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Emily, try reading through any comments page from the last 10 pages or so. These questions have been asked literally over 30 times each. You can Google it pretty quickly and easily. Also, the sequels will explain the details of everything.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
http://z15.invisionfree.com/BobbyCrosby_Fansite
Once again reminding everyone that there is an active forum for Last Blood and Marry Me
December 5th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Awesome, just awesome. I’m loving how this story is turning out. To all the people who say its not how they wanted it or whatever. Shut up, your not the one writing it. Oh and Plus, in panel 3 thingie, when he says “I’m Sullivan Davis” he looks soooo coool.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Forget panel 3. The whole comic rocks. But you gotta love him. Personally I am really liking panel 4. He’s still thinking in such military terms. “You’ll get a full briefing later.” “Then double back and help secure the perimeter!” It’s just grand writing, and his expression is so expressive. I don’t know of anyone else that can convey so much emotion on a half decayed face.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Just to put in my five cents on the naming of Addison Payne.
I don’t think last names existed 2000 yeas ago in Roman culture. Instead they used the place of birth as a form of identification.
And in England last names weren’t used until 11th century or so.
So I’d vote for ‘it’s not his real name’.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
“Yes, he did. Or the zombies he made did. It’s a pyramid effect thing. It’s why he calls it “hell.†And I bet it is ripping him up inside.”
I thought that by “hell” he was referring to the hunger pains.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
He was referring to both, and other things as well. Many forms of hell. His biggest hell was probably never seeing his wife or children again.
M: Vampires have been using last names for over 30,000 years.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
You could be right. I think it refers to a couple of things he is feeling. Bobby mentioned that his zombies were humans about a week ago. I wonder why/how they were still human at that time. I’d bet you have some answers, but can’t tell anyone yet. That must be frustrating.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Yeah i get what emily is saying, like why didnt he just save those humans instead of the ones in this town?
but than again you have “if he didnt kill them then the other zombies would have gotten them” which means he knew where WLB was going to be(which he did)
and he knew that there would be vampires there to help him,
so basically he did it for the greater good.
plus the town has sentimental value, seeing as its his home town, his family lives there and WLB is leaving in on purpose to get revenge.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
He didn’t know at the time who he’d be saving. He just knew that he needed an army and that the 65 years would be entirely wasted if he didn’t get one.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
M: “I don’t think last names existed 2000 years ago in Roman culture.”
Instead they used the place of birth as a form of identification.”
Um… Romans used last names all the time, even that long ago and longer ago. The Romans had begun the practice of using “given-name + clan-name + family-name” about 300 B.C. (ie, up to 2300 years ago – Addison is 2087). And Payne, in Latin, translates to Paganus. Moot point since Mr Crosby already stated that he just made the name without doing any big research on it… it’s just a happy coincidence that it meshes so well
But here’s an example of some famous Roman names:
Claudius Gothicus (Roman Emperor)
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa – renowned Roman general under Augustus Caesar
Cassius Longius – the roman soldier who stabbed Jesus Christ on the cross with a spear
As for English not using last names until the 11th century, that’s partially true (they actually did use last names long (centuries) before the 11th century, but only in towns where the population required it. You can only have so many Johns and Marys until you need last names to distinguish them. Last names in England didn’t become -commonplace- though until the 11th century. But Addison Payne predates medieval English history (aside from ancient groups like the Picts and Druids)
Just mentioning this because while possible that Addison Payne (or a latin variation, like Addison Paganus or Addison Paenes) isn’t his original name, it’s still historically very possible.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
okay I have to start learning to write shorter to-the-point posts.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
I didn’t say that I’m confused, just surprised. I began reading wickedpowered before last blood, and when I came over page 29 I had a deja vu of sorts, was like “I think I have seen this somewhere else before, but where?”, then this “timeloop” on WP began and came to know where I have seen this before. As I said: quite amusing
December 5th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
It is awesome…….keep watching the comic, and fear the excitement. Good comic.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
We now that schaemiac’s can’t be spelled by vampires, but can one schaemiac smell other? I know WLB was distracted, so he wouldn’t smell Sullivan, and Sullivan was turned by AFP so he didn’t have an uber nose.
And you alluded to earlier that WLB ignored the 3000 running zombies. To me, that implies that he knew they were there (duh) and realized that he wasn’t controlling them. Does this mean that a schaemiac can instantly tell what zombie is his and which is not? or does he have to try to control the zombie to figure it out?
Thanks if you answer, I read every comment, but the sheer volume is intense, as you have mentioned on this page.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Blood is the only thing they can smell at great distances. Schaemiacs have no blood, so they can’t be smelled, by anyone. Also, all vampires have incredible senses of smell for blood — all can smell for miles. Only some can smell for hundreds of miles, though. Francis ignored them because he couldn’t imagine any possible threat. He certainly didn’t think they were being controlled by another schaemiac. Probably thought they were chasing a dog or something retarded like that — he just dismissed it as being nothing of importance.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Hey, first off, this is a great GN, I came in around page 80 something, but haven’t posted until now.
Before I start the body of the comment, I just want to say that you aare certainly correct in saying that people should look for answers before asking questions, and a majority of the questions asked here could be avoided with a little research.
All I wanted to say was that (and I know a similar comment has already been made) perhaps when the time comes for the movie, some points could be changed, to add clarifcation. For instance, the whole incident with taking a brother and a sister, which previously had been referred to as taking two children, and people naturally assumed that the purpose was procreation (I know you said this wasn’t the case).
I only say this because if people are asking questions now, then upon the release of the movie, people will have the same questions with nobody to answer. Really the issue is you just need to clearly relate to us idiot masses. I know it hurts to dumb yourself down for us, but it must be done if you want the movie to be successful. If you just want to make the movie for yourself, then who the hell cares if people get it, I’ll still watch it.
Also, I have taken in to concideration the fact that you are rather cramped for space with the GN, and you may go more in depth with the movie, so that’s fine, I really just want to see this thing turn out successful, because it really is a unique and gripping story.
Thanks for listening, and (hopefully) responding.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Impertinant Question time (apologies in advance if it has already been dealt with).
I think from the comments, we know that Val foolishly told Francis about how to become a schaemiac and what they could do, correct? But who told Sullivan? I am guessing it was Francis, pehaps, “that bitch made me what I hate most, but also told me how to kill them all!” kind of statement to Sullivan right before Francis has himself “buried at sea.” Then Sullivan tracks down AFP somehow and tells him what Francis has done. AFP tells Sullivan what that will mean for the world, and Sullivan makes his great sacrifice.
Is that even remotely correct?
December 5th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Did sullivan know where WLB was going to be or did he just aim for the spot where all the other zombies were heading?
If he didnt know he was probably very lucky to be in the area.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
i just had one comment about when bobby mentioned stories that involve stuff happening at just the right time to save the day. it’s crazy, but that shit really happens. anybody here enjoy 300? cause they would have been slaughtered if a storm off the coast hadn’t sank half the Persian fleet in one night. and if that storm hadn’t happened, and those 300 guys had been slaughtered, there’d be no story. i haven’t finished reading these comments yet, so maybe somebody else mentioned something like that, but those are generally the more interesting stories worth telling.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I read the whole comic (and Marry Me, too) yesterday. And I LIKED it. Seriously, if someone had told me a week ago that I’d some day say that about a zombie story, I’d have laughed my head off.
Well, the vampires and the cool art make up a lot, but still, the plot and the basic idea are quite amazing.
Mr. Crosby, I think you should be a bit more tolerant on criticism. Ban them, by all means, but don’t disregard their words without thinking them over carefully. Even clumsy criticism can be useful. Something might be wrong if a part of the story earns a lot of criticism. You get a second chance at everything when you make the movie, and for your own sake I strongly suggest you pay special attention to those parts. Not that I didn’t believe everything would be much better in the movie. I get the impression that writing a screenwriting for a movie is much easier for you than writing a script for a comic.
That being said, Sullivan’s appearance did feel a bit empty, but I don’t think that’ll be a problem in the movie.
Anyway, consider yourself honoured that even I, who try my best to avoid zombie-stories, was drawn here by your ad (the idea of vampires protecting humans to preserve themselves was just too interesting to pass by, even if it’s post-apocalyptic and there’s zombies) and read the whole story. And even liked it.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
I have been following this comic since…. Page 28, I think? A while, to be sure. I’m sorry it’s ending, but I wanted to put in my two cents that this is easily one of the best and strongest of the comics/webcomics posted on the web, and I am sad to see it end, yet excited for the second GN and hoping that the screenplay gets put on the big screens across America.
Yes I sound like an idiot, I don’t care. This is a better comic then most everything on the net, and if you think otherwise you must be stupid.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Hey, so I’ve read all the Last Blood comics, and I love them. I’ve just read a good amount of the posts from the beginning of this thread, but then skipped to the bottom because there were SO many. But, unless it’s been solved already I have ideas for Sullivan’s appearance and for how to make the screenplay really really sweet.
Alright, here goes:
On tai’s “deus ex machina” topic/bronwhyn’s Addison Payne not doing cool things/TFZ being to easy to kill topic. The way to solve this is to have Addison (while they are all trapped by TFZ and before TFZ kills him) explain to Francis why he’s screwed. While Matheson and the other vamps were trying to save the humans, Addison was waking Sullivan. so Addison tells him that Sullivan was just building an elite zombie army and should be there any second (or is already there), also explaining all the hints that were dropped earlier if necessary (but hopefully not necessary if the hints are done properly in the screenplay in the first place). Then, Francis starts freaking out and kills Addison. There can be a pretty nice claustrophobic scene with TFZ acting all paranoid with every noise in the room and threatening Sullivan’s grand-daughter, etc. Sullivan then crashes through either a window, or a door (if in the screenplay you decide to keep the tunnel operative and have sullivan get in through it). BEGIN: ultimate battle scene between the two first zombies.
Alright, so that was that. My other idea was for the screenplay’s character development. I think for the movie, you should try to combine THIS last blood storyline with what you are going to do for the sequel. That way, I believe the movie would be much more complete. Maybe use little flashback scenes to their childhood, or use parallels between the present to show what happened in the past. (like val turning murdo and val turning TFZs).
SO, thats basically what I was thinking. There might have been more, but I can’t remember it right now.
But, I’d just like to say that I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to see this become a movie.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
I also just wanted to say that I really hate the “deus ex machina” expression too. My friend says it all the time, and I can’t stand it whenever he does.
December 5th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Awesome page, guys… Keeps getting better and better. You should name Big Black something with the initials ‘BB’ so he can just go by that…
Without getting to involved in the deus ex machina bullshit, I don’t get it. SD’s been referred to since nearly the beginning, so we knew he’d play a piviotal role (Sullivans tunnel, the scoreboard, etc). But we didn’t know he was the good guy (save for from the comments). Personally, I think it’s a great twist (him being good & showing up), and it brings the story full circle, the town, the school, and with him and Francis.
And Bobby, greatest point ever- if you’re going to tell someone to do something better tell them how- don’t just say to them “love your comic, but it sucks and you’re a jerk!” cuz you sound like a whiny brat when you do that. And just because you’re an “author” yourself doesn’t give you the right to do this.
December 5th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
For all these people whining about “deux ex machina” or however that’s spelt. Can I get a brief explanation as to what that means? I see absoutely no problem with the way the story has played out, everything falls into place just fine.
You people aren’t being paid to be a critic, so keep your damn comments minimal and shut the fuck up, seriously.
December 5th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Beautiful work.
Looking forward to the screen plays!
December 5th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Deus ex machina (god in the machine) is a term referncing greek plays in which a god would be lowered to the stage so as to instantly unravel any issues in the plot and wrap the story up.
By the way, for big black, in the movie, totally cast Sean Patrick Flannery (look him up on imdb if you don’t know).
December 5th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Bobby – While I want to see a big budget version of the movie, I’m kinda hoping that you make it yourself so that we can be zombies in it…
December 5th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
oh, and btw, I didn’t think it was really “deus ex machina” (which sorta means “something completely random happening to solve some situation” for CrazyJailbird). I just thought Sullivan showing up was totally awesome. You can completely disregard my ideas above if you want, the movie would be good either way.
December 5th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Right…Well, I’ll start off by saying I prefer panel 4 over panel 3
More to the point, one reason (I think) some people seem to think this is a Deus Ex Machina (which it is not) is because the story has been moving VERY fast for the past 4 or 5 pages. Yes, I know it’s a bit rushed because of factors outside your (Bobby Crosby’s) control, but, anyway, it might be a bit of an explanation.
Anyway, I do hope that, as you’ve already stated, the movie will be more evenly spread out. I know that obviously one minute per page is a silly way of trying to look at it, but see nthat way, we’d get Francis first shown andn killed off in 3 minutes, and Sullivan in, what, the last 7 minutes of the movie. Obviously he can’t/shouldn’t be brought in halfway through – storywise I’m absolutely not complaining. I just hope that the last, say, 15 pages of the comic, last longer in comparison to the others.
Anyway, I’m still very happy with Last Blood
December 5th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
A) please disregard Bootspurr’s idea, it wouldn’t work in the story.
B) JaylBird: a Deus Ex Machina is a theatrical term dating back to Greek and Roman times. It means, very literally, a God coming out of the Machine.
As desribed somewhere earlier, in quite a few of the original tragedies, things went badly, went worse, everything was completely hopeless, the “hero” was completely doomed, and so on, and one minute before the end of the play, some God would appear and just magically make everything right. It’s quite annoying because it compeltely wrecks the story for most viewers.
December 5th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Glad I didn’t ask for the answers. This is turning out pretty damn good. Kudos Mr. Crosby. I know I never sent that e-mail, was going to ask how you’re going about being produced, but someone bought my story. YAY!
I just have one seuggestion…. in the video game….. there MUST be a video game. Have Addison and Rage as unlockables! Lol. Yea no real suggestions because the story is that damn good. Love the character design on Sully. I never really thought WLB was awesome like most people did, but Sully is a different story lol. Also like the small detail that you put on Sullivan in shouting out orders rather than just giving them telepathically, reflecting on his military days. Keep it up, and look out for “Crown of Thorns” name pending though lol.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Bobby, I’m really sorry for posting multiple times, but this one is in reference to Hephaestos.
Heph, don’t forget that the first several pages were of things like Francis walking along the bottom of the ocean, biting a girl, yatta yatta, major time lapse, and voila, we have a good 10 or more minutes extra for Sully and such, not to mention a minute can be alot longer than you may think, in fact, I think there’s somewhere between 50 to 70 seconds in each (I’m not saying you’re stupid, that was just a bad pun).
December 5th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
a hundred pages over a 100 years … ahh to be immortal …. or at least a vampire with an allergy to wooden stakes best avoided…. the speed of the conversation between mathison and sullivan and the statement of the firing stopping ,they must be overclocked to the max there…. i wonder how addison and sullivan would have gotten along as they are both take charge kind of undead types….
December 5th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Aww, why wouldn’t it work Hephaestos?
December 5th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
hey bobby if u already answer this sorry but if sulivan already knew about francis why didn’t he just hunt him down.
also this isn’t applied to you but I thin that the readers are entering two camps
one that thinks you are Jesus him self and one that thinks your a prick.
though i may be wrong and you’ve already taken care of this by banning them
sorry if i make waves
December 5th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Thank you. That makes sense. I think that’s about what you said earlier, about them not being a problem. Trace amounts of blood aren’t worth paying attention to. And besides, but a scented candle in a room full of dead fish. What do you think most people will smell.
Now I just have to get this sense out of my head, and typing helps. Sullivan sitting intently, like he’s playing a hard game of chess. Then we see two of his zombies choke holding a third that’s snarling, trying to eat April. Then a close up of Sullivan head on. Then the zombie stops snarling, straightens up, and sings “Lean on Me” with the scene ending with a whole zombie chorus joining in.
Another round of questions, if I may be so bold. Schaemiacs still have fangs, so even though they don’t need to, can they drink blood? Effect torture method. Just a thought.
Math said a long time ago that zombie blood stinks and human blood is sweet. Is there a ratio of zombie to human population where the zombie blood could overpower the scent of human blood, thus blocking them from a Val inspired nose? I know you have said many times that there are no more humans, but this could, if you choose to, allow Sullivan to bring a few along with him.
How does Devian fly? Do you have a method in mind, or does she “just fly!” I have thoughts about it, some relating to her race, but that could just be another “just because” thing. When writing a story, I know how you have to just make arbitrary choices.
Schaemiacs can make zombies tell them how to do things, from the zombie’s point of view. That means, with enough mental prodding, zombies are sentient, in some twisted way. Could it be possible to make a zombie with limited intellect? Maybe monkey level, something we could train. That is, after we knock out ALL of it’s teeth. I doubt you will choose to go this way, but it’s something to consider.
And last question for now. In the sequels, can we see Sullivan and Sofia fight? As much as I’d love to see him just kill her right now in the midst of this zombie carnage, I know it isn’t happening.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
“the readers are entering two camps one that thinks you are Jesus him self and one that thinks your a prick.”
And Jesus couldent have been a prick? (although I guess the evidence points the other way)
I think there is a definately third camp of readers who dont really care about bobby and who would rather discuss the comic.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Bobby, you know I wanna see some script!
I love the frequent updates these days, by the way!
I can’t wait for the printed GN!
December 5th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Imo, it’s a shame p108 was so good. It makes this one seem worse (less good might be better -.-) than it really is.
“It’s been about 41 hours now since Page 5.”
When you said that, I just realised Math has another kickass power.
Hair growth acceleration!
Before: http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/1173/shorthairwk7.jpg
After: http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/1017/longhairov5.jpg
Mac must be so jealous.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
One thing about Deus Ex Machinas, and I didn’t want to get into this, but no one’s said it yet:
Can something really be considered a DEM if the story isn’t technically “over”? I mean, even if Bobby never makes a sequel, he’s already said he’s planning more than one prequel.
Those prequels will make a more complete story package, tying things together, making them clear even to those who didn’t pay attention to the clues within this standalone story. For example, we’ll see where everything went down with Sullivan and Francis.
And if it was all put into one book, we wouldn’t ever consider this DEM; we’d say it was alternative story telling, with extended flashbacks being used to explain the current situation. When viewed as a whole (which is how series should be read when they have elements that affect each other), it doesn’t just “work,” it makes perfect sense.
Also, I’d like to say I rely heavily on Deus Ex Machina to help me pass classes and get to work on time. It works quite well.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Wow, I just read through the full comments page, and I see I touched off quite a heated discussion. I would like to apologize for asking if anyone agreed with me, since that seems to have attracted posts from several people who did agree but didn’t understand how to say so in a civil way. I’m sorry I brought that on you.
In my original post, which I just re-read, I realize I stated my thoughts more as if they were fact than I should have. I was just trying to post the *impression* I had, and see if other people felt the same way or if I had just missed the lead up. I thought I had written that it “felt kind of like it might have been a deus ex machina”, and was surprised on review to see I said it more definitively than that.
The reason I didn’t suggest any alternative options is because I’m not even close to being half the writer you are. The reason I’m not going to “just stop reading if I don’t like it”, as some people have suggested, is because I do like it, it’s a FUCKING AWESOME COMIC, and I won’t stop reading it unless you pry my internet from my cold, dead hands!
I wasn’t ever trying to say that the comic was flawed, merely that I had gotten the impression that there was a potential flaw. I wanted to see if other people felt the same way I did, or if I was just an idiot for not picking up on your foreshadowing. Once you get the final pages up I’ll give the whole thing a full re-read (actually probably a couple because it’s just that good). I suspect I’ll find that you provided more than enough hints earlier that I just didn’t pick up on, as some other people seem to have found when they did a re-read of their own.
Sorry for inciting the negative comments of some of the people who piggy-backed on my post, I never intended for anything I wrote to reflect poorly on your fantastic work. As I said before, keep it up!
December 5th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
I truly am ashamed of myself for making a quadruple post, but something just occurred to me. I believe (and don’t quote me on this, as it has been quite awhile since I have read anything of the like) I remember something about graphic novels including bonus pages, not only of art but of actual strips. Is it possible that you could use this (seeing as the final piece of the novel is most likely to contain bonus material) in order to extend your quota for pages? Just a thought, maybe it could help ease the stress on the story.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
hey u mentioned somthing about addvertisements earlier do you get money for them because you said you have no control over it.
also im just reitering what i said earlier
hey bobby if u already answer this sorry but if sulivan already knew about francis why didn’t he just hunt him down.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Great comic! When i looked at panel 3 for the first time though the first thing that popped in my mind was Vash the Stampede… not saying its bad just saying thats what clicked in my head. And if and when this becomes a movie make sure it hits Richmond Kentucky (if you have the power to put it there, i’m not sure how the movie industry works) I wanna see it =D
December 5th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Hey, thanks whoever sent me to that heromaker website. I submit, for your approval, Rage. (Modeled from the art in the downloaded issue 1.
2.1*m3*Rage*Hair:Feminine,flatlong2,fdff21,E86517,78,100,23,Eyebrows:Standard,curly2,f0ff71,f0ff71,100,100,19,Eyes:Standard,slanty,FF0000,000000,100,100,18,Nose:Standard,thick,F8B684,FF0000,100,100,25,Mouth:Standard,nosferatu,FF0000,FFFFFF,100,100,16,Beard:Standard,wizardpoint,fdff21,FFFF00,78,100,24,Ears:Standard,boxer,F6B652,F6B652,100,100,17,Skin:Expansion1,hairy,AC814A,F8B684,100,100,7,Mask:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,20,Headgear:,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,27,Undershirt:Standard,veeshort,000000,FF0000,100,100,8,Overshirt:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,9,Coat:ModernCasual,cargo,5A3410,848484,100,100,22,RightGlove:Standard,plain,000000,53453A,100,100,15,LeftGlove:Standard,plain.,53453A,000000,100,100,14,Insignia:,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,10,Neckwear:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,21,Belt:,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,13,Leggings:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,11,Overleggings:Standard,plaindagger,000000,848484,100,100,29,Pants:Standard,jeans,182863,101C42,100,100,12,RightFoot:Standard,combatboot,000000,202020,100,100,30,LeftFoot:Standard,combatboot,000000,313131,100,100,31,Back:Standard,greatsword,848484,4B4B4B,100,100,4,Wings:,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,5,Tail:,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,6,Aura:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,3,Companion:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,1,Background:New,chipledge,000000,5A5A5A,100,100,2,RightHand:,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,28,LeftHand:,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,26,#
ctrl and c the above line, follow the link below, click load, and paste into the load box.
http://www.ugo.com/channels/comics/heroMachine2/heromachine2.asp
December 5th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
“Is it me or does it feel like this is a little..i dunno whats the word convienient? Meh I dunno. Havent seen someoen bark orders liek that since i was i nthe navy. ”
…Maybe because Sullivan was a marine?
Also people, lay the hell off Bobby. This is a great comic, he’s had to scrunch it all into 112 pages, and that’s DAMN amazing for the quality he has kept with the story.
The only problem at ALL with this comic is that it goes a little hastily, and he’s already said many times that that will change for the movie.
So just shut up already.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Hey Jesse? That is the COOLEST thing EVER.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Aww, thanks! Here’s Addison.
2.1*m1*Addison Payne*Hair:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,23,Eyebrows:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,21,Eyes:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,20,Nose:Standard,thinbroke,F8B684,F8B684,100,100,27,Mouth:Standard,closedsmile,F8B684,F8B684,100,100,18,Beard:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,26,Ears:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,19,Skin:Standard,fraBlank,CEA66B,F8B684,100,100,6,Mask:Standard,sciencegoggles,313131,CEBB9B,100,100,22,Headgear:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,29,Undershirt:Standard,dressshirt,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,7,Overshirt:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,8,Coat:ModernCasual,open,000000,313131,100,100,25,RightGlove:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,17,LeftGlove:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,16,Insignia:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,9,Neckwear:Standard,necktie,000000,FFFFFF,100,100,24,Belt:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,15,Leggings:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,10,Overleggings:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,11,Pants:Standard,slacks,000000,313131,100,100,14,RightFoot:Expansion1,dressshoes,000000,FFFFFF,100,100,13,LeftFoot:Expansion1,dressshoes,000000,000000,100,100,12,Back:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,3,Wings:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,4,Tail:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,5,Aura:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,2,Companion:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,31,Background:Standard,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,1,RightHand:Miscellaneous,brief,DDDDDD,000000,100,100,30,LeftHand:Firearms,snub,727272,656DB6,100,100,28,#
Same instructions. Now I’m done; someone else give it a try.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Bobby dude how the hell can you take all of the assholery?(New word I invented. Patent Pending)
The fact that your responses are longer then “Shut Up” are super human.
Still aside from the near saint like patience you have the fact that you update so frequently at such kick ass points in the story makes this my favorite web-comic. Nah. Graphic Novel. Cause the story is on par with Novel.
Addictions:Tales of Mu and Last Blood.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
just a quick thing about people talking about naming issues and such…ya’ll DO know that it being a story, it does not have to stick to real life naming conventions
And while the Romans, as someone mentioned, did use last names…even if they didnt in OUR world, they sure the heck do in this wonderful world Bobby/Owen is creating for us.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
“I think from the comments, we know that Val foolishly told Francis about how to become a schaemiac and what they could do, correct? But who told Sullivan? I am guessing it was Francis”
Thought I made it pretty clear that it was Addison.
“I only say this because if people are asking questions now, then upon the release of the movie, people will have the same questions with nobody to answer.”
100% false. Everything is somewhere around a trillion times more clear in a movie, even if nothing was changed. Just the fact that there are moving pictures with sound makes things a trillion times more clear. And taking literally 1/3 of a second to flash to shots of Devian looking at two younger boys and girls being held tightly by their parents will also clear that up a lot, and seeing clearly that she’s saving these two kids from zombies who came extremely close to grabbing them. No one, other than the insanely stupid people, will ask these same questions from just the few extra things that people will see in ONE SECOND on film.
“Did sullivan know where WLB was going to be or did he just aim for the spot where all the other zombies were heading?”
Uh, he can smell blood too, of course. He’s been going after the human blood scent at full speed for a while now.
“Mr. Crosby, I think you should be a bit more tolerant on criticism. Ban them, by all means, but don’t disregard their words without thinking them over carefully.”
Any more pointless, annoying comments like this will result in a ban. Well over 98% of the criticism given for LB in the comments has been such retarded crap that anyone with a brain can tell extremely quickly that there’s obviously no reason to “think them over carefully,” as they directly contradict things that I’ve already of course thought over carefully and decided fully are the correct way to go. None of the other 2% have popped up in the comments for Page 109 yet.
“I know that obviously one minute per page is a silly way of trying to look at it, but see nthat way, we’d get Francis first shown andn killed off in 3 minutes, and Sullivan in, what, the last 7 minutes of the movie.”
As I’ve said many times, comics pages cover way less than one minute on average. More like 30 seconds, and more like 10 seconds during action scenes usually, depending on how they’re done. Obviously the film will cover a lot more stuff.
“Aww, why wouldn’t it work Hephaestos?”
A million reasons, mainly because it makes the twist as boring as possible (although I know you think it does the opposite).
“if u already answer this sorry but if sulivan already knew about francis why didn’t he just hunt him down.”
I’ve answered this a trillion times. Jeez.
“In the sequels, can we see Sullivan and Sofia fight? As much as I’d love to see him just kill her right now in the midst of this zombie carnage, I know it isn’t happening.”
They might do the opposite of fight. And they might do both. And she might be worse than Francis. And she might be better than Sullivan. And she might be both.
“I remember something about graphic novels including bonus pages, not only of art but of actual strips. Is it possible that you could use this (seeing as the final piece of the novel is most likely to contain bonus material) in order to extend your quota for pages?”
No, does not work. This first version, the fourth issue, MUST come out INSTANTLY, and so it’s written in a way where it ends in 112 pages. You can’t just throw an extra page on the end or whatever to make a longer version — the last many pages would have to be re-written/re-drawn to add extra stuff in the midst of it all to even just add one page, let alone several. Doesn’t work.
Cdraz: Wow, stop posting if you’re going to ask repeated questions multiple times that have OBVIOUSLY been asked a million fucking times without searching and without waiting for my answers when I was obviously away from the computer (sleeping) and not making any comments to anyone at all in that time. So annoying.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Deus Ex Machina, barking orders…
SHUT THE HELL UP! Lets enjoy the last three pages a bit, shall we? At least wait till the credits are rolling, please?
December 5th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Bobby sleeps?
j/k.
Does “opposite of fight” referring to Sullivan and Sophia, both of whom are TFZs, mean something as gross as I’m thinking?
December 5th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
“something as gross as I’m thinking?”
She looks better than Val and doesn’t look rotted at all (possibly thanks to plastic surgery, and makeup also helps).
December 5th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Well, to put it another way, it doesn’t seem like the survivors are the authors of their own fates. Of course since they were part of a struggle between several superbeings this might be appropriate, but this is where many people are getting DEM from.
Real easy way to fix this in the movie; instead of having Math going back to the school after getting hit with the RPG, have him keep advancing and show him rushing towards the 3,000, fade to black. Later, as they are fleeing the school (Hero of this bit is April) Math comes back running in front of a pack of zombies. Is he fleeing? No, he and Sully are leading the charge. Gives more of a feel that the survivors are more responsible for their own salvation.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Forgive me for asking but other than AFP mentioning the Bulgarian TFZ Sofia while speaking to WLB where does she come into the storyline at all? and just who is she, besides being the Bulgarian TFZ?
December 5th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Yeah, i guess you’re right Bobby. That scenario would take the twist out of it. But it would still be kinda cool, right?
December 5th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Art: That obviously doesn’t work, since Francis is obviously stopping any vampires from leaving the area, as Addison said he would and as the ROCKET LAUNCHER proved. #1, he would not let Math leave. #2, Math would not WANT to leave, since he knows that Francis must be very close, since he just SHOT HIM WITH AN RPG. All of this is made very clear in the comic.
“Real easy way to fix this in the movie”
LOL.
Kanian: Guess you’ll have to read the sequel! I’ve spoiled too much already, like I usually do.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
bobby sorry about asking the question twice. but you still hadn’t answered the question and im not interested in going through 1000 comments to find it. If you ban me for this ill understand though I believe that would be to harsh
December 5th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Cdraz: I could Google it in two seconds and you obviously don’t need to read through 1,000 comments. First, your question is too vague. Hunt him down WHEN? Second, the comic itself has said clearly that schaemiacs can’t be smelled, can’t be hunted down. Questions that simply take reading the comic to find the clear answer to are the most annoying, especially when they’re repeated for no reason in quick succession by the same person and have been answered many times recently. I’ve also said many times very recently, including on this page, I think, that Sullivan spent his two week period before the hunger pains kicked in searching the ocean floor for Francis. Control-F “Francis” and “Sullivan” on the last few pages and you’ll very quickly find all of this, like literally under three minutes. If you have the time to keep coming back and asking the same question, you have the time to read the comic and/or easily search for your answers. Or you could just wait for the sequel, which I’ve already said will obviously answer this in the blog post for today’s page. You’re asking for SPOILERS and asking over and over again the same question while I’m away from the computer, ugh. Certainly wouldn’t be too harsh to ban you, but whatever, not banned.
December 5th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Wow, so much drama today…
Todays page is great, very aggressive. I really enjoy Sullivan’s gung ho, gun’s blazing ‘I can’t talk because I have to kill stuff’ attitude.
December 5th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
what’s with the freaking Yugi-Oh haircut on sully
December 5th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
You know…I can see why WLB did feel like the 2nd best, and stuff. I know I’d feel pretty crappy compared to that guy, hes strong, built, good looking, talented. I can totally see WLB is coming from now
December 5th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Do ancient Zombies have a tracable scent or do they dry up like Schaemiacs? (assuming the Zombies last that long)
December 5th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Bobby,
was AFP’s being the single smartest entity on the planet due to him having a naturally high intelligence, or simple due to the fact his immortality and long life giving him time to learn so much?
I ask cause it would be interesting to know what kind of knowledge he possessed when he was “younger” and helps flesh out the character.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
“Bobby,
was AFP’s being the single smartest entity on the planet due to him having a naturally high intelligence, or simple due to the fact his immortality and long life giving him time to learn so much?
I ask cause it would be interesting to know what kind of knowledge he possessed when he was “younger†and helps flesh out the character. ”
He was stated as being the smartest person ever born, so I’m guessing it’s naturally high intelligence.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Good comic, loved the story. I will say that the end seemed a bit contrived, but it’s not nearly as bad as it could be, or as other comics are. I’m kinda curious about how it’ll end though. Three thousand zombies and a handful of vampires is a force to be reckoned with, but so is 3 billion plus zombies, uncontrolled as they may be.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Naturally high, yes.
Mack: They may not stay uncontrolled for forever.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Bobby: True, but if Sullivan gains control of them in three pages, then it WILL be pretty badly d.e.m.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Read through the comments. I’ve said a million times that Sullivan won’t and obviously nothing involving war is going to happen in the final few pages. No time for that. And anyone who ever says “d.e.m.” again in the comments will be banned for life.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Bobby isn’t talking about Sullivan, I’m betting. My brain bleeds with excitement.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
I’d pay all I’d have to see this go to the big screen…
Shit man, you just like to hold our balls in your hands, hammer in the other till the last minute dontcha? I thought for sure that was the end of the human, and vamp, race!
December 5th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Of course, there’s no betting about it…which I should have already known, since I read all those comments already. Tired tonight.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Well, I hope it lives up to the rest of the comic. I’d hate to see it ruined by a goofy end.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Mack apparently didn’t read the blog post below the comic that talks about the sequel.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
The bunnies understand whats going on.
http://www.frozenreality.co.uk/comic/bunny/index.php?id=37
December 5th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
I did, but a sequel and the first are two different entities. While they should be connected, they also need to stand alone as well.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
“I did, but a sequel and the first are two different entities. While they should be connected, they also need to stand alone as well.”
What’s your point? You made it sound like the possible aspect of a new controller of Francis’s zombies would have to take place during the first graphic novel. That’s what I was referring to.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
I’m sorry if thats how it seemed. no it doesn’t. thats what’d really make it buggery. but ending it with those two lines of Zeds also staring each other down wouldn’t be any good either(At least to me). I was just hoping for a resolution that was satisfactory, but didn’t tilt too much in the directions of too cliff-hangerey, or too final/”all’s well”.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Staring each other down? Sullivan’s zombies are currently beating the shit out of the leaderless zombies. Tragedy momentarily averted. We won’t see a single zombie in the last three pages, by the way.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
The sequel will explain about the histroy leading up to this? Very Good.
Peoples complaints about the last second save? Why?
They all fought hard and most refused to give up til the very end.
Several sacrifices were made to ensure they survive just a few moments longer, proving that they wanted life badly enough to deserve it.
The sudden calvery saving them? I think it is rather nifty. I mean, in the movie you’ll see the tired, beaten humans and vampires running for their lives, only to see a mass of zombies coming to finish them. And just as the ranks close to attack, they’ll here their savior’s shout, and in a moment of confusion, suddenly see that the enemy has had a unit subverted to their cause. The fight isn’t over, but they finally get the breathing room they need to fight back and survive.
Obviously he was too limited to save the world, but he has managed to secure the last pocket of resistance just in the nick of time.
There is still alot of story to be told, but I think this makes an awsome first chapter to an ongoing series.
As for the commands being shouted about the flank and supplies?
I thought he was clear. Outside of the flank, he had swords placed to supply the Vampires who all rush to fight, except Math. Wether the zombies still carry the swords or they dropped them to be picked up is irrelevant to the story. The order to lead them to the supplies, was dirrected to Math to lead the remaining people out (the humans). I assume guns, ammo and food will be there to keep the humans alive and defended. Probably warm blankets and water to.
He obviously thought out the rescue, but moving alot of supplies and bodies slowed him. Still, he made it, although he probably only had to come from the nearest military base while ladden with gear. Organization just isn’t fast, that’s all.
A very satisfying close to the first story.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
I’m all for however it gets finished. The leaderless zombies can still move and attack, right? Though leaderless, a mob is still a mob. Three billion is a rather huge mob. Guns only go so far, then it’s onto close combat. That’s where it’d even out. anyway, I don’t want to pick at the story, and I don’t want to get into an argument with anybody three pages from the end, especially when at least one of the people has absolute knowledge of everything within the argument content, and would be more than ready(so I’ve heard) to be snarky in it’s application.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
D.E.M. lol
December 5th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
This is my first comment, so I hope I don’t get banned. I would like to offer a few suggestions to calm down people who are worried about the appearance of a certain term which we shall not name. It’s been said that Sullivan came out of left field. Easy solution: mention his character more. Sure, we know of the existence of a Sullivan, but by revealing more about him, such as in the tunnel conversation and when it’s revealed that Sullivan is the villain, you could allude to the fact that Sullivan was a good guy, well-loved and respected. Mention Francis, but only in passing. This way, we hear more about Francis and Sullivan, more than just the name.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
John, that would ruin it. It’s already hinted at enough. It’s a very fine line you gotta walk when revealing stuff like that, not giving too little or too much. Just enough that it’s at least possible to guess it, but not so much that it’s too easy to guess it. It’s gotta be the moment of realization where it’s “Oh, right, that guy, of course, why didn’t I think of that, brilliant!” And using your suggestion would make it seem too stupid and fake of Math and April to think that Sullivan is The First Zombie. And I’m strongly against actually saying Francis’s name at all before we see him, but the current plan is to include his name as having one of the basketball records on the wall of the gym. Will probably change that for the GN.
Also –
“This is my first comment, so I hope I don’t get banned.”
Comments like this is what will get people banned. So annoying, acting as if I didn’t have good reason to ban people. Just talk about the damn comic and don’t say crap like that.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Should that not be a debriefing that Math will get, since a briefing comes before an event and a debriefing comes after?
December 5th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Past is prologue. Big events coming up that they need his knowledge for. His mind’s also a bit occupied at the moment with making sure his 3,000 armed zombies do what they’re supposed to do.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Mack: Wouldn’t even out as much as it seems–uncontrolled zombies don’t have the self-preservation instinct of an ant. They go for humans, and that’s that. Even if it was humans with flamethrowers in absolutely zombie-proof suits which were covered in acid-laced spikes, and the humans were standing on a minefield, and Hannah Montana was playing at 10,000,000 decibels on speakers pointed directly toward the advancing zombies, they would only be focused on getting to and eating the humans, not defending themselves. So that way Sully’s force doesn’t have to worry about getting winnowed down at all, no matter how long or hard or fast they fight. It’s just about killing the zombies closest to the humans and working back from there until you get a safe distance.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Jesse: That may be, but perhaps you also don’t understand how many three billion really is. If a line of three billion people started walking past you in single file as soon as you were born, you wouldn’t live to see the end of the line. We’re not talking about 100:1 or even 1000:1 odds. We’re looking at over 1000000:1 odds. Theres a reason ants and bees don’t have self-preservation insticts; they don’t need them. Supplies are limited, that kind of number isn’t. Especially since it’s more like 5 billion, not three.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
I don’t intend to troll or to flame. This comic’s excellent. However, just a few flaws:
- The ‘death’ of TFZ was rather lackluster. Hopefully he is truly invincible and that was just a brief wound. Then this could very possibly lead up to a ‘final battle’ between TFZ and S. Davis. Because, really, having a normal human deliver the killing blow through melodramatic deceit is a bit too much in my eyes.
- S. Davis did come too late – I understand the effect of people arriving just when all hope has been lost, but it went beyond that point. TFZ was already walking around performing executions long before Davis’ shooters came in range. It wasn’t even really Davis who was saving the day. He’s just clearing up the situation.
This comic is excellent and I hope you just recognize this as constructive critisism.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Mack: Do you think those five billion zombies are all in South Dakota (where the school is)? America got hit hardest by the nuclear war (most of those fired by themselves probably) and there’s probably less than 175 million zombies in North America right now, and we don’t currently have great reason to think that zombies from many miles away would even come after the humans, would ever know they exist. There are at least a couple million in the immediate area, but even many of those may be too far away to actively go after the humans.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
I have at least a vague idea how big a number that is–very few people really have a solid grasp on it, but I get the gist. But the point is, they don’t need to fight off three billion. Not all three billion are probably even actively interested in moving toward them at this point. I would bet only a few thousand are even fully aware of the human presence in the area. The rest will either stand there moaning or randomly wander slowly. They won’t just follow the other zombies just because of their movement. Now, as the zombies who are aware that there’s food nearby are being killed (and that would still be a lot by normal number standards, though nowhere near three billion; probably not even 100,000), the humans need to be hidden somewhere so that no other zombies continue to catch on.
If there’s an area somewhere that is not heavy in zombies, then they’ll be relatively safe there, since only randomly wandering zombies will ever encounter them, and odds are they won’t be in big enough numbers at any one time to be impossible to fight off. Of course, this is just speculation, and Bobby is of course dreaming up some other horrific scenario for them to have to deal with in the future that will make randomly wandering zombies sound like Christmas.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
GNAH!
Okay, okay. they deal with the Zeds using whatever magic, technology, or crazy design you go for. I’ll just leave that then. You still need something like 400 people or so to repopulate the Earth in any decent sort of time. Otherwise accidents, disease, and genetic defects will take their toll. So, even if they somehow manage to deal with the overwhelming odds of the zombies (even with the million or so that were reputedly on the way, humankind is pretty much hosed, and by affiliation vampires.
I’m gone!
(Whatever, I’m not running away. email me if you want)
December 5th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
December 5th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Maybe not then.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:05 am
What’s with the weird triple post, Mack? Ugh. Also, if you’ve read ANY of the comments pages you’ll know that they’re gonna get a LOT more “humans” soon. Don’t forget Addison’s case, jeez. And no, you do not NEED anywhere near 400 to repopulate. Do some more research.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:09 am
Nitpickers. Tsk.
Too bad I cant use WOWIO, because I’m in Asia.
Keep up the good work!
December 6th, 2007 at 12:40 am
‘Yes’ to the question of would I like to read bits of the screenplay.
I keep thinking of weird ways to butcher Zombies, 3000 controlled Zombies could drive 3000 steamrollers.
December 6th, 2007 at 1:00 am
Hmmm steamrollers….
)
Anyway. Something I’m wondering (but I’m pretty sure the answer will be in one of the prequels) is exactly why Francis was told how to become a schaemiac. I mean, I understand why he decided to become one out of spite and to get back at mankind and vampirekind, I get why Addison Payne decided to have Sullivan become one to stop Francis, and I know Val tells Francis. What I’m wondering about is exactly why Val thought it prudent to tell someone she just recently (presumably) turned into a vampire, that if he went through a bunch of pain he’d become an unstoppable killing machine with a semi-invincible army.
Unless Val told him before she made him a vampire, or if it was somehow some sort of plot on her end to have someone else do the dirty work, or…Well, I can’t think of any reason why she would have a good reason to tell him. I may have missed the answer to this one, but I have read most of the commentaries and I don’t remember seeing it (and googling didn’t turn anything up
December 6th, 2007 at 1:11 am
Million possible reasons — she was a stupid evil bitch. You’ll see in the flashbacks in the first sequel, yes.
December 6th, 2007 at 5:19 am
“I’m Sullivan Davis.”
!!
That was so cool.
In panel three, it kinda looks like he’s got a crazy mokawk or something.
PUNK ZOMBIES!!! WAAAAAAAHH!!!
Just kidding. This is so awesome
December 6th, 2007 at 6:11 am
Ummm, I was a little confused by the talk about Sophia being a woman. I thought it was the city where the Bulgarian first zombie came from. Like the capital of Bulgaria. Or maybe I’m just crazy.
December 6th, 2007 at 6:13 am
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and it might also be the name of a character in the sequel.
December 6th, 2007 at 6:36 am
We know that schaemiac control runs in bite veins. There have been hints about Francis’ zombies getting under control later.
So it’s nice speculating how this can come about. Let’s say we have some absurd turn of events like Sofia gave birth to Val before turning schaemiac, Val turned Francis, Francis zombified humanity.
Now Val, not having become schaemiac, is out of the equation. Would this kind of relation possibly give any control to Sofia, or is that completely absurd?
December 6th, 2007 at 8:43 am
awesome, just awesome. wish it’d go on forever! I have one question about the controlled zombies though. TFZ can make them use whatever skills they had in life, and without him controlling them they’re just completely mindless. My question is can TFZ will a zombie to regain some semblance of self, however temporary? Or at the very least could he make them talk? Assuming their vocal chords are intact, of course.
that aside, WHAT ABOUT RAAAGE!?!? I wanna see that psycho in action at least once more before the end. I’m sure we all do ^_^ And of course, what about the suitcase? I’d dying to find out what AFP put in there.
Anyway, keep up the good work.
December 6th, 2007 at 8:48 am
“Sullivan Badass” is more like it. I like how you can see the muscular tissue in his arm in panel 1. It really shows the amount of detail thats put in to the comic. Keep up the good work!
December 6th, 2007 at 8:50 am
One thing a lot of posters are forgetting here: the vast majority of the movie viewing public have no idea what a Deus Ex is and probably don’t care.
Like Monty Burns said in an early Simpsons episode, “Just show the great unwashed a pair of large breasts and a happy ending, and they’ll ‘oink’ for more every time.”
In other words, the film should do quite well…
December 6th, 2007 at 8:55 am
Bobby: Regarding any potential sexual contact between Sullivan and Sofia, you stated:
“She looks better than Val and doesn’t look rotted at all (possibly thanks to plastic surgery, and makeup also helps). ”
…yes, that’s nice and all, but SULLIVAN HIMSELF is currently rotting corpseboy. Women don’t like making out w/a guy with half his face rotting away any more than you would like making out with a woman with half HER face rotting away, y’know.
I’m sure I will now be swarmed with a jillion panting fangirls saying “omg I would make out with sullivan even if there were maggots falling out of his decaying mouth” but realistically – no they wouldn’t, because, ew. I doubt even Fred Thompson’s wife would go there.
If you’re going to magically restore Sullivan to being unrotted too, that’s fine then.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Luke: I would think that a.)people are smarter than Monty Burns thinks they are and b.) this movie is still going to make them happy, as it offers much more than that.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:41 am
All right, I’ll shut up about that. Sorry to upset you.
One thing was left a bit unclear to me. You’ve probably anwered this somewhere before, but there’s no way I’m going to read through the half a million comments on earlier pages… Francis says that Val made him a vampire. Addison says that the vampire who turned him had the best sense of smell (which is why his was also great). So did Val have even better sense of smell than Math? That wasn’t exactly the impression I got… :/
December 6th, 2007 at 11:23 am
I just thought what it would have been like if Addison F. Payne ever became a schaemiac…
…the vampires and Sully united wouldn’t stand a chance, I am certain
December 6th, 2007 at 11:34 am
Question, did any of the three main Ordos(Teutons, Hospitaller, Templars) have anything to do with the containment of zombies in the 12th century(excuse me if I don’t remember when the Ordos dissolved)?
I’m sorry for all these history questions about this comics background, but my head is just stuck in the past
December 6th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
“So did Val have even better sense of smell than Math?”
Yes.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
I just made a facebook group for this. I figured it’s about time. Maybe this can lessen the amount of questions and wild speculation and cut down on the length on the comments.
If Bobby, Owen, or Anko join, you got admin stasis instantly.
http://bridgewater.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6140619798
Everybody join!
December 6th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Hey, Bobby, just getting curious about this as more and more stuff gets developed around the comic–the FAQ, the forum, the wikipedia article, now a Facebook group–do you have any way of knowing how many readers you actually have? Clearly, the comic’s got me hooked, and apparently a number of people are into it enough to go to this extra trouble, so I’m willing to bet there’s a huge number of never-even-posted-a-comment readers out there as well.
December 6th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
NYAAA! omg update! =^_^=
December 6th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Will there be another “MACK ATTACK”? I mean there has to be at least one more =[. As cool as the vampires may be Mack laid down the law with a friggin axe and normal strength.
December 6th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Since he’s already stated there will be no zombies in the last three pages, I doubt we’ll be seeing any Mack Attacks – unless someone starts slaughtering allies for the heck of it
December 6th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Another great page. Woot!
Later,
December 6th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
I just sent off 110 to Bobby, should be up in a couple hours. It’s pretty sexy, plus it features the return of a much beloved character.
December 6th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
RRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
Random guess.
December 6th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Man, this is getting really cool. Hate that it has to end, love that that means the sequel can start!
December 6th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
It starts with an R, but it’s not Rage! If anyone guesses it before the page goes up, they get a cookie. Also, my internet is like broken right now and it’ll be a miracle if this comment even goes through. Haven’t seen the page yet, will soon (HOPEFULLY). Should be up in under an hour!
December 6th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
And while everyone loves BB, AFP, and WLB, personally, I want to more on Eddie, Prissy, and Punk. Maybe throw in a little of Caitlyn. But I like Eddie best. Just something really cool about him. I bet he’s even better with humans than Math. But I could be completely wrong.
December 6th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Bobby, Owen, since you’re both on now, I’d like to personally invite to a Facebook group I made in your creation’s honor.
http://bridgewater.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6140619798
If you’re on Facebook and you join, I’ll give you complete control over it. Consider it another way to keep in touch with us while the comic is on hiatus as well as a way to lessen the number of posts here.
December 6th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
I despise Facebook and I will never be part of it in any way. Also, internet murdering my soul right now, going insane. It’s mostly Gmail that won’t work right. Think I got a virus or something. Tried to send Owen an e-mail 20 times and it won’t go through, even though blah blah blah blah — insanely annoying. Page 110 looks great, by the way, even though I haven’t had time yet to look all the way through it. Need a slight change to something, though, so hopefully Owen’s around to do it right now. It’s possible we could put it up without the change and then just put in the change later, but I’d really rather not.
I’ve tried to send this comment five times now, each time three minutes go by and then it gives an error message, ugh. Hate everything.
December 6th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Why do you seem to give the appearance of wanting input from other people about your comic, when all you really want is a bunch of doting fans telling you how great the comic is? Every single attempt at offering any sort of criticism to your comic has been immediately shot down as far as I’ve read. Granted, I haven’t read every single post, but, if you don’t want criticism, just ignore the comments, don’t ask for them then hose them when they are not what you want to hear.
December 6th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
John, you’re an idiot, Bobby has taken criticism well before, and has taken it well on this very page. He even asks for suggestions on how he can make the story better.
December 6th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
John: I have never in any conceivable fucking way given the appearance that I want input from other people about my comic. Please try to find one instance of that at all, you lying piece of shit. Obviously banned for lying about me.
December 6th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
I am guessing Rex returns.
December 6th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
“It starts with an R, but it’s not Rage! If anyone guesses it before the page goes up, they get a cookie.”
Could it be… Rex?
December 6th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Please tell me it’s the DOG!!!
December 6th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Can’t even edit my post to include the following as opposed to double posting because my damn internet isn’t working right, UGH. I feel like I’m in 1993 or like Hiro slowed down time.
“He even asks for suggestions on how he can make the story better.”
LOL, I do? When? Unless you’re referring to asking the fucking morons on this page for how they’d fix the things they see as problems, but that’s very obviously just because there IS NO SOLUTION to the things they see as problems and there’s no way to fix them — it’s just to show them that what they’re saying is retarded and that they’re just being assholes on purpose.
December 6th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Just call Micah to fix it.
December 6th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Changes made, page should hopefully be up soon. I joined that facebook club. I have a love/hate relationship with facebook. Silvier, do you prefer oreo cookies or chocolate chip? Sucks about Bobby’s internet acting up, it’s the most frustrating thing ever when you do most of your work/business online and it goes down. Glad to see some Eddie love, i think he’s got potential to be pretty interesting. The Punk is one of my personal faves and Prissy is cool (yet emotional).
December 6th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
A lot of why I like Eddie is how he just stopped in the middle of it all to mourn his fallen friend (girlfriend?). And you are now an Admin. Thank you for joining.
December 6th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Darnit. Rex. I spent the last twenty minutes reading comments to see if we ever named the little vampire kid.
And, yay, Owen joined the group.
Sorry about your internet, Bobby. Thrilled to death with the Heroes reference, though.
December 6th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Dear Mr. Crosby,
I will not claim to be an author when I am not one (yet, at any rate) but I have written enough (on a very informal level) to know something of the feelings aroused by having one’s work open to judgement–particularly to every idiot with an internet connection. My advice is simply ignore those who can’t be bothered to read through all of the comments, and not to even refer them to previous answers–let other posters do that if they persist.
I do have to admit to grave reservations about the banning of those whose criticisms are not in line with your thinking–I understand how upsetting it is (I’m sorry if I sound like a second-rate talk show host–I’m just trying not to give the impression I’m after you personally) to be disagreed with about one’s work, particularly when it is in the final stretch. I honestly don’t see anything in the banned posts to warrant the treatment–they were, at least at first, trying to have an intellectual discussion. Threats and strongarm tactics just make it personal; exercising your authority is tempting but probably works against you, and I’m enjoying both the comics and the posts too much to be happy seeing you waste time exchanging insults. I’m sorry you don’t like unnecessary Latin–I’m quite fond of it myself–but it’s totally legitimate. Try not to hold it against those of us whose love of overcomplicated speech sometimes comes off as pretentious. Most of us don’t mean it and the chap above wasn’t even using it wrong, though others might have; at worst he was misdiagnosing the case.
I disagree with those who use ‘the phrase which must not be spoken’ in a bad way, for reasons stated quite adequately by others, including yourself. I do, however, have one suggestion to make on a more cinematographic level–since you requested any critics, however mild, to come up with alternatives: In the movie, throughout the story, like cutscenes, as someone else imaginatively phrased it with a superficially similar idea, show Sullivan Davis walking (or driving, or whatever) across the terrain. Don’t explain who or what he is–let people assume he’s the big bad coming for them. With Francis having been ‘killed’ at the beginning, people will likely make that assumption–leading to even more surprise when Francis reveals himself. Or else Davis could be kept in the shadows, poorly lit and/or heavily clothed, so that his species/vital status is not readily discernable with any certainty. Keep it mysterious just who’s coming and why. I also think that it’s a good idea to mention Francis in passing just once, as a friend of Davis’. Subtly, you know: nothing to suggest he’s ever going to be important. He’s supposed to come out of left field. Maybe Payne, in a hurried moment, could say something opaque to Devian about ‘our friend’ or something–so quick the audience won’t even notice the first time they see it. Just enough to suggest that our friend AFP knows what he’s buying with his life–I know he knows, and you know he knows, but an audience is likely to be too stupid to appreciate his brilliance (las three words in Peter Lorre voice).
It might also be cool to wait a little longer (in the movie, in the comic it’s perfect how it is) before revealing the connection between vampires and zombies–just wait long enough so an audience has time to wonder what’s causing all this, and then go ‘Oooh, that explains so much’.
These are just suggestions; I can’t imagine you’ll find any of them worth using.
have to say, I usually never comment on anything, but this captures my imaginations. It’s certainly the only excellent ’serious’ webcomic I’ve ver seen or heard of. I imagine that if you aren’t planning on keeping up the good work on every one else’s say-so you won’t on mine, but nevertheless both you and the artist have my admiration in almost equal measure, for whatever that’s worth.
Incidentally, I’m unlikely to post again, so you can save yourself the trouble of banning me if you feel it called for–which i hope you won’t.
As, therefore, we are unlikely o correspond again,
I have the honour to remain
Your obd’t serv’t
Dr Nikola (not of course my real name)
December 6th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Hmph. I’m afraid I only just read the last few posts about input. I suppose I retract what I said, but I was only ‘thinking aloud’ anyway. In any case tempers seem to be flaring and I reccommend deep breaths and cold water all around. Whatever Shakespeare claimed, a woman scorned has nothing on a writer criticised. In any event I advise those who worry about things like whether the zombies are wasting bullets to chill, and those who find flaws, however minor, with the writing to save everyone the trouble and keep their views to themselves, as they won’t be considered anyway. I think that it’s in everyone’s best interests to go back to using ‘win’ as a noun and commenting on which vampire is the most sexually attractive. It seems to cause fewer conniptions.
December 6th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
” Silvier, do you prefer oreo cookies or chocolate chip?”
Wewt! I knew it was the must have been the dog, I just couldn’t remember his name, right away. Archive page for the win. I remember reading a Penny Arcade comic about facebook and the guy next to just happened to be on it at the time. It made the strip that much better.
December 6th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
“Again, someone please tell me how you would improve it.”
My apologies, I didn’t mean that as an example of you asking for criticism or input. I saw it as an example of you taking criticism well (as you argued your case). I still think you take criticism better than most (and certainly better than me).
In any case, I hope your internet problems are fixed soon, that really sucks.
December 6th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Do zombies (Sullivan’s for example) ever tire? Get fatigued. Sorry if that’s been answered before.
December 6th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
“I do have to admit to grave reservations about the banning of those whose criticisms are not in line with your thinking”
Fuck you, moron, for lying about me and making it sound like I banned people because they criticized the writing. I banned people for SPECIFICALLY BREAKING THE RULES, doing something that I SPECIFICALLY SAID I’D BAN THEM FOR. Read the fucking posts.
“I understand how upsetting it is to be disagreed with about one’s work”
It may be upsetting to you — it’s not in any way upsetting to me. What’s upsetting to me is when fucking morons like you lie about me.
December 6th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Bobby, while some people are just being assholes to you, most are confused by what they consider an unclear plot. You say that you spelled everything out in previous comics, but if a lot of people still do not understand, I would see what I could to help straighten things out for them. They obviously enjoy your comic or else they would not be here.
Also, by the way, banning and insulting your readers only makes things worse
December 6th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
“Bobby, while some people are just being assholes to you”
“Also, by the way, banning and insulting your readers only makes things worse”
How the fuck does it make things worse to ban the asshole trolls? Also, kill yourself.
“but if a lot of people still do not understand, I would see what I could to help straighten things out for them.”
Uh, what? Have you not read any of my comments where I go into massive detail answering basically anyone’s questions on anything??? And again, kill yourself.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I personally have to say that people need to STFU and just read the comic or read another of the Crosby Bros. work. Sheesh, you people remind of a bad day time drama.
Bobby, this is a wonderful well thought out comic. Your comic isn’t at all rushed, it’s just written like real life. Real life, people, can feel rushed and you can’t do a damn thing about it.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Nice job, as usual, this comic deffintiey does NOT need improvement! Love it!
December 6th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
Another great page…. wasn’t Math supposed to return to the fight after he led the humans to the pond?
December 6th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Whoops, my last post is on the wrong page. Sorry guys.
December 7th, 2007 at 8:43 am
drNikola: that was the very definition of tl;dr.
December 7th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
#1 you shouldn’t have to read the comments to understand the comic
#2 I didn’t say banning trolls makes things worse, I meant insulting people who provide your income is idiotic.
#3 just like to say i’m never visting your site again so don’t bother responding
December 7th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
“you shouldn’t have to read the comments to understand the comic”
We’ve had this discussion 3,000 times. You obviously DON’T NEED TO. You only need to if you want TONS OF SPOILERS FOR LATER. Again, look up the definition of spoiler. This is ALL STUFF THAT WILL BE IN THE COMIC LATER and tons of people have questions about stuff that will SHOW UP LATER. The comic is NOT DONE YET and there are tons of sequels planned. This is literally the 50th time I’ve said this shit.
“I meant insulting people who provide your income is idiotic.”
No, it’s being honest and appropriate to insult asshole trolls like you, and I guarantee doing so increases my income because it makes the true fans respect me more for not being fake and being nice to assholes just to try to get money from them and hope they keep reading the comic and buying things. Keep in mind that the vast majority of comic writers would have never allowed most of these comments to go up in the first place, let alone responded to them. They would have never approved the comments. I allow all criticism of the comic, but when it reaches a point where they’re just annoying everyone and wasting everyone’s time by bashing me personally, as is almost always the case, their true colors show and the only logical option is to ban them as opposed to letting them dominate the comments page. I often wait too long to do so, though, resulting in retarded conversations like this with people like you who have no brain and can’t understand how things work, can’t understand what they just read (the comments, not the comic — but that too!).
“just like to say i’m never visting your site again so don’t bother responding”
Everyone says that and it’s an obvious lie. You’ll come back more than ever now.
December 12th, 2007 at 9:07 am
THIS IS THE BEST PAGE SO FAR!
December 15th, 2007 at 1:37 am
Take da Uzi nine milimeta!
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:03 am
ZARFGH!?!!!??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SULIIVAN DAVIS!!!
Oh, will I never get my zombie hitler??
June 18th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
S.D kicks teh azz