Tales from the Middle Kingdom

^ 9 Comments...

1. vonbek
   September 24th, 2009 at 4:52 pm

   wow… the panel where the arrow punches through the armour is… wonderfully done… really makes you go… “ouch!” This is a great page!

2. Koad
   September 24th, 2009 at 10:49 pm

   Thanks vonbek! Glad you like it, I had a lot of fun doing this one

3. xcal
   September 25th, 2009 at 2:29 am

   AWESOME

   and following the discussion of your next project, may I suggest http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka
   the greatest Zulu military commander. yesterday was Heritage Day in South Africa…the 24 September was pre-apartheid called Tshaka’s Day as this was the day that he was killed by his brother…a power struggle fueled by the British Empire.

   Modern Zulu’s are noted for being powerfully united, and somewhat militaristic, President Zuma (currently at the G20 in Spitsburgh) is a Zulu.

   Do this 1/2 as well as your current story and I guarantee you Hero status in SA

4. xcal
   September 25th, 2009 at 2:30 am

   hmmm, I heard our MInister of Defense on the radio this morning. She said that SA has a standing army of 75 000 soldiers. below is from the wiki link:

   At the time of his death, Shaka ruled over 250,000 people and could muster more than 50,000 warriors.

5. Mercy
   September 25th, 2009 at 5:38 am

   Awesome visual storytelling, one almost feels the impacts.

   Thick as winter rain,
   The hiss of arrows falling.
   Wordless the men’s pain.

6. jj
   September 25th, 2009 at 6:47 am

   I love the atmosphere of the dark panel, it reminds me of the beginning of Bram Stoker’s Dracula (the movie). Did you draw it in blood?;) Sun Bin won this battle and killed Pong Guen (unless he pulls a Jezus), but the war is not over.

   xcal: A comic about Shaka (and his brother) might be interesting, but it’s definitely not a tale from the middle kingdom. If someone makes a comic about him I would like to read it:)

7. Koad
   September 27th, 2009 at 3:31 pm

   Thank you everybody!

   @xcal: I didn’t know of Shaka before, thanks for the link that’s a really interesting story. Personally I’m of the opinion that these historical comics are more interesting if the artwork reflects the cultural background of the story. That’s why I’ve tried to emulate the Chinese brush painting styles with this comic (I’ve never received any formal training in it, but I’ve seen enough of this style of art to at least try faking it). Unfortunately I’m not familiar at all with African art, so I think I have quite a bit of homework to do before I’ll have the skills to do the story justice, but someone definitely should do a comic on Shaka, I think it’s got all the trappings of a great historical comic.

   @Mercy: Thank you so much, appreciate it!

   @jj: lol I was actually thinking about that scene in Bram Stoker’s Dracula when I drew the dark panel. Just goes to show - great minds think alike… As for what I use to draw that panel, well you wouldn’t ask a magician to reveal all his tricks yeah?

8. Swashy
   September 29th, 2009 at 7:59 pm

   Haha f**k yes! Pong guen was such a d**k hole, what a great ending! Its a shame Sun bei ling won’t get to rub it in his face though :*(

9. Koad
   September 30th, 2009 at 8:03 pm

   Hi Swashy! I censored the naughty words for the sake of the kiddies, but thanks so much for the comment

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