Word of Power
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The Last City, a crumbling megalopolis, stands alone in a world ravaged by an arcane cataclysm and endless war, its citizens adapting to life under constant siege. Temu, an ambitious teenage rock guitarist, is blacklisted after performing a banned pre-war song and is forced to play to rush hour crowds for spare change. A chance encounter with an enigmatic girl on the run and the minor inconvenience of an enemy air raid, lead him to the forgotten ward of the city, BurnDown Town. There, in a winding back alley between a karaoke bar and used pet shop, is an old record store, Inzen. Temu begins a bizarre apprenticeship under the store's owner, a reclusive musical genius named Asdel. Temu's journey will take him through the city's past and the battle for its future.
who cant understand how the dreamers mind works HARDLUK,luv the comic idea art etc. the art reminds of mY own RAGTIME/luv the color on no color/the haracter is intriguing--Bless
Kinda interesting...need more, though.
How bout it Marc? Can we look forward to more WoP elsewhere? I'm sure alot of people will follow it wherever it goes!
Man, this should have done better.
I hope you either work on this story some more, or work on something new soon.
-Paul M
Marc can we look for Word of Power to keep on keeping on elsewhere?
5 Stars!
the art is gorgeous. Your synopsis was more gripping than the narrative though. I'd suggest speeding it up.
I like this one a lot! And I don't even read much Manga. I think I'm feeling that 80s vibe that another poster commented on. A shame it's bogged down so far in the ratings.
Rock and Rule! Heh. (Google it, kids - you might learn something)
The artwork is really nice, i love the way you use some color on a black and white comic.
Great work.
If you're a fan of Marc's art, definitely check out the full color interview with the Word of Power crowd at www.knaveofkrypton.com/interviews.html. We'll be posting interviews with all ten of the December Zuda Competiors as the day goes on.
This is the best looking comic out of the bunch, and that's saying quite a lot! Great job!
Such a wonderful comic. Unfortunately, it seems it greatest aspects- amazing character and world development- are what is keeping it lower in the rankings. I think most people are searching for alot of plot (at least for the non-humour comics) first in these submisions.
I personally hope Word of Power does very well.
Oh, and amazing art. I don't read much manga at all, but loved this style.
This is quite good. I'm not a fan of manga, but this got me interested in what comes next, which is better than most.
Great Work, amazing art, you remember me the great Katsuhiro Otomo. Macross (Robotech) without the robots :)
Nice work Man. (Tumbs Up)
wow, very well done. i hope to see more.
Marc, if you get a chance, send me an email at theknave@knaveofkrypton.com, I have a promotional opportunity for your entry.
I definitely enjoy the complexity of the panels and the future-80's anime-rific nostalgia comment was right-on. The character development for the protagonist is compelling (and yeah, relatable), and after reading the synopsis I definitely want to see what happens next.
Although the content began as seemingly derivative as mentioned (go-go anime formula), the script definitely has a Westernized touch and original slants (definitely more original than most of the other entries I've read).
I am also refreshed to find the minimalistic script that doesn't underestimate the reader. I did have to turn back a screen or two to get everything down, but my eyes also engaged more of the atmosphere of the panels than lingering over lengthy text bubbles. A definite symmetry of storytelling by image and script; one is not used merely as accessory to the other.
Excellent work on the story and artwork. My vote's in.
I did love the art but I'm not sure if the story will be stong enough to pull me in...
I really dig the style of the art and the treatment of the backgrounds. I'm interested to see where the story goes and how it will progress. I can definitely see this being published by TokoyoPop.
BTW I also have a comic about a wannabe rock star called Pretentious Record Store Guy that you might enjoy:
http://www.pretentiousrecordstoreguy.com/comics/
Great job on the comic!
Cheers!
Nice. Very pretty. Being a musician, you had me pulled in at "tap, tap, tap". The art looks like it's almost as good as you'd like it to be. If that makes any sense. It looks nice. May be the layout that threw me in places. The story feels like one that could hook me. Feels like it would need at least a few more pages to dig in though. Then I read the synopsis and thought-Wow, I'd've liked to see some of that too. I did like what you've done and would like to see more. Keep it up! Looks like you could have the start of something good here.
I don't know if this is just me but this really feels like it should be taking place in the future of the 1980's. It's clearly got artistic influences from some 80's era heyday anime/manga. I also get a real daft punk kinda feel from the art. Like, you know the future as imagined in the 80's? I think if you had really embraced that rather than just took inspiration from it you might've gotten a bigger bump from nostalgia alone.
This is shaping up to be a solid comic. I really like media that makes rock and roll a character, and does it well, I can already tell that this is shaping up to do that.
I think that this comic would've been much higher in the running had it been in the last round of competition instead of this one. I don't think the low ranking is necessarily indicitive of poor quality in this comic, but rather the overall quality of entries this round.
Besides, don't throw in the towel yet. It's only the first week of the month. I read comments on the low ranked competitors and it's like they've already thrown in the towel. There still three weeks before anything's decided. I haven't voted yet, and I imagine that there are others who want to see how the different comics grow on them over the next couple weeks before they commit to anything. The internets a big place, nothing's decided.
RKB: Very good post. Yeah, in 20/20 hindsight, decompression was probably *not* the best choice for an 8 page teaser. It might be my personal taste but it was not appropriate in a competition that can best be described as a pit fight between land pirahnas on heroin. Heres where I plug my deviant art page for conceptual images (link's on my profile).
____I love the speculation! Word of Power is the subject of a chapter from an obscure 1920's spiritual philisophy book, 'The science of the Mind', by Holmes, parts of which show up during the ..ahem..formative years of the principal antagonist. It is also a play on the english translation of Inzen. I'll let you figure it out. :)
Marc: nice art nice story- now for the criticisms: I think how each of the creators use the synopsis is more important than people give it credit for, even more important when you only have 8 screens to work with. Reading the story I kept waiting to see Asdel show up, but didn't see him (screen 9 maybe?) or for the girl to be given a name. Your synopsis kind of showed some of the back story (which I think is the best use of it) and a preview of future characters (which kind of throws me off reading it) where was Inzen for example? This is not a slam by any means, I just think the story could have been more involving if it started off after the Synopsis ended. We could have seen more of the characters/ situations that would make up your story. The flashbacks to his rock-gods days was a nice narrative insight into the character/ but I would have liked to have seen more of what was in the Synopsis.
Am I the only one that reads the Synopsis first?
About the title:
I am guessing Word of Power refers to the song he sang that got him black-listed. He's going to be the leader of some kind of revolution/ what if John Lennon's ideas had worked? His lost of his career reminds me of some of the stories you see today on the news about China and how they crack down on there people. Topical with a lot of promise. The art was good too- B & W with color added doesn't just work for Frank Miller.
Great attention to detail. Mad skills. The story moved a little slow, but in the context of a full-sized graphic novel, it could work real well at establishing a solid mood. Its just tough when your up against more flashy quick hitting stories.
This is right pretty, Marc.
Right pretty indeed.
Beautiful pages!!!
______It's cool illinest...I mean heck, the competitions only been up for a few days. And besides the odd album cover done for a friend, this is the only time I've put any work in front of people. So the exposure and feedback makes it all worthwhile.
______Your comments on mine and others seem direct and truthful - 'better a malicious critic than a clumsy friend', to butcher a quote by Swetchine. On your previous observation on the derivation of the 'Upper City', it's not physically above anything, just built on the remains of the U.N. Crisis Ark at the center of the city.
I'm not sure if I understand the low ranking.
I've got particularly warm feelings toward pages 5 and 7. Page 5 brings me into the subway station and even inside Temu's head. You conveyed a lot of information with elegant minimalist storytelling.
Page 7 pushes forward Temu's drive and the spotlighted crowd looks fantastic. The am radio tower reaches toward the sky, signaling Temu's aspirations.
There is a bit of a confusing push and pull up until the big reveal on page 8, but that page clearly ties the preceding pages together and leads us forward into the next part of the story.
Now I'll confuse everyone.
I'd rate this one in the middle of the pack.
I think you've got something with particular appeal to me but I don't know if I'd be able to recommend it to others.
You've got multiple points of conflict and they're not all as clear as they could be. I make a point of not reading the synopsis unless I need some particular information and it was only then that I understood the reason Temu was playing music in the subway.
Your black and white design is clearer than that in Ponbiki or Pray for Death but I still believe that if you want to win the Zuda competition you're selling yourself short by not colorizing.
seriously why is this number 9!!! this is an awesome comic! great story and art!
hey, nice work here. keep it up.
And we want more battlefield babysitter!
This is great. I really want more.
sorry my computer glitched
I am not really into manga, but I do like the art...the story is not really to my liking.
I am not really into manga, but I do like the art...the story is not really to my liking.
Excellent job of transitioning back and forth between the character's internal dialogue and reality. Rockstar one page, ignored street performer the next; all you can see is the daydream so the reader is just as surprised when the girl interrupts his thoughts. Really well done. I love the understated science fiction setting.
I cant wait to read more on this one. This is my second choice and i love the art. good job!
I would love to see more of this one! nice work all around.
your art is really good. the style reminds me of these underground graphic novels i used to read a long time ago. i think it's the red shading on page 2 just has some old style comic book feel to it.
Rank 9 on the first day! Bull crap! Don't worry man, it'll pull up to the top three by the end of the month.
Nice use of grey tones and color placement. Solid story/ storytelling until the last page, which is fairly abrupt. 4/5
I liked it. the art is very "For Better or Worse" but it was a solid entry
Not a breeze to read but I like that. Nothing wrong with trying to make out what's a flashback, what's in Temu's mind, what's going on in the subway, etc. etc. Really amazing art and layouts. This month's contest is really shaping up to be great.
Me like the pretty pictures. Honestly, the art is top-notch, but I did get a bit tangled directionally panel to panel. For your first try, I say kudos!
Good artwork - check.
Interesting story - check.
Possibility of a believable relationship - check.
Not made for 8 year olds - check.
*processing vote now* ............ ding!
Good job.
I also got a little lost, but for me the story is being told from the perspective of the main character´s inner thoughts. It´s kinda surreal sometimes, but I got the point. Man, it´s becoming difficult to choose the winner this month. Congratulations, Marc, beautiful art and story!
Beautiful artwork... not too sure about the story. It may have gone a bit over my head.
I like it, dude looks like a lady a little, but the story is my style.
I liked it well enough, but I couldn't help feeling that I was lost in some places. The art is good, fantastic in some places (the radio tower, the subway cutaway and and page 4 as a whole) and weak in others (character renderings, tighter panels). I'd be interested in seeing more, but don't feel pulled into quite yet. Good luck!
I'm not huge into manga, but I really liked the art here. The pacing seemed a little slow, since it just leaves you hanging in the end, but not terrible. A nice, fast read.
First impressions - Beck. Beck. Beck. Beck. Although actually...
Other than the visuals on the main character, I can't honestly say that anything feels derivative here. Maybe the 'upper city' bit, but that's forgiveable if I find out later there's a good story reason to use that plot device.
Unfortunately you did lose me a little bit. Storytelling not clear.
I'd read a second installment but I'd need to see some kind of a sign that I'm not going to be confused every time I tune in.