There is nothing technically wrong with this comic. The pacing is good, and the panels flow easily to tell a very clear story... but it almost feels as if it has no soul. As though this strip is merely going through the motions to tell a story that no one cares about. Also, while I don't mind b&w comics, using all the gradients, etc., really doesn't help sell the 30's vibe, since it still looks like a COMPUTER did all the work. A more hand-painted feel might work better, or something like an old newspaper yellowing effect... Anyway, I just don't care about this comic at all. I didn't feel any passion.

favorite and five stars! Well told and sophisticated.

Dear Zuda Competitors/Creators,
I’m the creator of the Zuda fan blog, and I would love to interview all of this month’s creators. If you would be willing to answer 5-10 questions, to be posted on the Zudafan blog, please contact me at: zudafan@gmail.com.
Feel free to check out the blog: zudafan.blogspot.com
Thanks!
~Liz

Hey, everybody! I just wanted to take a quick moment and address a few of the comments regarding the lack of color in our comic. Not that I feel that it needs to be defended, but Thollin and I made a conscious choice to go with black and white. We felt that it was better suited for a period piece set in the ‘30s and helped add to the serial element that we’re striving for. Also, with the Skullgoyle itself being gray, we thought he’d be more at home. Again, thanks for stopping by and checking out and supporting Skullgoyle.

First things first 3/5 stars from me.
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Where's the color at??? I'm guessing you went with B&W-gray tones to help out the noir feel for the story, but 9 times out of 9 color is the way to go for me, otherwise the story ends up lacking that -something- I expect with most comics. Thollin I also thought the black lettering boxing cut the screens in a bad way, maybe you wanted the contrast, or a movie feel, but you threw away a whole lot of the screen -which cramped your art- for what seems to be no real reason. That's a lot of dead space on every screen.
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The story has a nice supernatural element -a family's supernatural protector- I like stories with supernatural elements so cool it's in a genre I like. I don't think you went as far in 8 screens with the story as some other comics this month did, but I know it's only 8 screens.
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Stephen- a very readable font, and a personal thank you from me to you for that.
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SCREEN 1 open on action, and the tower in the background let's you know where you are even if you hadn't read the pretty good synopsis.
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The placement of the background figures (except for the old lady carrying bread's arm -it looked a little stiff), really added to the sense of movement, I esp. liked the waiter being in darker shadow, very good panel (full page shot) composition here.
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SCREEN 2 Loved panel 3 nice overhead view -looked like an orson welles shot. Fairly good panel layout here as well.
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Not too many text boxes, thanks for that Dan. The ones you do have are handled well.
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SCREEN 3 Nice background in panel 1.
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I also enjoyed the 3 panel sequence here and the last panel, look on her face. Here comes the letter writing script, which gives the reader a good reason to keep clicking for the next screen.
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SCREEN 4 Good panel layout here, and we are getting the story behind the missing boyfriend. I enjoyed the letter writing device.
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SCREEN 5 Claude does look like an evil bastard, and it does have that noir feel, but you could have had that -with color.
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The letter text really went along well with the action in the panels, nice job on the writing and the art.
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SCREEN 6 6 panels with the HUGE black borders, created bit size portions with your art work. In other words it's cut down to so little panels, the impact of finally meeting SG, isn't much of a impact at all.
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The scary shadow in panel 1 is an old effect but I enjoy it.
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in panel 2, is that a from skullgoyle's mouth P.O.V., if so cool, our are those spike lines meant to be action lines, with gray tones I couldn't tell???
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Panel 3 SG reminds me of a classic spawn poise.
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Panel 4 I liked the silent scream of the panic stricken bad guy, nice touch.
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Panel 5/6 I liked the look of the corpse fellow, and SG looking down P.O.V. shot in the last panel.
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If it wasn't for the letterbox look this panels could have been even bigger, and even better.
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SCREEN 7 nice full page shot, but no great impact because the letterbox cut off is so obvious on this screen.
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I liked the look of SG though. If SG was roaring shouldn't his mouth have been open so we could see those shape teeth, maybe throwing it's head back and looking like it was really yelling -ROOAAARRRR!!!!!!
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SCREEN 8 We start with a mid range shot, than a close up, then you pull out even farther to show SG. How does that make sense??? It would have read easier if you had started with the close up (so we could see the letter) then pull out, then pull even father out so we can see SG. The mid level, close, father away view is something that's not as jarring in comics, like it would be in a film, so if you went against what would be expected on purpose, niffty try, but it still stood out. It would be a nice way to add to the weirdness if you took the road less traveled/expected with scenes like this throughout the story. As I write this I'm starting to like it more, just wondering why you laid it out the way you did???
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I really enjoyed the phone conversation we never saw as the word overlay to her getting hammered on the booze. Very neat effect with that.
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You had some very nice touches -with art and dialogue- here and there, but the lack of color for me, and worse the huge black letterbox look really hut you. Also I spent a fair portion of time wondering why you did some of the things you did, -but a solid read -hence the 3/5 stars.

Cool pulp / movie serial style comic! Nice art and great story!

Great work guys! I really like the concept and the art is fantastic, also the pages themselves were very readable from the panel layout to the lettering. You've got some tough competition this month but hang in there.

Thanks again for everyone checking in with the ol' Skullgoyle. Plenty of month left for Skullgoyle to roar n' soar. Double thanks if you ranked us with 5 Stars. Triple thanks if you dubbed us one of your favorites. Quadruple thanks if you voted for us. It's all apprecitiated.

Good work guys-- like mood of this piece; and some nice work on the black and whites too.

I'm not sure. It was a quick read, but the art was pretty sweet in places. Skullgoyle him(her?)self was great, but I think there were a few odd compositional choices, such as Hugh's three consecutive head-and-shoulders panels on page four. As much as I like black and white, I think this could benefit from colour. Muted colour, maybe. The story has quite a few points to follow up on, which was balanced very well throughout the eight pages. Dialogue was good too. All in all, hardly anything wrong with this comic, but I don't quite feel compelled to come back. Dunno why. Good luck, guys!

pfffftttttt......

Oh hellz yes! Skullgoyle looks awesome. My kids already want a Skullgoyle toy. Rock!

Nice job. Well written story and good set-up for a story. Nice use of the 8 pages.

Great stuff! Dan Good Luck.

Cool concept! I like the artwork and story, great pacing!
Great job on the lettering too!
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Good Luck!

I love this comic already. I wish you the best of luck in this months competition! The comic is have great dialogue so far and has an original idea: instead of someone having a guardian angel, here is a comic about someone who has a guardian gargoyle!

I love gargoyles. The title of your comic is awesome. SKULLGOYLE. he's well designed. i like skullgoyle.

I like the guardian gargoyle concept. That's what the Church used to do. Gargoyles were used to ward off demons and other evils by putting them on top of the Cathedral. This would definitely be worth seeing more of. It'll be like Scooby-Doo...except with no van...or talking dog...or stoners...and seems kinda TV-16. Very cool. Heh.

Good concept. A little too "Godzilla the Animated Series" for me, though.

I dig the art style. Helps set the tone well. Very sharp entry. Great lettering too.
Good Luck!