« Templar: Yes, the dog has a name. | Main | Templar: There aren't as many fistfights at The Mission as you might expect. »

June 30, 2007

Templar: Gene is nearly thirty years old.

That kind of makes the last panel on this page a little creepy, I think. But not too much. I mean, I still like him, don't you?

Anyway, new page, new sketches! A real grab-bag of sketches this time, too. Cuz sometimes, it just all comes out goofy and won't be persuaded otherwise.

I'm sure this is older-than-old news to anyone halfway aware of their surroundings, but I colored this page of Templar while watching episodes of that Showtime series The Tudors. It's supposed to be about Henry VIII.

It's not. It's really not.

I'm definitely no expert on the English crown, but I've been poking this period of history with a stick while I wait for the next installment of "A Song of Ice and Fire." (I've heard these books referred to as "War of the Roses fanfiction." And really, that's pretty fair.) So, in essence, I only know just enough so that this series annoys the hell out of me. I was pretty excited when I found out a cable miniseries about Henry VIII existed, but I just wound up yelling at the screen a lot.

I can get over the really awful and usually-inaccurate casting choices. (But Jesus, these people each had like A MILLION PORTRAITS painted, COME ON.) I can stand the occasional bouts of character assassination and timeline compression (Gee, whiz, poor Henry FitzRoy, that was the quickest EIGHTEEN YEARS I ever SAW.) But when the writers start randomly accusing historical figures of mariticide, compositing princesses and making up popes, I kinda start going insane. It's the same reaction I get when I see Victorian-era lithographs of Nordic New Kingdom Pharaohs, or hear people talk about space aliens building Stonehenge.

So The Tudors is pretty, but I can't enjoy it. It's just no damned good to me, it lies too much and it sucks at it. But if you don't care about history, it's probably worth a look. It's not as sensationalized as I make it sound, and there's definitely a strong soap opera vibe, if that's what you're into. But me, I'm done with it.

...

I miss Rome. :(

And by the way, before I forget to mention it: I put the tip jar back up. But this round, there are no incentives attached. No goals, no offers of extra pages, nothing to go with it. It's just a rattling cup.

I hope that doesn't bug anyone. It's just that with the new MWF schedule and the sketches, I'm literally already doing all I can.

Don't feel obligated to give, donations are 100% voluntary and unnecessary. The option's just there in case you want to.

Posted by Spike at June 30, 2007 06:11 AM

Comments

I think three pages a week is impressive output, especially if (as I assume) you're working at another job to keep the fridge stocked and the lights on.

Sorry you were disappointed in The Tudors, but I can sympathize with your penchant for historical accuracy. I could never get past who they cast in the lead roles so I didn't even watch the series.

Posted by Scott Bieser at June 30, 2007 10:20 AM
71.32.137.64

Aw, I still like Gene. His chronological age means nothing to me - he's just a kid. A weird savant kid.

And I agree on the Tudors. Although if they feed Rhys-Meyers a few cases of condensed milk a day for a couple months, then give him gout, he could probably give good Tudor.

Posted by Cordelia at June 30, 2007 10:36 AM
76.109.222.190

Haha! Is Spike a History junkie?

<3 Ditto.

I'm thinking that big WAIT is Reagan.

Posted by MissusHow at June 30, 2007 11:13 AM
72.225.13.70

Aw, I think Gene is adorable.

And I can't decide whether the "WAIT" is Reagan or Curio. I'm leaning towards Reagan, since I feel like Curio's already been effectively dismissed...

Posted by Clare at June 30, 2007 12:21 PM
68.37.80.182

I'm reasonably sure it's Reagan. I'm guessing she has some issue with Ben going off with his new friends, or something.

Random note: I'm pretty sure Tuesday is one of my new favorite characters. Not that I'd actually enjoy meeting someone like her, but she's fun to watch.

Posted by Wark at June 30, 2007 03:09 PM
199.17.231.42

If it keeps with the lettering, I'm pretty sure that's supposed to be Sunny. But Reagan would make sense, too.

I dunno. I've seen a forty-year-old crack up when I said the phrase "lesbian bitch-tits." Gene's doing OK for himself if you ask me.

Posted by Alan Tyson at June 30, 2007 04:02 PM
12.206.228.216

George old boy needs to finish Dance with Dragons. I'm going to finish my second read of the series soon, and there's just not another fantasy series that equally captivates me.

Who's your favorite character, Spike?

Posted by Kyle at July 1, 2007 01:56 AM
12.227.239.60

Was Gene supposed to lapse into "normal" lettering in the first panel? That's the first time I've seen that happen, I think.

Posted by Ubik at July 1, 2007 11:41 PM
75.34.37.7

Holy CRAP, thanks Ubik. I totally missed that, don't ask me how. I fixed it just now!

And Kyle: Is there any answer other than Tyrion Lannister?

Posted by spike at July 2, 2007 02:48 AM
68.20.33.106

Hang in there, Rome series 2 started in BBC in UK last week, so should be in US soonish.

Loving the comic btw ;)

Posted by Dan at July 2, 2007 05:18 AM
138.38.54.23

Yeah, I think Tuesday deals with two kind of men: perverts and the embarrassed ones.

"Relax, no one's getting nude at dinner." I sorta imagine that being said in the same tone as "Relax, I'm not going to bite you."

And WOW I just noticed Tuesday's hip bones in the first panel. Does that dress cling or is she just that boney?

... wait, I remember the vote art. Never mind. I know the answer already.

Posted by Rachael S. at July 2, 2007 05:25 PM
24.136.238.170

In a series with so many characters, I think there are plenty of answers. Even Tyrion (though I like him too) has his faults. The torch he carries for Tysha drives his worse decisions; 'confessing' his crime to Jamie, for example, and thus driving away the one person in the book who cared for him.

Currently my vote goes to Beric Dondarrion, the true Azor Ahai!

Posted by Kyle at July 3, 2007 08:30 PM
24.177.164.109

See, I read Lois McMaster Bujold, and thus was primed and ready to like Tyrion because he was enough like Miles. Yay for the dwarf with a tongue that could move mountains!

Posted by Jala at July 5, 2007 06:28 PM
24.107.229.161

Post a comment