3-18 Not Costumes
Friday, September 28th, 2007– Commentary –
Craig: I keep a detailed calendar that organizes what events happen on what days in the story. I try to drop clues from time to time that give a hint as to when things are happening. For example, on page 2-18, we see Lucky attending a Halloween party with Kate and Aaron. Later, on page 3-15, there’s a “Happy Holidays” billboard that establishes that we’re in the holiday season.
J.D.: We’re not yet. By “holiday season” you must mean the holiday season celebrated by Sears and the like. You know, they put up the Christmas decorations the day after Halloween.
Craig: That’s exactly what I mean. In the town where I grew up, we’d start seeing holiday billboards and the like before Halloween. Same here in Springfield. In this week’s page, Tara asks “why is everyone still wearing Halloween costumes,” suggesting that this page happens shortly after Halloween. In fact, this page’s events happen in the morning of Tuesday, November 2nd, 2004.
J.D.: Being this particular about tracking time allows us to do things like have the Moon in the right phase on night shots, or coincide certain events in the game with events in the real world.
Craig: The first page of chapter 1 opens with Lucky going to the computer lab. In panel 1 you can see a full moon. This was Thursday, October 28th, 2004, which was, in fact, a full moon. Since the beginning of chapter 1, five days have passed in the story.
J.D.: Including the prologue makes it about two weeks.
Craig: And just to quell further speculation, yes, the wrench-sword wielding warrior is female.
J.D.: And the glowy guy is cute. Though I wouldn’t suggest asking him to be your pet. 🙂
Craig: 🙂
September 28th, 2007 at 12:11 am
I’d never thought I’d make a post like this, but…
FIRST!!!
Penance = Awesome.
September 28th, 2007 at 2:52 am
Craig and Jennifer, don’t stop the commenting please. It was fun to read your comments and it gave clues about the story I would have missed otherwise.
I’m so happy that the hiatus is over at last.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:29 am
The wait is over; new Penance! Woot, and stuff. 😀
I second what Georg says, though. The comments were as interesting to read as the strip, but I guess it depends if you have the time to do them or not.
September 28th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Third vote on the comments, if you can pull it off. If not, maybe you can include them in the book… 😉
September 28th, 2007 at 10:51 am
wheeeee!
September 28th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
YAY!
I fourth that vote on comments if possible =]
September 28th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Agreed, the comments are great.
Hey, you managed to make the blue glowy guy even cuter – I want one as a pet now 🙂
September 28th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
reference: http://www.penancecomic.com/2007/04/06/1-23-be-my-guest/
I believe I first said not to stop the commentary….so, add one to everyone here. 🙂 Oh, and more importantly, Don’t Stop the Comments!
Another of my favorite web comics are those put out by David Morgan-Mar (http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/) partly because they are good and partly because of the witty commentary. (It’s also the same reason I watch the extras on the DVDs – which my wife hates.) Seeing the inner workings that made something I enjoy just adds to the experience.
Layne
Layne
September 28th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Craig and Jennifer!
I await your comments just as I await every next page.
Yours clues, hints and stories are always most welcome.
It is great pleasure to accompany You in creation process!!
(hope it is readable 🙂
September 28th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Wow! We had no idea that our commentary was so interesting to you guys!
J.D. and I had not planned to continue the commentary on the new pages, but… all your kind comments are making us think again!
September 28th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Yeah you certainly need to include comments in the future 🙂 They make Penance even more interesing!
Awesome to see new strips as well.
September 29th, 2007 at 3:45 am
Bring on the commentary!
September 29th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Woah. It’s quiet. 17 14 06?
Yes! Definitely keep the commentary coming!
We love you guys!
~ Seamus (Hexidecimal: W T F?)
September 29th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
Please continue the comments!
I also note that I like both the blue-glowing fellow AND the wrench sword. (Murphy’s Wraith? (: )
September 30th, 2007 at 1:15 am
An interesting thought occurs to me. There’s a fascinating tension building here between the persona we’ve been given of Rex as essentially pure evil and that of these folks who seem quite…well, nice.
October 1st, 2007 at 7:53 am
What about adding a new strip on Friday and a commentary on e.g. Monday? I think this would be even more interesting (and continue the tradition of seeing the strips first and commentary later).
October 1st, 2007 at 9:20 am
For some reason, I’m reminded of a classic cult: seemingly decent leader being persuaded by a charismatic leader into things they don’t want to do.
And I second the “Strip on time, commentary later” idea. Perchance have the comments appear at the same time as the next strip?
October 1st, 2007 at 4:10 pm
I loved the commentary as well. It added another dimension to the strip.
I’m thrilled that there are new strips now as well. You guys do a really amazing job. Keep it up.
October 1st, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Wow, I have really good timing. I just got bored in class and decided to look up penance for the first time in about 5 months, and here you just posted the first new strip. Awesome!
By the way, everyone is right; the comments are GREAT!
And I second Jason’s question: What is that wrench thing in panel 2?
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:41 am
The “wrench”: It’s a sword that he’s leaning on….possibly fashioned from spare parts and a welding torch.
Layne
October 2nd, 2007 at 4:02 pm
And actually, I think that “he” is actually a “she”.
October 4th, 2007 at 10:13 am
That was my impression as well.
October 4th, 2007 at 11:32 am
I lost count of how many people said to keep the commentary going… but add my name to that list too. It’s great!
I also liked the idea of “strip on Friday, commentary on Monday”. It adds some more suspense, and something else to look forward too.
You guys do amazing work! 🙂
January 12th, 2022 at 6:11 pm
2triumph…
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