xylia

[BarbJacobs]

This page ended up not being as difficult as I was thinking it would be. I had to create it start to finish in one day. I dont usually do that.

Yes, my buffer is gone. Yikes. I have a good start on page 8 though. Thank goodness. Page 9 is the one that will slow me down. It's a collage. With costumes. Research. Action and stuff. Uh oh.

Better get to work.

But I sick. Wahhhh!!

~B

[Krozam]

Just don't take any more pressure than necessary to keep you going. It's not like you'll get flamed if you miss an update once in a while. It's important that you remember to enjoy yourself, so this doesn't become work. (Nothing new from me, I'm afraid... )

Your lighting and attention to detail are really superb. I know you've heard this many times over, but every one of your pages is like an individual work of art rather than just a comic page. I know others who do this, but they tend to update rarely. I wish I had an artist of your level to realize one of my stories... On the other hand, I'm not sure it's not more satisfying to read a completely new story, one that I haven't invented myself.

Ah, the boy looks so bright-eyed, so eager to learn new things about the world... Watch out, or you'll notice fantasy can be more real and more interesting than the real world. I know that from experience...

[Elle]

I really like the plethora of textures and patterns in this one--you use them well with your drawings.

Don't panic, don't rush yourselves! We'll be patient. Enough.

[Hagar]

Is this just keep getting better & better- or is it just me?
I really like this page

And little Claude! such a small chin & nose! His profile at the first panel will grow, no doubt! (the kid don't now how many Pinocchio joke awaits him just around the bend!)

I love the last panel, where Livy is watching the little boy walk away. I wonder if the dog knows something... hmm...

I don't know if it due to the light in the room, or the brightness of it's colors, but it feels as though the tree picture is beaming light. Is it?

[Strange Ian]

I don't know if it due to the light in the room, or the brightness of it's colors, but it feels as though the tree picture is beaming light. Is it?

Yeah, thought so too, it's almost like it's a window. Or like Barb wants you to notice it...
Love that journal, it looks like it's been through some stuff. Maybe had a few arrows through it, been slashed with a sword, lived in proximity to a number of teenage boys...

[BarbJacobs]

Hey thanks you guys!

Krozam, thank you very much for the nice comments. I do try to spend the time on each page so that it stands on its own a bit- since I can only update weekly, I want the pages to have enough something to keep readers interested at least for five minutes! Okay, I'll take two.

As far as not getting flamed... uh, I think that would happen- case in point on WCL:

"Another comic for Barb Jacobs to start and decide to quit halfway through as well. Thanks, but no thanks. Burn me once shame on you. Burn me twice shame on me."

After Kez and SI (and myself) shot this guy a couple comments, he/she responded with this:

"And not a single one of you made a valid point of why anyone should support this comic. She got tired of doing Talismen and she'll get tired of doing Xylia.

Don't worry Barbie, I don't plan on reading Xylia. I'm just trying help others before they make the same mistake I did by giving you a chance the first time."

I decided to ignore this (well, theoretically anyway Im ignoring it) but flamers are definately sitting in the shadows with their sniper rifles. People are pissed that I stopped working on Talismen. THey will never understand or know why. But it wasnt becuase I got "tired of it" I assure you. But thank you for your understanding, anyway Krozam.

Elle- thank you, I tried to give the room a tangible feel. Backgrounds are of course NOT my specialty. I really struggle with em. And they are so important in invoking a total sense of mood.

Hagar- yeah, the little guy's face will definately change in a few years. ^_^

I love the last panel, where Livy is watching the little boy walk away. I wonder if the dog knows something... hmm...

I wonder...

I'm glad it's getting better. ^_^ I'm trying to reel you all in.
Grab em. Make you like this guy.
Make you want to find that girl.

SI-
Me? Want you to notice something?
Me? <.< >.>
Yeah, that book is old.

Thanks you all for commenting on the page! Makes me want to do the next one!

~B

[KEZ]

As far as not getting flamed... uh, I think that would happen- case in point on WCL:

"Another comic for Barb Jacobs to start and decide to quit halfway through as well. Thanks, but no thanks. Burn me once shame on you. Burn me twice shame on me."

After Kez and SI (and myself) shot this guy a couple comments, he/she responded with this:

"And not a single one of you made a valid point of why anyone should support this comic. She got tired of doing Talismen and she'll get tired of doing Xylia.

Don't worry Barbie, I don't plan on reading Xylia. I'm just trying help others before they make the same mistake I did by giving you a chance the first time."

Kez still holds to the mindset that some people need to be lined up against a wall and shot. Or at least get rotten eggs thrown at them. Water balloons? Flamers who expect free smorgasbord of wonderful comics that play to their every waking desire are definitely deserving.

*aims throwing knives*

[Warder]

I could send some of my more evil -enjoy dealing out justice in the most painful ways possible- characters if you'd like?

But, yeah I guess it is true no one can truly understand what you were going through. It'll take some time, but eventually they'll just slink away. Shadows do fade with the sun (or more than one moon anyway. [Right Kez?]).

[Elle]

While I can understand someone feeling resentful for a stopped project, I find it rather sad that it would keep them from indulging in something fresh and new. They may find they like it MORE. Sheesh.

...Man I have no room to talk about half-done projects...

[Alary]

Whoever that was is screwed up, sometimes the best thing to do is start something new! I mean, I loved Talismen but I'm so glad that you're starting something new that I couldn't care less that you stopped Talismen....almost. We love you Barb, as long as you don't disapear altogether!!!

[Henrike]

It`s good to ignore them Barb, some people will never understand, they haven`t followed the process. We know you disn`t stop it because you were tired of it and we know how much you loved Talismen and that it was hard for you to stop. (not saying that I know how you felt, just that from your comments a lot was made clear ) There are always people who have to whine about something whitout knowing the facts, you find them everywhere. Let them be.
And who knows...at some point they might run into your comic and see the hard work you put into it, maybe they`ll even read it....secretly of course. And hopefully they`ll shut up after that
In any case, we support Xylia Barb, remember that

About the page: LITTLE CLAUDE!!!! ^_^ He`s so adorable, and eager lol!
The journal....I guess all the earlier Claudes have written in it....I wonder if through it he can find Xylia.....or am I rambling too far now?

Hagar wrote:
I don't know if it due to the light in the room, or the brightness of it's colors, but it feels as though the tree picture is beaming light. Is it?

Yeah, thought so too, it's almost like it's a window. Or like Barb wants you to notice it...

True. ....it also looks an aweful lot like the tree on the pictures with grown up claude and Livy too....

I'm glad it's getting better. ^_^ I'm trying to reel you all in.

Reel us in!? I don`t know about the others but I`m totally reeled in allready! In the sense of `not going anywhere, this rocks!`

[Niko]

That "Brilliant!" panel made me smile so big... Oh my, a child who is interested in reading and writing?! Yay!

Another fabulous page! The colors are as magnificent as before, Claude is still as cute as a button, and I just love Dr. Ambrosia's enigmatic know-it-all attitude! Although I would consider increasing the gutter space between the panels some -- the colors kind of blend together, and that makes it hard to tell exactly where one panel ends and the next one begins. But this little nitpick in no way puts a damper on my enjoyment of your recent Xylia pages. Great work!

As for Mr. Barbosa, your resident troll over at TWCL, I am sure that potential readers who pass on by will appreciate him insinuating that they are incapable of making that decision for themselves. I always find it amusing when the folks who post flamebait mask it as some sort of altruistic act -- "I'm only trying to help others not to make the same mistake," or "I'm only preparing you for the harshness of this industry." Putting down others simply makes some people feel better about themselves. I wouldn't worry about him much, Barb; in truth, nobody asked for or cares about the opinion of one bitter individual.

[Ceridwen]

I can`t say anything that hasnt been said already! Buggery! I can say that I love the page just as much as everyone else does though. It was so lovely

[BarbJacobs]

Aw, I shouldnt have said anythign about (the TWCL troll - love that Niko) Barbosa. I need to develop a tougher hide, I really do. I just think such things are silly, but I do wonder if it gives folks pause when they click on the Xylia profile. Oh well.

Anyway, I hope none of you waste any anger on this silliness. Sorry I brought it up, actually! ^_^

Thank you all for your nice comments on the new page- and thanks Niko for your comment on the confusing panels, I will try to make the lines between the panels more clear. Sometimes I will even frame panels in lighter borders- maybe that is called for on this page.

Coming up, poor little Charlie Ravensdale's delightful enthusiasm will be tested- perhaps even squashed - by the 'establishment' ...AKA The Real World.
My favorite place.
Good luck with that, Charlie.

~B

[Krozam]

I have to agree with Kez - though I'd go with the eggs, bullets tend to be messy.

No need to take that guy seriously, his point of view is seriuosly distorted. You offer him free comics with amazing art, and what does he do? Complains for not finishing them. He obviously can't comprehend that he's lucky to have read Talismen for free. It's his loss if he can't enjoy an incomplete story, or the art in itself. It's his loss if he never reads Xylia. You owe him nothing, he owes you more than an apology.

Besides, missing an update once in a while might even help you complete the story. If you take too much pressure it may lead to a complete stop or a prolonged hiatus.