20/08/03 [Abel 2 #24] - B Yourself.

[Wanderer]

*sighs* Clearly I'm pretty much the only one around here who finds superhuman gaurgantuan breasts to be unpleasant and disgusting.

Note, Fa'Lina's haven't hit the "disgusting" point yet, because I can still ignore them when she's not flaunting them like she is now. But they're headed that way.

When a physical feature of a particular character reaches such prominence that you note ITS presence more than you note the presence of the character themself, it is a problem. The CHARACTER should be the focus, their phsyical traits should contribute to THEM, not the other way around. Amber hasn't reached the points of Fa'Lina's breasts standing out more than Fa'Lina herself, or of Jyrras' ears standing out more than Jyrras himself, but things are clearly moving in that direction. And that's trouble.

I don't want to insult Amber's art here. She's clearly been improving, and I'm not trying to tell her to move the clock back and draw like she used to. But... I'm a writer, like many folks here I suspect. I know enough that if you make a single trait in a character too much stronger than all their other traits, that trait will come to define the character and they will be unable to do anything that doesn't somehow involve that trait. And that's BAD, it makes the character weaker than they should be. Less believable. Because real people aren't defined by just one thing.

...Wow. I start off trying to say that I think overly large breasts look unpleasant, and I end up with a whole semi-reasonable sounding rant about why Amber should be careful about making Fa'Lina's boobs too big. Not quite sure how that happened.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Heh.

I'm with you, Wanderer... almost. I'm happy to admit I get my jollies from big boobs. *shrug*

As you say, however, it's reached about as big as is reasonably acceptable. If they get much bigger, it'll overbalance the character. And I mean that in a metaphysical sense, not a merely physical one. :-P

[Jairus]

For the record, whenever I look at Jyrras my eyes are drawn to his face, mainly because I like his glasses (what?). I will admit that if the ears get too much bigger, it'll be a problem, but they seem to have more-or-less stabilized over the last year or so.

As for Fa'Lina's... um, "assets..." well, they kind of are pushing the believable envelope, but considering how fascinating of a character Fa'Lina is, I'll let them slide... for now.

[Pagan]

I never really noticed Jyrras's ears growing (maybe I'm a moron and don't notice the obvious, but eh). Fa'lina has definitly been growing since her first appearance, that's unmistakable. The girls are big, very true. They're currently large, but believable and somewhat realistic.  When they reach the anime status of huge, it's gone too far.

[Tapewolf]

The girls are big, very true. They're currently large, but believable and somewhat realistic.  When they reach the anime status of huge, it's gone too far.

That raises an interesting question... how big do they have to be before the strip is in danger of not being PG anymore?
Granted, Abel's Story isn't PG anyway, but if it's an art style thing she's liable to be the same size next time she appears in the mainline, yes?

[Jairus]

I never really noticed Jyrras's ears growing (maybe I'm a moron and don't notice the obvious, but eh). Fa'lina has definitly been growing since her first appearance, that's unmistakable. The girls are big, very true. They're currently large, but believable and somewhat realistic.  When they reach the anime status of huge, it's gone too far.

... I just realized something.

I only learned about DMFA through the TV Tropes article on "Marshmallow Hell," regarding Seth and Moira's first meeting. And Fa'Lina's "girls" are now large enough to deliver Marshmallow Hell upon any of the normal cast members. Heeheehee...

Regarding the PG thing... they are covered by her "dress," so I think it's okay. Besides, how many of this comic's viewers are little kids anyway?

As for our boy Jy-jy's ears, it's kind of a gradual thing, but they've mostly become fuzzier over the intervening years. They used to be fairly slick/smooth, but now they've got little tufts of fur sticking up. His overall look is just fuzzier now.

[Damaris]

Just FYI, the Wiki is correct on the bra size measuring process.  Actually, as a former slave of Victoria's Secret, I highly recommend that any straight guy that does not know the process of the bra size go read it.  You will not only make your spouse/girlfriend happy, but you will not frustrate your friend neighborhood bra salesperson.

Another thing to note (and that is commonly overlooked by the male population) is that the bra cup size is not static.  Like the wiki says, it depends on the ribcage measurement.  So, a 32D has a much smaller rack then a 38D.  A 32DD is usually relatively the same size as a 34D.

[Slowtini]

...

She's EVERYWHERE!

[Alondro]

I saw the hugest set of knockers ever this week.  They were hanging down to the person's stomach and looked to make up about 25% of her total bodyweight.

There comes a point where it's just gross.  That was the point.   She literally looked like Miss Chokesondik. 

And yes I know it's a medical condition.  The person really should get reduction surgery for their health.

But Fa'lina's are still fine!  *oggles Fa'lina*

[Mao]

Eh, I've never liked big ones.  Never will.  I knew too many girls who had them and most of them were miserable because of them for various reasons. 

[Goatmon]

*snerk*

The countervailing argument is... how would she react if, on first meeting her, you said "My, those are fairly large..." ?

It's a lose-lose proposition, really. Either she complains that you don't notice, or she complains that you do; either way, she'll rip your heart out and eat it if you annoy her...



Also, I now have a mental image of Mixie looking like she's standing on the ceiling...

She seems like the type who wouldn't mind that sort of comment, but only if you caught her at the right time.

Fa'Lina is pretty unpredictable.   

[Sunblink]

I am known to slightly exaggerate things for the sake of emphasis. However E (DD) or F (DDD) would not surprise me.

Fa'Lina's breasts are like Jyrras' ears: they keep growing larger as the comic progresses. I mean, take a look at her back during her first appearance. They look reasonable back then, you know, C-ish or so. Not those... things she has today.

It could have just been my feminine instincts of "oh good god that would hurt my back so much" talking. Then again, taking Fa'Lina's height into consideration, she could be much larger than a DD. An estimate like F sounds more appropriate...

But then again, despite being a delicate and modest (*SNERK*) lady, I know nothing of measurements.

~Keaton the Black Jackal

[AnizInDisguise]

Fa'Lina's breasts are like Jyrras' ears: they keep growing larger as the comic progresses. I mean, take a look at her back during her first appearance. They look reasonable back then, you know, C-ish or so. Not those... things she has today.

May I point something out? Abel's story isn't current, it's 300 years ago, remember? And she said she was thinking about getting a size reduction. You do the math.

[Kuari]

D CUPS

FULL OF JUSTICE.

... you know, this got me thinking of a whole super hero cast for DMFA...

Mighty Mab!!!  With her fists of justice!
DDD Woman (Fa'lina)!!! With boobs of justice!
Biteking (Pip...  couldn't think of a better name)!!! With teeth of justice!

...I could go on but I think I'll stop with mentioning the villians, the diabolical Doctor Jy, and Mistress Wildy-san in full leather, hot cattle prods and whips.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Mr Teeth, I think.

[Kuari]

That works...  and give him a mohawk

[icarus]

a theory no one has put forth yet:

fa'lina may just be messing with abel. he's in a fragile state, and if she started off with "WELCOME TO THE ACADEMY, I AM YOUR LORD AND MASTER etc" it might have thrown him back into a state of shock. she's very aware of her students and their needs, i think. she likes to tease them a bit, but she knows when they reach their danger limit.  i imagine that despite her apparent lack of focus on abel, she's keeping tabs on his emotions as well as a researcher keeps tabs on his subjects.

it may just be that abel needs to feel some confused indignation. it may be that she knows his perceptions of cubi are already negative (gj dad) and she's trying to alter that by playing up the silly/goofy angle.

abel is a twitchy panicky sort (or at least, he was) and she's aware of that. but it's very hard to twitch and panic when someone's reading you a bodice ripper, and then begins yammering about their boobs. it's awkward, yes, but it's almost impossible to find yourself in a state of abject terror in that situation.

also abel's favourite 'dish' is confusion. even though it's his own, this whole scenario might also sort of be like offering a shock victim a mug of hot cocoa.

[Amber Williams]

Fa'Lina was always meant to be rather endowed, its just in her first appearance...I actually didn't have the know-how or the ability to draw breasts larger than a certain size.  So the "evolution" was simply because I finally figured out how the physics of it worked. (Though truth be told I am still working on it and so I dont quite have it)  But truth be told, Fa'Lina is just massive in general...or she is supposed to be.  She's a powerhouse and one of the few characters in the comic who I feel can pull off a larger cup size.

It is the same way when it comes to muscular guys.  Merlitz and a couple others were originally supposed to be rather muscular and beefy...but I lacked (and in many ways) still lack the skill to pull it off...so most of the guys ended up with a default bodytype.

Lorenda was meant to be heavyset, but not insanely obese. Which is why most people comment that Lorenda is "slimming down", because overtime I am tweaking and trying to figure out how to draw someone who is heavyset without resorting to a mega tummy that looks like she's preggers.

Jyrras was meant to have ears that are actually somewhat oversized for him. Other rats and mice in DMFA would have somewhat smaller and more reasonable ears.

Many of the characters in DMFA have been evolving overtime because when I first started drawing them, I didn't know how to pull off the look I wanted to at the time. So if people want to comment about Fa'Linas breasts or Jyrras ears getting bigger...the blame is that I am simply trying to get them to the point where I originally wanted them to be and was trying to do it gradually overtime so it just wasnt *Bam* theres some DD cups.

I feel somewhat hurt that Wanderer seems to think that because some physical traits have shifted from their original start point due to change in art skill or a mixup in style, that they are someohow going to continue on until the point of madness.   Or that I seem to have no limits and that whats been happening is some sort of unfortunate side effect that is dangerously close to some unforseen pit of despair.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

also abel's favourite 'dish' is confusion. even though it's his own, this whole scenario might also sort of be like offering a shock victim a mug of hot cocoa.

Heh. You know, I think you might have a point there.

That's very insightful.

...dangerously close to some unforseen pit of despair.

"The pit of despair! Don't e... Huaaarrrrgh! *cough* Don't even think about trying to escape. The chains are far too thick..."

(I could go on, but I won't. Much.)

[Amber Williams]

INSIGHT HAS NO PLACE ON THIS FORUM!  BEGONE!

[Alterationartist]

Huh. And here I thought this was an out to explain why her breasts are smaller in the future than the past.

Also, I'm kind of unsure about the whole "confusion wake up call". He has had no training with his Cubi powers as of so far, and as far as I know, the trauma could've only lasted a few days, during which he would still have no method of controlling his abilities. If anything, he might strike up with a headache soon similar to Dan. It might also become varied dependent of whether or not Abel current wishes to be a cubi, similar to the issues that Dan might be struggling with.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Also, I'm kind of unsure about the whole "confusion wake up call". He has had no training with his Cubi powers as of so far, and as far as I know, the trauma could've only lasted a few days, during which he would still have no method of controlling his abilities. If anything, he might strike up with a headache soon similar to Dan. It might also become varied dependent of whether or not Abel current wishes to be a cubi, similar to the issues that Dan might be struggling with.

From what Ink said, Abel has been filtered off from the rest of SAIA. I'd guess that that includes any "food", other than a carefully metered dose.

Sort of like being in hospital, no?

[techmaster-glitch]

a theory no one has put forth yet:
-snip-

Actually, someone did post something along these lines in the last thread. In fact, I've had it in my mind the whole time as well that there has to be a reason for Fa'Lina's antics, (both with her asset glamorization and that 'book' she was reading aloud), certainly along the lines of 'helping' Abel's trauma, I just couldn't imagine the precise details. While, in the last thread, I was all for fawning over Fa'Lina's boobaliciousness just like everyone else, I was surprised no one else actually caught on that she might really be executing some sort of therapy plan to get Abel out of his shock (except for the one other person I mentioned). I just never bothered to post anything about it.

This is the post I was talking about, BTW:

Back on track here though, I love Fa'Lina's dealings so far with Abel. She just keeps throwing him those curve balls. Best way to deal with it, I suppose - be the opposite of what he expects. After all, she has been dealing with cubi for quite a while now, she should have some ideas as to how to help. Whether or not she uses those ideas is another matter.

[Alterationartist]

But still. Can cubi actually feed off their own emotions? That would make what they do... completely pointless. And again, we aren't even sure if can even use his cubi abilities yet.

And good call on the filtering thing. I totally forgot about that.

[Wanderer]

I feel somewhat hurt that Wanderer seems to think that because some physical traits have shifted from their original start point due to change in art skill or a mixup in style, that they are someohow going to continue on until the point of madness.   Or that I seem to have no limits and that whats been happening is some sort of unfortunate side effect that is dangerously close to some unforseen pit of despair.

The Wanderer only reports problems and potential problems as he sees them. I HAVE seen artists lose control of things like that, although if you ask me right away to point out a specific example I wouldn't be able to manage it. It is up to you, as the artist, to determine if the trouble I think might be in store is real, if it's my imagination, if it's real but not an issue in your case, if you're watching it and have it under control, or whatever. The issue was brought to the front of my mind thanks to the current comic and people's comments here, so I spoke up about it. When something like this comes to mind, I'd much rather honestly say "hey, I think you may be heading for a problem here," than wait a year or two and end up saying "I really can't stand the way the comic has become these days, I won't be reading it anymore." I'm not always that good at figuring out how not to offend people, so I often just go for the blunt approach of just stating exactly what I think.

As you say, you know what you're doing and it's not an issue. The things I mentioned in the comic don't actually BOTHER me right now unless they're specifically pointed out, like today's comic does, so there's usually no trouble on my end either. I just wanted to say something since it was brought up, though, because if you didn't have it under control, it could lead to future trouble.

Apologies if I offended you. As I said, my people skills are somewhat lacking.

[Rafe]

When do we get the Doug Winger guest strip? 

[Gamma]

When do we get the Doug Winger guest strip? 

Just saying that name around here is straining the PG rating of the forums.


I can't comment upon the story any further, you all dried the well.

[Mao]

The Wanderer only reports problems and potential problems as he sees them.

Eww.. cheesy third person speech.  You're giving me flash backs to 'The Rock'.

Anyway that aside, though hurtful in the way you put it, you do raise a good point about artists who let their creations out of control, but when you look at some of Amber's previous works and at the many, many strips where it's been mentioned how much her work is evolving it seems more likely that it is, as she said, just a process of her work getting refined.  To me, it makes more sense to have faith in her work and that it's true because she's always been pretty honest with us about how she feels about her own work and where she's going with it, or wanted to go with it.  I think if she was going somewhere 'fan-servicey' she'd have told us about it and why by now, much like she's often done.

Anyways.. .hot coacoa you say?  Makes sense.  Though I've always felt that harsh realities work as a good way to return one to their senses.  Small ones, like you're here now so it's best to move onward from here rather than trying to get back there.  Because you can't ever go back.  No one can.  I wonder if that's the next thing that's going to take place.  Given those looks on Fa'lina's face that we've been getting in the last two strips, I can only wonder how much longer she's going to like having her offered 'cup' of hot coacoa slapped out of her hands by our currently fleeing Abel.

[Jigsaw Forte]

*resists the urge to start inventing new euphemisms*

[Valynth]

*resists the urge to start inventing new euphemisms*

Doooooooo eeeeeeeeet

I must also remind that the rules of "pics or it didn't happen" is in full effect.

(we don't have a dooooooo eeeeeeet emoticon?  Thought it'd be a shoe in for this forum.)