Hi Xyliacs! Update at last.
We are closing in on the end of the month, and we have some neat new things coming up in Xylialand in August. Kez has her webmistress extraordinaire chef hat on and is cooking up a new site design…coming soon!
Nice closeup of little Glykeria today! A lot of people are happy to see a more Rubenesque character among all the lanky skinniness in this story!
I know there were some folks out there that were quite turned off by my asking or -begging- for donations, but it’s that time of the month where we’re wrapping things up and are several donations shy of our goal. As I’ve explained in the past, I am a freelance artist and single mum. While Xylia is my passion, it by no means is my living, but it takes up a tremendous amount of time to create the pages. The donations really make this possible. It’s not frivolous to me. The $800 pays bills and justifies my time in this project. Thank you to everyone for your support- many of you regularly sending donations to keep the Xylia boat floating. Your help makes it possible. If you can’t donate, please don’t feel guilty- that isn’t my point here. Believe me I understand if you can’t! I appreciate everyone who comes to read Xylia!
Thank you to those of you for sharing your favorite TV shows here on last week’s question!
Question for today is Xylia related and similar to previous questions, but I like to keep up with audience opinon-it helps me know what needs work… What is your favorite thing about Xylia? Story, art in general, characters, backgrounds, or other?
Click the button to go to donation land! Also, as always: if you do not receive your donation gift, please email me. We have had trouble with the auto feature for some reason, and some of you aren’t getting your gifts.
Xylia belongs to some groovy collectives: Tomgeeks, Palace in the Sky Publishing, andTall Tale Features.
Pretty please go here to vote TWC!
You can visitThe Xyliacs Club here!
That’s all for now! See you all Thursday!
~B
July 28th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Could it be? First comment? Wow, I……I’m so happy. There’s so many people I want to thank. There’s….wow, there isn’t anyone. Oh well!
Gly is funny. And Mother!
(to infinity)
The best thing for me, as I’ve said before, is the art, followed closely by how layered the characters are.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:24 am
the art is my favorite element of your comic, though i think the pretty glow-thingie is slightly over-used. i also like the travel to other worlds bit that you utilize in your comics – this is one of my favorite elements of fantasy comics. i mean, who doesn’t want to travel in time and space and see other worlds? i can’t speak to the characters or plot yet, as it’s not far enough advanced, but i’m glad you’re doing this one without a collaborator – pulling the plug partway through is the worst thing about web and print comics. besides talisman, i ADORED Aether and she just quit and that’s that. same with many others that were once classics, like reman mythology and emerald winter. even if you should slow the updates at some point, i believe you’ll finish this one, bc it’s *your* story and there’s nothing to stop you! rock it.
today’s comic: *i* am rubinesque. rubinesque is not how i’d describe gly, but i would ask, why is she speaking in sentence fragments? i’d hate it for the fat one to be stupid as well. i really need to see this explained somehow.
July 28th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Perhaps she is simply a very joyful and fun character, not stupid. One’s mastery of a language is by no means a measurement of one’s intelligence, especially if this language is a 2nd language for her. I don’t think it’s too far of a leap for sprites to have their own language.
Either way, wouldn’t Livy be considered a….rubenesque character also? And we know she is more than intelligent.
July 28th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I things I like the most are the story and the art. Close seconds to those are the genre and the characters.
July 28th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Brent- like the mom thing, hmm?
Michelle- “*i* am rubinesque. rubinesque is not how i’d describe gly, but i would ask, why is she speaking in sentence fragments? i’d hate it for the fat one to be stupid as well. i really need to see this explained somehow.”
I prefer ‘full figured’ to fat, my dear. >:-( Ahem. And I’m not sure what your Rubinesque form is like, but it’s generally a term of endearment for a very voluptuous woman. As far as the glowingness of my art, that has long been a favorite element of my work to many viewers, so since I’m dealing in sparkly fairies, it’ll be sticking around.
Kez- you are right, the others are not speaking in Gly’s native tongue, she does her best, but it’s a bit broken. Not stupid, just struggling with the language.
~B
July 28th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
His mother? *gasp* Does that make Adora and Kath his sisters?
I never for a moment figured Gly was “stupid” – it was obvious that either she was speaking a non-native language and/or was in such a hurry to talk that she just left out the unnecessary bits of the sentence. Heh.
I can’t decide on a “favorite bit,” honestly. I guess the use of faeries in a more well–rounded view, showing them like people – some good, some bad (like our favorite bad girl Heh), etc. Many stories show faeries as either all sweetness and light (which isn’t at all true of faerie stories) or some dark brooding thing, which also isn’t very realistic. Oi, look at me, calling faerie stories realistic! Heheeh.
I am very out of it today, so please forgive anything I may have stated too baldly, or not clearly, or whatever. My meds are off
Hehe
July 28th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I love everything about Xylia, being a “whole package” kinda guy. Including this page!
July 28th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I have to say my favorite thing about the Xylia is the art, but just having good art wouldn’t be it. The characters are fun as well. We are now starting to learn more about a new crop of characters, and it is something to look forward too.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I’ve been reading this comic for some time now, but I’ve always been shy about commenting, no matter where. xD Still, I’m going to chime in now that you’ve basically asked our opinion on the comic.
I’m fond of everything. I’m amazed by the artwork, the sheer amount of excellent detail and the brilliant colouring. I love how you can tell that he’s related to these women because they have similar bone structure, which is different from other characters- too many webcomics have duplicate body/face structures and no variation, but each character is unique and so beautifully rendered, even characters not meant to be “Beautiful”.
And the story is just enthralling. It’s a very classic type of story, following the Hero Mythology- Including ‘Help from Divine beings” and “Crossing the Threshold”. I love all of it! Plus, as a romantic, I’m digging the Xylia/Claudius relationship. Major “Awww”!
I can’t donate- I’m a college student scraping together funds just to keep going. But, I can appreciate how much work goes into each page, and I hope you know that the effort IS appreciated, even if it’s not always appreciated with money. You have every right to ask for compensation for the work you do. I hope you get all the support you need!
July 28th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I don’t mean to nitpick – really, really, I don’t – but is Claude missing his stubble on this page? He had a 5 o’clock shadow on the past few pages, but today he looks smooth and cleanshaven. It might be due to the lighting, but if it’s there I think it needs to be a little more noticeable
And I love the story and the characters, as I’ve said in the past. They all feel like real people with distinct personalities.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
So if that is Claudius’s mother, Dr. Ambrosia is his father and Kath and Adora are his sisters. Hmm. I’m guessing his Mom is the human one, since I don’t see any wings on her.
The art is the best thing about Xylia, not that the story, characters and setting aren’t good as well. I second the bone structure comment, the similarities to both Katharos and Adora made the kinship obvious.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Hee hee. Sarah, you are absolutely right. Blooper!!- I noticed it right after I uploaded the page, but because of my schedule all afternoon, I haven’t had a chance to fix it! Will very soon here… I wondered if anyone would notice- everyone has been talking about his beard, so I figured someone would. There’s actually a purpose for that – other than showing that a few days have passed since he got shanked in his flat…more on that later…
Anyway, everyone make sure you refresh later tonight to see Claude in all his stubblific glory! ^_^
Thank you for the nice comments Katy, Chip, Noel Sarah, and Lindsay- I’m glad when you are enjoying more than the pictures too!
~B
July 28th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Right there. That my answer to today’s question. Panelish one. You can -see- the tear forming in Claude’s mother’s eye. That.. was really moving. And very touching. For very personal reasons. A parent should never have to live without their child. And.. there’s so much emotion.. in how.. how she looks… smiles.. her eyes… you can tell how words escape her because there is so much she wants to say and she just can’t say it all. In the second panel… you can feel how hard it is for her -not- to enwrap him in a hug. To hold on with hope of never having to let go again.
That’s my favorite Barb. Real moments. Real touching moments that bring the characters more to life than some real people are.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Barb — only cuz it means I was correct in my predictions
Michelle — I too never figured Gly for being stupid. Personally, I think it’s more like an ape that knows how to sign and is hooked up to an audio device. The words would come out like, “Amy think food good” or “Amy like Brian” and yes, I am referring to the god-awful movie version of Michael Crichton’s “Congo”. It still makes my point.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
The art is absolutely beautiful! The story is going a bit slow for me right now, but, as explained earlier by Xylia’s lovely creator, some filler is necessary. But right now, i’m practically drooling, waiting for every next breath of the story.
And no worries if we don’t reach the donation goal for this month… cause the lack of bi-weekly posts in August just might make me go into withdrawal and “force” me to donate in hopes of seeing two posts per week in September!
July 28th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
As always, my favorite thing is potential. The quiet anticipation before the delivery, the promise of future stories, and future adventures…
‘Course, I’d love to see more villains come along. Hehehe.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Refresh to see stubble. ^_^
Thank you all for the nice comments. YEs, the story is a bit slow, I would love to make it move faster, I really would. But this is a character based fantasy drama, so you gotta take the slow scenes with the stabbings and seductions… Which of COURSE are my faves too!
~B
July 28th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Oh, gosh. Gly is so adorable! Fat, Rubenesque, Voluptuous, I don’t care which word you choose, she’s lovely, and I love the merriment in her. Quite honestly, I’m glad she’s not another “tinkerbelle” sort, though I have a feeling anything that small might actually get stuck in Claudius’ nose if he took a deep enough breath
Oh, that was mischievous of me. ^_^ And I agree with Kez- especially considering I have family whose first language is not English. There’s a ridiculous assumption in our society that broken sentences means stupidity, and it makes me sad.
July 29th, 2008 at 12:39 am
I just wanted to day that I just discovered your work and I think that the artwork and stories are soooo incredible
July 29th, 2008 at 1:19 am
Thought so–he’s got a mother and two sisters! (of course, with the family resemblance, it was pretty hard to deny.)
I like everything…the art was the initial thing that “drew” me in, but I was soon captivated by the story you’re telling, and the fact that these are actual characters. ^-^
July 29th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I wondered when wed see the womans face, now we do, she looks very friendly and sweet!
Mother huh, I allready thought this would be his real family! Aww…
And Gly is so cute! ^^ oopsie! teehee!
About todays question…I still like the characters very much, and the style and art…..so beautiful!
I agree with some that the story moves a bit slow. But I also agree that it cant be helped.
I think that because this is a webcomic and you only read two pages a week, it seems slower than it actually is. If youd read it in comic book form it wouldnt seem slow at all. The characters need introducing, the reader has to get to know them as characters with personality, you cant go over that too fast. Though wed like an action or drama page the actual drama was only 10 pages ago.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Gly is adorable, Barb. You did a great job showing the barely contained joy she’s feeling. I do have a question, however. How do you pronounce her name? Is the “y” a short “i” sound, long “i”, or “ee”? I know how I may pronounce it in my mind may not be what you actually were thinking when you came up with it and I’m curious.
Thanks for putting so much into everything. All those tiny stones on the wall must have been rather time consuming, but it gave a great effect. Even the dimples in Gly’s elbows and knees… too cute. Oh! and I LOVE the color of Mum’s eyes. Lovely shade choice.
As for the question, I have to say I like the fact that there is such dimension and depth to all the characters. Even the lovingly sarcastic Livvy.
Too many stories are too flat for me, but you have definitely made sure that isn’t happening here.
July 30th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I love the art the most, but it’s the story that keeps me coming back for more. :3
July 30th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Of course Gly isn’t stupid. She’s just very excited, and can’t be bothered with more strange words than necessary to get her point across.
About the comic, I like the art style a lot, and I like the environments (Barb, I wish you would leave in more of the scenery). I also like the plot, because it’s really a fairy-tale type story in the classic mold.
July 31st, 2008 at 1:20 am
Hmm- it looks like the fairie in this week’s vote incentive is Claudius’s mother when she was young, or at least a relative- they have the exact same eyes. Interesting!
July 31st, 2008 at 7:22 am
Having just recently found Xylia, I have to say the art is what drew me in, but the story is what keeps me coming back. It’s a great, mythic story, well told, and with the perfect characters for it. Barb, thanks for all your amazing work!
July 31st, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I’m wondering if Gly is a nanny-figure…that’s jusut speculation since she seems like the sort of person that’d be great with little kids