whoops sorry i forgot to vote on these
@Evi: Man, I don't think I've ever seen a comic so poignant come out of you! Granted, I've only read the comics you've made when I was around, which up until Ripley has been all either holiday collab or tag-team, so that's not much to base off of? But this is really evocative and it's absolutely wonderful!
@Fred: Obviously not quite as serious, but still has your nice characteristic pangs of melancholy underlining it in incomprehensible ways. Real good gag.
@Evi: Hoogh, the highlight for me is the tightness of the story, and the deliberate, emotional pacing. Though I don't agree with Wirecat's comment that the ending is 'too happy'-- Winnifred's depression isn't leaving, but she can go on after having had an objective third party to talk to.
Sometimes, really, you just need someone to talk to, to help deal with your feelings and put them out there. Sometimes, you just want to talk to someone who isn't biased-- and doesn't feel obligated to tell you things to help you feel better. It's not a perfect solution, but you'll carry on-- that's how I felt about the story, anyways.
I'm in love with how you're using backgrounds in Ripley comics-- you haven't done them much before Ripley, so it's admirable how amazing you are already at depicting such spaces. If anything, as someone who also loves painting backgrounds, it makes me a lil jealous you're already so ahead of the game!!
I also love the muted, but distinct color palette- it really adds to the somber, but beautiful, tone of the story.
@Fred: I like that the common theme in both rounds is a sense of understanding. Of course, your entry's story is simpler, but that doesn't make it a bad thing. As others have mentioned, I feel like the comic could have done better with more polish, though-- this is the downside of accepting so many comics all at once, is that even with a one-pager, there's some sacrifices to quality.
@ EVI: It's rare that i see this kind of earthy colour palette in a comic and tbh I thought I wouldn't like it, but you manage to pull it off very very well and I love it here. Would almost be a shame to use any other colours.
I like how slow and careful you are going, how you linger on the environment and really let the mood sink in.
If this had been pages for a book I would have suggested you cut down on the number of panels, but since it's on the interwebs and you can just scroll down, it's almost better as it is.
I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. Of course this is a topic that differs from person to person, and for someone else out there this might be the exact way to end it. To me the bright ending is just going a little too fast. On the other hand tho, this happy ending has hope and I would rather have that than anything I would be able to better relate to.
@Fred It's nice to be reminded once in a while, that a short and sweet story (if done right) can without a doubt hold itself up and shine with no problem.
Do I think you could have given the line work and the panel borders a little more love? Yes. That's the only two things in this that I find kinda distracting.
But the whole story and the ending note and the dialogue in general is really charming to me and made me smile more than once. I really love this whole little thing.
Fred: feels like youre trying something kind of new with herself here, the art style looks a bit different, Im kinda diggin it! A short but sweet story, if perhaps a little morbid lol. Like Fu, Im concerned shes buying a coffin for herself XD but at least she met a friend.
Evi: This palette!!! The colours! the rain! the emotions!! i am not powerful enough to crit this its just gorgeous all the way through. I just loved it.
@EVI; Oh man, there's not enough words for me to express how much I love this comic. I adore the soft palette you got going on and with the spotblacks you're using straight out through help the colors pop out more, especially during the rain scene. I do feel a slightly cooler or even duller palette during the rain scene could've helped out in making the scene feel more like a rainy atmosphere and setting up the somber mood of the conversation a bit more but this might be coming off as a nitpick if anything. Even then, the current art still does enough good for that somber mood of the comic to kick in when it does.
The story part of the comic is what's getting to me. Page 5 is probably my favorite of the whole comic and the page that got to me the most, especially the panels where Winifred starts breaking down. It not only shows that even depression can also affect people who live an ideal and comfortable life but the guilt and denial associated with it; the whole mindset of "I've got everything in life set out for me, there's no reason I should be feeling depressed". It's a mindset that's unfortunately still rampant all over and gets invalidated and repressed whenever it comes up. Seeing Ripley react the way he did when Winifred responded the first time she did, I knew where the comic was going but it still hit me on full blast and honestly has me liking Ripley a lot more. I've never resonated with a comic on this site so much until now so very big kudos to you, man.
@FRED; Art feels on the messy side and the style you use here is pretty different than your previous Winifred comics so it feels a little jarring. The whole set up to this comic is a little sad from the view of Ripley but it ends on what I find to be a really cute note, Winifred joining him so he wouldn't be lonely. Couldn't help but think is Winifred shopping for a coffin for herself? haha
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