The X-orcist
This is Part 1 of a three issue series! Tune in Saturday for Part 2!
This one has been floating around for a bit. When this comic was first proposed, we thought about the console-de-jour for the characters. We didn’t want a F@NBOY$ situation, with a specific user for each console. We didn’t want to really emulate any of the gaming comics out there (as we don’t see ourselves as a generic “Gaming Comic.”)
So, it was decided that the three main characters David, Chris, and Ashley would be Diehard Nintendo Fans (witness Dave’s Nintendo Shop), but that other consoles would have their say (Except for the PS3, which is evil).
Even the Virtual Boy comes into play!
We try to reduce our comics to 128 colors; both to save bandwidth/load time, and also it gives the comic a specific, Game Boy Advance effect. However, for this one (the dramatic lightning scene, the swooshes, the glowing EVIL, etc) he had to not only bump that up to 256 colors, but also turn on dithering. Dithering is something we rarely use, mainly because it make everything speckly; we prefer solid fields of colors. But, sometimes, the purity of art must be sacrificed for the presentation.
Do enjoy this issue. It’s a setup for a couple of guest issues, so be sure to turn in next week!
(Sorry for the lateness of the update; one of Team Missing Number is getting married, so we threw a “Bachelor Party” at Main Event; we played way too much laser tag and Dance Dance Revolution. And we had WAY too many Energy Drinks. And we miscalculated our return time 
)
View Transcript
There’s a knock at the door. “Knock, knock!”
David shouts, “Come in!”
The door opens to reveal Ashley, who flashes a Vulcan Peace Sign and a smile. “Hey, Dave!” he says, as he approaches David. “Just wanted to come over and say…” His gaze comes to lay upon a new video game console sitting on the table… “WHAT IS THAT?!” he shouts.
“It’s an XBOX360!” says David. “Bill gave it to me as a ‘Shop Warming Gift.’” The gives the thought a once over. “It’s a refurb, I think…”
Ashley quickly looks around the room; his eyes fall upon a Wiimote and Nunchuck sitting on the table. He swoops it up and fashions a cross. Aiming it at the XBOX360, he shouts, “OUT, YOU SPIRIT OF EVIL!!!”
A text box appears. “ASHLEY used X-ORCISM! But it did not affect foe XBOX!”
“Huh?!?” he asks in confusion. “But that **always** works in the movies…”
David’s had enough. He points a Ashley. “FOR THE LAST TIME! The XBOX is NOT EVIL!” Ashley recoils at the thought. “Sit down, shut up, grab a conroller.” Commands Dave. “It’s time for some Halo!”
