Colors updated, and erroneous word- tails mercilessly severed.
Ten years isn’t THAT long to hold a grudge, really.
I re-wrote panel 5 a bit. It was originally written to be Todd clasping Amanda on the shoulders comfortingly, but after some discussion on the last strip that Todd doesn't appear to feel very affectionate towards Amanda, I re-wrote it to be a hug instead.
Thank goodness for Antoine! If he’s harboring any anger or resentment it sure isn’t showing!
Is the speech bubble in the fourth panel supposed to look like it’s coming from Amanda? Because that line seems like it should be something Todd is saying. Unless I’m missing something?
Uh… woops. No, that is supposed to be voice-over of Todd. My bad.
Maybe flip the tail of that bubble around so it’s coming from off-panel. I also had that misinterpretation briefly.
Or get rid of the tail altogether.
What does “And that’s all about you.” mean?
When we focus on the past, we focus on Andi’s lies and how much they hurt everyone.
When we focus on the future, we focus on Amanda integrating into the family, and all the ways we want to help her have a good life.
That’s how I read it, anyway.
That makes sense, assuming it’s supposed to be coming from Todd.
I’m trying to figure out a reasonable interpretation if it’s not an error, and Amanda actually says it.
No it’s an error, that’s supposed to be Todd in voice-over. 😡
Ah.
In that case, I hope Kinsley’s issue doesn’t come into play, or at least Selkie is rational enough (in the moment) to realize Todd was talking specifically about Amanda’s future and not hers.
Who am I kidding? She’s eight and this is a drama. Of course it’ll be an issue. The question is, how long will it take to overcome it?
You could always associate a little mini-Todd’s Head icon by the floating bubble? It would fit with your use of iconography elsewhere.
Alternatively, link it back with a white-trail to the bubble chain in the previous panel, passing over Antoine.
I just hope Selkie takes it that way. “All about you.” also sounds pretty much like “Not about me” to the “other” kid.
Watch the tails on your dialog balloons, Dave. Got Amanda stealing Todd’s line there.
Also, I realize sometimes hugs can be awkward like that (and that might be on purpose), but generally the smaller person goes inside the bigger person’s arms. Amanda grabbing around Todd’s stomach feels natural; Amanda trying to grab around his arms feels kinda weird.
I can understand if it’s for effect, though — like Amanda not having had enough hugs in her life to where attempts to hug come off weirder than normal.
I’m taking that as Amanda rushing Todd so fast that he couldn’t prepare for it.
That would also be a reasonable interpretation. And if so, also a good reason to allow for an awkward hug 🙂
my thoughts as well….though as sweet as that father/daughter bonding moment was, i can´t help but wonder what selkie thinks of all of this – chicken wings and meat balls couldn´t have distracted her for *that* long.
Selkie is a bit more empathetic than Amanda. I presume she’ll take it rather well and understand that the future is about both of them but this moment is about Amanda.
It can’t always be about Selkie. She needs to learn just as much as Amanda that the world does not revolve around one person’s happiness.
I don’t think she’d be that upset here anyways.
Yeah, we haven’t heard a loud “WHATS THE CRAPS?” yet…
Quick, Selkie, help Amanda and Andi make up so Amanda won’t want to stay over at your place ALL the time! >;)
And there is the show of resentment from the little brother. A nice sharp jab just at the right time to let the feeling sink in and make it clean he’s not oblivious to all this. Clean, effective and nothing that would start a drama lama. I like Antoine.
There we go. Winding down is good.
I really like this one. I like the comic as a whole, consistently a good comic that is full of heart, but I particularly like this one.
I also like that things are changing and the story is progressing. Some comics never resolve anything.