Author notes

Page 12: issues 8 (Fearless) and Special 4 (Sysyphus Part 4)

shastab24

on Aug. 17, 2012

I'm putting together a crossover project for next year that will run through multiple comics and hopefully benefit the Hero Initiative.  If you're interested in participating, e-mail me at karamesser@hotmail.com or PQ me on this site.
 
Top page: The Runner gets his breathing apparatus and learns his limited grasp on English.  It's safe to say his Humer boyfriend may not have the greatest grasp of it, either.  "Humer" is a cross between "human" and "mer", since I didn't want him to be called a Merman–technically, they're both Merpeople, so the Runner calling him a Merman would be silly.  No names have been given for a reason that will be stated later, but simply it's that their names don't really work above water.
I made sure to address an issue that would have bugged me if I didn't–how can the Runner talk through his breathing apparatus?  This page and next address that.  I also wanted to show some variation between the Runner and his father, so the latter has shorter ear fins and exposes his dorsal fin.  Finally, panel 8 was my favorite before inking, because it gave the boyfriend a good, distinct look.  Sadly, the inks messed it up.  Still, I like the panel, and I like the boyfriend.  He's so supportive of the Runner and just wants him to be happy.
 
Bottom page: These photos were taken at the same time as the cover photo.  At the time, I didn't know what exactly was going to happen here, so things may get a bit interesting.  Panels 2, 3 and 5 are so terrible because I had not taken a photo that didn't have some of me in it, so I zoomed into the photo I used for panel 6.  Everything here was photographed at Planned Parenthood in Redding, while I was waiting for the local LGBT support group to start.  The shirt I'm wearing is a shirt I got in high school band.  I wear shirts from all over my life–there is at least one from elementary school I still fit in (it went to my knees back then).
On to the actual story–Tempore has left the 2011 Halloween Cameo Caper and has therefore officially gone through every event each of these issues was to bring him to (the 2006-2011 Capers, Crossover Wars, Crossoverlord, and Crossoverkill).  This page is set in the present (kind of–I obviously haven't drawn up to this point in-story).  Therefore, if Tempore ever meets Hogan again, the latter will know exactly who I am, finally.  Still, he could try to get at me through Tempore.