Orcs are probably my favourite fantasy creatures. Since I’m not a gamer as such, but more of an academic scholar, I see things in them that many hardcore gamers or fans of particular fantasy authors do not see. For example, myself…

Tolkien’s Orcs were the minions of Evil, and it’s easy to fall in the opposite trap and “redeem” them as misunderstood noble savages. I would like to avoid that, but who knows? You can read some of my really old Orc comics online.

Orcs fascinate me for pretty much the same reasons as all stereotypical images of “the Other” or “the Enemy”. We are all somebody’s Other. As a child of emigrants and multiple immigrant myself, I have grown up with a sense of doubt towards those images every time they are presented as fact as well as fiction. Here is an inspirational cartoon from the 1910’s, depicting the two major linguistic groups of Finland from the point of view of the smaller one. As you can see, the threatening majority (the Finnish-speaker) is dressed like a peasant and looks more “Eastern” (cheekbones, slanted eyes, brushy hair – note also the full lips and broad nose, visual cues for “un-European”), pretty Orcish in spite of his blond hair (the ears!), while the small and desperately waving Finland-Swede has parted his hair neatly and wears a civilized western jacket.

After a strenuous day, I wanted to document my adventures in a comic, but the tablet still makes me frustrated so here’s just one pic… a self-portrait somewhere in Sörnäinen.

Too tired for any comments. Besides, I should be drawing a space comic now (and keeping track of at least 5 other deadlines…)

A miracle – I’m updating!

Poor Falco. But let’s face it, he was being a real rompicoglioni. Who told him to use Ettore’s Bugatti as a soapbox, anyway? So there’s no need to worry – as the Italians say, “rompicoglioni non muoiono mai”.

Click to view larger.

But for Falco… Even before the war, a decent cassock would cost 65 Fr., and his meager scholarship has certainly not been updated to catch up with the rising costs of living. No wonder he needs a part-time job or two. (Those kid gloves and that silk cincture… not exactly standard equipment for a simple deacon!)

Observe, too, how expensive the ladies’ shoes are in comparison. The worth of their undergarments must remain a mystery, but I would guess that Mayann wears the skimpiest and most expensive ones…

Inspired by this front page of Le Petit Journal, July 4th, 1920.

Frohes Fest – Happy Holidays – Glad Helg – Onnellisia Pyhiä …
Whatever you are celebrating.

I’m a bit late for Christmas, but not too late for Japanese New Year, which of course must be celebrated with – Mochi.

They’re not that different after all – wouldn’t it be sweet if they’d just get along?…

Guappo is a term of endearment or an insult, depending on whom you ask. It’s a Neapolitan word of (possibly) Spanish origin, meaning a handsome young man and an honourable gangster. Some claim that the English racist slur “wop” comes from guappo, but others say that it all started in 19th century Spain where Italian seasonal workers were derisively called guapos (pretty boys) by the local men for some funny reason.

Chapter 5 continues with 2 more teaser panels. I’m also testing my very own font, based on my handwriting. Here are the uppercase letters. You can spot an alternative capital I if you look closely.

These 3 panels (with the previous one) summarize a bit simplistically but neatly Italian politics in the very early 1920’s, before big M’s infamous March on Rome. In spite of being a rebel state, Ginestra is just a miniature copy of Mamma Italia.

I won’t be able to post on all the days of December, but here is the first window of the Goldenbird Advent Calendar… A preview of page 2 (yes, i know, I haven’t inked more of it ;_;) of chapter 5. Remember where we left off?

More on Advent Calendars, for the heathen.

Name the characters whose eyes you see above! It’s nice how humans (and dogs!) belong to a small gene pool but still manage to show beautiful variation in their phenotype. Dog eyes, by the way, differ from human eyes in interesting ways – the tapetum lucidum, which reflects light, gives a dog’s eye colour an iridescent effect which can be seen up close. I was always fascinated by the irises of our Akita Mitsu, which were dark brown but softly scintillating in rainbow colours. I’ve tried to imitate that effect to give Mochi’s eye an ominous glow.

Colouring is fun, but so time-consuming… I guess I just need more practice.