Hey everyone! Since we just ended a chapter, I figured I’d post this sketch sooner rather than later.
I don’t usually do this level of design for a character, but El Pantero’s special in that his design draws from several different sources, quite deliberately.
Layne and I are both huge fans of the old Guy Williams version of Zorro, and the majority of El Pantero’s personality, as well as slight elements of his costuming, draw from here. His cape, however, is vaguely reminiscent of Batman, since he is a masked crimefighter (of love!). His overcoat and belt are drawn from Ezio, the star of Assassin’s Creed II, which I was playing quite a bit while writing this particular storyline. And, as a nod to the fact that Joel is DMing this game, El Pantero has Joel’s strong jaw and long nose.
I had a TON of fun drawing and writing this character, and I’m a little sad that we have to wait a while longer before he reappears. However, I have some BIG plot planned for next chapter, and that simply can’t wait!
Seeing as it’s already Thursday, I have a question to pose to you, the audience! Would you rather jump straight into the new chapter, or would you like another day of D&D sketches so that we can start fresh with a new chapter on Monday?
Please let me know in the comments! The more people who post, the more I’ll get a sense of what folks want! Thanks for your input!
SurfPenguin Says:
I’ll gladly take more D&D sketches, as long as you annotate them. Hearing your thoughts in creative design is interesting!
FallenLiam Says:
I would like to start the chapter fresh on Monday i think it would be a good idea to give some down time to artist (who always overwork themselves) and let us get ready for the hammer to drop.
The Shuhite Says:
Given that I’d like to see El Pantero sooner a day more of plot would suit me well.
Pete Says:
Go for more D&D sketches. But like Surfpenguin said annotations will be nice!
Cagliostro Says:
Ah, just have fun with that handsome elvish fiend … you know you want to.
Perhaps in a more … striking pose? On the top of the city, in the deepest of the night? With a seductive smile and a fiery twinkle in his eyes? His blade flashing in the pale moonlight, riding panthera pardus … na, better not going that way.
bookfreak Says:
Whatever is easier for you / makes you happier. anything to get more strips!
Smördraken Says:
Agrees with the surfpenguin. I would love to see some sketches for the d&d-monsters like the yuan-ti, dragons, etc. I’ve read this comic a couple of years now and it keeps getting better.
werepixi Says:
I’d love to see another sketch – God El Pantero reminds me of a character i played for some years, a human swashbuckler known only as “The Black Rose”. Those were the days – the wining, the dining and then the fleeing of the kingdom with a pack of very angry husbands/fathers chasing me
Michael Says:
Sketches sounds good
Rob Says:
Well, the chapter ended, it said so on the screen.
Or did it…?
pfogg Says:
The sketches are fun and interesting, but I would always vote for advancing the plot sooner rather than later. People who engage in this ‘weekend’ social custom I keep hearing about probably have a different perspective, though.
Kam Says:
As much as I would love to get my teeth into more plot, I hate weekend cliffhangers more.. so i will have to vote for sketches.
annotations would be fantastic too; putting the artwork into context, and explaining the thought process gives it so much more (for want of a better word) “life”
Lionriver Says:
I’d say sketches. Like the others said, it’s interresting to read your thought process behind them. ^.^
Madelen Says:
Sketches
D&D-related ones ore not does not matter, the animal-sketches you posted some time ago were nice to look at as well.
Yuval Says:
Sketches. Definitely sketches
Glew Says:
Hmmm… I feel in minority. I would prefer the new plot to begin.
Wyv Says:
I’m with the penguin all the way also. Give us some depth here
dekuton Says:
seriously? elven gun show? isnt that like…i dont know…an oxymoron?
Arathin Says:
I also vote for more sketches. No matter how annoying cliffhangers are, beginning a new chapter just to take a weekend break almost straight away is so much worse..
Besides, I love your sketches
Momo Says:
New chapter!
New chapter!
New chapter!
Well, that’s basically it
rb Says:
your comic, you call the shots.
wouldn’t mind D&D tho.
rb Says:
…btw, what happened to the geek hunter? been a while since they captured him.
GodFish Says:
I am a ravenous plot hungry monster!
Though I certainly wouldn’t mind more sketches.
Bob Mozark Says:
I’m fine with more sketches tomorrow and the new chapter on Monday.
Nex Terren Says:
RB has a point… what exactly did happen to him?
peppermint tea Says:
I like plot! The sketches are fun, but I’m always so excited to find out what happens next.
Plasma Man Says:
I don’t mind what comes next, I’ll be grateful and will enjoy whatever appears. I’m just glad to know El Pantero will be back, he is hilarious.
OddCodicologist Says:
Hola, all. can’t remember if i’ve ever actually posted on here before (although I’ve been reading for a while) so I’ll say “hello!” and introduce myself, just in case:
Hello! I’m thom, a medieval historian, with a quite strong interest in RPG and fantasy, used to game a lot but time is rarely on my side these days so I have to get my kicks from reading stories about RPG instead. Hurrah for Weregeek! Oh, and I’m English so please excuse the odd spellings and mannerisms if you are from the other side of the pond…
Regarding the vote: I love cliff-hangers, but I love character creation and the thoughts of artists more. So count me in for D&D sketches – especially if some commentary is thrown in – and the plot to begin anew next week!
All best,
Thom
AwfulMatt Says:
I’d like to see some more raptors.
Clinton O Says:
One more day of sketchy goodness. New chapter on Monday.
ZeroWitchBoy Says:
I’m all for more plot, but I’m cut between weekend cliffhangers and just getting on with more good weregeeky plot. So I might have to go for sketches.
QuiteLight Says:
Plot! Plot! Plot!
Although I won’t be dreadfully disappointed with sketches, more story, please!
Just call me Ky Says:
Go on with the story!
Cartman Says:
Go on with the story
Thelric Says:
Sketches sound fine
V2 Says:
I say monday
Dru Says:
I’m impatient so I say new chapter tomorrow ^_^
matwat Says:
I would like to dive right back into a new chapter, if it is all the same to you
Alex Says:
YES It wasn’t just my imagination that he looks like Joel!
Aresnasti Says:
DnD sketches would be awesome with commentary. I also want to know what happen to the geek hunter
Sara Van Tasia Says:
… I’d vote for new chapter because I can’t wait for more plot.
Shrike Says:
Being fairly new to the site, I have read the entire archive in the last week. You seem to rarely do sketches. i would like to see more of your sketches.
H. A. Cautrell Says:
I love that drawing. Elven gunshow indeed! <3
More sketches is just fine with me. The sketches and your explanations are almost as much fun as the comic itself.
Elenatintil Says:
Just have to say, El Pantero is hilarious… and it is so in character for Joel to create him to annoy Abby! Perfect!
Anyhow, I can’t wait to see where you are going next so… please post more story?
Stein Says:
I’m eager to see what goes on Next, But Sketches are Awesome, plus Monday and starting things match nicely xD
I vote for Sketches~
Tarathiel Says:
I would love some more DnD sketches, especially if you add your notes to them.
Yumi Says:
Pro D&D scektches, I miss roleplaying actually and it surely helps you to build up a buffer again.
The German Weregeek Says:
I love how the plot progresses and I am very curious to see how the story continues.
BUT I’d love to see another DnD sketch so here is my vote for DnD
billy-bob Says:
I would Like more D and D sketches. They are always awesome. Also, I would Like to see updates to moosehead stew.
tlh-in-tlh Says:
More sketches! And Doug Fairbanks’ Zorro is still WIN! (And, because I couldn’t find a comment button on April 6th: If your archer is going to put the arrow on that side of the bow (relative to the hand used to hold the bow, AKA the “bow hand”), the archer is going to be using a thumb ring to release the string, and the arrow will be resting on the thumb of the bow hand; otherwise, the arrow will rest on the side of the knuckles of the bow hand. Sorry, difficult to describe. The Archery entry on Wikipedia has a couple of pictures.)
Jordan Says:
My vote is for don’t stress out the cartoonist.
If you were to twist my arm, I would vote for starting the plot on Monday.
Rebecca Hicks Says:
My vote is for sketches so you can haz sleep.
Faranior Says:
Sketches.
And also, El Pantero made me think of Dread Pirate Roberts and Grand Papillon (from the PS2 game Shadow Hearts: Covenant). Excellent work.
masterpunks Says:
More sketches, your art is great, and knowing how you do it is well I think of the work for now, but something in between the joy of know Cthulhu will eat you first and learning to speak Klingon at a con. Also I am not too ready to see Mark and Jessica have a fight over Sarah and Mark’s in character e-mails which I feel will be coming with the fact that the group knows about them now.
Zypher Says:
Ah, clearly I have commented at least once here.
I’d say sketches. Cliffies always make me nuts for the next update and I’m crazy enough as it is. XD So to vote for plot for me would just be personally cruel.
Besides, I LOVE seeing people’s sketches and their thoughts on them. It’s always fun to see how a person thinks. XD
Alina Says:
rb and Nex – Never fear! We’re going to return to that very plot in this next chapter. It’s gonna be quite a ride…
Shadow Fox Kitfox Says:
starting a day sooner won’t get El Pantero here noticeably sooner, plus it can let you end the week on a slightly easier note.
One more pages of sketches please!
kenneth Says:
I’ve been so happy with everything you’ve done, I really don’t have an opinion; I trust your instincts. I know that doesn’t really help, but that’s how this reader feels.
Surron Says:
Guy Williams’ version of Zorro, huh? No wonder every time I see El Pantero I fangirl squeel. Grew up on that show.
I’m going to vote for another sketch. Just starting the new chapter just to end on a weekend break is very, very cruel. Besides, we need more of the “elven gun show,” no?
Thornir Says:
I will be fine with whichever is selected as I appreciate the five days of updating goodness, but if it were all my decision I would choose more story.
Chris Blanchard Says:
I would honestly be okay either way, but if pressed, I would say more story! I just started reading your last Friday (that’s to that little prank you pulled with Dork Tower, which lead me here), and am bummed that I caught up to real time and can’t just click ahead to the next strip. So, I may be biased.
WyrmPilot Says:
I would very slightly prefer a return to plot for Friday… but more sketches soon, please.
I also find your choice of Zorro interesting with the Batman juxtaposition — especially in that the Wayne family (in the canon comic book storyline) had just left a screening of The Mark of Zorro with Tyrone Power when Thomas and Martha were fatally shot…
Brother Says:
I’m siding with plot… but sketches shall not be badly recieved.
Goken Says:
Plot > Sketches > Everything else in the world
KenderBryant Says:
I eagerly await the next installment. I hope we get to see more Ravenia/Dustin! I also wonder what will happen once Jess learns the truth. And what did the IBG (International Bureau of Geeks, my name for Joel’s group) do with that hunter? Can’t wait to have my questions and suppositions addressed one way or the other.
Arguas Says:
My girlfriend and I have been enjoying reading this comic for a little while now. The sketches displayed on the front page are actually really annoying not because of any type of quality issues, but rather just their placement compared to the rest of the comic. The focus is intended to be on the characters, story, and well, the comic. The random illustrations as the primary page for updates is frustrating because of the fact that you now have to navigate backwards to see any real content. While it is clear that a lot of people here like the sketches, particularly the well drawn ones like this last post, would it be possible to reverse the trend? Have the comic update displayed first and the sketches previous? Or maybe just have a separate section of the site dedicated to those sketches? Based upon this request, you can probably guess that I’m going to vote for getting back to the story. Again though, I don’t mind your art being there, but just not on the front page unless you consider it to be your primary update.
EpicFal Says:
I just want to say, I love El Pantero. He cracks me up, and I look forward to seeing more of him.