Welcome to the third installment of “DEAD DUCK RISING”! Here’s your trivia fix for this episode:
- On a small level, this story takes me back to my elementary school days, and my fond memories of plastic thermoses and juice boxes. Regretfully, there weren’t a lot of topless bar wenches to be found at lunchtime back then. That was more common in my college years.
- The landscape I drew here is loosely based on my memories of the field behind my old elementary school, Shields Elm., and the Tittabawassee River which ran behind it. It’s just a coincidence that this story features a different kind of “titt” altogether.
- In the previous episode, I mentioned how Vaughn Bode’s cartoon women were an influence on the bar wench’s design. But another inspiration for her design was the character Dejah Thoris of the Marvel Comics series “John Carter, Warlord of Mars”(1977) as drawn by Gil Kane.
- The design of this evil character is based on a drawing I did around 2000 for “The Delta Collegiate”, my old college newspaper. At the time, I had reviewed a performance of the musical “Jekyll and Hyde”, and my accompanying illustration of Edward Hyde was very close to what I came up with here (I actually upped the horror of his appearance for this story). I believe I was going for a Captain Ahab/evil Abraham Lincoln look when I did the original sketch, and the image just stuck with me until I found the perfect character for it–a common occurrence with many of my random sketches.
- I wasn’t trying to draw inspiration from the “genie in the bottle” in popular mythology. In fact, I still feel that I created an original and intriguing backstory for the evil character.
- Amongst folks who have read this story in the original “Dead Duck” graphic novel, “You spoke prettier when you were horny” has become one of my most popular non-Zombie Chick spoken phrases.
Catch you on the next page!
–Jay
“You spoke prettier when you were horny.”
The perfect post-Valentine’s Day sentiment.
Seriously! I hadn’t really planned this page to coincide with national “buy my affection” day, but you’re right–”You spoke prettier when you were horny” is a pretty good door to close on the holiday!
I’ve always liked the term “wench”, regardless of whatever job she may hold. Fortunately Beloved knows I’m pulling her leg when I use it on her.
Now then, which of those pond denizens is destined to become everyone’s favourite afterlife minion?
@Mitchell: Too funny, sir!
I used to use “wench” a lot when I was young, but it kinda fell to the wayside with “gnarly” and “decent” (though decent is on the fast track to becoming part of my lexicon again). As to which duck will be birthing our hero, the answer is obvious: the yellow one! =0)
I usually get flak for using words like ‘yonder’ and ‘yore,’ but you have one-upped me with ‘slaked.’ ;p
It’s weird how two completely different creators such as Bode and Kane can be an inspiration for the same character, but I dig it! And know exactly where you’re coming from.
I try to have a wide vocabulary (though “ain’t” finds its way into my speech every so often), and words like slaked are just fun to write with, especially because they’re so rarely used anymore.
My influences are so diverse that it’s hard to imagine them contributing to a single bit of inspiration. But as seen here, it does happen!
I love the design of the evil spirit character! What great look!
I also love the not-so-subtle change to the wench’s speak pattern. I can almost hear her soft, heavenly voice switch over to a shrill, raspy, biting tone. Her facial expression really drives this home.
Nice job Jay! And nice boobs.
Thanks for the compliment about my boo–oh, you mean the wench…