How would you like to win a piece of original artwork and a copy of Out of Orbit? All you have to do is vote in the poll below, telling me what your favorite story was, and then leave a comment telling me what you voted for and a short explanation of why. You can vote and not leave a comment, but only those people who leave a comment will be entered into the contest!
I’ll let this run this week, then randomly pick a winner over the weekend. Good luck!
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Too bad I can only pick one, because I liked eps 4 thru 7 together as a single block. I think the writing in episode 8 thru the current one are tighter, I picked the one(s) I did because w get to unravel some of the mysteries of Mars.
I voted for 4-5. I liked how you managed to expand upon the characters and gave John another human to talk to. While I have read Marooned from almost the beginning, that was about when I became hooked.
Four and Five. NO QUESTION (but you knew I’d say that).
the last episode, because it got the most polish. and with the biggest leap in plot.
Definitely Episode 8: The whole theme of free will mixed with a great new character all worked really well for me. Love Marooned!
Four and Five, because of the story development.
John’s sickness, the Dark Ones, Lian’s entrance.
But, Six with Lian’s growth, and Eight with the magnificent Baro are close seconds/thirds/whatevers!
I decided on Episode 3 cause I thought the plot moved along nicely and you incorporated a lot of humor into each strip. Though it was a tough choice cause I really like Episode 8 with the Baro. I think that had quite a bit of humor in it as well.
I voted #1, the first arc, without it we’d never have any of these fine characters and I love the exchanges between John, Asimov and Ugo right there in the beginning. Classic!
I thought the concept of the Baro being goofballs based on the idea they ‘recycle’ was fascinating. Sure, they’re a bit comic, but how would you be if life was nothing but experience and death?
The story with Lian was great too.
== John ==
Appreciate all the comments so far. Keep em coming!
Tough decision, but I went with episode 7, because it gave us so much background on the politics, science, and history of Mars and Martian life.
I liked 7. It answered some backstory questions. It had a mix of dilbert (man vs management) and supermans origin (ugo from scientist father of doomed planet).
episode 4-5 because though mars does seem like a better life so far for captain john, it would still be pretty lonely without another human – and the fact that the other person he discovers is female allows for the future possibility of romance. even if it seems unlikely now, these two could potentially get together, so lian’s introduction brings romance potential to the story. i even love how she’s been altered and accepted, even revered by the martian population. i was pretty shocked by john’s words to her, as he tried to bring her back, as i hadn’t previously imagined him capable of such depth, which he showed again in his recent speech to ril, when he soothed her fears about him leaving. he is no longer quite the dunce asimov pegged him at first. perhaps his character has evolved while on this barren planet. clearly lian will help him grow further, but she’ll probably always be the more serious one.
I appreciate those comments spas, because it is my intent to have the characters grow and change. So it’s good to hear that people take notice.
I really enjoyed Ep 1 & 2, especially early on. There’s something raw about it. Marooned has come a long way and every bit of it has been entertaining and inspiring. I just find the early stuff more interesting for the creative and entertainment values of each.
If I can add to that, early on Marooned was a classic 3-4 panel strip which grew out of that due to story and artistic necessity, but I found a certain charm in those strips. Perhaps it’s related to the rawness that I spoke of that helps with the charm. A charm I might add is still there, just in a slightly different perspective.
I get what you mean, Don. Those early strips are definitely special to me, too!
I voted for episode 6, even though I really like 4-6 as a whole. The point where Lian faces her own problems while trying to decide whether or not to involve herself in the problems of the martians, and then eventually dealing with her problems and helping was really nice. I really found myself rooting for a good, deep friendship between her and John after that.
Honestly that’s one of my faves, too, Mary. There’s lots of things to delve into with John and Lian for sure. We will certainly get back to that at some point.
I voted for episode 8. I’m a new reader and I like the improvement that you’ve made over time. Characters developed so far, better writting and so forth. Of course, I’m a bit biased since I started there and worked backwards.
I went with 3 since that was what got me hooked on the strip, but really I like all the episodes equally.
don, agreed. the early strips more resemble a daily comic strip. as the story goes on, the format transforms into a graphic novel. i really like your character development, tom, but i also can imagine how it could have worked for some time with running gags, ala Legend Of Bill..where captain john is forever the idiot and asimov his wiseacre sidekick. mindless entertainment, but lovable! and had you gone with that, i’m sure quite successful…so you took a chance. marooned makes you consider how you might feel if you were actually marooned out in space, with little hope of rescue, makes you care about the characters…and it retains some of the slapstick humor element found in comic strips. nice combination! (were you ever stuck out in the middle of nowhere for a long time in real life?) i recently mentioned your comic over at pygmalion, by colby purcell. it’s a shorter story (though she does epic stuff like this as well) and her astronaut spends some time on a lonely planet, possibly going mad. i love her work, but this story is way over my head. sometimes other people’s comments help me figure things out in those cases, but not in this one, as least not yet. if you read it, tell me what you think?
@Spas – For me, I couldn’t do Marooned as a gag strip. I would have lost interest, I think. And I think the gags would get tired and repetitive. But mostly, I longed to tell more interesting and deeper stories. I kept the humor because I like humor, and I like to laugh. Seems other people do, too!
I’ve never been stuck anywhere for a long period of time.
Regarding Pygmalion the comic, I’ve seen it, but I’ve never read it. It looks interesting though.
episode 3. It gave a nice twist to the story. Asimov’s rival and suspense. Truly that was my favorite episode.
I know few creators who can tell a dead-serious, dramatic story, yet still throw in lots of humor, as Phil Foglio. I just recently re-read the Buck Godot “Gallimaufry” story, and it’s just as good as the first few times that I read it.
Yes, Phil is a master. It’s a very difficult thing to balance. I struggle with it on every strip.
you do strike a wonderful balance with this, the humor keeps it from being too heavy and the gag comics are just an appetizer. now i want to read phil foglio!
As the saying goes, as things progress they can only get better, and that’s why chapter 8 is my number one just beating out chapter four & five.
I just recently discovered this series and read through everything from front to back and with everything fresh I can see the strip evolving just as much as the character and plot development.
The best way to describe the writing and art style is all your own but that it has a garnishing of Foglio and Adams.
I personally love Foglio from his start with Dragon Mags Phil and Dixie on through Myth Adventures to his more recent works.
Q: Is that little yellow annoyance with the red antenna that is a source of annoyance for robots going to show up again?
Thanks for the comments, Thrudd – and welcome aboard! For me, I was also a huge fan of Foglio during the Dragon Magazine days. I loved those strips (and I think you can still read them online on one of his sites), especially because I was into RPGs then too.
I don’t read Girl Genius though. While I think it’s very well done, I think the massive archive is daunting to me. I don’t have the time to catch up.
That little annoyance, I believe, is the Gooble. People really seemed to like him, and I’m hoping to drag him into the story again someday.
I voted for Episode 4-5. I liked the Dark Ones and the introduction of Lian. Definitely my favorite story arc so far.
I am thoroughly enjoying the current story arc, hence my vote for Ep. 8. It feels less like John is the comic relief, and more like he’s the star.