Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire, Mk. XLIV: Stunt Bro and Hella Jayden

[t209]

So do you think Mookie is Metalhead Chris Chan (minus Autism)?
P.S- Ironically, I am becoming acquainted with him.

[Trazoi]

What Mookie is doing wrong is that his comedy always comes at the cost of the drama. Good webcomics like OOTS roll the humor and drama into one. Things turn out worse than expected, and a joke is made about it. Dominic Deegan does the exact opposite; the joke is always about things turning out better than expected, like the archmage being killed by a single stab from Stunt's knife for instance.

It's not so much that the comedy is often in the heroes favour, it's that Mookie switches the tone between straight drama and comedic moments at the worst possible times. Stunt's "Walk the Wild Edge" was the worst at this, as it started off straight as the poachers were preparing in camp, then turned to portraying "wacky shenanigans" when they were started being horribly killed.

In your usual comedy-with-plot webcomic, there's an attempt at jokes in nearly every strip, with the very occasional straight strip having increased dramatic punch because of its rarity. You wouldn't see something like the extended vision sequence between Dom and Luana being played as dead straight as it was, only to go back to the jokes the instant the fight scene starts.

[Lord Raziere]

I've actually been inspired to do a strip slay of this latest comic, probably not the best or really good, but I like it as it sums my feelings about it nonetheless:

Spoiler

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[TheLaughingMan]

So do you think Mookie is Metalhead Chris Chan (minus Autism)?

That depends. Can he be Chris-chan minus complete and utter bat-expletive insanity, or would that remove the necessary comparatives?

[hierophant]

Surprise! Everyone is okay!
I bet nobody saw that coming!

Bright side: I can pretend Spark was caught in the blast until shown otherwise.

[Trazoi]

Spoiler: They aren't dead. But there's no reason why they won't be in a second.

For a moment I thought that was Bumper talking in the third panel. For goodness sake Mookie, if you're going to draw one face and hairstyle for everyone at least put them all in distinctive clothes.

[Humbug]

Oh hey, I called the magical barrier. Then again, it was the most obvious route wasn't it? Was hoping Mookie would surprise us with something really stupid.

[Trazoi]

Oh hey, I called the magical barrier. Then again, it was the most obvious route wasn't it?

...Yeah. Mookie didn't even bother to pretend it was a cliffhanger.

Was hoping Mookie would surprise us with something really stupid.

Me too. But so help me if the "Death from Above" thing happens.

[AgentofOdd]

Surprise! Everyone is okay!
I bet nobody saw that coming!

The strip seems to imply Bumper "pickpocketed" the treasure from Stunt. How on earth is it possible to take something that's being tightly gripped?

[Zaq]

The strip seems to imply Bumper "pickpocketed" the treasure from Stunt. How on earth is it possible to take something that's being tightly gripped?

That's supposed to be Bumper's thing. I'm actually OK with that. It's still silly if you think about it too hard, of course, but compared to the rest of this bloody strip, that doesn't bother me. At least it's using a somewhat established character trait/ability.

[random11]

Surprise! Everyone is okay!
I bet nobody saw that coming!

Bright side: I can pretend Spark was caught in the blast until shown otherwise.

Yey, they are saved! (insert "saved" joke here)

It appears that every competent caster can raise an effective shield that can survive a few seconds even against an arch mage.

I'll let it slide now, and pretend that once the shield is down they will be in danger.

[MReav]

So do you think Mookie is Metalhead Chris Chan (minus Autism)?
P.S- Ironically, I am becoming acquainted with him.

No. In no way are the two alike. Mookie has had genuine high points and to some extent earned admiration (even if it has dwindled), but he will never sink to the level of Chris Chan.

[Barefoot Monkey]

Who's Chris Chan? Is that like 4chan?

[Mewtarthio]

"And to think that Jayden was worried about you! She should have known that a mere archmage would be no match for Luna Deegan!"

[Gez]

Who's Chris Chan? Is that like 4chan?

Actually, it's short for Christian Chandler. But yeah, it is kinda like 4chan.

[TheLaughingMan]

Who's Chris Chan? Is that like 4chan?

The guy who writes Sonichu... amongst other things. It's best to forget you've ever heard of him. Trust me.

[T-O-E]

http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2005-12-29
=Uncool-

It's true, only gay people can tell the difference.

Actually, it's short for Christian Chandler. But yeah, it is kinda like 4chan.[/quote]

In that it's terrible and brings out the worst in people?

[Myrdhale]

http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2005-12-29
=Uncool-

This just makes the whole thing even more ridiculous. Also looking back at thsi comic, there are so many things wrong with a ring that would be worth enough to save a town, and dominic thinking "if only I had realised it was starstone, I could've sold it to the item shop and gotten the gold I needed".

[Frogwarrior]

I thought something was wrong with Stunt's dialogue in today's strip.
So I corrected it.

Spoiler

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[Nerd-o-rama]

This just makes the whole thing even more ridiculous. Also looking back at thsi comic, there are so many things wrong with a ring that would be worth enough to save a town, and dominic thinking "if only I had realised it was starstone, I could've sold it to the item shop and gotten the gold I needed".

I'm pretty sure he was just going to pay off Brakkis with the ring itself. Or something. I forget what exactly they needed money for, but I assumed it was the same plot as UHF.

[MReav]

In that it's terrible and brings out the worst in people?

That is a surprisingly accurate description.

[Mr. McGician]

I thought something was wrong with Stunt's dialogue in today's strip.
So I corrected it.

Spoiler

Show

That's exactly what I was thinking. His dialogue in panel four stands out as particularly awkward and unrealistic.

[random11]

BTW, does anyone here remember when was the last time we saw a combat magic spell that wasn't a variation of a beam attack or an energy shield?

[Frogwarrior]

BTW, does anyone here remember when was the last time we saw a combat magic spell that wasn't a variation of a beam attack or an energy shield?

Enlarge Breasts could be used to break an enemy spellcaster's concentration?

[Wraith]

BTW, does anyone here remember when was the last time we saw a combat magic spell that wasn't a variation of a beam attack or an energy shield?

Umm.... Does Dominic being boosted by Black Magic while freeing Celeso from Snuggly count? It put me in mind of a Tenser's Transformation kind of spell.

But apart from that, I think we'd be going right back to A Nimmel House, with Nimmel making Ice Constructs, Freezing Blasts and the likes. Nothing else spring to mind apart from Luna Fireball-ing the Merfolk in the Vacation Arc.

[T-O-E]

BTW, does anyone here remember when was the last time we saw a combat magic spell that wasn't a variation of a beam attack or an energy shield?

Greg's metal scream?

Dom's swordsman fantasy?

[rocketpony]

BTW, does anyone here remember when was the last time we saw a combat magic spell that wasn't a variation of a beam attack or an energy shield?

Not the last time, I don't think, but I'm kind of fond of this.

BONUS: Oh hey, bug guy, you're up close and it seems you've invalidated their shield, hmm yes behold now is a very acceptable time for a follow-up fireball.
Or you could just kind of menace the fellow by manhandling him, hmm yes that might also potentially accomplish your aims perhaps.

Is it so wrong that I want to see an archmage, who has mastered all magic, do something like "make enemies fight their own skeletons"? Y'know, a little something like this, but with skellingtons.

[Humbug]

About Mookie and Chris Chan, (I'm not gonna talk about the authors) Dominic Deegan has the potential to be good. But Sonichu? There is no saving that. If you think DD is nothing but wish fulfilment for Mookie, Sonichu is 100 times worse in that regard.

[Veridis Quo]

"And to think that Jayden was worried about you! She should have known that a mere archmage would be no match for Luna Deegan!"

I feel like this is a personal shot at the reader as well. Regardless of what Jayden was concerned about, their up against an archmage here. Supposedly one of a handful of individuals with the power to warp reality like a potter with clay. This guy should register so high on the threat-o-meter that Vegeta has to shout about it while destroying his scouter.

I can understand that Mookie insists on using his newsposts to create the illusion that he actually foreshadows these events. But it would be nice if he actually injected some buildup into his stories before creating these forced climaxes. If Cricketman here is a physical fighter who augments himself with magic, LET US KNOW. Make it a flashback, have Miranda mention it when she recounts her experiences or impressions of the other circle mages, Let us see Cricketman defend his home realm from some threat by casting fist at it.

Mookie, I may not be a writer or artist but I understand that most good stories have context for their events. These scenes with the archmages are devoid of such a feeling.

[Zaq]

It's getting to be that time again. I'm thinking that the fact that this nonsense has been going on for ten years is probably something we should—let's say "commemorate."

Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire, Mk. XLV: Ten Years for THIS?
Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire, Mk. XLV: A Decade of Snark
Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire, Mk. XLV: Comparable to a Fifth-Grader
Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire, Mk. XLV: Practice Makes Something

I don't want to forget "Bland and White Morality," but much like the current title, I don't feel like it's the best time.