Zombie Ranch is a comic where I constantly wrestle with issues of presentation, due to its “show-within-a-show” nature. For instance, should every image presented be considered something that was filmed?
The revelation that there are hidden cameras about allows that to be possible… but while I’ve had that twist in my plans for quite awhile, I’ll be honest that I didn’t (and don’t) feel it necessary to constrain Dawn to treating everything primarily like a camera shot. You may have noticed that even the panels we’ve done that are meant to represent raw, live footage are not uniform in shape, and may or may not have a ‘CAMERA 3’ slapped on them. Of course we can fudge that and say the futuristic camera technology allows changing the shape of the lens, but the real reason is first and foremost an aesthetic one. Every panel uniform, with “TV Lines”? That’d get old, fast.
Then again, sometimes I do want to have panels happening from an obvious camera perspective. Sometimes we have “media breaks” showing aspects of the larger world. Sometimes we have those ‘A Moment With…’ segments where previously unseen footage intrudes briefly upon the present, or (as was the case near the start of Episode 2) even
runs in tandem with the present as a meta-commentary. Crazy stuff, man.
The saving grace here (in my head, at least) is that one of my themes for the comic is regarding the blurring of lines that “reality television” inflicts on its subjects. What’s real? What’s edited? Did these events actually happen in the order we’re seeing them? How much of these peoples’ lives is on the cutting room floor (so to speak), and what changes when those missing bits are picked up and revealed? How do people act with a camera in their face? How do they act when they think one’s not there? And what does it say when even peeks into the secret back rooms of the show’s producers seem to be staged for dramatic effect?
Mind you my goal isn’t to hit anyone repeatedly over the head with all these questions, including myself and Dawn. This in fact is one of the reasons I
rewrote the Exec’s speech last week, since he started spouting off a little too much about metaphysical things, when the focus of the story should remain grounded on the trials and tribulations of one Susannah Zane and her compadres. We always return sooner or later to the Z Ranch, and the happenings there continue on without much regard to the structural antics of some egghead writer and his crazy artist wife.
So when I reflect upon all this, I am content to continue to let the lens (or lack of lens) through which we show the story alter as needed, and by doing so hopefully weave its own tale without sidetracking the main one.
Zombie Ranch is a comic about cowpokes who wrangle zombies for profit. Never let us tell you different.
We have a lot more fun showing you instead.
10 thoughts on “540 – Trick Hello”
Scarsdale
Called it, she figured he’d do this, if by choice or by zombie voodoo. I’m sure the “friendlier” questioning will start soon, if she doesn’t just kill him out-right. Or just add him to the herd.
Crazyman
Gotcha!
Zombatar
This turn of events is a surprise only to Eustace. And, maybe, Eustace’s subconscious. After all, this way he doesn’t have to actually risk actually attacking Suzie, which gives him a greater chance of survival than actually attacking her. I wonder what he was promised/threatened with?
ConcordBob
Not to nit-pick, but since sights are on target, finger should be on the trigger. Especially this close.
The usual rule is “keep finger straight and off trigger until sights are on target”.
Dr. Norman (not a real doctor)
Not to nit-pick, but since that was current philosophies regarding trigger discipline have evolved.
Of course, it will depend on who you get/got your training from.
Experiments have determined that the fraction of a second to go from finger off the trigger to finger firing when appropriate is insignificant, and the risk of firing unintended is greatly reduced.
Dr. Norman (not a real doctor)
I did the google thing and I believe I saw how you reached this conclusion … but there are two parts to it – One should not omit the second part.
“Trigger Finger Discipline: · The practice of keeping your finger “off the trigger” until your sights are on target AND YOU ARE READY TO DISCHARGE THE FIREARM.” (Caps are my own)
Crazyman
She wants him alive so she can question him; otherwise, he’d already be dead.
ConcordBob
Good discussion on trigger discipline!
His skin is very pale / gray. Is this malnourishment, or has he been poisoned with a mind-control drug? I would have to go back and look a t all various of skin tone.
TKG
On a prior page we discussed what he’s likely got running in his system. I suggested that it’s probably Borrochero (Brugmansia arbora) which is already used by Colombian cartels to eradicate the free will of their victims.
Dr. Norman (not a real doctor)
Now can we satisfy my curiosity? Colt, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, or other timeline variant?