Shotgun Shuffle VS Penny Arcade

Done <a href="http://shotgunshuffle.com/?attachment_id=3586" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://shotgunshuffle.com/?attachment_id=3586</a>

I really appreciate your long reply! I know you can't please everyone, and I have never had any thought that you really need to please -me-! I'm just anonymous reader #5324 who simply enjoys reading your stuff :) Honestly I'm not big into long archs and plots. I don't go delving for hidden messages and easter eggs. I like your art, I love your characters, and I like to see what you do with them. You're not going to just -delight- me with everything you post, but your most recent comic (with Alex) certainly did. Alex, the girls, jackpot! I only have one -real- comment. Danny is not redeemable, period. He's a complete and utter (probably psycho) creep whose actions have made me feel literally (and physically) uncomfortable. There is, and never will be, any chance of redeeming him, not to me, and not to the people I talk to the comic about. I'm glad Alex isn't my friend, but he's just a creepy schmuck. Danny is far, far, far, far worse. He's either a vile criminal or a psychopath.

I just want to say that I literally squeed! when I saw the most recent comic :)

I understand what you're saying, and one of the hardest things for me to accept as an artist/writer of a webcomic viewed by tens of thousands of people is, I'm not going to please everyone all the time. So when I see a comment like yours, like I've seen others like it, it causes me to stop and take pause. I always do this "reassess my entire life" mild-freakout when I read them. But that's not on you, that's on me. It makes me feel like garbage., but I'm allowing it to make me feel that way. Even though I have years of these comics already planned, and spend hours having mock debates with myself over why each comic should be posted... I see a comment like that, and I doubt what I'm doing. I don't want to let everyone or anyone down in terms of being entertained with the comic. but it's not realistic on my part. In short, I know you're not purposely trying to jam a shiv in me, so don't feel bad because I feel bad. Just know I take great concern in your frustration. :) One thing that's really funny/ironic, is I just read through your comment before I'm writing this, and Alex did appear in the previous site comic. That was planned forever ago, and quite timely of you to mention him. I get many concerned emails regarding Alex, and Ellie working in fast food. Some folks wanted Alex to be redeemed, some identified with him, etc etc.. and didn't prefer my direction of his character in the end. Now the fast food storyline... holy crap the multitude of readers wanting me to go back to that scenario. That also had to do with readers identifying with the story. Back then the comic was fairly confined and recognizable to new readers. While that was enjoyable to many, including myself, that's also when my comic took criticism for being similar to stories/shows that have also taken such a path. In otherwords, "been there done that" "I've seen this already." Again, can't make everyone happy. There was a tremendous amount of material cut from the early comics: Ellie getting sick / dealing with medical expenses / a franchise manager who was sleeping with one of the employees (based on a true story) / Ellie hosting a birthday party held at O'Jacks / and more of her moving up into management and dealing with fallout from other employees who felt entitled for consideration before her. I cut all of that, and other stories like it for pacing. I took a ton of heat for the amount of time it took to make the Black Friday arc. And Gump Wars. But with both of those, I had an idea that I really wanted to flesh out, and numerous things to touch on that established future storylines. Okay Gump Wars not so much. But even the Black Friday arc had a ton of material cut from it. Rosemary praising Quinn for putting up with her daughter / Ellie admitting to her mom she wasn't a manager anymore / some general bits of shopping banter between Ellie and Quinn / a much much longer fight between Sister X and Tarra. You're impatient. I'm impatient. I wish I was two hundred comics ahead of where I am. I want to be on the next storyline NOW. But it's always like that. I've made plenty of mistakes in the past of rushing the story when it should be allowed to breath. I have to show Danny when he's not around Ellie, and develop his world and his extra-ciriculars for the future of the comic. He, unlike Alex, is a redeemable character. He's also a catalyst to Caleb and Vu, and other characters we haven't seen. I'm going to brace you for it now, that while he's completely absent from our upcoming Chapter (5,) he does appear in the remainder of the current story. Every story needs a villian, and the villian can't constantly be Quinn. And the irresponcible party can't always be Ellie. I also can't just swap their roles for a story and hope that holds up over time when done again and again. Eventually these two need to fully get along, and the conduit for that, will be with what Danny's doing now. I spent the first two chapter on Ellie and Quinn getting accustomed. Chapter 3 was the expansion of Ellie's background and inviting Quinn into her family. Chapter 4 gives them a mutual enemy/cause. Chapter 5 and on is them as friends. The story is still about them. Sometimes the fights are internal, sometimes external (now.) Just hang in there for me. Even if you're NOT currently anticipating this story's payoff, know you're not complaining at a brick wall. :D

I love the story, and the characters have compelling backstories that hook the reader and drag them along like a whale pulling a row boat. There are some people who would call in a helicopter rescue. But I've got my hat and sun screen and submarine pizza delivery service. I want to see where we go. I love this Sh!T.

Mr. Blue

There is something else that may just explain my doppelgangers appearance there that day the coleslaw spill appeared. It has to do with inertia and catalysts and long range plans.

Mr. Blue

TNX!! &lt;3 lol

Mr. Blue

Commenter Thor (Thormation here on Patreon) posted a comment on the main site saying he found the slow reveal of Danny's scheme too painful and was going to take a break and then catch up on the whole thing when it's over. I've made that kind of decision at times too. If it's causing too much stress you could do the same. As to the current bit, it seems to me that the comic at the start, more than about being fun was about character growth. That "Oh crap, I'm an adult now" that we go through to greater or lesser effect at some point in our lives. Sometimes growth occurs gently, and sometimes it's rough. I'm guessing the crap with Danny boy here is going to be something to scar Ellie for a while to give a reason for her to learn to put her laziness selectively aside and possibly to make more mistakes later from fear of the memory. In my own life, I remember the number of good examples that tried to teach me not to be spiteful, vindictive, and take an "at the very least an eye for an eye" approach to life. Didn't make a dent. Then I ran into someone who hadn't gotten past that impulse and I saw how she had shaped her life to that point and the likely ways forward for her in the future. That was what finally taught me. Sometimes we NEED a bad example, or a bad experience, in order to learn and grow.

That One Guy

With the strength of your votes so far, you may make it a few more rounds. I'd save Tarra for the heaviest hitting other comic character you think you'd run up against. One of the golem girls from Wapsi Square would seem like a good match for Tarra (I'd probably pick Jin)

That One Guy

I can't tell if you're joking and this is the place I must finally give up my [probably eventually vain] hope that Blind Guy's full name is Stephen Estéban Stevens, XIV.

That One Guy

I really appreciate that you read the comments at all. It makes me feel very warm to know that you've read my initial comments, and pretty terrible that I made you feel bad! Thank you :)

This comment reminds me of the first webcomic I really got involved in reading and participating in the community (what follows will either date me as ancient by Internet standards or be so foreign as to confuse people.) Exploitation Now started as an irreverent lol/random comic about the bastard offspring of Hello Kitty and his porn star roommate but ended years later as a mostly serious comic about one of the roommates younger sister's and their mad scientist landlord vs. "the govt. tm" with heaping helpings of grimdark and angst tossed in. The change of focus from the main original main characters started out gradual but when long time readers began noticing there was divided fandom and I know the comic lost readers because of it. I stuck it out until the end but I'd be lying if I said I didn't sometimes pine for the earlier tone and the characters that got me hooked on the comic in the first place. I could write for pages about why I like the direction Chris is taking the comic, because while the camera isn't focussed on Ellie and Quinn currently (unintentional analogy is hilarious in hindsight) the story is still about them which keeps me interested in it. And when I say "about them" I mean that the events and resolution unfolding right now will have significant impact on them so I'm very curious to see how it will unfold. I fully understand that mileage may vary for everyone but personally I'm enjoying seeing other characters stretch there legs and validating that Chris has more going for his comic than "hot college age roommates." But all that being said, I can't wait to see the roomies again, that simmering discontent between them needs resolution!

I haven't had the time to read this yet, but I'll reply when I do. Trying to get this next Patreon comic done. :)

In the comic Lowercase Numbers, Caz says he has an order ready for a duck-lipped teenager who eats twice her weight in burgers a day. So I've been seeding this for a long time. :P

Gonna take you for a ride...

So Ashliii's demonic FaceBook name is really her for reals last name? That explains so much...

Anise, Caleb and Vu might be an interesting choice. But the question could be a few things. Pumpkin and Tarragon are the only two sisters who could successfully do the Fusion Dance. But I'm not going to put Ellie on the bottom of the Sisterhood strength levels.

Mr. Blue

Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

Mr. Blue

Like Smash Brothers?

Mr. Blue

That's quite a jump to the left.

Mr. Blue

BBWWWWWHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA^473884756

Mr. Blue

I've actually seen people making similar complaints about the current arc of the Bleach manga as well. Essentially complaining that they don't get to see Ichigo anymore, and that it's been nothing but the supporting characters for several months now. Now personally, I enjoy the supporting characters far more than Ichigo so it's been just fine by me wrt Bleach. As for SS, would I enjoy seeing a buxom blonde on the page every strip instead of a guy in a wife-beater? Well, I *do* like buxom blondes so I doubt I'd complain. The thing is though, much like with Bleach, there are simply some parts of the story where the main characters have to be off-screen in order to have the situation where the reader knows more than the characters. The only way to really fill the reader in otherwise would be to have accompanying text or dialog narrating the whole thing instead of the action we're seeing. Frankly, I've seen some other web comics (e.g. Exiern) do that recently, and while it does catch the reader up, it's not as elegant a solution as cutting between scenes like we would in a movie or a novel. In fact, one of the things I like about Rusche's storytelling is the fact that it IS very cinematic. That's a method I used to strive very hard to achieve in my own stories, and it's a challenge to pull off properly. FWIW, in my opinion, it's being pulled off quite well. Just my 2¢...

Michael Darnell

I definitely didn't mean to make you feel bad! I love your work, and I've followed the comic closely ever since a friend of mine introduced me to it years ago (and at the time I went and read it from beginning-to-end and then watched anxiously for new posted!) I remember how sad I was when you announced you were going to have to stop, and how thrilled I was when you announced that you would take donations to continue. Shotgun Shuffle has brought a lot of laughter, amusement, and simple joy to the world, and you should be incredibly proud of your work and accomplishments. I happily share the comic with as many friends so that they can enjoy the same pleasures I have of reveling in the fun and entertaining stories, and the really enjoyable art style. What I've found though, lately, is that what I enjoy is reading through the archive. Ellie and Quinn when Ellie first moved in, the conflict caused by Alex, those times at the fast food joint while Ellie was trying to get her feet planted. These stories all utilized a wonderful cast of secondary characters that you have created: the Buckinham family, Ian and his friends, Blind Guy, the fast food joint employees, and most especially Alex himself (the first and best villain of the series!) But with this huge, varied, and interesting cast of secondary characters you employed them masterfully with vignettes, introductions, and snapshots, while allowing Ellie and/or Quinn to remain the focus of the story. They enhance the story rather than stole it. But here we are with Danny, a character designed to be reviled. Since January 29th we have only seen Quinn and Ellie as witless dupes and unknowing victims. I know that its a long setup to some sort of comeuppance, but honestly at this point I am not even looking forward to the payoff. I just can't get excited about new comics when I know they're going to feature Danny's smug mug. Why is such an unlikable character made the feature character of frame after frame week after week? I know that Ellie and Quinn got into their little spat, but honestly I'd so much have rather seen two months of those two having a spat over why Ellie "invited" a man like Danny into their room in the middle of the night, rather than having spent even a frame on Danny's nefarious plot. Honestly, this "versus" piece is very well done. Your artistic style really is something that I enjoy on its own, and your representation of the Penny Arcade characters is fantastic. I don't think I'd have raised a comment about the characters you chose if it didn't seem to sync entirely with my disappointment in the main comic right now. I trust you have your own artistic vision, and its not my intention or desire to tell you what you "should" do, or what your vision should be. All I'm trying to say is that as someone who got into your comic because it was -fun-, I have not been having any fun with it lately, and I just can't wait for its return. I hope I can make you think, at least a little bit, but the last thing I want to do is make you feel bad. As I said above, you should feel very proud of the work you've produced, and I am incredibly happy to have played a tiny role in helping make even this plot line happen.

I'm glad you commented, cause I need to get feedback and general concisis. Negative or otherwise. But I'd be lying if that didn't just make me feel like crap.

I wanted it be like a fighting game where you can pick any character combo you want. Thus, leaving more main characters for later if I can do another one of these for Round 3, 4, etc, when the competition is more intense. You know... not using my A players first. And my apologies for your dismay with the main comic. It is storybased, so it needs caveats with other secondary characters, and secondary characters also need to be developed. I can't have Ellie and Quinn on screen all the time. There are still plenty of stories with both of them coming up (current one included.)

Why are three nobodies from Shotgun Shuffle going up against the main characters of Penny Arcade? Where is Ellie? Where is Quinn? I could honestly ask the same question of the main comic. I'm really starting to miss what drew me to this comic in the first place.

Round 2: FIGHT!

Michael Darnell

Wait, so David is Mr. Stevens? And if Ashliii is Dheus daughter, then she's half...whatever he is (unless it's an adoption scenario) Then Mr. Stevens also knows Tarra, meaning he's possibly had other interactions with the other Buckingham sisters. ... ... He was at the thanksgiving where Anise lost an eye, only he lost both of his! It's all so clear now!

Spoilers above ^^

Well this team up makes alotta sense since Dheu knows David, David teaches Ashliii, who's also Dheu's daughter. It's totally interconnected.

The match up here actually makes a lot of sense. We have Mr Stevens, who is quite blind, vs Gabe as the Carboard Tube Samurai. Blind swordsman being the amazing trope they are, this is a good fight. Ashliiiiii and Tycho...that's more funny than anything else (there hasn't been much in PA regarding Tychos physique/fighting ability [though he can kick a mean kickball] so having the literary one face off against the texting tween is another fun match) Finally, we get the heavy hitters. I don't know which way I'd bet in that match, but I know it'd be a spectacle, if nothing else. It's an impressive piece.

Juniper and Caleb!

BrandX

In hopes I can make it to the next round, I'll probably do Tarra and two others. Suggestions are welcome. :P

I wanted it be like a fighting game where you can pick any character combo you want. Thus, leaving more main characters for later if I can do another one of these for Round 3. Ashliii's a one hit kill because she's always distracted, so this player is already screwed.

I was surprised by the choice of characters too!

BrandX

Can't wait to vote against PA. I love the comic, but they have enough accolades...beating them would be huge for you and bring tons of new readers! :) Love the art. Surprised you went with secondary characters though. I definitely expected to see the hot college roomies and either fatfat or pumpkin. It's neat to see them again though :)

Haha. Thanks. It's an amalgamation of my style, PA and Marvel vs Capcom 2.

I saw that, and the first thought was that the Penny Arcade artists had significantly improved the art since I saw a comic on a bookstore shelf several years ago. Then I realized it was your art. Very nice. I won't say your way is better, (XKCD does just fine with stick figures, it's not ALL about the art,) but it's certainly prettier. Of course, if this match up doesn't occur, you can at least salvage the left half.

Sean Roach