It somehow seems appropriate that Chrys's dad make his first appearance in our 250th page.

See, this whole thing started with him. Once upon a time, I started making up stories about a dashing, interdimensional traveler. It wasn't Chrys. Or Theresa. It was Quest. Over time, I grew up and didn't need to Mary Sue so much and the storyline evolved to be about his daughter and, eventually, about his daughter and her girlfriend.

Still, it is nice that, on our 250th page, he shows up... in the flesh.

Previous page is in color, by the way!

Mitaukano (Guest) (2011-07-15)

Is it worrysome that since you mentioned Quest I've been eagerly waiting for him to show up? I'm very interested to see what happens since they have both been caught. Don't feel too bad about the Mary Sue-ing, we all do it at one time or another. Also at least your's isn't a giant crazy Were-cat/Bastet. 

adamas (Guest) (2011-07-15)

Yes I was right!

Fairportfan (Guest) (2011-07-16)

Okay i'm not going to make any "like a fungus" cracks, but the art is beginning (slowly) to grow on me.

Are youse guys doing something different in the colouring? The colours seem brighter, somehow.

Ellaanabeth (Guest) (2011-07-16)

Um... What happened to Chrys' purple stripes in her hair? Did they dissapear when I wasn't looking? O.o

James (Guest) (2011-07-18)

I'm sorry but it must be said. The art work is not doing it for me as it did in previous pages. It's like giving away your Farrari for a Taurus, a cool car to show off for a family car everyone had. Her art work maybe good for other comics but for this one, the original artist style was what brought people to it. I only stay for the story because it is still interesting.

I think you people are being a little too polite. I'm not saying we should be against simple forms of art, but, honesty rather then "don't hate me" politeness isn't a bad thing to practice once in a while, it may even help in some good way.

Xade (Guest) (2011-07-18)

good work, purple streaks coming? hope so, she looks like a dumb blond without them, the straks add personality to her and matches her lips.

James (Guest) (2011-07-18)

Well sorry if I have an opinion, asshole.

J Gray (2011-07-18)

You are, of course, allowed to have an opinion. Xade wasn't denegrating it. No one was. Calling people names isn't cool, though. Please do not do so again.

Gillsing (Guest) (2011-07-19)

I'm guessing James thought Xade was calling him "a zero" with the "Loved the zeros comment on the one before." Which actually seems to refer to the last panel of page 249, and not at all to the previous comment.

A lot of times it's a good idea to turn the other cheek at perceived insults or attacks, because sometimes they're just mistakes on someone's part, and retaliation just makes things worse. And hey, even if it's an actual verbal attack, it already reflects poorly on the attacker, so as far as I'm concerned, there is really no point in name-calling even as retaliation.

James (Guest) (2011-07-19)

You ever been picked on your whole life just for being born something? I don't take shit from no one. I just wanted to voice an opinion, and to see something that looks like a response to you makes me feel like I'm not welcomed. I like this comic and I am looking forward to seeing more of it in the future, and I don't like coming into a place that makes me feel unwelcomed.

I once again find myself in need of an artist for Mysteries of the Arcana. I'm looking for someone who can stick with me through the end of this storyline. Who can deliver, complete and on time. It is a paying gig. Ten dollars a page, paid every five pages. Not much, I realize. I apologize for that but the comic has a very small budget.

If you're interested you can contact me at mysteriesofthearcana (at) gmail (dot) com. I'd like to get up and running as soon as possible but I'm also going to make sure the next artist is a good fit.

This one isn't a late April fool's prank. Or a prank of any kind.

On the plus side! Chrys has her highlights on page 250 now!

James (Guest) (2011-07-19)

Your last artist didn't leave because of what I said, did she?

Flinn (Guest) (2011-07-20)

This is my fault isn't it? "She has no ears...she has no highlights..."
My keen eyes have run off your artist. Sorry about that...

J Gray (2011-07-20)

Things like this are never about something as simple as 'X said something mean'. Jessica's a tough person and she could take the criticism. Her life just isn't in the right space, at the moment, for her to work on her own projects and Mysteries of the Arcana as well.

I will never tell readers to censor themselves, except when it comes to civility. So long as you treat each other (and the MotA team) with respect, I am happy.

James (Guest) (2011-07-20)

Well, not to toot my own horn, but I have been planning on entering the webcomic business and so I have been developing my artistic skills, my criticism aren't just me being a dick. So maybe I could throw my hat in the arena for this.

J Gray (2011-07-20)

Sure! I'm asking for a commitment to the comic. To producing two pages per week. I'm also asking for an audition page. Essentially, pick any page of MotA you desire, draw it in your own style and with your own take on it and send it to me at mysteriesofthearcana (at) gmail (dot) com.

Ketira (Guest) (2011-07-27)

I do wish you luck; you've got a good story here, and I'd love to see how it ends.

Uhl (Guest) (2011-09-13)

James, if you're going into the webcomic business, you're going to have to get a MUCH thicker skin. Just a warning, many people ARE going to deliberately paint a "bullseye" on you with far harsher comments then what you interpreted being said about you here, and if that wasn't enough, some are going to steal your art and call it their own too. If you don't watch that temper, you're going to burn out pretty quick.

I wanted to let everyone know what's going on. I've had several queries for the position of artist over here on MotA and, so far, a few audition pages. I'm waiting for a few more and then I'll make my decision. My hope is to be up and running again before the end of the summer if not sooner.

Thank you for your patience and your belief in Mysteries of the Arcana.

JD (Guest) (2011-07-30)

Silly thought... maybe post up the samples one at a time and have us vote?

Just a thought.

J Gray (2011-07-30)

I had considered that, actually, but thought it unfair. First, art style is only one consideration. I also need to take into account dedication and compatibility. Second, some artists might not be, as they say, ready for prime time and are being brave in putting themselves out there. I don't want to expose them to the crowd, especially after what happened with Jessica.

Also, I'm not sure art should be something that's subjected to a reality-show like environment, even a little.

Eddie (Guest) (2011-07-31)

Well said sir! ^_^ Although it would be interesting to see the audition pages after someone was chosen if the other artists were ok with it

Greg (Guest) (2011-07-31)

James (Guest) (2011-07-31)

I for one would at least like to see who I was up against after you make your decision. It's okay to make bad decision, just as long as you learned from them so if you want to try it again, you'd know how to do it better, without hurting your friends.

J Gray (2011-07-31)

Greg, I don't mean the April Fool's joke but, rather, how much of a thrashing her art got. Yes, artists often need thick skins. However, most of the people auditioning aren't professionals and don't have a lot of experience. I think the "American Idol" process is destructive and would prefer to nurture young talent, not crush it.

James, after I've made my decision I'll ask all the artists involved if I can post their audition pages in the gallery. I do want to share them, just not as part of a 'vote on your favorite' process.

James (Guest) (2011-07-31)

I wasn't thinking of it as a voting thing, just a showcasing of the cannidates regardless of who was picked.

Fairportfan (Guest) (2011-08-03)

While Jessica's art was not what i'd really want to see for mysteries of the Arcana, there's nothing wrong with is as webcomic art per se.

Magic_luver101 (Guest) (2011-08-03)

Why dont you just do the art yourself? 

J Gray (2011-08-04)

You don't want that.

Trust me. You really don't.

Hello everyone!

Just a note to keep everyone up to date. I'm waiting on one more audition page. One way or the other, I'll be making a decision Friday. After that comes discussion with the artist I've chosen. Hopefully, we'll be up and running again soon after that.

I did not get any auditions that looked like Keith or Sarrah's work. Whoever fills the shoes, their style will be different from the majority of MotA thus far. I am trying hard to pick an artistic style that works well for the story.

JD (Guest) (2011-08-10)

After seeing just a teeny tiny sampling of what may come, I think you all are going to be very happy upon Arcana's return.

I know I'm impressed.

Fairportfan (Guest) (2011-08-11)

Evil Diva has weathered two artist changes - i actually like the current better than the original, by a small amount.

After almost two years - or was it three - The Wotch is coming back with a new artist and a different style - though it's one we've seen before and i like.

Exiern underwent an artist change that changed the look of the strip markedly.

So i'm looking forward to Friday with anticipation.

James (Guest) (2011-08-11)

Believe it or not, I once helped with the editing for Exiern. They didn't pay me, but I was happy with the job for about a month, before the artist change and then I stopped receiving the pages that needed the spell corrections (that was my job). The texts suffers for it even more then usual.

James (Guest) (2011-08-11)

Had this as a last minute thought (you don't seem to have an "edit post" option here):

Even if I don't get the part of artist for MotA, I at least am pleased to get my artwork out into the world, and to hopefully improve my style and form in my pla, no, personal quest to make a webcomic (and by that I mean my very OWN, not someone elses. I'm no fink.)

Hello!

I'm pleased to say that I have offered the position of artist of Mysteries of the Arcana to Gennifer Bone. She has been quite gracious and accepted the offer. As we speak, she is hard at work on the next few pages.

I had quite a few people show interest in the position. In all, seven artists (eight, technically, as one of the artists was actually a team of two artists) sent me audition pages. I was quite pleased at the range and talent of the people interested.

In the end, I picked Gennifer because I felt she best understood the comic and the characters, both as a reader and as an artist. I've posted a full color sketch she did of Mandrake to go along with this page. As the week goes by, I'll show off more of her art, including her audition page.

If you are interested in seeing more art from Gennifer, you can see her DeviantArt account here: http://razielart.deviantart.com/

Everyone, please welcome Gennifer to the Mysteries of the Arcana team!

Fairportfan (Guest) (2011-08-14)

Yay!

Mitaukano (Guest) (2011-08-14)

Sweet we got us an artist!

JD (Guest) (2011-08-14)

Fantastic!  Welcome Gennifer!

James Smith (Guest) (2011-08-14)

"G'ennifer", that's a new one.

TC (Guest) (2011-08-15)

Welcome to MOTA, Gennifer

adamas (Guest) (2011-08-15)

Welcome, or as I think Mandrake is saying "Gppd/Happy day"

Gennifer was nice enough to send along a color sketch of Theresa. She showed what a good sport she was when I insisted she replace the gun. For the record, Theresa uses a Colt 45 m1911a1. That's the gun her daddy gave her and she's used it to blow up robots and ineffectually shoot goo and horrors thus far.

Seraia (Guest) (2011-08-15)

Love, love LOVE the new edgy look.  The last artist had softened things a bit too much and took all the "utch" out of being butch.  I realize its hard to do that amount of art well, but if you can't do it well and on time there's no point.

Hjels (Guest) (2011-08-16)

I agree, the new art looks amazing. Can't wait to see now pages coming. 

Fairportfan (Guest) (2011-08-17)

Yeah! Me Like!

Emma (Guest) (2011-08-18)

I thought Jess was doing a great job, but this new girl is really growing on me too.

William isn't an easy character to portray. You've got a jackal anthromorph with digitigrade legs in high tech space armor with a fair amount of detail. You've somehow got to give that character expression on a face lacking typical human features. Fortunately, Gennifer did a fantastic job with William. She even managed to give him a very inscrutable, samurai warrior vibe.

I'm hoping to get one more portrait up this weekend and then we'll become publishing pages again come Monday!

Felix Pleșoianu (Guest) (2011-08-19)

Indeed, William looks the best so far. Yay for Gennifer!

Fairportfan (Guest) (2011-08-20)

Chrys next?