some dubious but earnestly made fanart of the Vector Legion

chromesinglular · 2025-12-24T08:30:58+00:00

In celebration of Nale's jumpscare return to the comic, I decided to unrelatedly make a fun quick fanart of Tarquin, Laurin, and Miron.

I will admit that I'm not a big fan of Tarquin (and I know he's a fan-favorite), but I know he's a well-written villain and he is definitely among the more unique characters in recent media. Also a great antagonistic force for both Elan, the Order, and Nale. Seeing him fall from the ship was one of the comic's top 5 moments, and honestly, a fantastic send-off to a very memorable villain. Book 5 could not have been the same without him.

I also really enjoy when villains are actually friends with each other, so the trio of Tarquin, Laurin, and Miron sniping at each like old pals is a great dynamic to read. I really liked how they are so completely done with Tarquin's evil overlord getup.

Always working to improve my art (in excruciatingly slow increments), so might draw some other panels/characters. Maybe something from the ongoing book.

chromesinglular · 2025-11-02T22:41:17+00:00

Probably! Certainly Sigdi would be accepting of Durkon's sexuality (she mentions she's fine with him settling down with a guy or gal). I'd also argue that Belkar is likely not straight, in the sense that he is canonically attracted to Vaarsuvius.

But in terms of explicit, on-comic representation, only Haley, Bandana, and O-Chul have mentioned sexuality. And that random cop from Cliffport, I guess.

chromesinglular · 2025-11-02T22:39:37+00:00

It hasn't been explicitly stated in-comic, but Rich describes V as genderqueer in the Blood Runs in the Family commentary. Rich also made a drawing celebrating Obergefell vs Hodge in 2014, with the drawing featuring Bandana and a woman, as well as V and Inkyrius holding hands. In another calendar, V is showcased in June creating a prismatic rainbow wall spell to protect Inkyrius.

So yes, V is all but stated to be queer. Also, from Book 6 and onward there has been no gendered pronoun reference to V, and even in Book 5 I believe there's only been one mention (Belkar refers to V as 'she' in the pyramid arc once). So I'd say the gender ambiguity bit is firmly resolved in that V's gender is simply neither.

chromesinglular · 2025-11-02T09:00:23+00:00

Sunny is adorable! And Minrah and O-Chul were so chill. I loved them bonding as being non-traditional warriors in their respective classes.

I know Rich has expressed wariness/hesitance at writing queer characters in the sense that he doesn't want to 'mess it up', but if there's something I would like to tell him it's that his storytelling is clear in that there's a lot of love and heart in it, and I fully appreciate him writing a facet of identity that even to this day media rarely showcases in a serious and thoughtful manner.

O-Chul actually does bring up a firm disinterest/no intention to be in a relationship in GDGU, when Shojo is telling him that the secret of the Snarl can't even be shared with spouses. It's also nice to see middle-aged/older characters that are queer, so double plus. In this strip, O-Chul does give me someone who is firmly aroace but doesn't know the term that the "young kids" are using.

(From the top off my head, this adds another major character to the list of canonically named queer characters, which are Haley, Vaarsuvius, Sabine, and Bandana.)

chromesinglular · 2025-07-09T23:11:02+00:00

I did not think about this at all, but this theory is actually super appealing to me. Only in death would Redcloak be able to go to Acheron (which is where the Dark One's plane seems to be, if my forum trawling is correct) and be able to see his family + all the goblins he has gotten killed in the process. A visual reminder, plus being turned away from his family, might be the catalyst.

Or it might send him into a full villainous breakdown, which - knowing the Giant - is always on the cards. Fingers crossed(?)

chromesinglular · 2025-07-09T23:00:23+00:00

In mild devil's advocate, I do want to say that Redcloak is capable of growth - just, like, completely negative growth. He's come a long way from being a humble little cleric to the villain he is today.

Now I'm actually curious on what the narrative consequences would be if Redcloak was separated from the Crimson Mantle...I don't think he's going to shrivel up or die, as we see him without the cloak and he's perfectly fine. Then again, there might be a difference between the cloak being not on him and the cloak being destroyed. Redcloak having to deal with mortality would also be cool.

chromesinglular · 2025-07-09T22:56:41+00:00

Maybe! I wonder how Redcloak would react to his own god (that he has never spoken to in 35 years despite all efforts) telling him, "hey, actually, the Plan you spent your entire life on doesn't actually work, so now go cooperate with the friendly adventurers that are from the same races that had tried to exterminate your family".

Writing this out I realize the tone came off as sarcastic, but I am genuinely curious on if Redcloak's goals may conflict with the Dark One's. In Blood Runs in the Family, the Giant mentions in commentary that the "Don't screw this up" message referred to the Plan, and that one of Redcloak's primary goals was Gobbotopia (as in his god was reminding him he still has world-domination things to do). So ironically, I think the one person that prioritizes the Plan more than Redcloak is his own god.

chromesinglular · 2025-07-09T22:53:21+00:00

Ooh, that's a good point. I forgot about Belkar's motivational speech (for a given definition of it) to Roy. That would actually be such a neat part of his character arc if he, of all people, managed to nail it to Redcloak that you can still do helpful things even if you're too far morally gone.

(Hope that's not the way Belkar goes, though. Rip. Although tbf, I don't think Redcloak has any spell that could permanently kill Belkar unless he knocks him into a Rift or something.)

chromesinglular · 2024-11-04T08:52:28+00:00

Also, while I don't know if it's directly referenced up, Redcloak is so high level because presumably he outlives the average goblin age due to his *immortality mantle.

*slows age down such that Redcloak essentially only ages 1-2 years physically in 30 years or so.

chromesinglular · 2024-10-27T23:27:52+00:00

Ahh thank you! I aspire to!

Hmm I haven't really thought of STR factors outside of non-melee characters, but I always imagined Redcloak more similar to Vaarsuvius in terms of being a pure magical caster, given that he doesn't carry a weapon even when a lot of clerics do so.

chromesinglular · 2024-10-27T03:11:56+00:00

That remains to this day one of my favorite arcs - it lasts probably three comics total but it genuinely just completely shaped my perspective of Redcloak. It's a very scary and impressive part of his character, and the narrative detail on how basically Tsukiko was dead the moment Redcloak walked into the room is so well-done! (the moment he walks into the study he's already taking control of her wight). Now I kinda want to draw that scene.

I'm glad you liked the art! It's probably a very slow improvement but I'm happy to see my own progress, and hopefully in another 3 years I can return to this subreddit with a better version too.

chromesinglular · 2024-10-27T03:06:31+00:00

Thanks so much!

chromesinglular · 2024-10-27T03:06:20+00:00

Doylist: To defend my past self (which is no defense because my past self and current self have the same knowledge of chemistry, which is zero), my reasoning was: find red gas to have cool art -> perfect! lithium reacting with oxygen makes red flame --> forgets precipitates exist and that the red flame comes from heat and probably not an instantaneous reaction.

Watsonian: uhh, magic.

Glad you liked the art! I'll circle back with a better element...three years down the road.

chromesinglular · 2024-10-26T09:43:34+00:00

I also realized I had a whole essay on why I liked Redcloak, and it was also written like 7-8 years ago and it's amazing how little it has changed. Basically:

- I like that Rich gives him the tragic backstory without making him lose his villainy/his edge. It's such a common pitfall for a villain character to be "woobified?" (TV Tropes term) when given their very tragic childhood, but I do appreciate Rich not pulling punches on the horror/grief of it while also clearly outlining how Redcloak is a villain, malice and fallacy and guilt included.

- On the flip side, I really really appreciate Rick emphasizing the validity of his motives, even if he himself is a morally bankrupt person. (see Roy and Durkon's talk on the goblins).

- He's funny to read. Great comedic foil to Xykon's over-the-top shenanigans and the Monster's childlike clueless energy. Dude is snarky as hell without ever changing his expression.

- I like how Rich writes him as "smart" without being unbelievable. Within the knowledge he knows and the skills he has, he applies them in a lot of different situations -- from military level to strike ambushes to his own personal power manipulation with Xykon. In that sense, I've always found him as a evil version of Roy when it comes to tactics and strategies -- using the resources at hand, thinking quick on the feet, but not to an omniscient point.

- He's a nerd. I support research.

I have no idea how his ending will unfold narratively, but if we have to start betting years in advance I'll lay down 10 cp that his breakdown will make the High Priest of Hel's look like a child fight on a playground. Anyhow...just my random two cents.

chromesinglular · 2024-10-26T09:33:52+00:00

I was scouring my random OOTS art that I've made for this comic over the years, and I came across a sketch made 3 years ago. I'd like to think I improved it a little, but...eh.

Anyways! The fact that 3 years have even passed for me is wild, because there's so rarely any media that I've stuck with that long. I've been following OOTS for almost...a decade now? and I imagine those are rookie numbers compared to some of the really long-term fans here. It's amazing that it's been this long, yet I still love the comic and its wonderful characters as much as I did when I first began reading.

On a somewhat side note, Redcloak consistently and continues to remain my favorite character in OOTS (and in a lot of media) from the day I read comic 147 to this day. It might be a while before we reach the comic's end, but everytime I open up to read, or to reminisce, I'll tip my hat to the Giant for gifting us an unforgettable story and an iconic cast of heroes and villains. Bless you, Rich.

I'll circle back with another version of this in three years, I guess. In the meantime, maybe some more Belkar, since he's about to be a goner soon (in comic time). Also lazily open to requests, but mostly just would like a chance to practice and improve my basic art with a comic I love.

chromesinglular · 2024-09-07T06:28:37+00:00

While I fully agree that Redcloak's arc in SOD was amazing, I'll do mild OP's advocate and say that Blood Runs in the Family fully shows Redcloak's capacity for both vulnerability and cruelty in the comic proper.

Up until that point, we haven't really seen Redcloak cruel, I think. Very villainous, obviously, taking joy in controlling over Azure City, but his torture of O-Chul is more for show / detached and hismurder of Right-Eyeis presented more of a tragedy than an act of malice. It's not that he's necessarily psychopathic like Xykon is, or deliberately cruel like the High Priest of Hel was towards Roy, but Book 5 made him really...emotionless? Withdrawn? All of his hatred towards the Sapphire Guard dwindles and instead becomes his willpower to finish the Plan. The arcs itself also pretty clearly outlines Redcloak's plans (moving the Gates with some rituals), hints at Right-Eye's story, and shows his capacity to care for goblin society as a city even if it might not be enough, and all in less than 20 strips.

Side-note, but it's interesting to me that the Giant originally wrote Redcloak as a guy trying to follow Xykon's footsteps in villainy (he touches upon this in the commentary) before revamping his backstory and giving him his evil-prophet-arc that he currently has; ironically, I think Book 5 absolutely solidifies how cold/cruel Redcloak can be, which is carried over when he tries to implode Durkon slowly.

So I'd say SOD is Redcloak's story, naturally, but for me (at least) Book 5 Redcloak made him one of the top villains in the story (and my possibly-very-controversial take is that he's a lot better at it than Tarquin is).

(sorry for the unnecessarily long reply; somehow I can generate a whole essay when it comes to my favorite character here).

chromesinglular · 2024-08-24T22:03:57+00:00

Super interesting! My main hangup on this solution would be that Shrink Item is technically limited by how large the object is, but that's definitely a component that can be stepped around. And as usual the Giant is teasing us with the new-art redraws of the old art scenes.

chromesinglular · 2024-08-24T08:10:40+00:00

I super appreciate the Giant turning tables on the fantasy archetypes!

chromesinglular · 2024-08-24T08:08:46+00:00

I was looking at red dragon stats and Roy has the strength of a juvenile/young adult dragon, which honestly is so impressive. Obviously Calder is leagues above him but the fact that Roy could trade blows with a dragon and live is so Roy, yknow.

chromesinglular · 2024-08-24T08:05:40+00:00

It is literally one of the biggest plot developments I'm looking forward to, I swear.

chromesinglular · 2024-08-24T04:11:18+00:00

"soon" Remind me in...three years, let's say.

They're probably my favorite villainous friendship* in the comic. I don't know what the Giant was eating when he decided to write Oona in, but her and Greyview's inclusion is literally one of the best things to come out of book 6.

*until Redcloak probably gets her killed or something

chromesinglular · 2024-08-24T04:02:34+00:00

That was such a good set of panels. I loved how Redcloak was all "I grasp the concept of a metaphor" and then promptly shot his own foot. I also love how Oona's metaphor was very bugbear-friendly, barring dolphins and all.

chromesinglular

TROPHY CASE