FAQ
Have a question about the comic? Please consult this Frequently Asked Questions list first in case your question has already been answered.
Click to jump to: Questions About the Comic's Story/Characters, After Reading the Comic's Archive (SPOILER WARNING!)
Before Reading the Comic's Archive (spoiler-free)
When is the comic updated?
The comic is updated every Saturday. Sometimes it is updated more or less often depending on special circumstances.
How do you create the comics?
Once
I have an idea for a comic I get some paper and I draw out a little
“thumbnail” of what the page’s layout will be. I currently keep a small
notebook full of page layouts and dialogue.
In the past, I would draw the comic with a regular mechanical pencil on a piece of 8.5 x 11" printer paper. Then, I'd scan it (or take a photo of it) into Adobe Photoshop CS5 and work on the comic from there. I liked having the pencil sketch to guide me. I still own most of the original pencils for the comic up until page 567, which is when I switched to digital-only.
I used a WACOM Intuos4 tablet for all of my digital drawing for several years until my cat spilled water on it overnight and broke it in 2016. I then bought a Huion H610 screenless tablet and have been using it up until now (as of writing this, April 2024).
In 2020, I switched from Photoshop to using Clip Studio Paint almost exclusively.
How did you think of this? Where did you get your inspiration?
I've
always liked making characters and stories for as long as I can
remember. I was drawing fan art and OCs back when I was in elementary
school. In middle school, I wrote fanfiction for Sailor Moon in Pokémon.
Back in the days of the early internet, I got into webcomics and
decided to make one, too. I didn't think it would stick, but it sure
did!
I
get my inspiration from all sorts of places: the books I read, the
games I play, the shows I watch. I favor anime, western animation,
manga, other webcomics, and video games (particularly RPGs from Japan
and indie developers). There's too many to reasonably list, so maybe we
can have an interesting conversation about it someday!
How far do you plan ahead?
The
story’s outline is planned out in my head for years to come. I have
key, unchanging events that I work towards to make sure that the story
feels satisfying to read when things eventually pay off. Some of the
comic's content is generated as I go along, and I adapt as needed.
When
it comes to individual page layouts, I usually plan them a couple of
weeks in advance. Jokes and fine-tuning the dialogue come last, and I
may make tweaks up to when the page is finally uploaded and published.
How long does it take you to complete a page?
The
amount of time it takes to finish a page varied greatly on the comic's
content, such as the number of characters, the intricacy of the
backgrounds, and other factors. I
used to make pages faster when I was younger because my artistic
standards were lower as a result of my lack of experience. In the year
2024, I would guess the completion time for a single page could be
anywhere from 8 hours to 20 hours per page. However, I usually work on
them in batches, so that makes them hard to figure out.
If
you'd really like to see what the process looks like, you can sometimes
watch me work on new Slightly Damned pages on my Twitch channel: [hyenachu @ Twitch]
Do you have an ending in mind for the comic?
Yes. However, at the current pace we're going, we probably won't reach it for a long, long time. As of Part 12 [page 1104], I feel like I'm around 1/2 to 2/3 through the story. 10 or 15 full books should do the trick.
I'm
committed to getting to the end eventually, but I want it to come out
naturally without rushing things because I'm worrying about it taking
too long. I may die or give up before I make it, but I still want to
try.
Have you ever thought of making an animated version of Slightly Damned?
Sure,
an animated version would be cool. But I'm not an animator. It would
certainly be cool if I could hire an animator or a studio to make
something... someday...
I have an idea for your comic. Want to hear it?
No.
If you really want your idea to be featured in a comic, why not make
your own? It would be so much more rewarding that way anyway, trust me.
Besides, what if you happened to have the same idea as me? If I said,
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m going to do” it would sure sound like I’m
stealing your stuff. In a worst case scenario, that could end up
spelling legal trouble. No thank you!
Is this a furry/anthro comic?
Slightly
Damned is made to appeal to a general audience without pandering to any
specific group. I want the comic to be enjoyed by as many people as
possible, whether they identify as furry or not.
Are you a furry?
Yup!
What (web)comics do you read?
The comics I read and recommend are listed on the links page.
Any advice for an aspiring comic artist?
Write
and draw what you want, not what you think will be popular. There are
no shortcuts to hard work and practice. Get inspiration from everything,
not just other comics. And if you don't enjoy the work, then there's no
point!
Can I make fan art or fan fiction based on Slightly Damned?
Absolutely! You're free to express yourself however you like. All I ask is that you mention and link back to Slightly Damned whenever possible in order to help spread the word about it.
I can even make adult (18+) content based on Slightly Damned?
Sure. Please be courteous of others and properly tag your work if you choose to share it.
Can I make my own characters based on the races of Slightly Damned?
All the races of Slightly Damned are open species! That means that everyone is welcome to make their own original characters without the need for permission from me or anyone else.
Can I commission an artist to make art based on Slightly Damned, or my Slightly Damned fan content?
Yes! Want to commission art of your character from an artist to draw your character? Make a fursuit? Model an avatar for use in virtual reality? Create digital stickers or emotes for use in chat programs? Make adult art for adult eyes? ...Even the really weird stuff?? These things are all OK!The rule of thumb to follow is that if it's one-of-a-kind, it's probably OK by me.
Can I made merchandise based on Slightly Damned?
Making
merchandise is where things start to get tricky. If you are a small,
independent artist like me, I think it's fine to make and sell a limited
amount of low investment items that feature your original art...within reason. Things like stickers, prints, buttons, and zines are probably OK!
You
are even permitted to make adoptables if you like! Just please make
sure that you and your clients understand where the races are from and
that your art does not confer licensing rights.
All
I ask is that you link back to Slightly Damned whenever possible in
order to spread the word about the comic. I am just a small, independent
artist and I could use all the help I can get.
What was that about "licensing rights"?
If
you are a company looking to manufacture a large quantity of a product
(like, hundreds or thousands of them), or make an animated project that
will get advertising revenue, or develop a video game meant for sale, or
something along those lines, then you're big enough to talk licensing.
Contact me about it!
Every part of Slightly Damned's story, world, names, and characters
belong to me, and I'd rather we all avoid legal trouble. Don't cause
problems by committing copyright infringement.
Your question still not answered? E-mail me!
Questions About the Comic's Story/Characters, After Reading the Comic's Archive (SPOILER WARNING!)
What are those bandages on Rhea’s feet?
Contrary to popular belief, they are not bandages. It’s pretty much just cloth wrapped around her feet, tied on with string. [You can see what I mean in this reference sheet.]
Do the yellow stitches on Sakido’s clothes mean anything?
No. They’re not hiding any subliminal messages, and they’re not symbolic. They’re just random stitches.
As of page 92,
what’s up with Rhea? Is she alive? Is she dead? Is she a zombie? What
happens if she gets killed? What happened to her stab wound?
For
all intents and purposes, Rhea is alive. She needs to eat, drink, and
breathe, and she can be killed. As for what happens when she dies,
that’s supposed to be a mystery. Her stab wound has closed and is now a
big, ugly scar.
What happens when fire/water/wind Demons get drunk?
Fire Demons burp and shoot out flames as soon as they try to drink. [page 764] [page 939]
What happens to wind Demons is a mystery because it's a deliberate "Noodle Incident" joke. [TV Tropes: "Noodle Incident"]
As for water Demons... TBD.
Can you send me a guide for Angelic to English translations?
Unfortunately,
I am no J.R.R. Tolkien. All the Angelic you see in the comic is a bunch
of symbols I made up on the fly. There’s no guide, no translation. I
did it that way because I deliberately wanted the Angelic not to be
understood by anyone. This creative decision was inspired by my
experiences growing up around many languages I didn't understand from my
family, friends, and classmates.
Where is Rhea’s winter coat?
Because
Rhea was trapped in Hell for a significant amount of time and popped
back into Medius in the middle of winter, she missed her chance to grow a
proper coat. She might have another chance to grow a coat when the next
winter rolls around, depending on what the comic's story has to say
about it!
Why is Kieri’s hair dyed differently from the other Angels we’ve seen in the comic?
Angels
are all born with white hair. When they come of age, they start to dye
their hair. Feminine-presenting Angels dye most of their hair and leave a
little of it white. Masculine-presenting Angels leave most of their
hair white and dye a little of it. Agender/non-binary Angels choose to
dye all of their hair. Accessories like bandanas and other head gear are
also socially acceptable alternatives. [example of an unnamed,
nonbinary Angel: page 927] [page 1108]
I’ve seen ticked off Demons with glowing eyes. Are they going berserk?
No,
they’re just pissed off. Demons can make their eyes glow at will. A
Demon’s body will change dramatically when they go truly berserk, and
after a while they end up dying. They can’t flux in between states.
Is Darius gay?
Yep!
How are Cliff Sinclair and Seymour Sinclair related?
Seymour is Cliff’s uncle:
Is that Denevol on page 280?
No, it’s not. The Angel on page 280 can be seen dead in page 286. Angels just look really similar to one another.
If Kieri has to dye her hair to keep it blue, then how come we haven’t seen her white roots as time progresses?
Kieri
has dyed her hair off screen. Miranda Sinclair is from The Dragon
Island Archipelago, where dying one's hair is more common. She also
keeps a supply that she sells to other people [page 597]. Kieri got her hair dye supply from her.
Is Sakido dead for good?
Yes.
Your question still not answered? E-mail me!
