Dragon*Con was amazing, as always. There are many things the eyes simply will never unsee, but overall it is worth it. I will touch on the highlights in the panels and try to keep them related to the paragraphs. Maybe that will explain some of the jokes. Frankly, I hate it when reality comics do that inside joke thing, where they put up some punchline from a weekend of hanging out with their friends, and everyone else is left in the dark. Now, I`m that guy. So, without further adieu, here`s the inside of the inside jokes:
It may surprise some of you, but I really like the comics. The comic strip has always been my favorite version, but the “graphic novel” is high up there. So, I spent a lot of time in the Comic Artist`s Alley(s). I met lots of really cool artists, and got to shake a bunch of hands (and spend too much money on comics). The winner of the show, however, is Ms. Jennie Breeden of The Devil`s Panties fame (It`s not Satanic porn…Honest!). She was a sweetheart who didn`t mind talking nonstop with anyone who would show up and was super-friendly the whole time. Also, she participated in this kilt-hunting tradition where people chase Kiltsmen (the Utilikilt is popular around Dragon*Con) with leafblowers. I missed that one, and it might not have been accidental. Anyway, not only is she super-awesome, but I really like her artwork. Great comic strip form.
So, anyway, the inside joke — Apparently I know someone who was at a Ren-Fest once and who made their presence quite noticeable. Apparently Ms. Breeden was also there, and my loquacious friend was the inspiration for something in the background of one of her comics. That was one talking point we discussed, though our conversation did not give that sense of creepiness I implied. I just figured that was more fitting the character.
The second panel was from a game of “Are you a Werewolf?” It`s pretty simple: Everyone who plays gets one of three jobs: Peasant, Werewolf, Seer. The peasants are just peasants, and their sole job is not to die. The werewolves are just as simply motivated to kill non-werewolves. Every “night” (turn), the players all put their heads down, close their eyes, and make noise by slapping/stomping the floor, slapping their leg, etc., leaving one hand free. The werewolves are called to “awaken” (open their eyes) first and pick a victim. They go back to “sleeping”. The seer awakens next, picks a victim, and the referee tells them if that person is a werewolf or not. Then the seer goes back to sleep, then the whole town awakens (unless you play with crack-addled rules which add a bunch of jobs). The mauled victim is removed from the game, and the rest of the villagers get to lynch one person if they choose. Play proceeds until only one non-werewolf remains.
The werewolf part of the comic, now that you know the rules, should be pretty much self-explanatory. Apparently this game echoes the concept of a game called “Mafia” which I have never heard of, and because of that similarity, my excited recounting of the rules was met with apathy. Just because I`ve never been exposed to Mafia doesn`t mean the game is any less interesting…
The last panel is also pretty self-explanatory…I did see a Stormtrooper with a sack full of toys. A Santa Trooper. I did say, “That`s what I`m talking about. You never hear about Rebel Scum doing this sort of thing.” The trooper replied that someone had to deliver toys to all the children, even those of Rebel sympathizers. I told him and the officer who was nearby that the Empire got such a terrible rap, and that`s a shame. Plus, I think the Rebels are terrorists. They agreed with my assessment. Damn Rebel scum.
The somethingorother Galactic Union of Death Star workers was there as well…I guess the ones that managed to escape. Rebel terrorist scum.
