We want to apologize as a few minor health concerns reared their heads all at once and we needed a short break to deal with everything.
A new sexy page this week!
We want to apologize as a few minor health concerns reared their heads all at once and we needed a short break to deal with everything.
A new sexy page this week!
Let’s go for #1 on Top Webcomics!
Don’t forget! Your vote means so much to us, you can vote every day, and from any machine you want to, a computer, a cellphone, even a tablet. *^^* And every vote counts!
More votes keep traffic flowing to “The Depths” website, and that means more viewers and more fans, and that translates to more monetary support for our endeavors, present and future.
Please lend us your vote if you cannot support us financially. We’re striving to stay on top and become the most-read furry webcomic in the world.
So many more undersea adventures, both perilous and pleasurable, are coming, and these sexy pearl diving otters, Leilani, Malana, and Kalea, are eager to get started!
http://topwebcomics.com/vote/25144
VOTE! It’s the easiest way you can help us!
ALSO, BIG NEWS! We plan WEEKLY updates in June! <3
YES WE CAN!
So, wow, it’s been just a little over a year since this site was created and we found a new home for “The Depths”.
And we’re sure all of you know by now, there are some massive changes about to take place. First and foremost, A NEW COMIC IS COMING!
You got a glimpse of it back a few pages with a prologue called “Wild Coast”, but you might not be aware about the details. Yes, Leilani will be around but so will some of the other “Depths” stars. Also, the story revolves around one very lucky, yet amnesiac, male character surrounded by a bevy of beautiful girls who each play a role in helping him through his life. We don’t want to give away too much right now, just know it’s coming.
Now then, to “The Depths” storyline. Obviously, we already have more than a few readers shaking their heads a little at the first reveal, the relationship between Kalea and Malana, but there is an even larger reveal coming in the next page that will hopefully floor you completely.
Patreon followers already have the script details and we’ve shocked and delighted them with the news, and we’re hoping more readers will feel the same.
Of course, now is the PERFECT time to join the Patreon, you know? We’ve added a final tier to it, for people who would just like to be proud to support us, and get a sneak-peek at work-in-progress art, for just a $1.00/month. We’re honestly going to need more money because this is going to take a lot more time and effort from our pesky day-jobs, and while we are so pleased with what has been given us, we still need more. =( We still have plenty of time, and plenty of goals we want to meet, like printed comics, graphic novels, merchandise, and even, dare we say it?, a web animation series. Also, since Leilani and Riffraff are heavily-experienced grant proposal writers, we also want to give back. That’s why with a larger Patreon fund, we can start a NON-PROFIT service, and help fellow furries in need with bills, sudden expenses, marketing, etc.
It all begins with you. If you’re reading this, if you love what you’re seeing and reading, if you think we’ve got the stuff to continue doing amazing things here, we invite you to join our happy family on Patreon.
Leilani is counting on you to save her and the others from obscurity! *^^*
It’s said that all of us, in some ways, have different people inside us, and they’ll come out of us every so often to re-introduce themselves to the world like so many unpaid minor actors throughout life. Kalea was born as another personality of Leilani’s, a sweet, gentle soul, filled with curiosity and wonder, innocent, bubbly, but with a fierce sense of devotion.
When she first made the scene in the script, there really wasn’t going to be much to her – in fact she wasn’t even going to have a name! But the muses that be decided there was something pretty good here, and as we continued to write the comic, and we saw how she looked and behaved, we knew we were giving birth to a new star. We’re not sure if she has the staying power Leilani has yet, but there’s been a lot of talk lately about just how popular she’s become. She’s definitely a waifu about now!
This is really the most wonderful thing about creating a webcomic. As you go along, and you notice how the story is going, you normally can do a re-read of the script, and say to yourselves, “Oh man, I should do this!” and then it’s like the story changes before your eyes – and you’re happy you did it, because in your heart, it’s the right thing to do for the webcomic.
That’s how we feel about Kalea. So, with a new character, obviously we had to give her a past too. From 1922 until the present 1938, there has been one hell of a past for her.
And for the other girls too. Which we’ll get to eventually… All we can tell you is, you’re never going to see this coming…
Stay tuned and thanks for reading us!
Lani, Riff, and KJ
When 48-year-old Sam Jones first started out creating “Inhumane Resources”, it felt to him like he was still at work from the very start.
“It’s kind of a parody of my business,” he explains, “I was reading Stephen King’s On Writing, and he says that Americans love reading about jobs, so starting with imagining a story about your job is a good beginning.”
Enter Arthur Bloom, a computer vision specialist at a boring corporate office who’s been given the opportunity of a lifetime: a chance to work with a rather idiosyncratic, yet dignified supervillain who goes by “The Green Skull”.
“I was watching a cartoon with my son, and it showed a Joker robot. It occurred to me that the Joker doesn’t seem to have the temperament and definitely doesn’t have the time to do everything involved in making the robot, so that meant somewhere down the line there had to be an engineer who reports to the Joker.”
From this idea, Jones had all the makings for a classic webcomic story. “Inhumane Resources” takes readers on a kooky, quirky journey through the usual office-type fare that might remind some of the popular “Dilbert” strip, but still manages to throw in such things as Photoshopped social media and newspaper clippings, a cast of zany co-workers, and a maniacal (yet somehow well-meaning) supervillain supervising everyone.
And as it turns out, it takes a lot of manpower to be a good supervillain!
Story-wise, the ongoing adventure is funny and provocative on almost every page. Whether you’re a fan of “XKCD” or “Dilbert”, you’ll find a lot of chuckles, especially when Arthur is introduced to, and associates with, his co-workers Ada, Green Skull’s personal manager; Finch, a software expert with a unique stammer; and Charlotte, the armor designer. Things get more interesting as Arthur is shown some of the advanced tech and weaponry at Green Skull’s headquarters, learns a bit of history about his employer that includes betrayal and revenge, and prepares for his first assignment – breaking into a data center with Ada.
From an artistic point of view, we’re torn. Yes, it’s a bit crude and warped, and in some places even nightmarish – but then we remember, this entire comic is a nightmare, in a way. It’s filled with chaos and discord, and that’s exactly how you want the art to look. The spontaneity with the character designs and settings just prove the point home. By comparison, “XKCD” uses stick figures so, is it really always about the art? We think not!
“Inhumane Resources” is a wacky, warped, and fun read. We highly recommend it for the laughs and the story, and we’re looking forward to seeing where it goes next.
Hello, webcomic fans! We’ve got a real treat for everyone! We sat down recently and had a chat with a very special guest artist, Andy Hunter, the creator of the hit webcomic, “Delve”!
Depths: Andy, first off, thanks for taking some time to talk to us!
Andy: A pleasure. I’m honored to be spotlighted beside “The Depths”, and looking forward to what aquatic adventures you guys have in store for us next.
Depths: Thank you! And we’re excited to see what Bree is going to “Delve” into next. *laughs*
Andy: Ah, I get it!
Depths: So, what in the world possessed you to do “Delve”? It’s quite possibly one of the most unique webcomics we’ve come across. It’s probably the nudity, there’s so much of it, yet there’s really not that much of a sexual angle, is there?
Andy: Not quite. I first began drawing “Delve” during my lunch breaks while I was working at a video game company. I had always had this dream in the back of my mind that I would have my own comic someday, and I figured, “How hard could it be?”
Depths: Hah! And then the truth came out…
Andy: Yep, because my grasp of comic design was rather horrible at first. Some of the earliest episodes of “Delve” have absolutely terrible layout with panels flowing into each other in bizarre directions and dialogue just kind of landing wherever it fit on the page. Looking back, I have no idea how anyone made sense of it at the time, though, to be fair, I probably only had like three readers at best.
Depths: Of course, that all changed pretty quickly. Was it the boobs that did it?
Andy: Part of my job at the video game company was to paint over other artists’ work that was deemed too sexual by the ESRB.
Depths: Oh, that’s the, um, video games rating board, right?
Andy: Right. These are the guys that approve our games for release in order to be sold in major retail outlets. I hated this part of my job, but I was rather good at it, and soon all such “touchup” work was sent my way from the various departments. I had entered the video game industry, dreaming of the day when I’d be the one painting those sexy elf girls with the ridiculously over-sized weapons and ridiculously under-sized armor… instead, I was the guy painting over some other artist’s work. Suffice to say, I wasn’t very happy with this particular turn in my career path.
Depths: We’re not fans of most censorship, to be clear, so we definitely laud you especially for thumbing your nose back at the system. In fact, Paola, our head writer, wrote her college thesis on comic censorship, and it left a pretty bad taste in her mouth.
Andy: There was a lot of pent-up artistic frustration, for sure, and I suppose Delve was my outlet for all of it. It was nice to be able to draw whatever I wanted and not be threatened with punitive fines for showing the least bit of cleavage.
Depths: And yet, sex seems to be off the table, pretty much.
Andy: Yeah, as far as sexual content in the comic, I’ve always envisioned Delve taking place in the silly fantasy world of my teenage Dungeons and Dragons games. It was a world filled with lurid imagery and titillating content, but lacking any real idea of what sex was actually like. I grew up in a very puritanical household that drove me straight into the waiting arms of those evil role-playing games that the preacher man warned us about, wherein I found a welcoming family of fellow outcasts. Though not a single black-robed, candlelit devil-worshiping ceremony, oddly enough.
Depths: Whoa, you dodged a bullet. *chuckles*
Andy: And I have nothing against sexual content in comics. In fact, there are a couple of instances of it throughout the course of Delve’s story. It’s just that I never really intended for Delve to be about that. I think I was just surprised when I graduated from pen and paper games into the computer gaming industry, only to find the same old Puritanical values waiting for me there. I guess Delve is my response to that.
Depths: Speaking of, you’ve probably gotten a lot of new readers lately that are discovering Delve after, what, 10 years now, right?
Andy: 10 years since this past June.
Depths: So, give the newcomer to the comic a brief history, but no spoilers!
Andy: Sure thing! Delve is the story of a sexy elven rogue named Bree Starval who has entered the great underground dungeon known as “The Delve” in search of her friend, Princess Sephni, who was kidnapped by monsters. She then proceeds to wind up in all sorts of perilous situations as she makes her way down through the levels of the dungeon, meeting all manner of monster, beast, and annoying magical weapons as she goes.
From a narrative standpoint, at least in the beginning, it’s a story about a young woman who is forced to reconsider her notions of what is truly “monstrous” in her world. Over time, however, it becomes an exploration of what it means to find what you thought you wanted, only to discover that it’s all become horribly twisted somewhere along the way.
So… it’s kinda autobiographical in that regard. *laughs*
Depths: Do you have a favorite part, or a least favorite part you enjoyed creating for “Delve”?
Andy: That’s a great question! I suppose the easiest answer is my least favorite moment, which I think was about the time Teal first met Phawkes. I was going through a rather stressful period in real life at that time, and the comic’s art was suffering terribly. I was a few bad days away from just giving up on the whole project entirely, and, looking back at the work I was producing, I can’t help but cringe. I’ve often considered going back and redrawing some of those episodes, but, even if I had the time to do it, I think it would be kinda disingenuous to cover it up like that. I’d like for anyone reading my comic with the idea of making their own comic to see me at my worst as well as my best.
If you look at something I’ve done and think to yourself, “Why is this guy so popular? His art sucks!” then maybe I can inspire you to show me how it’s really done, and then we all get more comics to read, so…
Depths: It’s win-win.
Andy: Exactly. As far as my favorite moment from Delve, I think I’d have to say that it would be the scene of Teal alone in the darkness, because I know, all too well, what that feels like. I’ve tried to be pretty up front about my struggle with depression and my history of suicidal thoughts, but it’s really difficult to describe to anyone who hasn’t been down that hole what it feels like at the bottom. It really is like everything has gone black, and you can’t feel anything but hurt. All your connections are severed. There’s no love, no light, nothing. It’s impossible to remember what hope even feels like, and you want nothing more than for it all just to… end. Sometimes, the only thing you can do is to stare back into the darkness and whisper, “Maybe… but not today.”
Depths: We’re very close to a few chemically-depressed people and we keep in touch with them every day, even if it’s just to share a joke, or a meme, or just some way to let them know, “Hey, we care about you. We want you to stick around.” Oh, that goes for you too, Andy. You don’t escape being our friend either. *laughs*
Andy: *laughs* I don’t know… I really don’t want to make it sound like I’m telling people to just tough it out. I’m not any stronger than anybody else when I’m down that hole, and I honestly couldn’t tell you why I took my finger off the trigger and my friend didn’t. It wasn’t some surge of hope or inspiration, and no flaming angel appeared to stay my hand, I just didn’t apply that last bit of pressure.
I don’t know why I’m still alive, and people who loved life far more than I ever did are not. If anyone out there is in that place now, I just encourage you to talk about it.
Depths: Hell, yes. Just talking is all it takes to get people in your corner. No one can help you if they don’t hear you.
Andy: Scare people if you have to, but let them know how you feel and get help. I used to think I wasn’t “suicidal” because I hadn’t actually killed myself yet, so why tell anyone? I mean, what harm is there in just thinking about killing yourself… all the time? And there were times I joked about it, but no one seemed to notice, and that just reinforced the notion that I should keep quiet and deal with it myself.
That’s a terrible, terrible idea.
If you don’t think the people in your life can handle it, give them a chance. If they still can’t handle it, then find someone else to tell… and someone else… and someone else. There are billions of people out there, and I guarantee you most of them would go out of their way to help you, if they knew you needed help.
Oh, and the faceless voices in your head telling you it’s never going to get any better. They aren’t you. They are the living embodiment of purest evil, and they all deserve to have a ’78 Thunderbird with a quart-a-week oil leak driven through their bellies.
I really enjoyed drawing that scene too.
Depths: We were a little sick of the people telling others, “It gets better.” What we really should be telling those people is, “Whether it gets better or not, we’re here for you and will see you through. You’re not alone.” If only more people would just do that…it’s not that difficult.
Sorry, we got a bit dark there, moving on! *laughs* From what we’ve seen, “Delve” is a lot like those old D&D adventures we all grew up with. There’s an objective, a goal, and multiple campaigns that need to be finished to get to it. That’s sort of what we love about “Delve”, is that it reminds us of a time where we could go into our heads, pull out our Texas Instruments calculators, and actually plan and execute what was going to happen, how it would happen, who was doing it, and so on. That’s been the best part about “Delve” too, although nothing has really been calculated for poor Bree from the get-go! She’s just suddenly there, her friends are gone, and we’re left wondering if maybe this whole webcomic, everything, is all just one huge campaign she’s playing in her head. Speaking of, any really cool D&D stories of your own to share? You mentioned playing earlier as a kid.
Andy: You know, my crowning achievement in all of my days of playing D&D was in a campaign run by a friend who had a policy of enforcing the encumbrance rules when it came to how much treasure we could carry. He also had a habit of giving the final boss of every dungeon way too much treasure, so he could enjoy our pain when we were forced to decide what to take and what to leave behind.
This was also during the time when mages were forced to “memorize” their spells, and could only recover or change spells during a suitable rest period…and this Dungeon Master made getting any sleep in a dungeon a very challenging endeavor.
My mage soldiered on through the entire adventure, until, at last, the great tentacled beast at the heart of the dungeon wheezed its final breath, and I revealed that one, perfect spell that I had been holding back the whole time.
Depths: Oh God. *laughs*
Andy: As the party approached the enormous pile of gold and magic items, I could see the wicked gleam in the DM’s eyes. I pulled out my Player’s handbook and frowned as I flipped through the pages, wondering aloud, “How much weight can Tenser’s Floating Disk carry again?”
Depths: *laughs harder* Uh-oh.
Andy: Yeah, the DM wasn’t smiling anymore after that.
Depths: They get really riled up if you try to side-step. It’s like you’ve committed a mortal sin, and that’s the problem with some DMs out there. They’re stuck on this power trip and God help you if you make them angry, or confuse the hell out of them, or go gallivanting off in some other direction they didn’t plan for. Funniest DM moment for Paul, our co-writer, came when he was so angry over losing a particularly important weapon to a volcano, that he asked the DM if he could swear at his god. Two dice-rolls later, and he was creating a brand new character.
Andy: *laughs*
Depths: Anyway, any future plans for “Delve”?
Andy: I want to finish it, if such a thing can ever really be finished. I’m a discovery writer, so although I have a general idea of where the story is going, my characters tend to surprise me along the way and take the story in their own directions.
Two of my favorite characters in Delve, Yeena, the gnoll bard; and Prancy, the feline thespian, made their debut as lazy, throwaway jokes on my part but have taken on lives of their own and demanded a seat at the table, so to speak. I’ve come to love them both, and they’ve led me into some pretty fun story arcs.
Depths: We can relate to this completely. When we started “The Depths”, it was just going to be Leilani and David globetrotting around the world together and solving mysterious and having epic Indiana-Jones adventures. But when Kalea and Malana entered the picture, and we realized the readers were going crazy for them, we realized, “Hey, it just can’t be one heroine anymore.” Of course, we’re still just starting out, but you can see how our story direction changed, similar to how yours did. All our girls deserved a seat too. So we gave it them. And the story hasn’t been the same since.
Andy: The story changes as you go, no question, no matter what story you want to do, or how long it goes.
Depths: 10 years is quite amazing. How do you explain the massive following and longevity all this time?
Andy: Well, to hear some people tell it… boobs.
Depths: Naturally. *chuckles*
Andy: Honestly, that’s about as good a reason as any justification I can give. I mean, I hope people like the story, and, truth be told, there are plenty of much better drawn comics out there, so there must be something more to it than just an unseemly amount of naked skin. I’m actually kinda baffled by the tremendous response readers have shown to the comic.
People just seem to like Delve, and that makes me happy. I know it’s not for everybody, and if some people take one glance at it and dismiss it as “porn”, that’s cool too. I know it can be extremely fetishy at times, and there is some really ugly subtext in parts, but those parts are there for a reason, because I want people to think about what it means when some truly monstrous things worm their way into our silly little fantasies, but the moment a reader feels “preached to” while reading my comic, I feel like I’ve failed in my duty as an entertainer.
I trust my readers to find what they need to find in my comic, and if that’s just a nice pair of elven breasts to brighten up their day, then I’ve done my part to make people happy.
Depths: You have chosen…wisely.
Andy: Thank you.
Depths: Do you have any advice for webcomic artists that wish to achieve the success you’ve had so far?
Andy: Firstly, never set an official update schedule for your comic. Just don’t.
Depths: Testify!
Andy: Seriously, publish that comic page when it’s done. Of course, it’s good to have a schedule in your head or marked out on your calendar, but never promise everyone that you’re going to post on a certain day every time. If you’re anything like me, it’s just going to make you feel terrible when you miss a deadline. And you will miss deadlines.
Depths: People see missing deadlines as taboo in the printed comic industry and jobs get lost, so you can bet, though we might not be in the same class as, say, Marvel, DC, Image, and so on, there’s a lot of people counting on all of us artists and writers to make that similar impression on them. What we should aim for, above all else, is consistency.
Andy: True, and sometimes trying to force yourself to make those deadlines often leads to half-assed work and burnout. There are a lot of dead webcomics out there because people let themselves get crushed under the idea that they weren’t good enough, just because they couldn’t make their self-imposed deadlines.
Trust me, no one in this game is getting paid enough to let a comic sap all the joy out of their lives. Believe me, if a job don’t come with a dental plan, it has no right to give you any deadlines.
Depths: Exactly.
Andy: Secondly, create what you love… or you won’t be creating it for long. Don’t waste your time trying to guess what will be popular. If you don’t enjoy creating it, your apathy will show through your work. I speak from experience in this regard.
That being said, don’t go out of your way to be unlikable, and certainly take into account any feedback you get about things people enjoy in your work. If you want to earn an audience, treat that audience with respect and learn from them. Just don’t let the tastes of the crowd lead you into doing the kind of work you hate doing.
Depths: As we’ve said over and over, gang, if you’re going to create, you do it for yourself first.
Andy: Yep, you are your story’s biggest fan… or, if you’re not, you should be. If you’re not having fun creating your comic, change it into something you like, or scrap it and do something else… something you’ll do a much better job at, because you’ll actually care about the finished product.
And, I just want to add this one because it makes a lot of sense too, take care of yourself first. I know it’s easy to ignore proper diet and exercise when you’re young and to sit for hours on end, hunched over a sketchbook or drawing tablet, but it will catch up to you eventually. I know a lot of young people will ignore this advice the same way I did when I was their age, but the sooner you make the commitment to actually taking care of yourself at least as well as you’d take care of that fancy Cintiq tablet, the sooner you’ll realize how much good health is really worth.
And, if you’re really serious about making a go of it with a webcomic, you really need to check out the ComicLab podcast, if you haven’t already. Those guys are real pros and among the first trailblazers of this medium. I learn new things from them all the time!
Depths: Andy, before we let you go, do you want to continue doing other comic projects? Looking for anything to do?
Andy: I don’t really know what I’ll do after “Delve” is over, assuming Teal will actually let me quit this time! I might do another comic, or maybe have a go at video games or visual novels.
Right now, I’m still trying to finish up my epic fantasy novel series, “The Songreaver’s Tale”, another one of my “how hard could it be?” experiments that is now deep into the writing of the 8th book. I’ve got another novella, sitting around waiting for a final editing pass, about a young naga apothecary who finds herself shanghaied by a crew of satyrs who needed a new doctor for their airship expedition to a fabled lost city in the jungle. I think that will be my first all-anthro story, and I’m looking forward to seeing how people like it.
Depths: Yay, anthros!
Andy: Oh, and in my copious free time, I compose electronic music! I think there’s probably something wrong with me…
Depths: Not at all. Keep doing what you’re doing, it sounds like a lot to keep busy with. Andy, thanks again for the time and the chat. It was a lot of fun!
Andy: Thank you too so much for listening to me ramble, and for saying such great things about “Delve”.
Depths: We want to add for readers that “Delve” is definitely worth checking out, whether you’re an old-time D&D fan, or you’re just looking for…um…
Andy: Boobs.
Depths: *laughs* Yeah. The story holds together really well so far, as Bree finds herself dumped unceremoniously from one adventure to the next, meeting friends, foes, and a bit of enlightenment along the way that perhaps gives her a few life lessons as well. While the art may put off some who desire a bit more details, there is no question the femininity is there – along with a lot of heart and soul in the characters. It’s almost like each one of them is seeking an escape in some way, and that’s one of the really great things about the slogan, “One Dungeon, One Elf, Even Odds.”
And odds are great that you’re going to love it.
Thanks again, Andy!
Andy: My pleasure!
—
Got a webcomic you’d like to have featured on our site? Fancy having an interview with us and talking all about it? Definitely comment below, or contact us! We’re getting roughly 25,000 views a month and our interviews incite a lot of traffic!
At first, we were going to do a cool scrolling effect and walk the newcomer through the comic page by page, to catch them up, but we got a bit crazy with the effects and came up with this instead:
But hey, it works! ^^
When Paola (P.M.) was in graduate school, as part of her tri-part thesis, she decided to tackle something distinctive for her thesis, the censorship of adult comics. She’s been a comic fanatic her whole life, (and somewhere in this world, someone has her uncle’s Action Comics #1, signed by Siegel and Shuster personally, and she hopes you’re rotting in Hell with it). What was fascinating to her was the rise, fall, and resurrection of adult comics, meaning the comics strictly for adults, that came out of the smoke and ashes of censorship starting in the 1950s.
You probably all know the story. Senator Estes Kefauver was at his house watching his grandson reading a comic book titled “Crime Suspenstories.” The cover of the comic showed a man holding a woman’s head by the hair in one hand, and a bloody axe in the other, with a headless corpse lying on the floor nearby. Well, that was it for Estes. Comics were about to go on trial in Congress and change the game entirely for comic companies all over the country.
But then a young web-slinger thoroughly thumbed his nose at the Comic Code Authority of the Comic Magazine Association of America. The late, great Stan Lee of Marvel Comics insisted on producing and releasing, without the code, the famous Spiderman issue with Gwen Stacy’s death at the hands of the Green Goblin, once Peter Parker’s best friend Harry Osborn, who was then addicted to drugs.
From there, all bets were off. Italian fumetto comics depicting straight or gay porn around intriguing stories of murder, rape, torture, and other nightmares filled the bookshelves.
Robert E. Howard’s Conan saga went for the jugular in violence and, in later issues, gratuitous nudity and sex.
Even today, it’s hard not to find nudity, implied nudity, or a scantily-clad person in almost anything on the shelves!
So why do we love these adult comics today? A lot of the love can probably be traced to its tumultuous history with sex, violence and death. Back in those early code days, everything was so expressly forbidden in comics, you couldn’t see a bulge in any male’s crotch, no one slept in the same bed, and Superman’s greatest formidable foe was Mister Mxyzptlk, who only stopped being a threat if you got him to say his name backwards.
Comics were dull and boring back then. When we pick up one of these adult comics today, we’re reminded of a time when we couldn’t – and it makes it all seem taboo, like forbidden love.
Adult comics have their place in the world also because for some it’s the only release of pleasure they can get. It’s no different than when boys sneaked into their father’s rooms to check out a Playboy or Hustler magazine. And adult comics, in this day and age, do an incredible job of depicting the female form. Even in our webcomic, “The Depths,” we have to hand it to KJ, our artist, on how well the details have been done for the sexual escapades and gratuitous nudity.
But we also want to stress something. Adult comics are great and fantastic and worth the pleasure they give – to a point. We are not fans of the comics such as can be found in Italian bookstores, which seek to depict the female form as a mere object which must be controlled somehow. There is a difference between what we write in “The Depths” and what you see in other comics, and there is a fine line between erotica, which we strive for 100%, and porn, which is mostly nonsensical sexual depictions without a plot – or with a scenario you can cut with a plastic knife. We are not interested in exploitation of women or indulging in sadomasochistic fantasies that denigrates and devalues women. We believe in strong, powerful female characters, appreciating the female (and male) form, and entertaining, exciting stories.
Adult comics have faced a lot of controversy over the years. Even today, some feel that to ensure our children’s safety, and not subject them to violence or nudity at too young an age, all hints of adult content should be suborned. While we agree that children should be protected from early exposure to adult subject matter, let us be clear it is the responsibility of parents to shield THEIR children from the supposed dangers they face, and not the writers, artists and publishers of adult-oriented media. Censorship, even self-censorship in any form, should always remain a personal choice.
Thanks for reading!
Lani and Riff <3
There was a disturbing figure recently reported by UNICEF, the world-renowned organization that caters to underprivileged children around the globe. 1.2 million children very year are trafficked globally. It’s even quite possible someone you know, or has friends, who have gone through a horrifying encounter, be it for sex, drugs, abuse, whatever.
But now, creator Chad Perkins has presented us with a genuinely interesting presentation of this sordid problem, and has found a viable, albeit entirely fictional, solution for it in the form of “Blu Lullaby”. This exciting webcomic tells the story of a woman named Winter and her…well, let’s call it a pet, Blu. But this is like no ordinary pet you’ve ever seen. To describe it properly would take some Lovecraftian imagination, a mish-mash of animals thrown together, with the verbal talent of a child itself, and yet with boiling rage that would befit a demon from Hell. Under an organization called “Safety Blanket”, Winter and Blu attempt to right the wrongs against child suffering, neglect and abuse by becoming their guardians – using usually ultra-violent means. The bad guys get what’s coming to them, that’s for sure!
But digging into “Blu Lullaby” more, you get a sense of Winter not just being the procurer of a weapon of absolute vengeance, but a very observant, astute detective as well. In the first major story, Winter and her demonic companion visit a school to get to the bottom of a mystery involving several missing kids, and the story takes quite a few turns and twists, leading to a surprising reveal or two at the end. The dialogue may be a bit trite in spots, especially Blu’s, but it doesn’t subtract at all from what’s going on. Artist Andrea Montano did an exceptional job with layout too, and there are a few scenes of violence that really stick with you – not so much for what you see but what you don’t see, which is wonderfully portrayed in shadows and silhouettes that keep your imagination going. Further, we just love the character design of Blu. Being big H.P. Lovecraft fans, how could we not?! He’s clearly a creature never before depicted, and one can imagine the pain and torture he could inflict by his expression alone.
Overall, “Blu Lullaby” also serves as a not-so-gentle reminder to those who have children, or are children still themselves, that children don’t have it easy. The webcomic is bold and controversial, and yet sorely needed in today’s world filled with horrific tales of child trafficking and abuse. It pulls no punches. Yes, horrible things happen to kids every day. They are underfed, neglected, beaten, raped, and so on. What this webcomic does is send a message to everyone to be vigilant, to speak out, to unleash a little bit of justice into this cold, cruel world and get rid of the bad guys that do such terrible, unspeakable things to kids every day.
Of course, not quite the way Blu dispatches of the bad guys – although a twisted, sickening, excruciating death for child traffickers would not be so unwelcome.
Like the slogan suggests, Blu is indeed a child’s best friend. And while they might not exist in our world, we could certainly use more guardians like him and Winter. We’re looking forward to where “Blu Lullaby” goes from here eagerly. Our hope is that the webcomic becomes the voice for abused, neglected kids all over the world – especially those who suffer now.
If you’re reading this, and you know something terrible going on, or it’s personally happened to you, or is happening to you, we urge you to contact The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, dedicated to the prevention of child abuse in North America and Canada. The hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with professional crisis counselors who provide assistance in over 170 languages, offering crisis intervention, information, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources nationwide. The number to contact them is 1-800-422-4453 or 1-800-4-A-CHILD. You can also visit their website at: https://www.childhelp.org/hotline/
Furry adult comics have come a long way from the days of “Fritz the Cat” and “Omaha”, and from our experiences what has really helped the genre to rise to new heights isn’t just the imagery but the story-telling within it. Over the years, characters have become stagnant with typical characteristics and traits. Vixens are nymphomaniacs, wolves are filled with lust, dogs are wild and untamed, and so on. To make furry adult comics that get the attention of the audience these days, you need to work out not just the sex and lust and fetishes, but how to wrap a definitive plot around them. This was our first goal when we created “The Depths” – sex, nudity, lusts, fetishes, all are there, but they aren’t there to be the main show. They’re the slight, teasing distractions for readers to enjoy while the story unfolds around them.
We’re pretty excited that we seem to have accomplished that goal so far with our own webcomic, but we want to call out a few other honorable comics that are doing likewise. These furry adult comics so far this year have managed not only to capture our imaginations and desires with wonderful imagery, yet also please our story-seeking minds as well.
Absolutely brilliant story-telling revolving around a rather simple plot: a boy discovers a cute girl monster under his bed and they eventually grow up together as the best of friends. But it’s not quite that simple. Refer to our full review of “The Monster Under the Bed“, and you’ll see why we still get a kick out of it today. (Note: demons are considered furries. They have long ears and tails, so dispel any notion you had that they are human.) ^^
As the tagline reads, “One Dungeon, One Elf, Even Odds”, this is probably one for the record books, because we have yet to find a webcomic with so much nudity in it, and hardly any sexual events. But it doesn’t matter. The story of a beautiful lady trapped in a dungeon-like world and facing sexy friends and foes with different fetishes and lusts throughout is impossible not to read and love. “Delve” is in its 11th year of publication, folks, so you know Andy’s doing things right. Check out our interview with him! ^^
Amo is a huge “gamer”, whether they are RPGs or MMOs, and if you’re a World of Warcraft fan, you’ll find that “Druids” does an amazing job of expressing Amo’s love for the popular Blizzard Entertainment world. Most of the events that happen throughout this story of two druids, Kinar and Serid, who form an unusual and erotic relationship in the middle of a great war, are plucked right from the creator’s RPG games. So you’re in for a lot of wild, unexpected adventures – and a little bit of nudity and sex thrown in to keep it romantic.
Take highly visual art, with fabulous, colorful characters you’ll fall in love with, and surround them in epic adventures laced with hot, erotic nudity and sex, and you have what some have called one of the best webcomics to seamlessly mix emotions with unflinching lewdness. “A Tail of Tales” follows the adventures and misadventures of Fenfen Maria Estaban, a fennecian beauty looking for her place in a world of magic and high-tech. It’s a must-read for feels.
Pretty much what the title says, cats and cameras, or in this case, cats that work at a photography studio. And it has to be a pretty damned popular webcomic to have been around now close to 11 years. That says a lot about the efforts and determination of James and his artists. Josephine and James co-own a studio and photography store together, and require the assistance of some unique and interesting cats (and one uninterested human) to help them out. Follow their antics as they try to get through life and love, all the while trying out new photography ideas to get the audiences purring for more. And we’re still wondering, is Alexia ever going to date outside her species?!
A beautiful bear named Evon Allure is a powerful sorceress in the world of Harrah. When she escapes from the clutches of a wicked sorcerer in order to find her own true path, little does she realize that there is more to her magic than she could ever imagine. Constantly on the run from the Cabal sent after her, she finds a kindred spirit in a rat named Herodotus, with his own past to deal with. Together they roam Harrah, keeping a step ahead of those that pursue Evon, while making friends and allies along the way. The webcomic “Evon” has all the usual charm of an RPG or MMO setting, and indeed the whole story is based on an RPG experience Brittany had, so you can get a sense of dedication to the craft in both the story and the art. While “Evon” isn’t flushed with nudity or erotic scenes, there are a few mature moments there you’ll want to experience, we guarantee it.
While not quite furry, absolutely mind-blowing sexual scenes and lust-filled adventures await the reader in this hot entry about a remote halfling village meeting up with humans for the very first time – and the erotic consequences therein. Alfie the halfling and her beautiful mother Vera take the story back and forth between their personal perspectives, which just adds to the enjoyment of the webcomic. There is sex a-plenty here, and we don’t need to remind anyone hopefully, this is strictly for adults. “Alfie” is about to be 9 years old, and from the looks of its fanbase of thousands, these lovely halflings aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.