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  • Quackcast 776 - Dilbert Vs Adams

    Quackcast 776 - Dilbert Vs Adams
    2026/01/27

    We're doing another Quackcast on the separation of the art from the artist, which was inspired this time by Gunwallace's Thursday newspost about the death of Dilbert comic artist Scott Adams. I can usually separate the art from the artist and I used to really enjoy Dilbert but he seemed to have a sudden personality change into strange politics and conspiracy thinking during the 2016 US presidential election. It got so bad that I couldn't support reading new Dilbert strips as my daily comics read anymore because I knew that directly supported him, so I wasn't able to separate the art from the artist in that instance. Can you separate the art from the artist? If not in all cases, are you able to do it in some?

    We also chat abut how some creators make themselves more important than their work, so that in the end they almost become the main creation themselves and their work is secondary. That leads us into the territory of the "influencer". So called influencers have always existed but it's only during our modern social media dominated age when it's become such a popular phenomena. It can be very annoying when real creators crossover into becoming "influencers" but that usually actually makes it easier to separate their creations from them because as products the art and the artist become very different things.

    Tantz poses the question during the cast, asking if we can separate her from her work, and I wasn't sure if I could. After listening to the Quackcast can you separate us from our art? Can people separate you from your art?

    This week we have another best off from Gunwallace and this time it's Dragons in Civilized Lands - Compelling, foreboding, panoramic, an epic landscape is slowly revealed below as you swoop on down through the grey clouds… the view spreads, wider and wider… cold mountains rear, vast stretches of icefields, patchwork fields, and a huge carpet of forest, past the occasional fort high on a hill, we narrow in on a clash between two brightly armoured hoards. Bright crimson flecks the shiny armour, brightly coloured pendants wave in the wind. Horses snort, men shout and scream… all fades to black.
    Originally from: Quackcast 445, 23rd of September, 2019.

    Topics and shownotes

    Links

    Gunwallace's newspost about the death of Scott Adams - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2026/jan/19/scott-adams-1957-2026/

    Featured comic:
    Penny Dreary - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2026/jan/20/featured-comic-penny-dreary/

    Featured music:
    Dragons in Civilized Lands - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Dragons_in_Civilized_Lands/ - by RobertRVeith, rated T.

    Special thanks to:
    Gunwallace - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Gunwallace/
    Tantz Aerine - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Tantz_Aerine/
    Kawaiidaigakusei - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/kawaiidaigakusei
    Ozoneocean - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/ozoneocean
    Banes - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Banes/

    VIDEO exclusive!
    Become a subscriber on the $5 level and up to see our weekly Patreon video and get our advertising perks!
    - https://www.patreon.com/DrunkDuck
    Even at $1 you get your name with a link on the front page and a mention in the weekend newsposts!

    Join us on Discord - https://discordapp.com/invite/7NpJ8GS
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    53 分
  • Quackcast 775 - The Hollow Glory of War

    Quackcast 775 - The Hollow Glory of War
    2026/01/20
    We're talking about the glory of war, or rather the hollowness of it. Not just war though but the symbols of power and violence associated with any kind of conflict, from something like a sword or pistol, all the way up to fighter jets, tanks and warships. These are all objects that viscerally symbolise power more than anything else, whatever appeal they have is rooted in their ability to enable their wielder to actively make changes in the world and set themselves above others. But why "hollow"? Because war, injury and the exercise of power over others is NOT sexy or at all glorious, rather it's the worst possible thing you can experience. We talk about that contradiction. War and violence is often sexualised, and I use that term correctly in this instance unlike the people who talk about the "sexualisation of women"- adult people are sexual by definition and cannot be "sexualised", what they actually mean is "eroticised", the distinction is important. How is war and violence sexualised? We gender weapons in obvious ways, relating them to male and female genitalia, we name them and refer to them in gendered ways, we also strongly associate war and weapon imagery with gendered things- think of Sylvester Stallone as Rambo, bare muscled, sweating chest, thick, shaggy hair, an M-60 machine gun cradled in one arm blasting away while a chain of ammunition is draped across the other. Or the actors in Top Gun being all young, handsome, virile men, playing beach volleyball shirtless. Sarah Connor in Terminator 2, rippling with muscle, expertly handling assault rifles. The recruits in Starship Troopers, male and female, hitting the showers together. Wonder Woman pulling a sword from the back of her evening dress… All this imagery ensures we associate the exercise of power with adult sexuality and virility. The superficial interpretation is to see power, weapons, and war as all "masculine", but that is inadequate and facile because the lust for power, it's use and exercise is not limited by gender in any way, it's only been skewed to the masculine through historical sexism. As a young person I was seduced by the glorious imagery of war and weaponry through TV shows like Robotech and Starblazers, animes that make a specific point of venerating giant weapons in the form of transforming fighter jets, beweaponed mecha, and massive space battleships bristling with guns. Then of course there were things like the sword wielding Conan, The Three Musketeers, Robin Hood, King Arthur, Asterix and Obelix and their powerful fists, and all the heroes in WW2 movies fighting the good fight. It wasn't till adulthood when I began to question the appeal and allure of these things and realise the darkness they actually represent. But even though I better understand it now, I also realise that the attractiveness of power imagery is baked into my brain so it will always strike a chord with me, which is why I'm always exploring both sides of the equation in my comic Piny TA. As Tantz says in the Quackcast though: "The way to win is not to play". Wise words for two reasons; the best use of any type of weaponry from swords, to guns, to fighter-jets, to warships, or even nuclear missiles is to only have them for the purpose of intimidation, if you can achieve your objective without ever committing violence and horror you've truly won because you didn't destroy resources, create further issues, damage your weapon, lose lives from either side, risk losing, or create many further complications and the risk of reprisal. The other reason is based on another interpretation: don't play, don't venerate the exercise of power through the use of war and violence focussed imagery and symbolism, then you won't perpetuate it. Have you ever been at all moved by "heroic" imagery, the power fantasy of holding a weapon, or the imagery of "righteous war"? Braveheart and Lord of the Rings are two that many love because of this topic. This week Gunwallace has given us a great little theme to - The Starry Ladders - An introspective, high action rock song with a fun little twist. Soaring electric guitars and weird electronica flavoured with a car alarm? At least that's what the musicians think! It features Banes, Tantz, and I was the comic characters. Topics and shownotes Featured comic: Bel Dozer - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2026/jan/12/featured-comic-bel-dozer Featured music: The Starry Ladders - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/The_Starry_Ladders/, by Helterskelter1995, rated T. Special thanks to: Gunwallace - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Gunwallace/ Tantz Aerine - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Tantz_Aerine/ Ozoneocean - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/ozoneocean Banes - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Banes/ VIDEO exclusive! Become a subscriber on the $5 level and up to see our weekly Patreon video and get our advertising perks! - https://www.patreon.com/DrunkDuck Even at $1 you get your name with a link on the ...
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    1 時間
  • Quackcast 774 - Murder Mystery

    Quackcast 774 - Murder Mystery
    2026/01/13


    Murder mysteries are a very popular genre, in fact they're one of the main fiction genres and probably one of the biggest. They generally consist of one or more murders, people who try to find the identity of the mysterious murderer, their motive, method, and weapon, and a few red herrings to hopefully keep you guessing till the denouement (the big reveal), at the end! There are a lot of different ways of structuring them but however it's done they usually have a lot in common with each other.

    Why murders? Murders are a horrible thing and hopefully not something that many of us have much if any direct experience with in our lives. They're a high stakes event though that we can all relate to because none of us want to have that experience so it's something to be feared and also morbidly curious about. In action and horror genres the death of anyone but the main characters tends to be pretty meaningless and often common, but murder mysteries rightfully treat any single death as extremely serious things so that makes them much closer to real life in that way, along with the emotional resonance such things can have.

    We chat about what defines the genre and some of our fave examples, from the Chinese "Coroner's Diary", anything by Agatha Christy, the "knives Out" series, to the excellent "Nero Wolfe Mysteries" adapted by Timothy Hutton in 2001 and more. What are your fave examples of the genre? Have you ever tried writing one?

    This week we have another best off from Gunwallace and this time it's Mindfold, which is newly finished! It completed its 10 year run on December the 26th.
    Mindfold - A tune that fits very well with its title! You can feel your mind folding with this gorgeous, echoing, evocative multicultural influenced sound, featuring all manner of crystalline ringing synths, soaring violins, drums and so much more. This would fit well with a high concept cyberpunk anime.
    Originally from 336 August the 21st 2017


    Topics and shownotes

    Links

    Featured comic:
    Crazy Guy in Monster Suit - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2026/jan/06/featured-comic-crazy-guy-in-monster-suit/

    Featured music:
    Mindfold - http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Mindfold/ - by FallopianCrusader, Rated M.

    Special thanks to:
    Gunwallace - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Gunwallace/
    Tantz Aerine - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Tantz_Aerine/
    Kawaiidaigakusei - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/kawaiidaigakusei
    Ozoneocean - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/ozoneocean
    Banes - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Banes/

    VIDEO exclusive!
    Become a subscriber on the $5 level and up to see our weekly Patreon video and get our advertising perks!
    - https://www.patreon.com/DrunkDuck
    Even at $1 you get your name with a link on the front page and a mention in the weekend newsposts!

    Join us on Discord - https://discordapp.com/invite/7NpJ8GS
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    59 分
  • Quackcast 773 - Pick a Side

    Quackcast 773 - Pick a Side
    2026/01/06

    We commonly think of conflicts as being good guys versus the bad guys, especially when we look back at history. When we learn more about them we see that things are in shades of grey rather than black and white, and clever war fiction will include quite a bit of that greyness. But the funny thing is that when it comes to real world conflicts, people involved in them often do not have the luxury of seeing things in grey, they often HAVE to pick a side, even if it's not one they personally support because it means their survival, the survival of their family, or their community. I find that aspect very interesting.

    The side we are on is often dictated by our family, our community, or our country, even if we don't support everything they do, sometimes they have our loyalty regardless. How do you handle war and divided loyalties in fiction, or even reality?

    This week Gunwallace is another best-off Gunwallace and I chose: Busty Solar - A heavenly pink cloudy future world of strawberry scented mists, dancing, sparkling lights, and golden rays of pure morning sunshine angling through.
    Originally from Quackcast 235, 7th of September 2015.


    Topics and shownotes

    Featured comic:
    Captain Tempest - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2025/dec/29/featured-comic-captain-tempest/

    Featured music:
    Busty Solar - http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Busty_Solar/ by Prototype, rated A.

    Special thanks to:
    Gunwallace - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Gunwallace/
    Tantz Aerine - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Tantz_Aerine/
    Ozoneocean - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/ozoneocean
    Banes - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Banes/

    VIDEO exclusive!
    Become a subscriber on the $5 level and up to see our weekly Patreon video and get our advertising perks!
    - https://www.patreon.com/DrunkDuck
    Even at $1 you get your name with a link on the front page and a mention in the weekend newsposts!

    Join us on Discord - https://discordapp.com/invite/7NpJ8GS
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    59 分
  • Quackcast 772 - Year end cast!

    Quackcast 772 - Year end cast!
    2025/12/30

    This is our final Quackcast for 2025. It's been a year all right… but we've done ok here at DD despite our ups and downs and the ups and downs of the rest of the planet. In other news Alexey our programmer is getting closer to sorting out the new version of DD. As part of that process I chatted to Emma Claire who is doing the visual designs for it and ended up meeting her and her hubby for lunch and coffee the other day, so that was very cool. Always a pleasure to meet more DDers!

    This year was a tricky one for me for sure because on Christmas eve last year my cat broke his leg and all five bones in that part of the leg were cleanly snapped through as if they had been cut with a ghostly knife that sliced the bones but didn't touch skin, muscle or tendon… after recovering from an expensive operation to repair them all with stainless steel rods, his stomach was ruptured open because of the painkillers, which necessitated emergency surgery and two weeks stay in a vet hospital which cost as much as a new car. When he finally came home he had to stay for 3 months in a small room so he couldn't jump on anything and damage his healing leg. Which meant I had to stay with him in there night and day as much as I could to keep him calm. Thankfully he's all good now!

    Tantz, Banes and I chat about silly place names around the world and other fun things on the cast and stuff we've done and watched over the year of 2025. Have you done anything cool in 2025, has anything big and important happened for you? Are there silly place names where you are? BTW our Patreon video this week is free for all to watch on Patreon:
    - https://www.patreon.com/DrunkDuck

    This week we have another best off from Gunwallace and this time it's Necroblivion - The raw, buzzing fuzz of distorted electric guitar over calm, almost celebratory rhythm driven music brings to mind the sounds of North African Tuareg band Tinariwen. This is quite a positive vibe and a very African sound.
    - Originally from Quackcast 535, 15th June 2021

    Topics and shownotes

    Links

    Featured comic:
    Dragon Garage - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2025/dec/19/featured-comic-dragon-garage/

    Featured music:
    Necroblivion - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Necroblivion/ - by Paneltastic, rated M.

    Special thanks to:
    Gunwallace - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Gunwallace/
    Tantz Aerine - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Tantz_Aerine/
    Kawaiidaigakusei - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/kawaiidaigakusei
    Ozoneocean - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/ozoneocean
    Banes - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Banes/

    VIDEO exclusive!
    Become a subscriber on the $5 level and up to see our weekly Patreon video and get our advertising perks!
    - https://www.patreon.com/DrunkDuck
    Even at $1 you get your name with a link on the front page and a mention in the weekend newsposts!

    Join us on Discord - https://discordapp.com/invite/7NpJ8GS
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    56 分
  • Quackcast 771 - Christmascast

    Quackcast 771 - Christmascast
    2025/12/23

    Happy Christmas! This is our penultimate cast of the year. We use this time to reflect on the year as it's been, chat about our comics, movies and TV shows. Our DD site will hopefully be updated soon to the new look too so that's something to look forward to! And there's the secret santa gift art thread to check out for seasonal art as well.

    Did you watch anything cool this year? Reach important comic milestones? What's you fave Christmas carol or Christmas song? Mine is Good King Wenceslas.

    This week Gunwallace is another best-off Gunwallace and I chose: The Archer and the Squirrel - launching abruptly, like an arrow springing from a bow, this tune follows a beautiful arching path against a bright blue sky of melodic, rhythmic flute that begs you to dance a jig with a great big grin on your face!
    Originally from Quackcast 310, 13th February 2017.


    Topics and shownotes

    Secret Santa gift art thread - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/forum/topic/180178/

    Featured comic:
    What's Going On - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2025/dec/16/featured-comic-whats-going-on/

    Featured music:
    The Archer and the Squirrel - http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/The_Archer_and_the_Squirrel/, by Tieback, rated E.

    Special thanks to:
    Gunwallace - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Gunwallace/
    Tantz Aerine - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Tantz_Aerine/
    Ozoneocean - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/ozoneocean
    Banes - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Banes/

    VIDEO exclusive!
    Become a subscriber on the $5 level and up to see our weekly Patreon video and get our advertising perks!
    - https://www.patreon.com/DrunkDuck
    Even at $1 you get your name with a link on the front page and a mention in the weekend newsposts!

    Join us on Discord - https://discordapp.com/invite/7NpJ8GS

    ———

    We got up to here - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/forum/topic/180165/#3027076
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    1 時間 6 分
  • Quackcast 770 - Plotting or Pantsing2

    Quackcast 770 - Plotting or Pantsing2
    2025/12/16
    This is the second and final part of our discussion on blending improvisation with solid story plotting/structure as you carry on drawing a comic. The esteemed and famous John Celestri put the question to us: "Are you a plotter or pantser?" i.e. do you work out what's going on in your comic in advance or do you improvise when you go to create the page? Many DDers responded and we read those out as well as lending our own insights and going a bit off topic. The main thing we gained from this is that most people fall somewhere in the middle because webcomicing is all about retaining the passion and the fun of the work, especially when you're working alone. That means you have to nurture the flame of that passion: plotting things too far in advance can kill it because it takes away all the fun and inspiration and the exercise of creation becomes too much like work. Improvising everything as you go can maximise the fun and joy of creation but it can eat up all your inspiration SUPER quickly and leave you empty and unable to continue with more pages so that your comic dies, hence finding a middle ground is desirable! Try to plan and plot but leave a lot of room open for inspiration. This week we have another best off from Gunwallace and this time it's Mechaniko - The sound of nodes on a neural network firing, connecting, and cascading with shared knowledge: Multilayered, technological robo-future rock. - Originally from 308, 30th January 2017 Topics and shownotes Links Topic based on a thread by John Celestri - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/forum/topic/180165/ Content from: Marcorossi - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/marcorossi/ TheJagged - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/TheJagged/ Bravo1102 - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/bravo1102/ Casscade - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Casscade/ J_Scarbrough - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/J_Scarbrough/ JohnCelestri - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/JohnCelestri/ plymayer - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/plymayer/ Banes - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Banes/ BarakoThePirate - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/BarakoThePirate/ Featured comic: Sandbox - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2025/dec/10/featured-comic-sandbox/ Featured music: Mechaniko - http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Mechaniko/ - by Yves Ker Ambrun, rated E. Special thanks to: Gunwallace - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Gunwallace/ Tantz Aerine - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Tantz_Aerine/ Kawaiidaigakusei - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/kawaiidaigakusei Ozoneocean - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/ozoneocean Banes - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Banes/ VIDEO exclusive! Become a subscriber on the $5 level and up to see our weekly Patreon video and get our advertising perks! - https://www.patreon.com/DrunkDuck Even at $1 you get your name with a link on the front page and a mention in the weekend newsposts! Join us on Discord - https://discordapp.com/invite/7NpJ8GS
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    1 時間 2 分
  • Quackcast 769 - Plotting or Pantsing?

    Quackcast 769 - Plotting or Pantsing?
    2025/12/09
    Blending improvisation with solid story plotting/structure as you carry on drawing a comic. In the words of noted professional animator John Celestri: I'll start this conversation by asking the question "Are you a Pantser or a Plotter?" In other words, do you write your comic as you go along or do you have a detailed story structure before you start drawing Page 1? John put this question to the DD forum and many creators responded. It's an interesting question. I don't think many of us are on the extreme ends of the spectrum but they do exist. The more you plot things out in advance the better and more refined your comic will be, the trouble is though that tends to be the least enjoyable way to work and can suck all the fun out of the process, which is why most of us do webcomics to begin with: the fun. While completely pantsing your work ("flying by the seat of your pants"), and coming up with each new page or strip in the moment that you work on it can be invigorating and fresh, it can also cause you to very quickly run out of all ideas and motivation and lead to a block that ends your comic for good. I think most of us fall somewhere along the middle between these two extremes: We plan a bit but leave some room open for improvisation and change when we work on the finished page, whether that's with the textual part of the comic, the art, both things, or even the plotting and story structure. For my comic Pinky TA I have tried planning and plotting in advance and sticking with that, I've also tried creating each new page with no forward planning in mind. The way that works best for me is to broadly outline a story in advance and roughly plot out what happens on each page, which leaves me free to create the art and dialogue in whatever way I want to properly express the story. For Bottomless Waitress and Key of Dreams my role there is just as the artist, which means all the page planning is done in advance for me, that leaves me free to improvise with the art however I choose, if I choose. I can't change the overall story but I can influence it and add in new jokes and things simply using the art. It's the best of both worlds for me. We only got through half the contributions on the thread so we'll be doing a part 2 on this interesting topic next week! Feel free to tell us how you work and why? Also, you can contribute to the thread linked bellow. This week Gunwallace has given us the theme to Hell Monkey by - A growing, throbbing, electronic pulsing theme with rhythms disturbingly out of time which gives you a growing sense of unease and discomfort as the music slowly expands to become a complex wall of interweaving sonic vines, blossoming and releasing their heady yet toxic fragrances in this hothouse of sound. Topics and shownotes Links Topic based on a thread by John Celestri - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/forum/topic/180165/ Content from: JohnCelestri - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/JohnCelestri/ J_Scarbrough - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/J_Scarbrough/ Andreas_Helixfinger - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Andreas_Helixfinger/ Dpat57 - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/dpat57/ Ironscarf - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Ironscarf/ Marcorossi - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/marcorossi/ Bravo1102 - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/bravo1102/ Othosmops - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Othosmops/ Furwerk studio - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Furwerk%20studio/ TheJagged - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/TheJagged/ Spooky Kitsune- https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Spooky%20Kitsune/ Featured comic: Unhallowed - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2025/dec/01/featured-comic-unhallowed/ Featured music: Hell Monkey - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Hell_Monkey/, by Nichemode, rated M. Special thanks to: Gunwallace - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Gunwallace/ Tantz Aerine - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Tantz_Aerine/ Ozoneocean - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/ozoneocean Banes - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Banes/ VIDEO exclusive! Become a subscriber on the $5 level and up to see our weekly Patreon video and get our advertising perks! - https://www.patreon.com/DrunkDuck Even at $1 you get your name with a link on the front page and a mention in the weekend newsposts! Join us on Discord - https://discordapp.com/invite/7NpJ8GS ——— We got up to here - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/forum/topic/180165/#3027076 Next half next week.
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    1 時間