Otherworldly Goods – Page 10
In order of appearance: Persephone, daughter of Demeter, who was kidnapped by Hades, sending her mother into such a depression that winter would not end until Hades agreed to let go for half the year (hence the seasons); Hades, ruler of the Underworld, brother of Zeus; Tantalus (more on him next week); Sisyphus, sentenced to forever push a rock up a hill that rolls back down and start all over again; some rando that Tantalus attacks; the Furies; and our hero Fetch and his cabbie Charon.
This page was a lot of fun to draw, and full of challenges, because I don’t draw human anatomy enough these days. And it is also the first page I have used Procreate from start to finish, save some touchups and lettering in Photoshop. That initiates my main mode of production for the future. You will see more texture and painterly effects as I explore the tools on hand. You have seen some of that in the political cartoons I have done for the last couple of months, as those are all done in Procreate these days.
Apologies for the late post. The page was already uploaded, but yesterday I was distracted by an appointment with my behavioral health provider to talk about ADHD treatments. Ironic, yes?
Charon narrates as PERSEPHONE exits a chariot, looking glum while HADES beams at her.
CHARON: It all started last Winter when Persephone came back to the Underworld for her annual visit.
PANEL 2
Persephone complaining while Hades listens, pouting
CHARON: She hates the place, you know.
PERSEPHONE: All the dead people walking around.
And the torments of the eternally damned!
It’s so morbid and creepy! An eagle picking out Prometheus’ liver?
For what? Giving humans light? Gross!
HADES: Aw, I thought it was clever.
PANEL 3
HADES proclaiming release of the damned with a scroll. SISYPHUS puts down his rock, water is poured on IXION’s fiery wheel, and TANTALUS, chained to a rock, can reach a fruit.
CHARON: Well, you know Hades is crazy for her, so as a gift he lets them go! All of them! The Titans, the monsters, plus Sisyphus, Ixion, the Danaides — and of course Tantalus.
PANEL 4
Sisyphus and SALMONEUS fighting.
CHARON: Next thing you know those murderous kings are fighting each other, killing their enemy’s children, seducing their wives, stealing ambrosia.
It was a mess.
PANEL 5
FURIES round up people in a paddywagon
CHARON: It took the Furies five years to round up most of ‘em. But Tantalus got away.
PANEL 6
They float by Sisyphus struggling with a boulder.
FETCH: Hey, there’s Sisyphus now.
SISYPHUS: Say, care to let an old man rest?
CHARON: I hope that boulder squashes you!
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