Twokinds ARCHIVE Forums

The original part of this comic was to actually make a point. It had philosophical drive and strength. Its point went home well. But recently, I think it's descended alot.

the comics seem to have gone into a Hollywood formula of sexuality, sexuality, fight, sexuality, one or two panels of actual plot, sexuality, fight, sexuality. I didn't mind the occasional action or poke of crude humor in the earlier comics, but I think that's lately become the driving force.

I think my primary question is- does Tom remember the plot's original point? This has been a good- nay, awesome- comic for a long time. But lately it seems that Tom has lost sight of his original point- namely, speaking out against racism.

I do like the plot. I think it's awesome. I think the message is fantastic and fantastically portrayed..when it's being portrayed. In short, I just wish there was more of it. I'm tired of panels and panels and panels of one joke. The strip has lost the majority of its power- for me, anyways. The message seems clouded by a bunch of crude humor, and unless the plot becomes the main point of the strips again soon, it may be lost forever in a sea of fan service.

Any thoughts? ~(\/)(~

I think it's just a combonation of the comic nearing its apex (for the exitement) and Tom getting more comfortable using innane humour.

Now that you mention it, maybe.
I consider it plot developement. No good series ever remains the same. Plots and characters evolve over time.

I think your reading the wrong comic if you want a serious focus on one main underlying moral. Stories main purpose are to entertain people. The "moral" of a story comes second, why? Because if the story isn't entertaining people won't even reach the moral.

Anyone who takes any kind of fiction writing class knows how this works. Every action made doesnt have to say RACISM! Much less half of the story. You need Things from Point A to Point B. A writer can choose to SKIP over all that with a "yeah- they traveled for 6 months..." or you can actually SHOW those 6 months or the highlights from them. Just because Trace and Flora arent fighting off people who are saying "booooo! Hiissss!!! We gonna get em!" doesn't mean theres no racism, it just means the stress on them being a couple is less - which means when they are back under that stress they will feel it more.

There IS a story here that doesnt revolve around racism, you know, kinda like real life... theres more than racism to worry about and it wouldnt be right for it to be the ONLY hardship they ever faced.

Look on the bright side, Twokinds has yet to make a This Is Sparta remix, which is now just old a dry...

I agree with Sage, The humor is part of whats keeping me here. The message is clear, and still there, and thats another part keeping me here. The last part keeping me here is mike's pants continuing to fall down. Oh wait, thats the first part i mentioned.....

I agree with Sage, but I also think the story could use just a little bit more plot than what's happening now. Of course, there's obviously a lot more going on with the plot that the characters just don't voice out, so I guess that's why some people are getting impatient. This whole Mike saga is flippin' hilarious, though. I think he might actually have taken over Flora's position as most interesting Keidran.

MeaCulpa, I think Tom's just getting back to the 'serious' part of the story.

P.S. What about this?
http://twokinds.comicgenesis.com/d/20061124.html

Theres alot more going on in the plot. but no matter what happens it's the calm before the storm that is the worst.

The chars are nolonger bering attacked head on. they have a feeling of safety. So the chars are well what real people would do. having a little enjoyment and having fun. this gives the chars a little more development to them. and Why do you think tom is giving the Erics two best slaves some char development at this point.

Yea it's funny but it could also be part of the plot later on. Maybe the female Mike can do or go somewhere that a male normaly can't later. true there are jokes about it right now. but you don't know if it isn't part of the plot yet.

and the little flash backs and the king tell me that there is something about to stir. Second I see some Hatred for the Keindren in the bastian home town.

But before you can move a plot along and make it a great plot you have to develop your chars to a point that it makes sence for them to be there. I get why our little cross dressing assassin is there. and you can't just leave it at she likes Keith and her other reason for staying well at this point she wouldn't fit anymore. You have to build these relationships. if you don't well then the story will just never feel right.

Also this is more adult toned and if you don't like that well I'm sorry. true it's more adult toned but I didn't say it was Adult.

You also have to keep in mind that the plot we are observing right now seems to move much slower than when you're reading through the archive. In one month we get around 12 pages but how long does it take to read those 12 pages? Maybe 15 minutes? What we've been reading and waiting for in the last month or two is only a fraction of the whole story.

i think we also have to take into though Toms recent family troubles. the comic is not his job, its not his god given resposablility, its a choice to work on it and we need to support him in any endeavors.

I don't know if I'm the minority here, but I've never actually read it. But I did read a certain part where Flora was being drawn, and he wanted her to lift her tail, and it was cute and such. I tend to dabble in that kind of almost innocent, cute sexuality in my art, but nothing that crosses into yiff.

I still like TwoKinds, but the story has changed dramatically.

It appealed to me not because of Flora's pregnancy, the "heat" scenes, or anything else that's just plain pervy at times.

It appealed to me because of Tom's own way of expressing himself. His art wasn't as good as it is now, but I much prefer the older comics that have plot, expression, and reason.

But now, it's fallen into the normal cliches. It's kind of sad for me to read now.

Having read the entire archives in one go about two weeks ago, it's not my impression that Twokinds has lost anything; quite the contrary. IMO it started out a bit weak - sketchy drawings, unfocused page layout, rather garish colours and uneven pace of storytelling. It quickly progressed in quality, however - and by now, the drawings, page layouts, colours and storytelling of Twokinds are all absolutely excellent. Story-wise, the only real change I see is that Tom perhaps focuses a bit more on character development and less on "action" all the time, but I think that's a good thing. So to answer the original question: No, Twokinds hasn't lost anything - it's gained a lot and grown to become a very fine comic indeed.

I agree with what grimz said a few posts back - when you're reading through the archives you get the whole story in one delicious go; and now, you have to wait a day or two for each new page. The actual drive of the story is as good or better as ever, it just seems slow due to you seeing it progress only one page at a time.

(Also, having a message or a point you want to get across is all well and good, and it can serve as a good starting point for writing a story. But when it comes to fiction, a message is a means to an end, not an end in itself. The audience doesn't need the same message repeated over and over, and it's proof of Tom's storywriting skill that he doesn't soapbox, but first and foremost writes a good story.)

Erm, this comic was all that prettymuch from the start, if you ask me.

The thing that makes it apealing to me is the crude way it startted and how much it actualy improved in the process.

Like a good wine, all bitter sweet things need time to mature. Even though, 2kinds dont have it novelty shine anymore due over repeating some elements, i feel its just startting to grow into real thing.

I think you have a case of "Back in the Day Syndrome"; Since it happened in the past, it was better than it is now.

Simply untrue. The art's progressed, more characterization has been used, the plot has become more mysterious and there are plenty of questions that I want to see answered.

*sigh* It's times like this that I wish I came across Two Kinds a year form now. It seems to move slowly beacuse you need to wait for an update, instead of just clicking the "Next Comic" button. Ah well; patience is a virtue, they say.

A sucky one...