Richard Matheson

I've been reading a collection of Matheson's stories. Several of his short fiction pieces as well as I Am Legend and Hell House. And on the back cover has a quote from Stephen King that I'd seen him say elsewhere; "I think the author who influenced me the most as a writer was Richard Matheson."

And after reading this collection I look back at King's work and can spot the similarities in style. Especially in King's earlier short story work, the ones in Night Shift and Skeleton Crew. Also a lot of Ray Bradbury I think. But definately some of the same feel to his early work and Matheson. Plus the influence Hell House must have had on The Shining and Rose Red is pretty easy to spot...

I'm trying to recall if any of the haunted house movies from the last decade were based off Hell House. I do know that Will Smith is starring in a movie version of I Am Legend due out this year or next. I know Smith could deliver the emotional impact and depth of the story. But I'm pessimistic enough to think that it will be more like an "adaptation" in the same vein as I, Robot was...

But you're evil!

Since being pointed towards Yet Another Fantasy Gamer Comic by theferrett I've been enjoying it. But the ending to the current story arc has left me disgruntled. And I was hoping for the last week or so that it was going in a different direction...

Basically a pirate crew kidnaps several of the characters from the Monster Caves, along with a noble prisoner of the drow. One of these people was Glon, the half-orc son of the female orc leader and the nearby human baron. So Orc Mom and Baron Dad marshall their armies and head after the pirates. As do various of the monster types aboard a different pirate ship. And then a big fight occurs. During which, Glon is killed saving his father. And then his Mom kills the pirate captain...

Since the "bad" pirate 2nd in command was turned to stone by Bob the Beholder (who was rescuing his goblin girlfriend) the pirates are now led by a highly competant Swashbuckler female pirate...

So the Human noble is ransomed to Swashbuckler Woman (giving her some ridiculous amount of gold) and then everybody declares it a draw or something and sails home. Keep in mind that this is a loosely D&D based comic, that EVERYONE except the Baron and his Elf allies is evil...

So why do they let the "bad" pirates go? I understand why the Baron and his allies leave. They were mostly their to rescue Glon and his military buddies (most of whom are dead). And the Baron is all depressed. And her Orc Generalship would probably want to leave to bury her son. But I don't see an army of varied monsters leaving WITHOUT GETTING PAID. The pirates are still weak from the battle, your side has a freaking lich so your numbers have actually INCREASED since before the fight AND a Beholder. And the pirates HAVE A METRIC BUTTLOAD OF GOLD. Why would a group of EVIL monsters let the pirates sail off? Vindictive out of proportion revenge motivated by greed is what they should all be about!

And story wise, the only "bad" pirate left with any personality or character development is Swashbuckler Woman. Who had been engaging the Drow leader in single combat. And since the Drow leader's Chaotic Neutral wood Elf girlfriend just dumped her for one of the Elf nobles, Swashbuckler Woman would have made a good new romantic interest for her. Especially if you had her a Drow prisoner...

Still liking the strip, I'm just dissapointed by the ending of this arc. If you have evil characters their motivations should follow that...

Crossposted to snarkoleptics