Like running a marathon.

Long episode, huh? Took some ten months to reach the end, but I think it was worth it. Plenty of intrigue, some solid jokes, and a deeper look at the city. And even some drama! I hope everyone enjoyed the ride. Tune in next week for one more page.

Also on the topic of next week, I'll be beginning a small hiatus after the final page of Episode Three is posted. For two weeks, there will be no new pages posted as I prepare Episode Four for its debut. I want to make sure everything is prepared before I launch into it. With that said, do not expect new pages on 7/24 or 7/31. Episode Four will begin with its Cover Page on 8/7, kicking off an exciting new adventure for Robo Pope to obliviously conquer.

Century mark.

Despite the file name being "0099," this page is in fact number 100! Remember, I did start the comic on page zero, making this math sensible.

I won't pat myself on the back, as it feels like we should have hit this milestone sooner. That is the trouble with weekly updates, though. Takes longer than you'd like to progress.

To celebrate, there are THREE new wallpapers to be found in the Extras section of the site. These are free to all readers, but will only be available on the site until a new set comes along. Anyone registered at teh-Nook.com will have access to them for the rest of eternity. Pretty sweet deal for a free forum, I say.

I haven't heard anyone say what resolutions I should be making these wallpapers, so all three are 1024 x 768. There is one at 1280 x 1024, though, if that's better for anyone. Mostly I work in full-screen, as that's the type of monitor I own. If anyone wants to see something in widescreen for the next batch of wallpapers, let me know in the forum, comment here, or by email.

In other news, I hope to have something prepared for the two-year anniversary on August 31st. No guarantees, though.

Someone's got an anniversary coming up!

Not only are we nearing the end of Episode Three, but we'll also hit the 100th page before the next episode! July 3rd should be the big day. Following along the RPD calendar, we see that Episode Three should end on July 17th with a captivating finale, and after a small, two week hiatus, Episode Four will kick off with loads of mystery and intrigue! Four will be very character driven, playing out on a small scale compared to Three's corporate conspiracies and mutant mobs.

On the topic of the 100th page, I have no clue what I should do to celebrate, if anything. Maybe some wallpapers or other exclusive art, for starters. Or maybe I could do the unthinkable and invest in some advertising for the comic! Ha!

I'll play around with some ideas for now, but feel free to drop a line via email or comment here.

News on next week's page:

Page Thirty-Two of Episode Three, which would be premiering next Friday, May 1st, will be posted a day early.

I'm set to move on Thursday, the 30th, so I I can't say when I'll have internet access, let alone access to my computer. I'll be updating the site on early Thursday morning, so don't be surprised by an early page. As well, don't expect a new page on Friday next week, either. This isn't a "buy one, get one free" sale.

Quick! Hit refresh!

Man, did I pick a bad time to stop blogging for two months. Literally EVERYTHING has happened since last December's post. Let's review:

• Robo has an impostor who looks nothing like him!


• He was also almost killed!


• A limited edition copy of Kick-Boxing Nuns: Round 2 WAS actually killed. The funeral will be on Sunday.


• We now know what happened to RP's old blue sunglasses.


• We've been introduced to a new enemy. The global company, Complex Inc, is sure to be hatching some evil schemes. I have plans for this new entity, so remember them.


• Future Detroit has a lame, closed-down theme park.


• Robo has the cutest door mat you'll ever see.

And don't forget, the site is updated through all of Episode Three. I've been sitting on this code for too long and just wanted to use it. I may have a few more improvements or additions to implement this year, but I like what I have right now. Let me know what you, as well.

The archives of Episodes One and Two will updated in the near future.

Finally, try using the new RSS feed sometime. I'm interested in knowing how it works out for people.

Something to see.

Along with this week's page, I've got something new to show off for everyone.

This is a sleeker version of the site that I've been working on for a weeks. Aside from the visual tweaks, I've trimmed the code to be well-formed per the W3C's regulations. And let's not forget the new RSS feed that I'm still tweaking.

There's a thread in the forum asking for opinions, so head over there and say some things.

New page troubles.

I'm having trouble contacting my FTP server right now, so there won't be a new page just yet. If the situation doesn't fix itself, I'll contact my host and see what's the problem. Here's this week's page, hosted via Imageshack:



I'll update the site whenever possible.

EDIT: Just realized that I missed last week's update... Weird.

More comics!

Not my comics, of course. There's only one of those a week.

No, I've found two wicked comics that put all others to shame. To be technical, I found one and the other has been affiliated with Robo Pope Digital for some time now. A few days ago, I stumbled across an illusionary-game/webcomic called MS Paint Adventures. Since then I've read/played the entirety of its premier attaction, Problem Slueth, simply amazed at the wild turns in the story and the kinetic animations. Great find that I suggest everyone check out. I'm not one for plugs, but this comic impressed me.

The other comic find is actually the return of my long-time favorite: O31: October 31st. Telling the tale of a rotting California gushing with sleaze and violence, it's the perfect blend of Mad Max-brand leather apocalypse and clean, animation-worthy illustrations. The sisters King combine their illustrative might with a new background artist to make some pages that I find truly stunning. The comic begins in earnest this Monday, the seventeenth, so bookmark it. Now.

Holy crap!

It's really here! Robo Pope's house is totally here, and totally... boring.

Yes, the world-renowned Robo Pope lives in a suburban home painted blue. It's not very exciting, nor is it very glamorous. He seems to dig it though, but I can't say why he's sleeping on the couch in his living room. You would think he would have a bedroom, with, you know, a bed in it. But whatever. I hope everyone enjoys this scene, as I found it turned out pretty funny. Stick with us and see what happens, everyone.

In site-related news, I finally added some more comics to the Extras section. Added to the list of wicked webcomics that I read are Awkward Zombie, Castle Vidcons, Eegra, and Gunshow. These I could think of off the top of my head, though I'm missing some, I'm sure. If anyone reading knows of a comic worth promoting, let me know and I'll check it out.

It's still a habit.

Part of the fun is never knowing what day I'll update the blog!

The last page of this initial scene only lays on more mystery for you poor readers! First the crazed hobo, then some weird security guys, and now this shadowy figure? Even I can't take the ambiguity for much longer!

Luckily, we'll be moving on to a new scene and setting, hopefully bringing about some answers in the process. No guarantees, though. I can guarantee that we'll see a pretty anticipated backdrop, if that helps at all.

Come by this Friday, kids!

Somewhat late.

I must say, the latest page just adds to all of the questions while not answering a single one. Who knows what's going on here and why those men want hoboes? Well, aside from me.

I don't have much to say on this week's page, but I will let everyone know that I envisioned the white SWAT-type guy being John Travolta. So as you read his lines, imagine them being spoken with a wicked Brooklyn accent straight out of the seventies.

Stay frosty, kids.

Action!

Now things are starting to heat up! Who are these mysterious men and how did they know of this disruptive hobo? Will Harry and his business survive this deranged encounter? And will Robo Pope ever come out from behind that coat rack? All will be revealed in this exciting, all-new episode of Robo Pope Digital!

...that's my plug for the week. My opinion on this page has been in flux since I started it. I realized, while doing early planning work, this would be a difficult set-up to illustrate, especially with my skills. I attempted it the best I could, and I think the main idea is intact. Some of the line-work is far from my best, but there's only so much I can do in the time I have to make some of these more complex pages. I'm really proud of the background, though. Most of the work went into the "middle" panel which really sets the scene. Hopefully, it gives the readers out there a strong visual sense of Harry's diner and just what damage is being caused. I know it definitely helped me shape the place for future scenes.

We'll be leaving Harry and his wonderful establishment behind very soon, but luckily, everyone will get a chance to see a more anticipated backdrop next. Stay tuned, kids.

He's covered wars, you know.

Any veteran's out there, this week?

Ever since I wrote this page's dialog, I've worried that the "I don't have to take this; I'm a veteran!" line was a bit much. The line still stands because it's funny, of course, and this is a humor comic. But still, I think it's the most "offensive" thing this comic has done yet, and I would call it pretty tame by the internet's standards. Quite simply, RPD has been a project that I want to keep relatively clean. The swearing from the older versions (which are not available online) is gone and Robo Pope's trusty "Catholic Avenger," a Deagle-like pistol, hasn't been seen in almost two years. I'm not against rude humor or any "adult" themes, per say. I've just found these things to be inappropriate for Robo, a superhero with a pretty innocent, dumb demeanor. Hopefully being squeaky clean won't ruin the comic for anyone.

On the illustrative side of things, this page also took a while. Just thinking up Harry's Breakfast Shack really took some time, on top of the details I added. We'll get a better look at the place in the future, but hopefully this is a good taste for now. And speaking of taste, look at the detail on the syrup! It's like it is really covering some homeless guy's hands! I'm quite proud of it, if I may say.

Keep an eye open for a big twist next page!

I don't know syrups, I'll be honest.

Is it "poisonberry" or am I thinking of "boysenberry?" I'll need to look that up.

Page Two! Yay! This one is a pretty fun page, though I hope the whole scene turns out to be the same for all the readers out there. I had a lot of fun putting this page together, even though I spent an awful lot of time on it. I like the way it came out, that's for sure. The character in the first panel is the owner of Harry's 24-Hour Breakfast Shack... Harry. Obviously. He has a small introduction in this episode, but I actually hope to have him return in the near future. Keep an eye out for his shiny, smooth head later.

Here's something small I whipped up during the week. Savvy readers (and gamers) may recognize the "concept" of this image, but I won't ruin the joke for anyone. Just something weird I've been meaning to do.



See you folks next week!

It may seem that way.

But trust me, there won't be a slow start for this comic.

I really dig this page, even though I had to edit a few things after finishing it not too long ago. Most notably, Harry's 24-Hour Breakfast Shack did some remodeling and turned from orange to blue. This little diner that could plays a small role in Episode Three, but will return for a bigger event in Episode Four. So don't go forgetting about it.

The one bad thing about this page is that it has made me realize how barren Future Detroit is, at times. I tend to think of the city as having a decent population, but I never think to draw pedestrians or other cars when working on my backgrounds. The convention center of Episode Two showed that there are plenty of people in the city (or at least commuting to it), but this episode is a bit empty. To be fair though, this does place in the middle of the night. It is a 24-Hour Breakfast Shack, after all.