I was wondering where you went. Any new tongues coming up?

I've just been...occupied with a few things. Haven't had much time to draw any anthro stuff aside from the CnC comic (which I thought was due tomorrow. Somehow I lost a day this week).

Might be some tongue stuff coming up. You know those crazy little Asar lizards got some 15-inch long tongues, right?

Asari physiology does not follow the golden tongue ratio, man! They're long, sure. But they're not wide enough! They've got to have rounded tips and appropriate thickness! http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5065781/ Round, thick, somewhat lacking on length but otherwise perfect. It's just not the same.

Do you...take medication? You know...for your...uh..."problem"?

Their tongues look totally normal until they stretch them out long. Y U NO LIKE THEM?

My therapist told me to look for the best tongues and focus on them. I don't like hyper tongues! They have to follow the ratio or else they look like regular TV stretched to fit an HDTV, but longways

So you go to the same therapist I go to, huh?

Will you ever get around to finishing Skunkworks 7 & the Val folio? I would love to buy those

I've got sketches done, but that's about it at this point. The original artwork for those would measure 11 inches by 14 inches, so it takes a considerable amount of time to complete a single picture. I've got 6 or 7 (maybe more) folios sketched out, but I rarely have the time available to sit down and work on one for a week straight. It's difficult to start working on a project, then stop and work on something else for a day or two, and try to get back to the first project. I've never been able to properly "multi-task".

I'd like to know more about it. o3o; I don't think I know much at all.
Is it the world where those aser gremlins are?

No, the Asar species is actually from a completely different reality. They would never normally encounter any creature from the skunks' world. Alas, Onika landed in Valencia's garden while fleeing a hostile alien invader. She managed to get into the portal rift, but it was shot at by the invader, which made it impossible for her to return to her world (you must use the same portal to return from whence you came).

The technology in the Asar world is extremely primitive compared to the stuff in the Caterwaul/Skunkworks world. Think "ancient Egypt".

Woah. o3o;

That's cool stuff. I think I'd like to know more about the Asar world. :3

I've got a LOT of that info on my system. I'll see if I can round it up and post a little bit. Seriously, the scroll bar on the side of the page for that section is less than half-an-inch long! I think it's around 50 or 60Kb, and it's all just text!

Holy shit-damn, man. :O That's a lot. That might be more suitable for a zip in an email. xD;

Well, there were a couple folks that pretty much asked the same thing, so I might as well gather it together and post some of it here.

Will you ever be open for commissions? :P

I might be able to take 1 or 2 around the end of the year; it depends on what mainstream stuff I have lined up for the winter months. The furry stuff has to take a back seat to the regular work, unfortunately.

aw. Will there be any chance to snag a slot or is it first come first serve? :3

I think there are a few folks in the inbox on this site that I said I would hold a spot for (back when everyone fell for the April Fool's joke). I'm pretty sure you were one of them, weren't you?

Probably. >.>

is there any chance that I could pre pay and reserve a one character, full color slot of yours.. that is, when life lets you get around to being able to do a few commissions..

I won't mind paying ahead of time and for your talents I sure as heck WONT mind waiting my turn either..

if that's all right with you sir.

I really don't like the pre-pay method. It tends to leave less incentive to complete the work, according to various horror stories I've heard. Plus, as has happened numerous times over the past few years, I might start on an anthro picture, only to have it delayed due to regular work or other stuff in life. It's best to complete the picture before getting paid for it. It's safer for both parties.

then please let me know somehow if I really can get a single character, full color of one of your magnificent skunk girls for my own..

note me or anything.. please sir.. just tell me when..

I'd really really love this long awaited chance.

Well, I don't normally do full color commissions because they end up being kinda expensive. Plus, I have to draw the pictures at a larger size now (11 X 14) due to my vision issues).

OH I'll happily settle for a fully inked black and white if thats all right sir...

I can still do B&W inked pictures at 8.5 X 11, so it'll be a lot easier to store and ship!

sends you a private message...

Is the world 100% Anthropomorphic now? Or are there still humans within it? (I can't recall) and does the photo store of Cats'n'Cameras exist in the Caterwaul/Skunkworks world? ;)

The world the Skunkworks crew and Caterwaul crew live in was always 100% anthropomorphic. I only inserted humans into the humorous (read: non-canon) comics so the gags could have a better effect, or be more easily related to by the reader. While humans did exist in the Skunkworks world at one time, way way way in the past, they were eventually knocked down several links on the food chain, and were summarily wiped out of existence by the various predatory anthros on that world. This happened a few million years ago, mind you. It was unlikely the humans would even resemble us as we are today.

The "Cats n' Cameras" comic kinda takes place in the same goofy niche that the old Skunkworks comics did: humans are included in the cast, and don't really seem to be bothered by large talking bipedal animals.

A lot of folks thought the Skunkworks comics were an accurate representation of the world these characters live on, but those comics were primarily drawn to illustrate a joke. The reality of their world will accurately be represented in the Caterwaul comic series (and as soon as I can finish issue 2, I can get that off to the publisher and get that series started!)...

Since there seems to be a probability of an universal hominid ancestor, with all of the inter-species sex going on, maybe on this world humans were just bred out of existence and the odd throwback just pops up once in awhile.

Well, there IS an unknown common ancestor of all the species on that world; it's just that no one knows what that creature was (and it wasn't human). Why else would so many different species share similarities in body structure, skull structure or even the number of fingers and toes they have? It is this lack of knowledge about this common ancestor that is the driving force behind the various religious beliefs the people may have. And while their religions are nowhere near as grand or complicated as ours, they do at least share the same beginning point: what was the driving force behind their evolution, and why aren't there any traces of this mythical creature?

Makes Caterwaul distinctive from the vast majority of "Furry" worlds?

This might sound shallow and or pedantic, and I do not mean it to be. Most "furry" or universes with fur bearing and Human characters in them fall into one of several categories:

1) Worlds where the fur bearing characters are an exact mirror (or bad allegory) of Humankind. They drink alcohol, smoke, drive cars exactly like Human beings.
2) Worlds where fur-bearing characters have a "parallel society" existing alongside Humans, but separated from them for cultural (historic) technological, or sociological reasons
3) Worlds where interactions between Fur-bearers and Humans are restricted or non-existent.

The last one sort of runs counter to the long standing bromide that says the story has to have a human character in it so the audience can relate, understand the story, and "identify" with the larger events of the story in general.

I won't prejudice your response with my own opinions, but I will say that in general, the setting for "Furry" stories (in any medium) tells me a lot about the story as a whole, and what kind of rewards I'll receive for being a member of the audience.
Well crafted and, attractive Character are also a good "hook" but if you want me to stay very long in their world, you'll have to make their world and the dynamics of it as attractive as the characters.
Caterwaul has been around a while, in several forms. I can recognize the characters, but if asked to describe anything in depth, I would be at a loss, because I have not been a regular audience member. This is no fault of your own, naturally. But just as an exercise, if nothing else, treat me as a "virgin", and tell me why "Caterwaul" is something I would find engaging, as far as the world and the population of it is concerned.

This post will take quite awhile to write, so give me a day or two and I'll get back to you on it!

(I had a hard time reading your second sentence in a voice that was not Peter Griffin's).

There are a lot of parallels between our world and the Caterwaul world. They have cities, vehicles and societies a bit like ours. Some events happened in both realities as well. While we've had two World Wars (and several other wars since then), there was only one "big" war in their world which lasted for quite a long time. It was brought about by attempts of the governments to control the number of offspring a couple could have. It ballooned into a massive clusterfuck and managed to wipe out millions of people. Governments were set up and toppled by others trying to gain power and authority.

A complete overhaul of their societies was eventually accomplished. This resulted in what would later become, in essence, a global government. The economy is, as a result, quite a bit different from ours. There is a universal currency, though the country of origin is stated on the backs of the money. Money earned in Spain can be spent in Russia or America without having to worry about exchange rates.

Religions are basically nothing more than a means to explain the origin of the sentient creatures on that world. They are all basically the same thing, though they may differ in the number of gods they have or the rituals performed. The religions do not have the sort of presence they have in our world, as the creatures in the Caterwaul reality were wise enough to realize, many many years ago, that no good would come from clashing over beliefs. You won't find religious extremists in their world because they don't exist.

Their world is several hundred years ahead of ours, despite the difference in years. They've had space travel for quite some time, and have a large colony on Mars, as well as a smaller colony on the moon and several orbiting stations located throughout the solar system.

Social behaviors are different than what we have here. Like nature, the rules seem to be harsh sometimes. Most cities have cameras located throughout them; this aids in policing and, should a crime occur, as irrefutable proof of the crime (or lack thereof). If an individual is found guilty of a heinous crime, and there is absolute certainty of the person's crime, they will either be put to death (lethal crimes) or forced to work for the benefit of society (indentured servitude). There's no "rehab" or cake walks in their world.

The people of their world are all different species, and these differences are more pronounced than what you'll usually find in most "furry" comics. (On a related note, while the characters are anthropomorphic, I'm not actually drawing Caterwaul to cater to the "furry" genre. It can also appeal to those who like crime noir or science fiction. Think of Blacksad, only without the 1940's vibe or overly-human behaviors). If a creature is capable of something specific to its breed, then it will differentiate itself from others by using that ability. For example, felines are able to land on all fours, just as their 4-legged ancestors do. One scene in Caterwaul 2 has Crystal (a feline) twisting in mid-air and landing on all fours, while her team-mate lands on her back. There's also a scene where Crystal runs up a spiral staircase banister on all fours, something a bat or wolverine would not be able to do.

I watched videos and read books about how different species behaved, as well as how they fight, and tried to use that information in the Caterwaul stories by applying it to the different breeds therein. There may not be a distinctly human element in the stories, but there are numerous similarities between our world and theirs; in some instances, things are much improved. In other instances, perhaps not so much.

The members of Caterwaul come from diverse backgrounds and lifestyles, and often find themselves dealing with missions that turn out to be more complex than originally thought (Lot Six, for example: a "canceled" government program which has remained live and under the radar for a couple decades is now trying to gather the offspring of test subjects from experiments performed 20 years earlier. Caterwaul is employed to capture a group of these offspring responsible for destroying a government facility. Only upon closer inspection does Caterwaul realize it was being used by this agency to do their dirty work for them, and they must now strive to protect the kids, and their families, from the people running this agency).

Stories range from science-fiction to crime noir to action to horror (such as the "Penance" story). Characters from places such as the Skunkworks studio factor into some of these stories as unsuspecting assistants (Valencia was the one who discovered Onika, who arrived from a completely alien dimension). I can guarantee the stories in Caterwaul will NOT be your average, run-of-the-mill college students playing video games crap or human scenarios played out by human characters with pointless animal heads. The creatures in the Caterwaul world are all unique and different from one another, and I aim to demonstrate those differences vividly in the stories.

I hope you'll give it a shot. The new Caterwaul is nothing like the older version from the 1990's. That version was campy and formulaic. The new version is as realistic as I could make it, given the world they live in and the creatures which populate it.

>>(I had a hard time reading your second sentence in a voice that was not Peter Griffin's)<<

I consider myself roundly insulted.. Moving on...

The world sounds interesting. I'm reminded in part of the old Antho comic Erma Felna by Steve Gallacci.

>>(On a related note, while the characters are anthropomorphic, I'm not actually drawing Caterwaul to cater to the "furry" genre. It can also appeal to those who like crime noir or science fiction. Think of Blacksad, only without the 1940's vibe or overly-human behaviors)

Bravo. It's about time someone did more work with antho characters that isn't aimed at the "wank and spank" crowd.

I grew up with Raymond Chandler,Dashiell Hammett, Sam Spade and to a lesser degree Micky Spillane, so my tastes run to the "film noir" type of story. You can pretty much make most good stories timeless if you do your homework on the characters and the settings. The problem is that most people (including 99% of the people reading this) don't bother to do the " mental legwork" that it takes to develop good characters, settings, or much of anything else.

I heartily approve of antho Characters which behave as much as is (humanly?) possible like the species from which they are drawn. Most "Antho" stories do nothing short of a "heroic" job of bleaching the "animal" out of whatever spices from which the characters have been half-baked. I'd love to see someone who's wolverine tear into some slimy villain who thinks they've gotten away with murder (or worse.)
I'm just as glad to hear that there seem to be no "token" Humans anyplace. I have always disliked the old saw that says you "have to" put a Human someplace in the story, so that "people" can relate. If your anthro characters don't have the range and depth to keep the reader in the story and in the world, then tossing Humans into the blender won't make things any better.

The basic story sounds good. It'll be the little points of character inter-action, humor (please don't lose that) and over-all emotional identification that will carry thru the good basic plot arc you have. Yes, the audience might be able to figure it out ahead of time (for which they will like you even more) but as they say "getting there is half the fun."

I look forward to seeing the first issue. While I won't promise to go easy on the story, the characters, or their creator, if I enjoy myself, I promise you'll hear about that just as effusively.

Best regards,

Roci

No insult intended; I had seen that episode at my brother's house earlier that day, so that scene was kinda fresh in my mind.

There were a lot of things I had to figure out since the characters were not human. I had even posed this query to members of my Yahoo group, asking for their input about what sorts of things would be different in the anthro world of Caterwaul (as compared to here). Simple things, such as drinking glasses, seats and showers/plumbing had to be modified to work for creatures that didn't have the same body structures as humans, and would therefore need to have these items adjusted to fit their forms better.

There's still a decent amount of humor in the stories (though it largely takes place between characters). All the characters of Caterwaul come from distinctly different backgrounds, and they each have their own set of baggage to deal with as well.

As soon as I am able to complete issue 2, I will get issue 1 in the mail to AVP and get the ball rolling on this! Hope you'll like it! And thanks for the comparison to Albedo; that series was also instrumental in helping me think "outside the box" when it came to anthros.

>>Simple things, such as drinking glasses, seats and showers/plumbing had to be modified to work for creatures that didn't have the same body structures as humans, and would therefore need to have these items adjusted to fit their forms better.<<

Outside of crafting characters, the thing that delights me most about doing antho stories is designing their world. "Furgonomics" used to be one of my all time favorite panels back when "furry conventions" were getting started. Most authors and all but a rare few artists miss the boat on this subject completely. From showers to the formulation of "soaps" to smaller things like the shapes of glasses, bottles, containers, and the like, you really do have to place yourself in their world if you want to make it work long term. I've become something of a master at spotting little inconsistencies, which generally happen when artists of both word and line develop what I call "Fur suit" philosophy.
Meaning they tend to turn off their minds, and write fur-bearing characters as if they were "Tom, Dick, and Harry", which is to say that the artists are usually thinking as Humans rather than Fur-Bearing non-humans.
It drives me almost to distraction, about 90% of the time. What happens, particularly with "Furry" stories is that you can take the character, regardless of race, social development or spices, take out their names, (which seem to constitute somewhere around 7/8ths of their "Furry-ness"), substitute Tom, Dick, Harry, and or Jane and you would not be able to tell from the image projected by the descriptions or their dialogue that these "characters" are ANY different then Humans.
The world of line art is little better.
How many times have I seen and or read of anthro characters driving cars? Not cars with unique controls or features, just plain old right off the assembly line (or out of a car magazine) American made cars? This flies in the face of so much basic anatomy, not to mention lacking any sort of reflections on advanced technology, not to mention missing a chance to make a graphic statement (via execution of a visual design) about how a non-Human "sees" form, fit, and functionality. To say nothing at all about class, values, or style that would naturally vary from culture to culture.
Sure, it's a bucketful of work (There's that word again) but it pays off by making both art and story more alluring and appealing overall.
Fiction is supposed to take you someplace you've never been but want to go. Being bombarded with "Human" everything in what's supposed to be a non Human, (or neo Human) world takes me to the same world I live in. Where's the enjoyment in that?

Best of luck,

Roci

I know what you mean. As far as vehicles go, I had to figure out how they would be able to cater to most of the different species in that world (certain species, such as bats or birds, are not capable of driving due to their wings being part of their arms!) Public transportation is a big thing in their world, and not everyone owns a vehicle. Most species average around 5 feet tall, but some (such as horses, some bears and giraffes) are much taller. Special vehicle designs had to be taken into consideration.

Another thing that I thought was important was clothing. How would the clothing be designed? It would have to be sold in different departments, as a bear could never wear something intended for a bat. Ditto with footwear.

It should be a fun project. I wish I would've been able to delve into the deeper specifics when I first designed Caterwaul, but I was 23 back then, and what kid is going to think things all the way through like that?

I hope you'll like it!

Going to do anymore bear characters?

The newest character in cnc is a bear so stay tuned

Yeah, in the upcoming Cats n' Cameras story arc! I did have a cast of bear characters for a side project, but it was scrapped (too horrific and twisted).

Are anthros based on herbivores still plant eaters?

Are there abnormal hybrids? as in to say.. rabbit and fox, skunk and cat.. rather then "normal" hybrids like donkeys and mules and such?

do reptilian anthros have to take extra precautions against the cold? or are they even coldblooded anymore?

Here's a beta-version of the Population page you can check out (it's a lot of reading, so be forewarned!):

http://www.skunked.com/Population_Page.htm

Most of the different species eat both meat and plant matter, but the ratios may differ from one species to the next.

There are 22 distinct species, and a total of 75 variations. Hybrids are not possible in their world; two dissimilar species cannot procreate. But if the species are of the same general form, they can produce offspring (a lion and a Siamese cat, for example, or a wolf and a dog). The anthropomorphic skunks are the only ones that, at some point in their early evolution, had a little of a different species mixed in with them. It is believed this other species may have been feline, due to the similarities between bipedal skunks and felines.

Reptiles and dragons are warm-blooded. All species, including birds and the 2 marine species, give live birth and nurse their young. There is a common ancestor to all the evolved species on their planet, but no one knows what that creature may have been.

thanks for the answers!

I told you it was a lot of reading!

Ahhh, Asar, cool.

I know you've got plans to have them show up in their 'civilian' lives in the Caterwaul comics, but do you have any hints or previews for what the Skunkworks sisters are like when they're off-camera? I find myself curious as to what they're 'really' like.

I don't think they show up in any major scenes until the third Caterwaul story, although I believe they make a brief appearance in the first story when Dinah and Angeline visit the studio. They behave pretty much like your typical 20-year-old woman, still a bit goofy and playful (and immature), but able to be serious when there is a need for it. I don't have any visual representations of them in their "real" behavior range yet, but those should be appearing once I get working on issue 3 of Caterwaul.

Don't wanna be a pest, but since you were asking for questions...did you ever get that "Dead Bitch" CD sent off to Iceland? 'Cause it hasn't shown up here. If it's still sitting around in the "to do" pile (I bet mine's bigger than yours!), you might as well save some postage and send it to my Tucson address. I'll be back there early October, rarin' to go!

Okay. I'll send it to Tucson. I've been playing "caretaker" for the past few weeks and haven't had much time in front of the computer.

Are the skunk sisters atypical in their world in terms of their sexuality being in overdrive, or are their proclivities shared by many others? Also, is incestuous activity less of a taboo?

In reality, they're pretty much typical, but the over-sexed profiles shown in the folios and such are, in a sense, acting. The studio itself produces advertising imagery as well as adult material and artwork. The idea behind the adult stuff is that scenes are photographed from various angles, the best examples are chosen by the project manager, and the scenes are then recreated by hand in the form of artwork. These portfolios are then sold directly through the studio, as well as sent off to various adult publications for wider distribution.

Just like a Penthouse photo-shoot, the scenes are staged (although actual sex does occur), and the scenes are often "augmented" when drawn by hand. The trio has the same sexual drive as most females their age would have, but their exposure and the experience it has brought them may make it seem even more pronounced.

Oops. I hit "Post" before I was done.

Incestuous behavior isn't uncommon, but such behavior between siblings of opposing genders is frowned upon (mostly because it can lead to pregnancy!). Since there are nearly 3 females to every male in their world (though that ratio is beginning to equalize itself), such behavior is common between females. However, many outgrow that behavior when they begin searching for a mate (and not just a good time).

How Smart do you think Lori Natasha and Onyx is?

They are fairly intelligent, though certainly not MIT material. They graduated high school about 2 years ago (present age is set at 18, which would occur at the same time as the release of Skunkworks VII). I don't remember if any of them were looking to attend college, but it's possible.

What's the coefficient of friction between skunk fur and polished marble?

It can vary depending on what kind of shampoo they've used. Oh, and whether they are sliding on their backs or fronts. The back has thicker, coarser fur, and the underside (front) has finer, softer fur.

If Valencia and Malina met, what would their relationship be like?

I'm not sure. I'm not familiar with "Malina", but I'm going to assume that person is a female. If that's the case, I suppose they would get along fine provided they share several common interests. Valencia does not share her daughters' interests in same-sex intimate relationships.

Sorry,I misspelled, I meant Sari's mom from Cats and Cameras.

Ah. They'd probably get along fine, although I don't think they have too much in common. Valencia's husband had a tendency to gamble and drink, but I don't know what the situation was with Manila's husband. So far as I know, Manila raised Sarina by herself, and she currently works as a waitress (I think). Val raised her 3 daughters by herself and left a job in home interior design to open up a modeling/advertising agency. They could probably trade horror stories about raising their kids, but I suspect Val knows more about her daughters' nefarious activities than Manila knows about Sarina's.

Do Hybrids Exist in your world, and how would a sado-masochistic demon Tiger/Wolf with a dragonic bloodline and, penchant for "tales from the crypt" style mayhem and mind blowing pleasure, not to mention an overloaded sex drive be received by Penance? I hope they could be good friends ^^

No, hybrids are not possible in their world. Dissimilar species cannot produce any offspring.

Not sure how Penance would react, as she technically isn't supposed to exist in their reality! And I guess, unless the hybrid character you speak of is into fiddling with kids, they probably wouldn't cross paths (and your character might be thankful for that!)

Nah Skye may pretend to be a kid (for consenting adults while indulging a kink) but he usually painfully tortures pedos.

Why?

Why not?

haha! that is correct!

Will the next issue be released by AVP and will also the good samaritan comic be included?

Yeah, Caterwaul will be published by AVP, and the first issue will include the "Good Samaritans" short story as well.

I do have a few questions if they wouldn't be too much trouble!

Do you happen to have all of the Asar/Khet notes written down for those of us who are interested in how they live, and their biology?

Also, how do you feel about others creating Asar/Khet characters, do you mind if they follow the creature's set in stone attributes and traits?

Yeah, I have a lot of information on them. Just the history of the Asar species and their world is about 60Kb in size (all text). I will try to sort through some of it and post it here this week.

As a comic artist, I understand that folks might create their own versions of the characters, and I shouldn't realistically expect them to stick to the canon specs of the characters. After all, how can readers know about them if I haven't put all that info online yet?

I have no problems with that (because it's probably going to happen anyway, haha!). But if anyone has questions about the species, they are certainly welcome to pick my brain!

Why do I get a black screen that only says "Loading..." when I visit https://www.skunked.com?

Because I replaced the index page with a black page with the word "Loading..." typed on it. You didn't fall for it, didja?

Indeed I dd. Is the site being updated?

Not right now, no. I was using it for something else, and decided it would be best to remove everything from the index page for the time being.

Magnets, how do they work? Sorry, couldn't resist (get it?). Actually, I just wanted to say I'm looking forward to seeing what you have in development.

Check out http://www.howmagnetswork.com for more info. I pray you aren't dressed up like ICP...

Thanks for the laugh!

can i give penance a cookie and a big red balloon and presant for being awesome?


:3

I suppose so. But for your sake, that had better be the best motherfucking cookie in the world!

i made the cookie monster turn to mush when he munched ONE of mine :P

You must have used too much chocolate Ex-lax in the recipe. That's the only explanation.

With the vast majority of creatures in your world being of animal origins, for the carnivores, I have to ask, where does the meat come from? and for the omnivores, are there certain meats that can/can not be consumed?

Not all species have bipedal counterparts. Many animals, such as ducks, chickens, turkeys, pigs, buffalo, cows, elephants, rhinos and more only exist as 4-legged creatures. For the most part, the sentient species eat meats similar to what we eat. More info about the different species and such can be found here:

http://www.skunked.com/Population_Page.htm

It's still the beta version, but most of the information is there.