SkunkyArt | Pcaara — Chapter 16

I’ll start with the basic, but I’m SUUUPER proud of the paneling and just overall way I was able to handle the fight during this scene. The last time we actually had a full on fight like this was c h a p t e r 9, man. And it was a feat for me to draw action back then too XD But this time I got to incorporate my Slateport Arc goal of more dynamic paneling started back in chapter 13.

Hopefully it’s evident that Kiba and Cohen are fighting the way animals would for most of this. They don’t end up using actual attacks until the “I’m going to finish this” panels, as shown by the glowing. I’m definitely gonna go into it more down the line, but generally speaking when pokemon use their “magic”, you’ll know from the glowing.

Kiba kick flipping off of Cohen’s chest, and Cohen grabbing Kiba mid air and tossing her like dirty laundry are just some of the coolest things i’ve drawn these characters doing so far holy shit I love them despite all the headache they cause me (also there exists videos somewhere of me doing the throw on some poor defenseless stuffed animal just to see if it was possible XD. I’m so sorry redbird.)

This is actually 100% unintentional but I just found this out about a month or so ago. Did you know both Poochyena and Makuhita have pokedex entries talking about how they’re stubborn / will never back down??? The irony. That explains SO MUCH

Poochyena bite and nip at their prey much like real hyenas. Engaging and disengaging frantically, though usually in pack formation. That said, I loved getting to show some of that in Kiba outspeeding what is effectively slow moving prey. It shows a more animalistic side to pokemon that I want to delve into as the series goes on. Oh, and she totally didn’t use what Haru told her earlier to her advantage…. >>w>>

Similar to the bit with Kiba and Cohen simmering on page 2, the part where Sammy ruminates on whether or not he should have stepped in earlier and whether it would’ve made things worse was a last minute addition. Again, so we can get into his head. As someone coming from a fandom bg (as im sure most of us are), i’m used to super reading into subtext for whatever media i’m consuming. So alot of earlier pre-slateport arc scenes were written with the whole “well, they can read into it right?” mentality in mind. But then i realized oh yeah...as the creator I have the power to make my subtext into text lol (give or take a few things ofc) So this arc we get more insight as to what the characters are actually thinking. Even if they can’t convey that to their peers. Ya’ll should still know XD

Joe’s and my irl friend’s cameos appear again! And I LOOVE how the officer turned out. She’s such a sweet woman who absolutely goes home to her grandkids after her shift.

Alright...now for the big one. ---------------------------------------------
Kiba and Cohen’s fight was originally supposed to go over MUCH differently. Of course, right? We all have drafts. But I mean. The whole intention behind the fight changed after one important event from last year...I’m not a very confrontational person, so I don’t get into arguments with friends often (if at all, really). But last year, in close proximity to when I finished the original draft of chapter 16, a friend and I had a bit of a rouse. We’re fine now, don’t worry! But it shook both of us up because we’d been relatively disagreement free in our 10 year friendship. The reason i’m bringing this up is because that was the first time I realized that both parties can approach a situation and not only prioritize their own baggage, but have no idea what they actually want as a resolution. It is, infact, possible to be bad at confrontations. Common even. And yeah that sounds like a no brainer, but again...no experience. At least, not with confrontations where I was an active party. I’ve viewed many from afar and suddenly those made sense too.

This fight was originally supposed to end with both Kiba winning and she and Cohen acknowledging the others’ strength - bridging the tension through a love of fighting, of sorts. But that seemed too easy. Too quick. Too detached. And suddenly after what happened with my friend, I understood why. I understood that the problem these two had with each other had less to do with each other specifically and more to do with how they saw elements of their own struggles reflected in the other. Just like me and that friend did.

And that’s why, unlike the original version, there is no real winner here.

Which is admittedly both the best and worst decision i’ve made regarding these two, because I just want everyone to get alooonnggg. But they also need their time and I respect that.