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swan-swan — Mai x Zuko--'Breakup' WIP
Published: 2007-09-08 23:37:40 +0000 UTC; Views: 16310; Favourites: 88; Downloads: 2042
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No, this isn't the 2-year project. I was working on that, but then I switched to this for a few hours....No subtle reference intended in the first panel....hehehe....
It's not just color that makes this a Work-In-Progress piece; it's also the fact that I'm open to advice on how to fix this piece up in pacing. It starts out very much "in media res"....I still haven' worked out if she moved to touch his scar or kiss him or even just came too close. Supposed to take place at some point in the third season, before Zuko leaves; I haven't really nailed a specific reason for why this is happening. Best odds would probably be that Zuko caught Mai talking about him with Azula and suspected/realized (as many fans theorize) that she was just being a way to keep his loyalties to the Fire Nation--it's all a deception. And, whether or not it turns out to be that way, Zuko's suspicion and betrayal is enough (here, anyway).
Whatever the situation, though, I believe that we'll probably be faced with a scene like this in the third season. It'll be the final turning point for Mai and Zuko's relationship--I left it ambiguous as to what happens next. I leaned a little more towards Maizu, though....
I definitely overused the echo effect in this--three different instances where you can see a throwback to some point earlier in the series. And poor Mai doesn't realize that "I need you, Zuko" isn't exactly going to help her cause....
Zuko's outburst is one that I seriously hope shows up in the canon--a display of anger and mistrust revolving around how she stayed behind when he was banished. Might not be a very fair demand, but....
I probably should have inked in Mai and Zuko's hair, but....oh, well.
SO....
Suggestions for improvement and adjustment would be very welcome before I go finalizing this.
I used heavy reference for the first panel (obviously) and the fifth. Most of the rest is freehand and/or minimal reference. Thanks to for some help with the Zuko designs, with her wardrobe pics.
The final panel will probably get a redo, but that's pretty much the effect I want....
And no, this was not made just because I'm more tolerant of Zutara now, I've had this planned for a while....and yes, Mai is floating in the second panel.
Characters are copyright of Mike and Bryan and Viacom.
Comic's mine.
Update: I'll probably be adding some prelude panels (two, probably), put in some sort of bridge after the first panel....and a pause or something.
Any suggestions for a dialogue bridge might be welcome.
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Comments: 134
swan-swan! *gasp* What is this??? I didn't know you made this one... *looks at scary amount of Zutara fanwork in Choc-Marshmellow's favs* Okay... I can't talk. Never mind. *looks at date of uploading* That makes more sense now.
It was a nice little effect with Mai getting smaller and all that, though.
I thought that Zuko buggered off without seeing Mai (due to his understandable angsting). When she got her infamous letter it would have been a "the sod left me behind AGAIN" moment.
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it may be sad, but it leaves a huge gap for Zutara
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Sheesh, old junk. How out-of-character this piece was...
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Eh, I dont mind being the first in a year to comment!
Not badly drawn, but so sad. then again, looking at the post date this might or might not have been before the series ended.
I do love your quote though on the bottom of your comments
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Wow has a lot happened since I last looked at this.
Your right, it is out of character and unfair -_-
And I still like your quote at the bottom of your comments
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This old piece of trash? Ugh...
Maiko's awesome. Don't forget it.
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at first it was awesome and of coarse it did win one of the many shipping battles but now it's blugh because now that avatar's over we make or own storys and guess what?
Zuko leaves Mai and Katara leaves Aang so they could be together... and in one of my many storys on fanfiction.net Mai won't let go f Zuko so Zuko has to kill her! MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA and katara has posioned aang because his obssesion was annoying!MUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA IM SO EVIL!!!!
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[link]
Get back to me when you have something intelligent to say.
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sorry schedule too busy for a peasent...
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Good question... and awesome work!
Mai and Zuko 4 ever!
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I eel really sorry for Mai, aaawwww bless her, if i was watching that I would go right up and give her a big hug. *Hugs Mai*
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:thumb64430154: NOOO!!!! Damn glad it's just fan art! :thumb64430154:
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Erm... Zuko... maybe she didn't follow you because she was sort of... twelve years old?
Besides... He left her once again in DobS, and she had no chance to come with him, but I think THIS time she'll follow him
Great idea!
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Yeah, that's the basic point. I'm hoping for more focus on the issue....
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Very well done I am a Maiko shipper and yeah I wish they would have brought that up in the show. They could have done it in The Beach episode but oh well.
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*claps* Amazing. I seriosuly LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Maizu. :+Favlove: Its the best canon shipping that there is. And I'm all for rocky relationships. Ya know they love each other, but theres a few loose strings no one really wants to sew up just yet. Sad, but true. I have a strange feeling something like this'll be happening, but it the end, Mai sahll-eth become the new Fire Lady! *w00ts* Seriously, its sad, and makes ya wanna cry. Great job!
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Well, thank you! Yes, Maiko is a great ship...has rocky times....and yeah, I wonder if the issue will come up sometime...now, thouhg, it may be a little lighter and more conversational and out-of-curiosity.
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It has to come up. The show is a lot about character build up. Those, er, loose strings are very strong character build ups
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Indeed, they are. 
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Before the Beach, I was under the impression Mai was so stoic because she'd been hurt when Zuko left
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I think she was.
They definitely seemed to hint at that...him ranting at her for having no passion for anything, when she may have been most passionate when he left....and her offense when he asked about her "new boyfriend"....she was COLD there. I actually think Mai might realize that they're on the wrong side....
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Whats cool about Sotic characters is they spend a lot more time contemplating about whats actually happening. Like in The Headband, Mai already suspects that Azula is no good. Its because, unlike Ty Lee and Zuko, she's able to look at things with niether passion nor distaste. Just logically. But when it comes to the Zuko thing, she is a bit..er....odd about it. She does let her feeliggns get in the way. A bit. Thats why she totally blew everything outta proportion with the 'boyfriend' thing. She didnt know how to handle it.
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oooo, poor mai! if something like this does happen in the series, I will do more to zuzu than obliterate him with my skillet (he already got that sentence for bad-mouthing iroh) - seems to me he's used her as much as she used him!
As for critique, I'd say work on the hand she's laying over her heart in panel 2, it's a little too small in relation to her face.
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I completely redid that panel, actually....pulled another throwback to the ship scene....maybe a few too many of those, but, hey, it's art.
We'll finally get to spend some quality time with these two on Friday....so excited....Mai's been bored and hungry for well over a month now, so...!
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good job on the Mai drawing she is very pretty in here! and looks like her normal self and most of the time that doesn't happen
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Thanks.
I mgiht have to color this now....
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Wow....I really feel sorry for her... and *high five for distractions* They always get the best of me XD
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Yeah...one thing about her is that she doesn't really have a backup ship.
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Awww yeah.....poor Mai..
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Didn't realise how badly I'd started to ship it until I saw this and something broke. Poor emo kids!
As to actual critique: I don't think you need bridging dialogue between the first and secon panel. The dialogue itself seems fine. Perhaps a silent panel viewed from above and behind Mai, so we get her perspective kind of as Zuko turns away?
Perhaps crop Zuko out of the second panel and insert a smaller panel between two and three showing his expression instead. Maybe looking surprised at the familiar turn of phrase? It'd contrast nicely with the hardening of his expression in panel three, as well as giving the impression of a pause, so that when he does speak it's like the calm before the massive explosion of angst.
Also, are you going to edit the panelling? The way they're set out now, the flow isn't as good as it could be. Especially the last three panels. I could be wrong, because I'm definitely no expert on panelling, but I think they'd be more poignant if they were set side by side.
And in regards to all of the above I invoke McIntyre's first law: Under the right circumstances, anything I say could be wrong. Except for the part about this comic being awesome. That part is true. No question.
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I like the whole vertical-panel thing....so I don't think that will change...it works well, especially with a scrolling screen.
Thanks for the advice! I'll definitely consider it...I've had a few ideas put forth, but these seem like the best ones. A smaller one between two and three....
I'm also surprised and delighted that you caught the whole "calm before the massive explosion of angst" thing....it means that I did it right, I guess, or else you know what I was aiming for!
Above and behind Mai, nice idea....
Thank you very much!
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This strip gave me a sad sigh. I do hope that doesn't happen... Anyways, advanced critique?
Well, panel 2- I don't see Mai as the hand-over-heart kind of person...and I can't do hands for the life of me, but I know you can draw them...so my question is, what happened there?
And panel...3? Is it?
Well, shouldn't his scar being showing? I mean, on your "did you notice?" avatar vids you talk about the scar is a metaphor for the dark side of his character...And I would imagine, had he the capability to love Mai, and I mean LOVE, during the breakup the scar would be a prominant kind of image...
And if he didn't love Mai, wouldn't wanting her to be self sacrificing when he wasn't basically asking for his ego to be stroked? I mean, its selfish and hypocritical to ask one person to give while the other takes. Therefore, his self-centeredness would be shown along with his scar....
Just my thoughts, though...
All in all, good work.
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Laziness is what happened there. And it's supposed to be the "me" pose...."I need you." I might just redo that whole panel....
As for the scar not showing, I wanted to make sure that he was actually voicing genuine bitterness here. This is something that has been bothering him, and it's his true side....
I'll consider all of that, though, thanks for the critique and the pick-up!
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very true
however u may want to change zuko's expression and stance with the full body because it makes him look like a child. make his mouth smaller and less slouched
in the very first panel, u may want to make his chinswoop in a bit, then come out
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:i'm being too dramatic. because of YOU, swanswan, for making this. lol. jk, dude:
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I still find it amusing that I've gotten more emotional reactions from Zutarians than Maizus....XD
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And secondly, that proves that you made very emotional strips that can make almost EVERYONE feels.. uh.. emotional, even though they don't support this pairing. See? You're great then!
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