I was about to repeat my first comment about this page but no. Instead I want to congratulate you on a very well done page.
The expresions tell the whole story that the words spoken don’t. Felix pleasure at seeing Novellia, Iusta’s irritation at seeing Felix smile at another woman, perhaps even jealousy. Felix’s wariness when he sees Iusta expresion and the stilted way he presents her to Novellia. It felt as if he wanted to say wife but changed at the last moment to ward, although the official relationship is that of employer.
Novellia’s expression of happiness at seeing Felix alive, she probably thought he was dead.
I loved how Iusta felt so possessive of Felix and how Felix felt both happy at seeing Novellia doing well and at the same time awkward and chagrined at having his “wife” (in quotes because they are not married yet) witness the encounter. I specially loved how Iusta had the last word.
It is the first time that I’ve seen Iusta possessive of somebody, and willing to fight for him. It is also the first time that I’ve seen Felix embarrassed of meeting someone.
I do believe that Felix’s carousing days of women, wine, song and dance are over, not because Iusta will keep him “busy” but because he doesn’t want to hurt her.
Let the gods bless their union and give them strength to face their now common enemies.
BTW, I thought that the dove was sacrificed as opposed to released. After all some of Venus’ devotions required sacrificial blood.
The market scene is perfect. You don’t need a big splash page showing the Forum Romanum in all its splendor, the first panel convey the image that it is a crowded, noisy place with people everywhere and vendors hawking their wares.
Sometimes the advertisers and I have different ideas of what’s a good fit for the ad boxes, but as long as it isn’t just a “guys ogling jiggling boobies” comic, there’s a lot of leeway 😛
At first glance, before recognizing Novellia, I wondered why this female character seemed to be wearing a toga – then I remembered the Roman rules for how prostitutes ought to dress.
I have to wonder – I’ve heard that the toga had to be managed very carefully to keep it from unwinding and slithering to the ground. (There were special classes to teach orators how to make a speech without ending up undressed.) Could this be the real reason girls like Novellia wore it – so the men would keep watching and hoping?
I think more like to keep uppity women on their place. After all, if the toga was a preeminent masculine garment, some Roman women would have requested to wear it as well, very much like pants. But since only prostitutes could wear a toga, that killed any intent on female rebellion (there were plenty of them in Roman times).
I wonder if that would have worked today (last century), by forcing prostitutes to be the only class of women to wear pants.
The “watching and hoping” theory could still work alongside the “women in their place” plan 😀 There was a time when respectable women wore a version of the early toga, but that time was long past.
There’s textile evidence that people cheated with their togas, cutting the fabric into a shape that was easier to drape, and then eventually sewing it together so you could slip it on over your head. Hmph!
Arrrgh-gasp-groan, we’re Jones-ing for another Roman Episode of SPQR Blues. Will this torment never end?
Yeah, probably not: I’ll got out to my shop and make sawdust.
All we know is that she was part of Josephus’s household. Which does not give her good odds for having survived.
He hasn’t just forgotten to think about her. Which we’ll find out when I get back to the comic! Aside from the mental downtime, I did need to rest my hand, too 😛
Ack-ack-ack- Martian invaders can’t take the droonge-vibrations rebounding thru their helmets. Must… Have…. SPQR Blues to avert disaster… will they come too late??? Stay tu…. Fooom.
She gonna KEEP you too busy, mister.
It’s her new favourite hobby. So much to learn! She’s an inquisitive lass.
Mayhap she could contact Novellia and ask for some pointers. Who am I kidding, she’s too proper to do that. She will ask Urbana instead.
I was about to repeat my first comment about this page but no. Instead I want to congratulate you on a very well done page.
The expresions tell the whole story that the words spoken don’t. Felix pleasure at seeing Novellia, Iusta’s irritation at seeing Felix smile at another woman, perhaps even jealousy. Felix’s wariness when he sees Iusta expresion and the stilted way he presents her to Novellia. It felt as if he wanted to say wife but changed at the last moment to ward, although the official relationship is that of employer.
Novellia’s expression of happiness at seeing Felix alive, she probably thought he was dead.
I loved how Iusta felt so possessive of Felix and how Felix felt both happy at seeing Novellia doing well and at the same time awkward and chagrined at having his “wife” (in quotes because they are not married yet) witness the encounter. I specially loved how Iusta had the last word.
It is the first time that I’ve seen Iusta possessive of somebody, and willing to fight for him. It is also the first time that I’ve seen Felix embarrassed of meeting someone.
I do believe that Felix’s carousing days of women, wine, song and dance are over, not because Iusta will keep him “busy” but because he doesn’t want to hurt her.
Let the gods bless their union and give them strength to face their now common enemies.
BTW, I thought that the dove was sacrificed as opposed to released. After all some of Venus’ devotions required sacrificial blood.
Felix made it pretty clear to Iusta that she was FAMILY and that he wasn’t “hired.” And besides, she was never his employer. Her mother was. 🙂
I stand corrected.
Thanks–I was unsure about the page, with trying to fit in so much all at once, and I’m glad you liked it.
You’re right about the dove; sacrifice would have been more expected. Felix has some odd idea about setting one free in memoriam.
The market scene is perfect. You don’t need a big splash page showing the Forum Romanum in all its splendor, the first panel convey the image that it is a crowded, noisy place with people everywhere and vendors hawking their wares.
Thank you! I think I used up all my crowd-scene mojo in Herculaneum.
At least the dove merchant is honest enough about his merchandise.
Since the purchase is for religious reasons, I doubt he would try to anger the gods.
Lovely lovely page. I like the smile Felix has in the last panel, clearly delighted his favorite prostitute made it. <3
Yes he is and Iusta is not amused at all either.
For some reason, the side banner ad showed black, thigh-high high-heeled boots when this page came up. O_O
Also, Iusta’s getting to know Feix better. 🙂
Sometimes the advertisers and I have different ideas of what’s a good fit for the ad boxes, but as long as it isn’t just a “guys ogling jiggling boobies” comic, there’s a lot of leeway 😛
Iusta is a sharp little cookie 😀
Yes, she is. And Iusta will make sure that Felix has no inclination whatsoever to pay Novellia a visit.
The first panel and the hawkers’ cry totally conveys ‘big street scene’… it’s economy of detail!
Oh, Felix… awkwaaard.
I’m not sure he’s ready to be respectable.
I’m sure that one of Iustas goals will be to turn Felix into a respectable Roman pater familias, with toga and everything.
At first glance, before recognizing Novellia, I wondered why this female character seemed to be wearing a toga – then I remembered the Roman rules for how prostitutes ought to dress.
I have to wonder – I’ve heard that the toga had to be managed very carefully to keep it from unwinding and slithering to the ground. (There were special classes to teach orators how to make a speech without ending up undressed.) Could this be the real reason girls like Novellia wore it – so the men would keep watching and hoping?
I think more like to keep uppity women on their place. After all, if the toga was a preeminent masculine garment, some Roman women would have requested to wear it as well, very much like pants. But since only prostitutes could wear a toga, that killed any intent on female rebellion (there were plenty of them in Roman times).
I wonder if that would have worked today (last century), by forcing prostitutes to be the only class of women to wear pants.
The “watching and hoping” theory could still work alongside the “women in their place” plan 😀 There was a time when respectable women wore a version of the early toga, but that time was long past.
There’s textile evidence that people cheated with their togas, cutting the fabric into a shape that was easier to drape, and then eventually sewing it together so you could slip it on over your head. Hmph!
That would be people without the money and slaves to really deserve a toga…
Arrrgh-gasp-groan, we’re Jones-ing for another Roman Episode of SPQR Blues. Will this torment never end?
Yeah, probably not: I’ll got out to my shop and make sawdust.
isn’t that Irenaeus?
He’s in the background of panel 1, with his back to us. Getting hit up to buy a poem from a disreputable hairy street poet.
He needs a new outfit. With how many times he’s had to wash out the same house-livery tunic over the past month, it must be getting threadbare.
doesn’t he deserve to be listed among this stri[ps characters?
You’re right! I forgot him!
do we know what happened to the woman he was going to marry after he was freed?
All we know is that she was part of Josephus’s household. Which does not give her good odds for having survived.
He hasn’t just forgotten to think about her. Which we’ll find out when I get back to the comic! Aside from the mental downtime, I did need to rest my hand, too 😛
Ah, those hipster street poets, the bane of any civilization.
Ack-ack-ack- Martian invaders can’t take the droonge-vibrations rebounding thru their helmets. Must… Have…. SPQR Blues to avert disaster… will they come too late??? Stay tu…. Fooom.
I aaaaalmost feel detoxed from yesterday’s chaos 🙂