Comics

Book 6, Part 3.2: Hector Says Nothing

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 3 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

IANR.Bk6.P3.2.1-4IANR.Bk6.P3.2.5-7IANR.Bk6.P3.2.8-11IANR.Bk6.P3.2.12-13

I know this is a lot of just Helen and Hector talking. I wish it was more fun -_- BUT IT EXISTS. Oh. My. Goodness. I almost had this all ready yesterday afternoon and then there was a problem with one of the pictures and then I fell asleep and then I had to work AND THEN IT WAS TOO LATE. *swoons*

HOWEVER. It is here for you now. The lady next to Helen is Aethra, who will show up later, hopefully, if I can get the Laodike post put together. It is hard to write comics when you are working 40+ hours a week and also trying to maintain friendships and also eating and sleeping and taking care of your introverted self. WHO KNEW.

Okay. I’m done capslocking it up. I actually did have some commentary I wanted to make.

Homer tells us that Paris built his house between Hector and Priam. I feel like this is Paris trying to show dominance over Hector. Hector is the top son, in line to take over the throne. I feel like Paris, the unaccounted for, miraculously found because saved by shepherd, upstart, wants to take over and rule Troy after Priam dies. I don’t know for sure, but I feel like maybe that is happening? Oh, Paris. He plays himself off as a silly pretty boy, but maybe there’s a devious mind at work here?

So frustrating, the way Helen is always calling herself a lady-dog and blaming herself for everything and talking down about herself. So. Frustrating. I want more from Helen and it’s just not something I’m going to get from Homer. (Which is why, I know I talk about these all the time, but really, this is why I love Helen of Sparta and By Helen’s Hand, because it gives me a Helen that does not continually call herself a lady-dog and etc.)

ANYWAY. I hope you enjoyed grumpy little Hector. Have a lovely day!

To Read The Story of Laodike (According to Some Poets) Click HERE.

Book 6, Part 3.1: Hector Within the City Walls

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 4 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

IANR.Bk6.P3.1.1-4IANR.Bk6.P3.1.5-8IANR.Bk6.P3.1.9-12

Laodike doesn’t really seem to be there for any reason. She doesn’t say anything. No one talks to her. She’s just standing there looking pretty. I think there’s a reason she’s standing there, because I did background research on her, but I’m planning on doing a post about her, so you’ll have to wait for that, mwahaha…

I don’t really have much to say beyond that, except yes, I know this post is a week late. April was a bit of a mess and I have a feeling May is going to be a bit of a kerfluffle of a month. I have left the Building Supplies Store and have started a job at a library working at the circulation desk. Future retail comics may star said library, at which point I will create a fake name for it.

In the meantime, enjoy your day my lovelies! Hopefully I’ll have Part 3.2 ready by Wednesday and a Laodike post ready on Friday *fingers crossed*

To Read “Hector Says Nothing” Click HERE.

Book 6, Part 2.1: The Ancestry of Glaucus

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 3 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

IANR.Bk6.P2.1.1-4IANR.Bk6.P2.1.5-8IANR.Bk6.P2.1.9-11IANR.Bk6.P2.1.12-13

So, supposedly there’s this No Man’s Land between the armies, but I still can’t quite believe this scene and find it comical that these two guys are just Time Out having storytime as the battle rages on around them. What soldiers do that? I mean, I know why it’s happening story-wise, but looking at it purely from a non-literary point of view it’s ridiculous. I love it.

Some advice: don’t mess with Dionysos. Just don’t. There are lots of different version of what happened to Lycurgus of Thrace (not to be confused with the other non-Thracian Lycurgus), but I went with panthers killing him… although, considering how horribly my cats turn out I DO NOT KNOW WHY. Past Naomi, what were you thinking?

I was excited to see Thetis again, though.

The story of the Lady and the Failed Seduction is fairly common, and I feel like it stems from the fact that men understood that was one of the only ways women could have power over them, and it terrified them. I think it’s partly because of these stories that we still have a lot of men who are like, “Women aren’t raped, what, they’re just lying. Men are the true victims. The victims of lying horrible lady dogs.” -_- Ugh. Sorry. Is my feminism showing? How rude of me.

Ahem.

Moving on.

I highlighted the moment with the king handing over the tablet because writing was seen as this terribly dangerous magic for a long time.

I included two pissed off ladies (Glaucus’ mother and grandmother) because he doesn’t tell us their names and everything is focused on the male, on the sons, on the fathers – but dude. You cannot have babies without ladies. I wish we had more on them, but so often the women are erased or slapped on with the vague title of “Wife of…” UGH. Super not helpful for writing comics, ancient dudes. What were you thinking?

ANYWAY. Glaucus is a sassy pants and we will see him again next time. Have fun, my lovelies, and have a great day.

To Read Friends or Foes Click HERE.

Retail Life: Silo & Peasants, Vol. 1: “Let Me Spell That For You.”

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ Leave a comment

myretail-sandp-vol-1.jpg

I will never understand why this lady thought I could not figure out how to spell the word “the.” How did she think I was spelling it? I mean… That’s a basic article.

Alternatively, I also had the people who would rattle of long titles in Spanish or Russian and then were annoyed when I asked how to spell it. You can just never win with these people.

To Read More Retail Comics See THIS PAGE.

Book 6, Part 1.2: The Advice of Helenus

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 2 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

IANR.Bk6.P1.2.1-4IANR.Bk6.P1.2.5-8

Helenus is not what I was imagining when I went to create his character, HOWEVER, I kind of love him? He was supposed to be much younger and cuter, but I’m okay with what happened.

Also, as a question, why does Priam have so many prophetic children? Is it because of Troy’s association with Apollo? It makes me wonder.

Also, I am realizing that not have Hector have a helmet is actually going to create some major issues with the scene with Andromache and his son Astyanax…. -_- I honestly am not sure how I’m going to finagle my way around him NOT having a helmet. But helmet’s are just so hard, guys. UGH. I guess we’ll find out.

ANYWAY. Thank you all for you patience. It’s been crazy over here in Naomi-Land. It might get better next month? Might get worse? Also I may have too many friends but I feel like I can’t really complain about that? Also I might need a time-turner?

To Read a Post About Hittite Prayers & Terror and Panic Click HERE.
To Read The Ancestry of Glaucus Click HERE.

Hittite Prayers & Terror and Panic

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 4 Comments

A few Mondays ago I got a book in the mail entitled Hittite Prayers by Itamar Singer, as part of the Writings From the Ancient World Series. (Which was very exciting. I almost stopped breathing trying to explain to my mum how excited I was because, yes, I am that much of a nerd.) While reading it today (in between editing pictures, because my editing program is so ridiculously slow) I came across this line:

“You stride through the four eternal corners. The Fears run on your right, the Terrors run on your left” (No. 4c, 6.i-61).

This, of course, reminding me of The Iliad  when the Trojans and Achaeans are facing off to battle after Menelaus is wounded:

“Behind them, Ares, as behind the Greeks/ The goddess Athena with sea-grey eyes,/ And on both sides Terror and Panic” (Lombardo, 4.471-3).

 

I doubt that there’s any true connection there between the Hittite equivalent of Shamash (a sun god) striding around with Terror and Panic and two Greek gods running around with Terror and Panic, but it intrigues me, especially because I am interested in the Hittite underlining of this Greek epic.IMG_2898.jpg

*Those on the right should be recognizable as Panic, Terror, Athena, and Ares. On the left we have Shamash wearing his epic hat and holding something that I’m sure is important in his hands. Next to him are the two viziers Bunene and Misharu both of whom I want to do more research on.

Book 6, Part 1.1: No Mercy

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 3 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

IANR.Bk6.P1.1.1-2IANR.Bk6.P1.1.3-5IANR.Bk6.P1.1.6-8IANR.Bk6.P1.1.9-11

I was excited because Acamas showed up again and I didn’t think he would… And then Ajax happened.

What I love about the Iliad are how many stories are untold. Like Axylus. There is a whole story there we are only given a peek of.

I feel like there’s more I wanted to say, but this is my first day without having to go to work or do paperwork and I feel a little bit like death. Or maybe like Tisiphone, or whoever it is who stands over the lake of fire in the Aeneid. ANYWAY. I hope you have a good day lovelies! I’ll get you Part 1.2 and recaps at some point. I have a less crazy life for the next to weeks so *fingers crossed* I can get caught up on life.

To Read The Advice of Helenus Click HERE.
To Read About Hittite Prayers & Terror and Panic Click HERE.

Book 5, Part 7.2: Oh, Ares

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 2 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

IANR.Bk5.P7.2.1-2IANR.Bk5.P7.2.3-4IANR.Bk5.P7.2.5-7IANR.Bk5.P7.2.8-10IANR.Bk5.P7.2.11-13IANR.Bk5.P7.2.14-15

First I would like to say: YES WE FINISHED BOOK 5 AHAHAHAHA…

Second, I am laughing at myself because I thought there would be only one Part 7 and instead there were two and part 7.2 was the longest section I’ve had yet.

You can’t really read it, but on the side of the Helmet of Invisibility it says “Property of Hades.” WHICH makes me ask the question: why the heck does Athena even have this? Did she ask to borrow it? Did she steal it? I mean. Hades doesn’t really show up in the Iliad so why does his helmet. So many questions. So. Many.

I find it fascinating how much everyone hates Ares. I really think that this scene with Zeus and Ares is where Homer shows through. When Zeus is talking about how much Ares’ disgusts him all I really see is Homer stepping into the role of Zeus and using him as a way to express how much he himself hates war.

Paieon is not really important, so I didn’t draw him with anything memorable. He is sort of like an avatar of Apollon/Asklepios or something anyway so… Feel free to ignore him.

But Hebe, man. Do I want to know more about Hebe. Who is this random lower ranking goddess? She helps bathe people, helps them into chariots… It’s just so random. She’s like the extra who fills in the un-cast parts or something.

As for the bathing, it may seem random that Zeus is suddenly shouting at Ares to take a bath but remember, despite how clean he looks in the drawing, he is actually COVERED in GUTS. I cannot draw guts, so I apologize for the lack of them, but the point is Ares is disgusting and gross right now and decided THIS is how he should show up to the Father of the Gods. It is incredibly insulting to show up in front of a god in this state. In pretty much every religious tradition you wash yourself before you enter sacred space. This is true for Egyptians, Canaanites, Israelites, Hittites, and all of the Greeks. And yet Ares shows up covered in intestines and soaked through with blood. What are you thinking, Ares? What are you thinking. Athena and Hera might be sassy and make their opinions clear, but both of them prepared beforehand, dressed well, and spruced themselves up first, being aware of sacred space and the proper ways to behave in front of divinity.

Anyway. I could go on, but there’s that.

AND SO, eventually we’ll start up the next book and I’ll get you a recap of Book 5 and everything. I know we’re behind again, but I worked like 58 hours this past week so I’ve just accepted that this will get done when it gets done. I do start my library job training tomorrow and then I have the rest of the day to work on stuff so *fingers crossed* I can get some Book 6 drawing done.

ALSO ALSO I love these little guys and I am so grateful for all of you who have been reading along. Thank you ❤

To Read No Mercy Click HERE.