That's right, after I canceled the comic without even finishing the 4th chapter, you can finally see how the story progresses from here.

For those of you watching this account, who haven't noticed that the comic is canceled, I finished trial 4. In novel form, that is. If you want to see how Trial 4 finished, go here:
[link]

Magna Core's story continues in novel form from here on out, on the profile I just linked to.

Ask me either here or there if you're looking for the text versions of Trials 0 to 3, also.

Check back at the end of every month for a new chapter, and we'll see this story reach its true ending in May, 2011. I have 25 numbered chapters to go plus a brief epilogue. That's 26 months, so 2 years+ 2 months from now. (And for those of you who have kept score at home, I've kept up my end of the bargain for 5 months in a row, and the first chapters are the hardest! )

Comment if you want the tl;dr version.

I don't know what to think of drawing this manga anymore, so excuse my use of a stream of conscious to figure this out.

I'd like to think that I'm doing this for my own enjoyment as much as yours, but a lot of weeks go by where this is more trouble than it's worth for me. I used to look at it as a labor of love, but it's starting to feel like it's just a drag. I keep having to give myself weeks off, thinking I'll be able to come back not so fed up with the process, but that's never been any good. But this whole process is just becoming too much of a hassle. Draw, ink, shade, add sound affects, color backgrounds, add text, it's starting to feel like too many steps, and for whatever reason I'm not having fun with this like I used to. Maybe I've outgrown it. Maybe I'm losing touch with the project. I don't know.

But, at the same time I can't let myself abort all the characters that haven't even been introduced yet. I'll find a way to tell their story, probably in the novel format. There have always been 2 huge factors for me and the thought of canceling this comic:
1. The characters and their story, which I need to see through to the end somehow. I'm already on the road to satisfying that with the novel at work. I've had a lifetime of experience with the English language to express myself, whereas I've had not even a decadde of experience in the language of comicing, and so I lack the same fluency.

2. You, the readers. I don't want to disappoint anybody. But if I start doing this as any sort of obligation, then I'm drawing it for all the wrong reasons. And the way I see it, if I drag on with this when my heart's not 255% in it, then you should be disappointed.

Am I done with comics for good? I wouldn't say no to the possibility at a better time. But it looks pretty promising to close this up now. I've reached a point where I can retreat and reasess without any significant losses.

So, I'm sorry to those who genuinely enjoyed this, but I'm going to say it:
This comic is closed until further notice.
Thank you everybody who watches this account, and anybody who stopped by to read it. It's been a lot of fun teaching myself a thing or two with you guys. My art wouldn't be the same if we didn't go through this, and I'll always wear the experience on my sleeve. I wish I could still pursue this comic with the same spirit I once had, but when my mind moves on, my hand follows. This isn't the end. Not by a long shot. So don't call it the end. Call it the last few sentences of a great first chapter.

This story shall live on in illustrated novel form, and that shall be posted on this account: *Blanke In this format, I can finish writing a chapter a month (on average). Furthermore, I'm picking and choosing the key shots to get illustrated, so that you'll never get the idea that any given page was just me dragging through the motions. I firmly believe that I can tell this story normatively by this method. Dialogue sharpens and interactions reach greater detail. I've gotten comments about how the writing of this comic has always been a reliable block of a sometimes shaky foundation. So why not reinforce that foundation with the material of that one unshakable sector?

Thank you all once again for your support throughout this endeavor. I couldn't have done it alone. I invite you all to continue enjoying this story as I publish chapters of the novel. You can read that story and see plenty of Magna-Core related illustrations on my main account, *Blanke


So, now that we have successfully finished another page in this story, let us go forth and complete this saga as one.

EDIT: I'm using this weekend to try and finish writing up Trial 0, so that's why I never posted a page this week. Next week has a pretty low workload, though, so I should be able to post 2 pages then.

I think I've more or less got what I want Blanke Style V2.0 to look like, although it's not an overnight process. I should be able to get another page up either this week or next week, but I'm in the process of redesigning the cast right now. Some need more changes than others. Most of them are pretty easily explained, as Jason and Terra can both change their clothes, and Void will need repairs after this chapter. Ares, however, is a bit tricky, as he's supposed to have the same thing on when he fought Aion as he does through the rest of the story, so expect some continuity issues there. It'll take a bit longer to get into the swing of updated looks for all the characters, but I am trying to shove pages into the pipeline again.

If you want an idea of how the change is playing out with a raised bar, here's a before and after comparison of Null:
[link]
[link]

-I've also redrawn Terra and Void recently. Terra will have this dress on in the next chapter- [link] Here's Void, but he won't fight shirtless, and he needs to get his left arm ripped off before that one gets mechanical, too. [link]

Good news. I'm going to write Magna-Core in both graphic novel format as I've been doing, and in novel format with illustrations. That means taht nothing's going to change around here as far as trying to get a page up every week. For those of you that like it the way I've been running it, I'm not going to screw up that system. Rather, I also follow an alternative program, in hopes of finishing the story quicker. Here's the pros and cons of both the manga format, and the novel format:

Manga:

Pros-
-everything is drawn up (this can expand into a lot of plusses, such as fight scenes, girls, etc. )
-the craft keeps getting better as I keep gaining experience
-consistent updates

Cons- first chapters will need an overhaul at some point
-slow updates, when a page a week is the best I can manage.
-Color pages are the feasts, not the everyday meals.

Novel:

Pros-
-All illustrations are in color, and often more detailed than the respective comic panels.
-Written chapters finish much more quickly than comic chapters at my pace. I can reasonably type a chapter every 2 months
-More detail to subplots, particularly the inner workings of the couples like Ares & Terra.
-You'll see the end of the series in novel format well before in manga format. (If I didn't miscalculate, I could finish the novel by the time I graduate. I can't say that about the comic at this rate. )

Cons-
-You have to read it. XD
-action has a different effect in literature
-Illustrations can only be "snapshots" of key parts of the chapter.

I'm thinking I'll post the novel on my account, so this page can work solely as a comic hosting site. Though ideally, I'd like to make my own website to present both the comic and "light" novel on. (That way I can stick the illustrations wherever I want. )

So, you get the choice to pick and choose between those options. Take one, leave the other, take both, it's up to you.

By the way, the narrator for the M-C novel will be Telos. (the guy in the prologue talking ) So it's technically from a "1st Person Omniscient" perspective, if such a thing exists. (Though he seldom says, "I", and it reads from a 3rd person omniscient perspective 95% of the time. )

I'll keep you guys posted, no matter how it turns out. Thanks for reading, and, as always, thanks for the support.

EDIT: I'm considering doing Magna-Core as an illustrated novel. Please read this journal on my main account for the details, and give me your thoughts either here or on that page.

Not your usual "I can't think straight so no page this week" journal. But when I wrestle with the concept of even posting an announcement, then eventually the thoughts get me pinned.

Again, I insist that I'm not taking any weeks off due to discouragement. It couldn't be farther from the truth. I'm going to have a lot of fun with this chapter, as Jason and Void's battle gets down to the wire. But, the habit of following my gut, and diving right into a page every week seems counterproductive right now. There came a time when this "don't hesitate, just draw" mentality pushed my technique forward, from a cesspool of bile to a sea of near normalcy for a Caucasian discovering comic creation. Yet it developed habits maintaining a status quo that I aim to transcend. And so I call upon you the proud citizens of the Blanke Nation, to seek your support for reform policies.

The Blanke Nation has reached a turning point in history, and we now begin the final push to usher in a brave new age. I ask upon you, as citizens, to understand that the Blanke Empire must make a brief cut in its weekly providence of entertainment services, as its illustrious Emperor wages war with his hand, his mind, his heart, and yea, even his soul itself. In this war against oppressive demands which prevent progressive leadership, and seek to drag one back to his outdated, feudal ways, cuts in the time budget are imperative, so that funds may be redirected to where this great, growing nation needs it most. Together, we shall rise above and beyond the debilitating complacency of confining an artist's repertoire to an imperfect standard. So let us march forward, beyond the sayings of "good enough". Tomorrow, we shall all wake in more than just the hope of a stronger, wiser, and braver comic, but in the promise of such a proliferating opus, reassured by routine, candid updates of progress on this front. The foundation for a brilliant new capital has been laid. Now together we shall lay down the bricks and let the dream roar across every canyon, from page to page, from chapter to chapter, volume to volume, and beginning to climactic end.
(Yes, I did just make this whole speech up as I went along. But the idea was there.)

If you don't get what I'm saying, you're welcome to post a comment, and ask for the TL;DR version