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I really wasn't sure how big to make the volleyball.

I looked up how big volleyballs were, but that wasn't the issue. Scale in comics with stylized characters gets weird, as everything is relative.

An accurately sized volleyball might not look too small relative to the character's body, but what about when compared to the cartoonishly-proportioned head and hands?

And what about characters of varying designs? Within one style, characters can be stylized in different directions in order to emphasize character traits. Given this lack of consistency, what do you size the ball relative to? Do you even keep it one size, or do you cheat it depending on who or what is in the scene?

Ultimately, it's a judgement call. In this case, I decided this guy is naturally big, so the ball looking small was fine. With Grace, hitting it, maybe I'll cheat its size larger than what would be technically correct to highlight the difference. That's a stylistic choice I'll have to make.

Anyway, if the volleyball looks like a beach ball in the next comic, now you'll know why.


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Comments

Dan Merget

My guess is that the ball will pop like a balloon when Grace hits it.

Windscion

Grace, do not, I repeat, do not burst out of your clothes. Also: It occurs to me to wonder, is this the director's son? Cuz the director was pretty buff himself. This could even be a trap.

Thisguy

Hmmm. I like this theory. And if Dan hasn't got a set backstory and family for this guy(does he even have a name yet?) or Assistant Director Liefeld, its entirely possible that they will be retconned as related. That said... Beyond the light hair colour (Liefeld has a shade darker than this guy, but that could be acceptable) , glasses, and muscles, there is not much family resemblance. Liefeld has a bloky square nose, very pronounced cheekbones, and a rather square chin (though slightly more pointed in his second appearance) with hard lines and angles. Vollyball guy has a small, rounded pointy nose, lacks cheekbones, and has a much softer pointed chin, with smooth lines and softer angles. Of course, this could all be explained by being younger, and looking more like his other parent. Dan does have a tendency, when they intend people to be related, to make them look like the other. And that obvious doesn't happen often when not intended. Susan, Raven(?) and Diane being exceptions more due to Dan's art style. Anyway, here are the two appearances of Assistant Director Liefeld. https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2010-01-19 https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2017-03-01

Windscion

Thanks. Every time I try to find something I end up just binge-reading and never find it.

Alex

I suspect that Grace will hit it with all the grace of a cannonball. I suspect there will be a dent on the gym floor by the time that the challenge is done.

Some Ed

Well, either a dent or a popped ball. I think in real world physics, the popped ball would be more likely, but this isn't the real world, so who knows? I wouldn't be surprised if Dan hasn't even fully decided yet. Possibly this will be decided by whether your comment or Dan Merget's comment gets more votes.

Some Ed

The ball looks appropriately sized to me. I feel like it'd be a mistake for Grace to shift into three tail form for this contest. 1. That form has claws sharp enough even to pierce the skin of someone relatively resistant to being cut enough for some to think he was invulnerable to knives, if I recall correctly, so the ball would surely pop. 2. Grace probably has better ways of making herself stronger. 3. Gym class seems pretty public to me, and it's my understanding that Grace isn't supposed to change into that form in public. Maybe nobody would notice, and probably nobody believes any stories about what happens in gym class anyway, but it still seems like one of those risks she shouldn't take.