Crab 4
Round 1 Thoughts and Comments

Scarymovies (T) - As to be expected, brilliant. Even in light of your other obligations, it does not feel compromised (beyond the cliffhanger, which is still quite cleanly cut). Fantastic art, very fitting with the entire classic style. I really enjoy the feeling of breadth in the piece. We see quite a lot in a compact format, without feeling rushed. The dark tone, dappled with light humor, works well. Incorporating each member of xenomania and having them play a distinct role (and demise) is quite ambitious, but works wonderfully to showcase the monsters (and further characterize the crabs and team dynamic in the first place). Despite its density, (which did result in a need for a reread), the content is rich. I also appreciate the clever refresher/reintroduction of scary's ability, it's seamless while covering the bases to be complete. The pharaoh connection is a little tenuous, but present, and perhaps further called back to in the latter third. In any case, looking forward to it. Great work.

Clovis - A stark contrast to SM's piece, and far more touching. We get to see another (presumably more canonical) angle of the team's dynamic, with Clovis' charmingly abrasive nature turning his teammates away as opposed to a cold and undisputed leader. I like Doomva's role and character (plus his minions, bench4life), really bounces well off of Clovis' "trying to play the hand given" demeanor. I also really love Clovis' internal panels, his personality and way of thinking is just a pleasure to read. In a similar vein, the dialog is quite smooth and natural, well characterized to the speaker. Despite only seeing half of SM's dynamic (which works for R1), I think he's handled very well. He really feels fat and dumb, with a pure heart, very sympathetic.. Makes me want to see more Clovis treating him like a regular cat, the dramatic irony of his bewilderment is delicious. Excellent work, already very engaging.

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Gilroy (V) - Wild. It took me a bit of study to figure out what was happening (where did N377 get the scepter anyway), but I like Gilroy grabbing the orb off its tip (and getting stabbed anyway). No matter what situation he finds himself in (like egyptian peasants getting blasted), his objective will be fulfilled. Medjed's role felt borderline abstract (protecting the people?), but I do enjoy a good eye beam. Too bad N377's made of stronger stuff, but Gilroy's taking the beating in stride. I think it would've benefited from further dialog to set the circumstances and lead the reader a little bit more through the events. While interesting, the style of the visuals can make it hard to follow without anything else.

N377 - The humor was stupid but... still funny. Medjed's role here is even stranger, but fine for the dumb humor element. Feel like Gilroy's bit (even added after the fact) could've had something a bit more substantial for the gag. N377's blast is a solid end though.

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Ana & Illwill - Love a good teamup, actually a really solid duo (trio). I like the the setting of the scene and nature of the trial (great use of Ammit). Handled Marox quite nicely, capturing that goofy energy contrasting with his appearance. Really like his intro, sitting around in a crypt munching on statues (and brilliant with it coming back up (heh) in the end to save them). Some elements were a bit hard for me to get initially, missed the organs in their panel so the line was confusing until rereads, Marox's flamey state feels unexpected (his magma aspect reacting to his emotional state?), Anubis being a DM copy(?) but affected by the Ankh. Aside from these bits, the overall plot is clear and well communicated. Some really killer shots too and fun Ana expressions (and a nice M4 to close out...). Also wondering if there's an implication to Illwill's illness... he loves pink salt rock.

Malakyte Roxander (Marox) (V) - O captain, my captain... nostalgic to see that sharp fit again. It's kino. Caddie-core. Beautiful. The subversion of the setting is clever, and actually handled brilliantly (bully Medjed!), it doesn't feel forced or awkward. Again we get another beautiful teamup, albeit for a drastically different goal. The pairing is really fun actually, in both entries, they work well together and come off as peers. The twxtter posts are awesome, sets the tone and aesthetic perfectly, while giving the fun side chatter. Also, despite the unorthodox approach, the plot is really nicely delivered. Clear, a strangely motivating conflict, all very well communicated. The visuals are fantastic, you've really outdone yourself from prior works in /crab/, they fit the tone, the characters, they're appealing, great stuff. Not as saucy as I anticipated, though the BL did feel a little abrupt (despite its catalyst). Speaking of, absolutely stellar take on Nio and the shop. Stoked to see it, and floored by how well you executed it. The dialog between them (and elsewhere) is so spot on it's something I want to strive for (and again, gorgeous panels). Not to dwell too much on it, but it really was just done well, and added a solid element of intrigue plus the wider /crab/ setting. Lots of very charming humor too, and poor Illwill getting another short stick in the end. Fantastic work, I'm glad to see it finished, and even more so that you're happy with it (because it's great).

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Diana Berry (V) - Quite charming. I'm liking Berry quite a bit, her softer nature, despite her side hustle, is interesting. Admittedly, I'm a bit biased against plain combat outside of round 3, and I would've liked to see more of the desert's consequences for HI (or even him resisting it) in addition to what we see Berry going through (in this respect, I prefer how its the primary driver in HI's entry). That said, I really enjoyed the overall feel of the comic, and how it feels like a bit of something larger as we see Berry develop. Also fun callback to Berry's run-in with Shits. Overall, quite nicely done.

Head Investigator - Funny stuff. There were a few bits that felt a bit flat, particularly in the beginning, but as the humor took a greater hold it definitely picked up. I really like how you incorporated the theme, exploring the effects of the desert for both particpants. Debbie watching Berry fall down the hill (all of her faces are really great) and HI blasting away on Berno's bike (in his clothes) were highlights.

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Marv (V) - Love Debbie. Very solid entry, pretty funny and cohesive. I like Marv's annoying confidence, constrasts well with how you depicted Jun-Ho. Also like how Marv himself couldn't actually get the pyramids built, too watered down over the generations and has to resort to pulling mild cons. Sad we don't get to see Jun-Ho's horse make an appearance! Nice work.

Jun-Ho - Jun-Ho's certainly a testy fellow, or maybe it's just around little green men and zap-happy leaders. I like how Jun-Ho wound up distressed in the end despite his confidence (I'm guessing the sarcohpagus is indicating an ayy?), and the Tomb Raider tier shenanigans it sounds like they had to get up to in order to reveal the TRUTH (although I would've liked to see them!). There were a couple spots where it was a bit confusing, it's unclear to me how the workers fell asleep (assuming Jun-Ho's magic) and the cause of his distress (again, assuming it's depicting an alien). Otherwise, good work.

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Kell (V) - It's cute! Very charming and I really liked the back and forth from the match and the archeologists, pretty amusing. I think Leo could be a bit more fiery and aggressive, would've made for a stronger foil to Kell's softer tone and I think fit the character more. Interesting consequence of the sandstorm too. Shame about the Admiral though... Liked that we got to see more beyond the brief skirmish. Nicely done, I look forward to seeing more Kell.

Leo - Very ambitious. The fight sequence was sick, even as a rough, also like the loop of Leo standing in the wind of the sandstorm. I feel that it would've benefited from a soundtrack or at least effects prior to the fight, as it feels a bit stark. Also would've been good to commit harder on some of those lines (see Godefroy). Would've liked to see more of Kell's personality too. Overall, cool approach, and with more time definitely would've been solid.

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Diesel Junky - Interesting approach, but a fun chase once it's clear. The absence of dialog is pretty tricky, as it really takes some strong imagery to not only clearly convey the things going on, but to hook the same level of intrigue that conversation might. I did take a bit to figure out what was happening in places, aside from the title, Dj's motive to purchase oil with his looted artifacts is subtle with only the scales shown, additionally the bit where Leon's flung across the sands - bit hard to tell at first that the scarab's hit him so hard he's blasted away. Some nice shots, particularly the up/down sequence and DJ holding the scarab at the end.

Leonard "Leon" Lizard - Zany without getting carried  away (or drowned in the menagerie of critters). Your cartoony style is executed quite well, and the goofy montage is great. Simple premise, but entertaining throughout. While the humor can be a bit cheesy, it has a charm. Overall it feels very /crab/ in this innocent activities with a wild cast way. Very nice colors from temp too.

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Fluxxo (V) - Amazing. I really love how wild Fluxxo is, and as to be expected, you handle it so fantastically. The deeper motive for the plot was quite engaging, and the whole introductory sequence just really interesting, as well as a great way to further demonstrate the character and his place in group of crabs. Visually stunning, though the dense style warrants careful viewing on some of the more busy panels (though it is worthwhile to look closer). Writing is still great, and very fitting dialog, really nicely characterizing everyone we see. Needle himself feels spot on from my impression. The biggest downside here is we don't get more Needle screentime, and marginally more chariot. The whole thing left me wanting to read more and to see where it goes, excellent work. The final page's graffiti is also divinely inspired.

Needle - I was already pretty excited to see your work from the get-go, and you definitely came through with more. The whole thing is crazy, amping things up right off the bat to a level perfectly befitting Fluxxo and, what gradually became apparent prior to the entry, Needle as well. At first, when reading his background, he came across as a much more sympathetic magic critter. However, his status as a pariah is now seeming abundantly justified. I think you also nailed your opponent's characterization, and your over the top stylization is leveraged really well. The way you handle your dialog is also pretty interesting, and the corresponding expressions sell it so well I can almost hear their voices. Despite the smaller scope, the whole thing really forcibly captures one's attention with its intensity and humor. Very memorable, and made for a difficult choice.

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Dizzy - Tikas! Cool to see the tie in. I like the premise of her playing the role of a god in the festival, and of course the pre-war setting. Funny having Gretchen enlisted by Yakub, although got a little hard to follow when the fighting broke out.

Gretchen (V) - Nicely polished, and saucy. Feels very fitting for the pair, so I like that you went for it full blast, even with the questionable festival traditions being upheld. The story is clean and concise, while offering an amusing use of Dizzy's powers. Also dig the bench having their appearance. What a way for Dizzy to lose too, in her element but trapped as bun. Hope the coven takes good care of their new critter.

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Lovell Doriannes -  Single pixel binary brush vs single pixel binary brush, a battle for the ages... Pretty interesting start, Lovell architecting the match from the comfort of the hotel bar, following the two key pieces of the story. Both chains of events are compelling, it's unfortunate we don't yet get to see them to fruition and eventual overlap. Some nice visuals, paritcularly like your depiction of Set and Ellie (plus moevell). Although I do wonder if Ellie is aware of her simply following the track laid out for her, she seems like the type to see through at least a little bit (heh). Also of course enjoyed Wanzu's cameo, very fitting for two gods of their stature. Good stuff, looking forward to the remaining pages.

Ellie (V) - An eyeball has no right to be so cute. Another newcrab I was excited to see deliver. First, I absolutely love her outfit this round (big boot?? I actually thought this meant something else on her ref until like the fourth time I looked at it). The match itself, however, is brilliant. Showcasing both characters wonderfully, I really like how you bounce between the pair on their brief adventure. Plus, we get a taste of more, a snippet of Ellie's past, the seeds sown of the Coven's plots, team dynamics, just great. Really enjoy how you write. The art is also very nicely done, love the clarity in depth and form, as well the energy and appeal - you do a lot with a little. Lovell's massive hair is also pretty amusing. Great work, excited for more Ellie in the future.

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Giggles (T) - An adorable entry for an adorable clown. We're probably lucky Fluxxo remains just out of reach, he's too sweet to follow in his footsteps. The art is cute, and the match, while simple, is nicely conveyed. I love a good team up. I would've liked to see a bit more snake, as it stands the pit is a bit more reminiscent to me of Devil's Snare. Giggles' face is also oddly amusing, he always has a slightly lost look about him which is charming. His wandering does seem to be a growing habit, what else will be burned into those silent eyes. Nice work, looking forward to more.

Ash - Solid entry, and nice artwork. The snakes feel dangerous, and Ash dispatching of them satisfying. Cute Giggles too, glad we get to see them getting along here too to escape the subterranean snakes. The dialog's a bit simple, I feel like there's more from Ash I'm on the brink of seeing, but we don't quite get there. Would enjoy seeing her develop further as we go, she's got potential for sure. Good work overall.

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Ignatius (V) - Hard to imagine Ingatius sweating, from heat or anticipation. Super fun entry, I like that we get to see snippets of others similar to Leon's race. Really neat paneling too, and some great shots of those we get to see. I particularly like Leo/Kell, Dizzy (buff bunny, nice)/Gretchen, and the Wanzu statue (although a questionable fourth tail...). Still wondering where JJ got that leafblower, and it feels borderline indulgent at times, though it plays well to Ignatius' character (though it's beginning to make me want to see him doused). Also, funny M4 (though the flashbang line felt like asking me if I got the joke). Great work.

Jugglejack - Lovely art, I really dig Jugglejack (who wouldn't), but you really depict her in this gorgeous way. Love the shot from behind after Ignatius crashses into the wall. The portion of Ignatius forming his glass tower is a bit confusing. Visually it's clear what's happening, but I'm not sure why he's doing it, and his line from "let's battle" to "I won the race" is a bit bewildering. Feel like the terms of their engagement could've been more concretely introduced, JJ kind of points this out but I'm still stumbling over it. I do like how she takes him down a notch though (but where did that pizza come from?! Admiral??). Aside from the confusing narrative, I savor the presentation, and look forward to more Jugglejack in any context.

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Atta - Wonderful. Oddly, because I don't recall feeling it as much last year, I got really strong WoD vibes from this. Feels like a chapter. Anyway, very interesting and plot rich, I like the narrative here quite a bit. A fun reveal, even if we did get snippets of Atta's scheming tendencies foreshadowing it prior. I really like how you depicted Zehya here, both visually and personality-wise, really upping her cool factor (despite of her creator's apparent designs). I particularly like the shot of her blasting out energy, aside from the cool factor once more, glad she doesn't just crumple. I also adore Atta's final ploy, though I did think at first that she'd lifted Zehya's gun, as it stands, terrible shot or not she'd have been unsuccessful. But the panel of her turning, her expression, is just excellent, adds a lot to her personality/mannerisms. Also, lots of very... compelling shots with Atta. Delicious. Poison me any day. (Though, seemingly contrary to your feelings (forgive me), I'd want to see you grow stronger still here, visually that is, even if it still hooks me so as-is). Biggest stumbling point for me is the ending. Perhaps it's all intended to be a cliffhanger (it clearly seems to be in part), but I'm left a bit baffled by the sequence. Why does Zehya drop her sword and say GAH!? It _seems_ like her wrist was hit by a falling rock, though I'm skeptical those little things would actually make her flinch from what we see of her previously, and I don't know why we even see falling rocks at all, did the bullet hit something? Or perhaps is it the sword? Rebelling in some way hence the sparks? Not clear if this is supposed to be a mystery or not. I also have no clue what happens to her after Atta's last command... I get the feeling that's supposed to be mysterious, sowing something for the future to expand on, but it's confusing, particularly since she seems to be... turning? Possessed? But still retains her sense of self to speak... A sudden thought while writing this is maybe Hruzrev's influence? Though I do like the last line, showing her sympathetic cracks. I also think we could've seen more thematic tie-ins beyond the setting, it feels like that gets lost in the interest of plot cultivation. All in all, great work. This was a very difficult decision, and I hate comparing across mediums, even if they're both direct story telling vehicles. I prefer the plot line here.

Zehya (V) - Super unexpected to see a VN round 1. I'd have been concerned about the execution however it's actually stunning. The sounds, the writing, the character art, it all fits perfectly. I'm no guru by any means, but I've played a number of them, and to me this is completely consistent with the experience. There weren't really any elements, aside from the mildly annoying portait sticking bug, that felt off or broke that feeling (frequently with the more amibitous /crab/ projects there's some element that I have to look past). The only notable complaint is the button mashing, I really like the sequence - both the prayer dialogue and how its delivered, but it's annoying to hit that key so much, also this is the only thing that prevented me from playing on my ipad... While the story is simple, with a definite undercurrent of intrigue as we slowly see Zehya's weakness revealed, it's delivered with a tone that I love. I also really enjoy your take on the theme. The entire introductory sequence is great, I wish I could skip the cutscene so I can move faster through things on replays, but it's very impactful. The dialogue and interactions are great, and very visually appealing, I really like your handling of the cast. If I can be so greedy, I hope we get to see branching patterns in the future. I'm left wanting more, not even due to the more titillating elements, but the whole delivery. Great work.

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Hemma (V) - Super cool. Hemma's wild west confusion is a real charm. Nicely done setting up the premise, although it does feel a little shaky on the theme - in context it feels that we just see Hemma grab a random stick to defend himself (at the very least Henry's definitely cheating, what a rotten punk). I like each personalized comment from his team members. Also just fun to see Hemma goofily stumble about trying to awkwardly fulfill his task. Some gorgeous panels, you did Henry great justice. It's a little confusing to me how Hemma realizes, without acknowledging it, that the stand he's crashed into is selling the amulet (is it really an amulet?) he's looking for. Impressive how Hemma takes some of that brutal damage. Since he didn't die I guess he's gonna be four-fingered for a while. Really solid entry.

Henry - Nicely done, I had my doubts about Henry at first, but I'm liking him. Clean artwork, really made both characters feel fitting. The dialog is a bit of a run-on at times, but the action is cool. I'm surprised Henry was so gentle in the end (those eyes of Hemma's makes me feel he's thinking the same...). It's simple and straightforward, but executed well.

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Derrick & Geoffrey (The Cops) - Funny stuff! It's a shame about Midori, I would've liked to see her take on these two in her own way, but such is life. Glad you got Nio in there! Space cops angle is great, funny to see it referenced elsewhere too, wish I'd thought of it. I like Midori's grabber when they're snatching the guns, and the absurdist (attempted) sandwich confiscation. The setup with them being mistaken as gods is good too, they certainly feel like the sort to fail upwards. Good work.

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Scarlet Beryl - Nice visuals! I feel like this is a step up from previous work. I like how you depict Kelly here, and the two phase sequence of fighting the scorpion king. I was a bit confused by the presence of Shezmu - when did he send/bring them here? But I did enjoy how it ends, with SK being put in his place and everybody having a bevvy. Would've expected a bit more from Scarlet going by her personality description. Nice work.

Kelly Foxtrot (V) - cude fogs... I like Kelly, she's got a little bit of a spastic feel that's fun, I like her being on the edge of frenzy. The start was a bit slow, but definitely picked up midway. I like how animated the characters are. Some of the dialog is a bit awkward, Kelly's tomb raider comments felt a bit on the nose. I loved Kelly going feral. The flying spin across the room is fantastic. Entertaining work, and feels like a lot of fun could be had if tightened up a bit more.

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Houndclops (V) - He's even more dog-like than I anticipated. A very unusual fellow, quite expressive though. Amusing and goofy, I like seeing Houndclops' rather fleeting attention manage to still address his task. His hallcuinations sure seem prophetic tohhguh, the chimp vendor really was there. Also another tikas (and of course main man berlo) reference, very nice. I'm not sure what compelled Houndclops to stop babygirl, perhaps an overwhelming inner sense of stopping wanton destruction, though it is a bit confusing. Overall it feels a bit scattered, even with Houndclops' seemingly absent-minded nature I think there could be more cohesion. Nonetheless, was enjoyable, nice work.

Huang Yuejing - Definitely has your signature tone, which is always hard to into words, but intriguing. Also an interesting take on the goal, very Hitler-esque, I like it. It's not clear to me what the consequences were of Yakub using his newfound knowledge to fulfill his destiny (it seems like this is definitely what would happen). The writing didn't flow as nicely as it could, kind of left a feeling of separate thoughts mixed together. I did enjoy Huang's thoughtful personality, he's very relaxed for your type of character, I like his contrast with his creation.

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Smoke (V) - Cute entry, I like how ditzy Smoke is. Feels like a noticeable step up from last year, much clearer to follow and more going on. The cursed tomb design is neat, and I like the idea of Smoke skirting its rules to enter (although we don't actually see her getting in...). The dream sequence is fitting, although had a couple drawbacks. Be careful with the lettering on a busy background like that, very hard to read for that one panel. Smoke's ditz-factor also gets a little intense here, making it hard to follow some of the conversation, (and shouldn't she know how to leave the dream?). Also would've liked to see in the tomb! Despite this, it's still a good read, good job.

2-3-A - Lot of potential here, but inevitably gets hard to follow while incomplete. I'd also avoid callouts to sketches being wips within the comic, it's already evident and makes it feel more rough. What we do see looks interesting, though the writing is a confusing for me - I'd try to simplify it further.

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Speedrun - Simple and sweet. Pretty funny having Melody handle herself, Speedrun better hurry up if he wants to beat her to the punch. The first page is great, I really dig Melody angrily pointing at the sign in response to the baboon, super cute. Obviously some aspects of the setting are bit out of place, but it does adhere to the subject nicely.

Melody (V) - Love the bun (not that one). Great work here, the team feels super cohesive across all these entries, glad we get to keep seeing the dynamics explored. Neat way to introduce the theme too, really like how you drew the baboons. Also lots of great faces on Melody, she's very expressive. Glad we get to see her stick to her guns in the face of an oppressive leader. The BW shift when she's being lectured is a bit unexpected, she seems to be reeling from being told she's not good enough, but we don't actually see that explicitly said (the dialog after the panel implies it, but still feels off to me). That said, I'm interested in seeing how it pans out, it certainly sets a tone that feels like it will grow throughout the course of her time her. Good job.

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Adel - You've picked a very challenging format to compete with. It's amibitious, but for writing to be competitive it's going to have to be very good. I think your original direction of the story is appropriate, but it ultimately got off track. I also think the writing itself needs a good bit of work. A random assortment of observations: Some unusual lines for the point of view, Zehya's observation of her cold tea sounds more like a line if we're reading from her inner monologue, not a third person narration.
The tone of wording kind of runs all over the place, from extravagant descriptions to very casually worded sentences. I'd expect it if a character speaks a certain way, but this occurs both in the narration and within character dialogue. Characterization in each character's tone of dialog is present, but a little weak.
Awkward wording at times "pulsates a malicious shade of violet and black, which is akin to a ballon", redundant phrasing/word choice in the same sentence "used their magick to call forth the monsters sealed within these stone tablets and called them forth as cards to".
Some inconsistent dialog formatting, Toabyak's thoughts spill into naration after Necrophades is summoned, other cases of varying spacing. Makes it hard to read when the formatting is so inconsistent.
I think it would've also been better to not devolve into the meta. Fine if it's like, wink wink nudge nudge, but aside from the format being much less interesting to follow, it's too cheesy. Even if it you do go straight meta Yugioh, rigourously describing the gameplay and mechanics isn't engaging.
It also ends abruptly, presumably out of time, though I feel this should've been something that could be wrapped up and revised much further within the time alotted. I'm not sure of your process, and I'm no writer by any means, but I get the feeling a lot of this was written off the cuff. Should probably try to complete a finished rough draft very early, then spend the bulk of the time revising it/adding drawings. Nonetheless, it's an interesting attempt, and I do hope you find a rhythm with it going forward.

Toabyak (V) - Nice work. I really like how you drew Zehya, she has appeal while still looking devilish. It's amusing how seriously she takes it, compared to Toabyak's laid back attitude. Although I don't get the block bit, it seems like a sudden unrelated event, though perhaps a reference. The characters themselves are presented nicely in how they conduct themselves and feel fitting.

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Time Warrior - Very entertaining. It's funny and nicely paneled, I also enjoy the blocky artstyle. I like Time Warrior's constant leading Berno through these ridiculous hoops of a competition, and his obstinance amongst his team (whom for a moment I thought Berno just killed). Interesting too to see a little snippet  of something deeper with Time Warrior, even if we dont' spend too much time exploring other aspects beyond the comedy. Love the Atta reveal too. Well done.

Berno (T) - Absolutely gorgeous. I love your stylization. Enjoyable dialog too, and fun croc blasting. Admittedly, I think TW had an edge plot-wise here, but I'm captured by your visuals. I also like the team involvement, giving it context in the wider state of things. The time freeze was a little confusing to me, I get it, but for some reason didn't really click at first the need to keep the jaws open for Berno to toss the dynamite in. Wonderful work nontheless, you clearly have loads of potential and I'm excited to see your future rounds.

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Fishimote (V) - Woof... well, this was a really hard decision. Plus... you used then instead of than two... no, THREE times, tch. That aside, absolutely brilliant. Even with your opponent you handled him perfectly. Loved his ridiculous characterization and blatant OP elements, played wondefully into your sense of humor and was just really fitting. Also liked the two step, build and race format, with the thorough setting of the stage. Bakutsu's manifestation of boat was great, along with the rest of his antics. The art's really nice too, even the sketchy bits honestly don't really detract much for me, they're present in places where it's actually kind of fitting. Love that shot of Fishimote spreading his wings, and the cranial impact. Pretty much every joke landed for me, and it's really hard to find things to complain about. Super enjoyable entry. Can't wait to see the rest. Would be fun to see you against Marox (though maybe you'll get N377).

Bakutsu - It starts promising, and I like Bakutsu's reaction to Fishimote, However it's underwhelming to get the entire match summed up in a single panel. The nature of /crab/ is dealing with the unexpected, so try to face what gets thrown your way head on without half-assing it, that's what Bakutsu would do....

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Caddi - Some nice shots here. Not too keen on side-stepping the theme for a battle instead, but I do enjoy watching Caddi go. Running out of time's always tough too, though I think it still would've been a rather abrupt ending even if finished.

Ririna (V) - Rather lecherous for my tastes, but unexpectedly funny at times. I also have a hard time getting past the DBS shitpost memes, you mentioned referential humor is a staple of what you're trying to do, but I think it could be a bit more high brow than that. Otherwise it moves more in the direction of annoying when the "references" are shitposts. I'd also rather see the crab rather than deformed Araragi, though I get the roles here. However, the play idea is fantastic, and executed well I think. Some really funny bits, like Scarymovies getting birthed, and Zehya's frustration. Overall, it's a pretty interesting format, almost abstract at times, that I think could be quite entertaining if some of the more extreme aspects were brought under control, as they distract more than contribute.

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Menachnemmendelle (Mendi) (T) - A tragedy happened here, I think it would've been competetive. I liked the entry, a long way from Paulus, and a step up so far from Gouda. The humor worked well, and I liked the intro with the team. Mendi's a lot more sympathetic? Friendly? than I anticipated. Midori and Giggles fighting is pretty cute too. I think the writing could be brought up a bit, I don't think the sarcastic/self aware aspect that comes through at times helps it. Also, still occasionally a little disjointed feeling from panel to panel rather than a flowing sequence of events/dialog. You definitely seem motivated for more this time around, so I hope to see you deliver on it.

High Lord Ax'ppos - Interesting, I like the developed circumstances of Ax'ppos playing their god and his antics while doing it (and of course his fixation, the alligator pit is funny). There were a couple bits of the sequence I found confusing, namely the transition from the discussion of the infected city to the slaves discussing rebellion. Is this implying these are the slaves from that city? Or is that an unrelated conversation that brings the subject to the slaves, and we swap to the perspective of their CURRENT slaves? Feels a bit jarring. I like the overthrow sequence though, get to see some misfit action. The Nectar snake is pretty cool, seems his scalpel staff holds his gem, though after its bitten its unclear why he seems injured. I would have assumed a Nectar beast dying wouldn't impact him, or is it like an extension of him? We also later see what appears to be a blade protruding from him, which seems to have come from nowhere. His (illusion?) of Bastet's pretty neat, and looks very familiar... Again, unclear to me how/why she gets her hand blown off. Aside from the hiccups in following the sequence of events, it was a good read, and paced quite nicely.

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Ivy Iverson (V) - Another unfortunate circumstance of technicality. I've been completely turned about with your introduction. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but you really delivered a solid start. Here again, we get another entertaining piece.  The writing did feel a bit more simplified, and a bit less substantial than your intro. However, I still found it pretty funny, and I really like the dynamic between Ivy and Ivo. Mara felt a bit too aggressive personality-wise compared to what I'd expect, namely in dialog and expression. Neat use of Ivy's ability as usual, I'm starting to realize there's a lot more "i" words than I'd have expected without thinking on it. Overall, good action and good humor. Looking forward to more from you.

Mara Kuja - Nice work, I think you handled Ivy pretty well. The narration is a bit awkward, and could use better formatting. Also could use an indicator the comic is read right to left. The angles you go for are pretty neat, though it'd be nice to see the art developed further. The ending is rather flat, and while it makes a callback to Ivy's character, isn't very satisfying for the tone you were building on. With more polish, I think it'd be pretty solid, so I hope we see that in further rounds.