Sir, Butler and Boy ~ Sins of the Father ~ Page 5
I played around a lot with the sizes of James and Jefferson in the last panel- one trick I’ve learnt over the years is to vary the sizes of figures between panels to make it feel less same-y.
It was a toss up between a close up like the first panel and this zoomed out shot. I went with the out shot as it gave you a nice sense of the empty space they live in. Mmmm background context.
I think the zoomed out space works better too, it makes it feel more morose.
I agree. The further out/diminished a character looks in a shot, the more affected they look. (be it despair, fear, great loss)
It makes them look vulnerable, and small
I really agree with the “vulnerable” vibe and I think it fits with the current subject. They are very vulnerable in their society and their entire relationship is rather shaky as it doesn’t fit into the societal constructs. (I’m just gonna go cry now…)
The loneliness, the emptiness, the fragility of it all, and the comfort they can take in each other at the present juxtaposed with the prestige this young “boy” must shoulder, even required to pass on to the next generation one day. It’s a daunting panel and works well for the emotions between the two.
While the revelation with John didn’t sit completely well with me, this is why I held off getting the proverbial pitchfork out. Seeing James and Jefferson being intimate and supportive outside sex and kink is far more important to me. It shows how much they care for one another. <3
Thank you Tab for the pro tip about panels!
Again, all the beautiful patterns are making me want to die (in a good way – In an emotional overload way).
I can’t even handle the beauty and romance in this page.
First off, the art is just gorgeous. I want to be able to draw like this someday. (THOSE HANDS!) (AND FACES!) (AND TEXTURES!)
Second, all I want in life is for someone to love me the way Jefferson loves James (and John). This is true love and commitment folks. They have someone made their love survive in this “unorthodox” relationship in a time that would have totally decimated it had anyone found out. (I hope that is not where this is headed by the way. I will die if my babies cant love each other)
Third, I love all 3 of our boys together but I totally have a soft spot for the James/Jefferson moments.
Also, I am STILL confused over this whole Arthur vs Jefferson thing…? (Is Jefferson his last name?? because I did not realize that…)
Jefferson is his last name. Being American, it sits with me as typically an intimately switch. Jefferson is his name to the rest of the world and to the other two for day-to-day life, but Arthur is almost like a pet name reserved for the people closest to him. A particularly strong use of “Arthur” to relay intimacy, to me, comes from a) this panel: everything about status and kink and all is stripped away in favor of James talking to his partner and b) the panel with John and Arthur when the latter is freaking out about defiling James a few chapters back (I think it’s actually the first time we hear “Arthur”): John cuts through Arthur’s anxiety and misgivings by calling out to his partner Arthur as an equal and someone he cares about.
I enjoy how I feel free here to forgo normal people comments and really analyze the art.
I 100% agree with all of what you’ve said. I also view first names vs surnames as an intimacy thing.
Thank you though for pointing out where “Arthur” was used previously in the comics, because all I remembered seeing it in before were people’s comments and I was super confused.
It makes a lot of sense that Jefferson is his last name and that’s what I assumed (although Arthur Jefferson sounds very stuffy haha), but because of the whole “J” name thing I wasn’t sure. I like the intimacy of “Arthur” but it throws of my alliteration groove.
I completely understand what you mean about the “analyzing the art” comments!! I can’t find it in me to comment like a normal person. This comic is just too riddled with emotion and subtlety to just leave short normal comments.