Hello everyone! Welcome to the 2023 Reader Questions! If you have a question you’d like me to answer while we’re on hiatus, ask them here! If you’re a Patron, you should ask your questions over here on Patreon, as I will look at them first before reading any questions here.
I might not answer every question! I go with ones that I think will be fun to answer with a sketch and won’t spoil anything in the comic, so if you ask something complicated or for any big spoilers, I will not be answering those! I also won’t answer questions that I simply do not have an answer for. I will try to answer as many as I can! Thanks! And see you every weekday starting Monday, July 17th, for a new reader question!
80 Comments
How is Vera planning to blend in? … Is she planning to blend in at ALL? :P
You’d be surprised what’s possible [link] …
Ahaha, hello there, fellow DMFA fan! X3
[Dimanika handwave] ;-)
How would the main 4 look with a species swap?
Where did Vera get the hot pants?
What kind of clothing and architecture did the various species of nonhumans use before they started blending in with humans in the Middle Ages?
If a gryphon was part bat, would it take the avian slot due to having wings, or would it still take the mammal slot? Basically, would we have biblically accurate bat-cow or double the wings?
Would going from digitigrade to plantigrade cause some people to stumble?
What would an Eevee look like if it had one of them medallions?
Vera’s hairstyle is super cool, but is she going change it up now that’s she’s out? Or if that’s too spoilery, has she tried different looks in the past?
Are the Hellmouths sentient or even conscious? If so, how do they feel about their situation? And, are the two ends of a hellmouth the same entity?
Somewhat answered!
http://www.skindeepcomic.com/reader-questions/february-2020-reader-question-11/
What religions are present in the Liverpool avalon? We’ve seen a Hestia shrine, is polytheism common? Or are the griffins in question *very* old fashioned?
Your question brings to mind the filk version of “Old Time Religion”.
What was the creative process behind Vera’s design like? Anything to share about why she looks the way she does, or why she dresses like that?
Races that never got medallions are discriminated against, but how does mythic society treat individuals who somehow permanently lost/destroyed their own medallions? If say a griffin misplaced their medallion, would they be treated the same as a “monster” or would they be offered any extra help in life?
Given that medallions are in limited supply (while I’d expect the mythical underground to have grown in parallel to the human population they’re hiding amongst), what about those who could never afford themselves one in the first place … ?
You’ve established that the sphynx power wellspring is shared among all existing sphynxes, and since Michelle is the only surviving one currently she has access to it all. Is it endlessly refreshing from somewhere? Is it growing or staying constant? And, how much power are we talking about? Levelling a city kaiju-style big, or the Chicxulub asteroid (killed all the dinosaurs) extinction event big?
Are there any ferret-based mythics?
Does capsaicin affect Gryphons or other avian mythicals?
It definitely doesn’t work on ouzelum birds.
The author’s comment under this RQ seems to suggest that it doesn’t affect most, if not all, avians, but very much gryphons …
http://www.skindeepcomic.com/reader-questions/2019-reader-question-10/
Are their any mechanical cryptids? Either machines themselves, or with mechanic powers?
I always assumed Jim was inspired somewhat by former The Teardrop Explodes frontman-turned-standing-stones-guru Julian Cope, due to 1) Liverpool 2) posh 3) little bit of a prat at times 4) very tall 5) flowing locks 6) long and documented history of questionable fashion choices. Could we have confirmation on this, or is it all just a big coincidence and Jim is more of an Echo and the Bunnymen fan?
The LA – the outer warehouse shell, to be precise – has a roof that lets material objects pass; Birds in particular, but I suppose that the rain’s welcome to the agriculture within, too.
Are the LAers worried about someone lighting a fire that sends smoke up through it? Or how about a kid letting a balloon escape?
Is there someone adding illusory snow atop the illusory roof when appropriate? :-)
Thinking of summer expos… Will you be at SPX in Bethesda this September? I started reading your comics after meeting you there! It would be awesome to see you there again. :-)
I sadly did not get in to SPX this year! Hopefully next year!
How do tattoos and body mods work in the world of skin deep? I know we’ve seen characters with piercings and ink, but the application of them would be interesting to explore, especially how it translates from full form to mid form to human form!
Not exactly an answer to your question, but:
http://www.skindeepcomic.com/reader-questions/2021-march-april-reader-questions-14/
I just learned that there was an early Britpop band in Liverpool called the LA’s. After recording their one hit “There She Goes” and a few other songs, they basically vanished. What might their backstory be?
IKE….
Please, for the interwebs.
BITE LORNE’S ARM!
You mean, the other one? :-3
http://www.skindeepcomic.com/reader-questions/february-reader-question-13/
Are there any sea monsters with medallions? How common are sea monsters in general? Are Trolvals, Múshveli, and Ziphius’s (Ziphiui?) real, or just reactions to whales by people who’d never seen a whale?
How to people keep the smaller non-sentient mythics from getting loose and found-out in the world at large? Vermin in particular sound like they’re be an absolute nightmare. Do you have special trappers to keep thing like Rat-Kings, Pidgeon/Mouse Griffs, or Woppletingers underwraps?
It wouldn’t be a complete round of reader questions if we didn’t have a baby question, so…
Can we see Baby Vera and Dis Pater?
Bold of you to assume that Dis Pater already existed back when Vera was a toddler … ;-)
Is there a reason that medallions only turn things into humans or could a sphinx make a medallion that could turn any species into any other?
Here’s one for Jim, why are you so fluffy?
I get the impression that bugbear radar can identify a Turned mytholo, even in full-human disguise, but can’t distinguish someone who’s Unturned from a regular human. Am I right?
Some of the dialog on page 9 of Illuminations ch3 suggested (to me, at least) that nixies were another “monster” species that Jocasta was adding to her customer list. Madame U established back in Exchanges that nixies and nokks have distinct medallions (although they’re female and male of the same species) and that nokks become mindless sapient-eaters in their old age. Was Jocasta breaking the rules good and hard again?
the lack of “Werewolves” in Skin Deep, and adamant refusal to include them, is amusing to me because “Person who turns into a Wolf” has existed and been believed in since ancient Greece across multiple cultures that have had interactions with wolves or sighted wolves, yet the only “People who turn into something-like-a-wolf” are, to my knowledge, Totems and Chechen Wolves.
While I understand the desire to avoid “popular” mythical species, there is more history to them than Modern Pop-culture would ever care to display, and from that history more interesting interpretations could be drawn.
Overly Sarcastic Productions made a video on YouTube that, at this point, I feel like I’m just parroting
Suppose that medallions start to get made again in the modern age, would it be possible to have some metal, polymer, or non-toxic composite material be embedded with medallion magic and then implanted under the skin or attached to the bone so the user doesn’t have to worry about it becoming lost or easily damaged? Or would it not work like that?
Transferring it to the next generation might be a bit of a pain …
Hah! Literally. But at the same time, if it’s small and just under the skin, it shouldn’t be too hard to remove, sterilize, and reimplant into the successor’s skin…
Borogrove players, In regular play or tournaments?, do you ever carry your score with you from game to game, or do you start fresh every time?
Are wulvers real in skindeep lore?
Adjacent to the conversation about werewolves:
Are there any mythical creatures that are or were capable of transforming regular humans through ‘infectious’ means, in a way similar to a werewolf bite? Or would any such cases be similar to what happened to Anthony, with a spell breaking through incidental contact with a highly magical creature?
I have two questions.
What would happen if someone tried to sincerely flirt with Madam U. Assuming there is an daring fellow out there that is attracted to her.
And how ticklish is a Frumious Bandersnatch kiss. That mustache seems useful for unexpected tickle attacks.
if ike hates being a manticore/hybrid so much, why does he spend most of his time in midform instead of full human? (i think it’s very good, just curious)
Huh. I never thought of that. That’s actually really interesting. Now I want to know, too.
I think it was established at some point that Ike only has middling control over his shapechanging abilities (being a hybrid and all); or that going full human takes a lot of effort to maintain. But don’t quote me on that, I may be mistaken.
Is it possible that the Jersey Devil is just a as yet unknown or possibly as yet unknown mystic being? Or, now that I’m thinking about it, they could be hybrid of some type that dabbled around with various magics in trying to create a new form but, conflicting magic produced a backlash result?
Also, would Eleanore like to roll around in soft grass and wildflowers before settling down for a picnic?
Hiya! I was wondering if we’ve seen any phoenixes in the comic so far? And if not, what would they look like (assuming they even exist)
Are there any little nuggets of world-building that you haven’t shared in the comic but that you think are interesting?
Magistream logic :D
Are there trolls or ogres?
Also-
I know that stories of Paul Bunyan started in lumber camps in the 19th century and where collected and embellished and printed by an advertising company in the 1920s or 30s.
But were the original stories based on an actual giant or magically enhanced human or mythical creature?
Oh! Also, are there yuki-onna or tengu in the Skin Deep universe? Thanks for making this comic, by the way – it’s so much fun!
Tengu was one of the possibilities that Madame U considered and dismissed when she was asked what Anthony might be tuning into other than a harpy (Exchanges: Heartaches: pg 6). So, they apparently exist in the Skin Deep universe.
Do any Skin Deep species have particularly interesting ‘origin’ stories (either real, or myths handed down through the generations)?
Ok, a question from this paleontologist!
The favorite dinosaurs, pterosaurs, marine reptiles, or other extinct paleo-related animals for all / most characters
Are any of the feline species affected by certain members of the mint family? (I’ve known some cats to prefer menthol over catnip.)
Metheglin is mead (honey wine) that had herbs & spices steeped in it during fermentation. It would be easy to make it “minty”.
To Doctor Hobbes: Have you got any interesting stories from working as the avalon’s Doctor?
I may have thought of another one ROFL – But it’s understandable if you don’t get to it, or it’s limited to one per person!
What would Paul look like if he’d inherited the Finn Blurse?
1) We know that when a mythic has a medallion and has a child with a human, the child inherits a form of the medallion’s cloaking magic and will appear human until they get a medallion of their own. Does this “cloning” of the medallion spell put strain on the original/parent medallion? Can its magic wear out if it is used too much in this way?
2) Have there been any other spontaneous turnings (such as what happened to Tony and Michelle) from contact with a previously unknown medallion–such as in an antique, pawn shop, or flea market? And if/when this happens, are there representatives from the mythic community whose job is to find and help them?
3) We know the Elders of the Avalon(s) take an active role in preserving the secrecy of the mythical community, but do they have networks to assist with that? Do the different avalons work together or stay in communication to help in this endeavor? Or is every avalon an island and only worries about its own local issues
4) Do totems only represent wild animals, or can domestic animals have them too? If there is a lot of variation within the species, such as with domestic dogs or cats, is there a similar level of variation within the totems representing them?
5) Are there many, or any, strictly human-looking mythicals? They look and behave like a normal human, but they’re actually a descendent of a mythic hero (such as Beowulf) or a mythic god (such as Zeus or Ra), and may or may not have magical powers related to their powerful ancestor.
6) Do mythic gods still exist in the modern era, and if so, what are they doing with themselves these days?
So follow-up to the tabloid; are there any magical folk who work at tabloids or newspapers just to fuck with people, and/or help keep other things under wraps?
Are all Nemean Lions born unturned?
In the Reader Questions from January & February 2012, check out #6 & #25.
What would Tobias look like as a maned griffon? Would his brothers tease him any less if he was one, or would they (most likely) pick on him for something else? (love the comic btw!)
The Haast’s Eagle existed and is sadly extinct, but do you think it could still exist somewhere in the Skin Deep universe? Even if its in gryphon form?
What would a Cassowary Griffin look like? What mammal would you combine with it? And just how much of a nightmare would it be?
Check out #18 in this set of RQs.
Are there any families/friend groups that enjoy a simple cuddle-up?
The prehistoric griffins have me thinking about prehistoric totems, like mammoths or ground sloth totems :0
The mammoths seem more likely, since they were revered enough to be painted on numerous cave walls. (Kory hasn’t said so, but I’m guessing that’s a factor.)
I’m apparently on a roll with these!
Abby, how excited are you by the prospect of new medallions, and that harpies may get medallions?
If Anthony never touched a medallion and found out the whole Harpy thing, would he have ever come back to the Avalon? Would he and Blanche still be friends? How common is it for mythicals to lose human friends after identity reveals gone wrong?
Other than Stanley are there any other possible Dinosaurs or prehistoric Mammals around?