the page: Tuesday Oct 04, 16

Page 21 of 26 pages.

This blurb was written when this comic page first went online. It might not accurately reflect the current state of the RACIANTAU project. Consider it a piece of history.

This page was one of the first ideas I had for “Battlemon,” and I’ve always loved how it came out – the angle, the anatomy. The page’s art was actually some of the first I finished while working on this story but I’ve never actually seen the need to come back and make any adjustments. It just works.

I actually had “the idea” for this shot way before I had the idea for “Battlemon,” because the pose is 100% inspired by a shot of Madoka, of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, lying on a plane of water in the opening theme song of the same show, crying and holding a … cat, I think? Whatever. Anyone who’s seen the show will know that little moments like that throughout the opening and the early parts of the show’s run are devastating and heartbreaking once you’ve finished the series and are rewatching it.

So: I knew the shot was emotionally powerful because it consistently succeeded at being emotionally powerful for me, I made the decision to steal the framing for my own work which was trying to evoke similar emotions, and here we are. Take heed, “aspiring artists.” First, stop saying you’re aspiring, you’re already an artist, own it. Second, everyone steals and anyone who tells you otherwise is probably stealing from you. Third, since you’re going to steal, make sure you try doing something different with what you’ve stolen. Otherwise you look like a tool and no one will want to hang out with you*.

*Doesn’t apply if you are already super rich. Won’t apply if you ever become rich. Money solves more problems than it creates. Anyone who tells you otherwise just doesn’t want you trying to get money.

the story: Battlemon

In a cheap but legally permissible knockoff world in the style of Pokemon or Monster Rancher we peek into the shared lives of a young woman (Racia) and her Battlemon partner (Bunners) as they navigate the expectations society has of them and they have of each other.

the comic: RACIANTAU

An ongoing study in comics, storytelling, and philosophy, RACIANTAU is a comics anthology structured in the form of an essay. The title of the project (pronounced /rɔsiɑntoʊ/) is a contraction of the names "Racia" and "Antau" — the two main characters. The kids try to make sense out of a senseless world of VIOLENCE, IMPERMANENCE, ISOLATION. Anxious about the FUTURE OF OUR SPECIES, they find themselves face to face with the VOID WHICH CONSUMES ALL THINGS. In each story, one or both of them inch closer towards self-realization.


We're a self-taught comic-making duo with absurd politics and philosophy. We've made every page out of a desire for exploration and improvement. But if you enjoy what we put forth, your kind words will motivate us (email: hello@raciantau.com). If you want to read more, please join our fans and become our patron.


Yours,

Em & Iris