I’m fairly hopeful for Sonic 4, but find it difficult to lay into its mishmash of art styles when I’m basically just making fun of our own.
I’m fairly hopeful for Sonic 4, but find it difficult to lay into its mishmash of art styles when I’m basically just making fun of our own.
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NCG, as always.
I like how this turn out to be a slap to your own mouth.
I give a -Ray facepalm- to SEGA.
For shame…
I was kind of disappointed guys. It was more like something that should have been on 2PLIVE!, not get an entire comic to itself. I did find the last panel funny though, so good job working a joke into that.
Wow, we haven’t seen Ray or Tim in a comic for a while!
AWESOME COMIC, GUYS!
And finally, the first “Ray & Tim” comic since #154, and the first “Ray & Tim” comic by Ray & Tim since #143 (at a stretch), or maybe even #140!
I’m wondering if Ray’s been thinking – “Robotnik’s using that ball and chain AGAIN? Oh, brother…”
i looked back a bit, it’s been a while since a tim & ray comic, huh?
heh, whoops! i forgot to complement you guys!
…
How dare you?
Missing the point as always, and knobbly elbows for added entertainment! Yep, this is definitely 2P Start!
Perhaps I’m missing the point of what you mean, but how exactly are they “missing the point”?
No, no, I meant Sega was missing the point of how a classic Sonic game needs to look and feel.
And then there’s the joke at the end that Tim points out. 😉
NCG! Though I am hopeful for Sonic 4 (I don’t see how they could screw this one up) I can see where you’re coming from. The joke at the end made me laugh my head off!
Oh, the irony….
NCG, very courageous of you to do a comic that’s partially making fun of yourselves. Cartoon Ray and Tim really do look out of place in that photo background, although I kind of like that you seem to have giant printouts of your comics adorning your walls. Somewhere in Tim’s mansion (nearby his swimming pools of money) he must have an enormous art gallery dedicated to your work.
I feel like the last line was a bit of an, “Oh brother…”. We already can tell what’s going on from the background, so why do you need Tim to say anything?
God, I’ve just been a Negative Nancy recently. I’m sorry! It’s nothing against you guys! I just miss the days of the 34 panel comic in which there were 4 jokes in one panel. That’s what I originally liked about this site.
I agree, I feel like it would have worked better without Tim pointing out the joke.
I disagree. I like it, it solidifies the joke and makes sure they both agree. Go Tim!
I’m all for subtlety, but you have to be able to have at least most of your audience understand the joke. I think it’s fine the way it is, I don’t think it’s blatant enough to overblow the joke.
Just promise everyone you’ll never stoop that low! Very good comic guys.
Wow, best comic ever. Which makes this as good of time as any to RISE FROM MY GRAVE. That’s right, I’ve been reading this comic forever, and enjoy reading it still. I print out every comic and put it on my wall and I ever got a 2P Start tattoo across my chest. Call me?
lol, really?
It wasn’t me, it was the one-armed man!
Haha, nice try Sheppy.
Well “go fish” was a success wasn’t it? And you seem to have framed and made a real painting of it, as much it is a piece of art. The great difference between yours and SEGA’s (who created Black Doom and Big the cat by the way) is that they failed to master the art style match-up. You make some kind of delimitation by not having the two styles interact with each other, just setting the scene for both, while SEGA actually seems to try to blend them and force you to keep track of the evolution of both artworks at the same moment, thus making this style better for a Nights comeback, since you could soar across the stage without interacting with the high quality photo-realistic background, never breaking that clear border between real life and cartoons…
…even though “Who framed Roger Rabbit?” pulled it off well I think
Nothing is better than the ability to make fun of yourself.
Good comic guys, and welcome back to Comic Ray and Tim
I agree with The Gastronomic Gamer. I think the punchline is made far too obvious, to the point that it’s pretty much explaining the joke.
It’s par for the course as far as internet humor is concerned, but it’s definitely a step down from the more sophisticated jokes I’m used to from 2P Start.
It’s nice to see a new Tim and Ray comic, but Toon Tim at the end seemed completely unnecessary (no offense Tim) unless you were going for a “Oh brother…” style ending. The comic also felt like an illustrated summary of a 2P START Live segment, which I’m not sure is a good or bad thing. Seems like I’m just reiterating what others have said, but those are my thoughts nonetheless. Overall not a bad comic, but could’ve been better.
Also, have Toon Ray’s hands always been so tiny?
Wow, I must’ve been pretty groggy this morning to not even mention my two favorite parts of the comic. “So here’s the thing” (accompanied by facepalm) and everything about the background in the last panel made me smile (albeit for reasons not related to the main punchline, I have to admit) 😛
On the topic of the comic, it certainly is a jarring difference, but as long as the stage itself scrolls fluidly, then it will probably look better in motion than in screenshots.
Conversely, 2P Start has proven to look better in screenshots. I’m almost inclined to believe Ray’s touched them up.
You guys have random comics panels posted in your house? Do you have like a hall of comics? XD SCG.
I wouldn’t describe the background as photo-realistic. The graphics in the game look really good and I personally think they suit a HD Sonic well. Are people running out of things to bash Sonic with or something?
True, true.
I don’t agree wih Ray on this one. You can’t really compare the flower and the badnik becuase the badnik is obviously not finished yet.
Something I noticed while rereading. Sonic appears to be on his last life in the first panel. Merely coincidental or purposely Ray covering up the other 2 digits saying he’ll give up on Sonic if this one’s a flop? Only time shall tell…
I personally think this game to be a more of a “NEW Sonic the Hedgehog” instead of Sonic 4. I like the double irony of the last panel and how yours and Tim’s elbows are popping out of the frame.
Hopefully there isn’t such a thing as a Knubby elbow fetish, since people would be all over this comic in a heartbeat.N64cg (Nice times sixty-four Comic guys)
I was just about to say “That’s not such a BIG deal” until I realized the TRUE joke of this comic. NCG.
Another thing to add. If the first panel is the first boss, I’m gonna be kind of irritated. I understand that they’re trying to go classic with this game, but that doesn’t mean take everything from your old games and just put them in the new ones. We already got old badniks and the palm trees and whatnot, but I don’t want a rehash of the same bosses.
Also, I like how you guys aren’t in your box of a game room or in your house, but rather in some weird dungeon type place with concrete walls and only one lamp. So apparently when Tim was arrested they took Ray with him?
I also like the logo this time around. Did you steal that button from Tim’s “Mario Bros.” Cabinet 😛
Pretty good comic guys, not your best in terms of setup. I still think that its funny, mostly because it’s a jab at yourself, which I find refreshing. Also, it’s time for me to…….WISE FWOM MY GWAVE. I’ve been reading the comic off and on for probably about a year, mostly via Joystiq. When you had the Bitf guest strip. I decided to listen in on the podcast out of curiosity, and that’s when I became a real fan. I have to say, I enjoy your podcasts immensely, more so than the comic. Soon after I introduced my fellow grave riser and girlfriend, Miki Suzaki, to the site as well. I want to thank you for providing an entertaining, morally upright, and simply funny product to the interwebs. I also want to say, Ray, you’re art style is wonderfully clean, and I’m very impressed out how much work you put into this comic. I’m a 21 year old Graphics art student so I have an inkling of the work and commitment that would take. Tim, thanks for providing the witty jokes and the wonderfully monotone voice of reason… well, maybe not so much the “reason” part…Thanks again guys for the wonderful entertainment……also, I hate UP and Tim is my favorite of you two….
Time to RISE FROM MY GRAVE along with my boyfriend Curaga. He introduced me to 2Pstart about 2 months ago, and since then I’ve read through the old comics and am slowly going through the podcasts. Gotta say, I love the clean yet witty jokes, and I think this is my favorite web comic. I am also a art student and Christian and have been looking for a way to incorporate my art into during something for God, and your comics have inspired me to work harder and start a sort of comic of my own. Also, even though I thoroughly hated Up as well, Ray is my favorite.(Sorry Curaga, I guess we have to fight now).Keep up the great work!
Hmmm… Personally, I’ll just wait to get my hands on the game itself, hopefully a demo. Let’s face it, even when the game comes out, reviewers are going to smash Sonic to pieces. Perhaps rightfully so, but remember Unleashed? A 3.5 for the PS3/360 version? Of course, that doesn’t mean I can’t watch the leaks and updates. A new picture? Must… download… now!!!
On to the comic, I actually got a good laugh out of it. Making fun of yourself is always one of the funniest kinds of humor. As for the punchline, I’m fine with Tim being there to deliver it. To me, the joke is having both Tim and Ray there to poke fun at something else, while inadvertently poking fun at themselves.
Question though. What’s with the house? I remember it being nice, clean, and pretty much a cool-looking place to live. Then it got darker and more contemporary. And now the place looks like it’s going to fall apart. Either this is the shame-room of the house, or you guys need to visit the Home Depot.
Personally, I think that your comic works with the mixed art style because it just looks good. I don’t care if art styles are mixed if it looks good. Sonic 4 does not look right mixed like it is. You can do it right, or you can do it crappy. Ray did it right, Sega did it crappy. Maybe it will get better before release, though.
Also, NCG. (I think that is the first time I have used the abbreviation.)
those images are starting to be said FAKE because they are FAKE and by FAKE i mean the doctor eggman (robtink) boss is FAKE
in case your wondering the keyword here is FAKE and IMAGE(S)
I started laughing by the second panel, thinking of where that was going. Very nice job guys. Self-loathing but still amusing. =)
As for Sonic 4, I’m hopeful it will be like Sonic 2 or 3 (I’m hoping for more like 2, I looove that game) but I’ll try to ignore it as much as possible until it comes out or I hear people saying that it is, in fact, a rebirth of the Sonic franchise. *sigh*
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The long awaited return of the Tim and Ray comic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tim and Ray comics are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ya!!!!!!!! I ran out of things to say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey, uh, n00by question here. How do you become a Pro Member?
Good question. How does one become a pro member? If it involves finding the computer room, then forget it, I’ll be fine as a regular member. If I have to do a barrel roll…
I’m pretty sure it has something to do with your number of posts — the guys explained it a bit on the site when the system was first implemented, but I can’t remember the details, nor can I seem to find the blog/comment concerning it.
I actually have no idea, and am still wondering how I was a PRO member when the system was first implemented, considering I was only around a few months before it started. Maybe my EPIC PODCAST LISTENING MANEUVER of listening to all of the 68 episodes at the time in one week. I’m also still wondering what being a PRO member means, other than being a fanboy and having a badge next to your username. If anyone could clear that up, that would be great.
It’s based on how many comments you have made and how long you’ve been a member. Podcast #71 is where they talk about it.
It allows you access to special content, that of right now, is rarely posted.
^And by rarely posted, I think he means once every…ever. And that was only for like 2 days until it was released to everybody else anyway (it was the “Track Spirit” wallpaper).
I honestly have never been more relieved to see two web-comic icons based around video games show up in a panel. Ray pops up a bit more than Tim, which is a shame, because to be honest, Tim looks much cooler. Sorry Ray, but even you know it’s true.
I believe that is the power of the beenie. Though Tim is so much older than Ray (read: Tim is married and Ray is not, which qualifies as “much older” to us unmarried people), when Tim wears the beenie, he automatically becomes 5 times cooler and younger looking.
THAT’S IT. YOU GOT IT.
Plus the fact that he holds a can of Dr. Pepper. PLUS 3 COOLNESS!
For those who don’t get the reference by the way: http://www.2pstart.com/2008/08/20/level-up/
Nice comic! It may not have made me laugh out loud, but I probably wouldn’t have wanted to laugh at this point anyway, filled with food as I am. So my brain had to do the laughing that my lungs (and gut) weren’t up to the task for, and my brain deems this comic: Success!
By the way, tone it down on the photo-realistic hi-resness in that last panel, Ray! I think it’s making my eyes bleed.
LOL – as usual, Great comic you guys
Nice job. I never thought od that, but it DOES make perfect sense, and I(‘m also glad that you guys have never stooped to such a level. It’s just lazy, and it’s a very good thing that you’ve never done such a thing.
Great comic! Self-pounding usually’s funny like that. Guess I’m not the only one who finds Sonic 4’s art style a little bit odd. Still looking forward to it.
Nice comic this week, guys! While it wasn’t LoL-inspiring, it definitely made me smile, which is probably for the best since I’m currently home from work sick and a belly-laugh would probably spell disaster… (tmi?)… Anyway, I’m not sure if you were going for it or not, but the punchline is pretty “oh brother” in style, which isn’t a bad thing. Is Tim’s character basically pointing out the obvious? Yes. But it works well in my opinion. Smirk/”oh brother”/eye-roll combo completed.
Now please excuse me while I go pass out for another 4 hours…
Oh my gosh, I DIDN’T notice that Ray & Tim were up against a photorealistic background at first! HILARIOUS!
But I don’t see what the deal with the art mishmash is. I for one can deal with it. I mean, it works on Justice League and JLU! Well, okay, that’s more 2d animation mixed with very conspicuous CGI, but you know what I mean.
A rare miss with this one I’m afraid. Referring back to the older comic was a clever choice but the joke itself was weak and the execution was not you’re best. I am wondering however where Ray and Tim are in the last panel? The contrasting style works with the point of the comic but the dark and grimy wall is so ill-fitting with the usual locations we see in 2P Start.
Alright, I’m finally going to… RISE FROM MY GRAVE. I’ve been viewing your comics ever since the “So close yet so far” Mario Kart comic, and I’ve been listening to your podcasts ever since numero 98. Wish I had started sooner, cuz they’re at least twice as funny as your comics. (Your comics are still hilarious though) Also, thanks for the Brawl in the Family podcast, since it lead me to my new favorite webcomic. Yes, better than yours. Sorry. 😛
Keep up the good work, guys.
Y’know them’s fighting words for us 2P START! Fans. 😉
Your name is too close to mine. YOU MUST CHANGE IT IMMEDIATELY!!!! Haha, kidding, welcome! You might want to watch out, though, the fanboys might kill you for saying that BitF is better than 2P Start.
I like it but im always unsure on when tim has the punchline his deadpan seriousness confuses me i geuss it could be good or bad he always seems mildly angry at everything durning the podcasts but i give it one and a half thumbs up.
Heh, hipocrisy. Good one, not as good as last weeks, but up to par.
tim and ray friend meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee i sent u a request on xbl my tag is EarnestBlade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
‘Toon’ Sonic?
Oh dear that just totally made me want to stab SEGA for wanting to copy the wonderful untouchable Wind Waker style but failing miserably, as you guys pointed out, by adding in different art styles. ._.
Splendid comic this week! Laughing at yourself once in a while never did any harm, and this is no exception. Odd art aside, I do have my hopes for Sonic 4. Hopefully, it will fare better than
mostsome of it’s predecessors.I totally agree. I really wish SEGA would have done Sonic 4 with classic 16 bit graphics, similar to how Capcom did MegaMan 9 in 8 bit graphics instead of making HD 2.5D graphics or something. But the current gaphics are ok. As long as it is as fast like in Sonic Advance 2, then I’m happy.
So I have to say guys. This has got to be the hardest I’ve ever laughed at one of your comics. So I thought that this might be a good time to rise from my grave. I’ve been lurking since comic 10 or 15 (I’ve read the archives a few times and read other comics so its hard to keep track) and I’ve been listening to your podcast since number 98. Its the perfect fit to my 30 minute commute to school. Anyways…thanks for making my Mondays and Thursdays awesome!!!
Speaking of sonic i had time to play the sonic the hedgehog game for sega genesis and i can see why ray likes him so much when i was younger i had some for the gameboy advance but i like the genesis one better. I also played Altered Beast and i found out where you got the rise from your grave logo and sound from i thought it was original but i geuss not but it still rocks.
BUSTED
I have always wondered, does ray read the sonic the hedgehog comics?
I do believe he read the Archie’s Sonic the Hedgehog comics, or used to anyways. In one of the issues, there was a letter from Ray asking about whether or not the comic was going to end. Last time when he guessed starred on The Spindash podcast, he said he doesn’t read them anymore. Of course, he could be reading them in secret…
He has a stash hidden under his bed — I checked <.<
While you’re completely entitled to dislike the art style, it’s not just Sega doing some weird mash-up. This style (of using realistic background with cartoon characters/foregrounds) is known as the “masking effect” and is widely used in manga.
Yo dudes i am is going to be hopefully recognized as a oficcial graveriser now. Much ncg is to be passed around today s you have a near perfect comic dudes bye.
*facepalm*
Brilliant comic. Though I did think it might’ve been a little funnier without the final “I’m just glad we’ve never stooped to that level” comment, but I can totally understand why you’d put it in. Either way, the comic was quite hilarious.
A little late commenting…but that won’t stop me. Nice job on this one, guys. I like that you can poke fun at yourselves.
“Seriously who tries to mix art styles like this?!” Well… ANIME guys, for the past 30 years….
Seriously stop whining about everything.
Wow, seriously look at some anatomy books and learn how to draw. His shoulder is so completely off it gives me stomach ulcers thinking about how that would actually work. Btw it sucks.
*facepalm’d at the last panel*
NCG!
Gotta love the sarcastic punchline!
Also: THIS COMIC IS RELEVANT TO MY INTERESTS!
oh hey. I was listening to your postmortem show.
You shouldn’t have said that you still get notified for comments.
Ray. Do another guest strip for BitF. Nobody else has ever done them. yaya
k.