• This comic has gone through different versions where the allusion to Stranger Things was more, or less evident.

• (Although it’s not the only show that has made use of old hits)

• We are almost at the end of the story!

We begin with a Wealthy Widow and an Eccentric Professor.

* Due to major problems with my computer, I got delayed with comic updates and portraits. I expect to catch up soon, as I rebuild my work setup.

• I enjoyed making up albums and songs, for this part of the comic.

• The look of the fan / internet sleuth in charge of the hunt for Roman’s tracks was initially based on music critic Simon Reynolds, before a bit of color swapping.

• Roman’s brother isn’t based on anyone on particular, and still, somehow he looks like several music personalities out there.

• I’d like to know what kind of music the project called Hex produced.

You must be wondering why I gathered you all here tonight.

It’s time for a new round of thematic portraits, and now it’s the turn of Classic whodunit suspects, as voted in the portraits poll. Fairie creatures and post-apocalypse survivors will be shelved for future polls, because they got considerable interest as well.

For those new to this Patreon reward, you can check out in this tag portraits of previous calls. The reward will be available to patrons in tiers 3+ (Birds Opera Aficionados and Earthquake Critics), and as usual, feel free to edit your pledge for a month, or a few more if you want, in order to ask for a drawing.

Character Classes

These are the characters available for the theme. Feel free to take them as a general guide only, and let me know if there’s a particular thing you’d like to change, such as a moustache yes/no, a different hat or no hat, etc.

It’s not strange if we find some old-school exoticism in these broad archetypes, as they are based on classic references such as Murder on the Orient Express and the Clue(do) game. I’d say we take it lightly, as the original sources did. Let’s keep it funny and murderous.

Customizations available to Earthquake Critic Patreon tier (10+):

An accomplice. Include someone else in your portrait, as any of the archetypes in the list.

A mascot. Include a loyal pet, who might have been a silent witness of the truth.

The clue. Include the mystery solution in the portrait. Maybe it’s a piece of jewelry that belonged to the victim, while their accusatory eyes look upon your shoulder, from a portrait in the back. Maybe it’s the murder weapon, being cleaned up. They’ll never catch you!

Mix it up. The themes of Fairies and Future Road Warriors got discarded this time, but, as you mentioned in the comments, why not include them anyway? Mashup your character with some elvish, trollish features, or cyborg parts, for extra post-modernity and niche fun.

A different suspect. Are we missing something? A character from the modern takes on the genre, perhaps? Suggest a different archetype, or make up your own guest to the murder mystery party.

*****

How it works:

To ask for your portrait, please email with the subject Whodunit, including a photo reference (or remind me of a picture you’ve sent before) and your Character Class. 

Email address is juan@thesecretknots.com

Important: I’ll post some portraits to promote support to my Patreon.

Feel free to let me know if you’d like to keep them private.

I should start sending out the first portraits in some 10 days.

Leave comments or questions below, and thanks!

Juan

– Includes some panels from the first part, for context.

– Making up passing TV interviewees is a favorite thing.

– Aeon Flux T-shirt. (It’s early 2000s, this part). Still not sure about the newsgroups mention, but forums doesn’t carry the same flavor of an era.

J.