Ashling finally meets with the Ghost, but instead talking she touches her on the shoulder, and wierd stuff happens.
Hopefully all will become clearer in the next couple of pages.
I was really on the fence about how to do the final panel. It introduces Ashling’s first fully nude scene in the redrawn Bata Neart (technically the second if you count her ghost-form floating from her body in Chapter 2). On the one hand, if done well and tastefully such a scene can really add to the comic like this, but on the other hand it ventures deep into Fan-Service territory.
I’m kind of hoping I can maintain a balance here, where nudity in this comic can be done in a tasteful and/or playful manner, while avoiding it becoming too crass and in-your-face (ala Strike Witches).
I hope that’s what I’ve done here.
I like it. Good story line. The artwork is superb. No way is this fan service.
Hmmm, remember what I wonder. What happened to her after the fall? Her past life, perhaps? The History of the Staff, maybe? All of the above?*bounce-bounce-bounce* 😛
As to the nudity, it doesn’t bother me much one way or another, although I will say that tasteful and relevant are always the better way IMO.
Thank you for you kind words Jim! The artwork is superb? Thank you so much for saying so 😀
The history of the staff you wonder about eh? 😀 That’s a plot point for waaaaaaaay ahead in the series- *Chough* Tuatha Dé Danann *Chough* Oh, please excuse me I think I was coming down with ‘spoilers’ flu there 😉
Glad to hear that the nudity doesn’t bother you 😀 I had a feeling that Bata Neart readership was not likely to be the type to be offended by this, and rest assured there will be occasional nude scenes in future too.
Well, this being Ireland and all, I was fairly certain the Tuatha Dé Danann would figure into the story sooner or later. 😛 Still going to be interesting to learn about the Staff and see where the story leads.
Woo, fanservice – in typical manga style, without the explicit details. We’ve got a good sense of her proportions now, though. 😛
When Aoife says she ‘thinks she can hear’ the ghost, would that be the auditory equivalent of the little balls of light – indistinct but detectable – or can she actually understand it?
Glad you enjoyed the proportions Red! 😀
As far as Aoife’s relationship with the Ghosts goes…I’m still working out the details. So far, I am considering it in the way you mention: Indistinct but detectable.
I’m thinking that her natural perception of the spirit-world is nowhere near as powerful as what Ashling has just obtained. So, I think for her to properly hear a ghost, she needs to be in a direct conversation with one. Otherwise they may just sound like dis-jointed echoes to her.
Oh snap you know your getting so serious visions when your clothes get psychically blasted off :P.
@Howard: Wellll…you know….magic and nudity tend to appear together in this genre 😀