So this is the second incarnation of Twisted Existence, made about a year and a half later. Slightly better art and plotting. I learned a lot in this version.

 

I was so nervous drawing hands I often just his them behind the character's back Her bow looks like a giant butterfly.

I just... don't know, okay? It must've been a very poor attempt at symbolism. I'd been reading the webcomic "Megatokyo" at the time so his art style can be seen slipping into my art here. Goodness, I haven't read that comic in years!

Ok, lesson of the day here is: Less is more. If I wanted to write that much text I should've just wrote a book. And yes, that building is full of WTF! Is that a sidewalk? Is that door on fire? Ok everyone who wants to draw a webcomic, go out and draw at least a dozen buildings first, preferably lots and lots more.

If you can't read the text you're not missing much. Something about 8 immortal warriors, a great war, an evil magician, and the great priestess that stopped the war. In the revised version I've cut the 8 warriors to three, and they aren't warriors any more. Actually the idea for this story wasn't half bad, just very shoujo-ish. Maybe I'll do a spinoff story someday.

*puke*

At least Cherry's arms are generally the same length. For some reason I imagine they'd flop around as if made of rubber.

Ehehehe. I guess I didn't know what toners were then.

Cherry convinces Jake to leave Maria to go with her. Jake's such an ass. Again, sorry for the small text.

Ooohh, mysterious one-winged priestess. Oohh, me not knowing how to draw heads. Arg! So cliche-ridden! I can't even read the text without shuddering.

Maria asks a boy for the time and he literally walks straight through her. This time Tao's a ghost. It makes no sense, really. But it seemed cool at the time.

Stalk that ghost boy! Yeah!

Ooohh, perspective and depth!

This little security guard boy gave me an idea for another character in the story, and he was reincarnated as Maria's cousin. I guess after drawing him for 12 hours I didn't want to let him go as some nothing character. He'll show up later in the story. See if you can spot him!

The bottom left panel was drawn a bit later than the rest of the page, so it looks a bit better. If I were to re-draw this page I'd make him grab her leg to yank her back out, only to get kicked in the face.

I should've made him chase after her! The area makes Maria want to puke. What a stupid background. I have absolutely no sense of perspective.

The scary empty room freaks her out so she wants to leave. Instead of a sound effect I just put "Put SFX here."

WHOOSSSHHH! Pretty decent pose for my drawing abilities back then.

More weird ghost stuff. I still don't get what I was thinking. Maybe it's the hand of the dead priestess.

Weird hair here. I fought with Tao's hair for YEARS before realizing simple is better. Same with his fricking eyes.

I always had a bit of a soft spot for those three left scenes. They're cute and not *too* badly drawn.

Nice melty effect. And the flashy marble no longer looks like an egg at least. I can't wait until I learn to draw bangs.

Why would she be so hard to find? There was one hallway! Why does he need a flashlight when Maria didn't need one? Why is his arm so damn small?

Ok, just weird. And why is Cherry's bed like, three feet longer than Maria's?

Er, fan service?

Cherry's just a bitch for no reason. Really. WHY is she so horrible for no reason at all? And the hair. THE HAIR! EEeekk!

Another weird scene. I seem to be gathering a bit of an art style, here.

Ho, look at that! Background! I remember all those little people taking forever to draw.

Everyone hates her for no reason. Seriously. I just added the bullied little schoolgirl(tm) to add to da angst! I must wonder where all the teachers are while this goes on?

I'm trying some new angles here. And at least the buildings look like buildings. Mmmm, muffins.

I think she was a descendent of, or the reincarnation of, the priestess or something. So she'd have flashbacks, and feathers would flit out of nowhere at her. My drawing skills have improved enough so that my feathers no longer look like wheat.

My epic drawing skills really show here (haha)!

Tao's neck is too long, his headshape too narrow, his ear too high and he generally just looks flat. Maria sorta came out okay though.

Best. Page. Yet.

This is now chapter two. I lost the title page somewhere. Here I've got a decent grasp of anatomy, and a bit of understanding about how things flow as well and how things (like the curtain rings) curve around to give depth. And actually those are pretty decent hands. This is the main villian also seen in the current running version of Twisted Existence, but she have become less stock evil villian (tm) and more human with sympathetic actions. I changed her hair from long and straight to short and curly, too.

I was too lazy to draw the last panel. Tao's head is still too thin, ear too high, hair still sucks. At least I'm trying to draw backgrounds now. I pretty much whinged it on the background.

She doesn't know what to do with the motioneless boy beside her so she pokes him with a stick. I just noticed the back legs on the bench are missing. For every panel. You can see the outline of an old picture on the back of the page. It's better than this stickman crap.

Now she's panicking because she's worried he might really be dead.

A more greusome version of this event made it into the main comic. I always liked drawing ribbons. I like the way they flow.

I still haven't learned how to draw head shapes. Goy!

This actually doesn't look half bad here. Except that one of her legs is missing. Yes this is some weird dream/flashback.

Nice silhouettes here. I understand female anatomy a smidge.

Aw, even now I still think this version of Tao's really cute! Unfortunately I realized I wanted to do less manga style, and had to chuck this Tao. Plus it never felt right. At least the back of his head's done right. Maria's never changed much character OR look wise.

So much weird crap happening to Maria makes her flip out on the poor boy.

Poor boy does not like being smacked by muffin. She tries to explain. Tao sorta understands. Damn, I have no sense of foreshortening.

Tao starts to explain who he is, Maria hides from him, calling him "Ghost boy." Somehow this irritates Tao. Yay, non eye-bleeding background!

The "evil" woman sends some messenger mannequin to take out Maria and retrieve Tao. Those are the biggest boobs I've ever drawn. In fact many people's biggest complaint with my old artwork was that I never drew the boobs big enough.

I guess the mannequin is the equivalent of that greasy haired boy that follows around the main-ish villian in the current version. Wow, he changed a lot!

last page of this version. The mannequin was trying to stab Maria, but I got frustrated drawing it and quit.