Black Wings: Q & A

(I would call this an FAQ, but I feel a little dishonest calling it Frequently Asked Questions when no one has actually asked any questions whatsoever, let along frequently, and I am making up all the questions and answers myself. If you have a question, I will be happy to answer it, you can send it to wings[at]elorhe[dot]com.)

  • Q: What is "Black Wings"?

    A: The Detroit hockey team.

  • Q: No, that's the "Redwings."

    A: Er, sorry. Black Wings is a webcomic by Rebecca Ehrick, who goes by the internet alias Reihelen. The name comes from the main character's affinity for crows. There's a song by the brilliant green called "Kuroi Hane" (Japanese for "Black wings") that also had something to do with the choice of title.

  • Q: So what's it all about?

    A: Mostly, it's the story of Yanagi, also called Jahin. It's also a story about fate vs. free will, dealing with losses, and something like action and adventure.

  • Q: What's a "Daolin"?

    A: An elite warrior of Ganard; somewhere between Knight, Ninja, and Samurai. They specialize in different styles of battle, but for the most part concentrate on their physical abilities, with a few magical enhancements.

  • Q: What kind of world is this?

    A: A fantasy one. Most of the main characters are from Ganard, a country ruled by the predictions made by its prophets. Magic exists, technology is somewhere around the level of the Renaissance, and many aspects of Ganard were stolen shamelessly from Tokugawa Japan.

  • Q: Why are you writing this?

    A: Well, first of all, it's fun. Also, it gives me a chance to stretch my skills, both at drawing and at storytelling. I know that my layout skills aren't the best, and I'm not great at backgrounds or drawing characters in action poses, so that's something I want to work on as the comic progresses. In many ways, this is an experiment for me; I will probably experiment with different styles of drawing and shading, maybe even doing some pages in color. The comic is also a way for me to get attention, which tends to be a better motivator than anything else to get me to do anything.