The Monster Under the Bed by Brandon Shane is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License
The Monster Under the Bed
“Embrace your fear.”
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License
Brandon love how your adding new characters…. I’m stuck designing my 3rd lol
Gonna be honest, I feel like I’ve missed, like, an entire chapter between the last one and this one. As though there was supposed to be a whole nother chapter there that was skipped. I no longer have ANY idea what the plot of this comic is or where it is going or how it relates to the previous chapters. multiple characters are being treated like we should know who they are from long exposure despite having little to no previous appearances and references are being made to events and backstories I have no knowledge of.
While I am distracted by the increased T&A I don’t feel like the comic has put in the narrative work to contextualize most of it in a satisfying way.
I feel like I started in the shallow end of a pool and started wadding through slowly deeper waters heading for the deep end only to step from knee deep off a waterfall into the center of the Pacific Ocean
I don’t mean to be too rude but maybe you are just dense. This comics plot is extremely straight foreward and easy to follow. If you are truly this lost just reread the whole comic it’s not that long and you have at least a week.
I have to agree with Drthmik here. Your comic does give the very distinct impression that there’s a whole lot missing that none of us is ever going to know and how low and shallow of you that you’d resort to insulting drthmik instead of stopping to consider that you’ve been writing this all-too-average-to-the-point-of-boring comic for far too long for what? To milk it for everything you can get from it? Fine! You’ll be pleased to know you have one less reader who’s willing to wait the interminable amounts of time between your dull and boring updates.
First of all, I never insulted anybody, that was some other reader.
Secondly, why are you reading it if you don’t like it and think it’s boring?
Thirdly, I’m not milking anything. I’d do it for free if there was no Patreon. I did it for nearly two years for free before I even joined Patreon. And it’s still free.
Fourth, don’t let the door hit you on the way out, I like that door!
That’s because you essentially have missed an entire chapter. You’ve missed 7 years.
You have no idea what’s coming, and that is exactly how I want you to feel; but don’t worry the important bits that were skipped will get covered soon enough.
Also, what major events and backstory am I referencing that has you confused? All the new characters are just that, brand new. Marcy literally just showed up in Tim’s life the first page she appeared on, and I explained that Tim met Spencer when they got to High School during the montage on page 152… so… what’s confusing exactly? All I’m doing is building up the lives of these new people so you WILL have context moving forward.
what is most confusing to me now is how you are both saying that the confused lost feeling was your intent and ALSO that I shouldn’t be confused because you are intentionally telling the story in a confusing way
The reason why you shouldn’t be confused is because this is intentional and will make sense eventually. Unlike a finished book you can’t keep reading until the pages are released. If the context you need was already available the answer would be to keep reading. but you can’t so the setup is confusing you.
Just to clarify one thing here, but there really should be no confusion at all… and any confusion that does exist currently on his part is certainly not intentional, but as the chapter is not complete (it’s barely begun!) I haven’t had the time to explain everything yet.
I personally can follow what’s going on with crystal clarity, but then again, I have all the foresight in the world, since I’m writing the darn thing and can see how things come together in the future.
Eh? No, that’s not what I said at all.
Basically, it comes down to this: Just wait and everything will be explained.
The stuff that got skipped is basically irrelevant. Do you really want to see 7 years of them watching movies in Tim’s room while making small talk? I sure don’t. I’m cutting to the part where things get interesting.
That’s right. It’s an artist’s privilege called “dramatic tension”
I made an account specifically to reply to this. no. that’s all I have to say. you’re wrong. how? well I lied, I have more to say. firstly you can’t write a story at this pace and then say “you’ll learn eventually”. first you say stuff happened in those seven years then you say (or at least implied) *only* mundane stuff happened. when that clearly wasn’t the kiss with that one guy who was… exploring.
look I’m relatively new. a couple months new actually. and would you look at how many pages have been released since then? I don’t know. can’t remember. too few to count, too long to remember. but that’s not the point, although it does have something to do with it. the point is at this pace unless every page is engaging in some way you’re story supposedly filled with intrigue, will not work. how many years till this chapter is finished? how long until we leave this prologue era? the point isn’t “speed up production” the point is with this schedule how do you hope to engage readers let alone expect them to stay especially knowing that you’d create intrigue only to have it teased at you ever so slightly.
I still have no idea what this story is about aside from “there’s actually monsters under beds”. “it’s getting there” I hear you say. well, when is that exactly? because right now the only thing this is getting is old. I’ll still follow this don’t get me wrong. but when you have to check in a year later to see if this “chapter” is finished, well it makes you wonder what will happen in chapter 5 ten years from now.
I probably should have proof read that. what I meant to say in the beginning was “…wasn’t the [deal] with that guy…
Your complaints make no friggin sense. Every complaint you made could just as easily be applied to every other webcomic out there that has an actual plot. That’s not any kind of fault or misjudgement on Brandon’s part, it’s just the nature of the format. If it pisses you off that much, then stop reading webcomics, because they obviously aren’t for you.
You know, I put a lot of my time into this comic and having you people write these essays on how impatient you are for essentially not getting everything you want right away almost every day this week is getting really, really old.
You don’t like the fact that you will have to wait? I’m sorry. That’s just not my problem.
You don’t like or understand why I skipped seven years? Tough. That’s too bad!
Stick around and find out the answers, or don’t. I don’t care.
I can’t sustain a story at this pace? Well, It’s worked pretty well for me so far! I have a great community of readers here. I’m happy with my numbers. I’m not the best or most popular comic on the internet, but I’m doing pretty good! The fact that I have over 100 comments on this single page alone is amazing! Go look at some other comics who can barely break 10 comments or even get any feedback at all.
Okay, okay, let’s get at least one thing clear because I hate that nobody seems to be getting it.
In the 7 years I skipped SOME IMPORTANT THINGS HAPPENED, and that stuff you will be told in one way or another;
BUUUUT! Now stay with me now;
Mostly it was just the same old crap! Day in day out, Tim and Shadow hang out, they become really close, but nothing particularly dramatic or drastic happens to them until they decide to take things to the next step.
Which is what Chapter 4 is all about! This one, the one I’m currently creating for you for free, I might add.
The other characters all live their lives. Terminus is still trying to figure out a way to open that door, he’s made a bit of progress, but not enough to get it open yet. You’ll find out about that soon, if you can wait that long!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to finish working on the next page that you can’t wait to see, but hey, I’ll give you a hint: It doesn’t answer any mysteries, and guess what? You won’t know everything until the end of the story, because that’s how stories work.
I can’t write a story at this pace and say ‘You’ll learn eventually”?
Holy hell. I guess we’ll never find out the ending to those silly new Star Wars movies, because Episode 9 isn’t out right now and I can’t be bothered to wait a year to watch it. Don’t get me started on Game of Thrones…
*sigh*
I’m done now. XD
Good on ya, Brandon. Well said and completely covers the issue.
I didn’t say it was an inherently bad thing. I said you can’t expect people to stick around with this schedule. I now know other webcomics have the same problem. I don’t read webcomics. in fact I never have. but seeing as how this is somehow the standard I can understand both our frustrations. that being said people are allowed to criticize. in fact I’m not even criticizing the comic. like I said, or at least implied, I like it. my problem comes from the fact you think everyone will stick around or like we’re not entitled to be dissatisfied with this kind of schedule. who wouldn’t be. but like I said I’m not her to tell you to hurry up. I made an account to specifically tell you, you can’t expect some people to not be unhappy with this entire format.
and as mentioned I’m new. I didn’t even read the comments until this page. so I’m sorry if you get this a lot but the reason for that is communities are made up of individuals. next page it’ll be the same thing I’m sure, but unless it’s the same guy you can’t really be angry at people being people. I hope you understand what I mean.
all that said I’ll still follow this. I like it. but I just wanted to give you my two cents on dealing with criticism specifically for what this is. I just don’t think “wait” is the right response you know? it’s a bit ironic.
How is saying to wait ironic?
It’s literally the only option people have in this format. It’s how this works. You have to wait, because the future pages aren’t even made yet. Heck, this week’s page isn’t finished yet and it goes up tomorrow! XD
I can take criticism, that’s fine, however I haven’t been getting criticism; I’ve been getting attacked, and completely unjustly because the guy who really started this ball rolling was ripping me a new one based totally off of reading the wrong response from a different reader also named Brandon (as you can plainly see above). So, you can understand my frustration. I didn’t even say anything and this guy was that ready to rip me a new one on the slightest provocation. He was just waiting for a chance!
Anyway, I don’t think everyone will stick around forever. I never said anything like that. I know they won’t because this comic has been running for nearly 4 years and I’ve seen people come and go and come back again multiple times. On the flip side, I have readers that have been here since the beginning and are still here every week.
This whole topic chain is a waste of time based on someone who wanted answers now because they didn’t understand what was going on, and couldn’t understand that the answer they want *IS* coming, but not yet. Everything will fall into place; but I’m not giving spoilers to some random first time commenter with a problem.
You know, sometimes, I simply don´t get people. There´s something they get for free and I assume, that they are intelligent enough to understand, that the artist isn´t doing this comic as his main job – so he´s mostly working in his free time on it. Are they happy, that they found something, they like – and on top of that – for free? No, they complain about the point, that they have to wait for a new page. I simply don´t get it.
But perhaps it´s just a side effect of this time, people are somewhat used to get everything they want in an instant. People are simply lacking patience … as well as a certain attention to detail.
In a novel I wrote, I had a few people asking, why characters weren´t behaving in a certain manner they expected. When I read those comments, I was wondering, what the heck they were talking about – I was sure, that I wrote exactly what they were asking – and I double checked: I was right, I had written it. So I replied something like “Not sure what you mean – look page xyz line 12345 … it´s literally written there.” “Oh, must have missed that one”, was the answer I got.
@Halycon: WOW,, read the last page, much.!! or open all your presents wen you git em not wait till the day..
an this comic has a fairly decent schedule,, i can name at least six comics that don’t, an have a decent following..
also i try to read all comments before, so i don’t step on toe’s (had reword one authors response because english is not their first language.. )
i am one who likes to think i was here at the start,, (maybe a little late, but still.) an know bout the first comic,, but don’t let that influence reading the now one.!!
*A NEW RIVAL APPROACHES*
So is she running a lemonade stand or something in the front yard?
Nah, she’s a puppet. Her puppeteer is crouched behind that wall!
thats not his hand he’s using to manipulate her either….
(and as an aside note, has Ruth gone through a greying streak and covered it up with Dye? or is she trying to hide the ‘golden lion’ to keep people distracted and unable to make the connection?)
Ruth takes care of herself. I don’t doubt she dyes her hair.
Is there a female of 13 years or older who DOESN’T dye, tint, colour or otherwise change their hair from what nature issued them?
And would any of them admit it to any of us who ask?
Lemonade, no. But definitely milkshakes.
Tomokatu I can name 5 females who don’t lol
Amish?
Nah just in general they prefer to not do anything with their hair but braid it or put it in a bun (I prefer loose hair)
@ReaderGlaxer420
… and you have confirmed that the curtains match the carpet? Or perhaps these establishments follow the modern style of having NO carpet at all?
Omg!! I was thinking the same thing when I saw the original black/white. “Is this lady stoping 2 kids to sell a drink.”
And then I added my own “text” to the speech bubbles. It went something like this. “Hey there ‘big’ guys want somethinh to drink this hawt day?.” “ok time! Let’s double team her!”
something like that. It’s been a week.
“Ok Time, lets —
Correction.
Damn you autocorrect
Ok Tim*
Oh man, I just found this comic and I am absolutely HOOKED! I love the way this is turning out and I can’t wait to see where this is going in the future! Keep up the good work!
Welcome to the madness of a schedule lol
Honestly, it wouldn’t be the first time I had stuck around with a comic with infrequent uploads, I’m here now and you’re not kicking me out the door!
Well, pull up a gremlin and sit.
Open a beer (you DID bring beers?) I’ll have one too, thanx.
Ok so did anyone else read her lines while thinking of a stereotypical southern accent? Because I watched it fairly recently I’m thinking of the animated version in which the main characters were cats.
-.- just now say that I didn’t say the name of the movie. It is tom Sawyer and huckleberry finn.
It’s official: the kid has a serious case of animal magnetism going on
I’m better at writing than drawing. So I don’t believe I can make a comic but I think I can make a novella or something like that
Way back when, Shadow made a comment about how Tim smells good, and how he and his dad ‘smell the same’. I chalked that up as both a showcase of a Noxian’s excellent sense of smell, and implicit statement that Tim’s dad is his biological father. But now… signs point to maybe there being something special about the Newton men in general.
Good eye.
Hmm…. Smuggling salami?
If this was true. Then how come it didn’t work with Midnight? She absolutely hated Tim but couldn’t have been because she was jealous? She plays nice of him as a personal request from Shadow. I don’t know, I feel like midnight comes off as a ‘human hater’ more so than Nightmare.
Hi, I just wanted to leave this comment and say you webcomic is great, those people leaving paragraphs of nonsense seem to want everything spooned to them like a child for what ever reason. Its your work, your characters and your story. None of us have any say in how it should go, none of us are working on it. Anyways, thanks for the great webcomic and I hope to read alot more in the future.
Haha, thank you! XD
My god, somebody gets it.
It’s a load of bull, is what this whole thing has been. My opinion of it is, if they don’t have the patience to wait, then they need to leave, not create a shit-storm because they have nothing better to do.
Just keep cranking away, but only at your own pace, and because you want to. Everyone with a problem can go screw off. They bitch about the speed of the comic, and slow it down in the process. I’ve got your back, as do your other faithful readers. Keep being awesome, Brandon.
yeah what @Leelanidas: sed.!!
Honestly I got NO IDEA why people are confused or BUT CHING so loudly for a free Web comic!!! If you don’t like his storytelling ….gonfind another Web comic and PAY for better!!! As far as I’m concerned I love his pacing and story telling and am axioms to see what off s reen things have developed!
So for the record Brandon… you keep right on doing YOUR Web comic however the he’ll you are comfortable with, you have had, have it now and likely wI’ll always have MY vote of confidence and rapt attention!!!
‘Nuff said!
I really enjoy your comic, I have just one question, is there any chance of seeing the houses that you have as background w/out the drawings on them, please? I am an amature architect and I like looking at houses.
My laptop die 4 weeks ago and guess got another and having to update it and all the online comics that I have miss. You have to be patance or you could go nuttssss!!! Keep up to good work Brandon!
Brandon dont let those idiots get to you. your comic is awesome. write it and draw it as you feel you need to. you tell a solid storyline, your artistic style is amazing, your characters are incredible, and you use elements as needed, without locking the whole comic around them (humor, nudity, sex) and in time we who are PATIENT and understand that you do have real life obligations will be rewarded with the answers to our questions.
Brandon? Yer doing a fucking awesome job. I already have a GoFundMe page up and going for people who are butthurt. Will gladly send those that are butthurt or pussyaching over spilled milk a box of Tampex Tampons seeing they need it.
Go ahead and do whatcha gotta do. At least you are not like some who up and bails on the webcomic with no sign of life. You keep your readers in the loop as much as you can and that speaks alot about you as a writer and a comic artist. I am thankful for having somebody that knows we make this comic possible as much as you. As always, real life comes first and some people lack the synapse to comprehend that.