Blue Communion fanzine – general discussion (POSSIBLE SPOILERS)

[quiet badger]

Somehow I ended up being the first person to come up with the idea of creating a dedicated forum post for this, so, here it is!

[sinful vault]

https://0x0ada.itch.io/blue-communion

^in case anyone here somehow doesn't have it yet

[midnight thicket]

Blue Communion fanzine – general discussion (POSSIBLE SPOILERS)

[quiet badger]

So, of course I've been loving it so far, but what I wanted to say is - THIS MAKES SO MUCH SENSE

One of my favourite indie game studios, Supergiant Games(Bastion, Transistor, Pyre, Hades I & II), has their composer, Darren Korb, as a constant part of the team, as he's in charge of the audio design and voices a lot of characters(and man got range, iykyk). Both him and the rest of the team in several interviews mentioned how having music being created along with the game or even before influences them all, how music is inspired by what devs and writers show Darren, and the rest are then inspired by the music - very similar to what is expressed by Remy here. And it ends up making music and the game itself feel much more intertwined, in case of SG they work A LOT with their music(using different layers of the song depending on the game state, musical in game sometimes being diegetic, and hence having characters musicians in every game, and so on) making it a big part of their style, and the way music amplifies and some part makes the drama and scenes in 1000xR is very important as well

I honestly wish it'd be like that in a lot more studios

And yeah, I loved this whole piece(A Blue Communion with an Inside Sunrise), as a musician myself, probably the most so far(and as a person who've been following news for past few years)

[spark lance]

Thank you! As a writing piece it was a bit experimental for me. I never wrote about music like this before, but I had a lot of thougths to express, haha. The politics segue wasn't planned at all, but is probably my favorite part. I literally erased a sentence in editing, and as I rewrote it the entire political rant game tumbling out. Oh, and I'm a huge fan of Darren Korb myself :3

You really made my day with this. Hekki grace 🩷

[teal wren]

It's Peak.

[quiet badger]

Thank you for your work! Six to one, sister, I'm glad my little burst of love made you feel better

(and I'm really glad you left the political part in, it really fits)

[wide lichen]

Hii okay so I don't know everyone's handles so I'll skip tagging anyone, but I NEED. to give everyone their flowers, so:

Finch: What can I even say at this point?? This is GORGEOUS. IRIS DOESN'T DESERVE YOU. You are a master of colours in a way I cannot even comprehend. I'm pretty sure I see a tiny heart in Jiao's eye and you should be locked up.

Jupiter: I don't think I've seen too many people attempt this character, but I love what you've done here. The internal monologue, the worry and trying to live up to her responsibility is just fantastic characterisation. ||The way it then shifts, going from the deific ALLMOTHER to the tinge of bitchy loner Iris is impeccable. YOU SERIOUSLY NAMED HER SUNNY?? YOU ARE EVIL. JUSTICE FOR JIAO I'm so happy you made her a scientist. The moment they were on the beach I was SCREAAMING waiting for the moment. only missing p prime. This is kinda gay? ngl||

goblincat: ahhh I love the characterisation in the poses. So much personality. I'm 100% taking this as canon, that Vivian resorted to buzzfeed quizzes once she found out she was colourblind. No Miscs on here so we riot.

0x0Ada - (Hekki Grace RPG) I am a noob to TTRPGs so I can't really judge this at a glance, but it looks super interesting and I can't wait to play it if we can organise this on Discord. This is so clever though and I can't wait to play it!!

thunder0star - THE NAME TAGGGGGG. I can't. The lil whale sticker is so adorable. Especially with the context Remy just dropped about Mauve painting her own armour, I'm totally imagining this is canon in her ending fuck it.

Irutzencre: waaaaaa my poor fave, suffering post time skip. the bandages ㅠ.ㅠ I love the graffiti style. I'm too inept to tell how this this was stenciled (i see couple free floating shapes, but maybe you used multiple layers??) but the line work is exceptional, the fluency with which you used the negative space to highlight around her shoulder, the bit of shading on her hand it's all so excellent. How the hell did you capture so much intricate detail in her mask?? I love it.

Creep... Nope, fuck, I'm not ready. But the trains of thought you've explored here, the little reactions and wonderings, the questions... Shit, it's all so spot on and well realised. The renders, and... I don't even know where to start. Just, well done holy shit.

inksoot: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.You have no idea how fucking long I've stared at this. The symbolism - what a perfect fucking representation. The way the hand at the top just barely grasps it like a marionette string... Youngest staring at the waterfall... the fucking touch of neon/cyan in the teardrop. The beta/trailer outlines. LIL GOOBER WATCHER DOLL OMFG. If you ever make prints of this please let us know.

Rashika (litchilovers): Devastating. Gorgeous. Breathtaking. Just masterful how you keep folding in another layer of memories and resonance with each verse, exploring every side and facet of the hide and seek motif. This was beautiful, thank you.

smanki - ahhh this is beautiful and I lvoe so much the way you've drawn the lights in the reflections, all the little touches of lens flares. The backlighting on Bartender is masterful. Such val-ha11-a vibes! Love it.

0X0Ada - (Music analysis) Just thank you, holy shit. Excellently written, and the way you've worked in the references to the text and your storytelling in between the hard theory is an A++. I haven't taken the time to listen to tracks individually and get to know them by name, but this is a perfect foothold.

Revenger210 - More feels. I love the dynamic and how sort of equally you've written Fixer and Watcher to bounce off of each other, teach each other and push each other. Your vision on how their functions operate before everything goes to shit is really well done. All the little details and specificity is done excellently and just places the scene so well. It's all so well inhabited and believable, and aahhh you give me so many feelings about fixer.

Amygdala Suzanna - THIS IS SO COOL! I love the crossover take here, the texturing on the occupant tardigrade dragon is just stunning and I am in awe at how much depth and well defined the shapes are. The PS2 fog in the background, the noiseyness of the Occupant, I'm floored.

SpilledTe: HOLY SHIT THE VIBRANCE. There is so fucking much here, your blending of the hard geometric shapes with the softer pencil textures, the way everything just flows and is so maximalist yet balanced... SMUG JIAO. Knower in the flames. The army of 50s. BBF's rain scene in the puddle HOLY HSIT.ughhh i don't understand how you'vev done this.

i have to go for now but seriously, I want to make sure I get to everyone and give it the time it deserves so I will be back!! You all did so amazing y'all, I am floored

[midnight thicket]

irutzencre’s pieces were a linocut print! so it was carved in a linoleum block then painted and “stamped”

[wide lichen]

ohhh thats so cool, thankyou!

[pulsar dock]

I REALLY LIKE THE "hold on I need a minute still" VIBE OF YOUR REVIEW THANKS 😭😭

[spark lance]

oh my ALLMO thank you so much for this 🩷 I love that you're hitting each and every piece. I really look forward to your reactions to the second half of the book!

[brisk trench]

OMG TYSM for your kind words about my poem 🥹 i'm so glad it resonated with you!!

[urban swallow]

va-11 hall-a mentioned

thank you so much!!

[surreal wren]

Hehehe thank you for the kind words

[wide lichen]

Rashika (litchilovers): You again?? i love the choices you've made here! ||Knower being set on staying in the Orchard already/ignoring Principal's calls, the idea that she had a boo before Knower who got sent away (like our Fixer) is also very juicy!! Also, her hiding it from Principal?? Holy shit, never thought about her having a secret of that magnitude but it fucking works.|| I love the way you've contrasted between their functions, written in the creeping dispossession... ||Damn you for giving me another doomed ship to feel about!!||

ravenzeys: ugh this is so good, the portrait staring over the shoulder, Mauve taking the choice to cut herself free, such a great metaphor and I love the layers you've got going here. The limited colour pallette is really striking, and it almost looks like the strings are tinged with blood?? which is hardcore af and very powerful. So cool!!

wolvzephyr: Okay so as someone who tries and fails at visual arts, the way you've done the highlighting around Knower's silhouette is so neat, like especially around the hands I am in awe and want to study it. the chromatic aberration is a perfect complement, love the framing so you can still see Watcher in the reflection. What a messed up moment, and you've captured it beautifully, I love how understated(? low energy? There's a word here I'm forgetting) you've drawn Knower, like that cold/detached look in the eyes is peaaak. IS that the silhouette of another blue shell I see in the background? 👀 👀

419MHz - man I don't even know where to begin, this is gorgeous and so evocative. A+ on the graffiti, it just perfectly captures a vibe and I love the way you've arranged the shadows, the way it has (whatever the opposite of a god ray is) with the shadow casting into the hallway just balances it perfectly and gives the whole composition flow. I would barely be able to tell it wasn't part of the game! (Maybe it is, and i'm THAT dense, who knows??)

cadmean - I only realised the other week that the 50s would have been waiting for Iris for who knows how long, so I'm so happy you've explored this! Love the way you've written Johnson and Mimi, man it's fucked up when you have Mimi trying to console you/make you feel better lol. The way you described the cloning is SO CURSED, I hate it. But holy shit, what a twist and ||I like that you've giving agency to our problematic fave and giving her a chance to fight back, and of course how it ties back into the big Canon Event is masterfully set up.|| Loved every bit of this, simply captivating.

Paprika - Can I give you a hug?? but also COOKIE BA IS SO CUTE I don't care what's happening in this scene OMG. This is not the place to get into specifics, but sending you gratitude, solidarity, and healing, sister. The hegemony trains us to expect peace and comfort, but these are not peaceful times. But living with a raw nerve is a kind of vitality, and I think acceptance of the tension, acceptance of the pain and fear is something we must wield. Thank you. For you, a deep breath.

ravenzeys - fuck yeah 콩국수 was exactly wht I thought! I didn't realise that was maybe just a korean thing LOL. Thank you for answering the single biggest question all us 1000xSISTERS had. Moodle lives on, in us.

sangkalibutan - holy shit this is so RAW. this is so beautiful, I love the smokiness of it, that burst of light from the centre, you've blended the different shapes so wonderfully. how the hell you managed to tie the train into the staircase into the halo, I don't know but my brain goes Yes. The facial expressions are fucking STRIKING. Also holy shit I'm still so not used to people actually looking Asian in art?? wow.

Snazz - I love the viscera of your writing. I'm always fascinated by how experiences arise out of the empty page, and your descriptions and word choices are so punchy and LOADED. I love how you've imbued that dissociative feeling, staying in a space of Poetry over matter which is so fitting for the final communion. Forwarding this the next time we get Moralists confused about the ending.

Issu the Res (cosplay) - SHOW US THE HALO this is illeeeeegal!! I love the fusion you've pulled off here- grounded, but futuristic. The headpiece too is such a good choice!! In awe, love your work.

0x0Ada & mynn (create your own secretary) - fuck yeah I know this zine is digital, but you are keeping the spirit alive!! can't wait till NZ dries up and I can get back to huffing paint (in case my insurer is watching, this is of course, a joke.) All sisters: please ensure you are using adequate ventilation and the appropriate PPE.

ravenzeyz (BALMO) - What you did with Jiao is DIABOLICAL. The pixelart is sooo good, love the Halo iris and you blended centre so well! That is a cursed problem and I'm stunned that you pulled it off. I don't actually own Balatro, so I've decided this is canon now. Congratulations!

Issu the res (BB double spread part 1!) again, fuck yeah I am living for the punk energy. The spraycan texture looks amazing, the touches of red and the super subtle blue shading on the pants is stunning and tes it all together so well. I love the ambiguity of the rain and the dandelions are just the perfect touch of yin energy to tie it all together.

Irutzencre (knock knock!!) it HER! The posing, the limited pallete, so bold and striking I love it!! again as an artistic goober I'm so amazed at how you use the negative space to create so much texture in the air and hands given the constraints of the medium!! This looks so cool, I wish I had the knowledge to appreciate this more lol

Captain Turnip - why have you done this?? ugh I'm devastated. but the POSING. The LIGHTING. Principal in the framing HOLY SHIT. I am astounded at your shading, I'm obssessed with the way you've done the HAIRRR. You actually dared to capture the patterns on Iris's outfit. 대단해요!!!

tj ayyee - Okay again, diabolical. This is stunningly unique and I'd never imagined anything like this, but you've fleshed this out so well! ||"It sounds like something she would do." fucking OOF. Holy shit, sister|| JUSTICE FOR JIAO, IRIS DOESN'T DESERVE YOU.

and of course thank you to Mynn, Ada, and Eira for putting this all together! This is stunning and I'm in awe of how much work y'all put into this to get it done in one month(!!!). Thank you, this is a TREAT for all of us. Hekki grace

💐 💐 💐 🎉 🎉 🎉

[brisk trench]

thank you so much for taking the time to give us all detailed reviews 🥹💖 it makes me so happy that people are loving the zine and resonating with it!!

[humble orchid]

ohhhh i wish i saw this earlier

[latent notch]

i just saw this now ToT thanks so much!

[dense rover]

finally started properly reading the zine, and Another Shade of Blue is so good. The choice to make the text blue on page 51 is just 👌🏽 . Also there's something there that really hits about how grandparents might try to make up for shit they did to their children through their grandchildren :')