Curli

Image of young Aster looking up to the sky in pure joy as she flies. She is half transformed into her bird form.

Aster and the Fire #AATF has updated today!

In today’s update: Defying gravity

asterandthefire.com/comic/prolog...

#spiderforest #webcomic

Panel from the webcomic Aster and the Fire. Closeup of a child’s hands being clasped by a pair of older ones.

Panel from the webcomic Aster and the Fire. Birds circle overhead in the clear blue sky as the sun shines though the canopy of a nearby tree.

Aster and the Fire #AATF has updated a few times since my last socmed sabbatical!

Starting from here: asterandthefire.com/comic/prolog...

Also I’m switching updates to every other Sunday based on my new work schedule. Thanks for reading!

#soiderforest #webcomics

Considering HW is allegedly in 340K of debt and also owes 17K to staff, I dunno how Xel or Isa would reimburse the artists unless they took it out of their personal accounts, which seems unlikely. An apology would be a good start though.

Girl same, not to mention that one of my OG role models was behind the mismanagement and toxicity...it's so disappointing on multiple levels.

I looked up to Isa and HW as role models once, even as inspirations to make my own comics (among many others, but you get the point). So seeing this unfold over time has been pretty upsetting. I just hope everyone affected can move beyond this.

I should probably clarify again that Isa was pretty decent to me actually, and supported my comics work (though we did not have a professional relationship and were not friends AFAIK). I was even a part of her comic's fandom. Which is why this is all so horrifying (the mindfuck so to speak).

Making a 🧵 to help people get context on Hiveworks:

The Hiveworks Guild statement from Cartoonist Co-op. Make sure to check the "How You Can Help" tab

I don't talk about it much, but I've also had similar experience with Isa (minus the belittling that you and many others have received, weirdly enough) and it's an absolute mindfuck in retrospect. Hope you can heal from this.

(Also, your webcomic is very good btw, I'm a silent reader)

I remember pledging for this one back in 2020, I was a senior in undergrad. I have since gone to graduate school, graduated with a PhD, and gotten two postdocs since then. And I still haven't gotten my reward...lol!

Coming out of socmed hibernation to draw attention to this. If you have ever read and enjoyed a HW comic or cared about one of their creators, this is an important one.

Snapshot of a panel from the webcomic Aster and the Fire. Hana and Bon are looking at a statue of Tsor, Aweke's wife, while Tera and Aoife walk arm in arm just behind it. They are all at a park entrance and there is greenery surrounding them. Because Jacki is very much a fashion connoisseur, I'll describe their clothes. Hana is wearing an all brown fit with some black detailing and Bon is wearing a transparent crop top and baggy black pants with a red scarf. Tera and Aoife are wearing futuristic athlesiure-Aoife's is a strappy pink bodysuit and Tera's is a white crop top and baggy pants. Aoife is also wearing red heart earrings.

Oh ALSO Hana, Bon, Tera, and Aoife from the webcomic Kings of Sorts by @crabbng.kingsofsorts.com are in this update! Lookit them they are so small

Oh nooooo, that happened to me when I had COVID, hope you feel better soon!!!

Look at how Cosmi drew my lil guys so cute! You want a commission from them sooooo bad 🌀

It would mean a lot to me if y'all checked out today's page and spent some time with it! This took literal weeks of work to finish, and there are details in there that may become plot relevant later... ;D

A panel from the webcomic Aster and the Fire. A young Aster and Jember look out the window of a hovertrain as their grandfather, Teodros, watches over them. The window shows a view of one of the shipping ports in Miya's capital city, with several aircraft docked and one massive one taking off to the right. There is a massive mural on the side of the port, showing all the previous Miyan leaders-Aweke is on the bottom left next to Jember's head. Below the port, District 3 of the capital city sprawls out. The sky is mostly clear, with the tops of some cumulonimbus clouds peeking out overhead. The sun is shining directly overhead, indicating it is around noon.

Aster and the Fire #AATF updates today!

In today's update: Welcome to Miya.

asterandthefire.com/comic/prolog...

#spiderforest #webcomics

An illustration of Jember and Agnes (from the comic Aster and the Fire) framed by a Christmas wreath. They're both young black children, Jember sporting a short hair of brown textured hair while Agnes has brown hair pulled into cornrows. Since they're under a mistletoe, Agnes kisses Jember on the cheek as they both blush, a little embarrassed but happy.

Mistletoe #2... Mistletwo! Another webcomic duo, this time it's Jember & Agnes from @curlyqueued.bsky.social's comic Aster and the Fire, which you can read here asterandthefire.com

I'm doin these til the end of the year!
#commissions #commissionsopen #YCH #YCHcommission

a man in a tuxedo is holding a red cloth with the words my job here is done below him Alt: Tuxedo mask from sailor moon whips his cape dramatically as he turns away, saying “My job here is done”

I’m gonna try and automate AATF updates here, but it might take some finessing. And I’ll pop in every so often just to check on DMs and support mutuals and such. But otherwise…

Long time no see everyone!

Back in September, I took a hiatus from almost all social media to try and improve my mental health. And uh…it worked super well!!! It worked so well I’m going to keep doing it!!!

I swear I'm going to post thoughts about SPX/my SPX haul soon, I've just been busy being offline this past week lol

Also, be sure to read the blog post! I'd definitely like to know if people would be interested in AATF (or other kinds) of merch! Especially if I start attending cons with some regularity.

Panel from the webcomic Aster and the Fire. Kid!Aster is looking up at something that surprises her (Teodros).

Aster and the Fire #AATF has updated!

In this update: Aster sees an old man and is so shocked by his hideous face that she almost falls down the stairs (again)

asterandthefire.com/comic/prolog...

#spiderforest #webcomics

Panel from the webcomic Aster and the Fire. Closeup of Kid!Aster looking behind her as she’s running, a distressed look on her face. Someone is speaking and she’s trying to ignore it. At the bottom of the panel, jagged black speech bubbles form with scratchy white text.

Aster and the Fire #AATF updated this past Friday! (I was traveling to SPX and forgot to make the announcement lol)

In today’s update: the scary black speech bubbles have returned

asterandthefire.com/comic/prolog...

#spiderforest #webcomics

Surprise! I'll be at SPX this weekend!!! Super excited to meet y'all :D

Thank you Mari! ❤️

Thank u I love them

Kid!Aster looking googly eyed while shushing Agnes.

Kid!Jember looking googly eyes while gripping onto Agnes’ shirt.

Ezera looking shocked but also like he just smelled something really bad

Teodros serenely smiling, while Tsegai is absolutely losing her mind behind him.

Loved drawing the expressions on today’s page!!

Panel from the webcomic Aster and the Fire. Kid!Aster, Jember, and Agnes are staring directly at the viewer (actually looking at a doorway). Aster (in the front) seems upset but determined. Jember and Agnes (behind Aster) seem distressed and have comedically giant googly eyed stares. Jember looks like he’s about to cry.

Aster and the Fire #AATF has updated!

In today’s update: target spotted

asterandthefire.com/comic/prolog...

#spiderforest #webcomics

Totally! And not everybody needs to be a hero…I think the best thing Sharon can do now after all she’s gone through is learn to be a better person for herself and Puffer (someday).

Also I love your character designs Jamie. They’re so charming and full of life. Reminds me of CLAMP with the long long legs.

I see that Benny and Clarissa have similar color schemes and fashion choices…knowing she has to go to the North Pole eventually I feel like that’s not a coincidence.