Miki Falls - WINTER! (SPOILERS!)

[seeker]

Ok, I have the book in my hot little hands.

Now I have to read it.

Back later!

[dvandom]

Woot. Just ordered mine off www.deepdiscount.com ($7.43 with free shipping), and stickied this thread. Warning, there will be spoilers once Dan's done.

---Dave

[seeker]

You better believe it. Stop reading NOW!

[seeker]

Ok, comments as I go - up to page 46

Isn't it interesting how someone you consider a side character can take over the pace of the story? As I'm writing "A Carpenter's Legacy", a character I thought was just "thrown in" for cultural diversity has become truly pivotal to the story, and how it flows. And yes, **** has done the same as well, in Winter. (Yes, the stars are the right length.)

Also, that character has just pulled a Gandalf. Interesting. I'll see what happens later.

And the eight pages with nothing but sound effects? Pretty cool.

Ok, hope that was a spoiler that also intrigued.

[seeker]

Hmmm - ok, it's at 0 pages left!

Cool story.

I liked the ending. But I wish that Freya (why the Norwegian name?) had been a little more "leading" rather than frustrating - i.e. that she had led Miki to her conclusion rather than being surprised by it. I guess I just want my goddesses to be a little less dense.

Overall, it was a "nothing new under the sun" story - I really really liked it, but pretty much guessed the conclusion (even though I know it was supposed to be an "oh my") before we got there - which is why I was frustrated by Freya - Miki saw it, I saw it, so why didn't a goddess see it?

Personally (and yes I know I'm Akiko prejudiced) - I liked Spuckler's defense of his family and Akiko and Froptoppit declaring their friendgirl/friendboy status to be more UNIQUE than Miki Falls. Now that said, I'm old, and I'm no longer your target audience, so I truly understand that Miki Falls is probably more directed to the 12-24 audience. And it is done VERY VERY well.

I had fun! Thanks for writing it.

[seeker]

I re-read my own message.

I want to say that I think the story was done EXTREMELY well, and about the only thing I would have changed was how Freya reacted/prodded/led at the end. Other than that, GREAT JOB!

[danstro]

seeker said:

Personally (and yes I know I'm Akiko prejudiced) - I liked Spuckler's defense of his family and Akiko and Froptoppit declaring their friendgirl/friendboy status to be more UNIQUE than Miki Falls. Now that said, I'm old, and I'm no longer your target audience, so I truly understand that Miki Falls is probably more directed to the 12-24 audience. And it is done VERY VERY well.

I had fun! Thanks for writing it.

Grrr! I have yet to get my hands on Miki Falls: Winter. It looks like I might have to order it.

Hey, Dan, I know how you feel about not being in the targeted audience for the Miki Falls books. While I think Mark has done an excellent job of structuring the stories and supplying beautifull artwork, it obviously is geared toward the younger manga loving crowd. Nevertheless, I am anxious to see just how this series ends. It indeed has been a fun ride!

[iamnoc]

I just picked up my copy today... I will try and have it read by the end of the weekend...

[Mark Crilley]

Thanks Dan & Dan (!) for the posts and for getting Miki Falls. I'm really glad that you've come along for this next project; I know it's a whole different ball game from Akiko, so I'm honored that you've stuck with me.

I was delighted to see five copies of Miki Falls Winter at my local Borders the other day, so some stores, at least, have got it on the shelves. Thanks in advance, Dan, if you do end up having to order it; I know that's a hassle!

mark

[Tirenlise]

So, I received the books yesterday afternoon, and decided to take yesterday afternoon to read them. Anyway, I believe from what seeker said, the predicted the way it would end, with Miki becoming a Deliverer, but I, and I doubt this would even be possible looking back, pictured it going the other way, with Hiro becoming human. *shrugs* As I said, I'm not real sure if it is something that can go backwards, but... I don't know. I guess it was just me trying to make things fit into something I understand... relatively, anyway.

But this series definitely fit my hopelessly romantic side, so thanks, Mark, for writing it, and I look forward to your next venture. ^_^

[Mark Crilley]

Thanks so much Tirenlise! I smiled at this:

"this series definitely fit my hopelessly romantic side, so thanks, Mark, for writing it, and I look forward to your next venture. ^_^"

I'm so glad there are other hopeless romantics out there!^_^ Thanks for getting Miki Falls, I greatly appreciate the support!

mark

[Tirenlise]

You are quite welcome. Lol.

As am I. ^_^ It is no problem at all, I'm always glad to help.

Erin

[tasblue]

I was coming to the final pages of the book, I saw Miki sat on that hill watching the couple...I thought 'Oh no its going to end with her all on her own forever' then I saw a speech bubble coming from someone other than Miki 'Who could that be?'

I turned and there was Hiro, at this point I exploded with exitement and then I realised 'OMG Miki is a deliverer' now this is a great ending, I felt so many different emotions in such a short amount of pages 'Sad, Scared, Worried and I also felt so sorry for Miki, then all those emotions turned into happyness and exitement, I just wanted to go give Miki a hug and just say well done , Oh I wish she was real.

Thankyou mark for giving me something that has had a huge impact on me. You have given me so many tips on drawing and given me confidence so now i realise, I can draw manga and I'm going to keep practising drawing Miki and Hiro. Also I was up most of last night drawing a picture of Hiro which i'll put on deviant art. So thankyou to Mark, Miki, Hiro, Reika, Yamada-san, Yumi and all the other characters for creating an amazing story.

[Mark Crilley]

Thanks so much, Tasblue. I really appreciate you describing your reactions to the last pages of the book, since that was precisely the response--the series of changing emotions you had--that I was hoping for.

Thanks for getting the books and for reading them so attentively; I'm so glad you connected with Miki, Hiro, and the rest of the characters. It means so much to me to know there are readers out there like you!

All my best,

Mark

[tasblue]

Thanks Mark, it really was a great story

[dvandom]

My copy of Winter finally shipped today. Hopefully it'll arrive by Wednesday.

---Dave

[tasblue]

great dave, be sure to tell us what you think

[fineart23]

Ugh, like an idiot I completely forgot to ask for the last two Miki Falls books for my birthday.. UUUGHGHG!! I loved the first two books, so it pains me to not know how the story ends! DO NOT TELL ME! Anyway can't wait to read 'em, and can't wait for your next series!

[dvandom]

Got my copy today!

Here's my review, cut and pasted from the review column I'll be posting tomorrow:

Miki Falls Winter: Harper Teen - The final installment in Miki's story (although Mark Crilley will be doing a series of "prequel" comics on YouTube). It actually came out a few weeks ago, but distribution is spotty and I only just got my copy. Anyway, this is the Big Finale, and we do catch up to the opening scene of Spring at a bit past the midpoint, leaving time for not just one, but three "and then what?" twists, including a rather effective final fakeout. Sure, the final result was pretty much what I expected would happen (there's only so many endings that wouldn't be dramatic cop-outs, and I didn't think Crilley would take any of the other ones OR a cop-out), but it's all about the journey. The twists and turns it takes that may make it take longer than a straight shot (in fact, there's a literal recapitulation of that dramatic path in the final run to 'freedom' in the first half of the book) but result in resolution rather than mere ending. A 600+ page fantasy romance novel gets its proper resolution here. Strongly recommended. $7.99/$9.99Cn (I got mine from deepdiscount.com for $7.43 with free shipping.)

---Dave

[Mark Crilley]

Hey Dave, thanks so much for this wonderful review! I especially appreciate you making note of the various twists and turns following the 'window crash' sequence. I tried my best to provide some surprises in there, even if the final resolution was bound to be foreseen by many (or even most) readers. And I'm glad you found my 'fake out' ending worthy of the term; I hope I made at least a *few* readers nervous with those pages...

Glad you enjoyed the series, Dave. Every comic creator needs a least one critic out there who "gets it" and I'm lucky to have you there for me in that regard!

mark

[colindc]

I read it weeks ago but didn't get around to posting 'till now. This will be a very disorganized and rambling post!

I'm not going to comment so much on individual pages this time as there's not much new to say. The characters and backgrounds and paneling are all still quite good.

page 26-37: The ground here looks just a tad too realistic for the comics style.
page 67: Nice intense eyes, I like the layered close up and far away looks.
page 84-85: A very nice picture but Poor Miki gets squashed between the two pages , on the plus side I love the shiny reflective floor.

As for the ending: That's so mean pulling the ol' bait and switch! Miki's all narrating like everything is sad and then, 180 degree turn!

This book delivers on the promise to have the plot linked in with the four seasons, what with all the sad stuff happening in winter. I like all the nature backgrounds.

Speculation on the nature of love in Miki Falls: Miki rejects Freya's love potion. Since Freya hooked them up in the first place, she'd be just just as happy with some new guy. But Miki doesn't want to forget Hiro despite being totally depressed.
Consider if you will; What if Miki had drank the love potion. Sure, she'd be content and in love but I doubt she'd exibit the kind of happiness she has shown throughout Miki falls despite constantly being on the run, often in the freezing cold. The strength of Miki's and Hiro's love came not from some shiny pink deity (I imagine Freya is pink, don't know why) but from shared hardship.
It seems to me Freya, despite being the godess of love, is pretty dense when it comes to actually understanding the stuff.
There are two ways to see love in the Miki falls universe, by listening to what they say about love, or by watching what they do for love.

"It is better to have loved and lost than never to have lost at all."
This quote by Samuel Butler comes to mind.

I Don't know how close this comes to the truth, but I so love speculating ;D

No one will believe me now, but all along I knew the bug In Miki's ear was a hold sprite.

[Kenshin]

The Book was great, every teen that love manga should have it

[jimmyman3]

hi i am new on thise i like manga and anime.
i dont have any books of that tats sucks =( i wan some books of manga =)
i live in holland (netherland) but i like dave he is good how to draw

from jimmyman