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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan
@comicsbyxan.bsky.social
790 followers 240 following 1.6K posts
Perpetually tired trans comic artist, making trans comics. Creator of Pandora's Tale and Thinking Too Much to Think Positively. Co-host of the podcast Can't Stop Hibari-kun. https://pandorastale.com/
pandorastale.com
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 4h
Pandora's Tale Chapter 4
#13

Pandora's default assumption is that Isabelle is a genius, so naturally she assumes that she was the one who invented sex work
PAGE 13 PANEL 1 ISABELLE looks tired, while PANDORA responds to her with enthusiasm. ISABELLE Too bad tonight was such a mess. PANDORA I think it's amazing! PANEL 2 PANDORA continues to express enthusiasm, while ISABELLE is amused. PANDORA You have sex with people... and then they pay you! That's so smart! ISABELLE I mean... I can't really take credit for the idea... PANEL 3 PANDORA continues happily, and ISABELLE's amusement shifts to incorporate mild discomfort. PANDORA Helpers just do it for free! ISABELLE Uh... yeah, so I'm told. PANEL 4 ISABELLE looks over at PANDORA happily. ISABELLE Hey... PANEL 5 ISABELLE takes PANDORA's hand. ISABELLE I'm glad we found each other... PANEL 6 ISABELLE embraces a happy PANDORA. ISABELLE Little sis. PANDORA Heehee!
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 4h
It's such a weird thing to be mad about now. Strong feelings were understandable at the time, but now it's decades later and the full, unedited show is easily available. You don't have to be mad at DiC anymore, we already won
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 5h
Pandora's Tale Chapter 4
#12

Sex workers play an important part of our shared history as trans people, but even before I was out, it bugged me that there wasn't more media about how sex workers are cool BECAUSE THEY ARE
PAGE 12 PANEL 1 Shot of PANDORA talking in the foreground, ISABELLE visible in the background. PANDORA I guess whether you're a human or a Helper, being a trans girl is hard... PANEL 2 ISABELLE grips PANDORA's arm gently, and smiles. ISABELLE Yeah, but we're tough! And we stick together. PANEL 3 ISABELLE laughs. ISABELLE Especially since... we're sisters now, right? PANEL 4 PANDORA looks surprised and excited, while ISABELLE laughs. PANDORA Oh! That's right! ISABELLE Hahaha! PANEL 5 Closeup of ISABELLE, looking tired. ISABELLE Sigh... (cont) This really wasn't how I wanted to introduce you to my work. I'm not ashamed of what I do, in my regular life or for the resistance.
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 6h
Please come to my show, it's in a Hieronymus Bosch painting
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 6h
Pandora's Tale Chapter 4
#11

Welcome to therapy, and it's time for another game of "This survival strategy turns out to have some negative long term effects"
PAGE 11 PANEL 1 ISABELLE pulls her legs up against her chest, while PANDORA observes her. ISABELLE Sometimes, when the clothes come off, I can see them studying me... Like they're daring themselves to picture me as a guy. PANEL 2 Closeup of ISABELLE as she turns to PANDORA, smiling weakly. ISABELLE So it feels like... I don't get to be angry. Covering it up has just become second nature at this point. PANEL 3 Closeup of PANDORA, looking thoughtful. PANDORA I see... PANEL 4 PANDORA speaks decisively, while ISABELLE tries to interject. PANDORA I should remember to do it too! ISABELLE Wait... I really don't think that's healthy. PANEL 5 PANDORA continues speaking. ISABELLE now looks thoughtful. PANDORA But I don't want people to see me as a guy either! PANEL 6 Closeup of ISABELLE, looking serious and contemplative. ISABELLE Yeah, but... we shouldn't have to do this, you know? Our emotions are as valid as anyone else's. (cont) At least, that's the way it should be.
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Reposted by Xan
joshadams.bsky.social
Josh Adams @joshadams.bsky.social · 16h
Anyone care for an existential treat?
Photo of a donut shop in Tokyo named "I'm donut ?"
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 18h
Pandora's Tale Chapter 4
#10

Yeah, this is...

If you're not a trans woman, this is like a whole thing
PAGE 10 PANEL 1 ISABELLE leans against the wall of the hallway. PANDORA looks at her with concern. PANDORA Mistress... may I ask something personal? ISABELLE What is it? PANEL 2 Closeup of PANDORA, relaying her thoughts a little awkwardly. PANDORA I just... noticed a few times tonight that when you get angry, it's only for a moment... and then... it's like you try to hide it. PANEL 3 ISABELLE smiles weakly. ISABELLE That's, uh... aw geez, is it that obvious? PANEL 4 ISABELLE sits down on the floor, her back propped up against the wall. ISABELLE Anger... is often interpreted as a very male emotion. (cont) I don't want to be seen that way. PANEL 5 PANDORA sits down next to ISABELLE. PANDORA But... Miss Fortuna gets angry! Ms Lyra gets angry! They're both women! PANEL 6 Closeup of ISABELLE as she stares off into the distance. ISABELLE Yeah, but nobody's gonna think they're guys. For me... and with the work I do... it's a constant battle to get people to see me as I am.
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 18h
Pandora's Tale Chapter 4
#9

This guy: steadily getting worse over time
PAGE 9 PANEL 1 The COP patronizingly responds to ISABELLE, who is furious. COP My, so angry. ISABELLE What did you just – PANEL 2 ISABELLE suddenly backs down, looking tired. ISABELLE Never mind. PANEL 3 MISS FORTUNA addresses the COP diplomatically. MISS FORTUNA Look, this has all been an unfortunate misunderstanding. (cont) I'm sure that the Quorum City resistance is paying you quite handsomely for this assignment. Now, if you could see your way to compensating Isabelle for her time... PANEL 4 The COP stubbornly objects. COP I was told at that outset that her services were free. MISS FORTUNA Well... PANEL 5 MISS FORTUNA begins to lead the COP back out of the hallway. MISS FORTUNA For now, let's just take care of business. COP About time. PANEL 6 MISS FORTUNA turns back as the COP leaves. MISS FORTUNA I'll see that you get paid, Isabelle.
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 19h
Pandora's Tale Chapter 4
#8

This guy: actually worse than he initially seemed
PAGE 8 PANEL 1 The COP addresses MISS FORTUNA, as PANDORA and ISABELLE watch. COP No, no, that's fine. I need a drink anyway. Get me a silver tequila and an extra-dry Martini, would you? PANEL 2 ISABELLE and the COP address each other, both incredulous. ISABELLE Hold up... you're the courier? COP You're in the resistance? PANEL 3 MISS FORTUNA speaks, annoyed. MISS FORTUNA Oh, for... Why are you dressed like a cop? PANEL 4 The COP speaks, evidently pleased with himself. COP Isn't it obvious? People know who am I here, but nobody asks questions of a cop. (cont) This is the perfect disguise! PANEL 5 MISS FORTUNA responds, unimpressed, while the COP gestures to ISABELLE dismissively. MISS FORTUNA Well, we've been waiting for you to make the delivery. COP And I'd have done it if your floozy hadn't been quite so insistent on monopolizing my time. PANEL 6 ISABELLE, increasingly annoyed, addresses the COP. ISABELLE Yeah, because I thought you were a cop! I was the distraction! Do you seriously think I'd have just thrown myself at you if I didn't think you were a threat? PANEL 7 The COP stares at ISABELLE, uncomprehending. PANEL 8 ISABELLE continues, gesturing in anger. ISABELLE Never mind! Of course you think that!
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 19h
Pandora's Tale Chapter 4
#7

This guy: the worst
PAGE 7 PANEL 1 ISABELLE and the COP exit from a private room into a hallway. ISABELLE is now wearing a plain, long t-shirt. COP Well, I certainly appreciated the warm welcome, but I must be getting back to the bar. I'd like to have a drink before I go back on duty. ISABELLE Of course! PANEL 2 ISABELLE and the COP are seen from behind as PANDORA and MISS FORTUNA intercept them in the hallway. COP Oh... but on the on the other hand... PANEL 3 The COP looks PANDORA over with an appraising eye, to ISABELLE's growing concern. COP I didn't know you had a Helper here. I've never met one in person, you know. PANEL 4 The COP addresses ISABELLE lasciviously. ISABELLE responds with shock. COP If it wants to join us, I wouldn't mind going for round two. ISABELLE That's... PANEL 5 ISABELLE replies firmly to the COP, while PANDORA responds with confusion. ISABELLE Pandora is not an it! And she doesn't do stuff like that! PANDORA Round two of what? PANEL 6 The COP seems perplexed. MISS FORTUNA interjects. COP But... isn't that what they're for? MISS FORTUNA Officer, I'm sure we could provide you another companion if you'd like to...
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 19h
Pandora's Tale Chapter 4
#6

Miss Fortuna would like you to stop talking to her now
PAGE 6 PANEL 1 MISS FORTUNA hurriedly escorts the confused MAN out of the back room, accompanied by PANDORA. MISS FORTUNA Once again, congratulations on being our one millionth customer! All drinks are free for your next ten visits! PANEL 2 The MAN weakly protests to MISS FORTUNA. MAN I'm still very confused... MISS FORTUNA ... five visits. PANEL 3 PANDORA addresses an exasperated MISS FORTUNA. PANDORA So that wasn't him? MISS FORTUNA No... unfortunately, it was not. Which means we're still... PANEL 4 MISS FORTUNA looks suddenly alarmed. MISS FORTUNA Ah! Isabelle!
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Reposted by Xan
ninsiana0.bsky.social
Jessica Lee @ninsiana0.bsky.social · 21h
Day 10

"I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else's whim or to someone else's ignorance."

--bell hooks

#ArtByNinsiana0 #Inktober #Inktober2025 #Drawtober #Drawtober2025 #art #artist #artsky #artistsofbsky #artistsonbsky #IMadeThis #makeartinthefaceoffuck #vampire
Black & white line drawing of a black, femme vampire. Words read: "I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else's whim or to someone else's ignorance." --bell hooks
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 21h
Pandora's Tale Chapter 4
#5

Me making this guy a James Bond lookalike is funnier in retrospect given the recurring Kill James Bond bit about code phrases that could easily just come up in conversation naturally
PAGE 5 PANEL 1 The MAN looks up in surprise to see MISS FORTUNA and NATALYA standing over him. PANEL 2 Inside the back room. NATALYA is dragging the man inside while MISS FORTUNA looks at her phone. HEMMEL What kept you? MISS FORTUNA Thank goodness. I'll let Isabelle know the coast is clear. PANEL 3 ZERO looks up angrily from her equipment at the MAN, who appears confused and intimidated. ZERO Hurry up and hand it over. Nobody's leaving until I've validated the drive. MAN I... don't understand. PANEL 4 MISS FORTUNA looks up from her phone with growing concern. MISS FORTUNA You... You did just order a silver tequila and an extra dry Martini, yes? PANEL 5 Closeup of the MAN, still nervous. MAN Yes...? (cont) Is that... okay? PANEL 6 MISS FORTUNA, HEMMEL and NATALYA glance at each other nervously.
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 22h
Pandora's Tale Chapter 4
#4

Lyra, you can't just go around saying cops are jerks. What if one heard you and it made him sad and then he started being a jerk? Then it would be your fault!
PAGE 4 PANEL 1 Back in the bar, PANDORA approaches LYRA. PANDORA Ms Lyra, do you know if... LYRA Aw man, I've had a bunch of people asking after Isabelle, but she went off with that cop right after she finished dancing! PANEL 2 Closeup of LYRA as she ponders. LYRA Some nights, it seems like the moment a cop comes in here, she's all over him. Tallulah and Zufolene too. Do you think that they're... PANEL 3 PANDORA tries to hide her amusement as LYRA continues to speculate. LYRA Super into cops? PANDORA Well, I mean... maybe. PANEL 4 LYRA leans into PANDORA conspiratorially. LYRA I don't get the appeal. Don't tell anyone I said this, but... (cont) I think cops can be kinda jerks sometimes. PANEL 5 LYRA pulls back and laughs. LYRA Aw geez, listen to me! I sound like one of those resistance types! PANEL 6 LYRA returns to business mode, reciting orders for PANDORA. LYRA Anyway, here. Take down these orders. Two bottles of Beigewasser of table six, three mimosas and a bottle of Arctic zinfandel for table one, and... PANEL 7 LYRA gestures over her shoulder to a smartly dressed MAN sat at a table nearby. LYRA A silver tequila and an extra-dry Martini for James Bond over there. PANEL 8 Closeup of a surprised PANDORA. PANDORA Ah!
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 1d
Pandora's Tale Chapter 4
#3

Sometimes you write a page and then realize "Oh, that's a lot of dialogue"
PAGE 3 PANEL 1 Exterior shot of O, Fortuna, at night. MISS FORTUNA (OFF) Where is he? PANEL 2 PANDORA, MISS FORTUNA, ZERO, HEMMEL and NATALYA are in the back room. HEMMEL The last I heard from our contacts, he entered the city two hours ago. He should be here by now. PANEL 3 MISS FORTUNA addresses PANDORA. MISS FORTUNA He was supposed to ask for a silver tequila and an extra dry Martini... Pandora, you're quite sure nobody's placed that order? PANEL 4 PANDORA responds to MISS FORTUNA. PANDORA Not that I've heard, but I'll check again. PANEL 5 MISS FORTUNA and HEMMEL converse. FORTUNA What do we know about this man? HEMMEL Not much... Only that he works out of Quorum City and does some work for the resistance there in a... freelance capacity. He's had some run-ins with the cops up here, so he prefers to stay where he won't be recognized so easily. PANEL 6 ZERO mumbles to herself, exasperated. ZERO Well, if he's got himself caught, we could all be screwed.
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 1d
Amazing!
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 1d
I was like, nah, that doesn't scan GOD DAMMIT IT DOES
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 1d
Pandora's Tale Chapter 4
#2

I try not to interrogate these thoughts too much because it gets dark quickly, but it makes sense that Helpers wouldn't be inclined towards jealousy
PAGE 2 PANEL 1 ISABELLE and the COP head through the bar, as PANDORA, CON and MISS FORTUNA watch. COP Look, if you're wanting money... ISABELLE For a handsome guy like you? Forget about it! PANEL 2 Closeup of PANDORA, who seems relieved. PANDORA Oh, thank goodness! PANEL 3 PANDORA talks happily to MISS FORTUNA, while CON shows confusion. PANDORA I thought maybe they were gonna fight to the death or something! CON Why would you think that? PANEL 4 MISS FORTUNA leads PANDORA back through the bar. PANDORA My Mistress has many talents, huh? MISS FORTUNA Well, I do like to think of her as my protégé. PANEL 5 MISS FORTUNA and PANDORA approach one of the doors leading to the back rooms. MISS FORTUNA Now, let's do our part and keep our eyes open for this courier.
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 1d
Pandora's Tale Chapter 4
#1

It strikes me that this has been an important role within resistance movements throughout history, but rarely do the people who do it get remembered as heroes
PAGE 1 PANEL 1 The interior of O, Fortuna, with all characters as they were at the end of Chapter 3. ISABELLE, now wearing her dancer's outfit again, is leaning over the COP's table, smiling. ISABELLE Officer... PANEL 2 ISABELLE leans in seductively, catching the COP's attention. ISABELLE You missed my performance! That's too bad... PANEL 3 PANDORA and CON watch from near the stage. PANDORA is increasingly concerned. PANDORA What is she doing? PANEL 4 The COP stands up and ISABELLE takes his hand. PANDORA (OFF) Where are they going? PANEL 5 PANDORA, still concerned, addresses CON, who seems to panic. PANDORA Ms Con? CON Oh! Well, they're... she's just... Everything's fine! No need to worry! PANEL 6 PANDORA is even more concerned now, and CON is visibly uncomfortable. PANDORA Worry about what? Oh, now I'm worried! Aren't the police the enemy? PANEL 7 MISS FORTUNA, standing on the other side of PANDORA, addresses her calmly. PANDORA's concern lessens at this. MISS FORTUNA Pandora. Isabelle is a full service sex worker. She and some of the other dancers sometimes provide their services to customers. (cont) And, when the resistance needs certain people out of the way for a while, they use their skills as a distraction.
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 1d
Pandora's Tale Chapter 4
Cover

Here we go with chapter 4~
PANDORA'S TALE Chapter 4: Sisters in Arms, part 2
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Reposted by Xan
xylaria.vg
Xy, First Minister of Furries and Autism @xylaria.vg · 1d
Yoshi's Island was an *enormously* clever use of the SNES's layering. It's really a technical marvel, there are so many of these details.

Most folks who care know about how they used Mode 7 really creatively to do objects moving in and out of the background, but there are so many details too.
mariobrothblog.bsky.social
Supper Mario Broth @mariobrothblog.bsky.social · 1d
In Yoshi's Island, a cave background sparkles, but only when Yoshi moves. This is achieved in an inventive way by making many 1-pixel "pinholes" in the background through which a field of stars is visible. The parallax motion shows the stars intermittently, creating sparkles.
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 1d
This is so cool!

My familiarity with the series is mostly from the 80s cartoon, but this has sent me down a rabbit hole of "who's the most obscure character this set could reference?"
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 1d
This is my dance about how much transphobes suck.
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 1d
It's so good, I'm listening to it with my partner and we're both just having a blast

Probably too early to pick a favorite character but I love Nova and her mid-90s dubbed anime dialogue
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comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Xan @comicsbyxan.bsky.social · 1d
Anyway this book is great and the audiobook narrator is also great, and I want this series to take off so I can have the animated show that's playing in my head as I listen to this
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