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The Cat's Warlock 0-50

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Inspired by Sophie Yanow's "A Gentle Comics Habit"
I cannot do anything in 1 minute so my version started as "do it quickly and resist the urge to fix most errors."

I plan to do this until it starts feeling like a slog. We'll see how long that takes!

I wasn't going to post them to my website because ugh I'm not installing Wordpress or a comics manager, everyone I know who does that hates it, and then I thought "but html is easy and I could just make a gigantic list of images."

Sure. Let's go with that. We'll see how long this lasts, too.

0. This one was for "Make a Terrible Comic Day" 2026, but I'm putting it here because it uses the same characters/setting. I didn't track time on it, probably 90-120 minutes?
A comic showing Zhenshay, a demonic-looking man with long purple hair, and Moon, a one-eyed white cat. Zhenshay: “Mmm. Needs a pinch of griffon’s wort--” Moon: *knocks griffon’s wort bottle off the counter* Zhenshay: “Yes, that” *bends to pick it up* Moon: *jumps after it, grabs with all four paws, glares at Zhenshay* Zhenshay: “Or not?” Moon: *gnaws on bottle* Zhenshay: “Not, then.”

1. (8 minutes)
Off-panel: Voice 1: This cat bed seems a little big for her. Voice 2: She has a big spirit. Center of panel: simple single-color cartoon shapes of a white cat curled up in a very large O-shaped orange cushion

2. (17 minutes)
Single panel of a vantablack man with horns, a tail, and long purple hair curled up in/around a wraparound oval pillow. The oval is too small for him and his legs and arms stick out both above and beneath it. A white cat is curled up by his front, atop the pillow. Dialogue: Voice 1: Okay it's DEFINITELY too small for you. Zhenshay: Some people are never happy

3. (24 minutes)
Reflection in an oval mirror of a cartoon woman with curly black hair and brown skin, and Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with purple hair and horns. Very simple sloppy images. Woman: Sometimes I wish I looked a little less, y'know, boring Zhenshay: I have potions for that! Woman: I said A LITTLE

4. (25 minutes)
Simple colored drawing of Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with horns, a tail, and long purple hair, lying on a bed, back against a big orange body pillow, face towards the pillow. Moon, a one-eyed white cat, is standing with her paws on his shoulder and ears splayed in dismay. Zhenshay:

5. (40 minutes)
Simple colored drawing of two figures talking across a counter: Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with horns, a tail, and long purple hair, and a feminine person with light blue skin, long ears, and wings, wearing a dark blue dress with frills. Blue person: The other day, your cat made a potion for my garden Zhenshay: Moon's not my cat Blue person: --your familiar-- Zhenshay: Yeah not that either Blue person: Anyway, it worked great! Can she make more? All my friends want it Zhenshay: Have you considered asking Moon directly?

6. (19 minutes)
Close-up of simple drawing of a blue woman with dark curly hair, wings, and pointed ears, with one raised hand. Blue woman:

7. (29 minutes)
Simple colored drawing of two figures talking across a counter. Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with horns, a tail, and long purple hair, faces the viewer, while a feminine person with light blue skin, long ears, and wings, wearing a dark blue dress with frills, has her back to the viewer. Blue woman:

8. (33 minutes)
Simple colored drawing of two figures talking across a counter, in profile to the viewer. Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with horns, a tail, and long purple hair, and a feminine person with light blue skin, long ears, and wings, wearing a dark blue dress with frills. There's barely-visibly bite marks on her hand. Blue woman:

9. (50 minutes)
Simple colored cartoon. First panel has Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with horns, a tail, and long purple hair, seated and reading a book. Second panel has Zhenshay with one hand raised while Piper, a feminine person with brown skin and dark curly hair, peers into the panel. Dialogue: First panel: Piper: Zhenshay? Zhenshay? Hey, Zhenshay, you home? Second panel: Zhenshay, shouting; ARGH yes what is it? Piper: Ooh, sorry, didn't realize you were studying. New magic tome? Zhenshay: No, new novel Zhenshay, muttering:I just got to the good part, too...

10. (20-30 minutes? I didn't track it)
Simple colored cartoon. Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with horns, a tail, and long purple hair, is seated at a table. A book is open before him, near to the end (if read right to left). Moon, a white cat, is sprawled over it. He's petting Moon. Dialogue: Zhenshay:

11. (too long)
Simple colored cartoon. First panel has Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with horns, a tail, and long purple hair, speaking with Piper, a plump woman with brown skin and dark curly hair. Dialogue: Zhenshay: “So what’s up? Piper: “The river. It rose and your house is way too close to it now. I thought you should know.” Zhenshay: “Huh. Is it?” Next panel: A very large house bult into a slope. A river laps gently around the foundation on most of three sides, with the front steps partially submerged. Dialogue: Zhenshay: “Yeah, we should probably do something about that.” Piper: “Mm. Can I get a towel? I had to wade to get here.”

12. (idk 45 minutes)
Simple colored cartoon. Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with horns, a tail, and long purple hair, is lounging against a wall. He's speaking with Piper, a plump woman with brown skin and dark curly hair, who's got propped one foot on a chair so she can dry it with a towel. Zhenshay:

13. 50 minutes. Sure, let's go with that.
Simple colored cartoon. Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with horns, a tail, and long purple hair, stands beside a window showing a river and trees on the opposite shore. He's speaking with Piper, a plump woman with brown skin and dark curly hair, Their backs are to the viewer, facing the window. Dialogue: Zhenshay: “It’s weird that the river rose this much; there’s been no rain recently.” Piper: “Yeah...” Piper: “Is it just me or is the house shaking?”

14. Officially gave up on the timer thing here.
Simple colored cartoon. Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with horns, a tail, and long purple hair, is speaking with Piper, a plump woman with brown skin and dark curly hair. First panel has just Pipers face as she says, “Crap, your house is sliding into the river!” Second panel shows the house exterior with the two on the slightly-submerged front porch. The river laps at the threshold. Zhenshay: “No. Not sliding. Walking.” The house has bent black legs visible all around the foundation*, walking into the river.

15.
Simple colored cartoon. Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with horns, a tail, and long purple hair, is speaking with Piper, a plump woman with brown skin and dark curly hair. They are both in a river, with Zhenshay braced as if trying in vain to push an entire gigantic house back out of the river. Piper: Why is your house walking into the river?? Zhenshay: How should I know? Piper: Maybe it wants to be a houseboat Zhenshay: It's gonna be a submarine at this rate

16.
Simple colored cartoon. Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with horns, a tail, and long purple hair, is up to his waist in a river, trying in vain to push an entire gigantic house back out of the river. He is talking to the house. The second panel has a close up of his face, looking up in desperation. Zhenshay: Stoppit, house, come on. Don't be this way. Please! Second panel: Zhenshay: I promise I'll mop more often! Zhenshay, screaming: You don't have to take a bath!

17.
Simple colored cartoon. Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with horns, a tail, and long purple hair, is up to his waist in a river. First panel, he's leaning forward, startled as the house backs away from him. Second panel, he and Piper, a plump brown-skinned woman in a pink dress, are standing alone in the river. Dialogue: Zhenshay: “Ah!” House: *scurry backwards* Piper: “Wait, that was it?” Piper: “It was actually trying to take a bath because you don’t mop enough?” Zhenshay: “...that or it woke up Moon.” Piper: “Oh.” Piper: “I hope it’s the mopping” Zhenshay: “Me too.” *muttering* “I’ll need to mop after this either way.”

18.
Simple colored cartoon. First panel: Zhenshay, a reflectionless black figure with horns, a tail, and long purple hair, is mopping the floor while the house is trembling. Second panel: Zhenshay wrings the mop into the sink. House still trembling. Third panel: Zhenshay mopping again. He mutters, “Look, I know you're upset, house, but you've only yourself to blame. You knew Moon was napping.”

19.
Simple colored cartoon. Piper, a plump human woman with black hair and brown skin, outside the window: “Hey, Zhenshay! I found Ember, do you still want her help drying out the house?” Zhenhay, a reflectionless black man with horns and long purple hair, sticking his head out the window: “Yes, please” Piper: “Ember says House has to promise not to go for another swim first” Zhenshay: “I think House has learned its lesson now, thanks”

20.
*Jingle* from one side of first panel. Zhenshay’s head in frame: “Hello?” Smol voice from under counter: “hi...?” Second panel: Zhenshay: *leans over counter* “Ah, hello there. Shall I come around and crouch, or would you prefer uppies?” Smol child raises arms: “Uppies please”

21.
Zhenshay, holding smol child in his arms: “So, where are your parents?” Smol child: “Ma’s home. Da’s coming.” Zhenshay: “Coming?” Smol child: “Da slow.” Zhenshay: “Why didn’t you wait for him?” Smol child: “Da slow”, with heavy emphasis on the word slow

22.
Smol child, now standing on counter before Zhenshay: “Da says witches live here. Are you a witch?” Zhenshay: “No, I’m a warlock.” Smol child: “What’s a warlock?” Zhenshay: “Like a witch, but a boy.” Smol child: “Boys can’t be witches?” Zhenshay: “No, they can. I just think warlock sounds cooler.”

23.
First panel: Zhenshay: “So what brings you to the house of witches and/or warlocks?” Second panel: Smol child bends to get something from backpack, now on table: “Oh! Puppy's sick.” Third panel: Smol child holds out stuffed dog with a rip and stuffing coming out at the neck seam. “Can you cure her?”

24.
First panel, inset: Zhenshay’s hand, reaching for the stuffed animal. “Aww. Sure, let me have a --” Second panel: Zhenshay falls back from a snarling, angry, full-sized wolf, bleeding from the throat, which now stands on the counter beside the smol child. “-- look?” Smol child: “Puppy! Be good!”

25.
Zhenshay, still startled, clutching his chest. Puppy is a plushie again, fallen to the counter while smol child bends to pick her up. Zhenshay: “Did that --” Smol child: “Puppy din’t mean to startle you.” Zhenshay: “I was more concerned whether she intended to bite my hand off, to be honest.”

26.
Da, a stout human man with pale skin, wearing a green shirt and brown pants, enters from a door on the left. Zhenshay stands in the middle. Smol child, now identified as Luian, stands on a counter on the right. Da: Luian, you shouldn't run so far ah -- what is that??? Zhenshay: Do you mean me or Puppy? Luian: Da, this is the warlock. Luian, in an undertone: Da already knows Puppy. Da: Oh, sorry, you look more like a demon than a witch. Zhenshay and Luian, together, with emphasis: Warlock.

27.
Closeup cartoon of two hands shaking. Da's arm is thick, orange-pink, and hairy, while Zhenshay's is reflectionless black, long-fingered, and more slender. Zhenshay: “Let’s try this again. I’m Zhenshay.” Da shakes his hand: “Good to meet you, sir. I’m Chuin. You’ve already met my son, Luian.” Luian: “Da I tole you I’m a girl!” Chuin: “...so you can tell why we came. Can you help him?” Zhenshay: “By all means. Mr. Chuin: please stop referring to your daughter as a boy.”

28.
Chuin and Zhenshay in profile, talking. Zhenshay towers over the other man, almost a full head taller. Chuin: “But he is a boy! If you saw him naked, you’d --” Zhenshay: “Are you seriously suggesting that I should strip a child naked in preference to taking her at her word when she states her gender?” Chuin: “...okay when you put it like that it sounds bad.” Zhenshay: “Does it now.”

29.
Cartoon shows the characters mostly from the bust up, with Zhenshay the tallest and between Chuin and Luian. Luian is still standing on the table, with Puppy dangling from her hands. Zhenshay: “Look, I get it. You think ‘this is a label to describe a reproductive role based on visible anatomy.’ If someone says ‘no, I’m a different label’, they must be wrong.” Zhenshay: “But, first, society ascribes a gajillion things to gender that have nothing to do with reproduction. If it only mattered for reproduction, we’d never talk about a child’s gender.” Zhenshay: “Second: it’s pretty easy to change visible anatomy. I used to look as human as you or your daughter.” Luian: “Really? You’re human?” Zhenshay: “Really.” Luian: “So I can look like you when I grow up?” Chuin and Zhenshay, together: “No.”

30.
Top-down view of the three characters talking. Zhenshay: “Third: using magic to alter someone’s mind is difficult, unreliable, and immoral.” Chuin: “Immoral?” Zhenshay: “Do you want to be a boy, Luian?” Luian: “NO!” Zhenshay: “Immoral.”

31.
First panel shows Chuin looking thoughtful and saying: “So you’re saying you can change her into a girl? And that would be ... better?” Second panel is Zhenshay, with their eyes crescent-shaped, maybe smiling, saying, “No, I’m saying she already is a girl. You don’t need a witch or a warlock to do anything.” and thinking: (Well, other than explain it to you, anyway.)

32.
Chuin has moved to the counter to pick up Luian. Zhenshay is standing back, resting one hand against the wall. Luian: “Why can’t you change me into a girl now?” Zhenshay: “You already are a girl. If you want transformation magic when you’re older, we can work on it then.” Luian: “Mph. Okay.” muttering: “I din’t wanna sit to pee anyway” Zhenshay: “But for now, Mr. Chuin, just let her be a girl. Don’t call her a boy, or tell her she needs to dress or act or be a certain way because you say she’s a boy.” Chuin: “Huh.” Chuin: “And that’s all you want, Luian?” Luian: “Uh-huh!” Chuin: “Well. All right, then.”

33.
“Puppy”, a large dark gray wolf with red eyes, lies on the floor. Luian's small brown hand rests on her back, while Luian peers around the side of her head. The rest of Luian's body is hidden behind Puppy. Puppy's throat is bleeding. Luian: “Da we can’t leave yet, Mister Warlock has to fix Puppy first.” Chuin: “Now, suh -- daughter, I’m sure the warlock doesn’t -- oh, the tear broke open again.” Zhenshay: “Yeah, I don’t think needle and thread is really gonna solve this one.”

34.
Zhenshay is kneeling to look at Puppy closer to her level as she lies on the floor. Puppy is lolling her tongue at him, while Luian sits next to the wolf with a hand on her back. Zhenshay: “Hello, Puppy. You look much calmer now. Is it all right if I clean your wound?” Puppy: *pant pant* Zhenshay: “I’ll take that as a yes.”

35.
Zhenshay, gently sponging Puppy’s wound while she lays her head back in his lap, crooning in soft tones: “There’s a good girl. So brave!” Zhenshay, in normal tones: “What is Puppy, do you know? Was she a stuffed toy first or a wolf?” Luian: “She’s Puppy.” Chuin: “I made her. I mean, I made the plush toy.” Zhenshay: “Thank you for the clarification. I wasn’t about to make any assumptions.”

36.
Puppy is on her back, half-curled and looking cute and friendly for a giant dark gray wolf, while Zhenshay secures a bandage over her throat injury. Chuin: “I told Luian the toy would protect her from nightmares.” Chuin: “To be clear, I didn’t expect Puppy to be this literal of a protector. I thought I was making a regular stuffed animal.” Chuin: “Not that I’m complaining.” Chuin: “I know she can look very ominous but she’s always, you know. Like this with us.”

37.
Zhenshay leans against the wall, while the wolf lies on the floor with Luian scratching around her ears. Chuin is at the far end. Chuin: “She had a rip on her neck a few days ago. I sewed her back up, but ... I guess that didn’t work.” Zhenshay: “Do you know what caused the rip?” Luian: “A monster!” Chuin: “Luian woke up from a nightmare and there was a rip on Puppy’s neck. Nothing else seemed amiss, but ... you know how it is in the Endless Forest.” Zhenshay: “Oh yes.”

38.
Zhenshay, crouching before Puppy, who’s laying one the floor looking up at him: “Mm. I’ll make a potion to heal the wound.” Zhenshay, undertone: “(the bandage is just to keep it from getting worse while the potion works)” Zhenshay: “Then you should reinforce the seam, Mr. Chuin. Perhaps between us, we can address the issue.” Zhenshay: “Provided you concur, Puppy?” Puppy: *pants, tail wagging* Zhenshay: “Good girl”

39.
Caption box: One potion later Chuin: “It feels odd to sew her when there’s no visible tear.” Zhenshay: “Did she have the throat injury in wolf form after you sewed her up the last time?” Chuin: “...no.” Chuin: “Let’s put the bandage back on when I’m done, too.” Zhenshay: “Good plan.”

40.
Chuin crouches to hand Puppy, still a doll but with a bandage around her throat, to Luian: “There, all better. Puppy, you have to let us know if you’re hurt again, all right? You’re an important member of the family. There’s a good girl.” Chuin hands Puppy to Luian: “Why don’t you take her outside while I settle the bill with our warlock friend?” Luian: “Okay!” Zhenshay: “Ooh, payment. I probably should’ve mentioned something about that at some point myself, huh.”

41.
Zhenshay stands before the counter, one arm raised to put his hand behind his neck, though the hand is hidden by his long straight hair. Two little rolls of silver coins tied by string through a hole in the center are on the counter. Zhenshay: “I wanted to say -- thank you for understanding about Luian being a girl. I was ... rather brusque about explaining it, and I appreciate that you listened to me anyway.” Zhenshay: “Instead of doubling down on your original stance because I was a jerk.” Zhenshay: “Sorry about being a jerk, too.”

42.
Zhenshay and Chuin in profile, facing each other as they talk. Chuin: “It’s fine. I mean, you’re obviously right. It just hadn’t occurred to me.” Zhenshay: “See, this is why I feel bad about snarking at you instead of explaining like a normal person.” Chuin: “I’m guessing that ‘normal’ is not really your forte.” Zhenshay: “Accurate.”

43.
Zhenshay and Chuin still talking, with the viewer angle changed so that Chuin is 3/4ths facing the viewer and Zhenshay mostly has his back to the viewer. Chuin: “Not that it’s mine, either. Normal people don’t even come to the Endless Forest, much less live here.” Zhenshay: “Also accurate.” Chuin: “You know, Luian has four older brothers. Her mother and I always wanted a girl, too.” Zhenshay: “Allow me to be the first to congratulate you, then.” Chuin: “Hah, thanks”

44.
Zhenshay is shown from shoulders-up, facing the viewer, while just the top half of Chuin’s head is visible, from behind. Chuin: “It’s just... is it my fault? That Luian’s like this? Because I wanted her to be a girl?” Zhenshay: “No.” Chuin: “I’m not a good male role model, though. I like sewing and making stuffed animals and not, uh, fighting off monsters or whatever.” Zhenshay: “I daresay the world can use far more of your version of masculinity, Mr. Chuin.”

45.
Zhenshay leans against a wall, arms crossed, while Chuin rests his arms against a counter, looking down. Zhenshay: “Speaking as one easily taken for a monster, I consider monster-fighting overrated.” Chuin: “Oh.” Chuin: “Uh, sorry about what I said when I arrived. About you looking demonic.” Zhenshay: “It’s fine. I am reassured that we’re equally bad at first impressions.”

46.
Zhenshay's head facing left, as he speaks with Chuin, who's out of frame. Zhenshay: “To return to your question: Luian is a girl because she’s a girl. You could not cause it by wishing, anymore than you could reverse it by calling her a boy.” Zhenshay: “And there’s nothing wrong with her being a girl, anymore than with her brothers being boys. As long as the people around her support her, she will be as happy and healthy as any other girl.” Chuin: “...‘as long as’ is doing some heavy lifting in that statement, isn’t it.” Zhenshay: “Unfortunately.”

47.
Zhenshay, facing the viewer, has one hand and shoulder raised, shown from the chest up, nonchalant. On the opposite side is the back of Chuin’s head and neck. Zhenshay: “Start now, get your family on board, and she’ll be fine.” Zhenshay: “Some of us manage even without support from family or most people around us.” Chuin: “‘Us’?” Chuin: “...oh.” Zhenshay: “Yes.” Zhenshay: “I meant to mention it to Luian but I got distracted.” Chuin: “Puppy has that effect.”

48.
Outside the house, Chuin and Zhenshay stand on the porch, Zhenshay leaning forward. Puppy in her wolf form is on the ground, wagging her tail and lolling her tongue, while Luian stands behind her. Zhenshay: “Puppy still doing all right so far?” Luian: “Yep!” Puppy: *wag wag* Chuin: “I wanted to ask -- do you know why the toy --” Zhenshay: “No.” Zhenshay: “Sorry. I’ve a sorceress friend, Piper, who might be able to tell you more about your protector/toy, if you want to visit her?” Chuin: “That’d be great, thanks.”

49.
First panel, Zhenshay’s head in profile, facing right: Zhenshay: “Moon, are you about? I could use your help if so, please” Second panel, Moon’s head in profile, facing left Zhenshay, from off-panel: “Ah, there you are. Do you know where--” Third Panel: Moon’s rear, tail trailing, as she leaves to the right. Fourth panel: Zhenshay’s head in profile again, facing right: “Come on, Moon. Puppy left half a day ago!”

50.
Zhenshay walks through a forest alongside Piper, a plump human woman with black hair and brown skin. She's wearing a yellow criss-cross top with little bicep sleeves and exposed shoulders. Piper: “Oh, Moon stopped by yesterday.” Zhenshay: “That’s good. She hasn’t been home much lately.” Piper: “She didn’t stay at my place, either. She took one sniff, gave me an offended look, and stalked off.” Zhenshay: “Did Mr. Chuin introduce Puppy to you before that, by any chance?” Piper: “Yeah, how did you -- oh. Oh.” Zhenshay: “Indeed.” Piper: “Poor Moon.”

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