FAQ

This is you go-to spot for commonly asked questions about the comic, or the characters, in the ongoing story of Selkie.

If you have a question you would like to submit, just email them to the following address: faq AT selkiecomic DOT com.

Please note! All questions will be answered solely at my discretion. If it is a plot-related question or something I would prefer to reveal in-story or simply something I don’t wish to answer, I may politely abstain from a response. So sorry if I can’t give you a straight answer. Now, lets begin! :D

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What is Selkie?
This is a commonly asked question that I unfortunately can’t answer in entirety at this point. I have confirmed in-story that she is of a non-human sapient species, but beyond that she’s just a little girl who is more-than-a-little different from other kids.

Some information about her species has been made canon in ancillary updates. There has been an Anatomy Sketch, and a two-page Cover Letter.

Where did Selkie come from?
Her origins, as well as that of her species, will be revealed in time.

Is Selkie a mythological selkie (shapeshifting seal-person)?
No, although elements of the selkie myth were part of her character and design inspiration (which is why I decided seals are one of her favorite animals). Other sources of inspiration include Gollum from Lord of the Rings, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the Futurama episode Cyber-House Rules (Sally is adorable!), and H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “The Doom That Fell Upon Sarnath”.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Sure! I am a visual arts student in Springfield, IL hoping to pursue a career in either graphic design or illustration one day. I have been called weird, funny, goofy, and Tim. Don’t know why they call me Tim. Might be because I am so enchanting.

Do you have plans to merchandise the comic in the future?
Eventually I would like to move in to the market for books, buttons, etc. I just can’t at this time. For right now, it’s simply a labor of love.

Where did you get the idea for the comic? What inspired you to start a webcomic?
I wanted to run a webcomic for several years, but none of the ideas I had ever stuck with me. I tried scripting a few “goofy hijinks” ideas, but those got boring for me after awhile. I also tried my hand at a scifi/superhero action story a few years back that was… just terrible, and not in the good way.

Selkie started from a doodle I made while working a telemarketing job. I drew this picture of a little girl with giant flippers for feet and a shark mouth. Something about her stuck in my head. I drew a few more pictures, changed a few details, and between phone calls I started sketching the very first comics.

I have Selkie on the brain almost every moment of the day. I run storylines and scenes and dialog through my head almost all day, and draw pencils for the comics between classes and such. I also decided early on to use the comic as a venue to practice and learn more about digital illustration, so it also acts as my testing board for new artsy tricks.

And this may sound trite, but I think it would be difficult to keep doing the comic without all the encouragement and support of the readers. Every update day I am basically glued to my phone checking for emails to see what people have to say about the new strip. The readers keep me honest, and give me a constant motivation to keep to a deadline and keep the comic going. I love it all. :D

How do you create the comic’s artwork?
At the time of this posting, the artwork is done on a combination of a sketchbook and and Photoshop CS5. I draw it out in my sketchbook, then scan it in and use Photoshop to outline and color and layout panels and dialogue.

Selkie is definitely allergic to land vegetables, but would she be able to eat aquatic vegetables?
Selkie’s digestive system is carnivorous; she can digest neither aquatic or terrestrial plant matter. She gets her plant-based nutrients through what is in the meat she eats. The taste is an issue for her as well. Plants, whether fruits or vegetables or grains, simply taste bad to her.

Selkie can also eat gelatins, as long as they are sugar-free bonemeal based gelatins without fruits. Fruit flavored gelatins would taste bad to her, regardless of actual fruit content.

Can Selkie eat refrigerated or preserved fish, or can she only eat fresh/raw fish?
Absolutely! She can eat canned tuna, salmon, or anything fishy. She can also eat preserved things like sardines and kippers, provided they aren’t swimming in olive oil or anything. In that case she would most likely just have to skim the olive oil off of the fish before eating. Any trace amounts in the meat would be safely ignored.

Do you draw inspiration from real life when writing the children?
Mostly. I try to think about how I would feel in their positions, and I try to write with the philosophy that kids are smarter and more perceptive than people give them credit for. In general, I try to write as if they are people, with opinions and thoughts of their own. Sometimes I try to dial back the dialogue if they get too adult-y, but otherwise I focus on their independent natures.

How old is Todd?
Todd is 26.