Damsels & Dragons: A New Shades of Gray Series!

A young dragon had taken to dining on the sheep of a human village, snatching one each evening. As the dragon was about to grab his 14th sheep, an adventurer, whose physical strength was legendary, ambushed him. 

"I will subdue you with my bare hands, then by the gods' decree you shall become my slave and bedevil innocent people no more!" the human declared.

The dragon laughed, but his mirth faded as he came to realize he had underestimated the human. The adventurer was winning the battle.

At the very last moment, just as the dragon was about to surrender, a beautiful maiden appeared. She declared her undying love for the heroic man and ran up and kissed him. The adventurer was so distracted that the dragon ended up victorious. 

The maiden was actually the dragon's love who had shapeshifted into human form. The two dragons then celebrated by eating the adventurer's corpse. The sheep were spared that day, but for the next little while, the village lost TWO sheep each evening. (Art by Henry Justice Ford.)

To beat the summer heat...

... the Shades of Gray Dancers are staying close to (or in) the sea!

Sometimes, you have a really, really bad day...

If you think things are going wrong for you, this might help put things in perspective. Click on any panel for a larger, more easily read version.

(This tale of extremely bad luck can be read in its entirely in "The Three Lives of Fantomah: Mystery Woman of the Jungle" from NUELOW Games.)

Things You Should Know (from your friends at Shades of Gray)

 Because we care about the safety of our readers, we are beginning a new series of informative posts.

And since this is Monday, here's a music video for a song themed with today's illustrated information. (Don't be frightened by the splashes of color!)

It's a Special Fanny Friday!

Today, marks since six months since Flapper Fanny joined the Shades of Gray family. We hope you enjoy these classic cartoons as much as we do, and we plan on continuing to bring them to you for the foreseeable future.

Randomness Rules

 Sometimes, the random matching of pictures and semi-nonsensical phrases that the InspiroBot comes up with are perfection. Here's one of those times. Someone should write the story based on this. Maybe me.

Picture Perfect Wednesday with Snow White

If I can believe the headlines flashing across my computer screen, the casting of Rachel Zegler as Snow White in the live-action version of the classic animated Disney film (which itself was based on a fairy tale) is still controversial. Why I couldn't tell you.

Zegler likes to go on about the fact that she's Hispanic, but unless this version of Snow White is strutting around throwing gang signs while calling every one "vato" and looking for the nearest bullfighting ring or trying to cross the Rio Grande illegally, who cares? She's a pretty black-haired actress, playing a pretty black-haired character. People should save their faux outrage until they see what the writers give Zegler to do on screen.

And with that said, here are some pictures of Zegler for your viewing pleasure.

If you ask me, any outrage related to this film should be for things that have been confirmed with production stills, such as the hostility towards the differently abled that is clearly on display via the decision to get rid of the Seven Dwarves and replacing them with "normal" actors.

 The dwarves have been present in the "Snow White" story since the Brothers Grimm first recorded the folk tale several centuries ago, even if they weren't named until the 1912 stage play based on it. By erasing these characters, the film's producers, director, and the Walt Disney Company is denying work to actors with dwarfism.

Musical Monday with Depeche Mode

About a month ago, Depeche Mode released a new album. We're fans here at Shades of Gray, but we had no idea that they were still together and still making music! But we're extra-happy to have discovered that they are because "Wagging Tongue" is an excellent song with a cinematic video that's even more excellent.

The lyrics of "Wagging Tongue " seems to be a message from the singer to whoever's listening that the truth will always come to be spoken, no matter how many lies or how much intimidation is used to silence righteous people. Meanwhile, the video, while the action on screen syncs up with the lyrics several times, gives us a look at a strange society where no one speaks unless they submerge their heads in water. It's a dark and strange society, and it contrasts with the upbeat nature of the song. (Heck, the lyrics contrast with the nature of the song... except in the sense that it all ends up carrying something of a hopeful feeling.)

Check out "Wagging Tongue". We're sure you'll agree that Depeche Mode is as great in 2023 as they were in 1983.

Wagging Tongue (2023)

Starring: Tatanya Yolinska, Jacob James Beswick, and Depeche Mode

Directors: Anton Korbijin

Rating: Nine of Ten Stars

 

(Here's a fun idea: The classic Depeche Mode song "Enjoy the Silence" describes the dawn on the dystopian society in "Wagging Tongue". Click here to watch that video and see if you agree or disagree with that notion.)

A single Sunday cartoon...

 

It's Fanny Friday!