By the end of today, my little site will have had 300k visitors from around the world! They will have LOL’d at the Healbot Blues over 600,000 times. I’m betting this makes Healbot the second most notable Monk PC ever, right behind the goober that invented 55 farming.

Anyway, in keeping with the numerical theme, please enjoy the triple-stack of comic vignettes below. As you can see, being a year older hasn’t made Healbot any wiser…

Since Healbot always removes “blind” from her flock, here are the links areas for the 3 secret comics:

“Showdown in Sifhalla” is linked to the 12th Healbot episode. Click on the first panel drawing of Augury Rock.

“The Stone Summit Know Me” is linked to the 4th mini - “Trick or Treat”. Click on the panel 1 drawing of Healbot as a Crimson Skull.

“Gwen’s New Enemy” is linked to the Elonian Hero comic about Master of Whispers (who uses an easel-mounted chart like Healbot). Click on the pie chart drawing.

Before I start on some new comics for the next Healbot “visitor milestone”, let me mention a few more artistic influences. These are the things that distracted me in high school and college, insuring my future existence as a lowly webcomic artist.

5) NEWTYPE Magazine - This giant publication was the otaku food I consumed for ten years (89-99). Although entirely unreadable, the excellent illustrations were worth the import price.

6) Wuxia Movies - When I was young, there were cheesy “Black Belt” movies on TV all the time. In the 1990’s, these types of movies returned, with better wire-fu and top-notch actors like Brigitte Lin. A good portion of my DVD collection is made up of films from both generations.

7) Anime - Believe it or not, there was a time when this genre was new. My exposure to hundreds of titles was granted by knowing an omnipotent laser-disc collector in LA, and working with local anime clubs. Narrowing down the list to “creative masterpieces” is difficult, and still reflects personal preference…but I’ll name some:

Miyazaki’s Films & Manga - This man should be cloned and sent to teach at every art college in the world.

Fantasy Videos - Record of Lodoss War. Vision of Escaflowne. Bastard!!. Berserk & Jyubei Ninpocho (for the strong stomached).

Comedy Videos - Maison Ikkoku. Azumanga Daioh. Dragon Half. Prefectural Earth Defense Force & Animation Runner Kuromi.

Sci-Fi Videos - SDF Macross. Memories. Bubblegum Crisis. Paprika. Gundam 0080. Ghost in the Shell TV. Gunbuster & Daibuster OAVs.

Computer Games - Yeah, there’s this online game with hot chicks and flaming swords…Guild Wars? There’s even a monument to decorate, kinda like in Animal Crossing…

I’m feeling nostalgic with all this anniversary hubbub, so I’m making a partial list of (certainly geeky) art that inspired me in days of yore. Let me begin with:

1) The Book of Conquests - This weird book wins my personal award for AWESOMEST cover ever (see picture below). It looks like a Men’s Mag you’d pick up off of Thulsa Doom’s coffee table. Jim Fitzpatrick is the artist who drew this collection of mythological, warp-spasming berserkers. For a kid who thought Thundarr was cool, this book was worth its weight in platinum.

2) Classic Star Wars Trilogy Sketchbooks - Forget the Force, I was enthralled by the technical illustrations of McQuarrie, Johnston, & Rodis-Jamero. Those movies owed a serious debt to the artists and ILM craftsmen.

3) Art of Michael Whelan - I’d buy my Sci-Fi literature based in part on the book cover. Whelan is the Zeus of book cover painting. Now you know how the “Dragonrider” Healbot strip came about…

4) Monster Manuals - Sometimes, you get tired of drawing the Heroes. That is when you reach for the hard-cover Fiend Folio and start drawing zombie-dogs with bat wings and shit. Just about every monster in EVERY computer game can be linked to a 30 year old drawing from one of these RPG classics. Truly, 10d8s worth of inspiration.

Next time on the Codex, some more recent influences…like Dragon Half MUWAHAHA!

Although I’m still waiting a bit for Healbot to turn 3, some of my other characters had a yearly rollover. I didn’t get any rare pets, but at least there were no duplicates. I’ve always liked the Jade Armor, which was one of the new gifts. Considering how old our “character lists” are now, I think the Xunlai Agents owe us a mini-pet tab for storage.

Once again, Healbot offers up the obtuse clue for this month’s hidden comic:

Hey! When I discuss tactics, I like to use a visual aid. Someone else does the same thing, and you’ll find the link in that other comic!

Remember, no “reveals” in the comments as to the location please. This isn’t any fun unless there are a few hours of rolling on the ground in fretful agony.