RAIDEN MERCS - LEGEND OF THE MERCENARIES

The first Raiden Mercs; just to set the premise of Mercs in this universe, and the tone of the strips.

RAIDEN MERCS - SPECIAL MOVE PRACTICE

The sound effects declaring the move was to get around the concept of shouting the attack names, but still giving the moves a name that the reader can recognize.

If I ever manage to trick someone into animating this series, the sound effect names will definitely be part of the deal.

RAIDEN MERCS - WEAPON NAMES

I spent a long time coming up with a stupid name for her sticks, and this is what I came up with?

RAIDEN MERCS - BULLETPROOF UNDERWEAR

Battle panty, activate!

Because sending teenagers into battle with just their pain clothes would be silly.

RAIDEN MERCS - SKINNY DIPPING PART 01

Nothing says camping like jumping into a freezing cold lake, am I right?

RAIDEN MERCS - SKINNY DIPPING PART 02

Gotta love that opaque water that censors nudity.

RAIDEN MERCS - SKINNY DIPPING PART 03

Because women can be pervs too. #feminism

RAIDEN MERCS - SOCIAL ANXIETY 1

Out of the characters I’ve written, the one I relate most with is the overthinking, neurotic.

I’m not sure what that says about me.

RAIDEN MERCS - SOCIAL ANXIETY 2

Turns out men and women are little more than some eyelashes away. It's a metaphor! Yeah, that's why my faces look the same!

RAIDEN MERCS - TOURNAMENT ARC 1

Raiden Mercs is back,

and kicking it off with a tournament arc!

Because how else can I be taken seriously?

What do you mean I haven't introduced enough characters?

RAIDEN MERCS - TOURNAMENT ARC 2

Keanu's first opponent rears his ugly head!

Don't tell him I said that.

RAIDEN MERCS - TOURNAMENT ARC 3

Keanu learns that he's lower tier, as Johan closes in for the kill!

RAIDEN MERCS - TOURNAMENT ARC 4

Keanu advances to the next round and Natsumi loses a bet.

Wait, can 15 year olds gamble in this universe?

I guess so, if it supports a joke.

RAIDEN MERCS - TOURNAMENT ARC 5

Keanu learns the horrifying truth...that he's been tricked into fighting bears.

RAIDEN MERCS - LAUNDRY DAY

Keanu and Natsumi discuss laundry.

I could be working on Chapter 3 right now, but no,

I need to draw characters discussing underwear!

In real life the reason they keep the same outfit is that I can remember the details in their outfits and helps keep a sense of consistency.

But I plan to have them wear different outfits in the mercs strips, outside of the main chapters, going forward.

Unless I forget.

RAIDEN MERCS - JUST ONE SLICE 1

Crimes against food is committed and Keanu begins his quest for a decent slice of pizza!

RAIDEN MERCS - JUST ONE SLICE 2

Keanu continues his pizza quest.

(Disclaimer: the opinions of our characters regarding how gross pineapple is on pizza is not representative of Raichious Muffin.

We support all pizza toppings and preferences.

But yeah, pineapple on pizza is pretty gross.)

RAIDEN MERCS - JUST ONE SLICE 3

Natsumi comforts Keanu over his failure to find a decent slice of pizza.

RAIDEN MERCS - WHAT'S IN A NAME? 1

Our heroes finally name their team!

There's no way they can screw this one up!

Right?

RAIDEN MERCS - WHAT'S IN A NAME? 2

Our heroes take the name Raikiri for their clan, and start sporting new jackets.

RAIDEN MERCS - GUNS OF DIPLOMACY 01

Natsumi volunteers Fuyumi, to get her more involved with the story.

RAIDEN MERCS - GUNS OF DIPLOMACY 02

Fuyumi is forced to become a diplomat, against everyones wishes, including her own.

RAIDEN MERCS - GUNS OF DIPLOMACY 03

Keanu wastes time ranting about pizza again.

RAIDEN MERCS - GUNS OF DIPLOMACY 04

Keanu decides to school a chef on proper pizza etiquette.

RAIDEN MERCS - GUNS OF DIPLOMACY 05

Keanu makes pizza sauce.

I'm sorry you had to see this.

RAIDEN MERCS - GUNS OF DIPLOMACY 06

Natsumi tries to help Fuyumi regain her confidence in the wake of her terrible failure.

RAIDEN MERCS - GUNS OF DIPLOMACY

Fuyumi goes full diplomat on the gangster.

RAIDEN MERCS - GUNS OF DIPLOMACY 08

Raikiri faces a double-cross, but they have a trump card of their own…

RAIDEN MERCS - GUNS OF DIPLOMACY 09

Natsumi and Fuyumi deal with an aggressive gangster, and Fuyumi reveals the extent of her delusion over how strong her sister is.

RAIDEN MERCS - GUNS OF DIPLOMACY 10

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Till we meet again, pizza bros.

RAIDEN MERCS - GUNS OF DIPLOMACY 11

Raikiri pull a Bebop and end up with nothing.

Wah wah.

RAIDEN MERCS - FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD 1

A slightly less silly series on the Festival of the Dead in the culture of Raiden Legacy.

I thought this would be a fun way to expand on the world without distracting from the main plot.

It's not important, but maybe you'll find it interesting.

RAIDEN MERCS - FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD 2

This is the first time I decided to switch to my regular chapter style for a mercs strip.

It felt appropriate for more character-focused panels.

Don't worry, I'll get back to writing stories about pizza again soon.

RAIDEN MERCS - FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD 3

I typically try to keep character development out of these strips; they're supposed to be supplemental and all of that is in the main chapters (which you read, right? You...you check those main chapters out? I put more effort into them...).

With that said it's hard to handle the possibility of a dead mother with any real comedy. Unless I want to get totally tone deaf with this.

RAIDEN MERCS - FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD 4

Natsumi sends a message to her dead mother.

These are comedy strips, right?

RAIDEN MERCS - FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD 5

Raikiri send their lanterns into the stars, to wish for luck from their dead relatives.

Next one will be funny again, I promise.

RAIDEN MERCS - THE GUNSLINGER 1

Keanu faces a new opponent.

Yeah, my comic has cowboys now. What of it?

RAIDEN MERCS - THE GUNSLINGER 2

The Duel to end all duels.

RAIDEN MERCS - THE GUNSLINGER 3

Raikiri gets meta on your butt!

Also sad Gunslinger is sad.

RAIDEN MERCS - THE GUNSLINGER 4

The hot-spring chapter already?

CURSE YOU FILLER!

RAIDEN MERCS - THE GUNSLINGER 5

Remember to get out of the bath if you're getting too hot.

Also don't bath in a full duster coat. Probably also a good idea.

RAIDEN MERCS - THE GUNSLINGER 6

Lack of backgrounds will never stop evil plotting!

RAIDEN MERCS - THE GUNSLINGER 7

A beach chapter? Really?

I liked the early Raiden Mercs before I started trying to exploit my characters.

RAIDEN MERCS - THE GUNSLINGER 8

Drawing and writing Fuyumi is such a pain.

I made a character who I can't draw from the left side because of her hair, and I can't have her talking near Keanu.

I love ya girl, but I can't wait for you to grow up.

Seriously, she'll be easier to work with later.

RAIDEN MERCS - THE GUNSLINGER 9

I'm so glad that I've finally introduced some more characters. Before I've been kinda limited by having just 3, and 1 of them couldn't talk to the other.

Also, rest in peace Gunslinger. You were certainly...a character?

Raikiri Mercs

VOLUME 01

RAI MUFFIN

RAIKIRI CHAPTER 15 PROGRESS