As many here know, Eben07.com just celebrated its second year as a webcomic. We’ve done a few things to celebrate, but what of the stars of the show? I don’t mean myself, the humble D. Bethel, or E. Burgoon, the other mastermind behind the comic, but the actual stars of Eben07: Eben07 and NinjaDan.
Some have noticed a slight shift in how the characters look in Operation 3-Ring Bound. Reader Andy said, in an attempt to describe the change, that they look older. While age certainly wasn’t my attempt, there is certainly has been a visual change to our titular character and his ever-patient straight man. These changes are, in fact, my birthday gifts to the characters.
I gave Eben07 a gift which has been in his prayers and dreams all his life: a chin. Not a chin-chin, like the dimpled brick that hangs on Aaron Eckhart’s face. No, the chin now adorning 07′s face doesn’t even affect his profile. It’s a chin for chin’s sake, a morale booster, a flag for the lower jaw to wave, a landmark on Eben07′s map of life. In artistic terms, however, it’s just a twitch of the pen.
A few people have already commented on my gift to NinjaDan, and no, his gift was not the beard. This isn’t the first time NinjaDan’s eyes have been revealed, but it is the first time I, as the illustrator, have taken it seriously. I’m hopeful that it won’t affect his ninjutsu too much; I know losing his hearing didn’t impede him at all.
I’m sure more gifts will be bequeathed to the rest of the cast as they pop back up throughout the story, but these two presents were the ones gift wrapped, with a card, to the comic series I’m so proud to be a part of.
Happy birthday, boys.
