Sh!t Just Got Real (aka SSC Project Updates)

Here's some more artwork for my current project, again loosely titled "The Quest". I wanted to share the prelim sketch and final inked version of page two. Take a closer look (click on each image) and please feel free to let me know what you think!

And to satisfy any further curiosity. . . here's the page script that I originally sent to the artist. Again, it's a "work in progress". I'm particularly bad at overwriting dialogue. Once the final work is completed in its entirety I will try to really trim down all the excess yapping. . .

Page 2 (4 equally sized horizontal panels?)
Panel 1: Here we see the night sky with four streaking flares speeding towards earth. There are three clumped together and then one spaced further back. They are all moving in a straight line and in the same direction across the sky.
    Cap: It all began on a Monday. At least that’s the day that makes the most sense for it to have begun. From what I remember. That was the day. . . the night. . . they came.
Panel 2: Viky is hunched over her desk working hard. She’s seated in a office cubicle with a laptop open and a desk lamp illuminating her workspace. Otherwise it’s pretty dark around her.
    Cap: I was working late. I had a presentation to give. This one was going to be for the Foreign Minister. I remember that. Except he wasn’t coming to Washington. I was taking the shuttle to JFK the next day. Early in the morning. I remember that too.
Panel 3: Viky standing in front of an office elevator. We see her from the back, looking up at the numbers of the elevator floors indicated overhead. One arm is full with papers and the other carries a briefcase. Over one shoulder is a pocket book bag.
    Cap: That was my job. Travel often. Rarely home. I was a Media Officer for the State Department. It was a good job.
Panel 4: Here we see Viky walking out the main entrance of the Ronald Reagan building. It’s raining and she now carries an umbrella. She’s striding forward but hunched over as she protects her papers from the win and rain. She’s masterfully balancing the pocket bag, the papers, her briefcase and umbrella.
    Viky: What a miserable night.
    Cap: That job. . . and my family. . . was my life. And life was good.
    Cap: Not great. . . but we had fun. . . didn’t we? Well I was doing the best I could.

Artist Techniques: Templates

My name is Em and I've been creating comics for as long as I can remember. My main project is Jikoshia, a fantasy webcomic series. I draw and ink analog for the most part, but have slowly been getting the hang of digital techniques.

For this post, I'd like to talk to you about templates. As any cartoonist can tell you, a template is helpful not only for maintaining a consistent pace in your comic, but also makes it a whole lot easier (and often cheaper) if you ever decide to go to print. Unless, of course, you prefer to use Scott McCloud's Infinite Canvas concept, in which case you can probably disregard this whole post.

There are tons of places you can get pre-made templates from, but they can get costly. I'm pretty cheap, so I just make my own templates using 11x14 marker board (I also use both sides of the paper, but I digress). Going this route, I only end up spending about 22 cents per page as opposed to 53 cents or more (not accounting for that whole double-sided thing).

So here's the set up: I have my 11x14 paper, my big ruler, a non-photo blue pencil, and a proportion wheel.

"Proportion wheel?" you ask. "I'm working at my printer's size, why would I need any proportions?"

Your standard, pre-made template is 11x17. That's twice the size of a normal comic page. They're made that big because once you shrink them down, a lot of the mistakes you made will be less glaring or disappear entirely. You made no mistakes, you say? Liar liar, pants on fire!

Since I go the cheap route and use 11x14 paper, my proportions don't come out to an east 2x actual size. It turns out this paper puts me at about 1.25x actual page size. Less than ideal, I know, but still larger than the final size. To compensate, I scan in at 600 dpi (which has other perks, but that's for a later discussion)

Set your wheel accordingly, and take note of where your guidelines should be. You need to worry about your trim line (where the page will be cut), your margins (how far important objects need to be away from the trim line to print right), and your bleed (how far and image that goes off the page needs to be to print right). Mark your paper and draw your guides using your non-photo blue pencil.  Why non-photo blue?  Well, it used to be because that was a color scanners and photocopiers wouldn't pick up.  These days, a decent scanner will at least pick up traces of the blue (while still allowing it to be easy to take out of the scan when no longer needed).  For me, it's easier to read the blue as a border than normal pencil lines.  Also, it smudges waaaaay less than regular pencil (very important for a lefty like me).

And you're done! I realize this is probably the most boring part of the comicing process, but it can also be very meditative. Great for those days when you just can't seem to get the pencil to work right. While you're at it, why not grab your thumbnails and pencil in some panel borders? By making your own templates, you'll save yourself some money and still have something to do on those off days of drawing.

Or you can take the easy route and just buy the templates...

Next Meeting

3pm on 23 June 2012 @ Epicurean (Van Ness/UDC metro stop)

SPX 2011 - SSC was there!

Check it, true believers! We were there in 2011. And guess what. . . ?

We will be back with more books in 2012! Mark your calendars. SPX is September 15th and 16th this year.

Sh!t Just Got Real (aka SSC Project Updates)

The artist I'm working with for my next project (loosely titled 'The Quest') emailed my his character sketches. I'm always psyched to see artwork produced from anything I've written and this time was no different. Below are the images and some of my initial thoughts. They're not the final designs so I feel comfortable posting them here for everyone to see (and comment on). . .

 

Dane is one of the two main characters. He's a Hunter Baron (something like a guardian/bounty hunter) from another world (surprise!). I love the armor and the stoic nature of his design. I pictured him with a cape (maybe an off-center short cape like Captain Marvel or PG) and will request one be added. After reviewing my description I realized I didn't mention a cape. I'm really not surprised one wasn't part of this design.

 

Mohawk is the other main character. She's a human who get's caught up ins some intergalactic nonsense. That's all I'll say now.  I'm not that happy with her design. For some reason she just doesn't jump out at me. I also wanted her to be less 'fit'. I had provided images of Storm (from the X-Men) in her punk/mohawk days and images of the WildStorm character Ladytron. The generally ideas are there but it just needs to be tweaked.

The Stalkers are the bad guys. Their planet has been in a seemingly endless war with Dane's planet. I'm really happy with this design. This is not what I had pictured when I was writing the script but I think this is so much better.
 

Tattoo is Mohawk's partner-in-crime so to speak. He doesn't play a pivotal role in the first issue but will be very important in the second. The character design is a little too 'superhero' for me. I really wanted a emo/punk rock guy. This is a little too Mortal Kombat.

 

Traitor is an alien disguised as a human.I didn't ask for much in my character description but this is spot on. 

 

Viktoria is a business woman and married mother of two who starts the book. She is attacked by a Stalker at Reagan National Airport. Dane tries to rescue her. I don't want to say any more. Again, this is spot on. The only thing I don't like is her nose. . .

Interested in Joining Square City Comics?

Well them come check us out! You can also check out our Google Group, 'Square City Comics'. Finally, here's the text from our weekly Craigslist post:

'Square City Comics' is a self-publishing comic book (graphic novel, web comic, etc.) group based in the greater Wash., DC area. Right now there are a handful of us (artists and writers) who meet at least once a month to discuss our projects, characters, ideas, problems, etc. Though we each move at our own paces we are all dedicated to making comics. Our sessions are a productive and positive place to share issues and get regular feedback. The ultimate goal is to help each other self-publish our own projects and provide regular opportunities for discussion and collaboration. Two of us succeeded in self-publishing books that were sold at SPX 2011 (Small Press Expo). We plan to have more books available at SPX 2012!

I'm primarily a writer (who can't draw) who is trying to self-publish two comics. Months ago I realized having similar minded people to review, comment, even criticize (gasp!) my work/direction/etc. would be helpful. Typically we meet in NW DC, near the Van Ness/UDC (Red Line) metro stop. Get in touch if you are creating your own 'sequential art' and tired of toiling away in solitude!

Next Meeting

3pm on 19 May 2012 @ Epicurean (Van Ness/UDC metro stop)

SSC Founders

Anyone remember when this was taken?