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- Temporialis - part 1 - page 4 - Tuesday 8th June 2010 - 5:15 pm -
Viewable on DeviantArt as well [here]
Commentary
Well then, today is brought to you by the letter S. As is sorry for slipping up, being shit at keeping to a schedule, and just generally be rubbish at this whole comic thing... Not that anyone reads the comic anyway, and therefore nobody reads the apology, and therefore nobody cares. Wahehy! As you can tell, I'm in a bit of an apathetic/feeling crappy mood. Oh well, sometimes it happens. I'm sure it's just the fact I don't have a job, and will be sitting on my arse for many months... Quite possibly that.
Anywho, I digress. On to the important stuff, like the commentary. Yes, this one is a bit of a rush job, and I may or may not get the last part of the Temporialis intro out today as well (here's hoping). I jus don't know yet. And yep, this does delay Knighthood, but hey. That's generally how it goes around here. Of course, I'm quite tempted to just write Temporialis and Knighthood, and leave Vampire's Reign for the time being. I have a guest artist who is going to do a couple of pages for that one, so I'm tempted to alternate between those two, and Night Watch instead. Just see how it goes and all that. But this last week and a bit wasn't the best time to start doing the comic really - preparing and entering a Warhammer 40K tournament over the weekend, up in Nottingham, well, kinda hard to do a comic along with that...
On the comic itself, you may have noticed that I can't truly define Skeletron right now - I have the idea in my head, but the idea doesn't include shoulder width description, so I'm still experimenting with it atm. The third/fourth panel I'm really not happy with. I feel it's a good idea with a bad execution - it's meant to show Skeletron talking to Herbert, crossing sides, and as his face disappears behind Herbert when we look behind him, his face changes to what Herbert is seeing of him. This is because Skeletron wears a holographic device that makes him look human. I'll explain more about this in the actual comic, but suffice to say, as the dialogue implies, he hasn't been like this for too long. It's new, he's getting used to it, roadtesting his new body. Hopefully you got that in the comic itself...
I'm actually quite proud of the second panel depiction of Skeletron - I think it's a winner when it comes to his basic design and proportions. Of course the design itself is still pretty damn hard for me to illustrate, but I think I'm getting there. Hopefully the page meant sense, and my laziness didn't impact too much on the story. Let me know, I really need the feedback on everything here.
Thanks for reading everyone
- Temporialis - part 1 - page 3 - Thursday 3rd June 2010 - 9:50 am -
Viewable on DeviantArt as well [here]
Commentary
Yep, I slipped up again. Well, I'm getting used to this schedule, so it's bound to be cacked up in the first week or two. Still, I'm already improving it - just like how I paint, I like breaks in the middle of the drawing. I'll be doing some in the morning, then finishing it off in the evening and posting it then. We'll see how that goes, and whether it works. I expect it'll be better once the tournament is done, and I won't be traveling to my friends house. Instead, I'll just be drawing and being a lazy bum.
Now, I know what I said yesterday about backgrounds, but I'm really not doing very well with the whole schedule thing, and was getting quite fed up with drawing last night. Not at all happy with 'yesterdays' page, not one bit... Still, at least I did it I suppose.
This page was an odd one anyway, as it was the last page I scripted, but the third I drew. I'm just not a fan of fight scenes. I'm terrible at drawing them, and unless they're really well done, they just seem like padding to me...
Now, pay attention to the symbol on the guy's back - this isn't important in it's own right, but I'm giving everyone a free notice at a Lantern Corps reference. There will be others, along with other DC/Marvel/Dynamite/other webcomic references.
Anywho, I can't really concentrate any more. There's builders in the house, and it's damn noisy...
- Temporialis - part 1 - page 2 - Wednesday 2nd June 2010 - 11:20 am -
Viewable on DeviantArt as well [here]
Commentary
Ok, so yeah, I've already slipped on my schedule. Suffice to say yesterday was very busy, traveling between separate places, back and forth. Anywho, today is better, I got my scheduling sorted out. Anyway, since I missed yesterdays, you do still get todays as well. That'll be up in the evening, with it's own commentary. Promise.
On the actual comic itself, well, this went through alot of revision. Originally 5 panels, and in a completely different layout to how it actually ended up being, this is something I'm learning when scripting and drawing a comic. It gives me a feel of both ends, and therefore I become a better writer - knowing where panels look better bigger or smaller, which ones make the better action shots - that kind of thing. Of course, it's still not perfect. Panel one is kndof redundant, what with it being highly similar to panel 4 of page 1. But hey, I'm still learning. And yes, I know I cocked up the fourth panel of this page. It was meant to be a zoom shot, and I just completely cocked it up, 'timesuit man' (names generally come to me during the post production process, which isn't a good habit when you think about it) and all. I'm sorry
When I wrote the script for this issue, I figured it would be in colour, and so the box-outs would be in different colours. Now, due to me now not colouring them, I needed a new representation. Obviously little pictures are the classic solution, but being at half a cm wide, they're a bit too big. It's a learning curve, and you'll see this comic evolve along with my ability to both write and draw it.
Now, I'm not sure how regular comic/web-comic artists do backgrounds, but I feel they're best left till last, as they aren't as important as the foreground stuff, where all the action takes place (obviously). But some artists on the web do cop out a little, which is a shame. I understand perspective can be hard, but it really does give you a feel of where you are, even if it's just small things. I'm terrible at them myself, but I feel the area I designed has enough 'action' in the background as it is. Plus I do leave huge areas of blank space, as I'm just not that good at the whole design an environment thing. People, yeah, sure thing. Places, well, erm... Not so hot on.
Oh, and I'm hating drawing that chair and bookcase. I wish I'd never put em in here... And I'm sure it's highly inaccurate of German design during the Third Reich, but, well, the sticklers who really love historical accuracy will just have to deal with it. As I'm more of a mythological accuracy (if such a thing exists) kind of person myself.
- Temporialis - part 1 - page 1 - Monday 31st May 2010 - 10:30 pm -
Viewable on DeviantArt as well [here]
Commentary
Right, so here we are. My comic, on the internet, at last! This, my friends, is Temporialis, a time travel comic. It's part Doctor Who, part Stargate SG-1, and part Skins. And this is chapter 1, page 1. Good lord, it's nice to have done this. If I continue to do things like this, well, we might get my schedule up to five times a week. Wouldn't that be lovely?
Well, due to a major cock-up on Adobes part, making Photoshop not the ideal thing for me to use for my comics, unless I start by drawing it straight on Photoshop. As you might have guessed, I thought this was very stupid, and so I gave up on the whole Photoshop thing for the comic. I'll give it some more tries in the next few days, but I have a feeling that it'll continue to be a useless bugger. So you'll have ta suffer these photo quality pictures. Sorry
Something I was tempted to try out, but decided against (because it looked stupid in my head) was to make the vortex effect the only thing coloured on the page, another reality seeping into this comics reality. Instead, I showed things touched by the vortex temporarily changing, morphing and warping before snapping back as the vortex pulls back in on itself.
Now, as the story itself will iterate, traveling in the vortex is a damn nightmarish experience - it'll rip flesh to shreds, it defies physical boundaries, it's mentally unnerving. Plus, who knows what else exists within it?
The expanding comic panel effect I used here was something that came to me when actually drawing it, *not* when doing the scripting process. In the script, it was just four equally sized panels with the 'camera' drawing back away from the T junction of the corridor.
Now, as all my readers know (all three of them anyway), I love to tease you guys about my story, what's gonna happen in it, and all that. Well, for all those who hate me for that, good news! You only need to hate me for a few more hours. As, for the next three weeks only, I shall be writing and drawing every Monday to Friday, giving you 15 comic pages for everyone to drool over. Aren't I generous like that?
So, due to the way I'm terrible at deadlines and all that (as anyone who knows me knows), I'm really forcing myself to do this. They're not gonna be coloured, but should well be inked. And now, for the important thing: the scheduling. Now, what's that I hear you say, you already told us the schedule. Or did I?
Week 1 (May 31st - June 6th)
Monday to Friday: Temporialis
Saturday-Sunday: Offline due to a Warhammer tournament
Week 2 (June 7th - June 13th)
Monday: Temporialis cover
Monday to Friday: Knighthood
Saturday: Knighthood cover
Saturday/Sunday: optional sketch dump
Week 3 (June 14th - June 20th)
Monday to Friday: Vampire's Reign
Saturday: Vampire's Reign cover
Sunday: optional sketch dump
Week 4 onwards (June 21st)
Tuesday: Temporialis
Thursday: Knighthood
Saturday: Vampire's Reign
Sunday: optional sketch dump
Around Week 6 (July 5th)
Thursdays become a double day, sharing it's place with Night Watch
Around Week 8 (July 12th)
Vampire's Reign comes to a temporary end, and is replaced with Lone Wolf Origins. This is a limited series, showcasing Odin's beginnings. When that arc is over, Vampire's Reign returns in full force!
This is also my birthday week, so hopefully that won't impact too much on my writing
Week 15 (August 30th)
My time at my current house comes to an end, I start needing to go back to university in September, and I'm not entirely sure what's going to happen. How I think it'll work though is that I try and write Temporialis, Knighthood and Night Watch during the week, and then chuck em all up on the weekend. Vampire's Reign will come to an end for this time quite likely, concluding in a spectacular Temporialis/Knighthood crossover, starting a new era and evolution for all my stories
Ta-daa. And actual, official from me, written in keypad and posted online (as opposed to stone, which is pretty hard to make legible), an actual hard schedule. Now, as an explanation for this schedule - the first three weeks are setup weeks, giving people a brief look at the characters involved, how their world works, all that kind of thing. Then it cuts to them being once a week as their stories truly happen, in who knows what ways? There will be twists and turns, laughing and crying, life and death, and all the bits in-between. But until then, I leave you with what I suppose will be my sign off from now on (everyone seems to have one of those):
"Try not to die."
Right, now, as everyone who follows me at all might know that I've been VERY bad at getting back to people, letting conversations slide and all that. Well, the reason for that is very simple. I've been very knackered, and jus haven't got round to replying >.< I have about 30 posts to comment on, all in their own window, so I will get round to it, at some point. And yes, I know it is a slappable offence.
Anywho, I will be better at replying from next week - I finish work at the end of next week, and so from Sunday I will be free to do whatever I please. Which means lots of booze, gambling and hookers. *Beat* No wait, it'll be clothes designs, comic writing and maybe taking a holiday to the States. I haven't decided yet where or when, but if anyone has ideas or wants to meet up, let me know and we can see what we can arrange. Jus look out for the guy with long red hair and a fedora.
And now, finally, onto the review, and it will only be one, because the entire week disapointed me so much (Brightest Day was lame, with what, not even a page of Aquaman, some really confusing ass Martian Manhunter stuff, etc etc. Urge), Atlas (erm, so who the hell is this 3D-Man and why should I care? I wanted to read about the Agents of Atlas dammit) and my actual review. The good though were The Spirit (mediocore really, but enjoyable enough), DCU Legacies (enjoyed the stories on this, people living in a superhero world, good premise and all), Legion of Super-Heroes (passable, though when did Saturn-Woman have kids [though not any more, haha. It's like a dead baby joke...] and there were a few confusing moments, but it was alright) and Zatanna (tad disappointed, could've been so much more). But now, without further ado, it's on to the actual review, and if you read my blog at any point, you know what's coming. It's X-Men Pixie Strikes Back by Kathryn Immonen and Sara Pichelli. Fun times all round.
OK, now, this comic was just painful to read. Really, physically painful. I think I've got a brain injury from reading it. The plot makes sense, in a consistent sense anyway. But the way it's structured, the way the characters act, they way they talk is all wrong. And it's not just this series - Kathryn should not be writing comics in my opinion. Both Runaways and this have been utter disasters when she's been writing, hampered by her complete and utter inability to write something of any sense. The plot is just stupid, the writing is bad, characters don't act as they should do, scenes and segways are bad, everybody talks in the same disjointed style that Felicia Henderson of Teen Titans uses, I think they went to the same school of BAD WRITERS. URGH
And finally, on a final note on the writing on the final bit of the issue - so Pixie thought she was going home with her mom, but her mom things being with the X-Men is her home. OK, fair enough. But it's badly written and took me three attempts before I realised this. Before I just thought it was sounding stupid writing. Maybe it's my annoyance at Kathryn, I don't know, as I generally get this stuff straight away. It's just all horrible.
And now, on to the artwork. I suppose it's passable in a way, but I think that's more due to the colouring than anything else. I'll give credit where credits due, and the colouring is done in an offbeat, non usual comic standard, and I really think it works. Good work Christina Strain. But now, on to the bad, and first things first: where the hell have Pixie's wings gone? Erm, HELLO? WINGS people, WINGS!
And you know what else? It's comical the size of the breasts on the women in this series. Emma, both Masterminds and Psylocke. Just, wow. So much silicon and plastic in those things eh?
And now, before I pop multiple blood vessels, I'm gonna to stop right here and not review it any more. So, now that that mini-series is over and done with, maybe we can have some competent writers writing Pixie (and the X-Men I suppose). I do have to say with Kathryn writing both the on hiatus Runaways and this series, I did think that with the revelation of Jason being Pixie's dad, I thought she might run away from the X-Men and become a Runaway. But apparently not. I suppose it does save me from watching as Kathryn butchers Pixie some more.
So, and this is the final note, my ending statement, WHERE WERE PIXIE'S WINGS?!? ARGH!
OK, so admittedly, this is ill timed due to Falisha's excellent Scarecrow week having ended for to make way for her Poison Ivy week (still great drawings, just not a fan of the character ;)), but hey, timing was never my strong point ;) So, here's a character from my story I just quickly did a few sketches of, as I've been stuck inside all day due to the weather :( - got jobs that need me going outside dammit!
Anywho, here he is, a twisted sick individual whose story shall not be divulged here, as it is a true mystery story that will be unveiled over time in the tale itself. Suffice to say, the first arc this character appears in is under the working title of "Knighthood: Formidilosus Gaea", with one of the chapters being known as that classic of titles, the entering of the villain, "Enter: Frightmare". But that's all I'll say of that for now. It's an early tale, and hopefully it'll have a truly creepy vibe while being a decent mystery story.
By now I'm sure you're all fed up of my rambling, and so I'll leave you with my drawing. Not a fan of the head though, gas masks and bent witch/scarecrow hats are hard...
