Chapter 1: Page 25
This week, Quinlan gives Dakkan a hard time for clamming up in front of his father and the king – all in good humor of course. Dakkan, as you might have noticed earlier, brings out Quin’s more lighthearted side, even when he’s in the worst of moods.
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This page is a good example of the interplay that Rachel and I have in the process from script to final page. In any comic script I work on now that isn’t Beyond the Western Deep, I am very particular about how the pages are laid out. I used to be a bit more free-form, but I think giving the script a bit of structure helps the artistic process quite a bit more.
However, in the case of Beyond the Western Deep specifically, I wrote much of the script before adopting that workflow. The script for BWD doesn’t really follow a set template, and Rachel has a lot of latitude in how she approaches the material.
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In this example, the “I’m working on it” line from last week’s page was originally meant to lead in this week’s page. Rachel decided to stick it into the previous page for flow purposes and ultimately I think it works a lot better this way.
Since the line was bumped, we needed to write a new line for the first panel here – this became Quin’s current line here, where he’s thwapping Dakkan over the head for his lack of assistance earlier.
LOL Why does this page ring a bell for me?
Looks like more than a “thwap,” with that closed fist of his. Hope he didn’t bruise the otter! Oook – sorry, meant Lutren!
I like the layout on this page, with the top panel placed as an inset of sorts into the larger panel. Nice colors and shadings too!
Highwing’s comment reminded me of something I’ve been meaning to ask: Are they Otters/Squirrels and Lutren/Tamian, or just Lutren/Tamian?
The way I’ve always seen it is that *we* would call them otters and squirrels, but since they aren’t us, they have their own names and use them. It also gives a better feel of the political divisions if the species/race names also function like nationalities.
But are they markedly different from our otters and squirrels, aside from being sentient and bipedal? Nah. c:
Hi Altairey – thanks for reading :)
The races only have their one name – so Quinlan is Tamian, and Dakkan is Lutren. While they are definitely based on otters, squirrels, etc, those words won’t show up in the world itself.
A simpler, but no less impressive, page this time. Dakkan manages to get Quin in good spirits again, and they walk out of the tent to a beautiful page spread where we see the outside of the tent in greater detail, with a marvelous display of sunlight. Truly excellent work, Kobb!
AH THIS IS SO COOL
I’m sure you’ve already mentioned it but I have a feeling that Quinlan and Dakkan are very good friends. I can’t imagine a stranger allowing another stranger to hit his arm with a closed fist. Also, the verbal word play between them is the same kind that I’d have with a very good friend.