Chapter 1: Page 11
Relatively short post this week, but I figured I’d focus in on the creation of the page at least to give you folks another behind-the-scenes tour!
THE SCRIPT:
Honestly, the initial draft of the script for this page was literally this:
Janik: I don’t think it’s ever too late for that, Quin. I think your whole family is watching from the highest treetops, waiting.
I know, right? I didn’t even have any specific direction for this line, though things were fleshed out a bit more in conversations between Rachel and myself, the thumbnails, etc. Some creators are very specific about where the camera is, what the scene looks like, who is standing where and where the blocking leads, etc etc. I remember reading Alan Moore’s script for “The Killing Joke” and being absolutely blown away by the specificity of his direction.
Sometimes when I write, I am indeed specific about what a place looks like or what a camera angle should be or how a given character should be moving through a series of panels, but I want to say that around… 75% of the time, it’s a very improvisational process where Rachel and I chat about a scene, I write it, we chat about it some more, I make tweaks, we chat about it some more, she boards it out, we chat about it some more, she makes tweaks, we chat about it some more, she inks the page, we chat about it some more, she flats the page, we chat about it some more, she colors the page. Rachel and I… well, we chat a lot.
Click for full-size
Basically, at every major milestone in the process, Rachel and I chat a little bit about the direction of the page, the tone of the page, the colors on the page, etc. For this whole scene (Quinlan and Janik in the forest), those conversations have been fairly straightforward, since the lighting and color style for the forest was set pretty quickly and the tone shifts within a narrow cone of emotions that doesn’t require too much discussion on how to best represent it once the initial tone is established. Of course, when the scene changes or we’re talking about introducing new elements (see starting next week!) then the conversations get a bit more robust – and that’s a post for next week!
I think it’s neat that we’re getting to see references to their religion.
I love Quin’s expression in the last panel. Also, like doodler said, neat tidbit of cultural beliefs. Love the treetop euphemism. :3
….and something drops from the sky! THE END! lol just kidding! Love it, good job!
Ahahaha! ;D
“And thus ends the sordid tale of Quinlan – born a sissy, died a sissy. Join us next week with Quin’s understudy: Jeffrey the Treewalker!”
^This :)
ok NOW I’m laughing!
I really like the way you’ve pulled off the dappled tree shadowing on the characters. It’s always such a hard thing to do without looking funny, but it adds really nice environmental lighting effect. Really liking this comic so far, you guys are a great team. Interesting story, pleasing character designs, gorgeous backgrounds- looking forward to more!
In the scene with the blurb about how others are watching, I was a little surprised to see no body parts from other squirrels. Which point of view are you shooting for? Are you shooting for that of a family member?
Janik’s reassuring words to Quinlan are actually alluding to Tamian beliefs – that loved ones who have passed on watch them from “the highest treetops” of the Western Deep. The final panel is simply Quin looking up, unsure of whether it’s true or not.
I’m sure you’re sick of me mentioning this, but the first panel here is another one where Janik looks rather scary. The contrast between her smooth head shape, and those big, scary eyes… *shudder*
Still, Quin looks absolutely adorable in the last panel, looking up and wondering whether his family is watching over him… I just want to pick him up and cuddle him! And yes, it nice to see allusions to their religious beliefs – I know you recently posted a page telling us more about that, and I look forward to commenting on it (though that’s still quite a way off).
Interesting perspective on the way you and Kobb/Rachel handle the creative process and lay out the pages. If I were a writer, I’m not sure whether I’d go with your approach or the Alan Moore one. Probably the first one, ’cause I’m nowhere near the level of Moore, and I’d need a good artist to keep me on the straight and narrow ;)
I’m sure Jeffrey would’ve been an excellent main character.