Chapter 1: Page 2
This week, Quinlan learns that even the best scout in Sunsgrove can’t hide for very long when you’ve got an inquisitive enough friend hunting you down. We’ll learn the voice’s identity next week, as well as why anybody would venture this far into the Western Deep to find Quinlan (and why Quinlan would even be there in the first place).
The original version of this page, as you can see from the old thumbnail, started off with a much different layout reminiscent of the last page of the prologue. The theme here was more one of repose, with Quinlan’s peaceful little getaway getting interrupted and him merely sighing in disappointment. This gave way to the updated version where Rachel decided to retool the page entirely to focus more on the possibly humorous moment-to-moment of Quinlan realizing he can’t stay hidden any longer, as opposed to him being sad about being discovered. The result was a generally more interesting sequence of events:
One of the nicest things about the re-laying out of all these chapter 1 pages from the older version is that they emphasize the characters’ expressions a lot more. One thing I always love to see throughout the development process are Rachel’s doodles and sketches of all the characters – usually expression and pose studies – that really bring them to life beyond the page.
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In the new pages, I believe we’ve done a much better job of emphasizing the characters and their expressions, and I think the comic works much better with a focus on that.
This week’s fanart is actually a commission from the amazingly talented Jerome Jacinto, whose incredible digital paintings of scenes from the Redwall series caught my attention and necessitated a take on a trio of characters from Beyond the Western Deep: Quinlan, Dakkan (who is introduced later in this chapter), and Hardin, all engaged in a desperate battle against a horde of treewalkers!
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Jerome did an incredible job with this piece – really just stunning stuff – and with any luck we’ll see more art of characters from Beyond the Western Deep sometime in the future! That is assuming of course that he doesn’t get snapped up to work on movies or video games sometime between now and then!
Again, I’m going to sounds like a broken record but those facial expressions are amazing!
The art commission is gorgeous but I think the hyper-realism isn’t as flattering to Quin and Hardin as it is for Dakkan. Of course, most people look pretty contorted when terrified for their lives :-D.
And just a hunch, I think Dakkan could probably hold his liquor better, but you might be trying to trick me on that one.
Again, great page that leaves me looking out for more!
Yeah, what Tim said. But I think that Dakkan can hold his liquor better. I mean, as an otter his body is probably a little bigger. Plus, if your otters are like the Redwall otters, they’re a little more bawdy than the squirrels, so I think they’re exposed to liquor just a teensy bit more. :P I did chuckle at the little doodle, though. Their facial expressions cracked me up.
I love the fanart as well, though Dakkan kind of looks like he’s stealing the spotlight. :P That’s okay though, because he’s already my favorite character though he hasn’t even been introduced yet.
Oh, and I also chuckled quite a bit at Quin’s expression. I hope its Dakkan. :D
I know what you mean about Dakkan, I just have this strange feeling he is going to be my favourite, like how, where I live, we know there is going to be an earthquake just not when. At the same time I’m trying to hold out to be objective but alas, I never am :-P, not when it comes to fictional characters.
Outstanding new page, outstanding conceptual sketches, and ultra-outstanding work by Jerome, whatever one may think of his artistic style. I’ve been aware of his Redwall work for about a year now, and I’ve seriously entertained the notion of approaching him about doing a commissions (or commissions) for my Urthblood fics, although to be honest, his artistic skills are fairly intimidating – more like a bona fide nature artist than anything typically associated with the webcomic community. Or maybe he’ll become the furry Boris Vallejo? In any case, excellent work all around!
Yea what they all said…it’s kinda what I’m thinking…AMAZING! Can’t wait for more!
oh and i love the way his ears go back like that…yea…i dont really have the eye of an artist-but i do love a good story
I’m with Jade TeaLeaf — Dakkan’s got to outweigh Quin by a lot. I think he’d hold his liquor better too, unless they metabolize it differently…I am overthinking this? I’m overthinking this. :P
An outstanding piece! I love the facial expressions – especially on the third panel – and how they tell us so much about his situation. Once again, a really good job.
Jerome is indeed an amazing artist, and while I prefer Kobb’s more cartoony style over his heavily naturalistic one, you were very fortunate to have him paint a BTWD pic for you. It seems Quin and Dakkan have teamed up Hardin to fight treecrawlers -.just fanon or upcoming plot point? You decide!
Everyone has already said it, so I guess I’ll agree with them: Dakkan does indeed seem like he’d hold his liquor better.