
I was pawing through my most recently-filled sketchbook and realized there’s a lot of stuff in it I’d like to show off. But there’s a lot of work in general that I haven’t posted, that I probably should because I keep TALKING about it.
So here are two things for you to stare at. The first is the first page of ROBOT FINDS KITTEN, which is in a strange ratio and has hideous lettering. I’m going to float it on a black page and redo the lettering.
My plan was to never show the Scientists filled-in, and to always have them be silhouetted by the bright overhead lights of the laboratory. This is proving difficult in the pages that come after this one, so I may abandon that device and draw them normally. Like some sort of normal person. Hurr.
I’ve gone back since I scanned this and pencilled in a few more details, so it will be slightly different later on. I forgot, for example, to put Robot’s speaker on his front.
The second thing is the first page of what was going to be the lead-in to WORSE, which is the only non-ridiculous story I’m working on right now.
WORSE will probably be its own book, while ROBOT FINDS KITTEN, THE DELIVERY and the as-yet-unnamed story about kittens and spaceships will most likely be collected into a single book that is working-titled SPACE AND/OR THE FUTURE. It will act as a depository for all my awesome science fiction vignettes.
But this first page was so agonized over (it took months to plan, and write, and draw, and ink) that I really fucking hate it now and won’t be using it, or the flashback scene it was part of.
You can see my doubt in the overworked appearance, and the stiffness of the characters. Still, it was good practice and helped me work out some yesses and nos in regards to the style of the thing.
The main character, Brose, is seen in his teenage form in the front seat. He’s the blonde. Brose doesn’t even look like this anymore, he’s a lot more sullen and pointy, but he will retain his awkward height.
The girl with big black hair is Mena, Brose’s best friend. She’s part of the supporting cast in WORSE, and star of the book that comes after this one, which is working-titled CRUTCH. It’s about photography.
Mena is called Mena because her mother is an arachnologist and named her after Misumena vatia, the crab spider.
I think my favorite drawing on this page is the chubby goth girl in the vinyl corset. Favorite drawing, I mean, besides the BUS HOBO.
SPRAL peeps, does this scene remind you of anything? Yeah, me too. Not in a bad way, either. Let’s all go to Denny’s.
The WORSE image won’t go big for me. :(
I like it. Very Johnen Vasquez, if you don’t mind the comparison.
BTW - The link to bigger on the second image is broken.
The layout works well in the 2nd page so it’s a shame to see it cut. I doesn’t come off all that stiff actually though your changes to Brose sound like a better fit. Best of luck with it all.
With the first page the ratio may be odd for a traditional comic but it seems to work. Reminds me of the page size of children’s books. Some page layouts look better in a more square shape. I like the silhouetted idea though I can see the hassles it would cause. What about having a light source on them (kinda like a variation on the old miner’s hat) that washes out any detail so all you see is either a silhouette or outline?
Seems like a fun story, look forward to reading it.