The Making of Our Comic "Justine" pt. 3a

I said I’d post some thumbnails and pencils of Justine and who delivers on her word? …three months later. Sorry about that.

Anyways, in continuation from Pt. 1 and Pt. 2, below are the thumbs and such for page one along with its respective page from the script. (Page four and page ten are posted separately below). Comparing the text to the art, you can see how things changed and moved around and were interpreted in different (but wonderful) ways than what I’d envisioned.

This was our first time collaborating on a comic, so we learned a lot along the way. For Justine, I didn’t send Jose my own thumbnails along with the script like I’ve been doing for this project. Then we learned how nit-picky (especially when it came to designing lead characters) I could be. Thus, our current process was born saving us a lot of back and forth about little things.

I’ll let the sketches and drawings speak for themselves since—well, they are images. Also, I didn’t draw them so there’s not a lot I can say about the thought process behind them.

Le Script

PAGE ONE(7 Panels)

PANEL ONE

A white puff of breath on the cold night air.

CAPTION: Few know the true scent of a werewolf.

PANEL TWO

The thin, glowing moon peeks out between the clouds.

CAPTION: What lies beneath the reek of blood and death on their breath--

PANEL THREE

The rusting metal bars and chains of a swing set seem to give off a chill.

CAPTION: --or beyond the odor of aggression and anger– yes, those have a smell too.

PANEL FOUR

A pair of petite feet in white winter boots and white tights walk over a sidewalk whose many cracks are over grown with weeds.

CAPTION: But once you know, it’s a stench so pungent you’ll recognize it from miles away.

PANEL FIVE

A girl in her late teens walks past a crumbing wall that’s immersed in shadows. A medium-close sort of shot that starts just below her nose and cuts off maybe around her elbows which stick out slightly because her hands are in her pockets. In the shadows behind her, a pair of red eyes glow and the glint of the moon hits a sharp fang wet with saliva. We’re maybe able to see the faintest outline of the monstrous face hidden in the shadow.

CAPTION: The young ones especially don’t know the scent.

PANEL SIX

Front view of the girl reacting with surprise to an unseen voice.

VOICE (O.P): Hey, little girl, you shouldn’t be out by yourself this time of night.

PANEL SEVEN

The girl relaxes and smiles nervously. Same front view of her, but this time there’s a shadow behind her moving away from the wall.

GIRL: I couldn’t sleep.

Thumbnails

Pencil Layout

Black/White Comp

Color Comp
(with out limited color palette, the difference between the color and b/w comps is subtle on this page. Can you spot it?)

Final Pencil Comp

Inking

Final Page

Hey, since you’re already here, check out page four and page ten too! To read the story in its entirety click here.

The Making of Our Comic "Justine" pt. 3b

Making of PAGE FOUR starts below:

I said I’d post some thumbnails and pencils of Justine and who delivers on her word? …three months later. Sorry about that.

Anyways, in continuation from Pt. 1 and Pt. 2, below are the thumbs and such for page four (my favorite page!) along with its respective page from the script. (Page one and page ten are posted separately). Comparing the text to the art, you can see how things changed and moved around and were interpreted in different (but wonderful) ways than what I’d envisioned.

This was our first time collaborating on a comic, so we learned a lot along the way. For Justine, I didn’t send Jose my own thumbnails along with the script like I’ve been doing for this project. Then we learned how nit-picky (especially when it came to designing lead characters) I could be. Thus, our current process was born saving us a lot of back and forth about little things.

I’ll let the sketches and drawings speak for themselves since—well, they are images. Also, I didn’t draw them so there’s not a lot I can say about the thought process behind them.

Le Script

PAGE FOUR(10 Panels)

PANEL ONE

The girl drags her heels in the sand to stop. She looks at him seriously.

SFX HER FEET (small): shrrrr

GIRL (Off Panel): Okay...

PANEL TWO

Medium-close on girl. No longer swinging, she holds onto the chains of the swing in both hands and looks at him seriously.

GIRL: I’ll tell you about monsters then.

PANEL THREE

He watches her as she talks.

GIRL: Some are small and creeping. Some are huge and roaring. But there’s one living inside of every one of us.

PANEL FOUR

She looks down at her stomach and grabs a fist full of her coat.

GIRL: Mine screams to be released every night, but I hold it in. You know why?

PANEL FIVE

Close on girl’s face. She gives him a severe look.

GIRL: Ahem.

GIRL: You know why?

PANEL SIX

Close on man’s face. He rolls his eyes again.

MAN: Why?

PANEL SEVEN

She jumps to her feet deeply convicted by her own words. She stares forward over the mass of riveted listeners who aren’t there.

GIRL: Because we all have the choice to control the monster or let the monster control us and if we let the monster have control, then that’s what we become! Monsters!

PANEL EIGHT

Close on girls face.

GIRL: Do you know what I mean, Mister No-Name?

MAN (O.P.): Heh heh.

PANEL NINE

The man falls off the swing doubled over with laughter. She turns to look at him.

GIRL: Why are you laughing, mister?

MAN: A-HA HA HA HA HA!!

PANEL TEN

Close on man’s face. His expression changes from amusement to pain, as he clutches himself.

MAN (moaning): Ah... Ugh! Uh!

GIRL (O.P): Mister?

Thumbnails

Pencil Layout

Black/White Comp

Color Comp

Final Pencil Comp

Inking

Final Page

Hey, since you’re already here, check out page one and page ten too! To read the story in its entirety click here.

The Making of Our Comic "Justine" pt. 3c

Making of PAGE TEN starts below:

I said I’d post some thumbnails and pencils of Justine and who delivers on her word? …three months later. Sorry about that.

Anyways, in continuation from Pt. 1 and Pt. 2, below are the thumbs and such for page ten (my other favorite page) along with its respective page from the script. (Page one and page four are posted separately). Comparing the text to the art, you can see how things changed and moved around and were interpreted in different (but wonderful) ways than what I’d envisioned.

This was our first time collaborating on a comic, so we learned a lot along the way. For Justine, I didn’t send Jose my own thumbnails along with the script like I’ve been doing for this project. Then we learned how nit-picky (especially when it came to designing lead characters) I could be. Thus, our current process was born saving us a lot of back and forth about little things.

I’ll let the sketches and drawings speak for themselves since—well, they are images. Also, I didn’t draw them so there’s not a lot I can say about the thought process behind them.

Le Script

PAGE TEN(6 Panels)

PANEL ONE

She’s a blur of motion again as she slips between the bars below the monster’s perch.

PANEL TWO

She stands with her back to him, sadly resigned. She reaches inside her coat. Her figure is about half cutoff by the left-hand side of the panel.

JUSTINE: Fine

PANEL THREE

He springs off the monkey bars and at her. It would be really cool if his figure extended past the border of his panel at the top and also into panel two (where Justine would be standing with her back to him.)

PANEL FOUR

This sits in the lower, right-hand corner of the previous panel. Close of Justine’s hand as she begins to pull a dagger from its sheath inside her coat, revealing an inch or so of the gleaming silver blade.

PANEL FIVE

Close on the monster’s face as his eyes widen with awareness and fear, but it’s too late. The momentum will bring him down.

PANEL SIX

He lands against Justine’s back. The expression on his face changes from fear to immense pain. His body convulses.

MONSTER: UUUGH!

Thumbnails

Pencil Layout

Black/White Comp

Color Comp

Final Pencil Comp

Inking

Final Page

Hey, since you’re already here, check out page one and page four too! To read the story in its entirety click here.

Progress report next post! Which I’m willing to believe will happen sooner than three months from now.