Larry and I are long-time collaborators on The Silent Invasion and other comic book work. We work the “Marvel method.” That is we discuss the story and roughly formulate the plot over a pizza or burger. I make a few rough sketches, then go away and do tighter layouts and send them to Larry. He scripts the story. I take the script and pretend to make it work. We make additional edits over much gnashing of teeth, fist fights, Sugar ‘n’ Spike inspired tantrums and other childish behaviour. I pencil it using non-repro blue pencils; letter; and ink the page.
I’m pretty methodical about it the process once I start pencilling. I begin with page one at each stage and work from the top left-hand panel on the first page to the bottom right-hand panel on the last page. A creature of habit, I guess.
Here’s a sample page ( a page from chapter 4 of “Abductions”) from the first rough sketch to final product:
The initial sketch done at the pizza meeting:
Larry’s script with my scribbles:
The page layout:
The pencilled page:
A test ink sketch that I usually do while I’m finessing the point on my brush:
And the final page:
Next time: more on the CFL in The Silent Invasion!
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