So now all the pages have been "pencilled" at least once by both Steve and Kuba and all that remains are reviews and refinements. Having completed all the missing pages, Kuba has now gone back to re-do Steve's seven pages from the beginning until he meets up with where he left off.
It's getting exciting now! With the work being put into the comic, it's had me thinking more about the story. I've been having a veritable assault of ideas that I'd just love to start writing: stuff that deals with the backgrounds of characters, such as what they were like before the plague and how it changed their lives (ironically for the better, in most cases). I have ideas for new characters joining the cast, the actual logistics behind Slaughter Inc's weapon supply, and, most importantly, the origins of the zombie plague.
I know I mentioned in the pitch that the origins of the zombie plague was unimportant to the story, and that remains true. However, I've got a great idea about how Slaughter Inc. gets involved with scientists trying to find the cure by digging up the past... But again, the focus of the story isn't about how the zombies came to be, but how the characters will deal with the information they find. Don't worry, it's not something as cliche as "the government was trying to make super-soldiers".
I'm tempted to write the scripts for the issues that follow the one in the pitch and just posting them here. Writing the dialogue for Gregory is tons of fun, and I just love how he reacts to the situations he finds himself in (or will find himself in, rather).
I'm probably getting ahead of myself with all of this, but seeing all the pages of the comic come together is making me very giddy. I just saw Kuba's pencil version of page 1 today and it brought a smile to my face. He's actually making zombies scary again:
For comparison's sake, here's Steve's original finished version:
If you asked me which artist I liked better, I honestly wouldn't be able to choose. In either case, I feel extremely lucky to have had pages of Slaughter Inc. brought to un-life by both of them. Note that the page by Kuba there is incomplete, but the painterly aspect of it is wonderfully fitting.
Comments
03:15 Thu Jun 12th, 2008
These are both fabulous. I just think how Steve is wishing he could've done this book - too bad life threw him a curveball.
06:36 Thu Jun 12th, 2008
Write the stories anyway. It will be fun. You know you want to. And you'll likely have an audience for them, regardless. DO IT.
08:37 Thu Jun 12th, 2008
Kuba's shot is damn scary. It's got a healthy dose of creepiness, love it!
13:55 Thu Jun 12th, 2008
I say go for it. I mean, what's it cost ya, really? BUT.... speaking as someone who DOES have three more chapters fully committed to paper, it does sort of result in a tang of bitter-sweetness overall. If only becuase I'm looking at Miguel's art [it IS out there, despite the fact that it's all being kept under wraps], and I just KNOW if he'd be able to do the other three issues, faces would surely melt and minds would fully and officially be blown. I like Chapter One of Alma[the one being made], don't get me wrong, but the other three chapters, in my opinion, are so much more BANG and POW that seeing him do them would really wow everyone involved. And many of those not involved. Especially seeing that there's stuff in later chapters that he'd do really really awesome stuff with, that seems to suit his style far better than the wordy and expositional first chapter. [Not that he's not working really hard to make all that idle chatter far more interesting to look at.] So, in conclusion... write them. Please. But do so at your own risk!
14:45 Thu Jun 12th, 2008
Well geez, maybe I will! And Will, I know how you feel. The issues following the first have so many great punches, twists and comedic moments, it sucks to not know if they'll ever have a future. But still! Gotta do it for the love of it.
15:04 Thu Jun 12th, 2008
This CCCN thing could lead anywhere - so write all the stories. It could be next year, it could be next week, but someone will want to see the rest of the story told. The best way to prepare for that day is to stay positive, and enjoy what we're doing.
16:01 Thu Jun 12th, 2008
Hey, can we make posters? I would love to make a poster out of Kuba's image there.
16:03 Thu Jun 12th, 2008
CW: You're absolutely right. I always wonder if I should get my hopes up or not, but the best thing to do is just concentrate on enjoying the process. If you love what you're doing, chances are, others will too! And even if you don't "make it big", at least you've been doing something you love!
23:49 Thu Jun 12th, 2008
And learn - I'm always looking for opportunities to learn from the process. I have story ideas that I'm not sure if I'm good enough to tell properly yet. The only way for me to get there is to challenge myself and keep learning.
06:45 Fri Jun 13th, 2008
Writers write. It's what we do. It's not my job, well, it sort of part time is now, but I still consider myself a writer, not a whatever the heck it is they call my job title at work. A husband and father and a writer first. I always have stories percolating or am puttering around on ones I have out there (either in my mind or actually physically working on them). So keep telling your stories. Maybe something magical will happen, maybe not. But at least you will have tried and you will have spent your time doing what you love. And there's nothing wrong at all with that.
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Jessica
00:08 Thu Jun 12th, 2008
I would personally love to read more stories- even if they are just disjointed scenes- about these characters. Pre-plague Gregory would be great!