Strip 2 Inks

With the time crunch on, I have gone forward and completed the pencil and ink phase of creating Strip #2.  This one was a little tougher to draw since it included some action and a difficult pose with Birdbrain resting atop Mush's head.  But the challenge also made it more fun since there was more variety in the poses and images.

I also think the script is stronger this time around, but I'd love to hear the comments regarding that on the post below this one!

New Script!

It's a race against the clock this time around as I try to create a finished product in time to get it published in The Current before they take the summer off.  So, let's quickly go back to square one and come up with a script for Comic #2.

Panel 1
[Birdbrain asleep atop Mush's head, Mush looking up at him]

Panel 2
[Mush looking forward now, towards the "camera"]
Mush: He's been up there for 3 hours now..

Panel 3
[Same pose]
Mush: I'd move or shake him off but the last time I did that, he was so startled he tried to peck my eyes out.

Panel 4
[Same pose]
Mush: I'd rather have my eyes than my pride, I think.

Live Texting Poll!

Courtesy of www.polleverywhere.com, here is a live, open-text poll that you can participate in!

Build television sms voting polls at Poll Everywhere

Audio Aides for the Visually Impaired

A lot of popular webcomics will feature transcripts or audio versions of their comics to assist the visually impaired.  Especially considering the fonts of comics can often be very peculiar or small in this digital age, these audio aides are becoming more important in my opinion.

Thanks to the AudioPal tool we discussed in class this week, it is very easy to create these audio aides.  So to demo both the technology and the usefulness of these audio aides, I have created an AudioPal audio version of Comic #1.

Finished Product

So Comic #1 is at last complete.  With just a few minutes in Microsoft Paint, we can add dialogue and wrap up the process.  It would be nice to have some way to expedite the overall process.  Also, it is important for me to allot more space for text in my next drawing phase.  Alternatively, I could select a smaller font.  But our multi-week journey is at last over!

I will not be presenting this one to The Current.  I want to try for a bit cleaner final product during my second go-round.

Heroes and Dreams Comic Shop

As a bit of an extension of my Google Map this week, I wanted to highlight the local comic book shop that I go to when I need to update my Sonic the Hedgehog collection.  Heroes and Dreams is a pretty well-known establishment in the Kenosha area, mostly because of the impressive mural on the side of the building, seen in the image below.

Their website is updated weekly on Mondays to help keep you in the know about when your newest comic is on the shelves.  The shop owner is a very talkative guy who I'm convinced could make friends with an alligator: as soon as you walk in the place he'll act as if he's known you all his life.

They also have a dog in the shop as a sort of mascot.  Hershey, a beautiful chocolate lab, will become friends just as fast as the owner.  Should you ever make a return visit, she'll happily greet you as you enter, remembering you from before.

So if you're new to comics or have one you read regularly, check out Heroes and Dreams if you get the chance.  They have all the comics you could want and a friendly atmosphere that makes traveling all the way out to 30th and Roosevelt worth the mileage.

A Modest Destiny

Being at home for Easter Break and not having access to Adobe Illustrator, we'll have to postpone wrapping up the comic.  So, instead, I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss my favorite comic of all-time, be it comic strip, webcomic, or comic book, in order to give it a bit of exposure.

A Modest Destiny begins as a video-game inspired adventure comic, with elements of humor and suspense playing major roles.  Its primary story arc ran every day for a year, spanning 300+ comics.  It has since gone on into 3 other "chapters", with the story taking on darker undertones and subject matter while maintaining its simplistic yet endearing look and humorous aspects.

This website was responsible for inspiring me to launch my Great Limitations project back in the day.  It truly is one of the most captivating stories out there.  And some of the side projects on the site (such as "The Starship Destiny") are also good reads.

So, if you're bored this Easter break, take some time to get into this wonderful story that has had a major impact on some of my own comic-creating life.

I'd post a picture of one of the comics but the owner of the site is pretty particular about copyright rules, so I do not want to infringe upon his rights.