Previous page.
Bah, got sidetracked once again and am rather behind. But worry not (I know it's been weighing on you), I'll catch right up, starting with this double page cannonade.
As established in times of yore, these machinations spring from the fruit that are Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts. We're up to the seventh group of four from the Steampunk list - The Musketeer, The Magician, "Brass", and The Queen of Darkness.
Page 3
1 - Porthos (still hypnotized) holds D'Artagnan out at arms-length just before the portal (which is still inky black and full of stars). D'Artagnan squirms to get free, but is unable to escape his powerful friend. Athos stands before D'Artagnan, gloating. Hypnotized audience members who haven't yet walked into the portal stand on the perimeter, looking on.
D'ARTAGNAN: What is the meaning of this, Athos? We swore an oath to serve the king.
ATHOS (1): A king is supposed to represent God.
ATHOS (2): But the Dark Queen is a god.
2 - Closer in as Athos approaches D'Artagnan to gloat further. D'Artagnan leans in to better hear his former-friend's words.
ATHOS: And when I call her to our Earthly plane, she will provide me with rewards of unfathomable majesty in recompense.
D'ARTAGNAN: Sounds nice.
3 - D'Artagnan unleashes a vicious kick that pushes he and Porthos over and sends Athos flying into the portal.
D'ARTAGNAN: Maybe you can confirm the details when you see her.
ATHOS: oof!
4 - D'Artagnan and Porthos lie on the ground. D'Artagnan is starting to get to his feet, looking towards the portal in concern; Porthos is holding his head, confused but free of the hypnotism. Athos falls into the abyss within the portal, screaming quietly. The portal is glowing a nefarious darkness, growing larger. In the background, the remaining audience members have collapsed and are hypnotism-free. Perhaps some are already making their way towards the exit.
ATHOS (in the distance): Nooo!
PORTHOS (groggily): What happened?
D'ARTAGNAN: That is an excellent question.
Page 4
1 - D'Artagnan and Porthos are running through the initial bar setting, moving as quickly as they can to avoid the ever-growing portal that is chasing them.
CAPTION (D'ARTAGNAN): "I will be happy to explain when we have a moment."
2 - Porthos and D'Artagnan dive out of the front door of the building just as the portal is catching up.
NO COPY
3 - Porthos and D'Artagnan lie on the ground, looking at the enormous portal that has engufled the entire building.
NO COPY
4 - Repeat - maybe pulled back a little further - but the portal has shrunken down to a small point that is in the process of disappearing.
SFX (portal): poit!
PORTHOS: That was close.
D'ARTAGNAN: It was...
5 - Switch locations to Aramis holding a crystal ball that shows D'Artagnan. Aramis is maybe decked out in some cult-y wares, looking the part of yet another villain / betrayer. He looks on with an evil grin.
D'ARTAGNAN (from within crystal ball): But where is Aramis?
ARAMIS: Oh, you'll know soon enough.
Fin.
Monday, October 30, 2017
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Inktober - All For One - Page 2
Previous page.
As established in times of yore, these machinations spring from the fruit that are Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts. We're up to the seventh group of four from the Steampunk list - The Musketeer, The Magician, "Brass", and The Queen of Darkness.
Page 2
1 - The hypnotized masses are walking towards an evil looking portal in a back room of the club. The portal looks to be inky black and filled with stars. Some of the people are disappearing into the portal, seemingly drifting away into infinity. Athos and D’Artagnan peer from around the corner of the stairway the led down here, looking on. They have removed their earplugs.
LETTERING NOTE: The hypnotized masses should have a suitably dark word balloon - maybe black with purple writing? - to show how evil things are.
HYPNOTIZED MASSES: We will join our Dark Queen. We will join our Dark Queen.
D’ARTAGNAN: This seems...problematic.
2 - Close on D’Artagnan and Athos as they try to make a plan. Athos looks calm and collected; D’Artagnan looks really worried and shifty. His body language has him already moving back up the stairs. Behind him, the boots and legs of Pathos are visible, although his identity is not yet clear.
ATHOS: Nonsense. All is going according to plan.
D’ARTAGNAN: I’m not sure that I can agree with that assessment.
3 - D’Artagnan has turned to depart up the stairs and walks directly into the tall, barrel-chest of Porthos. It’s cartoony in its violence, like when someone runs into a pole, with D’Artagnan’s arms straight out ahead of him, as if they are trying to reach ahead without him. Frame the panel so Porthos’ face is not visible and it’s not yet clear it’s him (perhaps D’Artagnan’s running into him hides his musketeer outfit as well).
D’ARTAGNAN: In fact, I think now would be the perfect moment to seek aid—!
4 - D’Artagnan looks up and realizes he is sitting before (and has just run into) his portly friend, Porthos. D’Artagnan is so pleased that he doesn’t notice that something is amiss - Porthos looks somewhat menacing and his large musketeer hat is angled such that his face is not visible to the reader.
D’ARTAGNAN: Porthos! Your timing is impeccable!
5 - Porthos raises his head to reveal that he is equally hypnotized and under the control of whatever nefarious being is running the show. He looks menacingly at our heroes, reaching to grab D’Artagnan, who looks kind of terrified.
LETTERING NOTE: Porthos’ speech balloon should be the same dark set-up of the other hypnotized folk.
PORTHOS: You will join the Dark Queen.
D’ARTAGNAN (quietly): Or perhaps not.
Next pages.
As established in times of yore, these machinations spring from the fruit that are Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts. We're up to the seventh group of four from the Steampunk list - The Musketeer, The Magician, "Brass", and The Queen of Darkness.
Page 2
1 - The hypnotized masses are walking towards an evil looking portal in a back room of the club. The portal looks to be inky black and filled with stars. Some of the people are disappearing into the portal, seemingly drifting away into infinity. Athos and D’Artagnan peer from around the corner of the stairway the led down here, looking on. They have removed their earplugs.
LETTERING NOTE: The hypnotized masses should have a suitably dark word balloon - maybe black with purple writing? - to show how evil things are.
HYPNOTIZED MASSES: We will join our Dark Queen. We will join our Dark Queen.
D’ARTAGNAN: This seems...problematic.
2 - Close on D’Artagnan and Athos as they try to make a plan. Athos looks calm and collected; D’Artagnan looks really worried and shifty. His body language has him already moving back up the stairs. Behind him, the boots and legs of Pathos are visible, although his identity is not yet clear.
ATHOS: Nonsense. All is going according to plan.
D’ARTAGNAN: I’m not sure that I can agree with that assessment.
3 - D’Artagnan has turned to depart up the stairs and walks directly into the tall, barrel-chest of Porthos. It’s cartoony in its violence, like when someone runs into a pole, with D’Artagnan’s arms straight out ahead of him, as if they are trying to reach ahead without him. Frame the panel so Porthos’ face is not visible and it’s not yet clear it’s him (perhaps D’Artagnan’s running into him hides his musketeer outfit as well).
D’ARTAGNAN: In fact, I think now would be the perfect moment to seek aid—!
4 - D’Artagnan looks up and realizes he is sitting before (and has just run into) his portly friend, Porthos. D’Artagnan is so pleased that he doesn’t notice that something is amiss - Porthos looks somewhat menacing and his large musketeer hat is angled such that his face is not visible to the reader.
D’ARTAGNAN: Porthos! Your timing is impeccable!
5 - Porthos raises his head to reveal that he is equally hypnotized and under the control of whatever nefarious being is running the show. He looks menacingly at our heroes, reaching to grab D’Artagnan, who looks kind of terrified.
LETTERING NOTE: Porthos’ speech balloon should be the same dark set-up of the other hypnotized folk.
PORTHOS: You will join the Dark Queen.
D’ARTAGNAN (quietly): Or perhaps not.
Next pages.
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Inktober - All For One - Page 1
We're back up to speed, so it's back to one page a day. Hope you don't mind!
As established in times of yore, these machinations spring from the fruit that are Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts. We're up to the seventh group of four from the Steampunk list - The Musketeer, The Magician, "Brass", and The Queen of Darkness.
Page 1
1 - A jazz band plays on the stage of a fancy nightclub. We've got a trumpeter, tromboner, maybe a saxiphonist, stand-up bassist, and drummer. The brass players are front and centre, playing their instruments to the crowd / reader. The group is wearing bright, larger than life outfits.
LETTERING NOTE: The musical notes should float around the panel, maybe even bleeding into the neighbouring ones.
SFX: [musical notes]
2 - Pull back to include the audience within the panel. The band plays on, mostly to a crowd in 1930s-esque clothing and decor, with a couple of musketeers, Athos and D'Artagnan, sitting in a booth towards the back, looking somewhat out of place in the swanky crowd. The fact that they're wearing bright, conspicuous earplugs isn't helping them to fit in. They shout to hear themselves over their protective ear-wear.
D'ARTAGNAN: ARE YOU SURE THIS IS THE PLACE?
ATHOS: IT'S WHAT MY SOURCES SAID.
3 - Switch around the angle of focus and close in on Athos and D'Artagnan. Both continue to shout, but while D'Artagnan is focused on his colleague, Athos looks towards the crowd (currently off-panel).
D'ARTAGNAN: CERTAINLY, BUT THEY ALSO INSISTED WE WEAR THIS TERRIBLY CONSPICUOUS EAR PROTECTION.
ATHOS: LOOKING AT THE CROWD...
4 - A shot of the whole crowd, now standing and transfixed by the ongoing music. Their eyes have the classic hypnotized look to them. D'Artagnan is finally noticing and looking concerned. Athos is calm as ever.
ATHOS: I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S GOING TO NOTICE.
Next page.
As established in times of yore, these machinations spring from the fruit that are Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts. We're up to the seventh group of four from the Steampunk list - The Musketeer, The Magician, "Brass", and The Queen of Darkness.
Page 1
1 - A jazz band plays on the stage of a fancy nightclub. We've got a trumpeter, tromboner, maybe a saxiphonist, stand-up bassist, and drummer. The brass players are front and centre, playing their instruments to the crowd / reader. The group is wearing bright, larger than life outfits.
LETTERING NOTE: The musical notes should float around the panel, maybe even bleeding into the neighbouring ones.
SFX: [musical notes]
2 - Pull back to include the audience within the panel. The band plays on, mostly to a crowd in 1930s-esque clothing and decor, with a couple of musketeers, Athos and D'Artagnan, sitting in a booth towards the back, looking somewhat out of place in the swanky crowd. The fact that they're wearing bright, conspicuous earplugs isn't helping them to fit in. They shout to hear themselves over their protective ear-wear.
D'ARTAGNAN: ARE YOU SURE THIS IS THE PLACE?
ATHOS: IT'S WHAT MY SOURCES SAID.
3 - Switch around the angle of focus and close in on Athos and D'Artagnan. Both continue to shout, but while D'Artagnan is focused on his colleague, Athos looks towards the crowd (currently off-panel).
D'ARTAGNAN: CERTAINLY, BUT THEY ALSO INSISTED WE WEAR THIS TERRIBLY CONSPICUOUS EAR PROTECTION.
ATHOS: LOOKING AT THE CROWD...
4 - A shot of the whole crowd, now standing and transfixed by the ongoing music. Their eyes have the classic hypnotized look to them. D'Artagnan is finally noticing and looking concerned. Athos is calm as ever.
ATHOS: I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S GOING TO NOTICE.
Next page.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Inktober - When One Door Closes - Page 3 & 4
Pages 1 and 2.
I remain a little behind on this portion of Inktober, but in the interests of catching up, I'm throwing twice the pages at you, so here's page 3 and 4 of "When One Door Closes".
As we've established throughout the month, I'm working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts. We're up to the sixth group of four from the Steampunk list - "Gears", "Smithy", The Gateway, and The Alchemist.
Page 3
1 - Helena stands, still stunned at her discover. She reaches out with one hand to touch the portal, which is still pulsing bright crimson.
NO COPY
2 - A spark flares up near the bottom of the portal, a brighter red than the rest of the portal's surface.
SFX: psssh!
3 - The portal lights on an alchemical fire that same brighter red, burn upwards from bottom to top, erasing the portal from existence. Helena jumps back in surprise / fright.
SFX: fwooosh!
4 - Exterior shot of Helena's cottage, except there's an enormous hole in the wall where the portal was, the portal having destroyed the wall. The perimeter of the hole should be dark as if it was sculpted to be that way, the strange burning of the portal having left no residual heat. Helena looks outside through the hole, a stunned / surprised look on her face.
HELENA (quietly): whoa
5 - Back inside. Helena is still standing and facing the wall, but her eyes look down and to the side at something off panel. Maybe she has a hand up to her chin in a classic thinking / scheming pose.
HELENA: That was quite the reaction...
6 - Another panel focused on the manner glass receptacles filled with the dark, inert liquid (just like panel 1 of page 2).
HELENA (off-panel): ...once the liquid left its container...
Page 4
1 - We're back at the alchemist bar from page 1. Helena and the brochemists sit at a table, all holding goblets of wine in front of them. The brochemists look a little suspicious, but Helena is all confidence.
HEAD BROCHEMIST: This better be good.
HELENA: It will be.
2 - Helena holds up her glass for a toast.
HELENA: But first I would like to propose a toast.
3 - The brochemists tip up their goblets and drink deeply.
HELENA (off-panel): We have never been the best of friends, but I hope that what I have discovered will open your mind to new possibilities.
4 - On the group again. Helena has put down her goblet, revealing she has not drunken any of it. The brochemists are looking kind of ill and sickly.
HELENA: And if not.
5 - On Helena's feet / chair. There is a large glass container that is mostly empty, save for a small amount of dark, inert liquid that was not poured into the goblets.
HELENA (off-panel): I'm certain it will open something else.
Fin.
I remain a little behind on this portion of Inktober, but in the interests of catching up, I'm throwing twice the pages at you, so here's page 3 and 4 of "When One Door Closes".
As we've established throughout the month, I'm working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts. We're up to the sixth group of four from the Steampunk list - "Gears", "Smithy", The Gateway, and The Alchemist.
Page 3
1 - Helena stands, still stunned at her discover. She reaches out with one hand to touch the portal, which is still pulsing bright crimson.
NO COPY
2 - A spark flares up near the bottom of the portal, a brighter red than the rest of the portal's surface.
SFX: psssh!
3 - The portal lights on an alchemical fire that same brighter red, burn upwards from bottom to top, erasing the portal from existence. Helena jumps back in surprise / fright.
SFX: fwooosh!
4 - Exterior shot of Helena's cottage, except there's an enormous hole in the wall where the portal was, the portal having destroyed the wall. The perimeter of the hole should be dark as if it was sculpted to be that way, the strange burning of the portal having left no residual heat. Helena looks outside through the hole, a stunned / surprised look on her face.
HELENA (quietly): whoa
5 - Back inside. Helena is still standing and facing the wall, but her eyes look down and to the side at something off panel. Maybe she has a hand up to her chin in a classic thinking / scheming pose.
HELENA: That was quite the reaction...
6 - Another panel focused on the manner glass receptacles filled with the dark, inert liquid (just like panel 1 of page 2).
HELENA (off-panel): ...once the liquid left its container...
Page 4
1 - We're back at the alchemist bar from page 1. Helena and the brochemists sit at a table, all holding goblets of wine in front of them. The brochemists look a little suspicious, but Helena is all confidence.
HEAD BROCHEMIST: This better be good.
HELENA: It will be.
2 - Helena holds up her glass for a toast.
HELENA: But first I would like to propose a toast.
3 - The brochemists tip up their goblets and drink deeply.
HELENA (off-panel): We have never been the best of friends, but I hope that what I have discovered will open your mind to new possibilities.
4 - On the group again. Helena has put down her goblet, revealing she has not drunken any of it. The brochemists are looking kind of ill and sickly.
HELENA: And if not.
5 - On Helena's feet / chair. There is a large glass container that is mostly empty, save for a small amount of dark, inert liquid that was not poured into the goblets.
HELENA (off-panel): I'm certain it will open something else.
Fin.
Monday, October 23, 2017
Inktober - When One Door Closes - Page 1 & 2
So I'm a little behind on this portion of Inktober, but I'm dedicated to catching up, so here's page 1 and 2 of "When One Door Closes".
As we've established throughout the month, I'm working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts. We're up to the sixth group of four from the Steampunk list - "Gears", "Smithy", The Gateway, and The Alchemist.
Page 1
1 - We're in an alchemist bar (and by extension, a world that would support an alchemist bar). A group of bro-y alchemists are throwing around a stoppered vial filled with some glowing liquid (their leader is pretty much the human version of Spike from Looney Tunes). Helena, a small, mousey woman runs between the group, trying to get the bottle back. She looks annoyed and distressed. The brochemists are not taking her requests seriously. A classic bully game of keep away.
HELENA: Hey, be careful! That could be dangerous!
2 - The head brochemist has poped the stopper off the vial with his thumb and sniffs at the contents within. He makes a face. He holds back Helena with his other, outstretched arm, preventing her from getting near through their height difference (kind of like this - normally I'd use a better reference picture, but can't seem to figure out how Google would understand a description of that pose).
HEAD BROCHEMIST: You made it, right?
3 - The head brochemist pours the open vial onto Helena's head. She raises her hands in vain to protect herself; the liquid flows all down her from head to toe. Everyone laughs at her.
HEAD BROCHEMIST: I think it'll be okay.
SFX: HAHAHAHA
4 - Outside the bar. The brochemists are throwing Helena out of the door and she sails through the air towards the street.
HEAD BROCHEMIST: Thanks for visiting.
5 - On Helena. She sits on the street, her self and pride both hurt. She looks angry. In the background, the brochemists have turned and are heading back inside the bar.
HEAD BROCHEMIST: Come back when you've brewed something worthwhile!
Page 2
1 - Establishing shot of all manner of different sized glass bottles, vials, jars, flasks, and any type of receptacle you can imagine sitting on a table. They are all filled with dark, inert liquid (unlike the glowing liquid from the previous page).
HELENA (off-panel): Come on.
2 - On Helena combing one glowing, coloured liquid with another, pouring them together.
HELENA: One hundred and third time's the charm, right?
3 - Repeat panel, except the newly poured liquid has gone dark and inert like the ones from panel 1. Helena looks extremely frustrated.
NO COPY
4 - Helena throws the bottle with the dark, inert liquid at the wall in anger.
SFX: SMSH!
5 - On the wall where the liquid smashed. It's dripping down, a haunting crimson glow starting to emerge throughout.
NO COPY
6 - The liquid has dripped into a perfect oval portal, not unlike ones from Portal or Ricky and Morty. Helena stands before the portal, silhouetted by its now bright crimson as she stares into it.
HELENA (quietly): whoa.
Page 3 and 4.
As we've established throughout the month, I'm working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts. We're up to the sixth group of four from the Steampunk list - "Gears", "Smithy", The Gateway, and The Alchemist.
Page 1
1 - We're in an alchemist bar (and by extension, a world that would support an alchemist bar). A group of bro-y alchemists are throwing around a stoppered vial filled with some glowing liquid (their leader is pretty much the human version of Spike from Looney Tunes). Helena, a small, mousey woman runs between the group, trying to get the bottle back. She looks annoyed and distressed. The brochemists are not taking her requests seriously. A classic bully game of keep away.
HELENA: Hey, be careful! That could be dangerous!
2 - The head brochemist has poped the stopper off the vial with his thumb and sniffs at the contents within. He makes a face. He holds back Helena with his other, outstretched arm, preventing her from getting near through their height difference (kind of like this - normally I'd use a better reference picture, but can't seem to figure out how Google would understand a description of that pose).
HEAD BROCHEMIST: You made it, right?
3 - The head brochemist pours the open vial onto Helena's head. She raises her hands in vain to protect herself; the liquid flows all down her from head to toe. Everyone laughs at her.
HEAD BROCHEMIST: I think it'll be okay.
SFX: HAHAHAHA
4 - Outside the bar. The brochemists are throwing Helena out of the door and she sails through the air towards the street.
HEAD BROCHEMIST: Thanks for visiting.
5 - On Helena. She sits on the street, her self and pride both hurt. She looks angry. In the background, the brochemists have turned and are heading back inside the bar.
HEAD BROCHEMIST: Come back when you've brewed something worthwhile!
Page 2
1 - Establishing shot of all manner of different sized glass bottles, vials, jars, flasks, and any type of receptacle you can imagine sitting on a table. They are all filled with dark, inert liquid (unlike the glowing liquid from the previous page).
HELENA (off-panel): Come on.
2 - On Helena combing one glowing, coloured liquid with another, pouring them together.
HELENA: One hundred and third time's the charm, right?
3 - Repeat panel, except the newly poured liquid has gone dark and inert like the ones from panel 1. Helena looks extremely frustrated.
NO COPY
4 - Helena throws the bottle with the dark, inert liquid at the wall in anger.
SFX: SMSH!
5 - On the wall where the liquid smashed. It's dripping down, a haunting crimson glow starting to emerge throughout.
NO COPY
6 - The liquid has dripped into a perfect oval portal, not unlike ones from Portal or Ricky and Morty. Helena stands before the portal, silhouetted by its now bright crimson as she stares into it.
HELENA (quietly): whoa.
Page 3 and 4.
Friday, October 20, 2017
Inktober - Practice Made Perfect - Page 4
Previous page.
As discussed previously, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the fifth group of four from the Steampunk list - The Portuguese Count, The Pickpocket Boys, "Rusty", and "Wings".
Page 4
1 - We're back at Wings and Rusty's horde of treasure. Much of the treasure, sculpture, and art from the previous page is now among the riches spread all about. Wings and Rusty stand on their platform. Rusty is pouring some treasure / art out of his checked luggage, looking sad and down. Wings puts a hand on Rusty's shoulder, trying to reassure him.
WINGS: Don't worry about it, Rusty...
2 - Back in the planning room. Wings spreads another huge blueprint onto the table. This one is a castle with all manner of ridiculous defenses: "giants", "self-confidence", "a good offense" - that kind of thing.
CAPTION (WINGS): "I heard about this Baron in Belarus..."
3 - Wings is looking closely at the blueprint; Rusty pauses, looking like he's worried / just noticed something
RUSTY: Wait...
4 - Back at the Count's manor. Bandit is driving the excavator machine and has broken the heck out of the manor. Currently Bandit is digging out a giant dinosaur bone from the ground. Bandit has a huge doggy grin on his face, tongue lolling in excitement.
CAPTION (RUSTY): "Where's Bandit?"
As discussed previously, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the fifth group of four from the Steampunk list - The Portuguese Count, The Pickpocket Boys, "Rusty", and "Wings".
Page 4
1 - We're back at Wings and Rusty's horde of treasure. Much of the treasure, sculpture, and art from the previous page is now among the riches spread all about. Wings and Rusty stand on their platform. Rusty is pouring some treasure / art out of his checked luggage, looking sad and down. Wings puts a hand on Rusty's shoulder, trying to reassure him.
WINGS: Don't worry about it, Rusty...
2 - Back in the planning room. Wings spreads another huge blueprint onto the table. This one is a castle with all manner of ridiculous defenses: "giants", "self-confidence", "a good offense" - that kind of thing.
CAPTION (WINGS): "I heard about this Baron in Belarus..."
3 - Wings is looking closely at the blueprint; Rusty pauses, looking like he's worried / just noticed something
RUSTY: Wait...
4 - Back at the Count's manor. Bandit is driving the excavator machine and has broken the heck out of the manor. Currently Bandit is digging out a giant dinosaur bone from the ground. Bandit has a huge doggy grin on his face, tongue lolling in excitement.
CAPTION (RUSTY): "Where's Bandit?"
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Inktober - Practice Made Perfect - Page 3
Previous page.
As discussed previously, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the fifth group of four from the Steampunk list - The Portuguese Count, The Pickpocket Boys, "Rusty", and "Wings".
Page 3
1 - Rusty and Wings are at airport, checking into their flight. Wings is wearing a huge backpacking backpack, with a number of the items from the previous page (and others that didn't appear) poking out from various flaps or tied on awkwardly (the clarinet is hanging from a strap, for example). For his part, Rusty is watching as two airline employees struggle to place his checked bag on the conveyor belt - it's enormous and clearly overweight. Bandit stands between them on a leash (possibly attached to Wings' backpack).
CAPTION: And so.
RUSTY: Please be careful with that. Some of the contents are very fragile.
2 - On the plane. Rusty and Wings are flying coach. They're in a three-seat row, with a very uncomfortable man sitting between them (both because he's surrounded by all-star thieves and because there's not a lot of space). He looks at them plaintively. Wings is reading the airline magazine. Rusty is looking out the window, Bandit in his lap.
CAPTION: Er...
PASSENGER: D-do you wanna switch seats?
RUSTY: Naw.
WINGS: We're good.
3 - At their destination. Wings and Rusty stand at the luggage carousel. It's empty and all the other passengers are gone. Rusty's big checked bag is conspicuously absent. Wings admonishes her colleague. Bandit is also getting impatient, maybe rolling his doggy eyes.
CAPTION: Getting closer?
WINGS: I told you not to check your luggage.
4 - Finally outside the Count's manor - it is familiar from the previous page's blueprints. Rusty races towards the door like a maniac, holding the pogostick above his head like an axe. Wings is driving the excavator, sending its digger part towards the building's wall. Bandit may also be about, racing towards the door with the bolt cutters in his mouth. If possible, put a little envelope attached to the front door - it's a note left for our protagonists.
CAPTION: Finally!
RUSTY: Let's get this party...
5 - Interior of the mansion. We're in an enormous front entrance that is completely devoid of occupants. Rusty has smashed through the front door, with part of the door (and the envelope) sitting near his feet. Wings has followed him in and is leaning down to pick up the envelope. Bandit has stopped, dropped the bolt cutters and is scratching himself. It's adorable. There's also a massive hole in part of the wall where the excavator digger broke through. Frame so the characters are small and far away.
RUSTY (quietly): ...started?
6 - Wings has opened the envelope and reads the letter within. Rusty looks over her shoulder, eager to know what it says.
RUSTY: What's it say?
WINGS: Aw, man! He's already abandoned the manor!
7 - Switch to the manor's treasure trove. It's not quite on par with Rusty and Wings', but it's still impressive. Maybe have lots of sculpture and art, plus shiny metals and gems.
CAPTION (WINGS): "We can have anything we want."
Next page.
As discussed previously, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the fifth group of four from the Steampunk list - The Portuguese Count, The Pickpocket Boys, "Rusty", and "Wings".
Page 3
1 - Rusty and Wings are at airport, checking into their flight. Wings is wearing a huge backpacking backpack, with a number of the items from the previous page (and others that didn't appear) poking out from various flaps or tied on awkwardly (the clarinet is hanging from a strap, for example). For his part, Rusty is watching as two airline employees struggle to place his checked bag on the conveyor belt - it's enormous and clearly overweight. Bandit stands between them on a leash (possibly attached to Wings' backpack).
CAPTION: And so.
RUSTY: Please be careful with that. Some of the contents are very fragile.
2 - On the plane. Rusty and Wings are flying coach. They're in a three-seat row, with a very uncomfortable man sitting between them (both because he's surrounded by all-star thieves and because there's not a lot of space). He looks at them plaintively. Wings is reading the airline magazine. Rusty is looking out the window, Bandit in his lap.
CAPTION: Er...
PASSENGER: D-do you wanna switch seats?
RUSTY: Naw.
WINGS: We're good.
3 - At their destination. Wings and Rusty stand at the luggage carousel. It's empty and all the other passengers are gone. Rusty's big checked bag is conspicuously absent. Wings admonishes her colleague. Bandit is also getting impatient, maybe rolling his doggy eyes.
CAPTION: Getting closer?
WINGS: I told you not to check your luggage.
4 - Finally outside the Count's manor - it is familiar from the previous page's blueprints. Rusty races towards the door like a maniac, holding the pogostick above his head like an axe. Wings is driving the excavator, sending its digger part towards the building's wall. Bandit may also be about, racing towards the door with the bolt cutters in his mouth. If possible, put a little envelope attached to the front door - it's a note left for our protagonists.
CAPTION: Finally!
RUSTY: Let's get this party...
5 - Interior of the mansion. We're in an enormous front entrance that is completely devoid of occupants. Rusty has smashed through the front door, with part of the door (and the envelope) sitting near his feet. Wings has followed him in and is leaning down to pick up the envelope. Bandit has stopped, dropped the bolt cutters and is scratching himself. It's adorable. There's also a massive hole in part of the wall where the excavator digger broke through. Frame so the characters are small and far away.
RUSTY (quietly): ...started?
6 - Wings has opened the envelope and reads the letter within. Rusty looks over her shoulder, eager to know what it says.
RUSTY: What's it say?
WINGS: Aw, man! He's already abandoned the manor!
7 - Switch to the manor's treasure trove. It's not quite on par with Rusty and Wings', but it's still impressive. Maybe have lots of sculpture and art, plus shiny metals and gems.
CAPTION (WINGS): "We can have anything we want."
Next page.
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Inktober - Practice Made Perfect - Page 2
Previous page.
As discussed previously, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the fifth group of four from the Steampunk list - The Portuguese Count, The Pickpocket Boys, "Rusty", and "Wings".
Page 2
1 - Rusty and Wings stand in a room with an enormous wooden table. They're looking at a blueprint of an enormous castle. It has all manner of security measures - a moat with alligators, drawbridge, electric fence, dragon - that kind of thing. Rusty and Wings looks at each other eagerly.
RUSTY: I've heard of a count in Portugal with all the best protective measures.
WINGS: Sounds perfect.
2 - Close on Wings' hands grabbing some lock picks.
CAPTION (WINGS): "Let's get some supplies."
3 - Close on Rusty's hands closing a set of bolt cutters.
SFX: snip!
4 - Close on Wings wearing an intense pair of night vision goggles (Splinter Cell-esque) on top of her insect compound eye goggles.
NO COPY
5 - Close on Rusty clutching a ridiculous number of fireworks to his chest.
NO COPY
6 - Close on Wings' hand holding a clarinet.
NO COPY
7 - Close on Rusty picking up a pogostick.
NO COPY
8 - Wings is climbing into an enormous excavator machine. It's absolutely huge, dwarfing her with its size.
NO COPY
9 - Rusty slaps his hands on his thighs to call over a super cute dog who looks excited about the whole world.
RUSTY: C'mon, Bandit!
Next page.
As discussed previously, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the fifth group of four from the Steampunk list - The Portuguese Count, The Pickpocket Boys, "Rusty", and "Wings".
Page 2
1 - Rusty and Wings stand in a room with an enormous wooden table. They're looking at a blueprint of an enormous castle. It has all manner of security measures - a moat with alligators, drawbridge, electric fence, dragon - that kind of thing. Rusty and Wings looks at each other eagerly.
RUSTY: I've heard of a count in Portugal with all the best protective measures.
WINGS: Sounds perfect.
2 - Close on Wings' hands grabbing some lock picks.
CAPTION (WINGS): "Let's get some supplies."
3 - Close on Rusty's hands closing a set of bolt cutters.
SFX: snip!
4 - Close on Wings wearing an intense pair of night vision goggles (Splinter Cell-esque) on top of her insect compound eye goggles.
NO COPY
5 - Close on Rusty clutching a ridiculous number of fireworks to his chest.
NO COPY
6 - Close on Wings' hand holding a clarinet.
NO COPY
7 - Close on Rusty picking up a pogostick.
NO COPY
8 - Wings is climbing into an enormous excavator machine. It's absolutely huge, dwarfing her with its size.
NO COPY
9 - Rusty slaps his hands on his thighs to call over a super cute dog who looks excited about the whole world.
RUSTY: C'mon, Bandit!
Next page.
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Inktober - Practice Made Perfect - Page 1
As discussed previously, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the fifth group of four from the Steampunk list - The Portuguese Count, The Pickpocket Boys, "Rusty", and "Wings".
Page 1
1 - We're looking at a Money Box / dragon horde-level of gold, treasure, gems, and various valuables. Maybe a focus on the riches, but also show two sets of feet and legs (belonging to Wings and Rusty) standing towards the top or side of the panel, along with a waterfall of new prizes raining down onto the already sizable collection (as Wings and Rusty are pouring their latest loot to join the rest).
WINGS (off-panel): Hey Rust...
2 - Flashback. Wings (who is a woman with artificial insect wings and goggles that give her the appearance of having compound eyes) is flying away from a party filled with rich socialites carrying two bags filled with valuables that she has stolen. The (now poorer looking) elites stand good-naturedly, resigned to the fact that there was nothing they could have done.
CAPTION (WINGS) "...do you ever worry that we've gotten too good at thieving?"
SOCIALITE 1: There's no way we could possibly stop her
SOCIALITE 2: We may as well forget about this and move on with our lives.
3 - Back at the treasure horde, but now focused on Wings and Rusty. Rusty is a sturdy looking robot that is made of a rusting metal (maybe copper so you can get that nice dull brown and old greens). Wings looks a little disappointed, while Rusty is looking pensive.
RUSTY: You know, now that you mention it...
4 - Flashback. Rusty is holding up a bank, but the manager has opened the vault and is directing Rusty in. Some other members of the bank stuff are happily filling bags with money and other riches. Rusty has turned one of his hands into a weapon of some variety, but it's mostly forgotten in his surprise and disbelief.
CAPTION (RUSTY): "...I think it might be a real concern."
RUSTY: Are you sure I can't threaten you or something?
BANK STAFF: Naw, that's fine.
MANAGER: Yeah, we've already made our peace that, in a world where you ply your trade, that money was never really ours.
Next page.
Page 1
1 - We're looking at a Money Box / dragon horde-level of gold, treasure, gems, and various valuables. Maybe a focus on the riches, but also show two sets of feet and legs (belonging to Wings and Rusty) standing towards the top or side of the panel, along with a waterfall of new prizes raining down onto the already sizable collection (as Wings and Rusty are pouring their latest loot to join the rest).
WINGS (off-panel): Hey Rust...
2 - Flashback. Wings (who is a woman with artificial insect wings and goggles that give her the appearance of having compound eyes) is flying away from a party filled with rich socialites carrying two bags filled with valuables that she has stolen. The (now poorer looking) elites stand good-naturedly, resigned to the fact that there was nothing they could have done.
CAPTION (WINGS) "...do you ever worry that we've gotten too good at thieving?"
SOCIALITE 1: There's no way we could possibly stop her
SOCIALITE 2: We may as well forget about this and move on with our lives.
3 - Back at the treasure horde, but now focused on Wings and Rusty. Rusty is a sturdy looking robot that is made of a rusting metal (maybe copper so you can get that nice dull brown and old greens). Wings looks a little disappointed, while Rusty is looking pensive.
RUSTY: You know, now that you mention it...
4 - Flashback. Rusty is holding up a bank, but the manager has opened the vault and is directing Rusty in. Some other members of the bank stuff are happily filling bags with money and other riches. Rusty has turned one of his hands into a weapon of some variety, but it's mostly forgotten in his surprise and disbelief.
CAPTION (RUSTY): "...I think it might be a real concern."
RUSTY: Are you sure I can't threaten you or something?
BANK STAFF: Naw, that's fine.
MANAGER: Yeah, we've already made our peace that, in a world where you ply your trade, that money was never really ours.
Next page.
Monday, October 16, 2017
InkTober - Burn After Reading - Page 4
Previous page.
As discussed previously, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the fourth group of four from the Steampunk list - The Good Copper, The Bad Copper, The Doc, and The Illusionist.
Page 4
1 - On Ferand, lying on his back amidst the rubble from the ceiling collapsing. He has a big ol' piece of rubble lying across his ribs / stomach, and it's crushed him pretty good. He looks to be in some serious pain / on the way out.
CYNTHIA (off-panel): Fer!
2 - Cynthia is kneeling next to Ferand's head, trying to reassure him. She looks really shaken; he looks like he's fading but determined to get a point across before all is said and done. Frame so the debris killing him is off-panel and not visible.
CYNTHIA: Stay with me!
FERAND: Cynth.
CYNTHIA: I've already called for medevac.
FERAND: Cynth!
3 - On Ferand's hand point at Cynthia's still glowing antenna. Her eyes look up towards it guiltily.
FERAND: This is on you.
4 - On Cynthia's antenna, now no longer glowing.
FERAND (off-panel) (trailing off): Make it right.
5 - Close on Ferand's hand, now lying on the floor, lifeless. The white rabbit from page 1 (now with a generous splash of red all over him) is nibbling / sniffing at his finger again.
CYNTHIA: ...Fer?
As discussed previously, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the fourth group of four from the Steampunk list - The Good Copper, The Bad Copper, The Doc, and The Illusionist.
Page 4
1 - On Ferand, lying on his back amidst the rubble from the ceiling collapsing. He has a big ol' piece of rubble lying across his ribs / stomach, and it's crushed him pretty good. He looks to be in some serious pain / on the way out.
CYNTHIA (off-panel): Fer!
2 - Cynthia is kneeling next to Ferand's head, trying to reassure him. She looks really shaken; he looks like he's fading but determined to get a point across before all is said and done. Frame so the debris killing him is off-panel and not visible.
CYNTHIA: Stay with me!
FERAND: Cynth.
CYNTHIA: I've already called for medevac.
FERAND: Cynth!
3 - On Ferand's hand point at Cynthia's still glowing antenna. Her eyes look up towards it guiltily.
FERAND: This is on you.
4 - On Cynthia's antenna, now no longer glowing.
FERAND (off-panel) (trailing off): Make it right.
5 - Close on Ferand's hand, now lying on the floor, lifeless. The white rabbit from page 1 (now with a generous splash of red all over him) is nibbling / sniffing at his finger again.
CYNTHIA: ...Fer?
Sunday, October 15, 2017
InkTober - Burn After Reading - Page 3
Previous page.
As discussed previously, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the fourth group of four from the Steampunk list - The Good Copper, The Bad Copper, The Doc, and The Illusionist.
Page 3
1 - Close on Prometheus' forearm as a huge blade slides out, pushing a foot or two beyond its hand.
PROMETHEUS (off-panel): Now, Mr. Fawkes.
SFX: shnkt!
2 - On Cynthia still sitting / lying on the floor, looking on in horror at Prometheus cutting off Fawkes' head (an action that is occurring off-panel). Blood is splattering all over Cynthia and the wall behind and floor below her. It's pretty gratuitous.
PROMETHEUS (off-panel): You have something I require.
FAWKES (off-panel): nonono--!
SFX: SPLRCH!
3 - On Prometheus smashing a hole through the wall to the outside world by throwing his entire body / shoulder through it. Debris flies every which way as the robot sails through with ease. You don't need to draw attention to it, but its arm should be pretty bloody and it should be holding Fawkes' severed head (maybe like a football).
SFX: Krakka-boom!
4 - Cynthia is up and running towards the open hole in the wall, gun drawn and ready. Fawkes' body is lying discarded on the ground, positioned in some way that the fact that it doesn't have a head anymore isn't immediately apparent (maybe behind something or in a shadow). Except, of course for the fact that blood is pooling out around where the head should be.
CYNTHIA: Shit. We gotta go after it, Fer.
5 - Outdoor shot looking at the outside of the building. Ferand and Cynthia are on the top floor. The apartment is generally unremarkable, save for the hole Prometheus made in the wall through which we can see Cynthia. She looks behind her back into the room.
CYNTHIA: ...Fer?
Next page.
As discussed previously, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the fourth group of four from the Steampunk list - The Good Copper, The Bad Copper, The Doc, and The Illusionist.
Page 3
1 - Close on Prometheus' forearm as a huge blade slides out, pushing a foot or two beyond its hand.
PROMETHEUS (off-panel): Now, Mr. Fawkes.
SFX: shnkt!
2 - On Cynthia still sitting / lying on the floor, looking on in horror at Prometheus cutting off Fawkes' head (an action that is occurring off-panel). Blood is splattering all over Cynthia and the wall behind and floor below her. It's pretty gratuitous.
PROMETHEUS (off-panel): You have something I require.
FAWKES (off-panel): nonono--!
SFX: SPLRCH!
3 - On Prometheus smashing a hole through the wall to the outside world by throwing his entire body / shoulder through it. Debris flies every which way as the robot sails through with ease. You don't need to draw attention to it, but its arm should be pretty bloody and it should be holding Fawkes' severed head (maybe like a football).
SFX: Krakka-boom!
4 - Cynthia is up and running towards the open hole in the wall, gun drawn and ready. Fawkes' body is lying discarded on the ground, positioned in some way that the fact that it doesn't have a head anymore isn't immediately apparent (maybe behind something or in a shadow). Except, of course for the fact that blood is pooling out around where the head should be.
CYNTHIA: Shit. We gotta go after it, Fer.
5 - Outdoor shot looking at the outside of the building. Ferand and Cynthia are on the top floor. The apartment is generally unremarkable, save for the hole Prometheus made in the wall through which we can see Cynthia. She looks behind her back into the room.
CYNTHIA: ...Fer?
Next page.
Saturday, October 14, 2017
InkTober - Burn After Reading - Page 2
Previous page.
As discussed previously, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the fourth group of four from the Steampunk list - The Good Copper, The Bad Copper, The Doc, and The Illusionist.
Page 2
1 - Ferand is over at Fawkes, grabbing the dopey would-be magician and dragging him towards the door. In his rush, Ferand has knocked over all manner of Fawkes' magic tricks, which Fawkes does not appreciate (maybe reaching to try to catch some of the stuff as it falls).
FAWKES: Hey!
FERAND: This is great, but we gotta go. B3.5K could be here at any moment. That means we want to be anywhere else.
2 - Cynthia stands in Ferand and Fawkes' way, trying to calm the situation down a bit, her hands up trying to placate Ferand's fear.
CYNTHIA: Fer, relax. There's no way the Surgeon knows where we are.
3 - The roof above our three characters is smashed inwards with an incredible force from above. The focus is on the roof falling in and the debris falling down. Cynthia is on one side, falling backwards, while Ferand pushes Fawkes away on the other side.
SFX: SMASH!
4 - On a huge robot (B3.5K aka the Surgeon aka Prometheus) standing amidst the rubble from the ceiling that it just smashed in. It has a huge upper body / torso, connected to some equally huge arms and hands, sitting atop some massive legs. It is, however, without a head the way a human would have one. Instead, the shoulders continue across the torso uninterrupted, with the "face" portions built into the middle of the upper-body (kind of like this thing from Calum Watt but maybe not quite as ginormous). Maybe have Cynthia lying in the foreground, back to the reader and looking towards Prometheus, but not necessary.
LETTERING NOTE: I always love a square, electric-y word balloon for robots and Prometheus is no exception.
PROMETHEUS (1): But there is, Agent Vasquez.
PROMETHEUS (2): And please, call me Prometheus.
Next page.
As discussed previously, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the fourth group of four from the Steampunk list - The Good Copper, The Bad Copper, The Doc, and The Illusionist.
Page 2
1 - Ferand is over at Fawkes, grabbing the dopey would-be magician and dragging him towards the door. In his rush, Ferand has knocked over all manner of Fawkes' magic tricks, which Fawkes does not appreciate (maybe reaching to try to catch some of the stuff as it falls).
FAWKES: Hey!
FERAND: This is great, but we gotta go. B3.5K could be here at any moment. That means we want to be anywhere else.
2 - Cynthia stands in Ferand and Fawkes' way, trying to calm the situation down a bit, her hands up trying to placate Ferand's fear.
CYNTHIA: Fer, relax. There's no way the Surgeon knows where we are.
3 - The roof above our three characters is smashed inwards with an incredible force from above. The focus is on the roof falling in and the debris falling down. Cynthia is on one side, falling backwards, while Ferand pushes Fawkes away on the other side.
SFX: SMASH!
4 - On a huge robot (B3.5K aka the Surgeon aka Prometheus) standing amidst the rubble from the ceiling that it just smashed in. It has a huge upper body / torso, connected to some equally huge arms and hands, sitting atop some massive legs. It is, however, without a head the way a human would have one. Instead, the shoulders continue across the torso uninterrupted, with the "face" portions built into the middle of the upper-body (kind of like this thing from Calum Watt but maybe not quite as ginormous). Maybe have Cynthia lying in the foreground, back to the reader and looking towards Prometheus, but not necessary.
LETTERING NOTE: I always love a square, electric-y word balloon for robots and Prometheus is no exception.
PROMETHEUS (1): But there is, Agent Vasquez.
PROMETHEUS (2): And please, call me Prometheus.
Next page.
Friday, October 13, 2017
InkTober - Burn After Reading - Page 1
We're thirteen days into InkTober, which of course means we're onto a brand new four-page script. As discussed previously, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the fourth group of four from the Steampunk list - The Good Copper, The Bad Copper, The Doc, and The Illusionist.
Page 1
1 - A kind of young and dopey looking guy is standing at a table with a number of magic trinkets on top - handcuffs, scarves, and a deck of cards, to name a few. He's currently reaching deep into a top hat that's overturned on the table top, scrunching up his face in concentration. The room he stands in is otherwise empty / devoid of detail. His name is Fawkes.
CYNTHIA (off-panel) (1): This is insane.
CYNTHIA (off-panel) (2): There's no way there's anything of value in that moron's head.
2 - Repeat panel, but pulled further away from Fawkes' activity to reveal two cops, Cynthia and Ferand, sitting at a table playing cards (using one of Fawkes' decks). Ferand is looking over at something on the floor. Cynthia and Ferand are clearly well into the transhumanism thing, with all manner of augmentations, including cybernetic eyes, full Cyclops-style eye visors, robotic limbs, antenna coming from their heads, digital tattoos, sockets with various doodads plugged into them, and so forth (not unlike this kind of thing). The two do not have identical kits and are rather individualistic in their look. Let's say Cynthia has an antenna emerging from her head a few inches. It's glowing blue. While this is different from our "normal", it's clearly their status quo and they don't make a big thing of it. If anything, they're both pretty bored. In the background, Fawkes has picked up the top hat and looks through the hole in its top towards the cops in annoyance at their mean words.
CYNTHIA (1): He doesn't even have any augmentations!
CYNTHIA (quieter) (2): Not that there's much to augment.
FAWKES: Hey!
FERAND: Cynth, the data we're talking about is like AI cheat codes.
3 - On a white rabbit at Ferand's feet. Ferand has grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and is picking it up.
FERAND (off-panel): It would allow any artificial brain to ignore the safeguards and limitations they're programmed with.
4 - On Ferand. The rabbit is now on the table and he is sticking out a finger for the rabbit to sniff / chew on. Ferand is far more engaged in this activity than he is in playing cards.
FERAND (1): The lack of augmentations is by design. They chopped up the codes into pieces and stored them in the brains of different luddites to better protect the whole.
FERAND (2): It's why we had to log off before bringing him to the safehouse.
5 - Close on Cynthia, she looks up at her blue glowing antenna in confusion / embarrassment.
CYNTHIA: Log off...?
FERAND (off-panel): What?
6 - On Ferand. He's getting up to his feet as quickly as possible, possibly knocking the table, if not turning it over. The rabbit hops away in surprise. Ferand is too busy being worried to focus on how frustrated he is at Cynthia's carelessness.
Thursday, October 12, 2017
InkTober - Room to Grow - Page 4
Previous page.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the second four of the Steampunk list - The Gentleman's Hat, The Inventor's Son, The Gardener, and The Princess.
Page 4
1 - Close on Henrietta's feet, which hang a foot or so above the floor.
LETTERING NOTE: Once again, Baron Head's word balloon should be different from the usual to imply some dread is afoot - dread that will be abundantly clear by the page's end.
BARON HEAD (off-panel) (1): I'm sorry to have put off our meeting.
BARON HEAD (off-panel) (2): I knew your knowledge would be delicious.
BARON HEAD (off-panel) (3): But a healthy dollop of curiosity always makes things sweeter.
2 - Close on Henrietta's waist, which is ensnared in thorny vines as wide as an arm. They're puncturing her skin and causing her to bleed some.
BARON HEAD (off-panel): Thankfully, one often fuels the other.
3 - Close on Henrietta's eyes. The glaze is gone, replaced by pure fear.
BARON HEAD (off-panel): After your week of questions, you should be absolutely intoxicating.
4 - Reveal shot of the room. In life, Baron Head was a sickly old man who was poor of sight and overweight. Now he's only barely human, mostly consumed by horrible, unnatural plant growth. His head lolls to the side at an unnatural angle, pushed that way by a cancerous boil of vegetation engulfing his left arm and the upper-portion of his torso. His right arm hangs lamely at his side, strangely small and desiccated. Of course, this is only a detail, as the rest of his body has been completely consumed by an enormous mass of vegetation and roots that go through the floor / walls and into other parts of the house. Baron Head's vines hold Henrietta above a terrible maw that is ready to swallow her whole. She is terrified as ever, but completely overpowered and unable to resist.
BARON HEAD: I hope you feel the answer was worth it.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): No matter the cost.
Fin.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the second four of the Steampunk list - The Gentleman's Hat, The Inventor's Son, The Gardener, and The Princess.
Page 4
1 - Close on Henrietta's feet, which hang a foot or so above the floor.
LETTERING NOTE: Once again, Baron Head's word balloon should be different from the usual to imply some dread is afoot - dread that will be abundantly clear by the page's end.
BARON HEAD (off-panel) (1): I'm sorry to have put off our meeting.
BARON HEAD (off-panel) (2): I knew your knowledge would be delicious.
BARON HEAD (off-panel) (3): But a healthy dollop of curiosity always makes things sweeter.
2 - Close on Henrietta's waist, which is ensnared in thorny vines as wide as an arm. They're puncturing her skin and causing her to bleed some.
BARON HEAD (off-panel): Thankfully, one often fuels the other.
3 - Close on Henrietta's eyes. The glaze is gone, replaced by pure fear.
BARON HEAD (off-panel): After your week of questions, you should be absolutely intoxicating.
4 - Reveal shot of the room. In life, Baron Head was a sickly old man who was poor of sight and overweight. Now he's only barely human, mostly consumed by horrible, unnatural plant growth. His head lolls to the side at an unnatural angle, pushed that way by a cancerous boil of vegetation engulfing his left arm and the upper-portion of his torso. His right arm hangs lamely at his side, strangely small and desiccated. Of course, this is only a detail, as the rest of his body has been completely consumed by an enormous mass of vegetation and roots that go through the floor / walls and into other parts of the house. Baron Head's vines hold Henrietta above a terrible maw that is ready to swallow her whole. She is terrified as ever, but completely overpowered and unable to resist.
BARON HEAD: I hope you feel the answer was worth it.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): No matter the cost.
Fin.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
InkTober - Room to Grow - Page 3
Previous page.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the second four of the Steampunk list - The Gentleman's Hat, The Inventor's Son, The Gardener, and The Princess.
Page 3
1 - Night time. On Henrietta's bed. It is still made and clearly unused.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): I can no longer sleep.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): The thoughts and questions and feelings are moving too quickly through my mind.
2 - On Henrietta writing in her journal at her desk. She looks very ill. Sweating profusely, having a hard time focusing, and the like. Perhaps some moonlight slices across her from a nearby window.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): Something feels wrong.
3 - Repeat panel, but Henrietta looks up away from her writing and towards a ghastly sound coming from off-panel. She looks frightened.
LETTERING NOTE: The sfx should be larger and more menacing than on the previous page. It will grow on each of the following panels.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): I feel wrong
SFX: SKRTCH! SKRTCH!
4 - On Henrietta walking along the hallway outside her room. She holds her side with one arm and seems to be having some difficulty walking. Her sweating and glazed look is worsening.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): I do not understand it.
SFX: SKRTCH! SKRTCH!
5 - Henrietta stands outside the door to Baron Head's room. Frame from above with her looking down where some vegetation is emerging from the crack at the bottom of the door, growing wildly. She has her hand reaching out to the doorknob / is maybe already turning it.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): But I know where my answers will be found.
SFX: SKRTCH! SKRTCH!
6 - From inside the room, looking outwards. The door is open and Henrietta stands framed in the doorway. All details beyond the doorframe are pretty shadowy and hard to make out, but the mass of vegetation can be seen hinted throughout. Henrietta looks on in terror.
LETTERING NOTE: Baron Head's word balloon should be different from the usual to imply some dread is afoot - maybe purple and sickly green?
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): And I will have them.
BARON HEAD (off-panel): Hello, Miss Greene...
Next page.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the second four of the Steampunk list - The Gentleman's Hat, The Inventor's Son, The Gardener, and The Princess.
1 - Night time. On Henrietta's bed. It is still made and clearly unused.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): I can no longer sleep.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): The thoughts and questions and feelings are moving too quickly through my mind.
2 - On Henrietta writing in her journal at her desk. She looks very ill. Sweating profusely, having a hard time focusing, and the like. Perhaps some moonlight slices across her from a nearby window.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): Something feels wrong.
3 - Repeat panel, but Henrietta looks up away from her writing and towards a ghastly sound coming from off-panel. She looks frightened.
LETTERING NOTE: The sfx should be larger and more menacing than on the previous page. It will grow on each of the following panels.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): I feel wrong
SFX: SKRTCH! SKRTCH!
4 - On Henrietta walking along the hallway outside her room. She holds her side with one arm and seems to be having some difficulty walking. Her sweating and glazed look is worsening.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): I do not understand it.
SFX: SKRTCH! SKRTCH!
5 - Henrietta stands outside the door to Baron Head's room. Frame from above with her looking down where some vegetation is emerging from the crack at the bottom of the door, growing wildly. She has her hand reaching out to the doorknob / is maybe already turning it.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): But I know where my answers will be found.
SFX: SKRTCH! SKRTCH!
6 - From inside the room, looking outwards. The door is open and Henrietta stands framed in the doorway. All details beyond the doorframe are pretty shadowy and hard to make out, but the mass of vegetation can be seen hinted throughout. Henrietta looks on in terror.
LETTERING NOTE: Baron Head's word balloon should be different from the usual to imply some dread is afoot - maybe purple and sickly green?
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): And I will have them.
BARON HEAD (off-panel): Hello, Miss Greene...
Next page.
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
InkTober - Room to Grow - Page 2
Previous page.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the second four of the Steampunk list - The Gentleman's Hat, The Inventor's Son, The Gardener, and The Princess.
Page 2
1 - Henrietta stands in an upstairs hallway, looking with fascination at a closed door. Her face looks as if she can not only not understand what she's hearing but also that she has no idea what it might be.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): The Baron's room is on the way to my own.
SFX: skrtch! skrtch!
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): I've started to hear the most peculiar sounds while passing by.
2 - Close on Henrietta's hand reaching for the knob. Maybe we've an inset panel here.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): I'd hoped to finally investigate further today.
ALEXANDER (off-panel): Excuse me, Miss Greene...
3 - Henrietta looks up in surprise and fear at the sudden appearance of Alexander. Frame so Henrietta is looking towards the reader and Alexander away. He should be heavily shadowed and looming over Henrietta to emphasize his foreboding appearance.
ALEXANDER: Is anything the matter?
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): But my initiative was ill-timed.
HENRIETTA: No. O-of course not.
4 - Switch scenes to Henrietta down in a large room in the basement surrounded by tables that are absolutely filled with plants (to the degree that it's almost like she's surrounded by a miniature jungle). There are a variety of different plants, but they are all strange and otherworldly, whether it's due to their colour, shapes, size, or whatever strikes your fancy. Henrietta stands fascinated by the plants, not unlike her fascination with Baron Edmund's closed door. In the background, there might be a servant or two watering the plants, as blank-faced as ever.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): As had been my habit since arriving, I looked to the mansion's exhaustive collection of exotic plants that I might discover some answers.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): They remained silent - as always - offering only further questions.
5 - Close on some of the many strange plants, including a pseudo-Venus flytrap / Little Shop of Horrors plant.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): Such as how did I not recognize any of the varieties?
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): Where did they come from?
6 - Another inset panel, like panel 2, with Henrietta's hand reaching towards that Little Shop of Horrors plant.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): And most of all, why did I find them so enthralling?
7 - The plant sneezes a strange mixture of pollen and mucous onto Henrietta. It covers the better part of her arm and part of her upper-body. She is not nearly as surprised as one might expect from the development.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): Unable to resist their overpowering aroma.
Next page.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the second four of the Steampunk list - The Gentleman's Hat, The Inventor's Son, The Gardener, and The Princess.
Page 2
1 - Henrietta stands in an upstairs hallway, looking with fascination at a closed door. Her face looks as if she can not only not understand what she's hearing but also that she has no idea what it might be.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): The Baron's room is on the way to my own.
SFX: skrtch! skrtch!
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): I've started to hear the most peculiar sounds while passing by.
2 - Close on Henrietta's hand reaching for the knob. Maybe we've an inset panel here.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): I'd hoped to finally investigate further today.
ALEXANDER (off-panel): Excuse me, Miss Greene...
3 - Henrietta looks up in surprise and fear at the sudden appearance of Alexander. Frame so Henrietta is looking towards the reader and Alexander away. He should be heavily shadowed and looming over Henrietta to emphasize his foreboding appearance.
ALEXANDER: Is anything the matter?
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): But my initiative was ill-timed.
HENRIETTA: No. O-of course not.
4 - Switch scenes to Henrietta down in a large room in the basement surrounded by tables that are absolutely filled with plants (to the degree that it's almost like she's surrounded by a miniature jungle). There are a variety of different plants, but they are all strange and otherworldly, whether it's due to their colour, shapes, size, or whatever strikes your fancy. Henrietta stands fascinated by the plants, not unlike her fascination with Baron Edmund's closed door. In the background, there might be a servant or two watering the plants, as blank-faced as ever.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): As had been my habit since arriving, I looked to the mansion's exhaustive collection of exotic plants that I might discover some answers.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): They remained silent - as always - offering only further questions.
5 - Close on some of the many strange plants, including a pseudo-Venus flytrap / Little Shop of Horrors plant.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): Such as how did I not recognize any of the varieties?
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): Where did they come from?
6 - Another inset panel, like panel 2, with Henrietta's hand reaching towards that Little Shop of Horrors plant.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): And most of all, why did I find them so enthralling?
7 - The plant sneezes a strange mixture of pollen and mucous onto Henrietta. It covers the better part of her arm and part of her upper-body. She is not nearly as surprised as one might expect from the development.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): Unable to resist their overpowering aroma.
Next page.
Monday, October 9, 2017
InkTober - Room to Grow - Page 1
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the second four of the Steampunk list - The Gentleman's Hat, The Inventor's Son, The Gardener, and The Princess.
Page 1
1 - Establishing shot of a large Victorian mansion on an equally large Victorian estate. There are all manner of gardens and greenery all throughout, including ivy creeping along most of the house. That said, the weather is quite ghastly - fog hangs all about and no sunshine comes through. Perhaps a light rain is falling. Either way, the world is dull and gray. A small figure - Henrietta Greene - walks towards the mansion from the surrounding gardens.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): The weather is as horrid as ever.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): A perfect reflection of my feelings since arriving at Princess Manor.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (3): I have been here nearly a week and am no closer to understanding why Baron Edmund Head saw need to have the services of a world-renowned botanist.
2 - The foyer of Princess Manor. Henrietta Greene is now out of the wet, putting down her umbrella and removing her outer layers and attempting to brush some of the water off of her clothing underneath. She looks curiously at a top hat hanging from a coat hook - it has a velvet band around its base that was presumably once a brilliant crimson that has faded to a dull brown. A young foppish figure, Edmund Head's son Alexander, walks towards Henry from an adjoining hallway, although he is far from a focus this panel.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): The Baron is a brilliant inventor, but he has been too ill to entertain any visitors. Even those whose presence were required "immediately".
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): His hanging hat is the only evidence of his continuing existence.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (3): I suggested I might depart and return once he was in firmer health.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (4): His son Alexander assures me that he will be feeling better "imminently".
3 - Alexander walks down a dark corridor of the mansion with Henrietta's arm in his, as if showing her around. Alexander is talking animatedly. Henrietta looks a little board and a lot annoyed.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): As far as I can tell, assurances are the only thing the young man is good for.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): He speaks almost constantly, but says virtually nothing.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (3): Whenever I express curiosity regarding my prospective task, he refuses to say anything beyond the importance of having someone of my "expertise" and "experience" near at hand for this father's work.
4 - Henrietta is walking upstairs, trying to get around a man in servant's clothing who is dusting the banister. He seems to be focused on his task and pays her no mind. There are similar men above and below, performing other menial tasks with equal focus, somewhat blank expressions on their faces.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): The staff are little better.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): They treat me as if I am a ghost, barely deigning to corroborate my presence.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (3): I was initially offended by their taciturn nature, but Alexander insists that they are Baltic men and it is simply their way.
5 - Henrietta surreptitiously looks downstairs to see Alexander yelling at one of the servants. Alexander appears upset, the servant has no reaction, wearing the same blank expression as seen in the previous panel.
LETTERING NOTE: Alexander's word balloon should be filled with some type of eldritch sigils to denote that bad juju is going down.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): While I am no expert on the Balts.
ALEXANDER: [eldritch sigils]
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): I must confess to never having heard their language's twin.
Next page.
Page 1
1 - Establishing shot of a large Victorian mansion on an equally large Victorian estate. There are all manner of gardens and greenery all throughout, including ivy creeping along most of the house. That said, the weather is quite ghastly - fog hangs all about and no sunshine comes through. Perhaps a light rain is falling. Either way, the world is dull and gray. A small figure - Henrietta Greene - walks towards the mansion from the surrounding gardens.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): The weather is as horrid as ever.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): A perfect reflection of my feelings since arriving at Princess Manor.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (3): I have been here nearly a week and am no closer to understanding why Baron Edmund Head saw need to have the services of a world-renowned botanist.
2 - The foyer of Princess Manor. Henrietta Greene is now out of the wet, putting down her umbrella and removing her outer layers and attempting to brush some of the water off of her clothing underneath. She looks curiously at a top hat hanging from a coat hook - it has a velvet band around its base that was presumably once a brilliant crimson that has faded to a dull brown. A young foppish figure, Edmund Head's son Alexander, walks towards Henry from an adjoining hallway, although he is far from a focus this panel.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): The Baron is a brilliant inventor, but he has been too ill to entertain any visitors. Even those whose presence were required "immediately".
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): His hanging hat is the only evidence of his continuing existence.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (3): I suggested I might depart and return once he was in firmer health.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (4): His son Alexander assures me that he will be feeling better "imminently".
3 - Alexander walks down a dark corridor of the mansion with Henrietta's arm in his, as if showing her around. Alexander is talking animatedly. Henrietta looks a little board and a lot annoyed.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): As far as I can tell, assurances are the only thing the young man is good for.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): He speaks almost constantly, but says virtually nothing.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (3): Whenever I express curiosity regarding my prospective task, he refuses to say anything beyond the importance of having someone of my "expertise" and "experience" near at hand for this father's work.
4 - Henrietta is walking upstairs, trying to get around a man in servant's clothing who is dusting the banister. He seems to be focused on his task and pays her no mind. There are similar men above and below, performing other menial tasks with equal focus, somewhat blank expressions on their faces.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (1): The staff are little better.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (2): They treat me as if I am a ghost, barely deigning to corroborate my presence.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA) (3): I was initially offended by their taciturn nature, but Alexander insists that they are Baltic men and it is simply their way.
5 - Henrietta surreptitiously looks downstairs to see Alexander yelling at one of the servants. Alexander appears upset, the servant has no reaction, wearing the same blank expression as seen in the previous panel.
LETTERING NOTE: Alexander's word balloon should be filled with some type of eldritch sigils to denote that bad juju is going down.
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): While I am no expert on the Balts.
ALEXANDER: [eldritch sigils]
CAPTION (HENRIETTA): I must confess to never having heard their language's twin.
Next page.
Sunday, October 8, 2017
InkTober - Devil's Deal - Page 4
Previous page.
Page 4
1 - Another full shot of the room. Anne looks on in surprise as the devil, the skeleton dealer, and all the cards and chips disappear in little puffs of smoke (similar in colour to the glow around the device when the devil lifted it from Anne's ankle back on page 2). Each puff is accompanied by a "poof!" sfx (with tiny ones for the cards and chips).
SFX (throughout the page): poof!
GEOFF (off-panel): Annie?
2 - Anne and Geoff share an emotional embrace. Geoff is a big, tough-looking guy with either shaved or close-cropped hair. He's well-built, but it's clear his muscles aren't from working out at the gym - his many tattoos tell a similar story. He's wearing a simple jeans and t-shirt combo, although they're looking a little worse for wear, burnt and ripped up here and there. He is similarly bruised and marked from the hell he's been in
GEOFF: I thought I'd never see you again.
3 - The two move apart slightly to look each other in the eyes, although they're still holding each other tightly. Geoff has a look of wonder and amazement; Anne has a knowing smile, with a hint of tears in her eyes.
GEOFF: How did you know you'd win?
ANNE: I didn't.
4 - On Anne and Geoff walking away from the poker table, their back's to the reader. They still hold each other lovingly. The poker table is visible in the foreground at the bottom of the panel. The device and pile of cards the devil poured onto the tabletop are still there on the left side of the panel. And on the right side is the ace of hearts from Anne's flush (the rest of the cards having poofed! away). Maybe have a little inset panel around the ace of hearts to really emphasize it.
ANNE: ...but I was feeling lucky.
Fin.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the second four of the Steampunk list - The Ace, The Machine, The Brawler, and The Bearded Lady.
Page 4
1 - Another full shot of the room. Anne looks on in surprise as the devil, the skeleton dealer, and all the cards and chips disappear in little puffs of smoke (similar in colour to the glow around the device when the devil lifted it from Anne's ankle back on page 2). Each puff is accompanied by a "poof!" sfx (with tiny ones for the cards and chips).
SFX (throughout the page): poof!
GEOFF (off-panel): Annie?
2 - Anne and Geoff share an emotional embrace. Geoff is a big, tough-looking guy with either shaved or close-cropped hair. He's well-built, but it's clear his muscles aren't from working out at the gym - his many tattoos tell a similar story. He's wearing a simple jeans and t-shirt combo, although they're looking a little worse for wear, burnt and ripped up here and there. He is similarly bruised and marked from the hell he's been in
GEOFF: I thought I'd never see you again.
3 - The two move apart slightly to look each other in the eyes, although they're still holding each other tightly. Geoff has a look of wonder and amazement; Anne has a knowing smile, with a hint of tears in her eyes.
GEOFF: How did you know you'd win?
ANNE: I didn't.
4 - On Anne and Geoff walking away from the poker table, their back's to the reader. They still hold each other lovingly. The poker table is visible in the foreground at the bottom of the panel. The device and pile of cards the devil poured onto the tabletop are still there on the left side of the panel. And on the right side is the ace of hearts from Anne's flush (the rest of the cards having poofed! away). Maybe have a little inset panel around the ace of hearts to really emphasize it.
ANNE: ...but I was feeling lucky.
Fin.
Saturday, October 7, 2017
InkTober - Devil's Deal - Page 3
Previous page.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the second four of the Steampunk list - The Ace, The Machine, The Brawler, and The Bearded Lady.
Page 3
1 - The game has begun. Anne studies her cards, trying not to betray anything to her opponent (her hand is not visible to the reader).
NO COPY
2 - On the centre of the poker table. There is a large pile of chips - it looks like both players are all in.
NO COPY
3 - On the devil. He sits casually, looking loose and at ease. He's in the process of putting his cards on the table to reveal his hand.
NO COPY
4 - On the devil's cards. He has a diamond flush. The particular cards aren't important, but there should not be an ace and the focus of the hand should be a 6. If necessary, maybe have his red hand on panel to show that the cards are his (but you could probably orient them so the bottom of the cards are facing towards where the devil has been sitting on the page / panels to get this point across).
SATAN (off-panel): Read 'em and weep.
5 - The devil sits back, looking casual and cocky.
SATAN: I think it could have used a couple of more sixes.
6 - On the skeleton dealer. He's as expressionless as ever.
SATAN (off-panel): But pickers can't be choosers.
7 - On Anne in the midst of playing her cards. Once again trying not to betray anything through her facial or body language.
SATAN: N'est-ce pas?
8 - Worm's eye view with Anne, the devil, and the skeleton dealer looking down at the cards. Anne and the skeleton dealer's expressions are hard to read. The devil looks a tad dumbfounded.
SATAN: Huh.
9 - On Anne's cards. She has a heart flush. Once again, the general cards aren't important, except for the focus of the panel which is an ace, meaning she has the higher hand (like for the devil's, orient so the hand's bottom faces towards where Anne has been on-panel / page).
SATAN: Really wishing I'd insisted we play more than a single hand...
Next page.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the second four of the Steampunk list - The Ace, The Machine, The Brawler, and The Bearded Lady.
1 - The game has begun. Anne studies her cards, trying not to betray anything to her opponent (her hand is not visible to the reader).
NO COPY
2 - On the centre of the poker table. There is a large pile of chips - it looks like both players are all in.
NO COPY
3 - On the devil. He sits casually, looking loose and at ease. He's in the process of putting his cards on the table to reveal his hand.
NO COPY
4 - On the devil's cards. He has a diamond flush. The particular cards aren't important, but there should not be an ace and the focus of the hand should be a 6. If necessary, maybe have his red hand on panel to show that the cards are his (but you could probably orient them so the bottom of the cards are facing towards where the devil has been sitting on the page / panels to get this point across).
SATAN (off-panel): Read 'em and weep.
5 - The devil sits back, looking casual and cocky.
SATAN: I think it could have used a couple of more sixes.
6 - On the skeleton dealer. He's as expressionless as ever.
SATAN (off-panel): But pickers can't be choosers.
7 - On Anne in the midst of playing her cards. Once again trying not to betray anything through her facial or body language.
SATAN: N'est-ce pas?
8 - Worm's eye view with Anne, the devil, and the skeleton dealer looking down at the cards. Anne and the skeleton dealer's expressions are hard to read. The devil looks a tad dumbfounded.
SATAN: Huh.
9 - On Anne's cards. She has a heart flush. Once again, the general cards aren't important, except for the focus of the panel which is an ace, meaning she has the higher hand (like for the devil's, orient so the hand's bottom faces towards where Anne has been on-panel / page).
SATAN: Really wishing I'd insisted we play more than a single hand...
Next page.
Friday, October 6, 2017
InkTober - Devil's Deal - Page 2
Previous page.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the second four of the Steampunk list - The Ace, The Machine, The Brawler, and The Bearded Lady.
Page 2
1 - On Anne's lower calf / ankle. Let's do a pseudo x-ray on her leg, allowing the reader to see a card-sized device attached to her ankle - that's the focus of the panel. Maybe there's some weak glowing light starting to surround it.
SATAN (off-panel): It's almost as amusing as the contraption you have attached to your ankle.
2 - Satan has walked to the other side of the table and is now standing next to Anne. Anne looks mortified at having been found out - she's uncomfortable and straight-backed, failing miserably to play it cool. Satan, on the other hand, is cool as a cucumber, firmly in control of the situation. He has a hand reaching out to the device, which is floating up towards his outstretched hand, the glowing light much stronger now.
SATAN: You didn't really think you could cheat the Prince of Lies, did you?
3 - On Satan as he empties out a bunch of cards from the device onto the table. He looks slightly bemused. Note that the cards have the same back as the deck the skeleton was holding on the previous page.
SATAN: No matter.
4 - Satan's back at his spot, casually examining the back of his nails like nothing's happened. Anne is still sitting ramrod straight across from him, kind of frozen in her body language. She stares in fear at the device and the pile of cards it's laying on top of on the table surface. The skeleton dealer remains unfazed.
SATAN: Now that we've taken care of that.
5 - Close on the skeleton dealer's hands, shuffling the deck.
SATAN (off-panel): Shall we begin?
Next page.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the second four of the Steampunk list - The Ace, The Machine, The Brawler, and The Bearded Lady.
Page 2
1 - On Anne's lower calf / ankle. Let's do a pseudo x-ray on her leg, allowing the reader to see a card-sized device attached to her ankle - that's the focus of the panel. Maybe there's some weak glowing light starting to surround it.
SATAN (off-panel): It's almost as amusing as the contraption you have attached to your ankle.
2 - Satan has walked to the other side of the table and is now standing next to Anne. Anne looks mortified at having been found out - she's uncomfortable and straight-backed, failing miserably to play it cool. Satan, on the other hand, is cool as a cucumber, firmly in control of the situation. He has a hand reaching out to the device, which is floating up towards his outstretched hand, the glowing light much stronger now.
SATAN: You didn't really think you could cheat the Prince of Lies, did you?
3 - On Satan as he empties out a bunch of cards from the device onto the table. He looks slightly bemused. Note that the cards have the same back as the deck the skeleton was holding on the previous page.
SATAN: No matter.
4 - Satan's back at his spot, casually examining the back of his nails like nothing's happened. Anne is still sitting ramrod straight across from him, kind of frozen in her body language. She stares in fear at the device and the pile of cards it's laying on top of on the table surface. The skeleton dealer remains unfazed.
SATAN: Now that we've taken care of that.
5 - Close on the skeleton dealer's hands, shuffling the deck.
SATAN (off-panel): Shall we begin?
Next page.
Thursday, October 5, 2017
InkTober - Devil's Deal - Page 1
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the second four of the Steampunk list - The Ace, The Machine, The Brawler, and The Bearded Lady.
Some set-up: a woman is playing poker against the devil. A skeleton is dealing. That's all you need to know really.
Page 1
1 - Close on a pile of neatly stacked poker chips sitting on a well-worn card table. Frame so the top of the chips can't be clearly seen.
NO COPY
2 - Close on Anne's hands unbuttoning her dress shirt sleeve.
NO COPY
3 - Close on a deck of cards being shuffled by skeleton hands.
NO COPY
4 - Close on Anne's hands tying back her hair.
NO COPY
5 - Close on one of the devil's red hands holding a single poker chip. The chip's top can be seen in this panel and it has a little pentagram as the primary design.
NO COPY
6 - Close on Anne's mouth and hands as she applies a fake goatee to her face. Her eyes should not be visible here.
NO COPY
7 - Full shot of the scene. The two card players, the devil and Anne, sit across from each other at a card table, a dealer standing behind the table between the two. The dealer is a skeleton dressed as a casino card dealer (with green dealer visor, natch). The devil is snappily dressed in a finely tailored three piece suit and dress shirt - his jacket casually hanging off the back of his chair, his dress shirt sleeves rolled up. Anne is dressed exactly the same as the devil - same three-piece suit with the same jacket on the chair, same dress shirt with sleeves rolled up, her hair pulled back to give the appearance of a similar haircut, and the fake beard she applied in the previous panel matching the devil's goatee. She also mirrors the devil's body language, sitting with hands loosely clasped on the table. Anne looks smugly pleased, while the devil looks annoyed and unamused. The dealer's expression is unreadable (seeing as it's a skull).
SATAN: How droll.
Next page.
Some set-up: a woman is playing poker against the devil. A skeleton is dealing. That's all you need to know really.
Page 1
1 - Close on a pile of neatly stacked poker chips sitting on a well-worn card table. Frame so the top of the chips can't be clearly seen.
NO COPY
2 - Close on Anne's hands unbuttoning her dress shirt sleeve.
NO COPY
3 - Close on a deck of cards being shuffled by skeleton hands.
NO COPY
4 - Close on Anne's hands tying back her hair.
NO COPY
5 - Close on one of the devil's red hands holding a single poker chip. The chip's top can be seen in this panel and it has a little pentagram as the primary design.
NO COPY
6 - Close on Anne's mouth and hands as she applies a fake goatee to her face. Her eyes should not be visible here.
NO COPY
7 - Full shot of the scene. The two card players, the devil and Anne, sit across from each other at a card table, a dealer standing behind the table between the two. The dealer is a skeleton dressed as a casino card dealer (with green dealer visor, natch). The devil is snappily dressed in a finely tailored three piece suit and dress shirt - his jacket casually hanging off the back of his chair, his dress shirt sleeves rolled up. Anne is dressed exactly the same as the devil - same three-piece suit with the same jacket on the chair, same dress shirt with sleeves rolled up, her hair pulled back to give the appearance of a similar haircut, and the fake beard she applied in the previous panel matching the devil's goatee. She also mirrors the devil's body language, sitting with hands loosely clasped on the table. Anne looks smugly pleased, while the devil looks annoyed and unamused. The dealer's expression is unreadable (seeing as it's a skull).
SATAN: How droll.
Next page.
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
InkTober - For King and Country - Page 4
Previous page.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the first four of the Steampunk list - The Wicked Cyborg, The Airship Captain, The King of England, and The Explorer Girl.
Page 4
1 - Close on the window from which Rose and Cornelius entered the compartment. It remains open.
ROSE (off-panel): Did you close the window?
2 - Close on Cornelius. As much as a robot's head can, he looks awkward and uncomfortable. Note that he is still straddling the captain, who could be in view on-panel (although that is hardly necessary).
CORNELIUS: Why do you ask?
3 - Close on Rose. She looks quite cross and frustrated. Maybe she's faceplaming a little.
ROSE: ...
4 - Establishing shot of the luxury airship, flying far above the water below. We're out at a substantial distance, but the tiny figure of King George falling towards the water is clearly visible.
CORNELIUS (from within): Okay, so we've had better vacations...
Fin.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the first four of the Steampunk list - The Wicked Cyborg, The Airship Captain, The King of England, and The Explorer Girl.
Page 4
1 - Close on the window from which Rose and Cornelius entered the compartment. It remains open.
ROSE (off-panel): Did you close the window?
2 - Close on Cornelius. As much as a robot's head can, he looks awkward and uncomfortable. Note that he is still straddling the captain, who could be in view on-panel (although that is hardly necessary).
CORNELIUS: Why do you ask?
3 - Close on Rose. She looks quite cross and frustrated. Maybe she's faceplaming a little.
ROSE: ...
4 - Establishing shot of the luxury airship, flying far above the water below. We're out at a substantial distance, but the tiny figure of King George falling towards the water is clearly visible.
CORNELIUS (from within): Okay, so we've had better vacations...
Fin.
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
InkTober - For King and Country - Page 3
Previous page.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the first four of the Steampunk list - The Wicked Cyborg, The Airship Captain, The King of England, and The Explorer Girl.
Page 3
1 - Still inside King George's compartment. King George is up and looking annoyed / angry at his unexpected guests. Cornelius is kneeling to one side, rifling through some of the king's things for suspicious items, paying King George little mind. Rose stands on the other side (nearer the window), trying to reassure the king / looking awkward and uncomfortable. The window Cornelius and Rose entered form is off-panel.
KING GEORGE: What do you think you're doing?
CORNELIUS: Trying to save your life.
CAPTAIN (off-panel): Well then, you're too late.
2 - On the door to the king's compartment. The captain stands, machinegun firing, a maniacal grin on his face.
CAPTAIN: The Kaiser says auf wiedersehen.
SFX: brakka-aka-aka!
3 - Cornelius leaps up and pushes King George out of the way of the oncoming bullets. The king flies off to the side. Bullets ping off of Cornelius' arm that he has raised to block some of the fire.
KING GEORGE: Wha--!
SFX: ping!ping!ping!
4 - Cornelius races towards the gunman, crouching low with one arm still raised. The captain continues shooting. Many of the bullets continue to bounce off of Cornelius' mechanical arms, tearing apart his uniform; however, a few a leaving red marks on his body, revealing he's not entirely mechanical.
SFX: ping!ping!ping!
5 - Cornelius tackles gunman off his feet with a wicked looking spear to the gut. The gun flies from the captain's hands.
NO COPY
6 - Cornelius is on top of the captain, about to lay into the man with an enormous punch. The captain lamely raises his arms to try to protect himself. Both are paused in these positions, looking in surprise / annoyance towards Rose who is calling to Cornelius from off-panel.
ROSE (off-panel): Wait!
Next page.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the first four of the Steampunk list - The Wicked Cyborg, The Airship Captain, The King of England, and The Explorer Girl.
Page 3
1 - Still inside King George's compartment. King George is up and looking annoyed / angry at his unexpected guests. Cornelius is kneeling to one side, rifling through some of the king's things for suspicious items, paying King George little mind. Rose stands on the other side (nearer the window), trying to reassure the king / looking awkward and uncomfortable. The window Cornelius and Rose entered form is off-panel.
KING GEORGE: What do you think you're doing?
CORNELIUS: Trying to save your life.
CAPTAIN (off-panel): Well then, you're too late.
2 - On the door to the king's compartment. The captain stands, machinegun firing, a maniacal grin on his face.
CAPTAIN: The Kaiser says auf wiedersehen.
SFX: brakka-aka-aka!
3 - Cornelius leaps up and pushes King George out of the way of the oncoming bullets. The king flies off to the side. Bullets ping off of Cornelius' arm that he has raised to block some of the fire.
KING GEORGE: Wha--!
SFX: ping!ping!ping!
4 - Cornelius races towards the gunman, crouching low with one arm still raised. The captain continues shooting. Many of the bullets continue to bounce off of Cornelius' mechanical arms, tearing apart his uniform; however, a few a leaving red marks on his body, revealing he's not entirely mechanical.
SFX: ping!ping!ping!
5 - Cornelius tackles gunman off his feet with a wicked looking spear to the gut. The gun flies from the captain's hands.
NO COPY
6 - Cornelius is on top of the captain, about to lay into the man with an enormous punch. The captain lamely raises his arms to try to protect himself. Both are paused in these positions, looking in surprise / annoyance towards Rose who is calling to Cornelius from off-panel.
ROSE (off-panel): Wait!
Next page.
Monday, October 2, 2017
InkTober - For King and Country - Page 2
Previous page.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the first four of the Steampunk list - The Wicked Cyborg, The Airship Captain, The King of England, and The Explorer Girl.
Page 2
1 - Still in the storage facility. The porthole door from the facility to the outside air is open and Rose and Cornelius are climbing the ladder runs on the outside of the ship (Rose is leading the way, with Cornelius maybe standing in the doorway, the duffel bag of supplies draped over his shoulder).
ROSE: We went over this.
2 - On the airship's bridge. The airship captain is the type of man who would generally be described as "jovial", wearing a stereotypical and unnecessarily fancy captain's uniform (the hat is particularly important), along with a big nose and mustache and matching big belly. However, his joviality is absent for the moment as he grimaces in pain and holds his stomach. His number two looks on in concern, but the captain ambles away towards the bridge's door.
CAPTION (ROSE): Someone on this ship is not who they seem.
NUMBER 2: Are you alright, sir?
CAPTAIN: Stomach's not feeling great.
3 - Rose and Cornelius continue their climb along the airship, having progressed far along the side and up towards the top. They have taken out some rope from the duffle bag and are tying it to the ladder rungs.
CAPTION (ROSE): And there's no way to thoroughly search a vessel of this size.
CORNELIUS: Careful, it's a long way down.
4 - The captain walks with purpose down a hallway inside the airship. He peels off his large nose and mustache disguise with one hand to reveal a regular nose but larger mustache beneath. With his other hand, he reaches into what is revealed to be his fake belly to pull out a gun. He wears a menacing grin.
CAPTION (ROSE): Thankfully, it's not where they are that matters.
CAPTAIN: ...must have been something I ate.
5 - Inside a sumptuously adorned airship compartment. King George V sits on a fancy chair, startled by Rose and Cornelius who are hanging outside his window. Cornelius taps on the window to get George's attention.
CAPTION (ROSE): So much as where they're going to be.
KING GEORGE: !
SFX: taptaptap
ROSE: Permission to come aboard, your majesty?
Next page.
As discussed, we're working from Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts, specifically the first four of the Steampunk list - The Wicked Cyborg, The Airship Captain, The King of England, and The Explorer Girl.
Page 2
1 - Still in the storage facility. The porthole door from the facility to the outside air is open and Rose and Cornelius are climbing the ladder runs on the outside of the ship (Rose is leading the way, with Cornelius maybe standing in the doorway, the duffel bag of supplies draped over his shoulder).
ROSE: We went over this.
2 - On the airship's bridge. The airship captain is the type of man who would generally be described as "jovial", wearing a stereotypical and unnecessarily fancy captain's uniform (the hat is particularly important), along with a big nose and mustache and matching big belly. However, his joviality is absent for the moment as he grimaces in pain and holds his stomach. His number two looks on in concern, but the captain ambles away towards the bridge's door.
CAPTION (ROSE): Someone on this ship is not who they seem.
NUMBER 2: Are you alright, sir?
CAPTAIN: Stomach's not feeling great.
3 - Rose and Cornelius continue their climb along the airship, having progressed far along the side and up towards the top. They have taken out some rope from the duffle bag and are tying it to the ladder rungs.
CAPTION (ROSE): And there's no way to thoroughly search a vessel of this size.
CORNELIUS: Careful, it's a long way down.
4 - The captain walks with purpose down a hallway inside the airship. He peels off his large nose and mustache disguise with one hand to reveal a regular nose but larger mustache beneath. With his other hand, he reaches into what is revealed to be his fake belly to pull out a gun. He wears a menacing grin.
CAPTION (ROSE): Thankfully, it's not where they are that matters.
CAPTAIN: ...must have been something I ate.
5 - Inside a sumptuously adorned airship compartment. King George V sits on a fancy chair, startled by Rose and Cornelius who are hanging outside his window. Cornelius taps on the window to get George's attention.
CAPTION (ROSE): So much as where they're going to be.
KING GEORGE: !
SFX: taptaptap
ROSE: Permission to come aboard, your majesty?
Next page.
Sunday, October 1, 2017
InkTober - For King and Country - Page 1
Huh. Hadn't realized it's been so long since I updated this blog.
Well, scripting for InkTober is as good of a tradition as any to get back to it, so here we are.
I came across Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts a week or so back and thought it would be a grand way to organize my entries - specifically the Steampunk option. Unlike last year's one-pagers, I want to work on slightly longer pieces this time around, so watch out for a series of four-page stories, taking the prompts for those four days as the inspiration for the story. That means the first story is based on October 1 - 4: The Wicked Cyborg, The Airship Captain, The King of England, and The Explorer Girl.
I hope you enjoy.
Page 1
1 - Establishing panel on a World War 1-era luxury airship cruising through a clear night sky. The moon hangs above, its bright mass reflected in the water below.
CORNELIUS (from within): You said this was going to be luxurious!
2 - Moving closer to the bottom / rear of the airship, specifically a metal porthole door (like a submarine hatch) on the back.
ROSE (from within): No, I said this was a luxury airship.
3 - Focused on the porthole door. We can kind of see into the compartment beyond, which is a big storage area, filled with boxes, lockers, bags, and the like.
CORNELIUS (from within): Then why are we in such cramped quarters for our vacation?
4 - Inside the storage facility. There's all manner of items pilled about, including a large wooden crate that is tall and narrow. This is the focus of the panel.
ROSE (from within crate): Because we are not on vacation!
5 - Cornelius, smashes out from inside the crate, splitting one of the sides with a fist. Cornelius is a hulking cyborg dressed in a World War 1 British army uniform (sans gun). His head is fully covered by a robot-head (that is shaped to have the outline of the regular soldier helmet) and it is unclear whether he is a man wearing a helmet or a robot. His hands, which would be the other area where you could see skin, appear to be robot hands (or again, covered in robotic-gloves).
SFX: KRNCH!
6 - Rose still stands inside the crate, a duffle bag at her feet. She pinches the edge of her nose with one hand in frustration. Cornelius stands to the side, looking at her in confusion. He is also in the process of trying to get the side of the crate off of his arm. Rose is an athletic woman who is also wearing a World War 1 British army uniform, her hair tied back under her helmet.
CORNELIUS: Then why are we on a luxury airship?
Next page.
Well, scripting for InkTober is as good of a tradition as any to get back to it, so here we are.
I came across Simon Fletcher's InkTober prompts a week or so back and thought it would be a grand way to organize my entries - specifically the Steampunk option. Unlike last year's one-pagers, I want to work on slightly longer pieces this time around, so watch out for a series of four-page stories, taking the prompts for those four days as the inspiration for the story. That means the first story is based on October 1 - 4: The Wicked Cyborg, The Airship Captain, The King of England, and The Explorer Girl.
I hope you enjoy.
Page 1
1 - Establishing panel on a World War 1-era luxury airship cruising through a clear night sky. The moon hangs above, its bright mass reflected in the water below.
CORNELIUS (from within): You said this was going to be luxurious!
2 - Moving closer to the bottom / rear of the airship, specifically a metal porthole door (like a submarine hatch) on the back.
ROSE (from within): No, I said this was a luxury airship.
3 - Focused on the porthole door. We can kind of see into the compartment beyond, which is a big storage area, filled with boxes, lockers, bags, and the like.
CORNELIUS (from within): Then why are we in such cramped quarters for our vacation?
4 - Inside the storage facility. There's all manner of items pilled about, including a large wooden crate that is tall and narrow. This is the focus of the panel.
ROSE (from within crate): Because we are not on vacation!
5 - Cornelius, smashes out from inside the crate, splitting one of the sides with a fist. Cornelius is a hulking cyborg dressed in a World War 1 British army uniform (sans gun). His head is fully covered by a robot-head (that is shaped to have the outline of the regular soldier helmet) and it is unclear whether he is a man wearing a helmet or a robot. His hands, which would be the other area where you could see skin, appear to be robot hands (or again, covered in robotic-gloves).
SFX: KRNCH!
6 - Rose still stands inside the crate, a duffle bag at her feet. She pinches the edge of her nose with one hand in frustration. Cornelius stands to the side, looking at her in confusion. He is also in the process of trying to get the side of the crate off of his arm. Rose is an athletic woman who is also wearing a World War 1 British army uniform, her hair tied back under her helmet.
CORNELIUS: Then why are we on a luxury airship?
Next page.
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