The Adventurers Comic -in colour!

Thought I'd show some work in progress of The Adventurers Christmas pic for 2015. This year for the first time it's a one page comic and therefore the first time The Adventurers have appeared in colour in an actual comic strip. Also those lil' adorable scamps, the dragon kids are back!

Pencils

Digital inks

Colour flats

Finishes

The Adventurers issue 4 pen and ink art complete. On to the digital!

All the pen art is photocopied and scanned in ready to be touched up for issue 4.

A few weeks ago I finished the pen line art for The Adventurers issue 4. I'm currently applying digital finishes and lettering to each page in a far greater extent than previous issues of Adventurers. The main reason is that issue 4 is set at night and I like having the option to use "undo" if any shadows  don't look quite right. A secondary reason is I actually know a little bit more about how to use digital programs compared to two years ago.  I guess you could call the process for issue 4 a "tradigital" process.


Despite a lot of work left to go on issue 4, it really felt  momentous completing the final page inks for a number of reasons:

• It's the conclusion of the first story arc and the set up for future arcs. 
• I've been working on The Adventurers, from concept to print, for at least 13 years! It is nice to get closer to the point I envisioned (albeit a little differently) so long ago and start to explore new story paths.
• Issue 4 is a very demanding issue in itself. It's longer at 24 pages, the first time I use splash pages, a lot of extra big panels and some challenging sequences that require me to push my artistic ability.
• It's also the last time I'll be making comics using the "tradigital" process I have been using. I plan to incorporate a lot more of the digital component for future stories.

For previous issues I largely used the computer for lettering. I experimented more in issue 3 with some tiny art touch ups and using blast line tools to add some drama. In issue 4 I kept in mind what could be done digitally to try and save time. Issue 4 spot blacks, blast lines, background details and even some entire back grounds have been added digitally. I've even used copy and paste in places rather than try to replicate identical images by hand (something my sister, Cara, told me to do for issue 1 but I was too stubborn to heed her good advice. I now know it is not "cheating" to use digital tools). Below is a sample of some panels that have been touched up digitally that I shared on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Panels start to come alive when the black is added.

Using heavy shadows is less risky since you can undo anything that doesn't look right.

Starry nights are a lot easier in digital.

The Adventurers Comic- Issue 4 progress

Issue 4 will be ready by mid year and the first Story arc for the Adventurers will be complete! So I thought I'd share some progress shots I shared on Twitter and Instagram on the holidays. Issue 4 has been a bit strange to work on. As I have shared before, I've grown used to working in digital mode, but to such an extent I think I now prefer it and actually get frustrated with the limitations of my traditional process. 

However to keep the first arc of The Adventurers consistent I'm trying to use the same process I did with issues 1-3. That is working in pencil and pens then lettering digitally and some post production finishes to the art. Issue 4 will have even more digital post production since I'm more familiar with what I can do digitally to save time. Keep in mind these inks are still a work in progress and will not be complete until I have tweaked them digitally.

Hmmm looking at this, I'm reminded a few more missiles are needed. Back to the drawing board!

Possibly went overboard on the missiles.

One or Two robots will probably be removed also.

The Adventurers process sneak peak.

I decided to share some process/progress pictures of a panel from the upcoming issue 4 of The Adventurers to prove it is progressing, if a little slowly. This page called for a big panel as it's a special moment.

Ellie overlooking the city.

 Buildings have been sketched in and perspective lines ruled. It's always tricky trying to get some different building designs that also look like they belong in the same city.

Refining the buildings.

I have changed some of the buildings in a effort to give it a more art deco feel. Also to give room for more buildings in the background to help show more of the city.

Initial inking

Initial inks have been applied and I've blacked the shadows. The scene is set at night and I want to make it look like the light source is the streets below.

Almost finished.

Shadows have been added to the characters. Gradient lines to the buildings. It still isn't complete. The next step is to make some adjustments digitally. I will tweak the buildings in the very back ground in order to create the illusion of more distance. I will also experiment with more shadows in the foreground. Digital is wonderful because of the "undo" function. I can try something and if it doesn't work, I can just undo it.

There you have it. A progress page from The Adventurers Issue 4.