Side by Side 5

The original Bolt _page 5

This original page really highlights how you can cram too many of your influences into one page!  Among the 90's greats that are all being emulated (not very successfully), This page is very much a tip of the hat to Larry Stroman who incorporated a lot of abstract geometric shapes and lines into his comic art.

The Electrifying Bolt - Page 8

The Electrifying Bolt - Page 9

I'm still not sure changing the wings for a "chopper" was the best choice but Mike's "Squeaker, Squeaker, Squeaker" Sound FX definitely was.

I'm not sure the new panel 1 on page 8 is actually better than the original. Panel 3 on the same page is a recreation of panel 4 on the original. Ironically I think the original has better perspective than the redone panel in which I actually did use perspective.

Panel 4 on page 9 is actually a favourite of mine. It's not dramatic or particularly cool but it is a time when I just let the drawing flow without overthinking it. In my opinion it has a bit more of a "Style" than the other panels.

The Adventurers in The missing Adventure.

Today I thought I'd share something a bit different with you all. Here is the one and only panel from a short story I had in mind to introduce The Bolt to the Bolt Comics Universe. It was planned to be a "breaking the fourth wall" story, that is, the characters would be aware they were Bolt Comic characters. As I planned the pages, I realised it wasn't the short introduction I originally intended. I also felt that as it would be the first ever Bolt Comics crossover with all the lead characters including Brigand from A Brigand's Tale, that a fourth wall gag strip wouldn't do the event justice.

The Adventurers on the adventure that never happened.

The panel itself is inspired by Indiana Jones, with the flaming torch and stone passageway. Who knows? It could prompt an Adventurers story idea in the future. 

As for a Bolt Comics inter title crossover, it's bound to happen... one day. We've already got a lot of ideas for how it occurs and lots of jokes from the gag strip will be able to be used on that occasion.