This flashback sequence was a lot of fun to do since it gives a little glimpse into the ill-fated run that Roka and Grissom alluded to on the previous page. It was also a fun exercise to do the whole thing as a silent sequence, although the rain effects were a nightmare. The rain itself wasn’t bad, but the pools of water running down everything added quite a lot of time to the digital shading part of the art. But it was worth it as I think it really adds to the mood of the sequence.
For some reason, I think it’s funny that flashback Ril has facial hair. Maybe it’s because I designed him to look like a mix of bird, snapping turtle, and frog, and facial hair just seems really out of place on him. But then that’s the fun of creating alien characters.
Agreed on Ril’s facial hair.
Also his hat – knit caps are pretty timeless, but it’s still kind of funny seeing an alien wearing a hat I could buy at the corner store.
His facial “hair” reminds me of pre-feathers on a juvenile bird, or the mini facial feathers on a macaw. Totally within possibility given your stated design elements. It could be that by the time of the current story arc, he’d either outgrown them, or had them “waxed” for a more mature (within his species) look?
Great to know the hair works within the realm of possibility! I like to maintain SOME semblance of believability to my universe, but I don’t feel slavish about really having to make sure everything is 100% on point. Sometimes it’s fun to just let the story or art dictate something.