I like little beats like this sequence, although sometimes I wonder if readers will be thinking, “Really? A scene with Bocce making snowmen? How does that advance the plot?” Well, maybe it does and maybe it doesn’t. Okay, it doesn’t. But I thought it would be a nice short scene to show just how bored Bocce is and also add a little bit of visual humor, with all the snowman versions of the crew. And I really like the gag of Bocce having trouble capturing Ril’s likeness until he adds angry eyebrows and a frown. I guess the other function this scene serves is to just cut away from the Roka story once in a while, so that it isn’t all about them all the time.
In concepting the alien wolves, I was really happy with the designs since they came out kinda wolf-like but different enough anatomically to look a bit more other-worldy. It wasn’t until I had finished coloring the page that I realized they looked a bit like the wargs in the Lord of the Rings movies, with the hunched back and bat-like head. Ugh. Anyway, it was different enough that I didn’t try to rationalize tweaking the design, especially with my time needed on the other 80 or so pages left to pencil, ink, color, and letter for the arc!
Loving this can’t wait for the book to come out.
You should get Borders Books to carry them, So I can help you eat.
I cannot wait for the book to come out either. I already have an epilogue figured out that will be exclusive to the graphic novel. I figure I should have SOMETHING in the book that isn’t available online.
As for getting it into bookstores like Borders and Barnes and Noble, that would be tough. I think they only deal with publishers that have a big enough catalog of books for it to be worth their time. Since I’ll only have the two graphic novels (“Bad Goods” and “Big Snow Job”), I don’t think that will be enough. To be perfectly honest, I’m still worried about comic store orders since I’m not sure if RUNNERS will be on their radar when the time comes.
So I just went back and re-read these pages… they are fantastic. I didn’t catch the transition between page 17 and 18 the first time, or how Bocce makes Ril frown. LOL. I can’t wait to pick this up as a graphic novel when you are done.
Yeah, I think the Bennes transition will work much better when the pages are read one right after the other in print form, as opposed to the online posting schedule. As for Ril’s frown, I was wondering if the difference would come across clearly in the art. Again, hopefully, when the two pages are read in succession in print, it’ll be easier to catch the differences. Thanks for the nice words though! Glad you liked the sequence!