This was a fun page in that it’s a new part of the ship: the engine room. I didn’t really sketch it out beforehand, since I figured it would be fairly tight on Ril and not about showing the full room. But I wanted it to look engine room-y, so it’s just a bunch of random mech-y doodads and panels. The purple tubes are meant to be something related to fuel cells, with the empty ones being the ones taken offline for repairs. I can’t say I’ve really thought too much about the actual fuel or energy used by the ships. Maybe someday if it really factors into the story, I will. But for now, it’s mystery purple grape-flavored fuel!
It’s always nice to have a more dimly lit scene with a single strong light source. And I think Wes really nailed the colors with how the light from the torch is tinting Ril’s skin.
I always struggle a little bit with these kinds of scenes where I want some dialogue but it’s just one person by himself. I don’t typically buy characters talking to themselves out loud, and I don’t use thought balloons in RUNNERS. Ultimately, while not entirely realistic, in this case I just ignore that and do what the scene needs. I did shrink some of the text in the balloons, which I often do to convey someone speaking quietly. That way, it registers as muttering, which I think seems at least a bit more realistic than someone speaking to themselves at full volume.
Fun personal fact: like many people, I can have imaginary conversations in my head, but apparently when I do, I actually move my lips slightly. My wife Peggy regularly looks at me and asks, “who are you taking to in your head?,” because she can see my lips moving. So I guess as far as people talking to themselves, I may not do it audibly, but apparently I’m one step closer than most!
Of all members of the crew I think Ril and Cember do seem the most likely to grumble/talk to themselves.
It’s also common for persons to talk to themselves while solving a problem as it helps them to focus on the task at hand. So this situation seems like a good fit.
The rubble on the floor is a good reminder that Jayd was not stealthy when it was time to sabotage the ship.
Ril is definitely the most likely to grumble audibly to himself! So of all the characters, I think it does work for him. I just realized, I did also have Bocce mumble to himself in Volume 2, when he was stuck back on the ship while everyone went off on their snowcapades.
FWIW, I actually do talk to myself out loud sometimes when I’m alone, so it’s not totally unrealistic for a character to do that. ?
Also, an interesting detail I notice is that Ril has a tool belt draped over his shoulder rather than wearing it around his waist. I bet it would be uncomfortable to crouch while wearing it the normal way.
Yeah it was a detail I introduced way back in Volume 1. I’m not sure why, but I just thought it was more interesting visually to have him sling the tool belt over a shoulder, so I stuck with that.
https://runnersuniverse.com/comic/bad-goods-ch-03-pg-22/
So the ship runs on grape soda. No wonder they have problems.
Having the characters converse in your head, or even out loud if you can do various voices, is a good way to help make the dialog feel like something actual people would say, and even make sure it sounds like something the characters would say given their personalities.
Roka’s pretty cheap, as we know. Everyone knows that ORANGE soda is the real premium fuel.
Who loves orange soda?
Kel Kimble 😉