I’m off to the New York Comic Convention, today, and in honor of the “Event” I posted a SPECIAL incentive to go with this week’s page – a step-by-step tutorial on how I colored this page, with comments by me, personally! So take a look, by voting now! And if you, too, are on the way to NYCC, and you see a really tall guy with a shaved head handing out cards like these here on the left, stop me, get one, and say hi! And as ever, thanks for the votes, the reads, and the support. Have a great weekend, everyone!
If any page so far has yet exemplified the direction I hope this comic will go (artistically, at any rate) I think it’s this one. Whatever its shortcomings, and there are likely many, this page really pleases me. It is perhaps, currently, my favorite page since the very first one, which I’d never seemed to top until now.
I took an entirely different approach to coloring this page than I had on previous ones. It’s fairly technical and conceptual, so if you don’t really care about the craft aspects of comic art, you can skip this paragraph and not miss anything. But basically, my conception of how I was coloring the pages had been kind of backwards. I had been considering the shadow as something applied, which framed the areas I wanted to highlight. On this page, however, I instead put the shade and shadow down as a base layer over a single unifying shadow color across the entire page, then mapped out the light sources, and only then, took parts of it away to reveal highlights. The result was far more nuanced, with a lot more depth than on previous pages. I think the result was very satisfactory, and finally produced the red-brown fire-and-smoke effect I have been reaching for since the start of the chapter.
6-Commando has always been, in my mind, kind of a work in progress, and I know that almost all the “professional” cartoonists out there caution against that, because it runs counter to the concept of consistency and “only doing your best.” But each week has been the best I can make it – and it’s paid off, because I feel liek it makes the breakthroughs that much more satisfying. And it also helps to have insightful readers who are willing to contribute, as well.
Anyhow, two final notes before I call it a night. First, this week’s “Five Days to 6-Commando” will be delayed by one day, but don’t let it stop you from voting! This week will highlight the process of coloring that I went through, but to make it really readable that way will take another day to finish up. All the votes last week were terrific, and catapulted 6-Commando up almost 60 places between Monday and Friday! See how much it’s helped? Thanks so much, everyone!
Second, of course, is that I’ll be going to the New York Comic Convention next week. I will not, unfortunately, be an exhibitor, but I’ll be around, passing out my card, networking, all that good stuff. So if you’re there and you see a big bald guy handing out 6-Commando cards, come up and say hi! And if you’re a creator and you are exhibiting, I hope to see you there.
Anyway, that’s all for now. Have a good week, folks – see you next time!
I really dig this new technique of yours. I would never have thought to add the shadows first then cut away as needed. Reading this comic of yours has been quite enlightening as you have experimented with various styles and it has come though as a progression of a work in progress. I cant wait to see how this develops for you.
Saleem
I’m glad you like it. It was a really small but very critical change in perspective that turned out to be a major breakthrough for me. It really made an enormous difference, I think. The difference between this page and the last one is very abrupt, though, so now I have yet another thing on my List Of Stuff To Edit. But there it is. That’s how works in progress go.
–M
Aww, they’re rescuing her! Now they can all be friends because the Gas Mask Pals rescued her in her time of need and patched her up–just so that they can poke holes in her and see if Top Secrets will leak out. Yeap, she’s screwed. XD
Well, she’s hardly in any position to give them any trouble this time, that’s for sure.
–M
A little tough to follow the orders of the panels, but that is very disorienting and I really like the effect it has on the reader. I also love the new lighting you chose. All in all a fantastic, wonderfully moody page.
And on that final panel, fade to black. Somewhat reminiscent of the ending of The Usual Suspects. I like it.
Thanks for the compliment! As I said above, it was a really small change in my perspective on how I was going about the work that made a really major difference. Graphic art is a real struggle because it has so much more in it that has to be “right” for it to work properly. It’s a lot like classical art or rendering in that way. But every so often you get moments where things click, and this weekend feels like it was one of them for me. Really helped improve my mood, too – the last few pages had been a real struggle for me so it was nice to have one fall into place, I won’t say easily, but at least properly.
–M
This new approach works really well, those colors are excellent! I also like the perspective, gives it al a very cinematic and not to forget dramatic feel to it. My favorite panel is panel 4, or 5, OK I chose both.
Keep ‘m coming!
The whole thing was a real change, and I think it worked out very well. Only problem is, now that I have a new process, all the preceding pages need to be brought up to the new standard!
Oh, well. That’s all part of the game, I guess!
–M
Good luck at the con!
Great looking colors! I didn’t realize that I missed so many updates here. I’ve been so consumed with my own little world. Your tutorial is really great too. Sorry for the lame short comment.