Skeletal Line

Creating a Cartoon Character from a List

Basic Three Panel Drawing Exercise

Trigger

Been a little while, a lot has been happening here at Movin Slow! First off there's been a resurgence of Rage fans and Rage #4 is nearing artistic completion! Pretty much all I have to do is size up each page for the printers!

Several other secret comic have begun using different experimental techniques.

Also, 'pulling the trigger' has become a new phrase for me as I've launched a new website keeping the old one intact. You can find the new website below and if you're a new struggling artist find hidden pockets of time to level-up your drawing skills! Sign up for free here: storyartistchris.squarespace.com

Other then that, I still gotta redo Rage cover at my store and add a page to Rage #1

Stay-tuned true believer's!

Missing Stan already.

Making Funny Comic Strips

Lately, I've been pondering the reasons for creating a basic-three panel comic strip. I've also been thinking about how a comic-strip is a lot like a storyboard. It uses characters moving within the panel and setting too. It shows the progression of a story from the beginning panel to the end.

I've also been watching a lot of Joseph Cambell and his lectures on archetypes in stories. There's seemingly only a few templates that all stories fall under and most of them require the hero to overcome some obstacle in order to succeed in his or her quest. That can sometimes be true for cartoon characters but, sometimes it's not because a lot of the time they exist mostly as a set up for a joke. Once you have a cartoon character you still have to bring the funny much like in comedy in general. It's no easy task. One thing you can do to bring the funny is first complete a three panel story from beginning, middle to end. Learn the storytelling basics first at least. 

Then, study comedians. Follow some of the set-up formats that they use. Notice how they reverse expectations and play on words with double meanings.

Set-up, punchline and payoff.

Write in a small notebook you can buy at the dollar store to take with you everywhere you go and write a joke every-time you have some 'dead' time.

Sometimes the three-panel could be part of an ongoing story like a Stan Lee (RIP) Spiderman strip. A lot of those are ongoing stories but end an narrative beats and cliffhangers.

It's important to nail basic storytelling, get it down, plot it out. Write a bullet pointed outline, how does one character get from point A to point B with the passage of time in 3 panels?

So in conclusion I'd say it's a step-by-step process that might be awkward at first but will get easier over time with practice.

More Comics Planned!

Well, along with the Rage redux, I've also been experimenting with a quicker method of making comics. This experimentation has to do with drawing and producing comics much faster. I can draw a six panel storyboard in about an hour or two, I want to be able to do the same with my comics.

Rage # 1 Intro Redux

   Well, after finally submitting my comics to the world and recieving my um, advice from the DCP podcast I've decided to redo the intro to Rage #1 to make it more reader friendly. There'll be a new intro that sets up Rage and his predicament better. So that's probably an extra page or two added to issue number 1.

   Wasn't able to get a table at Trinity's Great Lakes Comic Con for July. Unfortunately, it sold out before I could get the money for a table. I still might do the Madison Heights Con in September. Stay tuned, I have some special news around the corner!