Archive for the ‘Scripting’ Category
Saturday, March 16th, 2013
It is the 16th of March, and I have no new rapid City script to post.
That is not a sad thing, however, because Kav and I have been working on a different script project.
This method we are using is much more collaborative, and that makes it harder to predict how long it will take to get it done.
That script is not complete, but it is done to the point where it is at least usable by an artist.
I am not really happy that i missed this deadline, but i am not crushed by it either.
I have been a few days late in the past… and I am breaking in a whole new method of getting comics done. So, I give myself a little grace period there.
Posted in Creative process, Editing, Plotting, Scripting, Updates, Writing | No Comments »
Sunday, January 20th, 2013
The script for the 39th issue of Rapid City has just been posted. With this issue, the series comes together as a team book with the formation of The Rapid Citizens. Read it here.
Panel 1 Smaller shot of a weary and well pissed off Knuckleduster tearing the rear wheel off of a motorcycle.
Panel 2 Larger shot of Knuckleduster holding the dismembered bike by its rear forks, she smashes it to the ground. The Dead Men are reeling at the sight.
Panel 3 Tight shot on Knuckleduster, streaked with rain, grease, and soot.
KNUCKLEDUSTER
We clear?
Read this, and all my previous Rapid City scripts here.
Posted in Script Updates, Scripting, Writing | No Comments »
Monday, December 17th, 2012
The script for issue #38 of Rapid City has just been posted. You can read it here.
Panel 3 Flamethrower using two huge flame arms to pick up a nearby car. Sidekick now yelling.
SIDEKICK
Flamethrower!
Panel 4 Flamethrower smashing the car down at Heikkous, who is deftly slicing the car in half. Again, Sidekick is yelling.
SIDEKICK
Flamethrower!
Panel 5 Sidekick grabbing Flamethrower roughly to get her attention.
SIDEKICK
It’s not working!
Panel 6 Possibly inset over panel 5. Small tight shot of Sidekick looking very concerned.
SIDEKICK
Honey, it’s not working.
Posted in Script Updates, Scripting | No Comments »
Saturday, November 24th, 2012
The script for issue #37 of Rapid City has just been posted. Read it here.
Attitudes towards crime, and crime-fighters, have been changing in Rapid City. Switchboard starts to wonder if the city still needs superheroes just as a human villain ignites an extra-dimensional invasion.
Panel 2 Heikkous atop a mound of cars. She has clearly pushed all of the cars in a medium sized lot into a large pile and has gotten on top of it to gloat.
HEIKKOUS
I am Heikkous, war-born. I mark the end of all that you have known.
Panel 3 Flamethrower charging across the cleared lot toward Heikkous.
HEIKKOUS
Rejoice! Your last days are at hand!
FLAMETHROWER
Yeah? Maybe you should rejoice.
Panel 4 Flamethrower using one huge flame arm to vault herself high in to the air, and using the other to form a huge flame fist.
FLAMETHROWER
Because your last day is at hand!
Panel 5 Sidekick standing up from the rubble, looking surprised and impressed with the action in front of him.
SIDEKICK
Kick her ass, Flamethrower!
Read this, and all of the previous Rapid City scripts here.
Posted in Publishing, Script Updates, Scripting, Switchboard | No Comments »
Friday, November 23rd, 2012
8 days late, but issue #37 is done.
Writing a team book is a unique challenge. The skill set is the same as writing a solo book, but the execution is much different. I will clean it up and have the script posted tomorrow.
Posted in Commentary, Genre, Scripting, Superhero, Writing | No Comments »
Sunday, September 2nd, 2012
Since listening to the Decompressed podcast on Marvel Style, I have been fascinated by it.
I want to try it right away!
I usually over-write my panels just a bit in the full-script style. I think that, by this point, Kav knows that this is not me being obnoxious, but rather uncertain. I also tend to let the dialog lead the scene. I mean that I will often just let the characters talk… let them flow where ever they want to go. This is why i have so much repetition in my early drafts.
Then I will take all of that rambling and pare it down into tighter flow, one that actually moves from turning point to turning point.
I use those turning points to plan out my panel breaks. Every time the conversation changes direction, I need a new panel.
That method works pretty well.
But, in my zeal to use Marvel Style, I have been trying something else on my latest issue.
Instead of think about what everyone is going to say, I have been trying to think about what the page, or the next panel, should look like.
Then I just write that.
With little dialog tags like “COIL speaks” so that I know I have to come back and put in SOME kind of chatter. It is so much fun, and it makes the dialog that eventually goes in so much more vibrant.
This is just my half-ass Marvel Style and I already love it!
-Josh
Josh you are really onto something-this is a very dynamic and responsive writing method and you can utilize it on the books I have already drawn-that’s the beauty of it….
one downside of the method is it led to the infamous Lee/Ditko feud. But i never want credit for anything but the art so this would never be an issue with me and any writer. Of course I didn’t co plot any of RC but I’m just sayin.
-Kav
Posted in Creative process, Open Studio, Plotting, Scripting, Writing | No Comments »
Saturday, September 1st, 2012
I have been listening to Kieron Gillen’s podcast, Decompressed.
It is, without a doubt, the best thing I have ever heard on the craft of making comics.
It is a writer talking to other comics creators about the craft of making comics. I have heard some good writing podcasts where a writer simply gives advice, or podcasts where creators tell stories from behind the scenes, and there are others (like ifanboy’s Make Comics)… and they are great. But none of them do what Decompressed does.
Decompressed is comics creators discussing the application of theory to the craft of making comics. Form first-day novice to Comics Grand Champion, you have something to gain from discussions like these.
I wish there were new ones every single day.
If you make comics, go listen to these.
-Josh
Posted in Commentary, Creative process, Editing, Industry, Interviews, Plotting, Scripting, Writing | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 29th, 2012
A little process stuff.
The Rapid City comic is at several different points in its production right now.
Issue #1 is one bit of polish away from being sent to the printer. That’s done.
Issue #2 is on deck. Kav has found a letterer is good and eager to learn. That seems to be the theme for this project, so I said bring him on. That book is about to be lettered.
To get it lettered, I need to re-write the script. I wrote that script almost 3 years ago, at a time when I never expected to find an artist. It is a bit clunky, as scripts go. I was writing it so that ANY artist could do it, so I over-wrote it.
Well, Kav came in and drew it, and it looks great.
But, now some of the dialogue that I wrote either doesn’t quite work any more, has to be moved, or is just not needed.
This means I have to create a revised script.
To do this I write a up a quick skeleton of the script based on the actual art pages. This is just panels and pages, and just a few words of description.
Then, using my TV as a second screen, I put the pages up one at a time.
On my lap-top screen, I look at the original script side-by-side with my new bare-bones one.
Then I start going through, panel by panel, and making sure the script still works with the page as it is drawn.
Mostly I am trimming un-needed wordiness and adding in names.
Once i get rolling, it actually goes pretty quickly.
-Josh
this modified ‘Marvel Method‘ should be used in all the books dude.
-Kav
Posted in Creative process, Open Studio, Scripting, Technical | No Comments »
Thursday, February 16th, 2012
Starting to get hits from the Boston Comic Con site.
That is cool, and I guess that means they have received and processed my application for some table space there.
It is April 21st and 22nd. I hope to see you there.
Even more, I hope to have new issues to sell there!
Also, though slightly late, issue 29 is very close to completion.
And, I keep getting more and more pages from Kav for the earlier issues.
I need to get more scripting done tonight, but I will post some Kav art soon.
Posted in Appearances, Comics, Conventions, Printing, Publishing, Scripting, Updates | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
The script for the 28th issue of my supervillain drama Rapid City has just been posted. Read the full script here.
Panel 1. Later that night, Icicle walks along the side of concrete bridge where a main road is crossing a set of railroad tracks. She is carrying the gym bag. Her clothes are in rough shape after running through the brush.
Caption: The cold never bothers me. But hunger does. Exhaustion does.
Caption: Cars just pass me by.
Panel 2. We can see a hint of the bridge she was crossing in the background. In the foreground, she is hunkered down behind a long-unused set of newspaper boxes. She is sliding a few bills out of the cop’s wallet that she took. The way it is flopped open, we can see the cop’s badge.
Caption: Twenty six bucks. That’s it.
Panel 3. Icicle is caught in the lights of a passing car, she raises her arm to shield her face. We can see rips and smears of dirt on her sleeve.
Read all of my previous Rapid City scripts right here.
Tags:comic book script, making comics, Supervillains
Posted in Coil, Editing, Icicle, Plotting, Rapid City Comics, Script Updates, Scripting, Technical, Writing | 1 Comment »
37 down
Friday, November 23rd, 20128 days late, but issue #37 is done.
Writing a team book is a unique challenge. The skill set is the same as writing a solo book, but the execution is much different. I will clean it up and have the script posted tomorrow.
Posted in Commentary, Genre, Scripting, Superhero, Writing | No Comments »