Draconis Wicked Comic

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:38:09 -0800

Comic Notes

If Draconis Wicked were a video game, this would be the first real boss fight. (Catching Snakey in the castle treasury would be the practice/training battle.)

Meanwhile, the Urban Underbrush Readers' Poll is still running. If you're interested in answering questions, I'd love to hear your opinions.

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:27:23 -0800

Comic Notes

Sometimes you can put up with those wacky/obnoxious characters in fantasy stories. Sometimes you even enjoy them. But sometimes...somtimes you just want to see them get kicked in the rear.

Urban Underbrush readers, the Urban Underbrush Readers' Poll is still running. I'm looking forward to sharing the results with you, but I need to mine a little more data first.

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:56:34 -0800

Comic Notes

The top of a giant tree is a terribly interesting setting. I had a lot of fun with this page and the pages ahead.

By the way, if any of you also read Urban Underbrush, remember that the Urban Underbrush Readers' Poll is running. Let me know what you like and what you don't like. I could really use your feedback.

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:25:54 -0800

Comic Notes

That's Flight's story. Stay tuned. There will be another surprise next time (although Draconis will probably be more surprised that you.)

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:04:49 -0800

Comic Notes

Flight's secret is about to come out.

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:49:50 -0800

Comic Notes

Draconis Wicked is the kind of epic that needs a good tree scene. Don't you agree?

By the way, have you seen Flight's appearance at Comic Creators for Freedom yet? Draconis Wicked is part of the 2012 fundraiser (along with 126 other comics.) If you're interested in making a donation, or just checking out the project, you have until Friday, January 20th. Trust me, it's worth a visit.

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:44:29 -0800

Comic Notes

At last, the next phase of our jounrey is underway.

Over Christmas break, one of my young cousins dropped by with his family. He saw this page while I was working on it and he became very excited. He started shouting, "Look, they're climbing the tree!" I guess the pictures must be self explainatory, considering that he can't read yet.

He told me that Draconis (who he called "Dragon Man") was his favorite, but he's also very fond of Malcorona ("Mean Guy"). Go figure.

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:14:45 -0800

Comic Notes

As promised, you get a double sized comic today. I think you can see why. I wanted that giant tree to have its own page so it could make an appropriately large impression, but if I'm only doing weekly updates, I don't want to spent a whole week on one single panel. Besides, I want you to enjoy the large panel instead of feeling disappointed by the lack of a substantial update. The two pages appear separate in the archives.

Mulch is loosely inspired by the fuzzy creatures that occassionaly appeared in my student comics. The plants that grow from his fur are not the result of some magic power or mystical connection to nature. He's just really dirty.

The Heart of the Forest has changed a bit from its first design. This is one of the few scenes that was drawn out in my sketch book long before I started storyboarding the comic. Originally, the tree looked pretty ordinary, except for its size. Kristine, over at Ninth Runs Wild, suggested that the tree should have few more distinctive features. So it became a little more spindly and now has some large pods hanging from the branches. I imagine that the pods are what gave Wind Chime Forest its name.

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:01:58 -0800

Comic Notes

So Flight gets to trade in her simple flute for the magical Wind Flute. It's kind of like trading in the Fairy Ocarina for the Ocarina of Time (one of fantasy's greatest musical instruments, and if you disagree I will slap you through the internet.)

In panel 3, Flight is putting the giant flute in her cargo pocket (in total violation of the laws of physics.) In the early phases of designing Draconis Wicked, I thought that the characters looked cute when they held oversized tools or weapons. However, they just looked clumsy carrying these items around. I decided that everyone who carries a large item will also have some kind of magic case or pocket to stow it. Don't think too hard about it.

Tune in next Monday for a double sized update.

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 06:27:48 -0800

Comic Notes

I'm running out of colors for important people's robes. The King wore white, the Royal Council wears blue-gray, the fortuneteller wears blue-green and Malcorona wears black. Forest green looks appropriate for forest people, but I have to be careful to keep them from blending into the backgrounds to much.

Meanwhile, the Lepus Studios Christmas Card is still up for fans and friends to enjoy.

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:08:05 -0800

Comic Notes

When I started this page, I was really unsure about it. I wanted the trees to look like symbols here. That way, when we finally see The Heart of the Forest for real, it will still make an impact. But I've never made such a dramatic break with the style before and I was afraid that this page would conflict with the rest of the art work. In the end, I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.

I'm also becoming a fan of having few or no gutters* during character narratives or flashbacks (The last page didn't use gutters either. Did you notice?) I'll probably call on this device again, but not for another couple of chapters. I doubt I'll use it every time either (Snakey's flashback in Chapter One still used gutters.)

*In comic terminology, "gutters" = The white space between comic panels.

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:52:31 -0800

Comic Notes

Does that fortuneteller look familiar?

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:44:13 -0800

Comic Notes

Perhaps Draconis should have heard the entire prediction before trying to play along with it.

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:08:03 -0800

Comic Notes

As you may recall Draconis spent all night investigating the castle, then returned to Malcorona's fortress at sunrise. In his excitement, he went straight to the forest to look for Phoenix Village and put his plans into motion. So, no, he never did get any sleep. Maybe he would have faired better against the sundew plants if he were at full strength. We'll never know, because he probably won't try it again.

Draconis Wicked Graphic Novel

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 03:18:52 -0800

Comic Notes

Have you visited the Facebook page yet? We announce every new update so Facebook members never miss a comic.

Can everyone tell what’s going on here? It’s not easy to explain how the plants are moving, while using only still pictures. Too bad this isn’t a 1940’s comic book. Anyone ever read those really old comics where each panel has a narration box explaining everything that’s happening, just incase the pictures aren’t doing the trick? Here’s what 1940’s narration would look like for today’s comic. For best results, imagine it being read in by an old-timey radio show announcer.

Panel 3: Draconis begins to panic as the malicious plants close in around him.

Panel 4: Flight looks on, as Draconis is lost in the sea of flowers…

Panel 5: …only to emerge seconds later…

Panel 6: …before being dragged under once again.

Panel 7: But what’s this? The sound of Flight’s flute can be heard once again.

Panel 8: The plants break their grip on Draconis…

Panel 9: …and turn towards the sound of the flute.

Oh, that heavy-handed writing style from the golden age of comics.