It's funny how characters evolve over time. In film it's usually a straight-forward direction. A single step. In tv and comics, it's a subtle rotation, one degree at a time, until you realise you're facing a totally different direction. Characters change for all sorts of reasons. Conflict, relationships and being affected by events around them.
One of the things that they don't often mention to you about, is time. In preparing and working on Zero-G I've been incredibly influenced by Frank Quitely (All-Star Superman), Tony Harris (Ex Machina) and Steve McNiven (Civil War). Their clean, open approach is refreshing, has magnificent clarity and above all... is damn fast to do.
The crux of their style is having a good colourist. When I finally unclenched my ass and realised that Annette is better than I ever will be (and better than most of the guys who colour each of these three's work - and she's only at the start of her career), I realised I could sit down and concentrate on the stuff I do best. Performance, mood and storytelling. I've put so much of the stuff that made my style so visually distinctive in her hands now.
So what you see above you is my style for Zero-G and the change in Atom Weaver also. Don't judge too harshly until you've seen Annette's colours. What you're looking at is only half the picture.
4 comments:
I don't know. I think this Zero G stuff looks fantastic just in black and white.
But then I'm an indie comics guy. Colours scare me.
Hahahahaha!
It does work well in black and white. i'm really proud of how it looks. But I still consider this only half-formed.
Lost 1.5 panels last night when I kicked the plug out of my computer. Was on such a roll. I was so demoralised I just called it a night. =(
Guess who's going to be saving more often?
See, I think this is exactly what's meant to happen. The style evolves into something that's faster to turn around. And that comics industry is a very deadline driven industry...
It's looking amazing. I can't wait to see this thing in print.
Thanks Alex.
I have a theory that the difference between art and illustration is that art is done when you say it's done. Illustration is done when someone else says it's done.
It's amazing what happens to the artist when they are given serious deadlines to work in. It's a growing experience. The hardest thing is that I start to identify with artists who get shabbier and shabbier because they got away with rushed work.
Perhaps it's the true artist who drives themselves despite the deadline.
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