Post coming soon

Sorry folks, the day job's show is getting near the air dates so it means long long hours that drain the life out of you.  I have to have a colonoscopy (don't think that's spelled right) on Friday meaning I have to stay home and drink this vile medicine stuff they give you pre-operation on Thursday, so in theory I should have time to get some stuff up, answer questions, etc.

Later Gators.
Trevor

How I do layouts (CC with a little ZF thrown in) Part 1

Scanner has been acting wonky at work so this post took awhile, and I'll have to do it in parts.

This post is really about how you can actively know what your strengths and weaknesses are and how to plan accordingly.  For example, as I mentioned before I'm horrible at backgrounds, and I feel they are a very important part of the visual layout of the page.  If perspective is off, the reader may not know why they dislike a panel/page, but they probably will dislike it more than something put in the proper perspective.  Also detail is important on a background.  A slum should look like one; trash strewn about, graffiti, etc.

The below picture is a version of the start of my layouts (after the thumbnail process as mentioned in a previous post). The reason it looks so rough is I had to HEAVILY adjust the levels after it was scanned (more about Levels and Photoshop/Gimp in an upcoming post).  I included a picture with just the straight scan so you can see how light the 4H pencil I use looks.  Also, that does bring up a good point; discover the range of lead pencils you want to use.  Some people use much darker leads than I do, as they provide a clearer image.  I prefer things in the mid to high H (hard lead) pencils as they don't show up heavy in a scan, and if done right are easy to erase.

Anyways, onto the start:

 So you can see the basics of the city have been laid out.  In fact you can see some of the perspective grid I set up just to make sure everything stays in proportion as well.  I already started putting some of the debris in the street, but obviously that, and of course most importantly, the Zombie Dinosaurs need to be put in the page.  But by laying out the backround first I know where all the little stuff would be (Stop sign, Fire Hydrant, etc.) that the characters would need to avoid when moving. It makes the world seem more real, more complete. Now you'll also notice the large amount of space at the top and bottom of the page.  This is because I have a large caption box going at the bottom, and, as I'm a fan of when Silver Age comics put the title on the first page, I'm going to do exactly that. And lets face it, especially of late, I've very limited on time, so it'll save me some when drawing the page. 

BTW this is how light my pencils are (no levels ajusted, just a strait color scan)

So you can see how easy it is to erase, and how little work I have to do digitally to clean it up as it barely registers (actually I had do a little touch just to get that to show).  As always taking the time to think and plan before you start will save you more time in the end.  The military has a saying "slow is smooth, and smooth is fast," and it's dead on. Additionally since I know I'm bad at backgrounds by having this problem dealt with first will same me a lot of time.  When I used to layout the character first and the backgrounds around them, it would often take me forever because I'd notice little faults I was constantly correcting.  The running dino is very sketchy and will probably be changed.  I had already altered it from this scan (this scan was done awhile ago) but as I leave everything in pencils, until I'm ready for the next stage, I can still change it).

More on the page progression later. I'll try for later today but we're really busy at the day job right now.  

-Trevor

I assure you I'm not dead. . .yet.

Sorry for such the long delay in posting folks.  I've had some serious health issues come up that I had to deal, and in fact am still dealing, with.  Not to mention work, and my cohort in crime's TV show that we'll be pitching soon. 

However that being said, I should hopefully have a post showing how I set up penciled pages, going all the way through the process.  To do this I need to use the large industrial scanner we have at work, so I'm trying to figure out how to get the pencils (I start using 4h pencils typically so it's very light) to shop up in the scans.

Oh and I'm making the little guy up above public domain, so free to use for whatever you want. . .

See you soon.

Day 26: Info on Copyrights and Trademarks

Feeling kinda nocuous at work, but I promised on this post and I feel it’s important so here goes, oh, and again, I’m not a lawyer.  This info is based purely on research, make sure to looking into the subject in depth yourself.

Before you get started on your company and comic if you’re thinking of self publishing you’ll want to check existing copyright and trademarks (© and TM respectively).  Now people will tell you have to hire copyright lawyers and such, which is a good idea if you can afford it, but as we’re all comic and/or zombie fans here, it’s a safe bet none of us are hording away money for obscure legal fees.  Thankfully there’s a lot you can do yourself, so let’s look at what courses you have open.

First off; Protecting your work, aka Copyrights. 

A lot of people will tell you to mail yourself your work so it comes back to you in a postage dated envelope and as long as it’s sealed your good.  No.  IF it makes you feel better go for it, but this ‘form’ of copyrighting doesn’t hold up in courts, and quite frankly is a waste of time. 

And you don’t have to worry about it as much because of recent changes in copyright laws.  Currently the United States operates under a creative copyright basis, meaning if you can show that you came up with the idea first, the concept is considered operating under your copyright.  This was actually one of the reason for the blog; it proves for all that this is my concept, when I came up with it, etc.  Keep in mind the trick is to protect your idea before you have it published. You can legally file a copyright, but in my opinion I’d wait till you start getting the bucks before you consult with a lawyer.

Trademarks are tricky, and it’s easy to step on peoples toes without even knowing it.  While trademarks seem similar to copyrights there are defined differences between the two, and you’ll want to read up on what makes them unique.  Basically Trademarks are designed to protect a service or product, Copyrights protect original ideas or artistic works.  So really what you want to focus on is Copyright for your comic, comic ideas, etc. and Trademark search to make sure whatever name your putting your comic ‘company’ under, hasn’t been taken, or is similar to an existing publishing company.

That being said you’ll want to start with searching copyrights and trademarks.  I’ve seen services, and or lawyers charging $200-$300 for this service. . .and all it takes is basically time.

Copyright

http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First

Trademarks

http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=tess&state=4004:ag9594.1.1

Make sure when you do the searches you look for both broad descriptions and more specific detailed searches.  It’s pretty much all common sense. 

Hope that helps.

-T 

Upcoming Post

The next post up is going to be about how to research copyrights for free (instead of having a lawyer do it for you) something almost everyone forgets about and is AMAZINGLY important for North American Publishers, and something a lot of people overlook.  For fans of the blog outside the US I'll try to look up some of the information for you as well.  I should also have the website for the publishing company up.

In the meantime. . .

For our friends outside the us or if you don't get the joke see the comments section.  It should hopefully explain the joke. 

Day 25.3 Marketing info (CC: Comic Creators)

Hello and welcome to the middle of the film.

Sorry for the delay in post. Going to the range to blow off steam with my shotgun became quite the reverse when a live round got jammed in the chamber and the slide release wouldn’t open. . .so essentially it became like defusing a bomb.  A very ‘shotgunny’ bomb, but I digress.  

Anyway, let’s get into it, at work and don't have much time.  Today is mainly about marketing your comic, especially the theories of paying for marketing versus grassroot ‘free’ or ‘very low cost’ marketing.

If you’ve been reading the blog for awhile, you may recall that I worked up some marketing materials, mainly bookmarks, that have the blogsite  and facebook listed on it.  The theory was it didn’t cost anything (day job let me print out the bookmarks on extra card stock we had) and comic book readers, well, read.  So If I gave them a free bookmark that had the site information in it, it would, logically draw more traffic.  So far my feelings are mixed.  I’ve gotten them handed out at comic book shops and one of my friends, Ben (from http://frogofthunder.blogspot.com/) dropped out what was left of my bookmarks at the San Deigo Comic Con marketing materials table since I couldn’t attend this year.  And while I saw a slight increase in traffic, it didn’t seem like it was being generated by the bookmarks, but rather by my internet efforts.

At this point I’m thinking digital efforts for all of my marketing efforts.  I seem to get a wider reach and as an independent comic publisher, I need everything I can get, and obviously I don’t have a lot of time to do it in. 

One great thing that’s come up recently that may assist with this is Google.  Blogspot is owned by Google and apparently I’m picking up enough traffic that I just received $100 free Google Adsense.  I’ll be thoroughly reviewing the information once I get home and as long as there is no strings attached be trying this out. I’ve thought about using both Adsense and the Facebook ads to draw more people to the site.  IF Adsense seems to garner in traffic, I’ll definitely think about putting some money into both. 

On a side note, in a discussion with one of my retailer friends, we discussed ads in Diamonds Previews.  And his advise which I have to concur with was: don’t.  If you are unaware of what Previews is, it’s a large monthly catalog that goes to retailer shops and that they select comics out of (Diamond Distribution is the worlds largest comic distributor, at least at the time I write this. . .in a few years it may be iTunes which really bums me out but more on that discussion in a later post).  The problem is that Previews USED to be how comic fans picked out the comics coming out; you’d go to the store, look at their copy (or buy yours) and tell the retailer what you wanted. . .now with sites like comic related, newsarama, comic book resources, etc.  most comic fans already know about up and comic comics and just walk in or email their comic shop what they want pulled. 

So in a nutshell: I recommend internet marketing over physical marketing, I’ll be using Adsense soon so I’ll post my results in a bit, and recommend getting the word out on your comic by using internet news and trend sites over paying for it.

I’ll have a post with more panel art, scriptwork, and whining about not being able to get to San Deigo for Con for the first time in years later. . .actually nothing on that last part, skip that.

L8R ZINOS!

-T

Day 25.2

Did a quick 10 minute 'keep my sanity at work' sketch.

Day 25.1 Taste of things to come

Either tonight or tomorrow morning I should have a decent post about about marketing a comic; doing it for little or no cost, how effective no cost options are compared to billable options, some more sketch art, and possibly a penciled page.

If your at the Con, have fun and definitively download the Con App if you have a smartphone. It will make scheduling your day much easier, (and sometimes has information only on the app!), and I find it makes networking easier for professionals as you can go from specific booth/artist to booth.

Oh and one of my good friends dropped of some of the Zombie Dinosaur bookmarks on the marketing materials table, feel free to grab a couple.

Day 24.5: Comic Related's podcast on Kickstarter (CC)

If you've been following this blog, you know how much a fan I am of Comic Related.  They industry experts are insightful and top notch.  Also you probably saw how I'm planing on using Kickstarter to attempt to at least partially fund the comic.  Originally I was waiting till a large chunk of the comic was done, so I had more to show thus better 'sales pitch' but it seems many other comic creators had similar ideas.  No I fear I may lost in a wash of other comic pitches. Thankfully my concept seems fairly unique, but I will have to get on the ball getting my stuff set up and over to Kickstarter. . .sigh. One more thing on the ever growing list.

In any even the 48 min podcast is worth listening to.  Again Comic Related is run by the guys that put out Blue Line Pro materials, of which I am also a great fan (their boards erase better than everyone else I've tried, which for someone that screws up as much as I do it important. . .I hate using process white [1].)

So without further ado:
http://comicrelated.com/news/12687/sketch-podcast-50

[1] process white, is a substance that, similar to Jesso for painting, that is painted over a mistake ridden area, and allows the penciler to draw over it in pencils. Kinda like white out but it doesn't 'tear' the same way.  A lot of tech savy artists. Simply draw the panel on a different board now, and place it in the page over the 'afflicted' area once it's done.  I like both methods, but since I'm fairly old school I do like using process white when I can. . .

Day 24: What does a Carnotaurus eat? Whatever it wants (ZF)

Had a touch of writers/artist block last night.  Wanted to work on boards, but most of my warm ups just simply failed.  Did have one that came out okay, which I brought with me to work and scanned there. As such I scanned a color (where you can see the red photo pencil I used) and a black and White copy which came out really sketchy looking (which I like sometimes).

In any even the zino is a dino I discovered yesterday ( I try to keep a substantial visual reference library.  . .you know OTHER than the internet.  Something I really recommend to all comic artists and graphic designers) flipping through a kids book was the Carnotaurus (the name means 'flesh-eating bull'), which might become one of the more dangerous Zinos. Basically a TRex with horns. Let me repeat that a Trex with HORNS >shudders<.  Can't think of anything more frighting of the top of my head. . .

Black and White scan

Color

Quick Post: Day. . .Something-or-other; Thumbs (CC)

Have two seconds (I have no idea how) at work so thought I'd post something up after getting into a debate with a penciler friend of mine, namely over thumbnails.  While I try to keep the blog at a minimal on the 'how-to-draw' style, I wanted to address this 'issue' because of how it deals with time management.

If you've followed the blog for any length of time, you probably are aware that may day job takes up a majority of my time (roughly a minim 12 hour day, that typically is around 14-18, and that's not including the 2 hours a day it takes me to drive from Santa Clarita to Santa Monica), so getting this comic done is almost an exercise in time management and efficiency more so than an artistic endeavor (which brings to mind; once this comic is done I don't think anyone can tell me they can't find time to work on their pet projects, but I digress).

My friend argues that he prefers to not work with thumbnails, because they slow him down, and he can always make changes on the boards as he goes.  He's also a much better artist than I am, so it could be this works for him. I typically like to take the time out to do thumbs, specifically because I'm not the greatest at backgrounds. I have a solid knowledge of perspective, but typically the scenes I create look to artificial, so when I thumb, I try to focus on the backgrounds first, and then put the characters in that perspective shot, instead of vice versa. Again this is my particular method, but I would argue the extra time it takes me to do thumbnail sketches, means less time correcting mistakes, and I can get a better idea of problems I may encounter when dealing with the full page's layout.

As an example here is a scan of some of the thumbs I did for the splash page (i.e. a full page panel) for page 1.  Keep in mind these were done very quickly so I didn't spend much time, but it solved a problem for me; originally I wanted to have the background slightly warped (or wall-eyed) and distorted to increase the sense of quick movement.  After laying it out in a thumbnail I decided to go with a traditional perspective shot (bottow Right hand corner) because it would better once the characters are in the panel.

I apologize for the roughness of the scan, I was using a non photo blue pencil and a 4h so I had to change the scanner settings for it to come through okay.

In any case, my argument is that if you are starting out, or don't have the confidence of a Greek God, Rockstar, or Professional Penciler thumbnails are the way to go, despite the extra time it's adding to your schedule.  Additionally remember to number your thumb pages and panels (my scan cut off how I do it unfortunately) .  The reason I recommend this is helps you avoid doing the same 'shot' more than once in the same comic (and doing it too often in a running series is bad too) and organizing your thumbs always helps if you have to back to it while working on that issue or later on in the series. . .which means I just pretty much said what I said before. >Sigh< Gotta stop updating this thing at work. 

Anyway, who has two thumbs and recommends using thumb(nails). . .this guy.

Later.

Day 22: Digitize. . . you mean like in Tron? (CC)

This weekend was a mess, so I didn't get a chance to do any work of substance on the comic, apologizes.  However I mentioned a few posts ago, that I had a discussion with one of my associates, an Eisner winning retailer (the Eisners are like the Oscars/Emmies for comics if you're not aware), and thought the info may be good to share.  It mainly relates to a post I did during the first month of the blog when I was figuring out the budget.  My associated, whom we'll call 'A!' (unless he states it's okay to mention him by name), basically was doing the push for digital comics (which seems for odd for a guy that works for a retail store, but whatever), and did advise even on a great run for indie, you're only looking at a sale of about 800 units.  Hrmm.  This does go with the information I've gotten from other sources, publishers, who often also push for digital.

Here's the thing; I hate digital comics.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm almost certaily going to make a digital copy of the comic, possibly in color (the only reason I'm doing black and white for the physical is time and cost. I do feel color is a better product), but it opens up a whole can of worms.  First off many digital comics aren't scanned at a high enough resolution, due to file size, and it can really kill the look of the art.  Secondly I can not stand how the reader is constantly forced to 'move' the comic when reading it.  It kills the natural flow of sequential art. I have not yet downloaded DC comic's new digital offerings; if they manage to make a 'workable' comic, I'll have to try to determine how they got there viewer to flow, and go from there.

Now this isn't to say if your thinking about self-publishing, you shouldn't go to digital.  Quite frankly it's the next evolution, it just happens to be one I hate.  Go digital makes sense.  You can reap all of the benefits of getting your comic out there, at little to no cost, meaning a much wider profit margin.  And as long as you can market your digital outputs, you can really bring people in; at no point in a day, is someone not goofing off on the internet.

So yes, I will be making the comic digitally available, but probably AFTER the brick and mortar comics are out first.  I generally like putting the best foot forward after all, and feel the printed version is going to look far better than my digital.

As always all comments are appreciated.
More later.
-T

Day 21: 3 more script pages

Work has been non stop, coupled with a friends funeral among other little setbacks, but the comic should be back on track.  To start with here are three more pages of the script.  I'll put more up this weekend, which, I don't want to jinx it, but I may actually have off for. . anyways here's pages 8-10.  Enjoy, and as always comments are appreciated, this is just the rough so you (the reader) can influence the comic!

PAGE 8

Panel 1: POV over Mikey’s Shoulder

Mikey pumps round after round into the oncoming zino horde.

                                    Mikey

                        Whatever – just go!

Panel 2: Claire’s jumped up on the higher part of the shipping/receiving dock and is firing as well.

                                    Claire

                        C’mon, I’ll cover you.

Panel 3: Mikey turns and runs as Claire gets a head shot on of the zinos (close panel)

                                    Mikey

                        Hope these supplies were worth it

Panel 4:  Mikey’s gotten to the docks and is jumping up as Claire is pounding on the rolled metal door

                                    Claire

                        Open up, now!

Panel 5: Int. Docs. We see the inside of the docs where Suicide (spitter: see character design sheet)armed with a hockey stick and Paul (Dryosaurus again see character sheet) armed with an Uzi.  The docs are two staged, with the second, higher, riser being accessible only by stairs, as it’s caged in.  Paul is standing next to the switch which activates the door on the elevated stage and Suicide is standing by the door.

                                    Suicide

                        What’s the secret password

Panel 6: Cut back to the pair outside shooting frantically

                                    Mikey

                        (yelling) Now Damn it!

Panel 7: CT interior dock.  Motioning for Paul to flip the switch.

                                    Suicide

                        That’s the one.

PAGE 9

Panel 1  Ext. Docks.  Hordes getting closer.

                                    Claire

                        Anytime ladies!

Panel 2  Int. Docks. Suicide is spinning around, as the gate hasn’t opened yet.  Paul is hesitating at the switch, which looks like the large levers they use on movie electric chairs.

                                    Suicide

                        C’mon Pointdexter, move it!

                                    Paul

                        But if I open the door we’ll get swarmed

Panel 3:  Suicide bounding up the steps.

                                    Suicide

                        Damn it you coward, MOVE!

Panel 4: Small Panel: See switch being flipped.

Panel 5: Ext. Docks.  We can see the metal gate slowly lifting, as Mikey & Claire are on the docking bay trying to slow the onrushing zinos.

                                    Mikey

                        Finally, Claire go!

Panel 6: Suicide’s running back down as we see Claire trying to slide through the opening.  Suicide is yelling at Paul over his shoulder.

                                    Suicide

                        Covering fire!

           

                                    Paul

                        But I’m down to 10 rounds!

Panel 7: Suicide grabs Claire and is trying to help pull her through.

                                   

P7(con’t)

                                    Suicide

                        So much for in and out huh?

Panel 8: Ext. Dock: Mikey is in a solid fight as some of the zinos have reached the dock and are on it.

                                    Mikey

                        C’mon. C’MON!

PAGE 10

Panel 1: Mikey manages to duck under the opening gate, but so do some of the smaller Zinos (compys and the like) Paul is blasting away without aiming, out of fear, using up the last of his ammo.

                                    Mikey

                        I’m in, close it!

Panel 2: More of the zinos are managing to get in trough the opening, as Suicide

Is slap shooting a group of Compies back outside

                                    Suicide

                        . . .he scores!

                                    Mikey

                        Paul close the door!

Panel 3: Pauls got his full body on the lever

                                    Paul

                        What does it look like I’m trying to do? It’s stuck

Panel 4: Claire runs up the steps to help.

Panel 5:  Clair and Paul stain and manage to get the switch down.

           

                                    Claire

                        Got it

Panel 6: Long panel: of Mikey and Suicide at the bottow level trying to fend of the zinos that got in.

                                    Mikey

                        Little busy.

Day 21: Quick Post (ZF)

Considering how crazy the day/pay job is, I don't know how I am managing time to put this up, but here's the pencils of a sketch for the Large Panel where Roy gets attacked by the Zant.  Hopefully I'll get out at a almost human hour and can put up more work, and discuss more self-publishing info, including a discussion I had with an Eisner winning retailer of late,  about distribution and such.

Anyway: Sketch!

It's like a giant roadblock, composed of smaller, lesser roadblocks

Because of the long hours I work in a post production 'facility' when one of us gets sick, we all get sick. Fighting of a nasty. . .something or other.  Even so there should be a page or two of script up, along with some artwork, even if they're just thumbnails.  Don't wait to let you guys down at all, and it's been too long since I've put up something of substance.

Sorry for the delay(s) in posting

Sorry for the delays folks.  Day/Pay job is a bit crazy right now.  Woke up at 5am to get to work, and as I write this I'm still at work. . .and have to come in early tomorrow morning.  Will definitely get some more story/art/self-publishing info up as soon as I have a breather. . .thanks for sticking with the blog.

Day 20: Finally back jack (ZF)

First off my apologizes for the delay in posting.  I've been working insane hours 14-20 hour days) and got a case of food poisoning. . .and still had to come into work.  Yeah. Blech.  

Anyway, here's 2 more pages of the comic.  On the facebook page a friend of mine, Paul, stated he didn't want to read anymore of the script, but I want you the reader to have actual input into the story itself. . .so Paul. . .don't read this post! Here's another two pages continuting with what we have before.  I'll try to get the rest up tonight or tomorrow along with some COLOR artwork, as per the facebook polls request(s).

Without any further ado. . .(PS when I paste these it changes the format. Sorry but I'm in a bit of a rush so I can't reformat right now. I'll try to edit them later.  But I haven't posted in too long and want to keep you guys up to date.)

PAGE 6:

Panel 1: Earl helping the mauled Roy up, and moving.

Earl:

C'mon Roy we gotta get you to a doc!

Roy:

unghg.

Panel 2: Close up of Roys wounds, fungus around the wounds (note: don't get too gory. . .trying to keep this at a 'T' rating.

Roy:

Don't . . .feel. . .good.

Panel 3: Earl's gotten Roy to a clearing. Other Dino workers are running to the rescue

EARL

Guys! Halp! Roy's hurt

WORKER #1

What happened?

ROY

So. . .hungry!

Panel 4: POV behind Earls sholder. We see the shocked looks on the workers' faces as they stop dead in their tracks.

EARL

What are you guys. . .

Panel 5: ROY now overtaken with the fungus looms over EARL. It's obvious Roy is now . . .a Zombie Dinosaur. .

EARL

Roy?

PAGE 7

Panel 1: Long Panel; We see three pictures of Pangea left to right, with a small red dot in one of the quadrents of the massive continent in the first picture. The next picture to the right is a map showing the spread of the infection, The last picture in panel is the full 'flood' of the infection. The continent covered in red.

CAP BOX: Once the mutated fungal parasite mixed with dinosaurs hosts bodies, it quickly spread through the enitre continent in a matter of days, the infection's incubation period becoming a matter of minutes. . .

Panel 2: 2/3 page Panel: We see Mikey: Velicoraptor with a Shotgun blasting round after round into the viewers direction. We can see from the shadows his blasts are causing that he's surround by Zinos (zombie dinosaurs.) Claire, the female Pachycephalosarus is running away from the crowd, behind Mikey. In her hands she's cradling food and supplies, a few of which are escaping her grip in her dead heat run.

Mikey:

Dino-God damn it! Claire, RUN!

Claire:

What does it look like I'm doing Mikey?

Day 19: Lesson Learned (CC)

So I learned a decent lesson today, which ironically is one I should have learned before.  See years ago I was working on a comic, "Abraham Lincoln; Zombie Hunter" which I stopped because it turned out there was 3 or 4 comics and book, and a movie (which should be out soon), I didn't want to look like I was just copying someone's idea.  When I started this project I did some quick research and it looked like there were maybe one or two similar projects but nothing dead on.  Should have done better research.  In fact I was looking at Newsarama and it looks like Larry Young may be doing a book called 'Zombie Dinosaur'. . .crap.  If you've read previous posts you know I really like the AiT guys, and definitely don't want to step on any toes, especially as I really respect the work they put out.

Now I'm not going to stop, don't get me wrong. I'll have to put the comic out under a different name, maybe "Dawn of the Dead Dinosaurs" or "Evil Dead Dinosaurs", etc. But I should have done more research.  I figured since I hadn't heard any info on Zombie Dinosaurs comics and couldn't initially find anything much on the subject it would be unique. With Kirkman's 'Super Dinosaur' already on the shelves, I run the risk of looking like someone that can't come up with original concepts.

And I think that speaks to a fear of artists/writers, etc. to create something, and it's not original, or worse look like a rip off artist.  One of the reasons I liked the conceit of Zombisaurs is that it's wacky, weird, not something you hear of every day. I think my presentation is going to be fairly unique, but still it's annoying to arrive on a project a day late.

So the leason today kids is do a LOT of research before starting on a project, no matter how hot to trot you are.

Even though I'm stuck at work today (day/pay job) I should be able to put up a decent post a bit later.

-T

Day 18: Getting Closer on conceptual visuals (zf)

Wife is sick, so after getting home at 8:45, made her some chicken noodle soup from scratch and then tried to get a chunk of the house chores done, which didn't leave a lot of time for zombie dinosaurs.  Still, I'm getting closer on how I want the zinos to look. Such as. . .

Kinda happy with this one, especially since I pounded it out so fast.  Had just looked at Frank Cho's 'Women' before I sketched this one out, and think I stole to heavily from his style, albeit by accident since it was so heavily in my mind. Anyway, Like the look of this one, but don't know if I want to carry over the 'spore stick' from the zants.   Thoughts?

Day 17.5: Pump up the (undead) jams.(ZF)

Crazy day at work. Will try to color this in later. Didn't feel the last Zant was creepy enough.  Here's the more 'pumped up' version.

Once I put some color on this guy, I think he'll look far more frightening. Not sure if I'm getting stuck late at work tonight, but if I'm not expect more zino-goodness, including more story and art.  If I do. . .well, there's always tomorrow.  L8R G8R's.

-T

Day 17: First 5 pages of Script

So without too much further ado here's the first 5 pages of script.  Please let me know what you think, and remember this is the blog reader's comic as much as mine, so any  input will be seriously considered.  The first 2 pages are the same as the May 3rd posting so if you've read that you can skip it.  Also the cut and past I did out of the Word doc seemed to change the formating, so some of the placement may be off. Sorry, but it's 11:14 and I need some shut eye.

I'll put up some corresponding sketches later, my home scanners acting odd again.

- - - -1st 5 pages of Zombie Dinosaur script (rough draft) - - - - -

Page 1

Splash Page: We see a Hadrosaur, wearing a tie and broken glasses running franctically toward reader, through a city street. Behind him a group of Infected (zombie) Dinosaurs are in pursuit, lusting after the Hadrosaur's flesh. Various signs and marquees show this to be a modern looking city but populated by Dinsosaurs.

                    HADROSAUR

       Oh Dino-Christ! Zombies!

Cap Box: Finally the truth of how the dinosaurs became extinct. Ignore the erronious theories

of meteors, volcanoes, and ice age, in fact what brought down the thunder lizards. . .was something more fearsome. For what truly brought the Dinosaurs down. . .was ZOMBIES!

Page 2

Panel 1: Hardrosaur POV: looks behind shoulders to see a pack of zombie dinosaurs right on his tail get closer.

                    HADROSAUR

          C'mon, C'mon

Panel 2: The Hadrosaur runs into an alley, desperately trying to get away.

Panel 3: We see the zombie dinosaurs run past the alley as the Hadrosaur keeps his back to the wall, as the Hadrosaur keeps his back to the wall, trying to hold his breath.

                   HADROSAUR

         (Whispering) Can't believe that worked

Panel 4: As the Hadrosaur slinks further back into the alley, we see pair upon pair of small, hungry eyes emerge from the refuse of the alley. A pack of infected Compies. They slink silently toward their unsuspecting prey.

                     HADROSAUR

          Okay. Okay. If I can just get to a car. Something I can.. .

Panel 5: Long Panel; We only see the shadows of what is happening at the alley, as the Hadrosaur screams. The pack of Compys is obviously attacking and killing him.

                     HADROSAUR 

           ARRGH!

CAP BOX: But how did this once great civilization, so much like our own, die and crumble, and more importantly how did their dead come to rise against the them. To discover this we must go back some three months before this poor soul's demise. 

Page 3

Panel 1: Top down perspective above a lush jungle. Large dragonflies buzz about in the distance, shimmering in the sunlight. The pristine wilderness is only marred by a long plume of brackish smoke oozing into the air from a small clearing in the jungle.

CAP BOX: Three months ago; the Pangaean Rainforest (Cairns Australia)

Panel 2: We see what would look like a normal logging operation in the amazon today, except it’s Dinosaurs that are working the machines, and chainsaws.

A Pair of Dinos, Earl (Megalosaurus) and Roy (T Rex) are walking through scene.

                       ROY

                 So Earl you hear the rumors about Richfield?

                       EARL

                 The Boss? What now?

Panel 3: The pair stop in front of an enormous tree, which lumbers over them. They crane their necks upwards to look at it. It has an X painted on it.

                       ROY

Yeah it’s this one. Anyway, some of the guys think he’s dumping some of the waste from the refinery out here in the middle of nowhere.

Panel 4: Earl starts to prep the chainsaw, priming it, pulling the cord.

CHAINSAW: BRUMP-a-Click-Click-Click

                                EARL

Roy that’s ridiciculious, even for Richfield. . .stupid chainsaw. . .look. . .even Richfield wouldn’t be that greedy or stupid to dump toxic waste by his own logging site.

Panel 5: From the shadows of the jungle canopy we can see a dark form watching the pair, chitinious legs tensed to pounce. Earl continues to stuggle with the chainsaw.

                                      EARL

                              Stupid . . .chainsaw.

                                      ROY

           I don’t know pally-boy, the way he’s been cutting costs. . .I                           

          could see that happening

Panel 6: We see what’s waiting in the underbrush, watching the pair. A giant, mutated zombie ANT!

                            ROY

                   (cont) . . .after all it’s not like he cares about us. . .

Page 4

Panel 1: It’s nighttime and we see some dubious looking dinosaurs (wearing black turtlenecks and dock caps) dumping barrels of Toxic waste in the Jungle. Little ants scurry about as they are dumping the waste on an anthill, unaware or uncaring.

CAP BOX: Unfortunately Roy was correct about their boss’s concern for both them and the environment.

Panel 2: Close up of the waste soaking into the jungle, anthill, and more importantly leaves.

CAP BOX: For weeks, the underhanded company had been dumping waste from one of their other capital ventures, since they had procured the rights to the land for logging purposes. .

Panel 3: Close up of a ‘zombie ant’ on a leaf releasing its spores. The spores are mixing with the waste, creating a glowing snow of undeath on the unsuspecting ants below.

CAP BOX: . . .to disastrous results.

Panel 4: We see the zombie ant start to shudder and mutate as radioactivity does something. . odd to the fungus.

CAP BOX a pod of ants infected by the fungus Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis, had positioned itself by the impromptu dump site in their death knells. The fungus reproduces by infecting the ants, then through chemical manipulation forcing the ants to climb the foliage so the fungus can reproduce through spores, killing it’s host all the while. Turning the ant into . . .a zombie!

Panel 5: The ant is getting bigger, as the radioactivity and fungus tear at it, as it’s carapace tries to expand to compensate. Think of the old movie THEM but more zombiesque and fungusy (fungi-y?)

CAP BOX: Already a nasty parasite, once it was mutated by radioactivity, the results were. . .

PAGE 5:

Panel 1: LARGE PANEL; A Zant (Large Mutated Zombie Ant) erupts from the foliage and attacks the pair.

                         ROY

                 What the

                        EARL

                   Roy look out!

Panel 2: Roy is getting mangled off panel. Earl runs up behind cranking the chainsaw, his fright and concern for his friend finally getting enough thrust to turn the motor over

                        ROY (OP)

                   AHHHH!

                        EARL

                  Get off him you. . .!

Panel 3: Earl PLUNGES the Chainsaw into the ZANT

                          EARL

                    Die you @#$%%$@%!!!!

######

So there you have it folks.  5 Bonus points to those who get the 'hidden' joke(s)-Hint: think 90's.

Day 16: Quick Break

Sorry for the delay in posting folks. Crazy Saturday, and my wife somehow managed to get me to relax and take a day off from three separate jobs( day/pay job, TV show development, comic) on Sunday and relax for once.  How did I relax, well. . .guess which one I am in the picture (hint: they're not the 'horns' I was trying to make the 'thwip' hand motion.)

(And no I didn't go in costume, I have a snazzy hoodie that zips up as a full mask)

Should have a full posting up tomorrow. Thanks for the patience. Just needed a day off.