Well, I finally caved in and dared myself to do the Comic in 100 Days Challenge. And I'm terrified. There was a time when I could draw consecutively 100 days without breaking a sweat. My webcomic Fred Peterson The Mighty Warlord was praised for coming out consistently, even daily at one point! But then the accident happened.
For the uninitiated, here's the readers digest version:
I was involved in a car accident that nearly claimed my life. I got a concussion and was basically told it was a miracle I came out alive to begin with, and that I would never be the same again. I was seeing double for months and had a huge headache that accompanied that as well. But I forced myself to finish a screenplay for the now extinct Script Frenzy Challenge, of doing a 100 word screenplay in one month. I had done like only 1 page before the accident. With two days left, I wrote 110 words in addition to what I had written before the accident. And after much effort, I finished chapter 19 of Warlord which had been delayed. But it came at a price.
As I recovered, I discovered who my true friends and peers were at that time. Not getting into details, but some people actually put roadblocks for me and tried to absolutely kill my spirit. It took it's toll emotionally, friendships ended, bridges were burnt, but I was able to compose myself enough to actually pull my webcomic back from almost square one into rocketing it's way into the top 20 most read at the then known Drunk Duck. I went on to wrap up chapter 20 when Drunk Duck itself started having problems. That set back my production again but the emotional stress and physical exhaustion took it's toll, and I've been inconsistent ever since.
I've been stuck at chapter 21 for well over a year now. I've been improving on my art, growing, but, I'm not drawing as consistently as I once did. Part of it is fear of not having "it" anymore. Of having lost my touch. But there's another reason I guess pride has not let me accept. I have not been altogether well physically. Just recently, a Dr recommended me to once again visit a neurologist due to some issues I've had lately. My head and right arm are a bit of a mess right now actually. But when this 100 days challenge came up, well, those that know me, know I can't pass up a god challenge!
So, while I sort my health issues out, what better way to get my career back on track? For this challenge I will specifically focus on the remake of all of book 1 of Warlord, complete with brand new artwork and changes some things I think will make this version better than the original. One of the goals for this is that the original pages of the series are either destroyed or in bad shape, and the digital files that had the finished pages are long gone, so I want to make artwork that is fit for printing.
In the process I will continue to do my best to continue and finish what I started, meaning other webcomics like Never Mind, Clown, Exorcist, DTF6, as well as other personal and collaborative projects will finally keep moving forward as I get my feet set. With that all out of the way, let's take a gander at Day 1:
For the uninitiated, here's the readers digest version:
I was involved in a car accident that nearly claimed my life. I got a concussion and was basically told it was a miracle I came out alive to begin with, and that I would never be the same again. I was seeing double for months and had a huge headache that accompanied that as well. But I forced myself to finish a screenplay for the now extinct Script Frenzy Challenge, of doing a 100 word screenplay in one month. I had done like only 1 page before the accident. With two days left, I wrote 110 words in addition to what I had written before the accident. And after much effort, I finished chapter 19 of Warlord which had been delayed. But it came at a price.
As I recovered, I discovered who my true friends and peers were at that time. Not getting into details, but some people actually put roadblocks for me and tried to absolutely kill my spirit. It took it's toll emotionally, friendships ended, bridges were burnt, but I was able to compose myself enough to actually pull my webcomic back from almost square one into rocketing it's way into the top 20 most read at the then known Drunk Duck. I went on to wrap up chapter 20 when Drunk Duck itself started having problems. That set back my production again but the emotional stress and physical exhaustion took it's toll, and I've been inconsistent ever since.
I've been stuck at chapter 21 for well over a year now. I've been improving on my art, growing, but, I'm not drawing as consistently as I once did. Part of it is fear of not having "it" anymore. Of having lost my touch. But there's another reason I guess pride has not let me accept. I have not been altogether well physically. Just recently, a Dr recommended me to once again visit a neurologist due to some issues I've had lately. My head and right arm are a bit of a mess right now actually. But when this 100 days challenge came up, well, those that know me, know I can't pass up a god challenge!
So, while I sort my health issues out, what better way to get my career back on track? For this challenge I will specifically focus on the remake of all of book 1 of Warlord, complete with brand new artwork and changes some things I think will make this version better than the original. One of the goals for this is that the original pages of the series are either destroyed or in bad shape, and the digital files that had the finished pages are long gone, so I want to make artwork that is fit for printing.
In the process I will continue to do my best to continue and finish what I started, meaning other webcomics like Never Mind, Clown, Exorcist, DTF6, as well as other personal and collaborative projects will finally keep moving forward as I get my feet set. With that all out of the way, let's take a gander at Day 1:
The first thing I did was organize what I had already started working on a few months ago. A few months ago I did the thumbnails for the entire prologue issue of book 1. All 22 pages. I decided to just merge the prologue with the webisodes into one story. I took out some scenes, replacing them with new ones for the sake of making the story cohesive.
So, I thumbnailed and wrote notes along the way for the changes and to keep them in mind when I got to do the actual pages.
So, I thumbnailed and wrote notes along the way for the changes and to keep them in mind when I got to do the actual pages.
After I organized that I took the cover I drew so I could keep the art consistent on the following pages. I have to say, this might be one of my favorite images I've done of Fred and Jane together. I also went a little old school with my art style. Doing this piece in particular took me back to a time I just had pure fun doing art, especially this comic.
Then I took the image that will be the inset image in the inside front cover. This was a throwback to the original cover and promos for the first prologue I ever printed. Fred along Cheryl and Jane.
After organizing myself, I finally started doing brand new layouts for the issue. Starting with the intro image I usually do for my webcomics. And here is the first official illo for the challenge:
Something a little simple, Jane, Fred, and Cheryl, where most of the story centers itself on during book 1. Up next came the layout for page 1.
And then I finished it all off with the layout for page 2.
The plan is to do at least four layout pages, and then finish those 4 pages and layout 4 more, you get the picture. And while I was at it, I finished the next to last strip of the latest season to Never Mind. So,all in all, a productive day!
Well, that's day 1 in a nutshell. Join me tomorrow for Day 2: Electric Bugaloo. And while you wait, catch up on the twocreators that inspired me to do the challenge, Peter Palmiotti and Pharoah Bolding!
Well, that's day 1 in a nutshell. Join me tomorrow for Day 2: Electric Bugaloo. And while you wait, catch up on the twocreators that inspired me to do the challenge, Peter Palmiotti and Pharoah Bolding!
Happy viewings, and thank you all for your support over the years! I will give it my all, se ya' tomorrow!
-Alvaro "Lance Danger" Cortes Jr
-Alvaro "Lance Danger" Cortes Jr