Lightshear
08/19/2004, 18:00
Alright, a while back I said I'd show some sequential work, so here I am. First off, I'll post some sample JLA pages I did for my portfolio. Some notes before I begin:
When working up pages for my portfolio, I tend to stick with etsablished characters for two main reasons. First, the critiques and portfolio reviews I've been to have all recommended it, so they can see what I do with their characters (which is what they'd be hiring me for), and so they can compare my style with their vision of what a character looks like (so they know I know how to draw, say, Tony Stark, and have it look reasonably like Tony Stark). Second, the major companies are shying away from looking at creator-owned pages to avoid accidental plagiarism - a somewhat recent incident involved Mike Turner allegedly "stealing" an idea for a character from somebody whose portfolio he reviewed. It turned out it was a fluke, but to be safe, they try to avoid that stuff, now.
So, the way I do it is I pick a three-page section of a comic that I think will particularly rock for whatever reason. Then I hand off the comic to my wife (and I don't look at it again for any reason until the pages are done) who turns the three pages into a script. Then I throw down with the script and go from there. I can usually reliably avoid any similarities between my new pages and the originals - and if I seem to recall the original pages looking similar to a draft I'm working on, I change it drastically to avoid stealing other people's ideas.
So the first set I'll show is 4 pages (because I couldn't settle on 3) from Justice League America #37, by Giffen and DeMatteis, originally drawn by (the man!) Adam Hughes. The story opens with a grungy cat sneaking into the JLA embassy in New York, and wreaking some havok. Blue Beetle has been assigned clean-up duty after the Kuey-Kuey island debacle, and Mr Miracle has secretly been replaced by a robot duplicate. I'll give you the dialogue of the script, so you aren't totally lost to the story...
(*click on the Page #s for the artwork!*)
JLA #37
PAGE 15 (http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/Lightshear/Comic%20Pages/JLA_37_15.jpg)
PANEL 4
CAT
(Making a cracking, hacking, mowing sound)
Chakkk
PANEL 5
FIRE
Hmmn...?
PANEL 6
FIRE
EEEEEEEEEE!
BLUE BEETLE
Now what?
GUY GARDENER
Was that Ice?
BLUE BEETLE
Sounded like Beatriz t’me!
PAGE 16 (http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/Lightshear/Comic%20Pages/JLA_37_16.jpg)
PANEL 1
GUY GARDENER
Oh, geeze--there go the #### sprinklers! She went and did it again!
BLUE BEETLE
No! I just waxed!
GUY GARDENER
Crazy woman gets excited--she starts burnin’ everything in sight!
PANEL 2
FIRE
...Guy--No! Don’t go in there!
GUY GARDENER
What is it?
FIRE
Some...thing! It--it must be from Apokolips or--
GUY GARDENER
Yeah, Yeah--I bet you did this on purpose!
FIRE
Set my room on fire? Are you crazy?
GUY GARDENER
You prob’ly just want an excuse t’go out an’ buy yourself new clothes again!
PANEL 3
FIRE
Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.
PANEL 4
GUY GARDENER
Just stay the hell out of the way and let a MAN handle this!
FIRE
I don’t need your help, Gardner, whatever it is--I’ll handle it myself.
GUY GARDENER
You’re doin’ a great job so far.
FIRE
I was momentarily startled. Now let me.
PANEL 5
GUY GARDENER
Uh-uh, sweetcakes. You just stay outta my--
PANEL 6
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
...I thought you hand more control over this--
FIRE
These powers are still new. A sudden, sudden shock can--
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Max is not going to pay for a new wardrobe again--
BLUE BEETLE
Guy? You see anything? You--
CAT
(a growling noise comes from the room)
RROWWRRR
PANEL 7
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
I think it’s time to consider an early retirement. Possibly a mid-life career change.
GUY GARDENER
(from inside the room)
YOW!
BLUE BEETLE
You’re not gonna believe this.
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Of course not.
PAGE 17 (http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/Lightshear/Comic%20Pages/JLA_37_17.jpg)
PANEL 1
FIRE
Hey--
PANEL 2
FIRE
--that’s a cat.
BLUE BEETLE
Oh...you noticed that, did you?
GUY GARDENER
What’re you standin’ there for?! GET THIS THING OFFA ME!!!
PANEL 3
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Beetle--do you suppose you could shut down the sprinklers?
BLUE BEETLE
Don’t they shut down automatically?
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
When one considers the fact that we’re both standing here, soaking wet--
PANEL 4
BLUE BEETLE
I always miss all the fun!
FIRE
My heart bleeds.
GUY GARDENER
HALLLLPPP!!!
PANEL 5
FIRE
Shouldn’t we do something?
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
‘Guy is constantly reminding us that he’s America's greatest super-hero. I’m sure he can handle something as simple as a cat.
FIRE
He doesn’t seem to be handling it very well.
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
No, he doesn’t--does he?
GUY GARDENER
(off camera)
YOWOWOWOWOWWW!!!
PANEL 6
FIRE
We can’t just stand here.
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
I assure you, Fire--if I think that cat is in even the slightest danger--I’ll intervene immediately.
PAGE 18 (http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/Lightshear/Comic%20Pages/JLA_37_18.jpg)
PANEL 1
BLUE BEETLE
Scott? What’re you doin’ here? Tour over?
MR. MIRACLE
Hello, my name is Mr. Miracle--world’s greatest escape--
BLUE BEETLE
Sorry--no time! We’re having one of our bi-hourly disasters!
PANEL 3
GUY GARDENER
(from up stairs)
BEETLE! TURN OFF THE #### SPRINKLERS!!!
BLUE BEETLE
(from off camera)
I’m working on it!
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Not hard enough!
PANEL 4
MR. MIRACLE
Hello, my name is Mr. Miracle--world’s greatest escape--
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Not now, Scott. It’s been a very bad day...even for us. Weren’t you supposed to be on tour?
MR. MIRACLE
Hello, my name is--
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Tell me about it later.
PANEL 5
MR. MIRACLE
(finishing his sentence)
--Mr. Miracle--
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
(off camera) Beetle--you constantly amaze me! Can’t I trust you to accomplish the simplest task?
BLUE BEETLE
(off camera) Sure--but this ain’t simple--there’s no off switch!!
PANEL 6
MR. MIRACLE
Hello, my name is Mr. Mircle--world’s greatest--
GUY GARDENER
Put a sock in it! I dunno where this cat came from--but I know where he’s GOIN’!!
CAT
ROWRR
PANEL 7
FIRE
Guy Gardner--if you so much as harm a fir on that fuzzy body, I’ll--
GUY GARDENER
This thing’s a killer! You see what it did to me?
FIRE
Nothing half the women in the western world haven't wanted to do!
MR. MIRACLE
Hello, my name is--
FIRE
Later Scott-- I’ve got to save that cat!
BLUE BEETLE
(off screen)
There! They're off!!
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
(off screen)
What about the water damage?
BLUE BEETLE
(off screen)
You could say “thank you!"
...Aaaand that's all. It's one of my better spreads, I think. I'm still pretty proud of it, even when compared with Hughes' original pages. I mean, I'm no Adam Hughes by any stretch, but I think they hold their own alright.
So, there she blows. Hope you all like them. If there are any glaring errors in the script-to-page connection, I may have added or shifted some action in the pages to be more dynamic or interesting. I think I caught everything, but I know I'm not perfect. Enjoy, and let me know what you think - I'm always looking for ways to improve!
When working up pages for my portfolio, I tend to stick with etsablished characters for two main reasons. First, the critiques and portfolio reviews I've been to have all recommended it, so they can see what I do with their characters (which is what they'd be hiring me for), and so they can compare my style with their vision of what a character looks like (so they know I know how to draw, say, Tony Stark, and have it look reasonably like Tony Stark). Second, the major companies are shying away from looking at creator-owned pages to avoid accidental plagiarism - a somewhat recent incident involved Mike Turner allegedly "stealing" an idea for a character from somebody whose portfolio he reviewed. It turned out it was a fluke, but to be safe, they try to avoid that stuff, now.
So, the way I do it is I pick a three-page section of a comic that I think will particularly rock for whatever reason. Then I hand off the comic to my wife (and I don't look at it again for any reason until the pages are done) who turns the three pages into a script. Then I throw down with the script and go from there. I can usually reliably avoid any similarities between my new pages and the originals - and if I seem to recall the original pages looking similar to a draft I'm working on, I change it drastically to avoid stealing other people's ideas.
So the first set I'll show is 4 pages (because I couldn't settle on 3) from Justice League America #37, by Giffen and DeMatteis, originally drawn by (the man!) Adam Hughes. The story opens with a grungy cat sneaking into the JLA embassy in New York, and wreaking some havok. Blue Beetle has been assigned clean-up duty after the Kuey-Kuey island debacle, and Mr Miracle has secretly been replaced by a robot duplicate. I'll give you the dialogue of the script, so you aren't totally lost to the story...
(*click on the Page #s for the artwork!*)
JLA #37
PAGE 15 (http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/Lightshear/Comic%20Pages/JLA_37_15.jpg)
PANEL 4
CAT
(Making a cracking, hacking, mowing sound)
Chakkk
PANEL 5
FIRE
Hmmn...?
PANEL 6
FIRE
EEEEEEEEEE!
BLUE BEETLE
Now what?
GUY GARDENER
Was that Ice?
BLUE BEETLE
Sounded like Beatriz t’me!
PAGE 16 (http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/Lightshear/Comic%20Pages/JLA_37_16.jpg)
PANEL 1
GUY GARDENER
Oh, geeze--there go the #### sprinklers! She went and did it again!
BLUE BEETLE
No! I just waxed!
GUY GARDENER
Crazy woman gets excited--she starts burnin’ everything in sight!
PANEL 2
FIRE
...Guy--No! Don’t go in there!
GUY GARDENER
What is it?
FIRE
Some...thing! It--it must be from Apokolips or--
GUY GARDENER
Yeah, Yeah--I bet you did this on purpose!
FIRE
Set my room on fire? Are you crazy?
GUY GARDENER
You prob’ly just want an excuse t’go out an’ buy yourself new clothes again!
PANEL 3
FIRE
Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.
PANEL 4
GUY GARDENER
Just stay the hell out of the way and let a MAN handle this!
FIRE
I don’t need your help, Gardner, whatever it is--I’ll handle it myself.
GUY GARDENER
You’re doin’ a great job so far.
FIRE
I was momentarily startled. Now let me.
PANEL 5
GUY GARDENER
Uh-uh, sweetcakes. You just stay outta my--
PANEL 6
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
...I thought you hand more control over this--
FIRE
These powers are still new. A sudden, sudden shock can--
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Max is not going to pay for a new wardrobe again--
BLUE BEETLE
Guy? You see anything? You--
CAT
(a growling noise comes from the room)
RROWWRRR
PANEL 7
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
I think it’s time to consider an early retirement. Possibly a mid-life career change.
GUY GARDENER
(from inside the room)
YOW!
BLUE BEETLE
You’re not gonna believe this.
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Of course not.
PAGE 17 (http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/Lightshear/Comic%20Pages/JLA_37_17.jpg)
PANEL 1
FIRE
Hey--
PANEL 2
FIRE
--that’s a cat.
BLUE BEETLE
Oh...you noticed that, did you?
GUY GARDENER
What’re you standin’ there for?! GET THIS THING OFFA ME!!!
PANEL 3
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Beetle--do you suppose you could shut down the sprinklers?
BLUE BEETLE
Don’t they shut down automatically?
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
When one considers the fact that we’re both standing here, soaking wet--
PANEL 4
BLUE BEETLE
I always miss all the fun!
FIRE
My heart bleeds.
GUY GARDENER
HALLLLPPP!!!
PANEL 5
FIRE
Shouldn’t we do something?
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
‘Guy is constantly reminding us that he’s America's greatest super-hero. I’m sure he can handle something as simple as a cat.
FIRE
He doesn’t seem to be handling it very well.
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
No, he doesn’t--does he?
GUY GARDENER
(off camera)
YOWOWOWOWOWWW!!!
PANEL 6
FIRE
We can’t just stand here.
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
I assure you, Fire--if I think that cat is in even the slightest danger--I’ll intervene immediately.
PAGE 18 (http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/Lightshear/Comic%20Pages/JLA_37_18.jpg)
PANEL 1
BLUE BEETLE
Scott? What’re you doin’ here? Tour over?
MR. MIRACLE
Hello, my name is Mr. Miracle--world’s greatest escape--
BLUE BEETLE
Sorry--no time! We’re having one of our bi-hourly disasters!
PANEL 3
GUY GARDENER
(from up stairs)
BEETLE! TURN OFF THE #### SPRINKLERS!!!
BLUE BEETLE
(from off camera)
I’m working on it!
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Not hard enough!
PANEL 4
MR. MIRACLE
Hello, my name is Mr. Miracle--world’s greatest escape--
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Not now, Scott. It’s been a very bad day...even for us. Weren’t you supposed to be on tour?
MR. MIRACLE
Hello, my name is--
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Tell me about it later.
PANEL 5
MR. MIRACLE
(finishing his sentence)
--Mr. Miracle--
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
(off camera) Beetle--you constantly amaze me! Can’t I trust you to accomplish the simplest task?
BLUE BEETLE
(off camera) Sure--but this ain’t simple--there’s no off switch!!
PANEL 6
MR. MIRACLE
Hello, my name is Mr. Mircle--world’s greatest--
GUY GARDENER
Put a sock in it! I dunno where this cat came from--but I know where he’s GOIN’!!
CAT
ROWRR
PANEL 7
FIRE
Guy Gardner--if you so much as harm a fir on that fuzzy body, I’ll--
GUY GARDENER
This thing’s a killer! You see what it did to me?
FIRE
Nothing half the women in the western world haven't wanted to do!
MR. MIRACLE
Hello, my name is--
FIRE
Later Scott-- I’ve got to save that cat!
BLUE BEETLE
(off screen)
There! They're off!!
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
(off screen)
What about the water damage?
BLUE BEETLE
(off screen)
You could say “thank you!"
...Aaaand that's all. It's one of my better spreads, I think. I'm still pretty proud of it, even when compared with Hughes' original pages. I mean, I'm no Adam Hughes by any stretch, but I think they hold their own alright.
So, there she blows. Hope you all like them. If there are any glaring errors in the script-to-page connection, I may have added or shifted some action in the pages to be more dynamic or interesting. I think I caught everything, but I know I'm not perfect. Enjoy, and let me know what you think - I'm always looking for ways to improve!