1362: A short comic.

So I started drafting this idea out a few weeks ago. A small supplementary story, drawn by me, to go in the back of the first issue of the main comic. I'll probably polish this one a bit more (especially the last panel and the body on the bed) but I think the sketchy style works well enough to convey the grittiness of things. Also it's easier to do. So there's that.

The story would be set about 700 years before the main story, and follow a Baron named Mathol, who makes a gruesome discovery regarding the source of the plague that has decimated his land. It will tie in to the main storyline and introduce certain concepts that were hard to get across in the main arc.

So I guess it's kind of a bonus story. Although Mathol's story does impact the history of the world the main arc is set in in a very important way.

Very big version

I don't usually enjoy making maps. But here's one anyway.

So yeah, apparently when you're doing a fantasy universe you have to do MAPS and stuff. So first up is the map of the continent the story doesn't actually take place on, with only major cities marked. Enjoy!

Aw shucks, it's awfully small. Here's a slightly bigger version.

The Templars

Since around September 2010 I've been developing a story for a comic, tentatively titled The Templars of the Shifting Verse (a name which will probably change). Currently in it's fourth revision of the basic plot which features four immortals that fly around in an airship that looks like a Tudor house strapped onto an ancient magical artefact.

Looks like, because it totally is.

It's based on an old comic I made when I was about 17 called Aramore (warning, the story was made up as I went along, as was most of the art). You'll notice that the comic stopped updating around august 2010, which - having read some classic Vertigo comics by that point - made me realise that it was probably time to start afresh.

So the new story bares very little resemblance to the old one, except some of the places are the same and the visual themes are slightly similar. I wanted to write a story about the things that divide people (often needlessly), but also a hopeful story about the things that can and eventually will bring us together. There will be action and mystery and there will be horror elements but I'm also trying to create something that is solemn and contemplative. You may have also noted that I used the word "write" as I won't be doing the art for this, that will fall down to the lovely India Swift, however; I'll still be doing concepts and designs (which she then improves tenfold).

Speaking of which, here's some I made earlier:

The first issue will be called First Come the Bones. Below follows a mock up for the cover and a short blurb:

The town of Carsol is decimated by a powerful magical being.

The Government of Barrucia sets up a perimeter to deal with the incident and the wheels of bureaucracy are slowed by a debate over whether or not the situation should be handled by the Barrucian Army or the mages of the Holy City State: which was declared autonomous twenty years ago. Their involvement would cause great unrest amongst the separatists on both sides, some of whom possess dangerous potential.

The people of the world hold on to their faith just a little tighter.

And three days after the blast; a legendary vessel appears in the sky above Carsol, as the crows call out a eulogy for the dead.

 More info when it develops.

Things I am not good at:

1. Keeping a blog.


Okay, I get it now; you write a blog to let people know what sort of things you're up to. Preferably at regular intervals but you can, as I have done, forget you even have a blog and then make a guilt post. Mockingly outlining the fact that you're not good with keeping these sorts of things.

From the fact that this is the only thing on the list, we can assume that apart from this one flaw; I am perfect.

Right. Now that's out of the way...

This is the first post.

So my university life sits packed up in boxes and stored in the dark recesses of external hard drives (next to the unforgivable porn and Cold War documents) and I thought it time to start that blog my careers advisor always told me to start.

It shall be a place for whatever really. Anything except rants and raves will go here (I have another blog for those) but I guess it'll mostly be about my life, my work and my observations. I'll try to keep it from being a dull read with banal posts about the queues at the post office or food I may have eaten.

Anyway, as I was saying before I went off on a tangent; I'm moving out of my university house tomorrow.

There's two empty rooms above me and mine is being compressed into boxes and suitcases and if you were to ask me how I'm feeling right now I couldn't really tell you. It doesn't yet feel like it's over at all; just another break until September. When the amazing people will regroup and we'll talk about how our summers went and hang out at the Ember Lounge with hot chocolate and curly fries. I think it's going to dawn on me in September when that doesn't happen and I think if you were to ask me how I was feeling then, I'd simply say that I miss it all terribly. And I know that it's the people I'll miss more than anything else.

It seems that growing up involves carrying a heavy heart sometimes. But I know there'll be moments in my future when I'll be happy again and I shall just carry on moving forward for those if nothing else.

I need a project. At the moment I'm working on a promotional video for an urban development and, like all projects, it has become a different beast as it has gone on. I first got the brief way back in April, but it only recently got underway in full force. Once this is over in two or three weeks I'll need something to occupy my mind. I'm toying with the idea of starting another comic based on one I used to do whilst in college but if there's one thing that University has taught me, it's that the bar for artistry is set quite high and I don't feel confident that I can reach it myself yet. So I'll probably start scoping for artists the collaborate with, and if necessary I'll use some of the money from the current job to pay them for their trouble.

I've been attempting to draw characters in a more simplified and cartoony style. But I'm struggling with female profile views. When you're head is essentially a circle with a chin everything looks weird when you turn it around. I'll just keep practising.

Over the next few months, I'm going to be looking to move out of my parents house and be independent again. I have my eye on London, a city that's as dirty and hectic as it is steeped in history and excitement. It's ridiculously expensive of course, but a job down there and a frugal attitude would help cover the cost. Even so I'm sure I'll find myself bleeding money left right and centre.

The trick is to be broke but never broken.