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Some of the readers out there wanted some pointers on drawing hands, so I put this little video tutorial together to show you how I construct a hand in comic art.
I’ve kept busy this week.
So far, I’ve managed to draw 5 pages of Jake the Evil Hare, 1 page pf Darkfell, and a bunch of random sketches. And I’m not done! I’m going to try to do at least 2 more JTEH pages, at least get the roughs done for next week’s Darkfell, and some more gag work. Thanks to all the fans for helping make us one of the most popular webcomics in the world!
The biggest thing this week, though, as been finishing the 2nd to last chapter for the upcoming novel, Dragonslayer! I’m still a bit surprised that what began as a short story is now over 60,000 words and will be the first of 7 books. You can find out more about it HERE.
-Sam
We’re closing in on the final revision of Dragonslayer: Book One of the Fetters of Wizardry!
Dragonslayer tells the story of Katarina the Dragonslayer, one of the major characters of Darkfell: The Fetters of Wizardry.
When soldiers of the Harkad Empire raided the half-elven enclave of Moonshadow, they murdered the adults and sold the children into slavery. Among these children was a scrawny but spirited ten year old girl named Katarina, who is purchased by a lazy farmer. One day, while wandering in the woods near the farm, Katarina stumbles upon a cave, and in it she finds a pair of ancient swords which awaken in her a power she never dreamed was there…
We’ll be releasing Dragonslayer this summer in both print and eBook format, so please support our Indiegogo campaign. You can view our campaign by clicking the banner above the comic, or by clicking here.
White Knuckle is a another visceral tale from the mind of Cy Dethan, beautifully illustrated by Valia Kapadai, and elegantly lettered by Nic Wilkinson. Published by Markosia Enterprises, this book weaves the complex tale of a former serial killer known as “The Gripper,” who is tormented by the delusional visions which drove him to kill when he was young, and a seemingly chance encounter which leads to his involvement in the life of the family of one of his victims.
Now, I do try to review without giving the story, so we are going to gloss over details which would turn this into a spoiler, and for that I ask your indulgence.
I was immediately intrigued by the cover art, which is elegant in its simple, yet forceful appearance. I know we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in this case it seems that the cover makes a promise of violence and drama, and delivers on it in spades. The opening scene immediately seizes the reader’s attention, and the one which follows makes for a jarring confluence of emotion as the the story unfolds. Dethan crafts a tale which takes you on a journey of compassion, guilt, hope, horror and courage, cowardice and despair– a journey which takes a long, hard, and ultimately revealing look into the nature of violence and the raw humanity of it all.
Valia Kapadai’s artwork is loose and dynamic, with a cinematic feel that turns each panel into a visually gripping (no pun intended) scene. The sepia tones which dominate the palette work beautifully to create the mood throughout the book, and the page layouts shift as these moods go from poignant and sorrowful to tormented and terrifying. I was equally impressed by how even the “gutter” areas of the pages were used to great effect in establishing mood, pacing, and atmosphere.
Nic Wilkinson is a masterful letterer, with a style that is refreshingly understated in an era of over-the-top lettering that often obfuscates the story. At the same, time, there’s a raw, vital energy that bursts onto the page just when it’s needed.
Overall, this was a book that surprised me with a very different take on the “serial killer,” and had me re-reading pages because they were so well put together. If you are a fan of these gifted storytellers, you MUST read this. If you aren’t a fan, you will be by the time you’re done reading it.
Pre-order your copy today right here.
