I should have done this before but we all get so busy with real life we forget. Jason does a great job of taking my scripts and rendering them. It’s so hard for me to be funny, in a non-sarcastic way, that at this point I’ve pretty much let him go with it. Take for example the script for today:

Couple of panels of Midnight in street clothes being pulled around by a girl. The girl sees a sign for tarot reading.
Girl: O-M-G! I’ve always wanted a reading.
Midnight: Oh yeah, me too…
Girl: You’re no fun, please!
The girl gives Midnight a pouting face causing Midnight to roll his eyes.
Midnight: Fine, but no crying!
Midnight gets pulled in. Show a panel stretching across the page with the two going in through the doors into an anteroom, a waiting room in the middle, and a third room with an old woman sitting at a table. Bottom of page has the girl sitting at the table all happy.
Old Woman: My next customer…
Midnight looks confused and the girl has a shocked look on her face.
Old Woman: but this twit of a girl is his way.

See? I try to be all artistic and stuff and Midnight goes and it makes good. Go figure.

I want my process for bringing this comic from concept to finished product to be as transparent as possible. Whether or not anyone cares or reads about it is in up in the air. Just the same, here’s a look at how Page 2 is coming along thus far. We’re delving into the occult with this one (which, I discovered, will get you followed by various occultists on Twitter within seconds) and it’s my first time drawing tarot cards, so be gentle!

click image for full-size

Let it be known that there is a good reason for doing character sketches. And not only doing them, but making sure they’re done ahead of time. Case in point, the new character introduced in this arc, Life.

Life was meant to be a laid back, chill guy, something of a surfer dude with a little more insight and determination. Think Matthew McConaughey, shirtless disposition and all. Straighten the hair a bit and you’ve got Life. As you can see from the first sketch above, my first pass wasn’t even close. To me, that looks more akin to Jesus Christ starring in a romantic comedy.

Pass number two got away from the Messiah look, but it also made Life boring and unoriginal. This Life had no life, sadly, and was quickly tossed aside. Eyes too close together, not really diggin’ the teeth to the side look, and the forehead could use a little shortening.

The third and final take finally resulted in something I could use and use multiple times without it becoming repetitive and mundane. This Life finally had that spark that could jump off the page, with eyes that could show a range of emotion and a face that retained a manly, muscular rigidness while also offering that softer, low-key demeanor of someone who just wants to live. Not quite a hippie, but also not a stereotypical chauvinistic brute. Perfect.

I also now know how to spell Matthew McConaughey’s name, so it’s a win-win for any rom-com reviews I might write in the future.

I think. I mean, I’m pretty sure. I know I’m certainly digging the look. Scope the colored sketch of Midnight below to see if you feel the change like I do. Also, check out the Tumblr page for other sketches, as they happen, LIIIIIIIIIIVE!

UPDATE: Ok, so the uploading isn’t going so well, so for now, please click on through to the Tumblr page where all the sketches thus far are uploaded and ready to view.