Metalmadcat Sketch Blog: 2010

COMICS/LOUIE THE SINGLE MAN/IDEAS

m_) That's right! The mess can not just remain all year, you know?
m_) Some order is always needed (occasionally)
m_) Comic strips have been around with me for several years, more than I can remember. It was such a beautiful realm to step on at any time when ideas were just too haunting to hide. Tricky process, though. It takes some time making this, more time than you may think.

Well, here I am posting one of my former comics 'Luisito el Soltero' ('Louie the Single Man') to bring some old good memories.

Here is my comic back in 2006

And here is the same comic but polished in a 2010 version (translated)

After finishing, it was quite refreshing to see the contrast.

@ Tenderious: Be aware you may see this in your journal...later on.

m_) Now, my question is: What can you make of all this? No, don't tell me one is older, and the other isn't.

OBSERVATION: Yes, learn to observe/infer. Let us really learn from the past.

Simplicity: To make it simple is good but to look good making it simple is not SO SIMPLE. Confused? I know! Well, see how in 2006 I struggled trying to show the main idea. That statue was hard, I was not even sure if showing the entire statue was worth it. Notice how in the new version I tried to make it more of a protagonist and is very visible. This was simple but it required me to do some research on women's composition.

Climax applied: In this particular issue the climax has already started in the first frame, but goes slowly, and it is not until third frame that reaches its 'pitch', so to speak.

Scenes/Camera views: Back in 2006 I have a very poor idea on how to play with cameras. There were, however, different views, but I was not well trained with perspectives. Notice how in the new version I try to come up with certain variation to bring more action, to make it look even more entertaining. In the beginning is all seen out of the store, and out in the street, in the next scene the idea was to make it look as if seen from the store (from the glass where the mannequin is placed) This was roughly done but that was at least the idea on it.

Dramatization: While each scene tells the same story, they not necessarily need to be directly connected. The expressions, the mood, everything can vary from each other, and that makes the comic more interesting to read. Expressions are KEY to create a roller-coaster effect throughout the strip. See how in the beginning it was a big smile in the character, but later it goes all bored and even resigned.. In the beginning the idea was to represent a sense of discovery. Next scene is more a daydreaming stage of the character, whereas the third is rather a "platonic" scene, and therefore the stars around the mannequin. I Play with imagery whenever I can. Squares have limits but we don't have to limit ourselves inside the squares. This is always up to us. If it can get fancy, go for it! Moderately or not.

CONCLUSION

Comics are a reflection of our lives. If well applied, any anecdote can become into a comic. Try it, It won't hurt!