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NazRigar — Kaijuverse Prequel Cover WIP
Published: 2011-07-01 16:40:22 +0000 UTC; Views: 1473; Favourites: 34; Downloads: 14
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Description
Along with the Olragon pic, this the other big project that I'm working on. I'm making a series of short strips that will serve as the backstory for my kaijuverse. While my main plot for my kaijuverse is still sketchy, I already created what I consider a solid backstory.Reason why I'm doing a prequel before actually doing the main plot is because I think it is easier to convey what happened in the kaijuverse before there were kaiju and why they were created in the first place. This is the result of creating a backstory that was much longer and more complex than I expected. This way when I create the main plot itself, events there would be a lot less confusing.
Because the story history was very long and detailed, I tried my best to sum it all up with this premise for the prequel comics:
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During the year 2056, overpopulation has crippled the world economy and the globe is in utter turmoil. That was until humanity discovered an alternate dimension. In this dimension existed an Earth that was lush, green and filled with natural riches that helped to lift the world. This alternate Earth, dubbed "Alia Terra", would be seen as place for hope and prosperity. This all ended when a group of seperatists declared war on their former home countriers. By the year 2100, hostilities reached its zenith and a catastrophe struck when a group of separatists unleashed the power of an unspeakably powerful and unstable mineral that contained an enormous amount of energy. This leads to a chain reaction that causes all life in Alia Terra to either mutate or die in horrific ways.
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There will probably 5 issues minimum, each in chronological order an showcasing an important event that leads to the creation of the Kaijus. This is WIP of the first issue, focusing more upon how life was on Alia Terra before the introduction of humans. The two animals being showcased are the pre-mutated species of Jovis [link] and Krugoth [link] .
Constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated, and if the above premise isn't enough, I can PM the whole thing via note.
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Comments: 22
Ok, first of all, everything is extremely well rendered here. The background is detailed yet not distracting and the monsters' poses are dynamic. I am seriously envious of your gift for shading and texture. So that's a definite plus.
You've also got some negative space, which is important for a comic cover. There's room for a title at the top, and maybe even a short blurb telling the audience about the content of the issue in the bottom left hand corner. Again, the monsters look dynamic and are quite well drawn, which is sure to draw reader interest. All in all this is some solid linework - I can't even think of anything I'd change!
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Sweet! Thanks! I was hoping the background wouldn't look out of place with the foreground, but at the same time does not out-focus it. I also like your comment on how I can make a blurb on the lower left corner, I think it would be a great addition! It can give that "retro" look of old comic books from the 50s.
On the Title, I'm not so sure how to format it... Any suggestions?
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Well, that's one of the harder aspects of comics - at least for me. The Title should be sort of an art piece unto itself. It has to stand out, be aesthetically pleasing, AND fit the theme of the story all at once.
For example, look at these covers:
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They look fairly simple, but capturing the same kind of aesthetic - a title that can express the themes and content of the comic just in the way the words are arranged and shaped - is actually really hard. It took me dozens of tries to get it right for Fearsome Future. It's an art in of itself, and more importantly (and frustratingly), it's a different kind of art.
The Fearsome Future Logo finally came together when I realized that the weird shield shape of my protagonist's mask could work as a base. Since the story is essentially a mix of sci-fi and horror, I altered the letters to reflect that blend - "Fearsome" was drawn to look like the letters are written in blood or some other goopy red gore, while "Future" was drawn to look like the letters were stiff, rigid pieces of steel. I made the gooey "Fearsome" letters actually drip onto the "Future" letters to emphasize the way they mix together, with the horror aspect of the comic staining the sci-fi aspect. The result is very striking - and literally took months for me to get right! I'm not sure if that's normal or actually a horrendously long time to get a title to work, but that's what it took from me.
So my suggestion is to play around with as many different title formats as possible. Treat this as thought you're creating a new human or monster character - sketch it a bunch of times, do research, get creative, and try to make it as dynamic and eye catching as possible. I'd try to be more specific, but creation is sort of a personal process. I hope this helps regardless!
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Ah... I think I understand, and those are indeed some great examples! Each one definetely have their own asthetics that fit into their respective content, especially the Strange Tales one.
Also thanks for giving the reasoning behind your own Fearsome Future title. I always thought it was nice, but never bothered to ask what was behind it (I should have asked earlier why). It also helped me in a way that it gave me an example WHY the format of the title is important, as well as how can I make the aesthetics for it.
So far, the best title in my head for my prequel comic is "Stories from Alia Terra". For me it's a great contrast with the planned title for the main comic, the much more simply-named Terra Nova (though that could change in a few months). I already have two ideas on how I could format it.
The first idea is since the emphasis is on Latin names, and much of the theme is colonization of a new world and expanding territory maybe the title could be fashioned in a clean marble texture, as a reference to the Roman Empire. This gives me fun on the design aesthetics for the main kaijuverse comic, maybe shattered marble, implying, just as the Roman Empire fell long ago, humanity on Terra Nova is at a much more shattered state.
The other idea is to change the texture of the title with every passing issue, but keeping the same font. For example the first issue could have a stone textured font, referencing the stone age. The issues after would have Bronze, then Silver, then Gold, then Iron and so on and so forth until the end. It's a great reference to the Greek Mythology (the concept of Ages of Man), as well as the use of the Three-Age system for the historical progress of civilization in ancient times. It kind of corressponds to how advanced humanity has become after they settled on Alia Terra. Plus, like the above, it gives me ideas on how to format the title for the main kaijuverse.
I want your opinion, do you think their good ideas?
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I think they're damn good ideas! Giving it a Roman Empire feel would definitely play up the human conquest theme your story has. I think you might also want to incorporate some elements dealing with the kaiju, though - maybe show vines with jagged thorns growing along the collumn-like letters of the title, with the vines eventually tearing down the letters as a sign of the natural world (i.e. the kaiju) fighting back against the human civilization efforts.
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Awesome! By the way, your vines idea is also great! In fact, I may even add a small, mutant critter (like a skink) just to go along with the flora, making it even more of a nature vs civilization metaphor!
Thanks! You were great help for me on this subject!
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Thanks! Say, can you review it in an artistic perspective? Like suggestions on what to improve or how the cover should look like when it is colored.
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Welcome
Nah, it's pretty good man.
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Awesome. This looks like a very cool piece. I cant wait to see it colored
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Yes I am (unfortunately)... It's due to my poor organizational skills
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Actually Yes! He's a little hard though... I know Albertasaurus is a much more gracile version of T.rex, but because of his theme being an earth-based monster, it's a little hard to combine both, without neglecting the other aspect. This is also due to the fact when I create earth kaiju, they are always, always, ALWAYS, big and bulky. Don't worry, It'll be completed eventually.
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lol, don't blame yourself. You got a life to live, and the more time you took will usually result in higher quality...
Unless there are higher standards in drawing these...
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Thanks Ferris!
Usually my standards when I want to create something is ALWAYS high, leading to the other aspect of why I'm slow, I always feel the need to correct something... even when somthing seems finished...
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