HT! Sketches: Book II (32,34)

Here are some behind-the-scenes and unused pieces for pages 32-34.

1. A draft of Mettaton grabbing Aliza from the trash pile with an extended arm.
This was meant for the "32?" submission for the longest time before jumping right into page 32, "Someone's Trash". I really wanted to include the royal guard's response to Mettaton getting away with it all, so it was scrapped for the final version attached. The final panel also served as a sneak-peek on how vicious the guards have become.

2. A drafted from-behind view of all Snowdin characters gawking at the TV.
This felt too similar to how the previous page opened, and I didn't like how hidden some expressions were. The final version better illustrates how close the remaining monsters of Snowdin have become, holding each other through a momentary scare. They're all monsters, but they're a family ^^

3. Another from-behind view of all characters staring at the TV.
Space is incredibly limited on each page. Keeping up with a one-page-weekly schedule meant I had my reader's attention for a very short amount of time; each page must be efficient, must make a point, AND leave on a satisfying cliffhanger to encourage readers to wait another week (at least). As I'd mentioned before, I despise this schedule, but it did pressure me to keep each page as well-written as possible. Throughout Book I I really experimented with how much information should be told in each post, hence the varying page lengths.
It's important that each panel serves its purpose and moves the story forward, so lingering panels are used sparingly and only when emphasis is really needed. I had drafted a shot of them all staring at the TV from behind after it turns on, but by then, I felt the point was made, and the panel was scrapped.

4. An unused panel of HT! Sans regarding the TV.

Sans is the hardest character for me to draw. I mean I adore doing it, but my god. His expression so often walks that fine line between goofy and fiercely intense, and keeping his exaggerated features consistent between panels was (is!) incredibly challenging and would sometimes take hours if not days to "get right". My favorite panels in the entire comic often feature him rarely appearing how I actually WANT him to appear; a 1 in 100 chance shot. Even after years of illustrating him, I still couldn't get this particular panel right. In the end, I think the zoom-in on his expression served the story better anyway.

Next: HT! Sketches: Book II (38, 38)
Prev: HT! Sketches: Book II (29,31)