WIP 116 - The making of Strip 353

Hi!

It's been a long while since I've done one of these, so here is strip 353 from bones to flesh!

The first actual step is (of course), the script (scroll down to see it).

Elena then sends me a layout sketch (picture 1). As she is awesome, usually I don't need any fixes, though sometimes it's the little things. In this case, I wanted Carlotta to really go for Lydia's throat in panel 2 so that it would not be mistaken for a mere threat to warrant Lydia's response to Carlotta in panel 3, so I asked Elena to move Carlotta closer so you know she's really about to put her hands around Lydia's throat!

After that check, Elena makes the lineart (picture 2) and proceeds with shading (picture 3).

Usually everything is fine there, though sometimes Lydia's tattoo is missing or some other detail.

I'm the one doing the lettering. As you can see in picture 1, Elena tries to give me indications of where she thinks the bubbles would fit. Sometimes it works - sometimes it doesn't.

This is also the moment where I'm doing my last script rewrites. Sometimes I realize that the breaks in the bubble would be awful (Like losing the word "Lady" in Lydia's "You don't want to fight me!") or that I need to change the wording to better capture the mood as presented in the image. (Like Carlotta saying "I'll strangle you right ..." instead of "I want to strangle you.")

I then send the lettered strip back to Elena so she can check to see if she sees any errors (either in the lettering or missing tail bubbles, not connected bubbles, etc.)

Then it's time to start up my scripts for resizing and spacing (to add the logos). Then more auto-scripts that cut the comic for 2x2 and portrait. Cutting it apart for panel view is still a manual task, though I have scripts for resizing and spacing.

After that, the comic sits around waiting for its day to be published on Patreon and a week later on the webpage and social!

Quite a process indeed (and a lengthy text, thanks for reading till here!)

Hope you liked the overview! Now here's the script for the strip:

SCRIPT 0353

SCRIPT SUMMARY

Carlotta confronts Lydia. Security intervenes

CHARACTERS

Carlotta

Lydia

PANEL 1

The servant is standing to the side as Carlotta is in Lydia's face, who puts up her hands in defense.

CARLOTTA: "It was you all along!"

LYDIA: "Hey, I can explain!"

LYDIA: "Just calm down."

CARLOTTA: "Calm down?!?"

PANEL 2

Carlotta is really raging now, lifting her hands to get ready to choke Lydia. The servant is gesticulating to wave some off-panel guards to him.

CARLOTTA: "I will ..."

LYDIA: "Lady, you don't want to fight me."

CARLOTTA: "Fight you?"

CARLOTTA: "I want to strangle you!"

PANEL 3

Lydia grabs Carlotta's hand, pulling her down and rams her knee into Carlotta's stomach. (I added a reference picture here, but not posting it here because of copyright)

CARLOTTA: "I'll ..."

LYDIA: "You'll do nothing."

SERVANT (off-panel): "Here! Please, help!"

PANEL 4

A guard steps in and holds Lydia from behind, another steps to Carlotta, who is on her knees, holding her aching stomach.

SERVANT: "Escort them out, please."

LYDIA: "What? No! She attacked me!"

CARLOTTA: "That woman is an imposter!"

SERVANT: "And both of you lack etiquette. Out!"