Page 79 – 82
To push Kimber’s captions I had her think a lot more. She generally has a lot more she is sitting on. It’s why she is the one who ends up asking the important questions.
Also once again I like drawing/toning fire.
Kimber’s frustration with the team subside around when she starts talking to Elsie more. But that rough start I thought would be a good contrast as the two of them become friends.
Page 83 – 85
Rae’s entrance is 100% cool anime person. I was definitely thinking of when Sailor Uranus first appear. Does something cool and then takes off.
Her cool animeness is what makes Kimber get a crush on her.
Page 86 – 87
Kimber is the most interested in their adventure. This I figured would be good way to seperate her from everyone else on the team. But she’s not mature enough to think of a way to win Elsie and Morgan over her than yelling at them.
Another big thing I did with Kimber’s captions is she talks herself up more and repeats her thoughts to show she’s very unsure. It’s why I tried to make her small in that last panel to contrast her telling herself “I can COMPLETELY handle it.”
page 88 – 89
When I designed Kimber’s room I kept two things in mind. What did her mom put there and what did Kimber put there? I wanted it to be obvious when you looked at the room who decided what. So all the big stuff, the bed, the dresser, the curtains, those are from mom and are frilly and flowery. Everything smaller and temporary is from Kimber. So the posters and dresser nicknacks are goth and fantasy based. Stuff I remember for sale at Hot Topic or posters from magazines. This way you are ready for the conflict with Kimber’s mom before she even comes in the room.
Also the fact that Kimber’s mom doesn’t take her to the hair appointment herself and that Kimber can just leave her house without her mom realizing shows how much attention and hands on parenting she is getting. It should make the earlier thoughts of I can only count on myself make more of a picture.
page 90 – 91
Sometimes it’s hard drawing expressions on Cu. I don’t want to go to cartoony or he will stand out compared to everyone else. This scene I looked at a lot of sad dog pictures. I wanted him to look uneasy while Kimber was turned from him and then stiff up when she looks his way.
Again I tried to make Kimber look small as she is all alone to think about what is next.
page 92 – 96
In the diner I managed to get 6 of the 9 kids in Elsie’s family. Two kids at the counter, Billy, and the other two waitresses are Elsie’s siblings. This scene maybe should have been more pages.
Elsie’s non-reaction to her mom’s shouts is to show this is her normal. I think we all have something about our family that we grew up thinking everyone does but then realized is weird as we got older.
The customers leaving and Kimber’s caption are supposed to be the contrast to Elsie shrugging it off. I maybe should have given this another page or so to show Kimber’s face. Her parents don’t yell much, so this is extra scary for her. I only really managed to get a good look at Kimber’s face in page 94’s panel 2.
And speaking of not examining something shitty your parents do, Kimber isn’t immune and definitely picked up some body shamming opinions from her mom.
Kimber pouting wanted her to be really folded up in herself as she is defensive from Morgan making fun of her. I had Billy have a chat with her to just bring him up again in a minor way and so we got a good look at the bandage on her hand. Also cause I thought it would be funny if their King Arthur kept accidentally helping him.
Page 97 – 101
The librarian is a cameo for my former roommate Stef who was the one that told me the correct dewy decimal number for King Arthur stuff. Also, I put in this bit to make the connection between Emain Ablach and Avalon but also cause Irish words are hard to spell if you’ve only heard them.
I was careful with Rae’s dialogue here. Notice she doesn’t let Kimber use any of the books first, she just offers the ones she isn’t immediately using. She also covers her notes/map as soon Kimber brings up the night before.
They are little hints that Rae is 100%. But Kimber misses it cause she is too busy being impressed by Rae. I also wanted to build up Kimber’s crush thoughts about Rae over the series. So right now it’s just she’s so cool.
Page 102 – 104
Character’s logic needs to follow a logic, even if it’s not the same as the readers. The toast jelly bit is supposed to be Elsie misheard tots jealy and then justified it to her self why toast jelly makes sense. So Elsie logic.
I had Morgan mockingly ask and prop Kimber about her plans repeatedly to make Kimber more defensive. That way it makes sense when she responses angrily to Elsie asking the same questions sincerely in book 2.
All through this chapter I try to push Kimber as the outsider to Morgan and Elsie who already know each other. Pushing the age difference which a sex joke that goes over Kimber’s head would be a way to do it without resulting to them actively mocking her again.
Page 105 – 108
This whole fight you can see they are attempting teamwork but failing. Like Morgan does pull Kimber out of the way of the falling giant fish.
Page 109 – 114
Morgan is the only one who isn’t immediately on board with Rae. She’s the one that notice Rae hasn’t put herself at risk. She is also the only one who picked up on Rae’s subtle dig. Sometimes being distrustful and jaded can be good?
Then we see them successfully use teamwork. I had fun drawing these action bits.
Page 115 – 118
Elsie does her victory dance again while Rae is quickly headed out. I like the gesture of Elise putting her arm around Morgan and then getting pushed away.
Rae’s expression as she looks over all of them when Elsie suggests a team up is one of her few slip ups in book 1. There is one other.
The last page here, I use this layout once per book when dealing with Kimber and Rae. This first time it’s happy Kimber watching Rae leave.