Lost in the Dark News

Lost in the Dark @ San Diego Comic-Con

2007-07-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

Lost in the Dark Press is back for the fourth time at North America's largest comic and pop culture phenomenon, the San Diego Comic-Con International, this July 26-29. Located at Booth 2202 in the Independent Publisher's Pavilion, Lost in the Dark will have plenty of offerings, including the collected edition of the 2004 mini-series Video, by Stephen R. Buell, and Ain't It Cool News' "Best Indie Comic of 2006," the original graphic novel Fragile Prophet, written by Jeff Davidson. In addition, our popular Shoot Your TV Read Comics t-shirts will be available in all sizes, for the low price of $10.

Also this year, by popular demand, Lost in the Dark publisher/writer/artist Stephen R. Buell will be selling prints showcasing his artwork, and will be drawing sketches for anyone that asks. Both Davidson and Buell will be available to sign Lost in the Dark books all weekend, so drop on by the Indie Publisher's Pavilion at Booth 2202, just around the corner from Too Much Coffee Man's Shannon Wheeler!

Better Late Than Never: APE 2007

2007-06-10T17:47:00.000-07:00

The Really Late Alternative Press Expo 2007 Report

Three years ago, in February 2004, Lost in the Dark Press debuted the first issue of Video in San Francisco at the Alternative Press Expo. This year, on our fourth outing, we debuted the collected edition of the entire Video mini-series. The amount of talent that shows up each year at the Concourse never ceases to amaze me, and I never get tired of visiting the city of San Francisco itself. Below are some pictures of the event (we never take enough!) and after that are some picks for some of my favorite purchases at the show.

Fragile Prophet writer Jeff Davidson and myself at the table.

Tabloia's Chris Wisnia, in what is quickly becoming a convention tradition: the Wisnia Goof Face Pic.

The Stephen R. Buell stink-eye...

A sketch I did while at the table.

What I Picked Up!

-Numb, by Josh Kemble. I'd heard about this Xeric-winner a few times in the last six months or so, and with good reason. It's awesome. This is seriously that kind of book that you say, "Holy shit, that's me!!" but has that effect on everyone that reads it. And the break-up scene is BRUTAL in it's simplicity and effectiveness.

Fallen and a set of postcard prints by Camilla d'Errico. The artist of SLG's Nightmares and Fairytales had some beautiful prints for sale, and a cool magazine-sized glossy graphic adaptation of a Mark Twain's poem. One of those tables I wish I had more money to spend at.

Blister No. 1 by Hellen. Haven't read it yet, but the art is fantastic, sorta manga-ish, with some French-Moebius-type-shit creeping in. Magazine-sized, but with a really cool hand-stamped cover. Check out the website, her color work is awesome.

There were so many more artists I'd like to talk about, but there's only so much time. Suffice it to say, APE is a haven for amazing people and works, so if you're in the area next April, be sure to check it out!

Better Late Than Never: Emerald City Comic-con Report

2007-05-23T12:44:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it's obviously been ages since I've posted anything of relevance, thanks to a few projects that have kept my head down to the drawing table. Since the last post, we've done a few shows, did a signing on FCBD, and have a few things to show off, so it's time to play some catch-up.

First, we'll leap back in time a few months to the Emerald City Comic-Con, up in Seattle, Washington. I was pleasantly surprised by the show, attendance was great, and the attendees really seemed eager to check out what the indie press had to offer. In other words, um, those people came to spend! Almost the complete stock of Video: The Collected Editions I brought sold out, and most of the Fragile Prophets ran out, too. Next to me was writer M. Zachary Sherman, of Image Comic's SOCOM: Seal Team 7. He was promoting a new GN coming out from Image called Shrapnel. Being in the trenches with other artists and writers is one of the highlights of any convention, so meeting Zach and swapping industry stories was fun.

Here's the booth, minus me, who took the picture.

Also making his way up to the Northwest was Tabloia/Doris Danger/Dick Hammer's Chris Wisnia and his fresh-from-the-womb spawn Oscar. Here's his picture, then check out his comics.

And finally, here's Boba Fett holding Ain't It Cool News' favorite indie book of 2006, Fragile Prophet...

Anyways, the show was great, Jim Demonakos and his staff deserve a big pat on the back, and hopefully we'll be back again next year!

Next up, The Alternative Press Expo 2007 Better Late Than Never Report!

-SRB

Comics Waiting Room Reviews Video

2007-01-20T16:22:00.000-08:00

Marc Mason has nice things to say about Video, and concludes with a plea to Hollywood:

One of the most impressive things about Video is that it gets in to its premise quickly and then steps on the throttle from there. Combining modern horror, paranoia, and philosophy, Video is a fascinating and intellectual exercise in comparative religion. Stephen Buell's Video originally appeared on shelves in pamphlet format, and I whole-heartedly recommended to anyone listening that they needed to option it and get it into development quickly. I even personally recommended it to a Tinseltown insider of my acquaintance. However, movement was lacking. Now, Video is available in a collected edition, and I'm back here to urge readers and filmmakers alike to pick it up and enjoy it.

Click for more!

Flashback: FCBD 2005!

2006-11-22T02:19:00.000-08:00

A local Sacramento news affiliate came down to A1 Roseville and did a segment on us; this was kinda nice, I think I came off all right. The day itself was cool, we got to chat it up with Tabloia's Chris Wisnia and meet some potential readers. It's nice that A1 Roseville does an Indy signing to go along with the big event, to try and get us some exposure. Anyway, thanks to YouTube, the video has been posted.

Flashback: Comic-Con 2005

2006-11-21T19:46:00.000-08:00

This may be the latest con report ever. I just found some pics taken at Comic-Con 2005, so I figured I'd do a "long lost" report for this convention. This convention was Lost in the Dark's second for the San Diego show, and, as usual, it was pretty much sensory overload. At the time, we had just released the first issue of the Fragile Prophet mini-series, which, as it turned out, was its last, as we went straight to graphic novel from there. We also had a "collector's pack" of the Video mini-series, which is now in TPB form, as well. We actually did pretty well at this convention, better than any other before, which gave us quite a bit of motivation heading back home. San Diego, as draining as it is, is usually such an energizing show; a lot of people complain about how it feels like it's been co-opted by genre movies and video game studios, and that may be the case, but there's still so much energy from the comics set that it's still a lot of fun.

Here's our booth from 2005; kinda "pretty lame, Milhouse," if you ask me. Needs more in the background.

While Jeff was out at lunch or roaming the floor, some guy dropped off his mini-comic called Stymied. It was actually really hilarious, but the main character looked exactly like Jeff, as evidenced here:

Jeff Davidson and, on the right, Lost in the Dark friend Brian Hilton, enjoying a drink after the con on Saturday.

Some guy in chainmail.

Gotta keep up the motivation! Money-bed in the Motel 6.

Big Thanks to Newsarama...

2006-11-15T17:12:00.000-08:00

for spreading the good word.

Thanks, Matt

Updated Video Release Date

2006-11-14T15:53:00.000-08:00

Due to a bit of a slip up at the printer, Video: The Collected Edition, the release date has been moved back to November 22, one week from this Wednesday! In the meantime, enjoy this 22-page preview!

Lost in the Dark Stumptown Report

2006-11-03T20:49:00.000-08:00

The 3rd annual Stumptown Comics Fest was this past weekend in Portland, OR., and
Lost in the Dark was in attendance. The show had a definite APE/SPX
indie/self-pubber/mini-comic feel to it, which is always a good atmosphere to
make new friends and find new and interesting works.

Lost in the Dark was there with copies of Fragile Prophet and preview copies of
the upcoming trade paperback of Video to give away. At the show was
publisher/writer/artist Stephen R. Buell and, stepping in for the absent Jeff
Davidson, was Seattle Lost in the Dark Street-Teamer Kassandra O'Brien. While
Davidson was sorely missed, Miss O'Brien was a welcome addition to the team,
capably handling the throngs of fans approching the table at any given moment.
She was even interviewed by a local podcaster about her experience in the
industry.

The show itself had a laid-back feel to it, and was run by a professional and
efficient staff, which is a pleasant surprise for any comic convention, let
alone one that's this young. I could easily see Stumptown becoming an APE/SPX
show for the northwest.

One of the best aspects of the show, though, was the exhibitors in attendance. I
could have easily dropped a few hundred if I picked up everything I wanted, but
had to limit myself to a few choice items. One was a preview copy of
John C. Worsley's upcoming graphic novel Dead
Valentines, a self-published zombie story. I can't recall exactly when he
said it's coming out, but the artwork is amazing; this guy could go far in the
industry.

Also purchased was the latest Meathaus
Anthology, Head Games, with cover art by Farel Darymple. I've been a fan of
Farel's since his Pop Gun War series, and, flipping through it, it seems like
him and his friends have produced an impressive collection of shorts.

And finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our friends at
Steampunk Squid,
sitting across from us all weekend. Their offering was a mini-comic titled
"Horses Don't Have Eyebrows," and it's a charming collection of one-page stories.
The creator, Paul Rogers, offered that he kept each comic to one page
"so that it was too short to suck." This was Steampunk Squid's first convention,
and hopefully not their last. Good luck, guys!

House of the Ded reviews Fragile Prophet...

2006-09-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

...it is a story that can be read and re-read; each time you see a little deeper into Jakes confusing world, picking up pieces of the puzzle you might have missed previously. A bittersweet read that looks into the mind and life of an autistic child without the kid gloves, a book that works on many levels, and definitely one of the best comics of the last year.

Click for more.

Video: The Collected Edition This November

2006-09-05T02:18:00.000-07:00

Lost in the Dark Press Announces Video: The Collected Edition TP

Press Release

The return of Jesus will be televised this November, when Lost in the Dark Press collects Video, the 2004 comic book mini-series. Video: The Collected Edition, written and illustrated by Stephen R. Buell, can currently be found in the September edition of Diamond Previews, which has listed it as a Certified Cool product. In addition to collecting all five issues of the original mini-series, this new trade paperback will feature updated and improved artwork, a cover gallery, concept and design sketches, and a host of other features. Video: The Collected Edition is a 152-page softcover black-and-white trade paperback, retailing at $12.95. It can be found on page 311 of Diamond Previews, order code SEP06 3440.

From the Diamond Previews solicitation: The return of Jesus means big ratings and even bigger chaos. The Second Coming brings anarchy to the streets, and Keisha Bell and her friends find themselves in the middle of the storm. Attempting to avoid the madness, Bell finds there may be an inescapable link between herself and the events at hand.

For additional information regarding Video: The Collected Edition, and to read the first full 22-page chapter, please visit www.lostinthedark.com, or check us out on MySpace.

Newsarama reviews Fragile Prophet...

2006-08-31T22:17:00.000-07:00

Best Shots' Troy Brownfield likes what he reads...

It takes ambition, or at the very least, guts, for a young team to put together an original Graphic Novel that’s 101 pages in length. It’s a challenge to promote the book, to get it into stores, and to get readers to take notice. Fortunately for Davidson and Buell, they bring significant talent to bear on this sharp, engaging story that manages to be suspenseful and touching in equal measure.

Lost in the Dark at Comic-Con 2006

2006-08-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

Whatta mess. That's pretty much the best description that fits the annual gathering of pop culturists in San Diego. Comic-Con 2006 was Lost in the Dark's third year in attendance, and it's crazy how much it's grown even in that short amount of time, let alone in the 20 or so years it's been around. This year, according to some reports, saw an increase in attendance from 104,000 people to 125,000 people. And it showed.

Typically a slow night for all, Preview Night, which is open to all with a four-day pass, saw a busy crowd ready and willing to spend money. Seeing as Lost in the Dark likes money, this was beneficial to all.

Highlights of the trip, in no particular order, include:

-Seeing Drunken Elvis Stormtrooper roaming the lonely streets of 1:30 a.m. San Diego, still in character. God Bless Elvis Stormtrooper.

-Terry Moore, whose Strangers in Paradise has been around for 13 years, most of which were self-published, working his booth like a machine, chatting up everyone who approached him with questions or compliments.

-Harvey-nominated Elk's Run writer Josh Fialkov, crashing our booth in between a few meetings, stealing neighbor Rafael Navarro's guitar for an impromptu performance while I sketched for a fan.

-Xeric Grant winner Jason Macnamara, whose new graphic novel Continuity made its San Diego debut this year, crashing our booth, talking shop and extolling the dangers of taking up in a hostel during Comic-con weekend.

-The Ham and Cheese Croussant from It's A Grind, a local coffee shop on the way to the convention center.

-Chatting with across-the-aisle neighbors Bliss on Tap, whose full-color graphic novel God the Dyslexic Dog made its San Diego debut.

-The last night at the Motel 6, when the air conditioning broke. Oh wait, nevermind, that sucked, and is why next year it's the Mariott for me.

Here's pics:

SPOILER ALERT- Some of these make no sense whatsoever.

Fragile Prophet Reviewed by The Comics Waiting Room...

2006-07-16T23:08:00.000-07:00

...and gets more good marks!

Marc Mason, formerly of Kevin Smith's Moviepoopshoot.com, reviews Fragile Prophet in his new comics review blog, The Comics Waiting Room.

"...this works, with properly measured dialogue and characters that act intelligently and logically, and some emotive art from Buell, who continues to grow and improve. A worthy effort."

Click for more.

Lost in the Dark Press at Comic-Con

2006-07-12T15:09:00.000-07:00

Lost in the Dark Press will be exhibiting at the San Diego Comic-Con International, coming up July 20-23. Sandwiched between Eric Powell (The Goon) and Rafael Navarro (Somnambulo), Lost in the Dark will be located at booth number 2206, in the Independent Press Pavilion. We'll have copies of our latest graphic novel, the critically acclaimed Fragile Prophet, along with copies of Lost in the Dark's 2004 mini-series, Video. Lost in the Darkerattis Jeff Davidson and Stephen R. Buell will both be in attendance, and will be raffling off Buell's unfinished convention pizza late Thursday!

Fragile Prophet reviewed by The Stop Button...

2006-07-03T22:39:00.000-07:00

...and gets more high marks!

"I felt anxious reading Fragile Prophet, worried and hopeful, always good things in a comic book, since they’re emotions absent from mainstream comic book reading and too many independent comic books follow."

Click for more.

Fragile Prophet Reviewed by Paperback Reader Part 2

2006-06-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

Marx Pyle at Paperbackreader.com also enjoyed Fragile Prophet, and gave it an A!!

It has a feel of a dark drama that M. Night Shyamalan (Sixth Sense, Signs) would have written. Although a dark supernatural story, it also mixes in bits of humor and a few twists to the story. The characters are well developed and I am left with the feeling of truly caring about many of the main characters, which isn’t easy to do in the span of only one graphic novel. I don’t hand out A’s very often, but this one was well earned.

Click for more.

Fragile Prophet Reviewed by Paperback Reader

2006-06-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

David Bird from Paperbackreader.com gives Fragile Prophet an A!

"This is a very strong novella. Davidson’s inspiration came when he was reading about autism and was reminded of the story he’d heard of Robert Nixon, the court clairvoyant to Henry VII. Much of Nixon’s behaviour seemed consistent with autism. What if he were autistic? What if an autistic child could see into the future? Davidson is smart enough not to tie the two things together too tightly."

Click for more.

Fragile Prophet- JAKE

2006-06-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

Fragile Prophet Reviewed by AICN...

2006-06-21T21:43:00.000-07:00

...and they love it.

Books like FRAGILE PROPHET are the reason why I restarted up this Indie Jones column here at AICN Comics. Amidst the clutter of crossovers and hype you may miss a book that, although it may not be in the mainstream, turns out to be something truly special. Just by reading the introduction to this Original Graphic Novel, I knew I was in for something original and unique. Writer Jeff Davidson goes into detail about the inspiration for this series in a way that sucks you into this world by providing factual instances where the type of phenomenon that occurs in this book has happened in the past. After reading the intro I felt as if I was either being set up for the biggest letdown ever or in store for one of the coolest comic book reading experiences I’ve had all year.

Turns out, it was the latter.

Click for more

Fragile Prophet- LILITH

2006-06-19T22:50:00.000-07:00

Fragile Prophet- McGREGOR

2006-06-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

Fragile Prophet- SCILLIAN JAY

2006-06-05T21:59:00.000-07:00

Fragile Prophet- ESAU

2006-05-30T01:02:00.000-07:00

Fragile Prophet Press Release

2006-05-29T01:46:00.000-07:00

Fragile Prophet OGN Ships This August

Fragile Prophet OGN Ships This August

Lost in the Dark Press is proud to announce the release this August of Fragile Prophet, marking the young company’s first foray into graphic novels. Written by Jeff Davidson and illustrated by Stephen R. Buell, creator of 2004’s critically acclaimed mini-series Video, Fragile Prophet is a 112 page black and white graphic novel retailing for $9.95. The graphic novel can now be pre-ordered in this month’s Diamond Previews, with the order code Jun06 3245.

Born with the mysterious developmental disability Fragile-X Syndrome, Little Jake’s strange utterances are actually highly accurate prophecies of future events. With the world’s spotlight shining brightly on Jake as he makes a chilling prophecy, his older brother, Esau, is left to wonder if he’ll be strong enough to save his special little brother from a hideous fate.

Respected San Francsico-based comics blogger Sean Maher gave Fragile Prophet his Best in Show nod after picking it up at this year’s Alternative Press Expo, and summed it up with these words, “Davidson and Buell keep that vibe going right to the last drop, and I haven't been so emotionally taken with a comic in a long time.”
The first 14 pages can be found at www.lostinthedark.com, as well as interviews, the complete Sean Maher review of Fragile Prophet, and more.

New Look...

2006-05-25T01:11:00.000-07:00

With the arrival of Fragile Prophet in June's Diamond Previews (Order number JUN06 3245, more on that later), the website has undergone a bit of a change. If you don't notice it, go back to Lost in the Dark and hit reload. Our goal was to stray away from the trainwreck feeling of the last design, and to simplify a bit. Hope it agrees with you.

As stated above, Fragile Prophet is listed in the Previews that shipped today, so, if you roam around the various comic news websites out there, you may stumble across a few of our promo images we're going to be putting up over the next month. Also, there's a nice 14-page preview of the book at Fragile's mini-site. We'll also be posting reviews and such here at the news blog, so keep coming back and, if you live near a retailer, spread the word...

-SRB

Our incredibly belated APE report

2006-05-18T00:06:00.000-07:00

Forty days ago, we came back from the Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco. I figure it's about time to give the report, although given the late hour and the amount of work I still have to do (revamping the website, working on Fragile Prophet Promo things, fiddling with a few track listings on my iTunes), it will be short.

APE is our favorite convention of the year, because it's such a "for the love of comics" show, filled with people just damned happy to be showing off their creative feathers, no matter if it's cool mini-comics, graphic novels, t-shirts, sculptures, or stuffed animals.

Plus we always get an unfiltered blast of (Newly-minted Xeric Winners) Jason Macnamara and Tony Talbert, the rarely-sober duo responsible for this summer's Continuity, from AIT. You can read the whole thing in PDF form if you google it somewhere, I think, but don't be cheap, just buy it. They're also using the aforementioned Xeric money to self-pub Full Moon, which Talbert mentioned almost went by the name "Full Body Pube," which made me spit-take all over Jeff.

Our table was next to Mad Yak Press once again, by request, mostly because we like to throw things at them. I'm sure we have an embarassing picture of them eating crappy convention food somewhere, but it's too late to deal with finding it. Plus, I owe them one for helping me at the 11th hour with some technical stuff on Fragile. They've had a quiet 2006, but I heard something about them launching an ongoing series late next year...

We did well, debuting Fragile Prophet. Feedback was swell, sales were good, spirits were up.

Our friend and local comics reviewing guru Sean Maher was there, and had some wonderfully nice things to say about Fragile, over at his blog, Quality Control.

Also of note, APE stalwart Arsenic Lullabies, which takes holocaust humor to a whole new level, Kyle Strahm's mini-comics, which feature, among many other things, burning babies of doom, Lost in the Dark friend Cat Baldwin's Heads-Up Penny, chock-full of whit, charm and a fierce hatred of bananas, and, of course, my favorite APE pickup, THE MAN IN THE BOX. Sadly, I forget who made the MAN IN THE BOX, but I'll try and find out.

Some pics:

Me looking for a waitress in a San Francisco pub. Edinborough(sp?) Castle or something?

At the Isotope APE Aftermath Party, Fragile Prophet writer Jeff Davidson and rabble-rousing musician BOOTH.

And finally, finally, the glorious MAN IN THE BOX!

Don't ask.

APE 2006

2006-04-03T14:14:00.000-07:00

Lost in the Dark will be returning to the Alternative Press Expo this coming weekend, April 8-9. We'll be debuting our first graphic novel, Fragile Prophet, months before it goes on sale to the rest of the country in finer comic book stores this August. Fragile Prophet writer Jeff Davidson and artist Stephen R. Buell will be in attendance, signing copies of what LoFi Magazine has hailed as a "left-field indie hit." We'll be at table 555, next to our friends at Mad Yak Press.

News and Notes

2006-03-09T00:50:00.000-08:00

Many apologies for the radio silence around here, but we've been feverishly putting together the Fragile Prophet graphic novel, which, we're happy to report, has been sent to the printers and, barring any difficulties, will be ready for APE in San Fran this year! FP has seen a long road, and it's a great feeling knowing that it will see the light of day in less than a month. I'm anxious to get some feedback on Jeff's writing debut; I'm a bit biased, but his script really came as close to bringing me to tears as anything I've read, pretty much ever.

Here's the trade dress:

Click here to see it full size.

Here's a few snapshots:

San Diego 2004 Flashback...

2006-02-01T09:20:00.000-08:00

Jeff is on the left, chuckling at all the spelling errors in Video #1, I'm sitting down, hating having to smile for Mom's camera, and Dad is behind me, happy that his son's at least giving the illusion he's trying to do something with his life.

How to Draw Comics the Lost in the Dark Way Part Three

2006-01-14T10:26:00.000-08:00

Ok, so we've got the script. We've got the layout. We've got the pencils. Now we need to throw down some ink and chuck it into the computer to slap on the gray tones.

I prefer Micron pens to do my inking with, which can be found at pretty much any art store, or online by doing a simple google search. This is what a gang of Microns looks like:

Stunning.

Anyway, I only use three pen sizes: 0.20mm, 0.25mm, and 0.5mm. I like how the thick line looks against a really thin line. I don't worry too much about balancing white/black too much, as it's all gonna be rendered in gray tones later. Here's the inks:

Then it's into the computer. I erase all the pencil marks first, obviously, then scan it in at 600dpi. I adjust the levels to make the inks nice and black. Then, in Photoshop, I create a new "multiply" layer and start the toning process. It's essentially just like coloring, only using shades of gray. Here's what the final image looks like, prior to lettering.

This particular page had about 40 layers, but I use a Dual 1.8 Powermac G5, so it handles it all real well. Each layer consists of a different aspect of the piece. For example, one layer is Esau's skin tone, one layer is the ambient light, one layer is a blurred portion of a panel to suggest depth of field. I know there are other ways of going about it, but this way works for me. That's all that matters, really. Pen or brush, computer coloring or not, if you're happy with the end product it doesn't matter what method you use. Hope this was helpful; if anyone out there has any questions, hit us up at feedback@lostinthedark.com.

Flashback Interview- Newsarama 3-25-05

2006-01-07T10:34:00.000-08:00

Here's an interview I did with Ryan McClelland over at Newsarama, discussing the end of the Video mini-series and the upcoming mini-series Fragile Prophet. Of course, Fragile was re-worked into a graphic novel, but whatever. Good interview, lots of insight into my thoughts on Video.

STILL LOST IN THE DARK: STEPHEN BUELL ON VIDEO'S WRAP AND FRAGILE PROPHET

How to Draw Comics the Lost in the Dark Way Part Two

2005-12-29T16:36:00.000-08:00

Ok, so now that we have the thumbnail/layout thing, as seen in the previous entry, we get started on the pencils. First, I lightly lay out the pencils, essentially taking the thumbnails and blowing them up to full size, taking into consideration where the word balloons are going to fit in.

Most comic art is traditionally done on a single 11x17 piece of bristol board, however, I generally scrap that and break the page down over several pieces of 9x12 bristol, then, when the full inks are scanned, throw each panel on a page-sized composition. I know of some artists that actually pencil and ink digitally, using a Wacom Intuit tablet. Whatever works best. I prefer to pencil and ink by hand.

After the light pencils are done, I go back and fill in the detail. There's a LOT of erasing that goes on during this stage, and, back when I was drawing my first series, Video, there was a lot of redrawing going on. Mostly because I was too impatient to detail in pencil and then go to inks. I'd usually go straight from light pencils to inks, which resulted in a lot of scrapped artwork. Patience is numero uno when doing this stuff. Anyway, here's the composited full pencils:

Next time, we'll talk a bit about inking and toning in the computer!

How to Draw Comics the Lost in the Dark Way Part One

2005-12-16T23:22:00.000-08:00

Not so much a tutorial as a behind-the-scenes look into how we do what we do. In this case, we're taking page 52 of the upcoming Fragile Prophet OGN, and seeing how it goes from script to finished lettered page.

Jeff doesn't break down the comic page-by-page or panel-by-panel. He gives me each scripted chapter, generally 30 pages at a time, in kind of a screenplay format, so that I can then break it down by panel and page. It works well this way, as I get to layout the book in a way that plays up my strengths. The dramatic pauses, the comedic bits, where a nice fat two-page spread should go, where an 8-panel page should go, etc. One sentence of script could amount to a two-page spread, or I can cram a heated argument that takes up two pages of dialogue into one panel. The pacing is, by and large, up to me. That being said, I consider it my goal to lay it out according to what I think Jeff's intentions are. Having known him for so long plays into this; I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable doing it in this manner with another writer. I stick as close to the script as possible, but sometimes he alters small things in the acting or changes a joke or two to more closely match what I've drawn. It's as true of a collaboration as I can think of.

Anyway, I go through the script, drawing a line where each comic page will break, and then placing numbers next to each "action" that'll designate a new panel. Like so:

Also, while figuring it all out, I like to doodle, hence the bald guy.
Then, when the page is broken down, I'll do a quick thumbnail to block the action:

It says 22, because it's the 22nd page of the second chapter. Next week, we'll take a look at the pencilling process, or, as I call it, "I Really Hate Drawing Hands!"

The Deal With Fragile Prophet

2005-12-05T13:24:00.000-08:00

For those of you that picked up Fragile Prophet #1, and are wondering just where numbers 2 and 3 are, we have some good news and we have some bad news. First, the bad news.

In a nutshell, the initial orders were horrible. I mean BAAAD. There was no way we could justify continuing on with issues 2 and 3, therefore, the decision was made to scrap them and collect all three chapters into one volume.

So here's the good news. The Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco will see the debut of Fragile Prophet, the Original Graphic Novel. We've seen this as an opportunity to clean up some of the things weren't satisfied with on the first issue, and make sure we had the time to properly edit the whole package, to ensure the best possible reading experience for all. Here's the working cover, expected to see a few tweaks here and there prior to the final product is released. Enjoy!

Lost in the Dark Proudly Presents...

2005-11-29T19:51:00.000-08:00

Ok, it's just a news blog, however, this will allow us to keep you updated on the goings-on around here on a much more regular basis than previously. This will be the first stop whenever a new project is announced, whenever there's some preview art to show, or if we discover someone or something out there we feel our readers may appreciate hearing about... to kick things off, here's the working cover to the trade paperback edition of 2004's Lost in the Dark debut mini-series, Video. Tentatively scheduled for summer of 2006, this will collect all five issues of the original series. I'm in the process of cleaning up some of the artwork, I'll be retoning some of the grays, and I'm throwing in some extras some commentary, and whatever else may be lying around the studio. The cover may change drastically between now and then, but here's where I am so far...