The Energon Pub

I am trying to get a little project off the ground, a comic based off a new transformers continuity I've been tinkering with. So I need some advice on how to get started The main things I want help is, transformation effects, and just genera tips you may want to offer.

All things going well I hope to have *something* up within the next couple of weeks.

Speaking from experience here.

Get a script, a proper script. As in write the whole thing out first with all the dialogue and narration and descriptions of what happens in the scenes. Once you're happy with that make thumbs.

Thumbs are rough and dirty sketches of the pages, here you can figure out the page layout and panel arrangement, it will also show you if you need to rework your script.

Then draw the actual pages based on all that.

Keep a close eye on continuity, which is made very easy when you have an actual script and the thumbs.


Don't go crazy with the transformation sequences, do them adequately detailed, since they're just side actions and are meant to go fast.

depending on the software you're using, for a nice looking transformation in a single panel, it might be worth drawing 2 or 3 intermediate stages of the transform in different layers and varying the transparency on them.

Dead Metal is dead on about using a proper script.

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm working on a script at the moment, but find that I'm my own harshest critic.

@Craggy I never even thought about that....That's a neat trick

A quick update on this, my original idea has stalled due to family committments. The flipside to this is I've got a new idea for a comedy series. But that is going to have to wait.