Page 24 – Sweet Oblivion
Mmm, chocolate cupcakes make everything better.
Until you get it all over your face.
On Character Design: If you want iconic characters keep their color palettes simple and unique. Mario, Green Lantern, Laura Croft, any Pokemon, Sonic the Hedgehog–can you visualize each in full color? Take this minimalist Street Fighter image, for example. Even if you’ve never played the game it’s not too difficult to match these color bars with their fully rendered originals.
A similar approach was used for the two “characters” introduced in the page above. They even share a few colors to tie them together. I have a hard time telling some comic characters apart, so I try to give everyone in a scene a unique color scheme where each person is easily identifiable. Even when you can’t see their faces. Of course, the opposite can be used to intentionally confuse readers.
Original Script
CAPTION
That evening
Jane walks into the living room eating a doughnut. Harriet is on her shoulder.
Jane’s parents and two strangers are standing in the room, looking at her.
NOTE: Whatever Jane is wearing in this scene will be
what she wears for a long time.
JANE
Sweet oblivion.
MOM
Jane, I’d like you to meet Madame Simza.
Indicates a bizarrely dressed older woman, who bows.
Behind her is a black teen boy.
MOM
She can cast away that wretched spirit which plagues you.
Yeah, she looks trustworthy. I’m sure she’ll fix the problem right up.
Never underestimate the power of tacky jewelry. Ghosts fear it.
Jane Chandi Webb! A proper young lady does not wipe her mouth on her arm! That’s what God invented napkins for!
Harriet is to Jane as cleaner fish are to a basking shark.
The art is so expressive I can almost hear the noises she’s making as she eats the cupcake.
Many cupcakes were sacrificed to achieve this level of authenticity.
It’s sadly obvious that either Jane didn’t explain things very well (if at all), or Marry wasn’t listening. When it comes to dealing with spirits, this whole scene is similar to confronting Rembrandt with someone who paints by numbers, and expecting him to be impressed. ><
Besides, it's not exorcism she wants, just control. 🙂
Teenagers and communication, like oil and water.
Hopefully this isn’t turning into plot-by-stupidity. I hate that. Let’s just say that this page has several layers of things going on that won’t be important until much later in the story (when it’s too late — muhahaha).
I like to think that Jane’s first line on this page is actually a subtle jab directly aimed right at the cold, black ghost-heart of Sir Tyree. Mock him for all you got, girl!
And then she ritualistically eats the heart of her enemy! Om-nom-nom.
The chowdown expression, PRICELESS
Thanks! She could have fit the whole thing in her mouth if chowtime hadn’t been so rudely interrupted.