Worklog: AMALA'S BLADE

SteveHorton · May 2011

Just a couple images from artist Michael Dialynas for now. We've gotten some good feedback on this so far. I'll post about the story when I'm not on my way home from the office.

marvinmann · May 2011

This looks great! So are you home from the office yet. Let's see more!

JasonAQuest · May 2011

He has a long commute.

SteveHorton · May 2011

The premise of the story is: "What would happen if the next Dalai Lama were chosen, but she didn't want the job?"

Amala is a young girl from a family in the West, where everyone eschews and fears technology. They've been locked in a bitter cold war with the West, which embraces and worships it. There hasn't been a spiritual leader since the country was united, a hundred years ago, and representatives from each side feel such a leader is desperately needed to avert full-blown civil war.

One problem: She's terrified and runs away, each side accuses the other of murdering the girl, and Amala sets off 20 years of warfare.

Today, Amala's a swordswoman for hire, and her past is catching up to her. She just might have to fulfill her role after all, before the two sides destroy each other. Who knows how many she'll have to kill to get there, including her own mother?

Here's page 1. The lettering is too big, but you get the idea.

anthonyperuzzo · May 2011

lettering looks fine to me. artwork is niiiice

SteveHorton · May 2011

Fixed the lettering size to be more like you'd find on a comics page. How's page 2 read to you all?

marvinmann · May 2011

The tone of the dialogue and style of the art suggest that this could be a big hit with a younger audience. Teen girls might like it very much. The art is really lovely. Tell your artist I said so, and that proves it

SteveHorton · May 2011

Thanks, Marv.

And, page 3!

SteveHorton · May 2011

And here's page 4! I might even get page 5 back today.

marioboon · May 2011

Those are GREAT colors!

SteveHorton · May 2011

SteveHorton · May 2011

Thanks, Mario!

SteveHorton · May 2011

SteveHorton · May 2011

I changed the two factions on the fly from the "Phobics" and "Phages" to the "Purifiers" and "Modifiers", respectively. It looks better when written down.

This is it, the entire 8 page prologue! Whatcha think?

SteveHorton · May 2011

Just noticed the lettering creeped up in point size as I went. Not sure what's up with that. I'll make sure the lettering's nice and uniform before I send in the submission.

So. Besides that?

ChrisBeckett · June 2011

Very nice intro. A lot of information is offered, but it's not expositional. the artwork really fits nicely and gives it a lighter tone - despite the antagonism between the purifiers and modifiers - that I think work well and would make this stand out. It looks like this could be a "fun" book with some serious undertones, and that really appeals to me. Also, I thought it was well-paced and I really liked how you allowed the visuals to tell as much of the story as the dialogue.
I would definitely be interested in seeing more. Good luck with it!
chris

SteveHorton · June 2011

Thanks, Chris.

Hey, for whatever reason I'm not getting e-mail notifications for replies.

SteveHorton · June 2011

Should be some very exciting news about this project soon. Hoping this week.

edbrisson · June 2011

This stuff looks amazing! Good work!

marvinmann · June 2011

I could see a publisher passing on it because it doesn't fit their line, but not for any lack of technique. Good luck, you're taking your best shot.

Jimmie_Robinson · June 2011

I think this is freakin' brilliant. I love the whole style and I like the story, thus far. I'm a sucker for comics like this, so it's a no-brainer for me.

Richard_Pace · June 2011

I'm sold on it.

It hits me as an all-ages project in the best sense of the term -- something people of all ages would read and enjoy it.

~R

SteveHorton · July 2011

@Jimmie_Robinson, I'm also a sucker for comics like this. Stuff like TELLOS and LEAVE IT TO CHANCE are my favorite things in the world, so naturally I wrote something that I'd want to read.

Some publisher is going to bite soon, I can feel it ... I just hope it happens BEFORE San Diego.

marvinmann · July 2011

@stevehorton ; Doing the kind of project you like is just the way to go.

SteveHorton · July 2011

Going to pick back up the publisher search around August 1 after editors have recovered from San Diego. I kinda wish some of them were going to Wizard World Chicago this year ... I'd just talk to them in person.

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