Back with a vengeance

I return!

Break was fun, but I pretty much spent the whole thing thinking about Trubs. So here's a height comparison sheet to wet your appetite while I work on the thumbnails! I'll post some sample pencils soon, and some sample inks when they're done. Stay frosty!

The Official Concept

Sorry, guys. I had high hopes for getting at least one thing out this week, but things have just been too crazy. Good news is that the first chapter is pretty much conceptualized- all I have to do is tie my thoughts together into a script and it'll be ready to go. Bad news is that won't be happening for at least a week and a half, since spring break will be spent away from a computer. I won't be able to give you the whole thing on here for a while, either, since I want to get it copyrighted and make the site.

However, I am comfortable telling you guys what the plan for the future is. So here is the official log-line:

Three kids search for an artifact of godlike power, racing against nations, ogres, and their own family to find it.

I'm not going to bore you guys with little details for now, but that should give you an idea of where the book is going. If you're reading this, that also means you get to be one of the first to hear about how you'll be able to affect the story.

Here's the idea: I want Troublemakers to be heavily influenced by reader input. I'd like to give you guys some of the reins on where the story goes and what happens in it. Once things get underway and you guys get an idea of what we'll be working with together, I'll make an e-mail account where you guys can e-mail me ideas you'd like to see happen. The ones that spark something will be pursued, and I'll make forumns available for you guys to continue to refine and direct the concepts that the chapters spring from. I'm also thinking about voting systems and polls as another way of letting you guys take control of the story.

With luck, this means that you guys can not only have fun seeing the story play out, but become involved with the story as a community creation that we can all enjoy. So check back in a week, and stay up to date! You never know when I might open the doors!

Patience is a virtue

I know that it looks like there's nothing going down, but there is. My crunch for finals is almost over and once it is I can start the serious work- expect a basic height comparison sheet for the main chars and concept sketches for the first issue by the end of the week.

More new stuff!

Things have had to slow down because of finals, but I did manage to rip this out today. This is Floridalma, the third of the four Stars children. That poem behind her might be pretty important for one of her story arcs later.

Beginning at the end

The interweb is down at the dorms today, so instead of the somewhat larger update I had planned, you guys get this. This pic served two purposes- I got to draw something cool from the end of the story, and I get to take my first shot at drawing Ether, which is sort of the Troublemakers version of the Force.

I hope I have some people checking this thing by now, because I could use some help. Does anybody have any ideas for a world name? Troublemakers isn't set on Earth. I don't want to name it after mythological reference, so stuff like Gaia or Terra's out. Any ideas? (You could also present alternate names for Ether. It's a bit of a mouthful. Think water-type words.)

Other Characters

Yet another! This one shows some of the designs for the extras, including the Hardtops, masters of the Headbutting style of combat. Bad'll be spending a lot of time with these guys in one of the story arcs. Personally I'm very fond of Stogger, the Triceratops.

Growing up

First sketch!

If you check this out, you'll see a first look at how Bad might age as the story moves on. You'll also see some hints of possible major points later in the story, including Floras poetry buddy. Also, there's pictures of Moogs old home and his parents.