Script

Hey guys! So the script is progressing nicely and should be done a few weeks after Christmas. Once that's finished I'll get right to work on drawing. I'm hoping to have the whole book drawn by summer.

Above are spot-blacked thumbnails for the first few pages and designs for the BullDogs, monsters that will be appearing in the first book.

I know updates are scarce these days. I don't want to update pointless information so months end up going by. But I've come up with a solution. If you guys want to be told when there's an update, send your e-mail addresses to Renard at foxflower16@gmail.com. He'll send out a mass e-mail everytime something important happens to let you guys know. Peace!

Research!

Hey guys! So work continues on the script, but I figured you might want to take a look at some of the work I've been doing designing the Ondine Foundation, the resurrected city that the first story takes place in. During the first book it's being used as a museum, much like a publicly owned castle in Europe. The Ondines are meant to have a godlike mystique, so it's only fitting that they have some religious influence in their architectural choices. Here we have drawings of a Russian church, a Tibetan temple, and a Hindu temple facade. As I work on the designs I'll use other sources to build this ancient civilization.

Hard at work!

Again, no images for the moment. But I can tell you guys a little bit about what I'm thinking.

While I'm sticking to my guns about the story itself, I've been starting to give some thought to the look of TR. For this I've started thinking about what comics and video games have always grabbed me in terms of design. I arrived, eventually, at three video games: Final Fantasy IX, Shadow of the Colossus, and the Jak games from Naughty Dog. If I put these three together, I get a detail oriented look with a lot of old masonry, rusty metal, ancient temples and a steam punk edge. I've started looking at a lot of old Cambodian temples from the Khmer civilization and referencing and sketching them- I'll scan some of the sketches next week, and you guys can follow as I begin putting together some cityscapes.

More coming!

Through page 45. I've got some designs to show you guys but right now I don't have a working scanner, so bear with me. Further updates as warranted!

Script!

So, given that I'm working on the script it's hard to hand you guys direct updates without giving away the story. You should know I'm about 35 pages in.

Renards birthday party was today, but he's requested that nobody share any pictures- I can't imagine why. Everyone else had a lot of fun. Whatever he wants, I'm sure that the pictures will find their way out eventually.

Back in business!

Hey everyone! Summers over and Troublemakers is officially back on full production!

While the second prequel chapter was supposed to be finished by now, I've made some modifications to the long term story that unfortunately render it obsolete. I think the changes to the story are for the best as they simplify things significantly- but it means I have to go back to the drawing board on a few things for the last time. This isn't the first time this has happened, I know. A lot of the past few months have been spent taking the raw material I've got and editing it down to something clean and manageable- this has been a valuable learning process for me, but it means that sometimes I have to double back on myself. I've already gained a lot in the course of this project and I'm excited to put it into action, so don't go anywhere.

I'm in the process of writing the script for the first full length graphic novel, which is going pretty fast at the moment. As designs, thumbnails and such pop up, I'll relay them to you. The official update day will return to Sunday.

While the second prequel chapter doesn't have any affect on the story, I'm still very proud of my work on it- so I'll continue to work on it and put it up when finished. Stay with me! -Zach

Happy Sunday!

Okay, folks. Time for yet another slight change to the nature of the update schedule.

I'm not going to update on a weekly basis for the rest of the summer. Instead I'm going to update on the day when there is something to update.

Those of you who've been following this diligently deserve an explanation, so here it is. The truth is that summer provides me with much less production time than the school year. During the school year I spend a lot more time in front of a desk than during the summer- not because I go out a lot (I don't) or because I work a lot (I do) but because my work time is spent in a house with three other people who all need a desk or an internet connection that we all share. Rest assured that I do get work done- I chill in coffee shops and take pages to work with me- but there simply isn't as much time to devote to TR as I have during the rest of the year. And I'm not going to update the story on a page by page basis, because it's not that kind of story.

This is part of why last week passed by without update- there have been other factors as well, but this is an issue that cannot be changed between now and the end of the summer.

If you're wondering how far the next mini has gotten, it's two thirds done. It'll be out by the end of the summer- for me, that's September 31'st, so let's plan on the release date being September 20'th for now- I want to allow time so that I can make some nice extras for the mini and organize it on lulu.com.

Check ya later, folks.