Sneak Preview (And Some Process Stuff)

Lukas Ketner inks for page 1 of Necronomicomicon. Our second story for the EC/Oni Press anthology CATACOMB OF TORMENT. If things go as planned, it will be running in issue #5.

Oni sent me the pages so I could do a run-through to check if there's anything that needs revising. I already went over the pencils and there were a batch of notes, mostly minor stuff making sure things align with the script, or the script gets revised to align with the art.

I think many readers aren't always aware that the script and the art can both go through some revisions as things get walked into the bullseye. Even if things start with a full script (not a plot breakdown for the artist to work from). The artist might collapse or expand panels from the script, necessitating dialog to be pushed or pulled into or out of them. The artist may forget to include something important to the script (or not very important, but the writer or editor asks them to put it back in). Sometimes the artist has a better take on the panel, a better angle on the scene or they add a bit of business that calls for the script to be adjusted. For example, the script for a page in Necronomicomicon has a group of characters approaching a staircase to reach a second floor ballroom. The panel introduces these characters. Lukas changed it so the characters are coming down the staircase to enter the main hall. Whether done on purpose or by accident, it's a much better way to introduce the characters, the reader gets a straight-on view of them which is more dramatic and pragmatic than how I first envisioned the scene. But, the script needed adjusting, because we had a sign in an earlier panel that had to be changed to reflect the new art. Things that were going to happen upstairs were now happening downstairs. A small, simple change but one that could be easily overlooked, and we'd have shown characters going to a location that didn't jibe with the sign. You want to have everything just so. At least, I think everyone wants to have things as "just so" as possible given deadlines and amount of detail. And how much sleep the team has been getting, editors included.

Another revision was very straightforward: I described a specific vintage movie poster and Lukas used a different one. usually, I'd let something like this go, but here it was a plot point and we needed the specific poster because it is rare and speaks to one character's wealth and collection. If it was just a prop on a wall it would be one thing, but if it's a plot point, it should be hjwhat's in the script. Admittedly I'm uptight about details, but if you're writing about serious collectors and real collectibles, you want the details to be correct. It's why I made everything in the Eltingville Club as real as possible.

I'm not a fan of the "McRonald's" school of comic book writing, where the writer (or editor) substitutes obviously phony names for everyday, real world businesses or institutions. Necronomicomicon has a lot of references and easter eggs, between the script and what Lukas added in backgrounds, it would have less impact if we made up fake authors, books and movies for it. I've always used real references in my work, even in work for hire gigs , if I'm able to. The Bill and Ted comics were filled with real band names on shirts, hats and posters. I drew real bands in one issue playing Bill and Ted's wedding. It helped that no one was paying attention to the book or knew who most of the bands were, but when I wrote BILL AND TED ARE DOOMED for Dark Horse we lost all real-world references. Everyone's uptight these days and corporation legal teams are trigger-happy, but I've never had any issues in the thirty years I've been referencin and making fun of stuff. Maybe it falls under satire when I use real names in DORK or whatever. I don't know. I'm not a lawyer, so don't go by how I write references in my comics if you're planning on adding any refs to your work!

Anyway, we used real references in Necronomicomicon, but we played it safe when dealing with any likenesses of real people. Meaning, we didn't use any likenesses of real people. Which works for the story, anyway. When/if you see the story you'll see what I mean.

Related: Still haven't heard back on my most recent EC pitch. Fingers crossed.

Related: I don't have times for the signing next week at JHU Comics on Staten Island. But I'm pretty sure I'll be there from 4 pm to 7 pm. I might show up earlier but, then again, I usually don't wake up untila round 4 pm, so, I won't promise anything unless the store asks me to come in before then.