Issue Two, Page Thirty-Three

Posted on February 4, 2024 by Matthew Schofield

9th Aug 2021, 9:00 AM

 

In my notes on the previous page, I talked about having the story "take a left turn" as an antidote to writer's block. You can see that left turn happening, right in the middle of this page. Now that this story point is revealed, I can go into a little more detail about the specific problem that had come up in the story, which I just couldn't seem to figure out.
I knew I wanted to split the characters up, but I had been thinking it had to happen as a result of the characters' own actions. I was trying, unsuccessfully, to figure out a reason for them to split up from each other. My initial idea was to have Sleep Tyke notice something in another part of the building - perhaps some leftover boxes of candy, or the candy delivery van, or even another glimmer of light from around a corner. Then he would wander off, unnoticed, while Night Knight was arguing with Steamroller Man.
This never seemed to ring true to the characters' personalities, though - especially since I'd been setting up Night Knight and Sleep Tyke as the more responsible crimefighters, compared to Steamroller Man. I couldn't figure out a good reason why Sleep Tyke would just wander off and not tell his dad, or for his Dad to let him wander off by himself.
Cue the left turn, in the form of a good old, pulp-flavored trap door! I liked the fact that it came out of nowhere and that it instantly separates the characters. I suppose it is a bit of a trope, but they are in a villain's lair, there's bound to be a trap or two!

This page took a little longer than expected to draw and I'm glad to finally be able to share it with you. I hope you like it.