| The Tom and Shaenon TRUNKTOWN CREATION LOG ARCHIVE |
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Wednesday, November 27, 2002 Frick looks kind of like a horrible gnarled Magic Boy. It's like the difference between Young Elvis and Old Elvis. Big Daddy is an older gentleman, I think, but his presence in Trunktown is fairly recent. Posted by Shaenon @ 07:47 PM EST |
Yeah! Lots of characters! Love it! Things are moving so much- it's so great! Have you noticed Frick is starting to look more like Magic Boy? A question- is the king older (I've always drawn him as such) or recently a rapper who just moved in recently? Oh heck whatever. Have a good Thanksgiving, et al, etc! T
Posted by Tom @ 02:28 PM EST |
Yes, that last panel is awesome! From now on , I'm writing EVERY panel as a huge crowd scene with every single character. I will see to it that the next strip I send you is #50. I think we've got enough characters now that it's easy to keep plenty of action going. Next: Faustine's assault on the palace! If you want to take a week off at some point, that's fine. Oh, and I added titles to all the strips currently up at MT. Today's strip should have a title now. Posted by Shaenon @ 12:08 PM EST |
47 in the house! The last panel is one of my favorite drawn, ever, but don't let that sound like an approval to cram four figures into a panel ever again! Can I get you to renumber your strips so the next rough you send is 50 (to make up for the 45 1/2 one).
Posted by Tom @ 09:33 AM EST Tuesday, November 26, 2002 "Grandmaster AKA" was the best one- that's the one I'll use. Those new strips are so terrific. I'm thinking taking a week off might be the best way to catch up. There's so much HAPPENING in the strip now- I love it. And suddenly it seems so interesting to find out WHY Faustine is after this guy, and after your most recent strips, just WHAT caused this guy to go in and play KING. I think a scene much much much later where Faustine gets to peer into the Grandmaster AKA trunk might be on order... Posted by Tom @ 03:13 PM EST |
Dag. I don't think we ever had a single name for Faustine to use for the King, just a bunch of stage names. Okay, pick one of those. You'll notice I've tentatively named the donkey Morel. Feel free to change that if something better comes along. Dorothy Gambrell's "I Have No Superfluous Leisure" is the coolest thing in the Sketchbooks section. Some of the other actual sketchbooks are really pretty, too. Posted by Shaenon @ 12:04 PM EST |
Oh man the new strips are great!
Keep in mind Big Daddy is the King's King name and Faustine's name for him is .. oh I forget... Posted by Tom @ 10:32 AM EST Monday, November 25, 2002 Glad you like it. Panel 3 is wonky. YOUR SKETCHBOOK SECTION on Modern Tales is so GREAT! Posted by Tom @ 04:24 PM EST |
Oh wow! Awesome awesome awesome! I'll send you more tonight.
The screaming strip turned out great. Posted by Shaenon @ 01:59 PM EST Saturday, November 23, 2002 Hey Shaenon- Guess what? I'm all caught up! Which means: More strips! I have a couple problems with some of my hurried drawings, but mostly I like them pretty well. Note I changed 44.5 to 45 and 45 to 46. Ok! T Posted by Tom @ 08:56 PM EST Thursday, November 21, 2002 Because she is so loveable! Posted by Shaenon @ 07:35 PM EST |
And I love her! Posted by Tom @ 04:06 PM EST |
VERNIELLE. Somebody has to provide Trunktown with its novelties, sundries, and consumer goods, the things worth having that can't be had for free. At least, Vernielle thinks so. Usually found flanking Faustine, this nearsighted small-business owner and investor is up for anything if it promises to make a few bucks for someone. She is industrious, patriotic, and owns her own donkey. Posted by Shaenon @ 03:29 PM EST |
Ok done. Write me a Vernielle cast bio too!
I drew a strip last night but didn't ink it- but I really like it.
Posted by Tom @ 09:25 AM EST Wednesday, November 20, 2002 I only remember after about twenty occasions of turning to Andrew and asking, "What's the name of the cat with no bones?" and him immediately answering, "Faron." I think we should ask the Trunktown message board for donkey name suggestions. Posted by Shaenon @ 07:34 PM EST |
Wow- you rule the geeks. Downy is much better than Mildew.
Posted by Tom @ 06:53 PM EST |
Faron is Frieda's cat in "Peanuts." I am now Queen of the Comic Geeks. Downy Mildew is a nice name. Posted by Shaenon @ 04:31 PM EST |
And WHICH strip with all the screaming would that be anyway? Posted by Tom @ 03:39 PM EST |
Yeah my typing's been lousy lately- be sure to point them all out- thanks! What the hell does Faron mean? I like how we've only depicted Vernielle's donkey's head so far. Like maybe it's just a balloon she's hanging on to! How about Mildew? Oh stop! Posted by Tom @ 03:38 PM EST |
Dude, you've got some letters switched around in the last panel of 41. I love the way the elephant's trunk kind of connects to its body in the first two panels of 40. These are so great! Posted by Shaenon @ 03:22 PM EST |
Ta-da! More scripts have been sent! I hope they're okay. Vernielle's donkey needs a name. I was actually going to have her address it by name in the strip with all the screaming, but I don't know what it is. Any ideas? And don't say Faron! Posted by Shaenon @ 02:55 PM EST Tuesday, November 19, 2002 Ok 40! I'm done! Posted by Tom @ 11:35 PM EST |
Oh man! Okay, more scripts tonight. This is moving so quickly! Posted by Shaenon @ 03:48 PM EST |
In fact, just finished drawing 40, too. Though the lettering isn't in yet. In other words, I'm all caught up! Posted by Tom @ 12:54 AM EST Monday, November 18, 2002 Ripping is right! 39, 41 and 42 are done! which means only 40 awaits and maybe I'll draw it now.
Remind me to add the king to Vernielle's shirt soon so I don't forget. Posted by Tom @ 11:58 PM EST |
Sorry, I know - it's a pain in the butt. Hmm... you're really ripping through these scripts. Better write some more stuff. And come up with a Very Trunky Xmas. Posted by Shaenon @ 07:01 PM EST |
ugh you're right- I just hate details and all those little lines - it messes me up! but you're right. a king's face it is.
Posted by Tom @ 03:18 PM EST |
Vernielle has to be wearing a T-shirt with the king's face on it. Because she is a FAN. Liking the new strips, of course. I do love that elephant. I will make you draw that scene. Really. Posted by Shaenon @ 12:40 PM EST Saturday, November 16, 2002 Ok all up through 38. Re: Fen, I don't know but I do know you must make me draw this scene: Baldy atop the elephant, in human statue mode. Maybe the king: "this is a man who's doing his part for the war effort!" Someone throws shit at him. More punching- I don't know. I like the idea that he is always getting reshaped through violence. And also: 2- Trojan Elephant. 3- Fen. Well hell I don't know but it sure as hell better involve armadillos and maybe a giant checkerboard and a big civil war type hill-battle.
Posted by Tom @ 12:09 AM EST Friday, November 15, 2002 Four weeks ahead is better, yes, but I'm not too worried. I've been farther behind than this and never missed a day! (Okay, I missed a Sunday once.) I'll write you more scripts. I promise. Got to get Hutch and Oswald thrown in the dungeon, and what about Fen? Posted by Shaenon @ 06:50 PM EST |
If you can catch up, then I can to, but we really are lagging, I think ! What are we like, 2 weeks ahead now, when we were 4 when it launched? I have the last two ready for ink on my table; they'll be done tonight. So, if it's not pressure, then I would love to try to stay on schedule. But that said, I have been overwhelmed with obligations lately, and wouldn't have minded, but I think it should be a little better shortly and it's worht the old Vassar try. Posted by Tom @ 05:25 PM EST |
I don't really want to cut back, because I think an every-other-day schedule really breaks up the rhythm of a strip. But if you think we can't handle five days a week, I'll go along with it. Posted by Shaenon @ 03:23 PM EST |
It's up now. I had a lot of trouble with that one! I really think I want to go to 3 times a week. We're so behind!
Enjoy the Krazy Kat page! Those are so beautiful! It's inhuman. Posted by Tom @ 02:14 PM EST |
Tuesday's strip doesn't appear in the control panel. Is it uploaded yet? I love doing the titles! Also I will send you more strips soon. Probably tonight, unless I go wild and spend the night on the town. The Cartoon Art Museum just received an original Krazy Kat (generously donated by Gary Trudeau!) and the gallery manager is gonna let me look at it. Posted by Shaenon @ 01:28 PM EST Thursday, November 14, 2002 Ok fixed. Tomorrow's was hiding. You'll have to retitle it. Thanks! I LOVE the titles. Posted by Tom @ 03:17 PM EST |
Ok well we're taking the 18th off then! I don't have time to sort it out right now. Sound good? Wait- mondays are the biggest days, arent they?
I'll try to fix. Posted by Tom @ 03:15 PM EST |
Maybe if I get fast enough, I'll get good. Hm, probably not. I think you have the same Trunk strip up for the 15th and the 18th on the control panel. I've been going through and giving the strips titles, after I fell behind on it this week. Posted by Shaenon @ 02:22 PM EST |
Someone (it was not Dave Sim originally) said "First you get good, then you get fast, then you get good and fast." So, eventually your faster strips will look better than the slower ones! Or something like that.
There's some logic somewhere that was applicable. I was sure of it but I can't find it now. Posted by Tom @ 11:51 AM EST |
Someone (it was not Dave Sim originally) said "First you get good, then you get fast, then you get good and fast." So, eventually your faster strips will look better than the slower ones! Or something like that.
There's some logic somewhere that was applicable. I was sure of it but I can't find it now. Posted by Tom @ 11:51 AM EST Wednesday, November 13, 2002 Like I said, it was a DAY. I ruled and inked the borders during my lunch break at work, and in the evening I penciled, lettered, and inked everything else. I've done that many strips in a day before, but usually it wears out my wrist. This time, I was done before I knew it. I tell you, I was on FIRE. The kind of depressing thing is that they look the same as strips that took two or three times as long to draw. Slowing down doesn't improve my artwork a whit. Got some more Trunk ideas. I'll send you some scripts soon. I love playing the different characters off each other. Posted by Shaenon @ 08:05 PM EST |
Wow- How long did it take to do those Narbonics? Are you getting faster in your old age?
Posted by Tom @ 02:26 PM EST |
Fortunately, I'm completely jazzed up this week. On Monday I drew an entire week of Narbonic strips in one day, from ruling panel borders to inking. This is a good, prolific period for me - I should be able to get a lot done on both strips. Trunktown is coming more and more easily. Posted by Shaenon @ 01:32 PM EST |
There is no need to panic as long as we're ahead of deadline. I'll send you some more strips. Tomorrow, I think - tonight may have to be a Narbonic scanning night, as I have plenty of Narbonics drawn but almost none scanned. Oh, man, Vernielle's shirt looks great! I love Frick so much. He is going to be a fun character. Posted by Shaenon @ 01:27 PM EST |
OK 36 in the house. We need new strips! Or well, I don't want to instill panic, but we may have to go to 3 days a week or something. Ok yes, I do want to instill panic. I have the remaining 2 totally pencilled and ready, but I ran out of Bristol Board. But they'll show up soon and then watch out! Vernielle is finally coming together. Her hair is looking much better than this refrigerator cut I gave her in today's strip, and I even gave her a neck in one of the new pencils. It's amazing how human features can humanize one.
Posted by Tom @ 11:13 AM EST Tuesday, November 12, 2002 Yeah it was brilliant! They can stay together as long as you want.
I pencilled that first strip last night and it is really beautiful. Vernielle looks awesome! I can't wait to finish it. I think Frick might wind up looking something like this, sort of simple.
Don't think you can stop writing! I'm farther along than you think!!! Posted by Tom @ 02:53 PM EST Monday, November 11, 2002 "What is it, my putrid one?" Ha ha ha ha ha! Posted by Shaenon @ 07:29 PM EST |
Ha ha ha! I'm a big jerk, and I loooooove Frick! Putting Frick and Vernielle together in a strip is the greatest thing imaginable, as far as I'm concerned. Posted by Shaenon @ 07:28 PM EST |
Damn you Garrity! I'll just have it figure it out then. Posted by Tom @ 04:56 PM EST |
And behold: I have sent you some new strips! And they prominantly feature... Frick! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Posted by Shaenon @ 01:05 PM EST Sunday, November 10, 2002 Lots of new ones in our archives. (I"m entirely up to date, in fact, so I'm ready for some new ones any time.) Some of these really stink, and some are ok. The king always comes out good, but damn that frick. He looks good small, but I can't get his closeups at all. And I hesitated on 26 forever cause I was never sure about panel 4, but i couldn't come up with anything different, and on top of that, drawing that pose was really hard for some reason. That's why that one took so long. Anyway, the drawings of the king are good.
Posted by Tom @ 12:22 PM EST Friday, November 8, 2002 I need much more Vernielle in my life. And she needs me to figure out how to draw her better. It's the least I can do. I like panel 2 of today's. Can never figure out the teeth. Posted by Tom @ 04:40 PM EST |
I have ideas for more strips! Had a bunch of ideas on the way to work this morning. The next ones will not be so political. I am SO glad you brought Vernielle into this. I need her! And her donkey! Posted by Shaenon @ 04:37 PM EST |
I love the new ones, as always. I'll do them this weekend. Are you feeling constrained by too literal a wartime metaphor? I think we've laid down enough of a metaphor- don't feel like you have to continue it. I think now is the time to make it soar and be it's own bad crazy self. But if this is where you'd love to be going with this, I won't stop you. Ok, let's go trample web surfers now! Posted by Tom @ 03:30 PM EST Thursday, November 7, 2002 It's crazy fast! I can't believe how quickly the story is moving along. Even though it's only five days a week, it feels faster than Narbonic. I think I'll write some new Trunks tonight. I have to write some Narbonics too, but I need a break from Narbonic scripting. Posted by Shaenon @ 06:48 PM EST |
Oh shoot! They're not up there? This is too fast for me! Posted by Tom @ 03:01 PM EST |
Oh, right - this is your free day. Hey, you've got to put the rest of the strips for this week up on the control panel so I can give them titles. We're still ahead of deadline. No worries. I'll write some more strips. I have to do something, since I'm blocked on Narbonic yet again. Posted by Shaenon @ 01:19 PM EST Wednesday, November 6, 2002 Yeah man! We're behind! Didn't we do this one last week???? I'm running scared. the only good news is I'm not updating tomorrow- this is my 2 day strip- remember?
Posted by Tom @ 03:54 PM EST |
Man, I can't believe we're up to Star Maps! already. I love the infamous six-panel strip. Okay, gotta write some stuff. Posted by Shaenon @ 02:01 PM EST Tuesday, November 5, 2002 You can always assume you need to write more stuff. I have a mere couple of panels to catch up, really. So I'm ready almost immediately. Sorry about today's sucking. I'll patch it up for the archives.
Posted by Tom @ 03:08 PM EST |
Yeah, "execute a peasant" is much better. I'm enjoying the evolution of Frick. Have you drawn everything I've written yet? Do I need to write more stuff? Posted by Shaenon @ 02:29 PM EST |
Ugh- I forgot to change today's joke to read "I'll let you execute a peasant." Much much funnier. Plus I thgink I'm starting to figure out Frick. He doesn't look like he does today in panel 4, that's for sure.
Posted by Tom @ 01:19 AM EST Monday, November 4, 2002 Yeah, the nearly-silent slugging is better. Basic rule of comic strips: make your joke, and then get the hell out of there! A rule I never seem to learn, alas... I like Faustine's crazed expression in the first panel. The Faustine/Baldy relationship is shaping up to be extremely weird. Posted by Shaenon @ 07:44 PM EST |
I meant 32 of course (I bombed, by the way.) 33 is up there. I forgot- I totally eliminated all the text in the third panel. I kept typing it in there and looking at it and reading it, and realizing that I just felt it worked better if she just slugged him and ran. Thoughts? Your verbal panache is half of what you're great at- and I truncated it here. Was it wrong? (Truth is, the drawing sucks. Baldy is good- I really like that actually, but I couldn't get Fasutine and maybe that had something to do with it?)
Posted by Tom @ 05:06 PM EST |
Ha ha! Hutch looks so pissed off! Elephants make everything better. I realize this now. I hope your students enjoy #33. Wish I could sit in. Posted by Shaenon @ 04:22 PM EST |
Bunch of new ones for you! Typically, I negelected to repair 16 and it went live. Ah, I think it's ok. Though it's never too late. I forgot. I'll be drawing #33 in my class today in front of my students, if you can believe that.
Posted by Tom @ 09:58 AM EST Friday, November 1, 2002 Those manga pose resource books are hilarious! But useful! Most of the poses were traced from Hong Kong action movies. I have not received the books yet. Worry not. They will materialize. Posted by Shaenon @ 02:06 PM EST |
Did those books ever arrive at your home? I sent them weeks ago! Priority! Posted by Tom @ 11:40 AM EST |
love them! going to try to be finished with these by the end of the weekend. love the turd! and ooh! I get to draw a real live punch. that manga resource pose book will come in handy!
Posted by Tom @ 11:23 AM EST |
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