I have managed to start working on my next update. I have one whole panel complete, another awaiting dialog (there's a panel in between the 2 where I need to figure out how to START the dialog first, but I need a pic for that), & when you see them, you'll understand why there's been a bit more delay. None of these were even thought of up until a few days ago. (Well, not to this degree... nor for this part of the story...) I managed something I didn't expect to be able to (details once I post it).

Why I'm writing today is my niece built a new "tower" (from what was "Grapple's Solar Power Tower", from the first panel...) several days ago. We sat down to reconstruct it, but I forgot important support bits were being used as BW Meg's control chair; but she's quite smart, resilient, & adaptive, so we built a new top drastically unlike the bottom (& some of the bottom changed too).

I intend to incorporate it into the next update (likely recurring), but would like some input:

Since the "tower" is constructed of multi-colored blocks, but what it will represent is a single color that none of the blocks are, should I:

• color over them in GIMP, so it'd look like what it is supposed to be
  or
• leave the block construct unpainted...
  or, alternatively,
• leave it unpainted this update, but color it in its next appearance?

I REALLY would like some input on this, this time.

Source images will be included in the next update, for comparison & in case people aren't familiar w/ the content.

 

>.< Bad news. I got the pics for this update ALL taken; but they ALL are grainy!   Some worse than others. I'll try to redo them overnight tonight. I need to go to bed soon.

I don't know what happened. I did notice my camera phone was set to Normal Quality, rather than Fine (I've now switched it)... But perhaps it's the lamp I'm trying to use... I'll try the old lamp when I redo the shots...

 

I just saw the Grapple's Solar Tower ep on the HUB. It was nothing but ruin for the DCons so yes. Cool stuff.

 

Update 21: Doom Seekers

At long last:

UPDATE 21: Doom Seekers































































Note 1: I think you can see why this update was delayed a bit... Well, in addition to my head injury interfering last week, & the initial pics not coming out... Anyway, making backgrounds nearly every Panel is a pain in the aft; but worth it...

Note 2: Some reference pics for the Doom shots:


I did not expect to be able to pull off Zarkon sitting on his thrown. I decided to try, & BAM! he came out great! The original idea was for him to just be a head, like the Voltron Force, probably shown w/ shots of Castle Doom... But now you all get treated to his thrown room instead. ^_^


Castle Doom was the "tower" I was talking about my niece building. What do you think of it for Castle Doom? I may digially paint over it, so it blends in better... Unless you don't mind it being multi-colored like that. NOTE, my niece has never seen Castle Doom before. I think I did get her to watch a little of Voltron, once, though... She was just randomly adding blocks to the incomplete tower I had started rebuilding for her. After she got a couple spires built, I thought it was starting to look like Castle Doom, & tried to guide the rest, a tad.


I might redo the shot of Planet Doom. I used a Supernova to give the Planet its spherical look AFTER I did the "fog", so I can't go back & fix the "city lights" w/o restarting...

Note 3: Yes, Dirge was my newest acquisition. He was actually on my ignore list, as I had no plans on getting a Classics Seeker besides Starscream, but it was get something I could include in my comic, or let the trip be a total waste... But this means I got a figure JUST for the Comic.   I promised myself I wouldn't...

Note 4: I almost left off the last scene w/ Grimlock, but had I done that, I'd have to have reshot the lead up, as it was designed for a Cliffhanger.    

Note 5: The skyline in the one shot w/ Dirge & the Sweep was completely by accident. Once I remembered they're underground (Sublevel 6), I was thinking of a way to do a cityscape... I wound up going to some pics I took SPECIFICALLY to attempt a skyline, but wasn't sure how to work it. Then I got the idea that since I was motion blurring things due to their flight, I'd see how it looked & KAPOWIE, instant skyline... & no, I do not yet have a Warpath... But I have watched a few reviews for him somewhat recently...

Note 6: Yes, this time I did take the "Sweep's" wing off. It popped off when I was trying to fold the wing under during the slagged initial shoot. It's on a simple hinge that can pop loose if you aren't guarding against it. Nothing major & easily fixed... After the next update...  

Who thinks Grimlock is screwed?  

Also, let me know what you think of the Planet Doom panels, including the orbital shot, the Castle, Thrown Room, Zarkon & Hagar, PLEASE!

Oh, & I finally got all the anime I got at the Anime Convention I went to back in March all watched... Finally...

 

Me Grimlock think this fun trap lol

 

Oh boy... Swindle has Hagar for a client. Not good.

 

That conversation was actually one I had planned (the fact they talk, not the details), just for much later. & she isn't just any Client, she's his #3 Client... #2 if you discount-- Maybe I shouldn't say that, as I don't know if you've picked up on it yet.  

But the fact she's a Client isn't the big thing here, that'd be what could Swindle possibly have to sell that could take on Voltron?  

What kind of comic about Voltron & TFs would this be if I didn't include Hagar? Her being one of Swindle's clients should've been obvious...   & don't worry, I may still be able to find something to stand in for a Robeast somewhere down the line...   (I'll just have to be creative...)

 

Fuck yeah Hagar, I love that creepy old witch. And hopefully were getting closer to having some Voltron Action.

I like the setting of castle doom, and Yes, Paint It asap!  

 

I'm looking at a figure that would make a damn good stand in for a Robeast. Check the attached image for a shot of the 12" Gigan figure from the last Godzilla line.

Pros: Nasty-looking cyborg monster. Should be about the right scale for your Voltron.

Cons: Limited articulation (It's listed as having 7 points of articulation, but the head really doesn't move much at all [-1], and the legs only twist around at the hips, not forward/back or side-to-side [-1/2 each]). Only can be found at TRU stores and even then, not all will have him since these figures have been there for a couple of years. The 12" figs have been marked down from $25 to $20, but with what I've read about you saying your budget is, this could be alot more than you can afford for the occasion.

 

It wouldn't be Voltron w/o Hagar. & the easiest way to draw her into a story for TFs is to have her deal w/ Swindle. It just makes so much sense.  

& as I said, once I managed to draw Zarkon decently, I moved this scene up. Originally, this wouldn't've been until after everyone was on Arus & the first battle between the 'Bots & 'Cons took place. & I already know exactly what Swindle's selling this scene & his merchandise for his eventual trip to Planet Doom.

Closer, yes. Though, I'm working on getting the TransFormers off Cybertron, first. I promise some Voltron action in either the first or 2nd update of Chapter 3... It's just a matter of getting to it...

Chapter 2 got away from me. I had intended for everyone to be on Arus in what turned out to be Chapter ZERO. But, Drift fought Bludgeon & delayed things... Then I did the review of the Upgraded Combaticons, always planned for the 2nd Chapter, so that pushed us back to 3... But I forgot a character so, Chapter 2 on Cybertron was born...

At least I managed some accidental Character Development, huh? & I've got the plot back on track, so I should be able to wrap things up in the next few updates. I'm hoping for mid-August... But I might go back & show Voltron again before then...

I've decided that Castle Doom was destroyed by Voltron when they defeated King Zarkon's forces, but is being rebuilt. I'll paint parts over time, to represent this.  

Thanks for the suggestion, but when I started making the comic, I promised myself that that I woudn't buy things specifically for the comic (broke that rule for Dirge   -- but that was a "get something or waste the trip" circumstance). I'm trying to find a few things around here to use as stand-ins... Having Swindle dealing w/ this gives me some options. I already know what's going to be set upon Voltron for the first several fights... It's just finding a proper Robeast to use every once in a while...

 

I'm still amazed that despite your head trauma you can create some amazing scenery. But man I trying to hold back my laughter that Hagar and Zarkon look a little bit South Park-esque to me. But it's your universe and comic, so thats it. Also I'm kinda suprised that Hagar is a customer to Swindle, man the universal black market is ginormous (thanks Scatman for the word we still miss you).

 

It's just using GIMP's Transform Tool to realign the Ark panels someone made to the right plane. Had I not been hurt, it'd take a LOT less time.

The original plan was to just do Zarkon's head (Hagar being cloaked meant I could cheat to get a body, if I wanted to), like I did for the Voltron Force. Because of my head injury interfering w/ computer use time, this is the best I can get, as it'd take longer to make look right. I'm surprised Zarkon came out as well as he did.

But as I keep saying, it isn't Voltron w/o Hagar... I actually am missing her in the new Voltron Series: Voltron Force. She's been referenced, but so far is assumed dead.

Swindle was the logical choice to link Doom to the TransFormers. Swindle will do business w/ whoever can afford to pay him (even Animated Jazz)... & you'll see just how my Swindle is when I get to what he has plans to pit up against Voltron.  

You're also forgetting that both my 'Bots & 'Cons are aware of the Multiverse, Tarantulas having direct contact w/ Pol's Sideways, so it's a Massive Multiversal Black Market Swindle has access to... There's no telling what goodies he has access to!  

 

Ezilla82: True, Swindle is a hell of a sale 'Con I guess and whatever Swindle has planned for the Voltron Force it ain't good.

 

How many times do I have to tell you this? There's a Tutorial Thread here on TFW, & there's a bunch of Tutorials for GIMP. I'm considering doing a Tutorial for how to use the more advanced options I've worked out on my own; the ones some of the more advanced Tutorials assume you already know how to use. I'd also go over the simple stuff like Speech Bubbles & quick lasers, I sometimes mix in the more advanced options to do them.

GIMP also has a Help File (though, it may have to be d/led seperately.

Hagaium doesn't bother me, the reconfigurations of the Lions do: They better have a good reason as to why Red Lion can all of a sudden Mass-shift & form the body...

I still think Hagar will show up eventually. & I heard Hagar as I did her lines. Not sure if I can do her Cat...

Well, Swindle is so slick, he can sell Oil to an Oil Barron & arms to a fully stocked Arms Dealer... So why couldn't he sell supplies to a battle ravaged Planet Doom?

I want to say more about what I have planned for what Swindle has planned for Voltron, but it could very well ruin the surprise...  

 

I guess I'm stubborn as hell I mean there are the tutorials right in front of me and I just draw a blank and than get upset...I guess I'm more of someone showing me what to do than reading it. So that is my problem, man that just makes me feel even more newbish.

Hopefully in the new series they'll give us a reason if not well we can only speculate the outcome.

And don't worry we'll wait to find out what Swindle has planned. Its no big deal.

 

Some of the Tutorials, namely Polenicus' (who uses GIMP), are set up as a comic themselves, if that helps. If I do one, it more then likely won't be.

 

Hopefully after the madness of the SDCC that the search icon returns so that I can find Polenicus' GIMP tutorial to see what I can learn from him and/or use the Help button that is on GIMP also. I've seen some people use paint...maybe I can use that way even though it won't look right, but its easy for this simpleton to use.

 

I linked you to the GIMP index in the Tutorial Thread. which has links to each Tutorial! Just follow my links! You don't need to Search. The index has brief descriptions of what the Tutorials are far, as well as who made them.

 

Well, I haven't been entirely idle the last week. I got a new camera phone, so I'm trying to work out things, in an effort to impove quality (it's a 3 Megapixel)...

Still working out lighting, but the new camera phone seems to try to adapt to it... & I don't have to worry so much about moving blurring the pic.

Trying to decide what resolution I want to use: up it to 800x600 or keep things at 640x480? Below is my test run: I took pics of my KO Constructicons at 800x600 (intended it to be 640x480, but the setting change apparently didn't save):

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/trans...-off-transformers-thread-420.html#post6414887

Will work on an update soon. Will probably do this one in 640x480, so I can compare this batch to the KO pics.

 

All the pics for the Update have been shot. 2/3 has been 'shopped.

I'll start working on the last pics (which I just took) sometime Saturday (need to go to bed now); so, hopefully the Update will be up before Tuesday (I'll try for Sunday), barring interference or my head injury delaying stuff more.

Considering titling it 'Transference'. You can speculate on the tentative title while you wait.  

Sorry for the additional delay. Aside from trying to work out my new camera phone (there's some kind of adaptive lighting that I don't understand yet, not even mentioned in the Useless Users Guide  ), my head injury acted up & delayed working on the update for a couple days.

I plan to work up a new Sig (well, 2: one to finish out Chapter 2, one for Chapter 3) soon, too.