Heroineburgh newspaper comic strip (in progress)
Time to announce something which has been in the works for a few weeks. Along with the publishing of the first issue of Heroineburgh Comics
in late July, we'll also be debuting a new comic strip in the local newspaper. This is great news, as it will help our regional profile so we're not just dependent on staffing booths at Comicons (although doing that is always great fun as well).
The Heroineburgh comic strip will come out every two weeks, and each "episode" will consist of six installments of 3-4 panels each (so an episode will run for 3 months). For a while, the episodes will consist of heroine team-up stories which happen after their Season 1 origin story episodes, but before the events that transpire in Season Two. Essentially the strip will be "Season 1.5".
So each episode will be titled accordingly, starting with "Episode 1.5: Save the Children" starring the team-up of Cybrina and Red Gina as they take down a sex-trafficking ring in the warehouse district of Pittsburgh.
Here's the very first panel of that very first episode! Once again, created by the incredible Ben Barnett (and inspired by the beautiful actresses who portray the characters in the Heroineburgh video series). Please note - it's a great sketch but it's still preliminary - for example, Red Gina's face will be "softened" a bit with coloring and makeup - we want her to look beautiful when she's angry (like She-Hulk) and not so much like a Tank Girl. And Cybrina will have glowing eyes whenever she uses her powers, like Storm.
But nonetheless we're off to a great start.
As always, readers of this forum will get to check out the preliminary art before almost anyone else. So enjoy.
Heroines Assemble!
in late July, we'll also be debuting a new comic strip in the local newspaper. This is great news, as it will help our regional profile so we're not just dependent on staffing booths at Comicons (although doing that is always great fun as well).
The Heroineburgh comic strip will come out every two weeks, and each "episode" will consist of six installments of 3-4 panels each (so an episode will run for 3 months). For a while, the episodes will consist of heroine team-up stories which happen after their Season 1 origin story episodes, but before the events that transpire in Season Two. Essentially the strip will be "Season 1.5".
So each episode will be titled accordingly, starting with "Episode 1.5: Save the Children" starring the team-up of Cybrina and Red Gina as they take down a sex-trafficking ring in the warehouse district of Pittsburgh.
Here's the very first panel of that very first episode! Once again, created by the incredible Ben Barnett (and inspired by the beautiful actresses who portray the characters in the Heroineburgh video series). Please note - it's a great sketch but it's still preliminary - for example, Red Gina's face will be "softened" a bit with coloring and makeup - we want her to look beautiful when she's angry (like She-Hulk) and not so much like a Tank Girl. And Cybrina will have glowing eyes whenever she uses her powers, like Storm.
But nonetheless we're off to a great start.
As always, readers of this forum will get to check out the preliminary art before almost anyone else. So enjoy.
Heroines Assemble!
Congratulations! You guys have really earned your recent success. Keep it up guys!
Will the comic strip from the newspaper be online for us forum members to read it?
Will the comic strip from the newspaper be online for us forum members to read it?
Thanks for your interest, Geeky!GeekyPornCritic wrote: ↑4 years agoCongratulations! You guys have really earned your recent success. Keep it up guys!
Will the comic strip from the newspaper be online for us forum members to read it?
From what I can see, yes, the physical comics inserts in the newspaper are viewable online on their "digital archive," so ours will be as well, once the issues start coming out in late July.
We may also decide to publish them on our website on a new separate "Comic Strip" page - I'll have to check with my webmaster and with our editors to see if that's allowable and feasible.
Once they start coming out, I'll either post links here in this thread, or I'll simply post the strips themselves, if they don't take up too much memory.
But until then, we'll offer a few preliminary tidbits as the prolific and amazing Ben churns them out.
With the interior art finished for the first Heroineburgh Comics book (we're doing the final editing pass tomorrow), Ben is now free to officially start working on the upcoming Heroineburgh comic strip, the first installment of which will debut July 24.
Here are a few samples of the level at which Ben is now working. Just black & whites for now, but the color is coming!
Sabrina Walters (secret identity of Cybrina) in her office at Cybertech.
Closeup of Sabrina Walters.
Gina Garibaldi (the not-so-secret identity of Red Gina) in her punk rock outfit, which she wears to the office.
Another look at Gina in her civilian outfit, growing visibly angry and ready to make her transformation to Red Gina.
Here are a few samples of the level at which Ben is now working. Just black & whites for now, but the color is coming!
Sabrina Walters (secret identity of Cybrina) in her office at Cybertech.
Closeup of Sabrina Walters.
Gina Garibaldi (the not-so-secret identity of Red Gina) in her punk rock outfit, which she wears to the office.
Another look at Gina in her civilian outfit, growing visibly angry and ready to make her transformation to Red Gina.
Screen shots of three of the four panels from the first Heroineburgh comic strip...almost finished.
This will launch in a local newspaper on July 24. Ben is doing excellent work!
This will launch in a local newspaper on July 24. Ben is doing excellent work!
Ben and I made a joint decision to make Sabrina Walters' civilian outfit less bland-looking - I thought it looked a little too much like hospital scrubs. Sabrina is supposed to be a gothy cyberpunk with an 'alternative lifestyle' (which is one of the reasons she sympathizes with Red Gina) so we made her look a bit more "Hot Topic".
Ben also finished coloring the fourth panel where Red Gina gets majorly triggered when she hears the word 'sex trafficking' - she's pretty much ready to transform into her superheroine form and start smashing sex-trafficker scum at that point. This brings the energy level up for our second strip, because that's exactly what Gina does. We're chugging right along, a few weeks ahead of schedule already!
Ben also finished coloring the fourth panel where Red Gina gets majorly triggered when she hears the word 'sex trafficking' - she's pretty much ready to transform into her superheroine form and start smashing sex-trafficker scum at that point. This brings the energy level up for our second strip, because that's exactly what Gina does. We're chugging right along, a few weeks ahead of schedule already!
So this is a first draft of the very first Heroineburgh newspaper strip: Episode 1.5 Save the Children Week 1, starring Cybrina (Sabrina Walters) and Red Gina (Gina Garibaldi). Each episode is 6 installments long (or 3 months, since the paper comes out every other week).
The only change I think we need to make is the inconsistency of the length of Gina's skirt - it's a mini in panel 2, but a maxi in panel 4 (to the point that you can't see her stockings). So we're changing that.
But there might be other things we're missing and it's always good to have more eyes. If you like the idea of superheroine comic strips (and I don't know if there's ever been one in a newspaper..I can just think of strips like Spider-Man) let us know what you think.
The only change I think we need to make is the inconsistency of the length of Gina's skirt - it's a mini in panel 2, but a maxi in panel 4 (to the point that you can't see her stockings). So we're changing that.
But there might be other things we're missing and it's always good to have more eyes. If you like the idea of superheroine comic strips (and I don't know if there's ever been one in a newspaper..I can just think of strips like Spider-Man) let us know what you think.
- batgirl1969
- Millenium Member
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Is this going in a magazine or newspaper??
A newspaper that comes out every other week and is available for free in boxes all around the city. Commonly known as an 'alt-weekly'.
We are paid per strip to produce it (just signed the contract), but the amount is small enough that I've made sure it all goes to the artist.
- batgirl1969
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- Joined: 14 years ago
wonder if any key word searches on the net will lead readers back to this Forum?? Any concerns with that?shevek wrote: ↑4 years agoA newspaper that comes out every other week and is available for free in boxes all around the city. Commonly known as an 'alt-weekly'.
We are paid per strip to produce it (just signed the contract), but the amount is small enough that I've made sure it all goes to the artist.
Not any more than any of the other publicity we've done locally for the series, and there has been quite a lot.batgirl1969 wrote: ↑4 years agowonder if any key word searches on the net will lead readers back to this Forum?? Any concerns with that?shevek wrote: ↑4 years agoA newspaper that comes out every other week and is available for free in boxes all around the city. Commonly known as an 'alt-weekly'.
We are paid per strip to produce it (just signed the contract), but the amount is small enough that I've made sure it all goes to the artist.
We're going to be putting our website URL at the top of every strip (same as we do on the backs of our promotional stickers) so I think people will be much more likely to go directly to the website rather than do random keyword searches.
Samples of the second strip for Episode 1.5, almost done. For a while, every episode (which is a six-strip block) will have at least one superheroine transformation, as we 'reintroduce' the characters to the new reader audience. We also had a lettering edit on Panel 1 - you can see how the lines got evened out.
At this rate we'll have at least three strips done before the deadline for the first one, and then we'll keep staying ahead of deadline by a month or so. Solid work by Ben, especially on the great Red Gina logo!
At this rate we'll have at least three strips done before the deadline for the first one, and then we'll keep staying ahead of deadline by a month or so. Solid work by Ben, especially on the great Red Gina logo!
Week 2 of Episode 1.5 Save the Children.
This is not quite the final version - Ben needs to add an alarm panel to the side of the door in Panel 3 - but it's close enough that you'll get the idea.
This is not quite the final version - Ben needs to add an alarm panel to the side of the door in Panel 3 - but it's close enough that you'll get the idea.
- DrDominator9
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I'm wondering how much SHIP there will be in this comic strip. It could raise quite a few eyebrows even in an "alt" newspaper. Nevertheless, good luck with it.
Good question, Herr Doktor, and thanks for the good wishes!DrDominator9 wrote: ↑4 years agoI'm wondering how much SHIP there will be in this comic strip. It could raise quite a few eyebrows even in an "alt" newspaper. Nevertheless, good luck with it.
Our Heroineburgh videos have several deliberate instances of SHIP in each episode, but they also touch upon several other underlying fetishes, whether it be girl power, transformation sequences, female on female combat, or simply the majesty of tight and shiny spandex. Our comic book (coming out in a couple of weeks) also has two instances of SHIP in its two stories.
You're right, in comparison this weekly strip will probably have less SHIP and more of those other tropes, because the stories are short and to the point, and we can't linger too long on any one peril situation. But there will still be regular instances of peril to be had.
However, there is one thing that Ben and I have promised to deliver: spandex costumes in every single installment! Nobody stays in civilian attire for very long. We believe in the classic sexy depiction of superheroines, as chronicled in the comics from the 80s and 90s, and we'll stick to that aesthetic as long as we are running this strip, even if the bloodhounds start nipping at our heels.
Ben decided to thicken the dark outline around Red Gina's body to give her a more clearly defined and muscular look. Can you tell the difference?
Week 3 breakdowns!
First, Cybrina turns into binary data to disable the alarm system. We'll show her in a combination of 'positive' and 'negative' forms to indicate
how she is shifting from physicality to her discorporeal cyberspace form. Her costume looks like it's in 'Tron' mode.
Meanwhile, behind Cybrina, Red Gina is fully transformed but lounging against the wall waiting for her turn at the action.
Crunch! As Red Gina smashes the metal door in with her super strength.
And the powerful exertion of her body in action.
Then Gina invades the space with the criminals inside - here's the scene sketch as she goes up against the sex traffickers: the American seller
and his Russian and Nigerian clients. It's about to go down!
We should have Week 3 ready soon, which now means we are at least THREE strips ahead of schedule, thanks to the hard work of Ben!
First, Cybrina turns into binary data to disable the alarm system. We'll show her in a combination of 'positive' and 'negative' forms to indicate
how she is shifting from physicality to her discorporeal cyberspace form. Her costume looks like it's in 'Tron' mode.
Meanwhile, behind Cybrina, Red Gina is fully transformed but lounging against the wall waiting for her turn at the action.
Crunch! As Red Gina smashes the metal door in with her super strength.
And the powerful exertion of her body in action.
Then Gina invades the space with the criminals inside - here's the scene sketch as she goes up against the sex traffickers: the American seller
and his Russian and Nigerian clients. It's about to go down!
We should have Week 3 ready soon, which now means we are at least THREE strips ahead of schedule, thanks to the hard work of Ben!
Heroineburgh comic strip debuted today in hard-to-find altweekly boxes all around the city!
(in two weeks, it will appear for the first time in their online issue archive)
But don't worry, our intrepid artist-adventurer Ben Barnett found one and took the requisite selfie!
He's hard at work on Week # 4 sketching out a sexy two-on-battle featuring Red Gina and Cybrina against the sex trafficker boss!
(in two weeks, it will appear for the first time in their online issue archive)
But don't worry, our intrepid artist-adventurer Ben Barnett found one and took the requisite selfie!
He's hard at work on Week # 4 sketching out a sexy two-on-battle featuring Red Gina and Cybrina against the sex trafficker boss!
More week 3 progress on Episode 1.5!
Cybrina transforms into living date and enters the control keypad while Red Gina waits impatiently - full colored.
Red Gina smashes through the metal door. Yeah, I know, Ben spelled "Vandelay Industries" wrong...it's a little Seinfeld joke...
Screen shoot of Red Gina confronting the evil trio of sex traffickers: the Asian, the Russian and the Nigerian. Going for a bit of "villain diversity."
Cybrina and Red Gina double team the Asian with the gun. A gorgeous action-packed job by Ben..can't wait 'til it's colored!
Cybrina transforms into living date and enters the control keypad while Red Gina waits impatiently - full colored.
Red Gina smashes through the metal door. Yeah, I know, Ben spelled "Vandelay Industries" wrong...it's a little Seinfeld joke...
Screen shoot of Red Gina confronting the evil trio of sex traffickers: the Asian, the Russian and the Nigerian. Going for a bit of "villain diversity."
Cybrina and Red Gina double team the Asian with the gun. A gorgeous action-packed job by Ben..can't wait 'til it's colored!
Amazing content! Congratulations on signing a contract with a mainstream publication
Also, Ben's art is very rich and dynamic... and the guy's quick! Wow
Thanks for the rich previews and for the process images too, very interesting stuff!
Can't wait to see the rest
BatMad
Also, Ben's art is very rich and dynamic... and the guy's quick! Wow
Thanks for the rich previews and for the process images too, very interesting stuff!
Can't wait to see the rest
BatMad
thebatmad.tumblr.com
removing boots, heels and masks - just for the shame of it
removing boots, heels and masks - just for the shame of it
Thanks BatMad! Yes, Ben works at an amazing and detailed pace.
I wouldn't exactly call it a 'mainstream publication', though - it's an alternaweekly.
(Note: apparently the paper is easy to find in a lot of sections of the city...I was out in the suburbs yesterday and saw many stacks of them).
Although the strip is hopefully quality enough to be syndicated, and maybe someday it will, who knows?
Here's Week 3 of Episode 1.5 "Save the Children". Gina finally gets to smash! Will she go too far?
Episode 1.5 "Save the Children" Week 3 just came out in the paper!
Here's a sneak peek of Week 4: fully-colored screenshot of the central panel with Cybrina and Red Gina fighting the head gangster.
Here's a sneak peek of Week 4: fully-colored screenshot of the central panel with Cybrina and Red Gina fighting the head gangster.
Week 4 of Episode 1.5 "Save The Children". This version has a punctuation error in panel 2 but otherwise it's ready to go. We'll of course correct that before submitting it to the paper, but once again you're the first to see it!
Ben just continues to create mind-blowing stuff. For Week #5 he's working on a panel that he managed to elaborate into a piece that will also work as a full-page pinup in Heroineburgh Comics issue #2 when it comes out.
Here is his poster art for the character Cybrina, traveling through cyberspace. It has kind of a Tron meets Jack Kirby type of feel. The piece is not
done yet - he'll be adding some glowing numbers and symbols which float around the ether of cyberspace - but you'll get the general idea of its progress.
Week #4 just came out in the paper yesterday, and we're assembling Week 5 right now.
Here is his poster art for the character Cybrina, traveling through cyberspace. It has kind of a Tron meets Jack Kirby type of feel. The piece is not
done yet - he'll be adding some glowing numbers and symbols which float around the ether of cyberspace - but you'll get the general idea of its progress.
Week #4 just came out in the paper yesterday, and we're assembling Week 5 right now.
New strip is ready - Week #5 for Episode 1.5 "Save the Children."
Although the heroines have apprehended the sex-trafficking ringleader, his two shady customers got away.
Gina's not happy about that - she wants them to pay! And she's not too patient about it, so Cybrina had better get a move on.
That's what she gets for giving Red Gina her adrenaline shots. Luckily, Cybrina's cyber-powers put her very quickly on the case.
This strip won't appear in print for 10 days..and it needs to be slightly edited (there's one misspelling) before we submit the final.
But as always, you see it first here on SHF!
Although the heroines have apprehended the sex-trafficking ringleader, his two shady customers got away.
Gina's not happy about that - she wants them to pay! And she's not too patient about it, so Cybrina had better get a move on.
That's what she gets for giving Red Gina her adrenaline shots. Luckily, Cybrina's cyber-powers put her very quickly on the case.
This strip won't appear in print for 10 days..and it needs to be slightly edited (there's one misspelling) before we submit the final.
But as always, you see it first here on SHF!
Had to post a Week 6 sketch in progress from Ben, because it's so awesome!
Week 6 wraps up the Episode 1.5 storyline in the newspaper, and then we start another six-week Episode featuring an Arctica and Hellfyra teamup.
Here, Red Gina is unleashing her righteous anger on one of the sex-slavery ringleaders, specifically the Nigerian guy.
The legs and the power of the kick look pretty hot! We just need to add a bit more of her flowing black hair, and an appropriate sound effect ("WHOOM!" comes to mind) and it'll be a perfect ending to the debut episode in the paper.
Week 6 wraps up the Episode 1.5 storyline in the newspaper, and then we start another six-week Episode featuring an Arctica and Hellfyra teamup.
Here, Red Gina is unleashing her righteous anger on one of the sex-slavery ringleaders, specifically the Nigerian guy.
The legs and the power of the kick look pretty hot! We just need to add a bit more of her flowing black hair, and an appropriate sound effect ("WHOOM!" comes to mind) and it'll be a perfect ending to the debut episode in the paper.
As usual, you get all the Heroineburgh strip news first on SHF.
This latest installment is a bunch of stuff both from the final week (Week 6) of Episode 1.5 Save The Children...and the very beginning of Episode 2.5 Fire and Frost (featuring Arctica and Hellfyra). Ben's working furiously on getting Week 6 out since it's basically due tomorrow for next week's paper.
But here is the fully colored version of Red Gina kicking the Nigerian slave-trader's ass. The legs look great with her high kick!
Week 6 wraps up Episode 1.5 so we have a cool-down panel where one of Red Gina's gregarious co-workers asks her what she did over the weekend.
The answer? "Oh, just a little girls' night out." Here's the sketch of Gina's co-worker - we'll think of a name for her and maybe she'll recur in some future strips and we could eventually cast her in the series, who knows.
And then Episode 2.5 "Fire and Frost" begins with heavy metal fan Helena Brent (aka Hellfyra) using her super strength to carry her boyfriend's amp stack into the show. Of course, he's afraid that someone will see her do it, but she just can't resist using her powers to help the metal scene!
At first, Ben drew Hellfyra basically in the likeness of the previous actress who played the character (Courtney). Very tall, shortish hair, face with prominent chin, etc.
But I didn't think this worked too well because 1) we have a new actress (Sasaya) about to debut as Hellfyra, and would like the character to more closely resemble her and 2) that crop-top T-shirt is way too short and overemphasizes how Ben tends to extend the torsos. Plus 3) there would be some considerable underboob and that won't really work for the readership of the newspaper. Here is the lovely Sasaya for reference:
So we went instead with a closer likeness for Sasaya, and the heavy metal T-shirt which covers her up a bit more but still reveals a bit of navel, and she remains strong and shapely. The band "Lady Beast" is a local heavy metal band with a great vinyl LP out, and they have a charismatic female singer named Debbie. So the inclusion of that is both a tribute to her, and the other women rockers in the local metal scene (including Metal Mary, who originated our character, Devana the Slavic huntress).
Episode 2.5 is going to rock!
This latest installment is a bunch of stuff both from the final week (Week 6) of Episode 1.5 Save The Children...and the very beginning of Episode 2.5 Fire and Frost (featuring Arctica and Hellfyra). Ben's working furiously on getting Week 6 out since it's basically due tomorrow for next week's paper.
But here is the fully colored version of Red Gina kicking the Nigerian slave-trader's ass. The legs look great with her high kick!
Week 6 wraps up Episode 1.5 so we have a cool-down panel where one of Red Gina's gregarious co-workers asks her what she did over the weekend.
The answer? "Oh, just a little girls' night out." Here's the sketch of Gina's co-worker - we'll think of a name for her and maybe she'll recur in some future strips and we could eventually cast her in the series, who knows.
And then Episode 2.5 "Fire and Frost" begins with heavy metal fan Helena Brent (aka Hellfyra) using her super strength to carry her boyfriend's amp stack into the show. Of course, he's afraid that someone will see her do it, but she just can't resist using her powers to help the metal scene!
At first, Ben drew Hellfyra basically in the likeness of the previous actress who played the character (Courtney). Very tall, shortish hair, face with prominent chin, etc.
But I didn't think this worked too well because 1) we have a new actress (Sasaya) about to debut as Hellfyra, and would like the character to more closely resemble her and 2) that crop-top T-shirt is way too short and overemphasizes how Ben tends to extend the torsos. Plus 3) there would be some considerable underboob and that won't really work for the readership of the newspaper. Here is the lovely Sasaya for reference:
So we went instead with a closer likeness for Sasaya, and the heavy metal T-shirt which covers her up a bit more but still reveals a bit of navel, and she remains strong and shapely. The band "Lady Beast" is a local heavy metal band with a great vinyl LP out, and they have a charismatic female singer named Debbie. So the inclusion of that is both a tribute to her, and the other women rockers in the local metal scene (including Metal Mary, who originated our character, Devana the Slavic huntress).
Episode 2.5 is going to rock!
Last edited by shevek 4 years ago, edited 1 time in total.
- LuciaFilms
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This is all so fantastic. I love your projects! ♥
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http://luciafilms.rocks/index.html
http://luciafilms.rocks/index.html
Thanks Lucia - you are awesome too!
Here is the Week 6 strip for Episode 1.5 Save The Children, submitted just in time. The co-worker's name is "Frannie".
We had only one error - Ben got the spelling wrong for "ublyudok" ублюдок (bastard in Russian) as "ublyodok", but we came so close that it's probably a good enough transliteration anyway. If any Russians are reading this, let us know. Now it's on to Episode 2.5 Fire and Frost!
In the Heroineburgh comic strip we're moving into Episode 2.5, "Fire and Frost", featuring a team-up of Hellfyra and Arctica.
(Coincidentally, 2 weeks from now, our new Hellfyra actress will be filming scenes with our current Arctica and Fianna. Should be fun!)
Here are more works in progress from the first installment (as usual, the episode will appear in six installments).
Arctica's power pose to introduce the character in the first panel. Note how Ben created the fur collar separately and will be pasting it in.
Don't worry, he'll be fixing the face!
Dr. Greta Bjornsdottir (aka Arctica) removes her lab coat to get ready for a night out on the town.
The background of Arctica's cryogenics lab. She has been hard at work with her research and wants to take a well-deserved break.
Hellfyra's boyfriend Mike (from Episode 2) carrying two guitars into the venue where Arctica and Hellfyra will have their first meeting.
(Coincidentally, 2 weeks from now, our new Hellfyra actress will be filming scenes with our current Arctica and Fianna. Should be fun!)
Here are more works in progress from the first installment (as usual, the episode will appear in six installments).
Arctica's power pose to introduce the character in the first panel. Note how Ben created the fur collar separately and will be pasting it in.
Don't worry, he'll be fixing the face!
Dr. Greta Bjornsdottir (aka Arctica) removes her lab coat to get ready for a night out on the town.
The background of Arctica's cryogenics lab. She has been hard at work with her research and wants to take a well-deserved break.
Hellfyra's boyfriend Mike (from Episode 2) carrying two guitars into the venue where Arctica and Hellfyra will have their first meeting.
Now entering our second episode in the newspaper! Ben got paid for his first two strips, so he is stoked.
Week 1 of Episode 2.5, "Fire and Frost", featuring Hellfyra and Arctica.
Week 2 sketches:
Hellfyra pencil closeup.
Hellyfra inked closeup.
Metal band sketch.
Week 1 of Episode 2.5, "Fire and Frost", featuring Hellfyra and Arctica.
Week 2 sketches:
Hellfyra pencil closeup.
Hellyfra inked closeup.
Metal band sketch.
Last edited by shevek 4 years ago, edited 1 time in total.
Here are the individual frame pieces that Ben is putting together to create Episode 2.5 Fire and Frost Week 2.
Greta pays her cover charge to the doorman and enters the club.
She finds a place to watch in the main room where the audience is enjoying the band.
The supervillainess Morphia teleports onto the stage in the middle of the band's set!
Greta pays her cover charge to the doorman and enters the club.
She finds a place to watch in the main room where the audience is enjoying the band.
The supervillainess Morphia teleports onto the stage in the middle of the band's set!
Episode 2.5 Fire and Frost Week 2
Greta (Arctica) and Helena (Hellfyra) are watching the band from the audience. Suddenly, a supervillainess appears onstage, looking to hunt them down!
Notes:
- The band that's playing is Lady Beast, a ferocious Pittsburgh-based metal band fronted by a female singer, Deb. You might like them if you're into New Wave of British Heavy Metal (punk rockers seem to like this genre a lot these days).
- Greta's T-shirt says "This Snowflake's An Avalanche". It's apparently a lyric from a punk song by a UK band called Idles. It was Ben's idea. I allowed it because I thought the multiple meanings of the phrase would make it interesting.
Greta (Arctica) and Helena (Hellfyra) are watching the band from the audience. Suddenly, a supervillainess appears onstage, looking to hunt them down!
Notes:
- The band that's playing is Lady Beast, a ferocious Pittsburgh-based metal band fronted by a female singer, Deb. You might like them if you're into New Wave of British Heavy Metal (punk rockers seem to like this genre a lot these days).
- Greta's T-shirt says "This Snowflake's An Avalanche". It's apparently a lyric from a punk song by a UK band called Idles. It was Ben's idea. I allowed it because I thought the multiple meanings of the phrase would make it interesting.
Ben is back from his birthday vacation trip and working on Episode 2.5 Week 3 - the transformation sequences! Always a big part of the Heroineburgh oeuvre.
Arctica and Hellfyra still don't know that they're both at the same nightclub, but they do know they need to transform to stop the villainess who appeared on stage (Morphia). So Arctica rips off her clothes and dons her costume in the nightclub bathroom, while Hellfyra retreats to the dressing room and
transforms in front of her boyfriend who's in the headlining band (it's nothing he hasn't seen before). Screenshots below.
Arctica ready for action.
Hellfyra preparing to suit up.
Arctica and Hellfyra still don't know that they're both at the same nightclub, but they do know they need to transform to stop the villainess who appeared on stage (Morphia). So Arctica rips off her clothes and dons her costume in the nightclub bathroom, while Hellfyra retreats to the dressing room and
transforms in front of her boyfriend who's in the headlining band (it's nothing he hasn't seen before). Screenshots below.
Arctica ready for action.
Hellfyra preparing to suit up.
As usual, the Forum gets this first. This is Episode 2.5 Fire and Frost Week 3. It's not the final version - Ben is adding the fiery gloves and glowing red eyes to Hellfyra in the third panel - but it's close enough you get the whole idea. Transformations are always key before the action begins!
Ben made three changes to the final version of Episode 2.5 Fire and Frost Week 3, so you can see how things progress.
1) Made Arctica a bit less wasp-waisted. 2) Fixed the door of the dressing room. 3) Gave Hellfyra her beautiful fiery gloves.
Here's the debut of a possible new artist, Anne Strongman, who can pick up the Heroineburgh strip while Ben concentrates on the second issue of the comic book. Look at her initial submission carefully (it's a drawing of Savanna) and please post whether you think this should be:
1) the front cover of the second issue
or
2) a full-page inside pinup.
It's definitely ferocious, powerful and sexy ( as well as bit spooky), but I'm not sure it raises quite to the level of the front cover.
Let us know what you think!
1) Made Arctica a bit less wasp-waisted. 2) Fixed the door of the dressing room. 3) Gave Hellfyra her beautiful fiery gloves.
Here's the debut of a possible new artist, Anne Strongman, who can pick up the Heroineburgh strip while Ben concentrates on the second issue of the comic book. Look at her initial submission carefully (it's a drawing of Savanna) and please post whether you think this should be:
1) the front cover of the second issue
or
2) a full-page inside pinup.
It's definitely ferocious, powerful and sexy ( as well as bit spooky), but I'm not sure it raises quite to the level of the front cover.
Let us know what you think!
Episode 2.5 "Fire and Frost" Week 4.
Panels in progress. Arctica and Hellfyra initate their battle with succubus Morphia (who undergoes constant color-shifting).
Ben forgot to add the guitar and the snare drum to the 3rd panel so I reminded him.
Ben worked fast with corrections so the finished strip is already below!
Morphia looks around for the energy source she wants to drain.
Arctica and Hellfyra come at her from both sides.
Morphia disappears in her usual cloudy poof.
Finished strip for Episode 2.5 "Fire and Frost" Week 4!
Panels in progress. Arctica and Hellfyra initate their battle with succubus Morphia (who undergoes constant color-shifting).
Ben forgot to add the guitar and the snare drum to the 3rd panel so I reminded him.
Ben worked fast with corrections so the finished strip is already below!
Morphia looks around for the energy source she wants to drain.
Arctica and Hellfyra come at her from both sides.
Morphia disappears in her usual cloudy poof.
Finished strip for Episode 2.5 "Fire and Frost" Week 4!
We're coming on the transition point where in about a month, Ben is going to pass on the Heroineburgh comic strip to a new artist, while he concentrates on the second issue of the comic. It turned out that Anne couldn't sustain a schedule of turning out a strip every two weeks, so we're giving her some pinup work in the comic instead. Rather, we've found a great artist by the name of Wayne Brown who will take over the strip for at least 3 months while Ben works on the comic.
In advance, Wayne has been working on the first strip for Episode 3.5 "Meteor Rights", featuring X-Machina and Arogya.
He's already completed the basic outline of the first strip, so here it is! Quite impressive for the first effort.
In the meantime, Ben is working on Episode 2.5 "Fire and Frost" Week 5, and here is his preliminary sketch of a battle between Arctica, Hellfyra and Morphia - note the fluidity of motion.
In advance, Wayne has been working on the first strip for Episode 3.5 "Meteor Rights", featuring X-Machina and Arogya.
He's already completed the basic outline of the first strip, so here it is! Quite impressive for the first effort.
In the meantime, Ben is working on Episode 2.5 "Fire and Frost" Week 5, and here is his preliminary sketch of a battle between Arctica, Hellfyra and Morphia - note the fluidity of motion.
As usual, the Forum gets to see this first: Episode 2.5 'Fire and Frost' Week 5.
Yes, "fashionable" is spelled wrong. We're fixing this by tomorrow and submitting. Only one more strip left before the transition.
Yes, "fashionable" is spelled wrong. We're fixing this by tomorrow and submitting. Only one more strip left before the transition.
Wayne's first strip, still in progress. He split the third panel so there's a separate one of just the radio announcement.
I gave him a couple of editing changes - "cathedral" is spelled wrong, for example.
And he also has to put in the Heroineburgh logo.
Soon as he makes those changes, he'll be starting to color and we'll have Episode 3.5 Week 1 - Wayne's first strip - done quite a bit in advance.
Ben has one more strip left, and then will start to focus on the comic.
I gave him a couple of editing changes - "cathedral" is spelled wrong, for example.
And he also has to put in the Heroineburgh logo.
Soon as he makes those changes, he'll be starting to color and we'll have Episode 3.5 Week 1 - Wayne's first strip - done quite a bit in advance.
Ben has one more strip left, and then will start to focus on the comic.
Pencils from the final Week 6 of Episode 2.5, the conclusion to "Fire and Frost".
The final battle with Morphia. Will be complete by the end of the week, and then Ben retreats to focus on the comic while Wayne takes over the strip.
Hellfyra and Arctica attack Morphia.
The cemetery that Morphia retreats to, where she's been hiding out.
Helena (Hellfyra) and her metal guitarist boyfriend, safe and sound.
The final battle with Morphia. Will be complete by the end of the week, and then Ben retreats to focus on the comic while Wayne takes over the strip.
Hellfyra and Arctica attack Morphia.
The cemetery that Morphia retreats to, where she's been hiding out.
Helena (Hellfyra) and her metal guitarist boyfriend, safe and sound.
Week 6, the final strip of Episode 2.5, "Fire and Frost".
This will be the last strip from Ben as he will be concentrating on the comic (Heroineburgh Comics #2) for the next few months.
Wayne Brown will step up and take over the strip - from his work above, it's evident that he will do an amazing job.
Enjoy!
This will be the last strip from Ben as he will be concentrating on the comic (Heroineburgh Comics #2) for the next few months.
Wayne Brown will step up and take over the strip - from his work above, it's evident that he will do an amazing job.
Enjoy!
So...due to the newspaper coming out Tuesday night and thus not publishing on either Christmas Eve (Dec 24) or New Years Eve (Dec 31),
Ben's final strip for Episode 2.5 (the one in the previous post( has not quite come out yet, but it'll be out in the first edition of the paper for 2020 (Jan 14).
Thus, our new artist Wayne is now a bit ahead of schedule, as he has totally completed the first week of Episode 3.5 "Meteor Rights" and is close to completing the second week as well. In fact, except for three spelling errors (which will be corrected) the second week is really done too.
As usual, you get to see them first before the newspaper readers in Pittsburgh, so here's Week 1. What do you think about Wayne's work in comparison to Ben's?
Heroineburgh Episode 3.5 "Meteor Rights" Week 1
Ben's final strip for Episode 2.5 (the one in the previous post( has not quite come out yet, but it'll be out in the first edition of the paper for 2020 (Jan 14).
Thus, our new artist Wayne is now a bit ahead of schedule, as he has totally completed the first week of Episode 3.5 "Meteor Rights" and is close to completing the second week as well. In fact, except for three spelling errors (which will be corrected) the second week is really done too.
As usual, you get to see them first before the newspaper readers in Pittsburgh, so here's Week 1. What do you think about Wayne's work in comparison to Ben's?
Heroineburgh Episode 3.5 "Meteor Rights" Week 1
Wayne's first strip (shown above in the previous post) finally came out in the newspaper today, after almost a month of delays due to no publication over the holidays and then pre-emption of the entire funnies page for some 'Winter Guide' insert in January. It does look great in print!
As usual, the Forum gets to see this strip before anyone else, so here is Episode 3.5 Week 2 "Meteor Rights" which will come out
on Feb 25.
As usual, the Forum gets to see this strip before anyone else, so here is Episode 3.5 Week 2 "Meteor Rights" which will come out
on Feb 25.
Wayne continues to hit it out of the park (that's a baseball home run reference for you Brits) with his art on the Heroineburgh strip's Episode 3.5 "Meteor Rights". He's got an excellent grasp on the backgrounds, on the placement of word bubbles, and on the tightness and shine of the superheroine costumes. Really doing great stuff!
This week, despite the inability of the local altweekly to put out a physical paper because of COVID-19, the third strip will come out online and in the digital mailboxes of all the subscribers. Here is an uncorrected version (there are a few misspellings), but the corrected version will be out next week!
And looking even beyond that, I just received the fourth strip today in its uncorrected version as well (there's only one spelling error which, again, will be fixed for publication). And only the Forum gets to see these in advance! Only two more strips to the conclusion of "Meteor Rights" and then we'll see how things go, possibly based on whether the publication suffers too much because of the COVID situation. But if they do continue (and I hope they will), we will definitely keep Wayne on for more Heroineburgh comic strip action!
This week, despite the inability of the local altweekly to put out a physical paper because of COVID-19, the third strip will come out online and in the digital mailboxes of all the subscribers. Here is an uncorrected version (there are a few misspellings), but the corrected version will be out next week!
And looking even beyond that, I just received the fourth strip today in its uncorrected version as well (there's only one spelling error which, again, will be fixed for publication). And only the Forum gets to see these in advance! Only two more strips to the conclusion of "Meteor Rights" and then we'll see how things go, possibly based on whether the publication suffers too much because of the COVID situation. But if they do continue (and I hope they will), we will definitely keep Wayne on for more Heroineburgh comic strip action!
Here's the conclusion of Heroineburgh Episode 3.5 "Meteor Rights" - the 5th and 6th installment which will appear in the local newspaper (which is right now publishing only online anyway). More "stellar" work by Wayne!