Do you start with storyboarding or with character sheet/design or something else entirely?

[New_To_Comics]

I have absolutely no idea how to start.

[moontokkym]

I'd recommend starting with writing. Just plain old script writing. Write descriptions of your characters too, not just what they look like, their backstory and mindset, likes, habits, hobbies, the stuff that makes them human.

Once you're happy you've got a good amount of script and you know you're not going to change any big details, at least at the start, and you're ready to start drawing: character sheets. Character sheets at least for the ones appearing in the first few episodes. You'll need these to 1) be able to concentrate on making a good character design that fits both the physical and backstory description of the character (don't go with the first thing that comes! Workshop it!) and 2) will be super useful to refer back to later so your character stays looking like your character. Remember to do at least one front and back view of each, it's a massive time saver.

THEN once you've got basic character sheets done, you can get scouting for references for locations to get a feel of the place these characters are going to be (you can even snap some reference pics around where you live if that works for your story, like coffee shops and parks and the like).

THEN storyboarding based off of your script. I recommend you structure your script cut into pages with individual panel descriptions within the page beforehand so you can really concentrate on making your storyboard fun to read, and so you know how much text'll be in each panel too. Then, go ham.

Good luck to ya

[New_To_Comics]

Thanks for the detailed explanation!!

[Oriflamme]

Comics are a visual medium, so I think it is only fair to start with some exploratory drawing to see how some of your ideas translate to paper.

I started with a bunch of sketches of characters and possible events to get a feel for personality, and designs. For me it was a good way to understand what I could or could not do and how the visual aspect would interact with the story telling. Then I wrote the script with a clearer idea of the character and world.

The other thing, I was not too attached to the version of the character and the world presented in the sketch. The narrative took priority over that, but it was useful in narrowing down the path I wanted to take.

[KevinReijnders]

1. I start with a script.
2. Then I do a breakdown of said script so I know everything that I will need to draw/design.
3. Then I make all those designs.
4. After that I draw the entire script out into a sketchy storyboard.
5. After that, I make the chapter cover.
6. And finally, I start making the pages one at a time.

[Leyelle]

Depends on the story. For sketchy business, I started with character design sheets and based the script off the characters I made, since it's a gag-a-day comic. For my novels I start with plotting out the whole story. I didn't draw any of the cast for quite a while

[New_To_Comics]

I do know at least one or 2 big events in my sprawling epic (I kid, I don't want it to be bloated, but it's 2 stories parallel so it's probably gonna be long) but not many for my explarorary comics (wherein the protagonist is discovered to have a talent for interviewing people, really drawing them out of their shell and getting them to reveal all...and then they look foolish in the result - I was tentatively considering drawing panels with the actual interview and then contrast them with the broadcasted result) so I'll probably need to come up with something to avoid the talking heads syndrome. Did you just draw the characters first and then the events, or stickman the events and work out characters later? Excellent point about not growing too attached to the sketched out version!

[New_To_Comics]

That tracks! I think I saw some character designs you posted, trawling this very forum. I liked them!

[New_To_Comics]

I never thought about doing a breakdown so you know what you'll need to draw and design! Thanks! Have you ever scripted and then realized you can't draw it?

[KevinReijnders]

If I encounter something I don't know how to draw, I learn how to draw it haha.
That's also something I lowkey do in the design stage. I look up a ton of reference material for stuff I don't have anything in my mental library.

[kyupol]

I start with a script...

Quote scripture 2 Timothy 3:2-4

Reporter reporting
Reporter: This is breaking news... We are getting reports of a shooting at the local high school. We are still trying to confirm the reports, but we are getting multiple calls from students inside the school and from nearby residents.

The police are on the scene now. Stay tuned for updates...
Swat team ready

ADB LOGO

Reporter: The shooter has been apprehended and taken into custody by police...Unfortunately, the shooter has been injured and is receiving medical attention.
There were a couple of casualties in the shooting. The victims and the shooter's identity have not yet been released, but police are working to determine a motive for the shooting.

Claudita sitting in coffee shop looking at phone
Witnesses in the school reported seeing the shooter enter the building armed with a gun and firing indiscriminately.
The school has been cleared and all students have been released to the custody of their parents or guardians. The investigation into this shooting is ongoing. More updates to follow...

Then I figure it out from there. Here's how that script turned into visuals...

Read AngHell Dela Blackpill :: ADB prologue scene 01 | Tapas Community

[jwabeasley]

If you're totally new to comics, make some one-off pages so you can experiment with what you're good at and what you like to draw before locking yourself into a larger project.

I start with characters and character design. You need to have a decent design and a good idea of what you're drawing before you get into it. I also do some setting design and a drawing or two of the characters in the setting to make sure it's working well.

Once you have your characters and setting, next is the writing process. I write out a list of important events and then I do all of my writing process in the thumbnail stage so that I can plot out the visuals and story beats together. This process is the most variable between creators though so just do what works for you. If a typed and formatted script is what works, then do that.

At that point, you're ready to do your actual comic pages - sketch, ink, color/shading, lettering. It's just production from then on.

At the end is posting, marketing, publication, and all those other unavoidable business bits.

[Crystel_Jane]

When there is a new story (short novel/novel) coming to my mind ... I guess I started with....

• Time (when it is like example: 19th century if its dark/gothic fantasy)
• Setting (like fairy world when its started when Elf and Magician co-exist)
• Physical Location (like in Rome also added Mythic Lore from them)
• Main Characters (who is your Protagonist, Antagonist and Anchor character)
• Plot (that is the last for me before I start the writing chapter by chapters)

The rest will follow on how the story goes. Since you are the creator/author you can definitely move the way how it goes and it will be easy for you.

I hope this will help you

[Lensing]

I started with drawing pages with ballpoint pen on paper without any prep work
and that´s what I would recommend to every beginner

[jwabeasley]

I kid, I don't want it to be bloated, but it's 2 stories parallel so it's probably gonna be long

Your comic project will probably be about 10x longer to make than you think setting out. That's true for all of us!

the protagonist is discovered to have a talent for interviewing people, really drawing them out of their shell and getting them to reveal all...and then they look foolish in the result - I was tentatively considering drawing panels with the actual interview and then contrast them with the broadcasted result) so I'll probably need to come up with something to avoid the talking heads syndrome.

While that could be fun, it might not make for that interesting of a comic if all or even most of what you do is draw two people talking to each other in an interview setting. It might be worth asking yourself if a different media (podcast, novel, light novel) might be more suitable to the story you want to tell. It gets very boring to draw a man sitting in a chair 1000 times in a row!

[New_To_Comics]

I def plan on starting with one-pagers or 2-pagers unrelated not too precious things first! That's good advice I really like your idea of drawing characters within the settings! your way might come most naturally to me, I'll try it for sure. And if it turns out I need more of a script, I'll go for that. I do think I should experiment plenty before doing anything big, though the big and shiny projects are of course tempting

[New_To_Comics]

Yeah...I was thinking about that. My idea for the interviews was walk-n-talk, or something, consistent action. But like...I don't know. It might just be a unsuitable idea. I think when it occurred to me I was all focused on the awesome wizardry and werecreatures and portraying the protagonists dreams and such, stuff I thought would translate to visuals alright. I figured it'd be cosy and a change from normal urban fantasy but...perhaps it's too much of a challenge to make an interview look fascinating. Certainly I didn't think much about the actual interview part. I have no idea how documentaries make it look interesting. Probably the same reason why a set of talking heads in movies can be amazing and it just wouldn't work as a comic or book.

[New_To_Comics]

I love that, genuinely!

[MK-AKA-Morgan]

I always start with writing character ideas, then story ideas, and then I design the characters and start writing the script. Everyone's process is different though, I'd suggest going at your own pace, don't think of it as a "job" think of it as doing something for yourself, otherwise you'll put too much pressure on yourself. And always remember you can always start over if you end up being frustrated with whatever you're working on currently.

[faisalhussein394]

What I am going type here may sound heresy.

I never really started a script or sketch character design. I already imagine how the story would start and end, the same goes for the characters. I have all these ideas in my mind for years and I finally manage to make a comic out of it. Two comics to be exact. One Fantasy, the other is Sci-Fi.
Fantasy Genre: Mukhtar.
SCI-FI Genre: Abbasia.