I need quick advice on a panel

[marygold]

Hi, I'm currently planning a page and I need to know if it's flowing properly. More text below the picture!

So my MC basically swings down and cuts a demon's arm off. I notice how the "end" of the swing and the follow up result of the swing both occur in the same direction. Is this alright?

I've read about avoiding tangents and this kind of seems like one. The two are not directly touching but they feel like they are.

Also on a side note, how should panel border width compare to the line art of the main subjects?

Thanks for your input!

[tayo_rafferty]

Perhaps you could make the hero striking and the villain reacting all one panel. This may solve your tangent problem and give the moment more impact.

[Mocha]

Similar to what Mythos said, I think the moment would have more impact if it was split up between two pages or just had the action and reaction on the same page.

[noonecomicsve]

this is indeed a tangent, adam warren did a cool gag about that in the Image+ magazine, you should look into that for help, its really cool, in my opinion the second panel should be bigger, and maybe place the sword on top of the panels, so the sword guides the visual flow of the reader through the page, is the best I can think of! hope it helps!

[J.Z.Castillo]

I would definitely split this action into 2 pages to give more emphasis to the arm being chopped off

[marygold]

@mrjonzap The two panels are actually just the upper part of a complete page, since that's the case, what should I do? maybe extend to an entire page?

[marygold]

@noonecomicsve thanks for the tip! I kinda see what you're saying, except for the placing sword on top of the panel part. What is that supposed to look like? Dumb question, sorry!

[samueltcopp]

You should have the character and the demon on the same panel. The character already past the demon, the arm starting to fall away from the demon. Maybe even have the next panel with just the arm by itself.

[J.Z.Castillo]

I agree with @samueltcopp! In action scenes is always better to show than to have the reader put the actions together in their head. I would have made something kind of like this

I think it adds more drama and action than just having everything happen quickly in one page and at the end you can tell the bad guy is in pain and angry and makes you wanna see what's going to happen next.

[anim8or2000]

bottom drawing I would pull back a little. get the upper body in there so you can see the demon has definitely lost an arm, right now just glancing at the page without know who is who the guy's arm could have been cut off and the demon is roaring in triumph. yes you see it at the top of page 2 in the diagonal panel, but it's the wrong arm and it's not very front and centre - oh is that the back of the demon?

[marygold]

Holy crap man. You make me want to cry :'D