What is the opening scene in your comic?

[greyshire]

It was a reeeally last minute decision, but I wanted to hint at what's to come since there's a good bit of exposition at the beginning of my (murder mystery) comic, so I started with a flash forward scene to after a crime has already happened:

It's also the only scene in color because coloring takes so much time! to highlight the time jump (plus sepia is fun!)

[R.n.P]

I consider my first episode and second episode as my opening scene since at the time I made it i wanted the two to be published together if I ever started publishing my comic
THE LAST SAMURAI

[nerdybirb]

im planning for my comic to start out with the protag getting robbed... which is weird now that i've read everyone elses posts lm ao . it's suprisingly hard to draw tho? (ive done like 3 versions of the first page) but idk im getting there

[shazzbaa]

If it fits with the mood you're trying to go with your story, then who cares if it's cliched? IMO its better than trying to force an awkward opening only because it's not as cliched as other openings.

The bit about not forcing an opening is a really good point!! Some people get so wrapped up in the "FIRST PAGE MUST GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION" idea that they force a scene that they think might be attention-grabbing to other people into the beginning of their story, even if it's sort of out of place. I've seen people who have a story that isn't action-packed trying desperately to somehow open on action anyhow, and I'm not sure that's a good idea.

And I think the real reason to avoid a "cliche" opening is only to avoid doing it out of habit -- like, the idea that you've seen it so many times you might just default to opening the story that way without thinking about what the best opening would actually be. That doesn't mean "avoid cliche beginnings at all costs," just, "think about whether it's good for your story before you use it."

[Vanzish]

I opened my story in a train with a monologue that can actually be read from two perspectives (which i didn't intend to but now i roll with it like it was on purpose). I didn't make this page thinking it'll attract many people's attention. I just had the scene in mind and went for it.

You can start from the beginning of the story, you can start from a critical point or even with the end and then rehearse what has happened thus far, you can start in the middle of the action. Think of the movie Megamind! It starts in a critical point but then takes the story from the beginning up until you reach that point and wonder how it goes on. It'll keep the reader wanting to know how the character got into that situation.

[cylmill]

I started mine with a tale! ;D

[quakeulf]

Scenery:

[Sanz]

mine starts off in the middle of an event..I hate the wake up and click the alarm thing..haha who cares how he starts his day for Issue 1

Issue 2 starts off with a daydream into the mind of the a main character

Issue 3 starts off off skipping a bunch of boring travel and ending up where they are headed at the end of issue 2

I always dig right in and get to the point in each issue . usually followed by some transition to relating characters. Personally I don't like reading one page where it doesn't tell me what is going on. like a dude waking up in the AM. considering the first two issues of Los Esmeraldas are pretty much story set up and character intros. I think beginning in the middle of an event works out. but don't get me wrong there will be a a cliche point where someone clicks an alarm, but only when I can't think of anything else

[shaneoid77]

Mine starts in one of my characters beard. It's ok, it's a magical beard.

[jessicasurline]

Whetstone's Prologue begins like this:

and Chapter 1 begins with this:

[60Six]

So City of Blank is actually a reboot of my older version of the comic, but the two versions had VERY different openings. This time, I wanted to start things off with a bang to hook people in so I took that sort of...literally.


In the last version, I left out all mentioning of this Mikiah character until fairly far into the story, and being a very important part of the story, I decided to go ahead and say who he is and hint at the trouble he got into to hopefully get readers curious about just went down to get to this point.
This is a really big point in my story that I can't wait to go back to and show all the different perspectives of and make things finally make sense some day when I finally get to this scene again!

[HOME]

It's hard to know how to give a good start to your comic.
But I think even a first episode (like the prologue of my sci-fi comic HOME) must have already some attractive concepts since the very beginning.
What do you think?

Some panels from the prologue of HOME:

[SpavVy]

Mine starts out very VERY dark ^^; eheh.
It starts off with a child being sacrificed by a cult that his mother is part of, he soon wakes up in Hell where he meets this strange girl with dark intentions.

My comic Soul Ascendance is still in its opening currently, I still have about four pages to go until chapter one is finished and oh boy, I cannot wait to be done with this chapter and just move on.

But so far it seems my readers enjoy its creepy atmosphere.

[maddadam94]

my comic's called "who's your daddy?"

well, i can certainly say that i didn't dwell on some kind of fancy opening. since that wouldn't fit the story. or the way i want to tell it.

[niinasalmelin]

I start [Numb][1] with going straight to the party (In this case showing a corpse of one of the main characters) It's a mystery comic so what's better way to go into it than confusing everyone.

[r0ckrabbi7]

Depending on the story, I always start differently.. But it's mostly always something that gives a hint about what the story is about.. and then it goes to a completely different direction, because I'm terrible at storytelling xD

[NickRowler]

OK, I fully admit I'm not 100% in love with my first page.

I started with a establishing shot, then I go straight into the action. I guess it is a bit cliche but I tried not to linger too much on it.

I think this opening scene in a flashback (this chapter is not posted yet) is much stronger personally. It has a much better establishing shot and establishes the two characters a lot better.

I guess my style is more just going straight into the story and not worrying about large wordy introductions.

[SirHellsir]

I have a rule for this one, start with a scene that is going to be fundamental for the story (most likely the one that triggers the plot) and from that jump to the protagonist.
It can be a memory, flashback, dream, or an event happening in a different location. Most of the time with little to no dialogue at all.

[TristanJensen]

Kind of a standard waking up scene I guess, *second time trying this so I'm sticking to what I know :/

[Niles]

I was looking at this and thinking 'don't do it Niles. Don't do it.' because mne opened with sauce. But screw my mind - I'm going to show it anyway! >:)

Your mind is open and free to do what you want with that world! Enjoy the creative thoughts and start with them!