This morning I sat down to sketch out the project plan for the next Schlock Mercenary Book, Schlock Mercenary: The Blackness Between.
The story runs from August 24th of 2003 through March 14th of 2004, which is 29 weeks plus a Sunday. That’s 88 three-row pages, which will require something like 45 sketches, margin bits, or new footnotes in addition to the 15 footnotes already running during that story. With the introduction and sketch page, it’s a 90-page book before I add the bonus story or any other materials.
100 is a nice round number. It looks like this book will be a full 20 pages longer than Book I. I’m okay with that, provided I’m not “padding” to hit the number.
I’ve got about 20 rows of comics from February and March of 2004 that will need to be recolored, I need to create the cover art, and obviously I have to create the bonus story and other materials. I’ll be doing the principal layout myself, and probably having Steve Troop tweak it for me when we approach our print deadline.
All that, plus feeding the buffer, is how I’ll be spending my summer. Those of you who bought books have paid my wages for at least that long. I may have a quick family vacation, and there’s Comic-Con to attend, but other than that, I’ll be a busy guy.
–Howard
And the moment I see it’s available for order I’ll be plunking my dollars down for that book.
’cause I need more gateway drugs to give to friends.
Definitely ditto. Although some of my friends have good enough taste to save me money by ordering their own.
“It’s Thoomin’ time!”
*giggles*
“there’s Comic-Con to attend, but other than that, I’ll be a busy guy.”
Right. ‘Cause you won’t be busy at Comic-Con.
Got my books a week or so ago, and I have to say – I was expecting a lot, and I was impressed. Very good work, I think it sold in a few more Schlock fans to the webcomic as well. Glad to have been able to contribute to your short term salary, and if you keep them this good, I expect to contribute a lot more!
I got my books (I’d forgotten I ordered two?!!?)
and may I say the later style of colouring enhances the artwork?
I am so totally all over this. Count me in for the next book!
FYI: An envelope full of Schlock has arrived on the East Side of New York City. It contains a generous dose of ommmmmmmminous hummmmmmmmm; I am happy.