|
|
|
|
|
|
Mapmaking
2007-01-04 16:00:10
Ever wondered how a map in a comic book gets lettered? No? Well, today you’re going to learn anyway. And evidently, so am I.
Up until now, Dark Tower was something that we’d thought of as being safely In the Future. We could look to it with that haughty confidence that comes from believing, falsely, that you have an infinite amount of time to prepare. But now, reality is setting in and we’re getting close to the date when we need to send the completed first issue out to the printer. It’s making me a little nervous because of all the attention this book is getting. It means that the lead time is over, and everything has to be ready on a monthly basis now, like clockwork. (You hear that, Jae?)
So right now, we’re busy putting the finishing touches on issue 1. The artwork and lettering are completed, but there’s some supplemental material that we’re also going to include.
I hope the marketing folks don’t mind me revealing that the first issue will include a map of the Barony of New Canaan, a location within the Dark Tower universe. I’ve never worked on a comic-book map before, so this is somewhat new to me. Here’s how we did it.
Robin Furth wrote up a document and drew a rough sketch explaining the locations of various landmarks in New Canaan.
Then, Special Projects Editor Jeff Youngquist recommended that we contact artist Jim Calafiore to do the map art. Jeff gave us some samples of maps Jim had drawn before for other projects. They looked cool, so we got in touch with him.
Next, Jim penciled and inked the New Canaan map, referencing the information from Robin’s sketch.
Right now, color artist June Chung is working on coloring the map, and our letterer Chris Eliopoulos will be adding the text.
Now, here’s the rub. I wasn’t sure how to convey to Chris exactly what he should do. Lettering a comic is one thing, because you know exactly what words need to appear on the page, and where. On the map, the text and its placement on the page was less clearly defined.
So, conscientious editor that I am, I gave Chris all the material that I had on hand, explained it as best I could, and then fled the office, hoping for the best.
This morning, Chris called me up and very nicely explained that he had no idea what to do.
So this brings us to the present, at which point I’m making a numbered list of locations, worded exactly as they should appear on the final product. Then I handwrite the numbers on a copy of the map itself, indicating where Chris needs to place the text. I tried to write neatly, in order to impress you all with my fine handwriting skills.
Here, for your viewing pleasure, are the fruits of that labor and a sneak peek at one of the special items that you’ll see in the first issue. Enjoy.
g
ggg
Posted by Gustavo Maciel on 2007-01-04 11:25:00
Blog
I have read this blog and i think it is one of the best blogs in the entire world wide web
Posted by Marvelboy2000 on 2007-01-04 14:39:36
Blog
I have read this blog and i think it is one of the best blogs in the entire world wide web
Posted by Marvelboy2000 on 2007-01-04 14:39:36
Blog
I have read this blog and i think it is one of the best blogs in the entire world wide web
Posted by Marvelboy2000 on 2007-01-04 14:39:37
Nice Work
Great job on the map. Now all of us Tower fiends will have a new reason to re-visit the books and trace the path of Roland and his cohorts. It also gives a better sense of scale to the mammoth journey that Roland has to take...mostly on foot when he leaves In-world for mid-world and beyond.
Posted by gunslinger69 on 2007-01-08 09:28:10
Horn of Eld
Will Roland take a moment to pick up the the Horn in this comic series? I sure hope so.
"Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies."
Posted by rolandcyrus on 2007-01-08 15:37:52
Array
Enter a response to this blog post:
|
About this blog:
The Dark Tower creative and editorial teams give us the behind-the-scenes details on The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born.
 | About the author:
Stephen King's Dark Tower is adapted for comics by Peter David, Robin Furth, Jae Lee, Richard Isanove, John Barber and a handful of other astute minds. They'll all contribute to the blog. |
Comics
Marvel.com
Movies
Others
Video Games
|
|
|
|
|
|
)
)
)
)
save this link
