The journey of creating “Oldsmobiles With Laser Guns” started with a simple yet dynamic sketch. The first drawing I did was of the Oldsmobile being chased by two space cops. Initially, the space gear was modest, but as the concept evolved, I exaggerated the size of the laser guns and all the science fiction elements to be larger than life. I wanted to capture the comic’s action-intense moments and shared this sketch with friends and peers to help finance the printing of Issue 1, even before starting the script.

Creating “Oldsmobiles With Laser Guns” taught me that growth comes from embracing challenges. Each panel is a step closer to my dreams, showing that perseverance and passion can turn sketches into stories worth sharing.

When it came to script writing for comics, I knew absolutely nothing. Initially, I wrote the entire script as if it was a film script, which turned out to be a good starting point, utilizing skills I already had. I learned about breaking up pages and how others scripted, leading me to develop my own template, available for free in the Resource section of the website. For Issue 1, I storyboarded everything. By Issue 2, I planned chunks of pages simultaneously for the right feel with page turns, almost doing live storyboarding with the full page and adjusting the script as I went. This process saved me time and was more engaging, helping me grasp concepts better than erasing thumbnails repeatedly.

One of the most challenging aspects was achieving consistency with shading. Initially, I used a watercolor-like overlay but switched to a solid hard line for different shading. This change saved me time and reduced guesswork as I battled with consistency.

Wear it right

After the first issue, I realized the characters’ clothing needed more unique styles than just different colored shirts. Mike’s leather jacket gave him a “cool guy” look, masking his insecurities. Nathan’s hoodie showed his non-conformity and easy-going nature despite his aggressive demeanor. Bryce’s classic ’90s style of a short sleeve shirt over a long sleeve shirt connected him to the time period and balanced his crass nature with a thoughtful presentation.

The comic’s angles are purely cinematic. Every panel is seen as a camera angle, not just a drawing, and the art style is increasingly influenced by cinema. This approach gives a unique feel to the storytelling and visual experience.