Here's the log I kept while writing the comic, if you're interested in the details of the ordeal itself ...

7 AM.
Start on second page. Finished second page in only half an hour, probably due to the cut and paste of the image from prior page. Start on third page.

8 AM.
Completed third page in half an hour. Proud of Matte Black as name of first character. (Despite the fact he did not end up being dark in coloration) No idea what the female's name will be yet. Get a bowl of cereal. Return with mini wheats and decide her name is Celeste. Wonder what percentage of milk each peice of mini wheat can absorb, since they seem to have drank the milk already. Wonder why someone invented food that eats itself if you don't first. At 8:23 start on page four.

9 AM.
Page 4 completed at 9:25. Theme song for comic is apparently "In Time" from the Bill & Ted soundtrack. Feeling like needing a break. Went back and compared the four pages to be sure there weren't any inconsistancies. Page 5 completed at 9:51, although I may make a page five-and-a-half so that the story flows more clearly. I think that the little constructor ship is ugly as hell -- I'd originally intended Regal 5 to be constructed in a sort of harbor, but I had trouble drawing it. This is only five pages yet, but it feels like a lot. ... *gag* did I accidentally buy Sour Starbursts? These taste pretty sour. Maybe I can say that the little construction ship has moved Regal into the harbor. How the heck am I going to draw that? It's huge.

10 AM.
Starting on page 6. Noticing that the people in the comic start every sentance with an interjection. It's starting to look odd. Also, the plot seems to be so far of just a couple of kids going to watch a ship being constructed. That's no plot at all ... space pirates, maybe? Fire-breathing space monsters? Or has that already been done too much? Listening to Starfox music. Wish I had that game, except that I lack the console for it too, and really suck at shooters. But I still like the commercial and music of it that I've seen. Page 6 completed 10:42. However, I'm not sure to go on with page 7, since I have no idea about what is supposed to happen. Some of the things I thought about the characters' abilities -- levitation, starfading, breathing void, etc -- don't seem to help out very much unless if someone says 'hey look at this' which is what the plot mostly is right now. Touching up prior pages, trying to think of something to happen. Argh ... I knew I shouldn't try to make a serious comic, because those have to look really well planned! *thud* And I don't think it'll like being turned into a silly thing... :( so I have to figure out how to make this serious comic seem well planned. Or at least so damn weird it's an excuse in and of itself.

11 AM.
Started on page 5 and-a-half. I just noticed that Matte Black looks sort of like Torg when he bugs his eyes out, except all messed up and stuff. 11:30 page 5 and-a-half, or rather, 6 (so I have 7 pages now) is done, and mom is saying We Must Do The Dishes. Dishes will take about half an hour, and it'll give me some time to think about the plot.

12:46 PM.
Dishes finished. I think the exciting bit could involve star sharks or something like that. Why are the kids going to the construction site? I mean, it has to be more of a plot than kids fooling around and then saving the world. Even though Celeste wasn't intended to be a kid, she just turned out to be one. Matte is a grownup, or fakes that he is rather well. Maybe the Regal has some sort of party when it's done? No, doesn't look like anyone else is going. They could have a run-in with a guard. "There's been strange things happening around here. Security's up." Working on page 7. Spontaneously compose poem, placed on page 7. Hope handwriting is legible.

1:30 PM.
Started on page 8. Completed 1:56pm. Or, rather, it's page 9, what with the extra thing in there. Let's see... for page 9, or rather, 10, there should be the two (three?) walking/floating into the Harbor Station. What are they going to do in the Harbor Station? *gets another Sour Starburst* Started on the new page.

2:18 PM.
Done with that page. Moving onto actual-page 11. I've been at this for 9 hours. Maybe I'm rushing. Hmm. Ah, well, all the more for leisure. Done at 2:30. Touching up some of the other pages. Considering spinning some early html to see how they all look on black. Maybe an all-on-one-page file. I have no idea what to write in the story next, so I'm just messing around with the html for a moment. I need something awestriking after two pages that just were copy-pastes of nearly identical images.

3:17 PM.
Actual-page 12 done. "Special prize if you can find the source of the smell of rotten cabbage located somewhere in this room!" <- randomness Starting on actual-page 13.

4:25 PM.
Still working on that same one, and just got back from eating a salad and fishsticks. (I wish Matte had gotten a more macho part in the story. He's got a macho name, but you need plot to show machismo! Arrgh!) Completed page at 4:36pm.
     I love the way I managed to get such a 'feel' to the comic, but it lacks plot. "Just Goofin' Around." (I may title it that.) Let's see, plot progression so far:

1. Window with view of little constructor, Regal, and reflection of Matte's face.
2. Same thing, except someone says his name.
3. Thud and view of Celeste. Hinted that they can levitate (badly).
4. Lots of names.
5. Heigh-ho Silver.
6. More heigh-ho, with a comment about the odd physics.
7. More heigh-ho, with view of harbor.
8. More heigh-ho, with nifty poem.
9. Vek introduced, hint of dangerous stuff.
10. Some explanation,
11. ... and a rather slow joke.
12. Some dramatic backlighting and not much else.
13. A somewhat utopic view and explanation.

5:37 PM.
Watched end of "Addam's Family Values" and ate s'mores. Trying to remember where I left off in the comic and all. Pondering again why numerous people have said I sometimes look and sound like Cousin It.

6:20 PM.
Finished the page finally. On to actual-page 15. Hmm. Again, I have no idea for plot. Maybe someone screams and they all go 'huh?' and it's ... um ... one of those 'dangerous things' that I don't know what they are yet. This story's more than halfway through its maximum pages and yet there isn't really a climax of any sort, unless if actual-page 15 has one. Ok, so I have to figure out the Dangerous Things now. Star-sharks? No, they have to somehow be attacking the people and the heroes do something about it... maybe the sharks are attacking Regal 5. Aren't we supposed to find out what the Regal is other than 'big shiny spaceship'? It must be pretty darn important ...

7:08 PM.
Finished actual-page 15. Now I need to figure out what blew that crystal up. Next page will have a lot of people shouting "The power crystal! They destroyed the station's power crystal!"

[journaling hiatus]

2:34 AM.
Completed all 24 pages, plus a 25th page which I'm deciding not to include, since it spoils the resolution in the prior page. I could "draw legs on the serpent" as in the Chinese proverb since I finished so far ahead of schedule, but I stayed up until midnight last night (baka!) so I'm not being able to stay up much longer and still be at optimum coherency levels. So, off to bed I go, vigilant and one hoopy frood. Belgium. :)

"Matte Black" © 2001 by Orion Sandstorrm.