and then they got talking with the locals...


Panel 1

1st peasant: We're in for a bloody war again with those rascal Turks...
Colin: Good morning, gentlemen! This is Lord Corvin's estate, isn't it?
Panel 2 Pip: Perhaps they didn't understand your question?
Colin: Hold your tongue, that guy has got a hoe!
Panel 3
Woman: Young sirs, you're better off asking questions in the inn. The sun may set before you get an answer from these old grumblers!
Colin: Thank you so much, dear lady!
Panel 4
2nd peasant: Shoot, Mary! It's time I teach you not to interfere with our manly dealings!
Pip: There is the inn! Avanti!
Panel 5
Pip: Pretty cool! Just like the piazza!
Colin: Yep. It looks almost the same. Let's go inside!

Dear readers, it's also time I proclaim an increased activity compared to what went on in the previous months (my Dad's scanner just got busted but there are ways around everything, aren't there?)
Here's an awesome reason for increasing my efforts:
http://blog.dootdootgarden.com/2010/01/16/atlantic-center-for-the-arts/
Craig Thompson is running a residency on making graphic novels in October! Woo-hoo!
I need to get there! Let's go ahead writing a story outline and loads of thumbnail drafts (and certainly carrying on with the present chapter)!
Dear folks, I'm counting on your feedback and even willing to set up a Facebook page to that end. See you around!

New page and a wee reminder



Here we go again.... I'd love to draw faster but really, this is what I'm capable of now. However, I'm quite pleased with the last item on the page. I managed to break down the panel barriers here :)

Translation:
Panel 1 Pip: Why am I carrying the bag? You are stronger than me!
Colin: I thought it's more credible if you are the henchman. But hang on, I'll take it!
Panel 2 Pip: Also, what makes you think that people live around here? We may need to wander for days till
we can find someone!
Colin: Firstly, we're going on a proper country road. A good sign, isn't it? Secondly: look over there!
Panel 4 Colin: A village! We can ask for directions here!
Pip: As well as have a drink before we die of thirst!
Panel 5 Peasant 1: I'm telling ya, the comet means nothin good!
Peasant 2: Betcha it doesn't!

Happy New Year!-post

On the account of a new page made solely in two weeks. Might be time for a collected edition soon - anyone wants to order? Feel free to do it here.

Translation:
P1 Pip: What the heck is this?
P2 Pip: Look, here's our pack!
Colin: Yep, and a letter too!
P3 Pip: Whaat...??
P4: letter: Ragazzi!
We are short on time so you had to travel right away. Do as I told and find Lord Corvin.
Best of luck,
Il Principe
P5 Pip: So much about testing... Such a shifty crook! What do we do now?
Colin: Let's go find this Corvin guy! We are supposed to be on his estates. Someone will give us directions!
(Follow-up due soon)

In other news, a relatively big comic event called HungaroComix took place here in late November. Here's me pictured at a stall, browsing for some low-priced American stuff. I also had the chance to have a word with the renowned Unicum-illustrator (see among the links) about the Corvin pages. Not surprisingly, there's a lot to improve, especially in drawing people.

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas. The comics I had ordered a while ago arrived just in time. Two real masterpieces: Jeff Smith's Rose, prequel to the Bone saga, illustrated by Charles Vess

and the graphic version of Neil Gaiman's Coraline, adopted and illustrated by P.Craig Russell. Both are well worth looking through.

Corvin - chapter one, page one



To have some sense of progress...

Text in the King's English:
Pip: Where the heck are we now?
Colin: How should I know? I thought we were only testing the spacejump gate and arriving at the courtyard of the palace!
Pip: Well, this is positively not Milan!

Corvin: end of chapter plus a prologue

Hooray, Chapter 2 is done! Now see if I can put some of Chapter 1 up before the calendar turns over to 2010.

P1

George. Now I’m totally intrigued to know what business you have around here!

Pip: Err… this is a delicate assignment, actually. Lots of expenses and incomings… You know how it goes.

P2

George: Little fellow, I’m warning you now that Lord Corvin cannot stand this merchant talk. Moreover, it clicks the knife open in my pocket too.

Pip: Didn’t you just miss a splendid opportunity to use that famous knife of yours?

P3

George: Well, that’s Crowcastle in front. Take my advice and tell Lord Corvin the truth. Forget the bullshit!

Colin: Perhaps the girl will be here too? I have a feeling that she’s not from that village…

Pip: Oh, there you go! Look for the lady, right?

Script

Thus they arrived at Lord Corvin’s residence amidst hearty conversation.

Meanwhile the Sultan’s vast army was marching across Serbia, getting closer and closer to Hungary’s border.

Also, a wee prologue to the whole story:

P1

There are many kinds of heroes in the world.

P2

The folks expect some do great deeds as soon as they are born.

P3

Also, some want nothing as much as to become a hero.

P4

And then, some don’t even think about it but they end up as heroes eventually.

P5

This happens often in hard times, mister Marzio. When there’s a big need, some people do things they never believed to be capable of doing…

juvenalia

Peacework is at full swing, so only drafts are being made these days. However, here's something I drew when I was 16. U2 are looking for the Angel of Harlem.

New page & highly recommended reading

Took some weeks to do this page, but now here it is. One more could wind up this chapter - date of competion unknown due to change of residence and main activity.

What the guys say is:
Panel 2
Colin: Boy, this was a serious ride!
Panel 3
Kaspar: So you love riddles, mate?
Panel 4
Kaspar: You should be the one telling Count Ulrik about this then!
Panel 5
Kaspar: But I'll resume being a freelance robber rather than meeting his eye with this story!

Now let's move on to a real masterpiece of comics, delivered to me lately straight from the US&A:


Great art and endearing story. Someone labelled it as the Le Petit Prince of comic books and it's not a bad comparison at all. Take my advice and check it out! Probably everyone can relate to images like this one: