Hey, my Squids!
I wanted to drop a little work in progress goodness for you as I’m working on page 13 of Chapter 2 of Taliah. There were a couple tent-pole moments I wanted to incorporate into the “first issue” (chapter) of the comic back when I conceived the story. The first was Leira hiding behind the wall before Xolani and Micah saw her, which I reached very early on. The second was Leira ripping off her robe and throwing it at Xolani while simultaneously blasting it with fire. I hit that mark in the first chapter of the comic as a double spread. But the last moment didn’t show up in the first chapter (though it was written into the script as a first chapter moment). Instead, it begins on page 13 of Chapter 2 and runs through until roughly page 15 or 16: the roof top conversation.
Originally, when crafting the tale, Chapter 1 ended at the end of the roof top conversation. There was never a flashback telling the tale of Leira’s family and Xavier’s introduction didn’t happen until later. However, when I decided to change the pacing of Chapter 1 to include these elements, it meant that the rooftop conversation and everything after it had to be pushed back. In fact, the beginning of Chapter 2 as it stands also didn’t exist: Xavier and Bourne’s conversation happened later, Xolani and Micah summoning dispatch happened “off-screen”, and the running sequence with Leira on the roof (the panel slice on page 12) happened earlier in the day. Since I wanted to do more world building and knew that the webcomic format required front-loading a lot more backstory, I made changes that pushed the rooftop conversation out a little further.
Getting to this conversation was a huge world-builder when I wrote it. The reader learned about some of the hatred that exists in the world, people and elements who might be working with or against Leira, and the layout of the city and the kingdom. Of course, now, a lot of this has shown up in earlier pages: the fact that Elementals are both revered and hated like celebrities; how racism is rooted in nationalism; the power struggles that Magick abled people face; etc. While the rooftop conversation still exists, it touches on elements that I hadn’t previously featured. I’m excited to finally show you.
Reaching this point is also monumental for another reason – this is the last time that Leira will look like this outside of flashbacks. After the rooftop conversation, Leira changes her appearance. I did this for a couple reasons, some of which are selfish and some are a necessity. Leira hasn’t changed in design since I originally drew her. While my skillset in art has gotten better overtime, she’s had the same design for years. I like her design and it’s been a fun design to draw. But I’m ready to change her visage, give her new clothes, a darker hair color, and a demeanor to match. I went through dozens of designs before I drew one I really liked… and, even still, that might change again years from now as the story progresses. The other reason is because it really doesn’t make sense for a zoologist who is out in the field most of the time (and not strapped to a desk, like real life ones) to wear heels while running from the Blades of Oa. It makes much more sense for her to don a style closer to what she would wear if she was out in the wilderness doing studies. I also had to account for her satchel (side note: did I ever tell you that I didn’t draw her with a satchel for the longest time… like… how was she going to carry a book and other things she needs?), so I incorporated a bag on her leg, of which I’ve been thinking of buying and wearing myself.
At the end of the day, this is my long-winded way of saying I’m almost to the end of the first original script of this grandiose tale and I can’t wait to show you what happens next. While more has been added since its inception, I think the pages you’ll see in Chapter 2 are well worth their addition. Leira’s story is just beginning and she is in for a whirlwind of adventure, whether she likes it or not.
(Additional note: The rough sketches in the image are what I drew in Procreate years ago. I copied them and rearranged them to be on this page, so I’m pulling old into new and fixing them.)