[Syraxis]

Well, I haven't had too much time lately to work on this but I'm in progress of making a reference for my character Heratik. So, I guess just let me know what you think so far.



Origin
The Human, Ipcus, is the host of Syraxis, a parasitic creature from another reality. This other dimension is known as The Abyss, a fabricated and unstable universe. The properties and physics of this dimension, much unlike our own, are understood only by the inhabitants of it, Abyssals. So warped is their universe that once they leave it, they carry a slight influence upon their current reality. Being creatures from an unstable, fabricated dimension, they too are unstable whilst out of their world. Abyssals will find life and either consume it to extend their own or inhabit it, and use it to stabilize themselves. With this though comes the need to sustain both the host and abyssal, their sustenance being a substance called ichor. Ichor, the lifeblood of Abyssals, is a dark colored thick liquid with an odd texture that is used as a source of energy, fuel for their powers, and to repair/regenerate.  Ichor is extremely flammable however and very photosensitive, making Abyssals, along with their hosts, prefer to reside in pitch darkness to dim settings, along with giving them a great aversion to higher temperatures and fire. Residing in a host grants more tolerance to light, but does not fully protect it from the damage light can cause to them.

I would rather not cluster up the post with too much text, so more information on him can be found here http://syraxis.tumblr.com/info (If you feel like reading more, I don't know, I'm assuming you're interested which is very presumptuous of me.)

[Tofubeast]

Hi there, welcome to void!

Oh lordy lou, that's a lotta of text and not a lotta artwork.

Instead of dumping all of that information into paragraphs, why not draw it out? Show the parasite outside of the human host body, show what "ichor" looks like, show off Heratik's personality or how he/they move.

Also, I noticed that you mention that this character would avoid exposure to light as much as possible--in that case, wouldn't they wear something over their feet/hands/head?

Also, since you'll be drawing comics featuring this guy, I'd be very careful about going nuts with the patterns/small design elements on their clothes. Are you confident you can draw them over and over again?

Let's see more art in your ref sheet, and let's see some pages.

[Jiisuri]

Also, I wonder where he procures his ichor fix.

[Wei Ingnan]

Hi there, welcome to void!

that's a lotta of text and not a lotta artwork.

Instead of dumping all of that information into paragraphs, why not draw it out?

Let's see more art in your ref sheet, and let's see some pages.

yup a BIG ol' DITTO on all these points.....nothing overtly wrong with what you are showing us....just that you aren't showing us enough.....like those stupid little tasting spoons at ice cream parlors

[Mister Kent]

Agreed with the points thus far--I'd like to see a rearview and maybe a close-up of his face (plus Intros, obviously). I rather like the design--that coat is badass, just make sure you're comfortable replicating it in each battle. If you can handle that, more power to ya!

[Syraxis]

Alright, I've got more images, I'm still working on more and I'm sorry there wasn't more in the first place :[ but hopefully I'll be done with the full reference soon, I've almost got the last two full body images done.

[Sabulive]

Muuuuuuuuuch better, these look way more interesting than floating in the white vast void.

Eager to see some pages. Make sure you show rather than tell!

[Kozispoon]

Not gonna lie- I was with you on the dark ominous design of this fighter with his elaborate coat, protrusions and blackness that I was thrown by the addition of fairy wings. Do those pop in amidst all the extra spiked limbs and tentacles?

I'm no stranger to the desire of wanting to make your fighter submission cool and awesome, but I do wanna put out there that there is nothing wrong with a bit of editing. Sometimes less is more.

[The Bent One]

Why not black fairy wings?

[Angie]

Looks good thus far! You may want to simplify the pattern on the outfit some or it will drive you crazy, especially when you have clothing folds or a different camera angle. Also, it's not necessary for your design sheet, but make sure you're able to draw the monster teeth face from the front.

[Syraxis]

Thank you all very much for the feedback, and to answer kozispoon He pretty much only has 1 type of thing protrude from his back at a time; tendrils, clawed legs, or wings, and the wings are still a wip. I sketched a lot of different designs for the wings and eventually wanted to do something bug-like that had a sort of stained glass coloring, but they do look more fairy like than bug, I'll just keep experimenting and find something eventually. Oh, and yes, I know the patterns on his coat are intricate, but I really like drawing them and I do have a saved image of the pattern that I can use to just fill in the coat if I REALLY don't feel like drawing it all (which I probably won't). I'll put more images up as I get the full ref done, and again, thank you everyone!

[Tofubeast]

Do some research on various bug wings! There's some really fun gross colors you could play with when it comes to transparencies in bug wings, or you could push the crystal theme the whole way through and take it into his teeth and nails as well.

[Syraxis]

Okay, I know this is pretty late, but I have some more images that I just wanna see what you guys think of. Only one is done, I'm still working on more since I'm REALLY slow at actually doing it.

[Kozispoon]

I keep checking in to see if there are any intro pages to be had, but you seem keen to work on more turnarounds and pin ups. I think its safe to say you got the character down. Let's see him in action!

[PyrasTerran]

Kozi's words spill forth wisdom~

It's time for pages!

[Syraxis]

I guess this is as good of a place as any to ask, but I'm having some complications with my intro story and would like some advice. I'm pretty much having an ordeal about my backgrounds, and I'm not sure how much detail needs to be put into them. I can't seem to find a mid-way between Lazy slug and OHGODMYEYES. If it helps, the setting is the inside of an abandoned cathedral, with crystals everywhere. I think my biggest issue is the stained glass.

Sorry there are no pictures of this right now, scanner is misbehaving and these doodles are on paper.

[PyrasTerran]

If you can go all out, why not? Just do it.

If it's too much, then just cut it back.

Start with sketches so you can easily erase and edit

[Ten Dead Kings]

Personally I go with "how much do I need to show so people get that it's an abandoned cathedral with crystals everywhere?"

Also always look up reference pictures. It always helps.

[Crimson Kumiho]

I don't have a scanner myself, so I know them feels. Photographing the picture is another option as well. As far as backgrounds go, do what fits and for what you have the capacity. You just have to find that sweet spot and that comes with recognizing when less is more. Some panels require elaborate details to fully explain an environment while others need merely suggest the environment because they aren't the focus of that particular panel.

[Syraxis]

(wow like it totally hasn't been a year) I'm not dead and I'm still wanting to do this. Sorry but lots of things have kept me delayed, life events and whatnot, plus I wanted to improve a bit more before I started submitting anything. I am working on some panels so hopefully I'll be done with these really soon.

[A Bad Idea]

Good to see you back. I hadn't seen this thread before, but the character looks intriguing and it sounds like you've been getting good feedback. Remember that you can always post your WIPs here too in case you need some advice.

[Syraxis]

Got a new reference made, decided to change quite a few things since I wanted everything to look a bit more organic.



Also, a question concerning panels. How does everyone construct their comics? What I mean is like making each panel it's own picture and constructing it or drafting them out on the same page or something. I guess what I'm asking is, what works best for you guys?

[Red]

Also, a question concerning panels. How does everyone construct their comics? What I mean is like making each panel it's own picture and constructing it or drafting them out on the same page or something. I guess what I'm asking is, what works best for you guys?

I think the pages that are designed as a whole page tend to look better than the ones that are just thought of as sequential pictures placed in boxes. Try not to think of comic pages that way, try thinking of the page as one piece. I have seen some people pull it off successfully, but I've also seen some pages that look disjointed and not cohesive. Remember that you don't have to simply plop art into boxes, page layouts can be dynamic and literally go outside of the boxes.

[Kozispoon]

Wow, how crazy is it that your most recent post was made January of 2015 and this thread was created in January of 2014! Time sure does fly.

2015 is the year of the Heratik, I feel it deep in my old bones. Here's hoping we see this guy finally make his debut!

[Rose]

I like to make my panels part of the story as much as possible, so I tend to do what Red suggested and think of each comic page as a work of art containing bits of a story inside of them. For that matter, I like to think of the entire COMIC as a work of art with pieces of the story spread across multiple pages and multiple panels. It's a bit of a "whole is greater than the sum of its parts" idea. That said, I think the most successful comic panel layouts I've seen come from artists who have paid attention to other comics and to cinema, and extrapolate what they've seen into their own rules and principles, which they use to drive storytelling in a compelling way.

So if in doubt, go read some comics, watch some movies, and go nuts!