I’ve been playing with different lighting effects lately. Some work better than others but I’m going to keep plugging away. I may have mentioned it earlier but I loved Abrams’ Star Trek movie. Many people made fun of its lighting effects and crazy lens flares everywhere but I thought it added a cool dimension of super-clean-white sci-fi to the film, where everything off-screen was so bright and glow-y that the camera picked up trace elements of the shine. Obviously, Variables isn’t quite that bright but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to try to incorporate certain elements of an exaggerated real world feel like Star Trek. Later on, I’m going to try my hand at depth-of-field focus but I have yet to find the right scene to give that a go.

Anyway, I’ve really been focusing on my background work in this issue of Variables. One of the weakest areas of webcomics in general is the background work. It’s completely understandable; webcomics are usually created by one, maybe two, people. In an effort to keep a schedule that is somewhat timely, artists are going to skimp on the background materials. It’s logical. But I want Variables to look as good as a Marvel or DC print book and that means backgrounds. Lots of ’em. On almost every page and in multiple panels. So this upcoming page (you can see a bit of it in this preview) has what is probably the best background I’ve done thus far in the book. The next page has an even more complex background and I want that to look even better. Sci-fi or fantasy books are able to phone in some backgrounds; the audience just isn’t that familiar with the setting but Variables is different. It’s set in the modern day. Everybody knows what a city street looked like in 2002. Everybody knows what cars people were driving. It makes my job a little tougher but it’s a good challenge to place upon myself. In the end, that kind of attention to detail will make me a better artist for future projects.

As always, click here for the full issue-in-progress of Variables 2002.

Last week I railed on The Walking Dead television show (for good reason). It’s pretty terrible. This last episode didn’t change much but I don’t want to complain about that any more; I’ve said my piece. But last night while attending a game night, I stumbled across this board game based on the television show. I found it quite amusing given my complaints about how the show is based in Georgia, yet features one token black guy (who I forgot was even in the show because I don’t think he had a speaking line for 3-4 episodes). The show more prominently features an Asian character than it does anyone black. Completely in line with Georgia and its 30% black population. Well, that racial preference extends beyond the television screen. Take a gander at this board game, which features three dead white people from the show but doesn’t feature the one black guy who’s actually still alive. Facepalm. I can’t wait until the television show introduces Michonne, who will probably be a bubbly Japanese girl (OMG teh h0tt!!!!!1) descended from a long line of Samurai. Hey, she carries a sword. It’s logical.

Try not to be blinded by the white.

Well done, AMC & Co.

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