A big thing in the comixx blogosphere right now is Wally Wood’s 22 Panels That Always Work, a series of roughly-sketched but extraordinarily composed panels crafted by the master storyteller. They were long in use at Marvel, with editors often copying versions to send to freelancers and new artists, and there’s a reason why: there’s a gold mine in them hills!
I monkeyed around with them last night and this is what I came up with. Panel two was originally a “big face” panel, but I thought it would express more boredom with a pulled-back camera; the big face seems to convey immediacy, whether anger, fear, or other stress, which wasn’t what was going down. I’m going to try and mash up some more of these in the future.
Your coffee table looks lovely. And you should’ve called last night! I would have turned down all the fun things you wanted to go do. Because I am not the fun friend. As you know.
These are great—yours and Wood’s, I mean. It was fascinating how immediately familiar all those panels were—part of the grammar of comix storytelling. There should be an appendix with a Giffen “big eye” panel, though.
I think sad-sack hirsute Gorjus in panel 2 is rad.
Personally, I think the swivel stick is a nice touch.
good thing you didn’t try and alleviate your boredoms by coming to the bar last night, for there were nineteen thousand, two hundred eighty four cars parked on, in, above, below and around commerce st. last night. that band breaking benjamin? that played across the street at hal and mal’s? SOLD OUT AND THE TICKETS WERE $25. at 7:15, when i got to Don’s, there were people lined up from the red room door down almost to Fire. it was awesome. who is Breaking Benjamin?
A fake band on the fakest of record labels, Hollywood (part of the Walt Disney Company). Notable artists: Hilary Duff, Jeannie Ortega, Raven-Symone, and Regis Philbin. Oddballs: Indigo Girls, Los Lobos. I first heard of them in the 90’s, when the Suicide Machines had a record out on the label . . . “put that down, it’s Disney punk,” screamed Big Gray, and he was right!
hey, this town could use ANY band that would get people into the habit of spending money on music.
hey, gorjus. we got the pimms at our house. it’s a much more optimistic way to kill boredom. although, i guess that swizzle stick is a tiny beacon of joy.
I’ve got next Saturday off – why don’t we load up in the tacoma with some awe-sum mix cd’s, bud lites and yer majic camera and roll around looking for hijinks? Just a thought… You know you want to…