I love comics, and I love what they can do as a unique storytelling medium. An example of which can be found in panel four of today's strip. "What's so special about this panel," you may ask. Well IMHO, it all has to do with timing.
CM's fist pump/celebration is slightly out of sync with the mugger getting clocked in the head vs. the speed of which the ammo would have left CM's slingshot and reach its target. There are various actions/reactions happening within this single frame to create one unified moment despite them being out of sync with one another.
I'd like to say I planned this from the word go, but alas that would be a lie. It wasn't until I was lettering this strip I realized what I'd done. I won't intellectualize it further. I'm no Scott McCloud. And speaking of Scott...if you'd like to read more about the theory of timing and the passage of time in comics you should check out Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics (chapter 4, pg.94) for far more thorough (and intelligent) analysis.
Also, please enjoy the work-in-progress snapshot below:
Awesome, great strip! And do I recognize that woman’s distinctive profile? That hair is a giveaway! ; )
Great use of dark and light. I’m afraid, alas MM will probably be going back to black and white for a while.
Re: Timing, schmiming, it doesn’t ruin the strip/moment.
But the fact you noticed it means you’ll probably not repeat it.
You can always keep learning and striving to better your work.
ROLFE
Great stuff as always. I think that last panel does indeed work really well. thank you Dr. Brubaker!
The repetition in the panels really builds up a beautiful cinematographic flow. I think that becomes more important than any timing issues.
Also, I love how polite she is in handing over the money.
Panels can be really amazing. I’m sometimes surprised how a minor change can completely change the pacing or push behind it. Very well done. Your talent for sequential art really shows in all your post.
No wonder muggers are so impatient. He who hesitates is lost…and clobbered.
I’ve never seen a mugger tap their foot impatiently. Or a mugger, for that matter.
I have nothing to add that everyone else hasn’t said already. Another great update.