Backstage Pass #18 (Patreon)

On this edition of Backstage Pass, I’ll be talking about…

Chapter 1’s thumbnails, pre-rewrite! I only found these just recently while going through old files on my previous laptop, and thought I’d share them. There’s not a lot to talk about with this one, but they’re interesting to look at because I forgot I even made thumbnails before rewriting chapter 1. So, here they are!

And here's how they compare with the final pages:

Some notable bits are a cut montage scene. I recall thinking that it would be a cute way for Rune and Malachi to interact, but I imagine I cut it because I was impatient and wanted to get on with the chapter.

Something else interesting in the thumbnail files is what I assume to be an early rendition of the original first page of OBT, which would have started with Rune in the dream realm rather than Malachi at the guild.

Also interesting is that she's her old Kantonian Vulpix design here! I recall when I first started the comic was right around when Sun/Moon were announced, and I was waffling on making Rune Alolan or Kantonian. This page sketch comes from a time before I regularly thumbnailed- which is a habit I've gotten out of because thumbnails save waaay more time when I change my mind about how events should go. It’s neat seeing how my workflow has changed over time!