I always feel odd when I do a single-panel page in a webcomic. Sometimes you need the impact of a big, full-bleed single-panel, and I think it’s the perfect choice for this moment. But in a webcomic it slows the readers down; they can’t just flip to the next page, they have to wait for it.
In the end I decided that if I’m ever going to use only a single panel, this is the right moment for it. I promise you that I won’t use them very often. 🙂
You can also see the art shift plainly here. I’m working on layering in detail and textures. It’s going pretty well, I think, and the rest of this chapter should look as terrific as this page does.
↓ Transcript
A.I.: Hallelujah.
Excellent use of a one-panel page. I can feel the inrush of aircraft most strongly by starting at the bottom and moving up swiftly. Then I get the impression of the newscaster who wept, “Oh, the humanity!”
And somebody keeps saying, over and over, “They’re too close, they’re too close, they’re too….”
You wanted a powerful picture, you got a powerful picture. Congrats!
First I was all “…Oh crap.”
Then I was all “This is going to have some grave impact regarding the future of Pakawa and the others.
Then I remembered the Chinese are coming too.
One … Two … Three …
Anyone else want to crash there ?
Talking ’bout an overkill, or a really suicidal AI.
Oh god, that is gonna shake the entire world.
The Single panel ist fully legitimate here.
It was good foreshadowed, too. The involvement of planes was obvious but I did not see THAT coming.
I don’t want to sound like a douche here but at those plotpoints I always think that the comic could work better if it was just the serious parts.
This page looks great!
I’m just so sorry for the people in the planes…
Wooo. I bet the emotional blowback is gonna ring the empathic girl like a bell.
Ooooh. Now that is one hell of a self-destruct sequence.
And all those people on-board… Ya know, I remember reading the comic’s timeline and it mentioning about how AIs are always insane, but I think that part of the world-setting is just now hitting home. O_o
Is it just me, or do those look like apartment buildings surrounding the point of impact?
Yeah, good panel.
This panel is absolutely great! I actually caught myself saying “Oh Crap” aloud! Good work 😀
Ah yes, you would… (continued comment from Page 85.)
I wouldn’t have thought the first plane would already be that close, though.
So many new commenters.
Seems trying something new really pays off for the author. Most definitely a very good presentation of the moment. Great moment.
Though, the four feel somewhat disconnected from the picture and I can’t say why. If anyone has an idea, please tell.
Oh my… What… How… Oh right i remember now, the AI going insane, nothing to worry about 🙂
Skur, I cheated a little with the shading on the characters to make them look better. That’s probably why they look a little out of place. The lighting is all from behind, so their faces should be completely in shade…but that never looks good. Artistic decision. Maybe not a good one, but it was intentional. 🙂
Thanks for the good words, everyone. Glad the page had the desired impact!
This is getting better and better. I can hardly wait for Monday mornings. Thanks
Boeing had that in mind when they left the auto-pilot disconnect button on the wheel.
Airbusses and their fancy-pansy side stick…well, you take your chances…
F-GZCP…A.I. gone crazy over the south Atlantic June 01 2009, no way to disconnect…
Electric and electronic circuitries have an infallible logic with always three or four fail safe back up systems built in.
Until you have a power surge…then all deals are off.
This drawing is a little too realistic for me.
Just like in an aircraft simulator, when we screw up when the controls freeze(you still have either engine power(more and-or less of it) and trim for pitch control…you get behind the curve and you die for five seconds.
The difference being that instead of being vaporized, the windscreens go blank, the dome light turn on and a voice behind say:”You guys done it again!”…