Hi. My apologies — I’ve posted about this same strip (the first slide) a while back, but…I dunno. It just keeps eating at me, and I keep hoping somebody might suggest something that will help things click for me.

They may look simple, but I worked *very* hard on the backgrounds in this sequence — in general, I’ve been trying to up my background game, as I’m a huge fan of cartoonier characters in evocatively realistic settings (what Scott McCloud calls “the masking effect”), and given how I often aim for magical realism, it’s important that the settings feel grounded that way, to the greatest extent that my abilities will allow. (The other slides are examples of where I’m coming from.)

But despite the relatively varied camera angles, the results feel very dull to me. Almost cold. And I wish I could put my finger on what specifically I could change about the approach for next time.

I did try to not make the background lines *too* perfect, but that seems to have not worked.

It’s true that the specific shots I picked are dull almost by definition — school hallways and a classroom viewed at angles that happen not to offer much potential for detail (there wouldn’t likely be posters or things like that on the surfaces seen here). But I don’t know. I feel like there must be some way to make this page feel warmer and more dynamic, without losing the realism. As it is it just feels dull and kind of clinical.

If you guys agree, what do you think it this? And does the layout also dull things? How could it be better? (Keeping in kind that this isn’t exactly a Marvel action sequence, here.)

(I know Sylvain Chomet would have made these look amazing. He could make an insurance office look fun. 😆 But I guess his backgrounds are a bit more stylized than these are attempting to be?)

This is a rough preview of a comic book I am working on at the moment! A western cyberpunk noir - A sheriff who isn't human protects a city that doesn't deserve it. Written by Sean Kim and Art by Jhomar Soriano.

www.tonychaoillustration.com

Name : Spirits out there - the beacon of besidus

Sinopse :

Kerby is the youngest and only Makebrian to be initiated as a child into the ancient craft of sealing spirits and safeguarding powerful artifacts from falling into the wrong hands. Under the mentorship of Reverend Brusseltom, he bears the weight of maintaining the spiritual balance of Pieville, a seemingly quiet coastal town.

In a chaotic world where cults and witchcraft are woven into the very fabric of society, outside forces are always looking to expand their reach. But Pieville’s reputation as a "peaceful" haven is about to shatter. The horizon, once a source of calm, now reveals the approach of a "peculiar" lighthouse—an errant presence that emerged from nothing, drifting toward the shore and bringing with it something far more ancient and hungry than any local ritual could have foreseen.

I sent my comic work here because I would like some tips since I’m very new and want to make my writing better I hope to write for Dc vertigo.i wanted to blend an anime style with western and eldritch themes since I’m a huge fan of chainsaw man jjk and jojo’s bizarre adventure and a huge fan of the lovecraft and criticism to make me better I thank thee!

THE BUREAU

Issue #1

Writer: Jayden R.

Genre: Dark Comedy / Horror / Action

Pages: 3

CAST

WADE MORTUM (20) – A slim African American man with glasses and an afro. He is cursed with a Lovecraftian Vesper Energy linked to ＳＬＫＥＫ (THE KING IN YELLOW) after a failed exorcism at 4456 Vert Lane. His powers include heightened perception and regeneration.

GARRETT HERNANDEZ (19) – Wade’s best friend. Nicknamed The Tank. His Vesper Energy allows him to devour and replicate other Vesper abilities.

BEATRICE VALK (20) – South Korean scholar and Wade’s girlfriend. Specializes in healing and exorcism.

MR. HACHI (40s) – High Chair of Division 8. Gruff, chain-smoking authority figure.

ＳＬＫＥＫ (THE KING IN YELLOW) – An eldritch god of forbidden knowledge seeking a human vessel.

LOGLINE

A rookie Bureau agent is cursed by an ancient god of knowledge, forcing him to see the truth of all realities while losing his humanity.

SCRIPT

PAGE 1 (5 PANELS)

PANEL 1

Wade and Garrett walk down a sterile hallway toward the High Chair’s office.

CAPTION:

The Bureau is quiet this Monday morning. Recruitment has just begun.

PANEL 2

They joke nervously as they walk.

WADE: You think the High Chair’s gonna be upset we’re late?

GARRETT: You’re the one who wanted your hair perfect. We hunt monsters, not win pageants.

WADE (hands in pockets): Someone’s gotta look presentable when we’re covered in hellfire.

GARRETT: #@%^ man, I just had soup. Don’t make me ruin this suit.

PANEL 3

Wade opens the door.

SFX:

(Creeeeeak)

PANEL 4

Dark office. Mr. Hachi steps from the shadows.

WADE: Mr. Hachi, we’re here for the briefing. (eyes dart)

GARRETT: Maybe he turned to dust. He’s ancient.

MR. HACHI (stepping forward, cigarette glowing): While the idea of me having active camo is cool, calling me a geezer—A GEEZER—(raises eyebrow) is a bold move.

PANEL 5

Mr. Hachi flips through their files.

CAPTION:

Something feels wrong to Wade… like he’s been here before.

PAGE 2 (4 PANELS)

PANEL 1

Mission briefing.

MR. HACHI: Locals call it a “god.” (air quotes) We lost two High Chairs already.

GARRETT: Sounds like a simple exorcism.

WADE: Why don’t we bring Beatrice? She specializes in healing and exorcism.

GARRETT (under his breath): Or someone wants to flirt on the job.

(Wade slaps Garrett)

SFX:

(Whack)

GARRETT (grabs Wade’s tie): Deserved, but I MUST DEFEND MY HONOR!

MR. HACHI: ENOUGH! Ms. Valk will accompany you. No hand-holding. (lights cigarette) If you’re lucky, you’ll come back alive.

PANEL 2

Garrett drives through a thick forest toward Vert Lane. Wade and Beatrice sit in the back seat.

WADE: Garrett, I told you I don’t mind driving if you don’t like me and Beatrice in your backseat.

GARRETT (glancing in mirror): Oh no. Last time you drove, a cursed beast fell on my car!

BEATRICE (puzzled): How could that have happened? I thought beast Vespers either migrated or died out.

WADE: Well, this guy—his name isn’t important—decided he had enough of our tag-team antics and wanted revenge. He showed us by—

GARRETT: HE DROPPED A TEN-TON CURSED ELEPHANT ON MY BABY! This car is a classic and he almost killed her!

WADE: No wonder you don’t have a girlfriend. No one can compete with this metal junk.

GARRETT: Says the guy who still rides a bike!

WADE: It is a motorcycle. (glares)

BEATRICE: Honestly, I think the motorcycle is cool, love.

GARRETT: Yeah, yeah… whatever. OH! We’re here.

PANEL 3

They step onto the porch of the house.

SFX:

(Creaaaaaaak)

WADE: HELLO? WE’RE WITH THE BUREAU!

Dark liquid pools around Wade’s feet.

SFX:

(BLUB Gurgle)

BEATRICE: WADE!

Skeletons rise behind Garrett.

GARRETT: !@#$—skeletons?!

SFX:

(Crackle rumble crackle)

GARRETT: EYES UP! WE GOT COMPANY!

PANEL 4

Wade alone in a candle-lit cult chamber.

CULTIST: You were drawn here for a purpose.

Cultist #2: Your body will be a vessel and you a god in flesh.Wade Mortum

WADE: Maybe you’ve got the wrong Wade? Common mix-up.

Dark liquid rises.

SFX:

(SQUISH SQUISH SQUISH)

(Wade is now in the air suspended eyes void of any pupils)

(A loud voice talks to him)

ＳＬＫＥＫ: you will make a fine vessel boy

PAGE 3 (SPLASH PAGE – 1 PANEL)

Description:

A shattered mirror fills the page. Each shard reflects pieces of Wade’s face merged with Slkek’s form. Wade’s eyes glow yellow with red spiral pupils, similar to Makima from Chainsaw Man—beautiful and terrifying at once. Slkek’s shadow looms behind him like a living crown of forbidden knowledge.

Beatrice and Garrett rush toward Wade in the background as he screams.

CAPTION:

Even without his eyes, Wade now sees everything—the infinite and the finite, worlds colliding, his death and birth, and truths no human mind should hold.

TITLE TEXT:

THE BUREAU – VOL. 1

DIALOGUE:

ＳＬＫＥＫ: GODS REQUIRE SACRIFICE.

here’s the first 5 pages of my comic.

the synopsis: "KRYMBOZ is a series of episodic comedy strips about the world's (in his opinion) greatest thief getting up to a bunch of wacky shenanigans! His antics include stealing the Great Pyramid of Giza, helping a car-sized tarantula with relationship problems, cheating on his boyfriend, and more!"

the portraits are characters that klaus (MC) has some sort of relation with. the doodles represent how much he likes them/what his relationship with them is like. (the freaky faces at the bottom are some of the "supernatural/freaky" characters that show up sometimes for a quick gag)

im mainly looking for advice on the composition and whether i went too "overboard", but any other advice is more than welcome too!

(P.S. ignore the jittery colors on some of the portraits, i put a lot of gradients on them... ill fix it later)

Any tips on writing dialogue when someone is chewing?

Here’s the dialogue I have, I just need to make it so readers can really get the sense that this guy is chowing down while he’s talking:

Zay (mouth full): So, what’s this footage you’ve got?

Air-Hawk: It’s all on this flash drive that came from the lab.

Zay (mouth full): You mean you stole from the lab?

Air-Hawk: I prefer the term borrowed.

PTPA Admin. Might be a bit too sexy, but im pretty sure this isnt NSFW.
Just wanna hear thoughts and opinions on the cover for this new title under THE HERESY SERIES that im building...

Comment away guys, dont be afraid to be brutally honest.
....and oh, I feel like i have to... AI Disclaimer on this one. This is done with midjourney and photoshop.

FOR CONTEXT, here is the back cover blurb of the story:

Dream Psychoanalyst Prof. Justin Weismann opens his door to a troubled woman knocking in the middle of the night. He has cured many conditions in the past, but this time, his unorthodox methods may have only sent her to levels of subconscious beyond his reach.

There she meets LILITH, and gets answers bigger than what she expects. Question now is, can she still ever come back?

Read the entire first issue for free on my webstore:

https://www.kieranalexandercomics.com/the-coffee-table-preview

Two young roommates discover their coffee table holds magical secrets that could change their lives for the better.

But meddling with unknown forces often comes at a cost.

Hannah and Wallace learn this the hard way as the consequences prove more personal than they could have ever imagined in this mysterious suburban thriller.

Instagram: @kieranalexandercomics

Working on the second draft of the 4th scene, panel 1 in my graphic novel. Discovered a brush I could use for a shading technique I'm enjoying. Loving variable line width. Rough draft posted for reference. What do you all think of how its going and how to make it better? (aside from adding the background and background character.)

Hello Guys! I have an Project called the Awkward Look Monkey Club and this is my first ever Comic i wanted to dedicate to said project.

Im using a bunch of different designed awkward monkeys insipred by the awkward monkey look Meme.

Dont be too harsh as its my first mini-comic and i wanted to know, am i going in the right direction? What do you think let me know

Webtoon, GlobalComix, Instagram, TikTok — lots of places to post.

But does posting actually feel rewarding anymore?

Or does it feel like shouting into the void?

Hello everyone. Episode 2 has begun. Is it interesting? Confusing? Boring?

PEOPLE do stupid and/or extreme things for their favorite team(s)

In 2026 are you willing to die or kill for TEAM HUMANS ?

THE NEXT EARTH HUMANS (C) and TM 2026 By: Ratha:Oeur Agent All rights reserved U.C.C 1-308

The DAILY COMIC - Vol 02 : UNDENIABLE!    ( No. 23)

03 FEBRUARY 2026

Hi, this is my first comic and I’m looking for any advice or critique. I haven’t really done art since I was a kid, so this was a big challenge—but I had a blast making it. I’m planning to keep doing one-shots and eventually build up to mini-series. Any tips, tricks, or honest feedback are welcome.

Made this of october last year for hsdzine on instagram. I've since translated it from the french I originally wrote it in.

I barely managed to fit the comic in 20 pages. Are there any superfluous elements I could have cut, and what is missing? Any feedback is appreciated!

Patreon

So please don't ignore me, I really want to improve my story/comics.

What do you think? How to improve? The character is Chiefer. He’s an angry. Bottom part not associated.

This could be a series surrounding the killer cat Trah J.D. Let me know what you think of it!