Among the many stages of comic book production, one of the most important is design, and that's where a layout comes in. A layout is a raw sketch done very quickly. It is usually done by a writer or art director as a means of communicating to an artist who will do the actual artwork what the final image should look like.

In this case, since I was writing the story and already had established a track record of drawing the characters, I was asked to come up with suggestions for the covers of the series. Below left, you can click on the layout to get a better view of what artist Pat Spaziante had to work with. Below right, you can click on the cover for a better view of the finished piece which Pat had pencilled and inked by me.

For the artists in the audience, I use a brush when inking the characters or any organic-type items such as grass and trees, while relying on rapidographs (or technical pens, as some would call them) for a hi-tech look or items requiring a very shape edge. I may even use a croquil pen, and even an airbrush when the occasion warrants.

LAYOUT	COVER

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