#ken maka

[idrawprettyboys]

Maybe you guys can help me out with this. After drawing the comic storyboards, I wrote out the first chapter in novel format, in which I added a backstory for Ken during this scene. Now I’m trying to figure out how to incorporate this narration into the manga panels. Should I try to convert the novel’s narration into first person while showing snippets of Ken’s life? Or should I simply have the narration amongst the panels where he’s climbing the monkey bars?

[idrawprettyboys]

The four main characters have been inked! I have two more very important characters to draw in the background, but for now, here are descriptions of the characters you see here (from left to right):

Rei: Compassionate handmaid and love interest of Queen Crystal of Maka. Rei came to Earth to get assistance from Makan refugees to rescue the Queen from Rhelzhar. She sends Mimi and Ken to Maka to collect the keys and save the Queen.

Mimi: An athletic, headstrong girl who always strives for success! …except when it comes to her grades. She mooches off of her best friend Ken’s homework, but when it comes to physical activity, she’s the champ! She’s always eager to test her limits, so when she was asked to collect keys to rescue the queen of Maka, she couldn’t refuse the challenge!

Ken: A shy, booksmart boy who’s always walking in the shadow of his best friend, Mimi. Though he’s the brains to Mimi’s brawn, Ken tends to feel inferior to his friend, since his frequent health problems cause him to not be as physically fit as his friend. When Rei asks him to collect keys to rescue the queen, Ken hopes that this will be his chance to prove himself.

Costen: A mysterious young man who Mimi and Ken found in a forest. Costen lives off the land, distant from his father. As a result of living alone, he’s become quite responsible. With leadership and survival skills, Mimi and Ken can always count on him to get them out of a difficult situation, be it physical conflict or one of the heart.

[idrawprettyboys]

I’m inking the characters in the foreground before drawing the background, so they don’t get smeared in the process.

[idrawprettyboys]

Ken Maka reference sheet!

Ken is a shy studious boy, around 10-12 years old. He dreams of one day becoming a sailor like his father. He has a crush on his best friend, Mimi. He feels insecure about being weak and slow compared to her, but he learns to realize that his strength lies in his intelligence, creativity, and bravery! He travels to the alternate dimension of Maka with Mimi to collect keys and free the Makan princess!

[idrawprettyboys]

Some redesigns of characters from a comic I made when I was 10! I'm still tweaking them now. I already changed Costen's design since scanning this picture. You can see his new design in another post. I'm very happy with Mimi and Ken's designs. Their style is exactly what I imagine my child self had envisioned.