dotGif

So as yesturday was our 100th dotGif comic we’ve decided to celebrate with a veritble smorgasboard of content for you this week.
John gave you a look behind the scenes yesturday at the drawing process. So today I give you a look at writing process and an exclusive never before seen extended script for one of our strips. Specifically that of our oddly prescient third comic, and still one of my favourites Death’s Interview (or as we refer to it Life after Death part 1).

Here is how the process for writing a comic normally goes, I think of an idea, I write something based on that idea, I send it to John, he explains why 2 pages of text won’t fit into 3 panels and we start cutting stuff out.

To highlight that here is the full (or as close as I can find) version of the comic script, including an obvious nod to the work of Terry Pratchett.

Interviewer:So tell me a little about your previous job experience.

Death:I was the alpha and the omega, that to which all things must turn, the ultimate equalizer, to me one life was but a mere fading specks dwarfed by the majesty of the infinite timescape.

Interviewer:So like accounting or management?

Death:More like humane resources.

Interviewer:So you’ve worked in an office before?

Death:Imagine an office of infinite size. A monument to suffering filled with the despair of billions.

Interviewer:Oh, a call center. Any other skills worth mentioning?

Death:I am often the second to arrive at the scene of a crisis where my particular skills come to the fore.

Interviewer:Excellent you mean your first aid trained?

Death:I can safely say once I have arrived no further help will be required.

Interviewer:I notice you have no references listed, may I ask why?

Death:It is often difficult to get in contact with those I have worked with previously.

Interviewer:I see, do you live locally or can you commute?

Death:I exist in the space between that which is now and that which is next, I step between reality’s as easily you move from room to room, in all places from the highest mountain peak to the deepest ocean trench at all times across multiple dimensions I exist.

Interviewer: Excellent so you dont mind the parking costs?

Death: No.

Interview: Perfect, so how should we contact you to arrange a second interview?.

Death: It is rare that I am sought out, some mourn my arrival, others welcome its release, but all expect me.

Interviewer: So no mobile? email address?

Death : You could try the rite of AshkEnte that seems to work for some people.

That was then, trimmed down and corrected by John and became the near final version you see below.

I then sent my final changes to John, as show below and the final version was created.

Ok nice work on the art work spot on death, a few thoughts for your approval on the text.
Frame 1. Change the interviewers text to “So tell me a little about your previous job experience” / I think it flows better.
Frame 1. For deaths monologue thats fine, i would add 2 words tho, the sentence that starts “to me life was but a……” change it to ” to me one life was but a….” /sets up extra punchline

Frame 2. Change interviewers text to ” Sounds like human resources, in an office?” /extra punchline.
After that seems fine.

Some of the material that did’nt make it into this comic eventually became what is Life After Death : Part 2 and also shows how John’s art style has changed.

So that’s a little glimpse at the writing process, check back tomorrow for more amazing content!
T/K