This week, I'm fulfilling a request from a few folks out there who want to know how I do what I do (which is draw cartoons, in case you haven't been paying attention). For those of you who couldn't care less, scroll to the end to read a Nodwick cartoon strip that was published in Dragon Magazine a few months ago. For the rest of you, let's get started:

   First, I draw the boxes that will enclose the strip. I made a plastic template that I trace to get the borders in pencil, which I then go over with a pen.

   Next, I pencil the text. I do this first so I can see what area is left for my drawings.

   Then, I use a line guide to make the horizontal lines under the text (the guide is a plastic device that one runs across a straight edge with a pencil. Kind of like a linear spirograph). This is so when I ink the text, it won't have an uneven baseline.

   Now, I ink the text and add the boxes that contain the directional text. I've erased my pencils.

   A few quick pencil figures show where the characters are going to go. I often change camera angles to allow both the dialogue and the "actors" to be seen. The drawings are simple enough that I can easily change them if I feel they need modification.

   Happy with the placement, I add more detail to the pencils.

   Here, I've done the basic contours with pen. These are my heaviest and most important lines.

   Crosshatching comes next. This adds texture to hair, reflections to metal, etc. Yes, I cribbed a lot from the costumes of Magneto and Iron Man.

   Lastly, I add the color with Photoshop. Yeah, I'm glossing over a lot, but coloring these things would take up another page or two. Besides, I'll have to ask the cartoonist's guild before I can give away ALL of my secrets...