Love Space #2: Behind the Scenes

Welcome, my lovely patrons! I hope you enjoyed the second issue of Love Space! I certainly had fun making it. I am quite pleased with the results. Finally Love Space is a series and not just a prospective series!

It's time to dig into the creative process on Love Space #2!

The Cover:

I wanted a sexy play on holding up two fingers while keeping the tone similar to the first issue's cover. I also didn't want to spoil anything that happens in the book. It's not my favorite cover ever, but I think it sells the concept pretty well. Who knows, I might release a variant cover on this one.

The Recap Page:

I didn't want anyone to feel left out if they didn't remember all the specifics of Love Space #1, so a recap page was necessary. Instead of just cropping panels from the OG, I decided that redrawing them to bring them up to my standards at the moment would be better. Especially since the original comic was mainly black and white. I think when Love Space #3 comes out I'll likely do the same thing.

Writing:

I took a different approach for the Love Space script this time. Instead of just writing all the beats out in a text file, I also typed them out right on the page. That way every page felt a little fresh and I could sort of simulate the "page turns" of the book. Here's an example:

I had a few ideas of how this story would go. One version involved Fii'Nix possessing Adam's dad and making him into a drag queen, but I figured that wouldn't really fit the mall aesthetic and then Jenny wouldn't have much to do in the plot. Another version saw Nix/Scum being more of a willing union where the two try to make Lee'sa/Adam's life a living hell, but I felt like that would have been too complex. Besides, Scum hasn't had a chance to have his (her?) arc yet.

The Aesthetic:

Chromatic Aberration is all over this comic. Thanks Clip Studio Paint! I wanted to evoke a certain bygone era of mall culture. Not that Love Space is set in the late 90's-early 00's or anything, but it's not exactly 2024 either. I used chromatic aberration to invoke VHS and pre-digital printing of the time. I'm not sure what Love Space #3 is going to look like, but I doubt it will be as heavy on the aberration.

In addition to visual filters of the past, I also referenced from old comics. The 'Nix/Scum vs Lee'sa/Adam fight scene was a nod to a similar scene in from Jack Kirby's splendid second run on Captain America back in the 60s. Kirby's action was always so dynamic and yet matter-of-fact where you can see the wind up to each blow. I wanted to give that a try.

Adam and Lee'sa's fusion was a direct reference to Dragon Ball Z's fusion dance. Akira Toriyama was one of my major influences as a young artist and his sudden passing earlier this year strengthened my resolve to make the art I want to make. Whenever a hero of mine passes away, I try to take away a lesson from their life. In that small way I feel I am carrying on their spirit.

Love Space is a direct reference to Trans Venus by Hisao Tamaki, but I think I've taken the premise far enough that I can now call it a reference instead of a ripoff.

The Future:

I already have plans for Love Space #3 and #4. I think 4 is where this particular story will end. The dominoes are set up for some sexy thrills: Adam is in a new form that's a bit more masculine than his last, but only slightly. 'Nix stole Jenny away, using her ample amount of love energy to teleport. Scum has been changed by his experience. Oh, and Lee'sa has eyes now so that's weird.

With each issue of Love Space I want to focus on a different kind of love. Issue 1 was about self-love and the different forms that takes. Issue 2 was about the love between friends and the trust that goes into being a friend. Issue 3 will be about familial love and the blurred lines between duty and devotion. As for Issue 4, well you'll just have to see ;)

Conclusion:

Love Space is a series dear to my heart. I intend to make issue #3 by the end of this year, but no promises. With the changing landscape of NSFW art on the internet, who knows where we'll be in 6 months? It's impossible to plan around the capricious whims of congress so I'm just going to keep my head down and keep drawing. And I hope you'll be there, my lovely patrons, to keep reading.

Thanks you so much for your support! I know I say it all the time, but I literally couldn't be doing this without you.