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THE VALIANT #1 PAGES 16-17. 2014. Ink(ed by Joe Rivera) on bristol board with digital color, 22 × 17″. |
If you've followed my work over the past dozen years, you know how seriously I take composition and reference. Sound effects are as much a part of a successful image as lighting or anatomy — and I take them just as seriously. Aside from their patent use as visual representations of audible sensations, they have other benefits that are frequently ignored.
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It's easy to tell when I'm concentrating. |
I often joke that a good sound effect is one that covers up something that you don't want to draw. But the truth is, they can operate on many levels, providing guidance to the viewer as they navigate through a scene. Because effects read in a particular direction — even the more fanciful "words" — you can use them to counter the flow of what's going on behind them...
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inks by my Pops, with digital holds and tone |
... or in front. Sound effects are fantastic for playing with space — their abstract nature allows for far more experimentation with layering than with subject matter bounded by the laws of nature. Even comic book physics must obey certain rules to feel naturalistic.
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cyan print of pencils |
In this double-page spread, I've used the effects in 2 ways: first as a panel border, then as a motion trail of sorts. Having a physical object to interact with the figure was extremely helpful here, giving me the opportunity to manipulate the scene to get just the right angle.
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digital layout |