It’s been a while since I had any Kung Fu students. It’s not for lack of my offering to teach, just lack of interest from anyone in being taught. But I can still dust off my Sifu skills with Shaolin Nun as I work with Greg to create the look of our book.
As we’re working on page 1, here is the script for the last 4 panels on the page:
Panel 4: MEI YIN has walked over to the gate.
7. MEI YIN: <You are likely rolling your punch downward. You need to throw it straight--Like an arrow.>
Panel 5: MEI YIN and has taken a fighting stance in front of the gate.
8. MEI YIN: <Observe.>
Panel 6: MEI YIN has struck the top board of the gate, and broken through it.
9. SFX: CRACK
Panel 7: Widen out to show the nuns gathered around her. MEI YIN is smiling. The other nuns are laughing. Behind them, the two elder nuns have been joined by BAI LIANHUA. All are smiling in appreciation.
10. MEI YIN: <Practice that. But test your punch against a punching bag before you decide to break a board. Otherwise the board might break you.>
11. NUNS (ALL): Ha Ha Ha Ha!
And here are the initial pencils for those panels:
I replied:
“In panel five, she won't be "reared back" to punch. Kung Fu punches bring their power from the hips, not the shoulders.
“In panel 7, bring the nuns closer to Mei Yin and have them laughing at her joke. Turn her head the other direction, so her eye-line isn't at the observing masters.
“When the board gets broken, it would have a single split in the middle, but would be blown outwards. So you could have one side dangling off a single nail on the gate and the other folded out, or something like that.”
As we talked about what that would look like, it prompted the following “Sifu wisdom”:
”She'll be in a left-lead stance. Her left leg forward and her left hand out. 60% of her weight will be on her right leg, 40% on her left. Her right hand will be at chest height, and parallel to her elbow. Both palms will be open. When she strikes, she will shift her weight forward with her hips, transferring 60% of her weight to her left leg. Her right hand will close into a firm fist and shoot out, like an arrow. Her left hand will pull back to chest height and stop parallel with her right elbow. Her shoulders stay in alignment with her hips, so when her right hip rocks forward, her shoulder will mirror that. She won't throw her shoulder, as that's a good way to ensure you get thrown painfully by your opponent.”
So, first the thumbnail correction of panel’s 5 & 6:
And the finished pencils:
Although her hands are closed, the stance is correct, and the board gets a clean break.
I’m always charmed by Greg’s depiction of nun’s laughing (as you can see in panel 7). Here’s a great example from the first issue, page 10, panel 4:
So we’re getting started.
The Kickstarter funded successfully—higher than the previous two campaigns, which means I can now afford to pay my talented artists and bring this issue to life! I’ll share more nuggets like this as we progress.