Time Out: a 24 Hour Comics Day Story
THE DARE:
To create a complete 24 page comic book in 24 continuous hours.
That means everything: Story, finished art, lettering, color (if applicable), paste-up, everything. Once pen hits paper, the clock starts ticking. 24 hours later, the pen lifts off the paper, never to descend again. Even proofreading has to occur in the 24 hour period. (Computer-generated comics are fine of course, same principles apply).
No sketches, designs, plot summaries or any other kind of direct preparation can precede the 24 hour period. Indirect preparation such as assembling tools, reference materials, food, music etc. is fine.
Your pages can be any size, any material. Carve them in stone, print them with rubber stamps, draw them on your kitchen walls with a magic marker. Whatever you makes you happy.
The 24 hours are continuous. You can take a nap, but the clock keeps ticking. If you get to 24 hours and you’re not done, either end it there (“the Gaiman Variation”) or keep going until you’re done (“the Eastman Variation”). I consider both of these “Noble Failure” Variants and true 24 hour comics in spirit; but you must sincerely intend to do the 24 pages in 24 hours at the outset.
That was one of the most impressive 24 hour comics I’ve read. Considering you hadn’t written a script for it before you started, the story flowed well and wrapped things up nicely at the end. Well done! I know how tricky this challenge can be from personal experience, probably having failed the challenge more often than successfully completing it. The drawing of the robot and Mammoth fight was particularly good. So did you manage to complete the task within the 24 hours?
I’ve been reading through your archives from the first issue since I found your site a few nights ago and have thus far been thoroughly been enjoying the ride. Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading the next instalment in the Cy-boar saga; although, now instead of reading an issue in one go I’m going to have to wait to be drip fed the pages! Well I can’t complain too much considering I’m getting the stories for free. 😉
I’m glad you liked the 24 HCD! I did draw and write all of that during the 24 hours. I had some ideas for the story ahead of time though, but only vague concepts in some notes, no art or text.
If only I could update Cy-Boar that quickly!
If you’d like something less “free” I’ve still got a few copies of Cy-Boar volume 1 for sale, and several of the more recent issues in print too!
Well done. I hate time travel stories, but it mostly works. by rights a time loop like that should degrade his genetics a little every time until he dies at some point or fails to step through the hole in time, but it’s a good result for 24 hours.
I am my own grandpa! A classic and always true. ;^)