Tales From The Clone Wars - JKA comic

[Kualan]

This was being spoken of in another thread, but I didn't want to hijack it so thought I would set this up here.

 

I make a fan comic set in the Clone Wars, and create it using a combination of Jedi Academy and Empire at War assets. 

 

JKA (particularly ModView) are the main programs used to make the comic, and it is through making this comic that I took up creating skins for various characters I wanted to feature. Though these days I try to skin as much as I can (the Captain Rex skin and some of the other clones are my work for example) I keep an extensive Credits page on the comic's site for all the models and maps I use in the course of indulging this little geeky hobby.

 

Though some of you might get a kick out of this, and if you like the above you can check out the rest of the comic (24 issues have been uploaded so far, making up 2 Volumes) at http://talesfromtheclonewars.net

 

Update 8th July 2017: Photobucket has decided to mimic ransomware and disable all 3rd party hosting (such as forums) unless their users update to a $400 a year account so I've made the full jump to Imgur now. Pain in the ass though it was to do so, I'm glad Photobucket finally gave him a last excuse to leave behind their slow, bugged uploading system.

 

I've reuploaded the back catalogue for the first three volumes to Imgur and all issues can now be found at the following links:

 

VOLUME ONE 

 

Issue One - The Hypori Pursuit, Part One: https://jkhub.org/albums/Kofbm

Issue Two - The Hypori Pursuit, Part Two: https://jkhub.org/albums/I2RJJ

Issue Three - Past Grievances: https://jkhub.org/albums/MD71u

Issue Four - Devaronian Dealings: https://jkhub.org/albums/QxMmk

Issue Five - Way Of The Sith: https://jkhub.org/albums/rDlP0

Issue Six - A Single Spark: https://jkhub.org/albums/233vM

Issue Seven - Clash On Concord Dawn, Part One: https://jkhub.org/albums/HxcBm

Issue Eight - Clash On Concord Dawn, Part Two: https://jkhub.org/albums/jTy0h

Issue Nine - Broken Alliance: https://jkhub.org/albums/yJgiW

Issue Ten - Fallout: https://jkhub.org/albums/j5eCB

Issue Eleven - Vengeance: https://jkhub.org/albums/uZaCD

Issue Twelve - Justice, Part One: https://jkhub.org/albums/a2Cpr

Issue Thirteen - Justice, Part Two: https://jkhub.org/albums/vhAFp

Issue Fourteen - Justice, Part Three: https://jkhub.org/albums/4UUEz

Issue Fifteen - Justice, Part Four: https://jkhub.org/albums/UY6pz

 

VOLUME TWO

 

Issue One - The New Frontier: https://jkhub.org/albums/cUPMJ

Issue Two - The False Champion: https://jkhub.org/albums/icQ4e

Issue Three - Butcher Of The Outer Rim: https://jkhub.org/albums/KYthJ

Issue Four - Confessions: https://jkhub.org/albums/xpeIV

Issue Five - Descent, Part One: https://jkhub.org/albums/g44k2

Issue Six - Descent, Part Two: https://jkhub.org/albums/Pbfqp

Issue Seven - Descent, Part Three: https://jkhub.org/albums/7vwqr

Issue Eight - Fugitive: https://jkhub.org/albums/JTVvl

Issue Nine - Hutt Diplomacy: https://jkhub.org/albums/PPmMj

Issue Ten - Horrors Of War: https://jkhub.org/albums/tz6Vn

Issue Eleven - Intrigue: https://jkhub.org/albums/vFSeK

Issue Twelve - Cutting Ties: https://jkhub.org/albums/V2N7k

Issue Thirteen - Echoes Of The Past, Part One: https://jkhub.org/albums/iVIYk

Issue Fourteen - Echoes Of The Past, Part Two: https://jkhub.org/albums/E6O2X

Issue Fifteen - Echoes Of The Past, Part Three: https://jkhub.org/albums/g4M2j

 

VOLUME THREE

 

Issue One - Brothers In Arms: https://jkhub.org/albums/ZnIhb

Issue Two - Conspiracy On Coruscant: https://jkhub.org/albums/Up7zi

Issue Three - Crisis And Opportunities: https://jkhub.org/albums/3pJP4

Issue Four - Machinations: https://jkhub.org/albums/Mqw7S

Issue Five - Den Of Vice, Part One: https://jkhub.org/albums/GsBlw

Issue Six - Den Of Vice, Part Two: https://jkhub.org/albums/IQu0t

Issue Seven - Lifting The Veil: https://jkhub.org/albums/EC8DT

[therfiles]

I've already had a chance to read through Kualan's work, and it is so awesome! Each page is done so beautifully, and the story is especially good. If I were to choose a favorite, it would be volume 2, for sure. Can't wait for volume 3!

[minilogoguy18]

Their faces need expression.

[MagSul]

Looks awesome, will be checking it out!

 

I do agree somewhat with @@minilogoguy18, the comic's style is excellent but the lack of facial expression is letting it down.

 

Regardless, definitely seems worth keeping up with!

[Kualan]

Thanks for the nice words folks!

RE - facial expression, definitely something I want to work on. Over the course of the comic I've learned new Photoshopping tips and tricks and it shows; lightsaber duels look better, motion is conveyed more stylishly, etc, but facial expression remains an enigma. Anybody with a proficiency in Photoshopping know any good tips for how to do it in a way that doesn't come across looking like a Robot Chicken cartoon? 

[Kualan]

Managed to find an interesting Photoshop tool to use to solve the above query.

 

For anyone ever needing such a thing, the Liquify tool under 'Filters' is tremendously useful for altering facial expressions and what have you.

[Kualan]

I forgot to update this thread, Volume Three has begun to be "published", with three issues uploaded to the site so far. Managing to get up an issue every 5 days so far, and will probably keep to that schedule for the next issue. No idea about beyond that, depends on the sort of technical scale future issues require (big battle scenes take more time than one-on-one conversations as you might guess!)

 

Have also tried to introduce facial expression based on feedback in this topic. I haven't gone overboard with it so as not to disturb the established style of the comic, but hopefully the new approach is an improvement, and is something I can continue to tweak and improve as time goes by.

[Odeyseis]

Wow... This is very cool and very well done. My respect to you. How long have you been doing this? If may I ask.

[Circa]

Whoa, I never knew about this. This is awesome! I've been wanting to do something similar for years but never got around to it. Good work!

 

I wish you had used Toshi's Anakin instead of Haps'.

[Barricade24]

Cool. The digital skill used here is quite impressive.

[Kualan]

Wow... This is very cool and very well done. My respect to you. How long have you been doing this? If may I ask.

 

Working on it on-and-off over the past couple of years. Glad you like it!

 

 

 

Whoa, I never knew about this. This is awesome! I've been wanting to do something similar for years but never got around to it. Good work!

 

I wish you had used Toshi's Anakin instead of Haps'.

 

Heh, thanks. I don't think I was even aware of Toshi's Anakin when I started the comic, and although tempted to change over I decided to stick with it for the sake of visual continuity.

[Circa]

Working on it on-and-off over the past couple of years. Glad you like it!

 

 

 

 

Heh, thanks. I don't think I was even aware of Toshi's Anakin when I started the comic, and although tempted to change over I decided to stick with it for the sake of visual continuity.

That's probably a wise move.

[Kualan]

At the risk of being a self-plugging d-bag (answers on a postcard!), I've uploaded some more issues since this thread was last updated, in case anybody is interested!

[hleV]

The speech bubble "pointer" doesn't have to touch the talker's mouth, just point to their general direction.

[Kualan]

The speech bubble "pointer" doesn't have to touch the talker's mouth, just point to their general direction.

 

Thanks for the tip!

[Kualan]

Update:

 

The standalone website for the comic is currently down as I was unable to afford to renew it for another year in October (I have to pay for one of the premium packages because of all the image files!). I'll eventually have the site up and running again, but for those interested in following the comic's progress until then I will be posting it on the following site:

 

http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?board=115.0

[Barricade24]

Just curious, where's that Hutt model from?

[Onysfx]

These are awesome! Well done!

[Kualan]

Just curious, where's that Hutt model from?

 

The one in the above 'sample' pictures is from the Battlefront games, I believe. More recently I've used Hutt models from Star Wars Galaxies and even Star Wars Kinect too.

 

 

These are awesome! Well done!

 

Thanks!

[Circa]

Update:

 

The standalone website for the comic is currently down as I was unable to afford to renew it for another year in October (I have to pay for one of the premium packages because of all the image files!). I'll eventually have the site up and running again, but for those interested in following the comic's progress until then I will be posting it on the following site:

 

http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?board=115.0

Couldn't you just link to the images from elsewhere instead of hosting them? I'm assuming that's what you mean by premium package because of the image files.

 

[Kualan]

Couldn't you just link to the images from elsewhere instead of hosting them? I'm assuming that's what you mean by premium package because of the image files.

 

It's a good suggestion, I'll keep it in mind thanks.

[Circa]

It's a good suggestion, I'll keep it in mind thanks.

It was more of a question. Is that why you need the "premium package", to host the images?

 

[Kualan]

It was more of a question. Is that why you need the "premium package", to host the images?

 

Ha! Sorry. Yes, that's why I need to pay for a premium package, as I upload the images directly to the site. But linking from a free photo hosting site could resolve that.

[Lunarstars]

That's awesome comic, the pages are really good edited  .

[eezstreet]

Off topic: thread title reminded me of:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nmFBelyMCCE