BODY. DOUBLE. (pages 17-20)

These pages were effectively ones that I already was able to plan (unlike the previous three), because it’s easier for me when you know what the climax is to try to actually, like, build to that. But also… I feel like, because of how I was trying to work with page turns here, I feel like this is the one biggest spots in the whole comic where I didn’t properly pace it correctly, giving too much space to some parts, and not enough space to others.

Originally on page 17, I DID intend for you to be able to hear Anaïs mumbling as she approaches from behind, and then on page 18, I intended for her to scream ANAÏS! The issue was, I could not write the word Anaïs in a way that I felt did not cover up her mouth like a shit ton, and so I opted for her to just be completely hoarse, instead. I think it DOES work, as she has lost her voice within the industry, effectively, even though she is still trying to fight for herself.

(This is also the first time we see that the Agent has cat eyes — obviously this is INCREDIBLY Wesker-coded, but I wanted to hint at these wild experiments they’ve been doing, and that he is inhuman in his capitalistic urges)

But the pacing issue does come in page 18 - I feel like I should have had the OH MY GOD panel pushed back to page 17, because I think that would have contributed better to the page turns, pushed her mouth to the TOP of page 18, and then started the attack on Leather Anaïs at the bottom of the same page, giving her a page and a half to do so. Honestly, I don’t think it is THAT big of a deal, all things considered, but it IS something that made me go, “Awww,” once I had finished drawing the book hahahaha.

Page 19 was a lot of fun, even though I don’t know how clear what’s going on actually is; like, I included this question mark and exclamation point down at the bottom by Regular Anaïs’ fucked up face to show that she didn’t intend for this, but I assume due to contrast, most people don’t even catch it. She was really just trying to be like, “YOU BITCH,” and then they became fused together. But whatever! The energy is here! Really wanted to push the angles, too, since the majority of the book was so very ordered, so that you can actually feel that RUSH. And then to end on Wesker-Agent’s face, pale white, to turn the page and gaze upon this horrific mound of flesh with awe.

Page 20 is a WEAPON X reference, and I don’t think anyone has noticed it yet, or at least ever mentioned it to me hahaha. I think the way that book approaches the HORROR aspect of Body Horror really stuck with me, and so I felt like having such a primal, guttural wail would fit in nicely here - and it does! This is also obviously the only time I use color in the whole comic. That was very intentional, and was basically planned from the start - I always want my important pages to like SMACK YOU with rage and energy, in any way they can!

I WILL say what was super hard about this page, though, was figuring out how the bodies fused, since they are both still wearing clothes. It’s like, Leather Anaïs got sucked into the other half of Regular Anaïs and so her clothing is now fused with Anaïs’ skin. Try thinking about that when your character is wearing a jacket hahaha. I just kind of decided to avoid that as an issue by just… not discussing it hahaha. But it IS one of those things that made me just like Hmmmmmm….

Hoped you all found this fun and super enlightening! I think I will just have one more entry to finish up the book, and then it is time to start collecting them! ☺️☺️☺️