Script to Comic
I’m wanting to do more posts on Substack, but struggling with what exactly to say. I don’t want to just write something to “have a post”. I want to entertain or be informative. So I thought some of you might like this. I often get asked what exactly a comic book writer does or what a comic script looks like? So I figured I would share a script and then the finished comic! You get to see some inside the process stuff!
This short comic is from The Adventures of Punk and Rock a series myself and co-creator Scott Twells have done a lot with. Six single issues and a bunch of bonus short comics!
Here is the universe in a nutshell: The Adventures of Punk and Rock follows the two title characters (Punk and Rock) two screw up space bounty hunters as well as a third main character the narrator. The Narrator not only narrates the comic, but he interacts with the reader, Punk, Rock, and only narrates the comic because he needs to pay alimony to his ex wife.
Enjoy everyone! Feel free to comment with things you want me to write about and what you thought about this post! Happy to answer any and all questions! Remember not all comic scripts are alike and there is not a “right way” to do it. Some artist prefer more description and others less. It’s about finding out what your collaborative partner wants!
The Adventures of Punk and Rock
Mega Lotto
Written by Austin Allen Hamblin
With art by Scott Twells
______________________
Page #1:
Panel #1:
Punk and Rock are loitering in the parking lot of a dirty, sleazy fuel station. Punk has his hands on his stomach.
Punk: Rock give me some credits. I’m fucking starving!
Rock: I kind of spent all of our credits..
Panel #2:
We see Punk confused and angry.
We had thirty credits twenty minutes ago when I went to take a shit. What the hell did you spend it on…?
Panel #3:
We see a timid-looking Rock who looks like a scared kid pointing off-panel.
Panel #4:
A quarter-machine ride rocket ship sits outside with painted flames on the side.
Narrator: I was going to stop him, but figured I should mind my own business. Also you know.. This is hilarious.
Panel #5:
We see Punk holding up Rock by his collar.
Punk: Rock you idiot! You literally drive a real spaceship everyday. Why did you spend all our money on that stupid ride?
Page #2:
Panel #1:
Rock breaks out of Punk’s hold.
Panel #2:
Rock shoves Punk to the ground.
Panel #3:
We see Rock standing above Punk.
Rock: It wasn’t stupid! It had flames on the side!
Narrator: I mean it does look pretty sweet. Why are you so bent out of shape about it. You’ve spent credits on way dumber stuff.
Panel #4:
Punk is really mad now.
Punk: Because I’m hungry! I also didn’t get to ride it…What the hell am I going to do for food now?
Narrator: Well you could do what you did last week.
Panel #5:
We see Punk and Rock next to each other dumbfounded.
Punk: Mud wrestle?
Rock: Squash bugs?
Punk: Huff glue?
Rock: Watch paint dry?
Punk: Bang Rock’s mom while he watches paint dry?
Page #3:
Panel #1:
A hand is on the head of both Punk and Rock making them look in the same direction.
Panel #2:
We pull the view back to them looking at an old lady alien at the checkout.
Narrator: You're going to rob an old lady!
Panel #3:
The old lady alien is just past the door exiting the fuel station with a brown paper sack of groceries.
Panel #4:
Rock is now holding the bag while Punk is opening the door to the woman’s spaceship.
Rock: Let me get that for you!
Punk: A beautiful young lady like yourself shouldn’t be carrying such a big bag by herself!
Panel #5:
The woman is now in the driver seat of her space ship while Punk and Rock remain outside it.
Woman: Well thank you so much boys! Not many good men left in the galaxy! Mother fucking cheating pieces of shit who have an affair with your tramp sister and then give you the diseases they picked up from her. Fucking pieces of shit. Anyways thanks a bunch!
Narrator: Lady you need therapy..
Page #4:
Panel #1:
We see a lotto scratcher and a book of raisins.
Narrator: Alright boys what did we score?
Narrator: A lotto ticket and raisins? Raisins look like little nut sacks and taste even worse…
Panel #2:
We see Rock inspecting the raisins and Punk holding the lottery ticket.
Rock: My nuts look nothing like this…
Narrator: might as well skratch the thing Punk maybe we’ve won a few credits.
Panel #3:
We see Punk using his robot hands finger to scratch the ticket.
Panel #4:
Ariel view looking down at the scratch off ticket which shows it is a winner of 5 million credits.
Narrator: Whoever said crime doesn’t pay is an idiot.I mean your both idiots, but now your rich idiots!
Page #5:
Panel #1:
We see both Punk and Rock jumping up in the air in excitement.
Punk: We finally did it!
Rock: After years of hard work we finally catch a break!
Narrator: “Hard work”.
Panel #2:
We see Punk looking at the back of the lotto.
Punk: Looks like to redeem this we need to take the ticket to a cashout planet.
Narrator: We passed one on the way here!
Punk: Let’s get our credits and get some grub I’m so damn hungry!
Panel #3:
We see the spaceship flying through space headed towards the cashout planet.
Panel #4:
Punk and Rock are inside what seems like a bank. There is a robot teller at the counter. They are handing him the ticket.
Robots: Hello sir and rock being how may I assist you today?
Rock: We would like to redeem this winning lottery ticket!
Panel #5:
Close up of the robots face.
Robot: Are you by any chance Punk and Rock?
Narrator: Oh shit..
Panel #6:
Close up of Rock.
Rock: The one and only well two and only…
Page #6:
Panel #1:
Pulled back view to them surrounded by police robots.
Teller Robot: Are you aware you are wanted on 12 different systems?
Punk: Fuck!
Rock: Yeah…
Narrator: You knew?
Rock: I figured we could use the credits to post bail…
Panel #2:
We see Punk and Rock in a jail cell.
Panel #3:
A guard walks in with two trays.
Guard: Meal time.
Panel #4:
We see some really gross food.
Narrator: Well at least you finally got something to eat..
You may notice the script didn’t exactly match up with the finished product. It’s a collaborative process and a lot of times changes are made to improve the comic. Some writers hold there scripts so precious, but not me I just want to make a better comic!
Honestly, I think you'd grow pretty fast sharing behind the scenes stuff pretty regularly. Make it less about what you're doing now, and more about how you've done what you've done!
It is cool to see the process of comics being made. The "fuck sake" on the shoe tread made me laugh😆