TV sketches/NEMS pt 2
I drew a load of Esther sketches last night, to warm up for Destroy History: NEMS part 2 of 3 (writing of part 2 complete as of today! Drawing starts tomorrow!) then continued to sketch until the page was full.
I've turned the 32-page NEMS rough that I've featured on the Patreon a couple of times into two 24-page issues. Well, one 24-page issue that I've finished writing, and one that I have to finish in a couple of months. I re-roughed everything, added many pages, and rewrote/restructured the old material. Put simply, the original was rushed and over-compressed. Shelving it was a watershed moment creatively - I'd never abandoned anything like that much work before - and I assembled the script for the Solver issue that replaced it (Spring Special, the one that introduces Glenn Durgan) from almost nothing in a week. Knowing I could do that was a saving grace during the Conan debacle!
And reworking the NEMS material has been another watershed. I haven't had many chances to hack apart a story that I'd worked out visually and rebuild it. My process is has been refined to avoid doing too much work before I realise something doesn't work. I never enjoy writing - it's school work - but I like looking at the finished rough when I'm done. If I'm on my game, it looks like a comic already.
I know everyone has their favourite strands of Scary Go Round, but I find Destroy History very satisfying when I get it right, because it's hard to get right to my satisfaction (which is why there have been precisely two full stories since 2009). I look forward to sharing this new one with you in September.
Comments (20)
THE EGGMAN COMETH These look really fun, and I'm excited to see the result! I read the NEMS 2 rough, but I think enough time has passed for it to have successfully muddled its way out of my brain.
You say you're getting your act together (which if MUCH better than when I thought you already had your act together.) The sketches show a "Next Level" ability. (WOW!)
Thanks so much for sharing. These are a joy to behold.
Thank you, John
SWEATING COBS. No doubt a harbinger of a WEB of intrigue.
Much welcome news for both NEMS and Destroy History! Thanks for these tantalizing sketches to keep us all at bay. Esther looks fantastic in thet outfit!
Some great Belzers
Destroy History has an amazing premise, with a matching execution! I'm looking forward to it…
Hooray, more Ringo!
I'm so excited about NEMS Part II. Really looking forward to this.
This brings me great joy. I've thoroughly enjoyed the Destroy History stories. Wonderful that NEMS will get its completion. Now I just have to hope very hard for a continuation of It's the Nineties...
Excited for this! (Let's be honest, I'm excited every time John announces a new story is taking shape.)
HOORAY! Our prayers have been answered!!!
Excellent! Between this and Wobbly Head (and SSS, although that's less direct) 2025 has kind of become a year for rescuing in-limbo stories.
Love that sketch page. Stoked for part two!
I'm quite excited for the reworked NEMS. Does "It's the Ninteties..." fit in to that universe? I thought that was great.
"It's The Nineties" was rushed out from the unused/unfinished/might-never-be-finished story file because of the gap created by all the Conan stuff I threw away. I'm still not sure exactly what it is. There are different ways to approach it - but given how long it could run, at the expense of other things, I'll have to be very sure before I pick it up again. Glad you liked it!
Funny how the likely story of NEMS part 2 mirrors the real life circumstances behind its development Where a problem that seemed too tough to solve (Writing part 2/saving the Beatles) just needed some time away before coming back to it with fresh eyes (returning to Nems 4 years later/Esther being given the assignment years after Shelley’s term) Either way, it’s cool to see Destroy History getting another shot
Yay! Can’t wait for this!
Likewise!