Working on an indie graphic novel is messy, experimental, and full of surprises. Bloodbath on Unholy Island is one of my ongoing comic book projects, and here I’m sharing the process—rewriting scripts, testing rough layouts, and navigating the tug-of-war between digital inking and traditional sketch work.
This project has been a journey. I originally pushed through about twenty pages of Bloodbath on Unholy Island, but when I looked back at them, I wasn’t satisfied. The layouts felt flat, the sketch work wasn’t where I wanted it, and the inking didn’t carry the energy I knew the story needed.
So I hit pause.
Instead of forcing myself forward, I took some time to rethink my approach. I went back to the script, broke it apart, and started reshaping the beats of the story. That fresh perspective gave me room to rebuild the foundation, and now I’ve reworked the script and roughed out the first two pages again.
Finding the Style
Right now I’m slowly uncovering the style I want this book to live in. It’s not there yet—it’s forming. Part of the challenge has been working digitally. Digital pencil and ink just don’t feel the same as traditional paper, and that friction has been real. But I’m learning, adapting, and trying to find a rhythm that works for this project instead of against it.
A New Workflow
The first two pages are rough sketches with panels and composition locked in. My plan is to build the whole book this way: get thirty-two pages down as roughs, with the storytelling, pacing, and layouts solid. Then I’ll make a second pass to refine, tighten, and eventually ink.
I’m also considering publishing the comic in short episodes as I go. That way, the work can live and breathe in the world while I keep building toward the complete first volume.
Where It’s At Now
So for now, it’s rough sketches, shifting styles, and a lot of problem-solving. But it feels good. It feels closer to what Bloodbath on Unholy Island wants to be.
Enjoy the roughs as they start to come together—this is the beginning of the visual story taking shape.
Here is a preview of the new pen and ink style I’m aiming towards:
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