"A Fluke Encounter" ("X-Files: I Want to Believe")
Pencil Marks: After actually witnessing the horror that was “X-Files: I Want To Believe“, I felt it was up to Jake and I to redeem the X-Files name. The movie wasn't BAD per se, but it wasn't a true X-Files in the slightest. It was almost like going to a 10 year High School reunion and finding that all the pretty people had become fat and bloated. Enough to tarnish the fond memories you held.
As we were leaving the theater this picture just popped into my head. Erik and Flukeman locked in mortal combat with Mulder and Scully there to investigate. Say what you will about the alien conspiracies, X-Files was only truly X-Files when our intrepid F.B.I. agents were battling the creatures that go bump in the night.
I wanted to once again go for that more realistic look I attempted way back on the "War Of The Worlds" picture, and I think I nailed it much better this time. I honestly wanted to do a background of my own, I even had an idea for how it would work out, but time was against me and my deadline came and went without me even starting it. But I believe Jake did an outstanding job with his end of the whole mess.
In the end though I still look at this picture as one that I could have done better. But at least it actually tells a story... unlike the film it is based on. - Tony
Ink Smudges: Well, once again Jake decided to hand me a picture with absolutely no background. Not only that, he had the set of characters drawn on two separate pieces of paper. Oh, and one group was much bigger than the other. "I didn't want to mess them up", he said, "I'm sure you can do something with these". I mean, really... would it kill him to get off his bum ass and draw everything on one piece of paper? Honestly, I...
Wait a sec..... it was Tony penciling this time! Oh, silly me. I don't know what I was thinking.
With all kidding aside, it was pretty easy to figure out where this scene would take place. The only problem was having Erik in his gray costume fighting the light gray Flukeman while agents Mulder and Scully looked on wearing their standard issue dark gray suits in a darkened sewer. But after many passes at different shades and hues, I think I settled on a decent pallet. Unfortunately I never did get to achieve that awesome beam of light effect the television show often used for their flashlights. - Jake