The Last Day: Book 1 (Chapter 1)
Hey there comic book fans! This month I wanted to share something special with you, so as we head into August I decided it would be a good time to give some behind the scenes references to issue one of the last day comic. Here I will be posting one chapter of the script at a time. This will give you some insight on what my original thoughts were as I was writing a story, and hopefully serve as a cool little behind the scenes director cut. As you may have noticed, there are extra pages in The prologue that never made it to the final book. I included these because I intend to produce them when I finally combine all of the chapters into a graphic novel. But more on that some other time. For now, enjoy this installment of the script, and please leave comments below letting me know what you thought. Have a great month!
PAGE 6
Panel 1
Establishing shot: Aerial View of Large warehouse corridor with long halls and doors leading to arcade rooms. The foreman is calling down to Frank from a balcony rail. Frank is on the bottom floor standing just outside of one of the game rooms.
FOREMAN:
Alright that’s a wrap! Shut it down Frank!
FRANK:
Waving back up to the Foreman:
Sure thing boss!
Panel 2
The foreman goes back into the room on the third floor, behind him.
Panel 3
Steve is pushing the cart and whispering to Silas behind him
STEVE (Whispers):
Okay be quiet and wait for my signal.
SILAS: (Whispers):
Yeah…
Panel 4
Silas, realizing he’s by himself with the cart, looks around for Steve.
SILAS (Wide eyed, waving cartoonishly at Steve):
h-h-Hey wait!
Panel 5
Close up on Silas as he sees Steve already going down the hallway toward Frank
SILAS:
What’s the Signal?
PANEL 6
Close up of Steve cringing as Solace calls from over his shoulder.
SILAS (Whispering):
Hey! PSST! Come back! Hey!
Panel 7
Steve facepalms himself while whispering to Silas and wagging a finger toward Silas.
STEVE (Whispering): Shut up and just wait for me! Don’t mess this up.
END PAGE
PAGE 7
Panel 1:
Wide shot of the setting. We see Steve walking towards Frank in the background, who's packing up his things. Meanwhile, Silas is leaning against the wall next to his cart, sulking. Leave plenty of space above the characters for interconnected text.
STEVE:
Hey Frank. How’s it going? Hey listen I got a little maintenance to do on the system before you shut it down. Why don’t you let me close up tonight, it might take a while.
Panel 2:
FRANK:
Heh! Fine by me. I’m outta here. See ya kid!
Panel 3:
Frank waves goodbye to Steve as he leaves. Meanwhile, Silas is mumbling to himself.
SILAS:
(WHISPERING TO HIMSELF)
Urgh! Whatever dude. I’ll just sit here and be quiet. Not a peep outta me. I never get to say anything anyway. But that’s okay cuz I don’t want to. I’m just gonna sit here and shut-up.
Both conversations should overlap for comedic effect.
Panel 4:
Steve, having finished talking to Frank, quickly turns back towards Silas.
STEVE:
(WHISPERING)
Alright, we’re up. Just follow me, stay close, and follow my lead.
Panel 5:
Steve signals for Silas to follow him as they start to move away from the scene.
END PAGE
Page 8
Panel 1:
STEVE and SILAS walking through a set of sliding doors into a small entryway for the arcade. The doors are labeled "Arcade Entrance". The room is dimly lit with neon lights.
Narration: Inside the bustling arcade, Steve leads Silas through the sliding doors into the entryway.
Panel 2:
Close-up of STEVE's hand as he pulls out an electronic-looking card from his pocket.
STEVE: (thought bubble) I just need to slide this card and…
Panel 3:
Close-up on the controller panel on the door as it emits a BEEP sound.
SFX: BEEP
Panel 4:
The door flashes the name "Lang" on its display screen. Steve notices it.
Display Screen: Lang
Panel 5:
The door opens, revealing the expansive interior of the arcade The door opens to reveal the vast expanse of the arcade. Machines hum and lights flicker as patrons enjoy the digital wonders within.
SFX: WHOOSH
Panel 6:
Steve and Silas walk through:
STEVE: (excitedly) ...here you go, Mr. Lang, right this way.
Panel 7:
Silas responds with a robotic expression, his eyes devoid of emotion.
SILAS: Yes. I am Mr. Lang. That's my name. I will go this way.
END PAGE
PAGE 9
Panel 1:
Wide shot of a dimly lit arcade room. In the foreground, Silas stands awkwardly while Steve gestures for him to take a seat.
29 STEVE:
Please, Mr. Lang, have a seat.
30 Silas, over-acting:
Yes. I will sit down.
Panel 2:
Silas hesitantly sits in an arcade chair while Steve stands behind him, adjusting a futuristic-looking helmet on Silas's head.
31 SFX: BEEPS AND COMPUTER NOISES
Panel 3:
Close-up of Steve's face, his expression stern and menacing as he whispers to Silas.
STEVE (whispering, menacingly):
Knock it off... you're gonna get us in trouble.
Panel 4:
Steve walks towards a large console, his hand hovering over switches and buttons. Silas looks back nervously, trying to turn his head but hindered by the restrictive chair.
Panel 5:
STEVE:
So, Mr. Lang, what's your pleasure? Murder mystery? Romantic fantasy? Sci-Fi adventure?
ARTIST NOTE - The camera pans between Silas's worried face, Steve's hands flicking switches, and Steve talking. Silas looks back over behind him as best he can, but the restrictive chair keeps him from moving. The camera pans back and forth between Silas’s face, Steve’s hands, and Steve talking to Silas.
Panel 6:
Silas: ooh! Sci-Fi Adventure please!
END PAGE
Page 10
Panel 1: Steve approaches the control console, while Silas takes a seat in the VR Chair.
Steve: Ok. What type of adventure do you want to have? Defeat the warlord? Save the Damsel? Oh, how about Time Travel?
Panel 2: Close-up of Silas, a hesitant.
Silas: Umm...rescue the damsel.
Panel 3: Steve nods, typing on the keyboard.
Steve: Alright.
Panel 4: Sound effects of beeps and computer noises fill the panel.
Panel 5: Steve continues typing, concentrating on the screen.
Steve: and...time length? Short, medium, or Epic?
Panel 6: Silas looking unsure.
Silas: Urr...uh...Short. I don’t even know if I’m gonna like this.
Panel 7: Steve’s hands, adjusting settings on the computer.
Steve: Ok, setting time length...
Sound effects of beeps and whirring from the computer.
END PAGE
Page 11
Panel 1: Steve looks at Silas, raising an eyebrow.
Steve: ...and what about difficulty level?
Panel 2: Silas interrupts eagerly, looking determined.
Silas: Expert! You know how I roll!
Panel 3: Steve looks concerned, trying to warn Silas.
Steve: Geez! You sure about that? You might get...
Panel 4: Silas interrupts again, insisting on his choice.
Silas: Expert!!
Panel 5: The sound of the computer whirring intensifies, indicating something ominous.
Panel 6: Steve's expression of sudden comedic defeat and slight embarrassment.
Steve: ...hurt.
Panel 7: Silas looks at Steve with smug victory
Silas: Thank you.
Panel 8: Close-up of the computer screen, displaying a message: "Adventure initiated. Difficulty: Expert. Good luck, Silas!”
END PAGE
Page 12
Panel 1:
Close up of a second, smaller monitor behind Steve, with the message written across the screen: “Re-writing Cognitive Navigation Sequences… Format of original code will begin shortly… Please stand by.”
Steve: Alright. Expert it is then...
Panel 2:
Close-up on the computer screen, showing various digital readouts and indicators. Message on the Small secondary screen reads:
”WARNING!!! Anomaly detected… Safety protocols disengaged… Warning!!! Human Immersion still in process…”
SFX:Beeps and whirring sounds emanate from the machinery.
Panel 3:
Steve, still focused on his task, mutters to himself as he works.
Steve: (whispering to himself) ...but you better be careful in there.
Panel 4:
The computer screen displays a message indicating that a program has been selected and is about to initiate. A countdown begins.
Panel 5:
Computer: Program selected. Initiating sequence in 5, 4, 3,...
Panel 5:
The sounds from the computer machinery grow louder as the countdown continues.
SFX: COMPUTER: SOUNDS AND WHIRRING GET LOUDER
Panel 6:
Close-up on the computer screen, displaying the final seconds of the countdown.
Computer: 2....1
END PAG
If you enjoyed this installment of the script and sketches, and would like to purchase the book and it's final form you can do so by visiting the link below. Thanks for reading!
Buy The Last Day here -
Excited for you bro! As soon as we have an income again I will contribute 😆
Excited for you bro! As soon as we have an income again I will contribute 😆