SUMMARY

After having an awesome summer, sensitive 16-year-old Maria returns to her Chicago suburban high school with a new revelation — she likes girls. She's determined to come out of her shell, and all goes well until an old rival — mean, cold-hearted Sabine — emerges, forcing Maria to learn that identity is more than a label.

CHARACTERS

Maria - Sensitive, likes art and puzzles, does well in math and science

Sabine - Accomplished classmate with resting mean face who plays volleyball

Jerome - Maria's best friend, a proud young gay man

Noah - Newly out trans boy who is part of PRIDE Council

STORY BEATS

-SUMMER - Maria has a crush on her friend from summer camp, comes home with realization that she is bisexual

-PARTNERS - Maria settles in school, meets up with friends Jerome and Noah, but science teacher assigns her to work with Sabine, her old rival

-(ex page) PARTY - Maria and Sabine work together on science project; at Sabine's volleyball team party, Maria shows up and accidentally embarrasses Sabine

-LEAP - Maria anonymously writes a mean note about Sabine in a class puzzle book; Maria asks out her summer crush, who rejects her

-PRIDE - Feeling free, Maria comes out publicly, joins PRIDE council with Noah, but Sabine asks to meet after school

-BLEACHERS - Sabine and Maria meet privately under the bleachers where Sabine prods Maria about her bisexuality, only to reveal she has been questioning her own identity

-SCIENCE - Maria plans PRIDE Homecoming float; Sabine asks Maria to be her partner for Science Olympics

-DATE - Sabine and Maria have a nice date, but at the end, Sabine learns of Maria's mean note and is hurt because she is tired of people judging her by her appearance

-HURT - Maria reconnects with summer friend/crush and learns that her friend didn't like Maria at first; learns to empathize with Sabine and apologizes

-TEST - Maria shows up for a Science Olympics contest; she and Sabine work together and set a new competition record

-PARADE - At Homecoming Parade, Sabine leaves her judgy friends behind and joins Maria on the PRIDE float. They make up and have a happy ending!

COMIC ART

Mean Sabine - image 1 - student project

NOTES

I've included the summary, character descriptions, story beats, and 1 page example art for the contest deadline. I will be adding more art in a few weeks or so! In the mean time I am open to feedback. :)

I have self-published in the past but I hope to get solid footing in the publishing industry. Thank you again for a great, insightful class!

EDIT 1:

Looking back at my first attempt, I'm not really feeling how it came out. In upcoming edits I would like to improve the colors and add texture, maybe play with composition. For now, here are a few relevant art pieces!

Below is a concept sketch of Maria that I drew in Clip Studio Paint. I'm still new to Clip Studio, so I didn't want to attempt a big ol' project right out of the gate. However, I really dig how this one came out. This software will be my main tool as I experiment with Mean Sabine moving forward. Plus, CS has tons of cool brush effects that I can't wait to dive into!

Mean Sabine - image 2 - student project

Compare that to this art (below) from my upcoming revamp of my 2018 comic Blue Witch Malazu. This page resembles my typical art style.

I'm happy with where my art is for Malazu since it's a webcomic (for now). It's kind of my little playground to explore and grow as a comic artist.

Mean Sabine - image 3 - student project

I have a lot to work on with Mean Sabine, and I look forward to sharing it in the future!

Sam Concklin

2D Animator | Comic Artist

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