Every story begins with a moment, and the opening page of Angel Protocol #1 is built around one that feels both celebratory and emotionally complex.
This layout sketch establishes the first scene: a birthday celebration at a restaurant. The group has gathered around Omarion, but despite the occasion, he isn’t sharing the same joy as the others. That contrast between celebration and quiet sadness is the emotional anchor of the page.
Layout Concept
The composition is designed to make the viewer feel like they are sitting at the table with the characters.
Each character surrounds the frame, creating a circular perspective that pulls the audience directly into the moment:
- Pink – Aaliyah (profile)
Positioned in the foreground to frame the left side of the scene. - Yellow – Jasmine (3/4 angle)
Her placement helps guide the eye toward the center. - Blue – Omarion (centerpiece)
The emotional focus of the page. While everyone is celebrating, his expression tells a different story. - Green – Nas (profile)
Positioned to balance the right side of the composition. - Red – 3/4 turn character
Adds depth and reinforces the feeling that the reader is seated within the group.
The goal is immersion. The characters create a visual circle around the reader, making the audience feel like they are part of the birthday celebration.
Process
This page started as a rough layout on the iPad.
- Wednesday, March 4 – Initial sketch began using a reference image that I stretched vertically to fit the comic format.
- I blocked in the shapes and stick figures to establish positioning and perspective.
- Because of the vertical page format, I moved into Photoshop on my MacBook to transform and adjust the head placements so they aligned correctly with the horizon line.
Yesterday’s work focused on refining the dynamics of the scene. I swapped the angles of Jasmine and Aaliyah to create a stronger visual flow and improve the energy of the composition.
Next Step
This sketch is just the foundation.
The next phase will be cleaning up the linework using my Wacom Cintiq 16, where the final structure of the page will begin to take shape before inking and rendering.
The intention behind this opening image is simple:
to place the reader directly inside the moment — celebrating with the group, while quietly noticing that something deeper is happening with Omarion.
This is where the story of Angel Protocol begins.