Tales from The GrowlerVerse

Welcome to Growler's Universe of Ideas. Or 'The GrowlerVerse' for short.

Pioneering and developing the innovative GrowlersWorld Visual Storytelling Technology © & ™.

Featuring supernatural, sci-fi and fantasy elements wrapped around superhero fiction and my own original design concepts.

The GrowlerVerse: Great Characters, Great Stories and Great Visuals!

Inspired by my love of superhero comic books, cool movies and anime.

The Fantastic among the Ordinary!

Rawle Austin presents...

More experimenting on show. This time with a mid-air pose.

Playing around with darker lines around the costume symbols. Seeing what would look best.

Can you spot the difference in all four pics?

I'm liking the various tools available in digital drawing. Very convenient and a joy to use.

The various body shapes used so far have been traced from numerous sources to get a body outline and experiment with costume design.

The end goal is to be able to draw body shapes myself.

You'll see that progress right here. Stay tuned!

Click here to check out Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee

Ok, more costume designs in motion. Getting more confident with the new digital software and experimenting more. Thought I'd try to see the difference between a pencil outline and a thinker ink outline.

The thicker line seems to stand out more and the pencil line looks more 'arty' lol. What do you think?

The body shape you see here is bulkier than the previous. However, TechSorcery will have a slimmer build and yes, he can fly, lol. I'm also thinking about masks to conceal his secret identity.

Toying with the idea of either a full mask, half mask or no mask at all. Superhero conventions use all three so I'm still in the design phase.

TechSorcery will be the herald and mascot of the GrowlerVerse and other heroes (and villians) will appear over time. I'm more into group superheroics so the end goal will be the formation of a team...

At this point I'd like to give respect to creators Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Roger Stern, John Buscema, Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum and John Byrne for the initial inspirations and influences.

TechSorcery Flying Pose - Thick ink outline

TechSorcery Flying Pose - Pencil Outline

TechSorcery Running Pose - Thick Ink Outline

TechSorcery Running Pose - Pencil Outline

Click here to check out Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler

These are my first digital drawings (drawn directly on the computer) of TechSorcery.

Very rough and basic but you can see the costume taking shape.

I thought breaking the circle on the chest would look better.

Following on from the previous 'pen and paper' drawings the main improvement is the use of digital colour.

Bolder and clearer, as opposed to my earlier scans in which the colour looks a little washed out.

Click here to check out Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting and Selling Your Script by David Trottier

A few rough sketches of the superhero, TechSorcery.

Seeing the costume is actually helping to shape the story. It will be a more traditional and classic superhero story.

I want TechSorcery to be the mascot of The GrowlerVerse.

Click here to check out Screenwriting for Dummies by Laura Schellhardt

These are the first few concepts in development (names and titles may change but, for now, all are © and ™ Rawle Austin);

TechSorcery.

The Quantum, Starbright, The Celsius, Nabaclis: The Human Internet, The Eagle, Princess Cai Zhi Hua and TechSorcery. A new team of heroes!

A.G.O.S.T (The Accountant General of Space and Time).

The Chronicles of Tears - A Fantasy Tale

This project is the beginning of a long term learning curve for me.

Learning how to create and write good stories.

These are where I will hone my skills in the art and craft of storytelling.

The mission is to eventually create a wealth of great stories with original characters.

They will initially see light in short stories and featured exclusively on GrowlersWorld.

Click here to check out Writing for Comics & Graphic Novels with Peter David

The Mission: To produce superhero fiction in comic book format.

Online.

Four reference books that are guiding me are;

Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee,

Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting and Selling Your Script by David Trottier,

Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler,

and Screenwriting for Dummies by Laura Schellhardt.

The lessons learnt within will be applied to all GrowlerVerse concepts with the intention of providing quality and engaging entertainment.

My aim is for the GrowlerVerse to become the jewel in the GrowlersWorld crown.

All inspired by my love of superhero comic books.

Stay tuned...

Click here to check out The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics by Dennis O'Neil  

This is my first piece of fictional writing and is a scene that is part of a larger tapestry, yet to be created...

It was originally dated 31st May 2000.

Brian left work early. The endless sea of paperwork had begun to merge into a haze of nonsensical figures and images which, after an extra long day was not quite what the Doctor ordered.

Winter was well and truly here and he longed to return to the bosom of his comic book collection and immerse himself into the world of The Crimson Scarf.

The comic book was based on the mysterious, real life superhero who had appeared from nowhere and was capturing the hearts and minds of the nation whilst attracting the attention of the powers that be.

The Crimson Scarf was a masked, swashbuckling vigilante who didn't take no crap and fought for justice using unrecognised energy based powers coupled with the power of flight.

The short walk to the train station was bearable at best. Well, what could be expected, traversing through the heart of the city alongside tens of thousands of people commuting home.

The swarming throng making their way towards the entrance did little to alleviate the throbbing headache that had rudely decided to make itself known.

Rubbing the side of his head, Brian stopped at the edge of the crowd to learn that the station was temporarily closed due to platform overcrowding.

It was going to be a long journey home...

Getting anxious to make a move he started to plan the rest of his evening. Go home, have a bite to eat, read then watch his daily fix of news before bed and another day of work.

Time was getting short. He decided to wait till the station re-opened rather than opt for the long walk to the next station.

Tightening his scarf and fixing his winter hat he again drifted to his pride and joy and wondered when he would eventually start writing stories himself.

It would sure beat the daily grind and flex his presently caged creativity. The station attendant announced all was back to normal.

Stepping off the train at his stop, he grimaced as the crisp cold air slapped across his face with a force not felt since childhood.

Zipping up his coat, the freezing weather just reaffirmed to himself that this was definitely not his time of year.

This was why his comic collection would take centre stage, likening himself to a squirrel, enjoying his acquisitions after hibernation.

Oblivious to the world, The Crimson Scarf was racing through his mind, doing battle with his arch nemesis, The Rhyming Rascal, who would orate bad proverbs during every conflict.

He was just one of a vast rogues gallery that the Crimson Scarf had to contend with.

The last issue had ended with a cliff hanger and this was to be the final resolution of their epic struggle.

This is what Brian lived for, the pure escapism from the drab, dreary, bill ridden humdrum of everyday life.

Could it get any better than this?

Only time would tell...

Click here to check out Alan Moore's Writing For Comics Volume 1

The story begins with a fateful union. Meet Apollo, god of the sun, music, medicine, poetry and all fine arts. Apollo was the son of Zeus, King of the gods and Leto, the goddess of dark nights.

Now allow me to introduce you to Calliope. She was the Muse of heroic poetry. There were nine Muses altogether and they were the patronesses of poetry and music. All were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory.

Apollo met and fell in love with the beautiful Calliope, helped in part by their mutual love of music and poetry.

They had a child. Orpheus.

Orpheus inherited his parents’ musical and poetical gifts. His musical skills both vocal and with instruments, were unmatched and loved by all who heard them. He always carried his favourite instrument, a lyre, with him.

The way he played the lyre with the sweetest sound was unsurpassed in the entire world. In fact, when he played, the very animals and trees were moved with emotion. Such was the power of the sound he made.

This talent grew greater over the years and his fame was widespread. He travelled far and wide giving great concerts that were packed with thousands of adoring fans in the largest stadiums.

He also played to smaller crowds in open-air areas such as parks and fields.

During one of his performances at a smaller village venue he happened to catch a glimpse of a beautiful woman at the front of the crowd. Her name was Eurydice and he was smitten.

She had heard about this great musician and came to the performance to see what all the fuss was about. After playing, he caught up with her, determined get to know her better.

Gradually, he fell deeper in love with Eurydice and used his musical skills to woo and serenade her.

She initially spurned his advances, due to his fame and legion of female admirers, but she soon gave in and gave her love to him in marriage. This was the start of pure bliss for both of them. Months passed and their relationship was rock solid, growing ever stronger each day.

One evening Eurydice walked home alone in the fields surrounding her village. It had been a long day and she looked forward to be in the arms of her one true love.

Suddenly, she was attacked seemingly out of nowhere, by a man named Aristaeus. A jealous former lover, he now tried to come on to her.

Shocked and repulsed by this she fled from him as quickly as she could to get back to safety and the arms of Orpheus.

But in her haste to escape, she trod on a poisonous snake lurking in the long grass, which immediately turned and bit her heel.

After a short period of agony and pain, Eurydice died at that very spot and her spirit was taken to the terrifying realms of Hades, the kingdom of the dead. Orpheus was left completely devastated upon hearing the news.

Inconsolable and in a final act of desperation, Orpheus wandered to Olympus, home of the gods. Once there he begged Zeus to restore his wife to his arms by bringing her back to life.

Zeus took pity on Orpheus and gave him permission to go down to Hades' realm to seek his wife but warned him that what he wanted to do was extremely dangerous.

The kingdom of the dead was like a raging, cavernous inferno filled with the screams of millions of souls. Forever trying to escape their never ending torture.

Undaunted, Orpheus rushed to the entrance of Hades realm where he encountered a chilling sight. Cerberus, the giant, three headed dog who guarded its gates. He allowed no living being in or spirit out.

He began to growl fiercely but Orpheus kept his nerve. He began to play his lyre so sweetly that Cerberus was pacified and allowed him to pass by.

He continued to play while walking, wowing the spirits and even the tortured souls of Tartarus (the worst part of the Kingdom of the Dead), stopped their toil for a moment, and ended their sighs and groans to listen.

This was the first time any living being had gotten so far into Hades' terrifying realm.

Orpheus continued until he came to the throne of Hades who sat, with his wife Persephone, in silence with the Fates at his feet.

The three Fates - the sisters Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos - spun, twisted and cut the thread of life and thus determined the life span of every human being on Earth.

Orpheus made known his request to this audience, telling his tragic love story and moving them to tears. They consented to restore Eurydice to life but on one condition.

He must leave the kingdom of the dead immediately without turning back to look at Eurydice who would follow behind him. Cerberus would not trouble him at the exit.

He joyfully agreed and began the long, winding journey back looking only straight ahead.

As he walked, the thought of being reunited with the love of his life made him excited and anxious. He wondered if Eurydice had changed during her time in Hades realm.

Forgetting the condition of Hades, the longing to feast his eyes on his beloved was too strong. Just as Orpheus reached the end of Hades' realm - so close that he could smell the fresh, sweet air of the outside world - he turned around to look at her.

Just as he did so and to his horror, the form of his wife slowly vanished right in front of his eyes just like smoke on a breeze. He just managed to catch a glimpse of the fear on her face before she disappeared.

It was over. He had tried and he had failed. No hope remained and he returned home, utterly defeated, to mourn his loss.

Days passed and he often thought he saw Eurydice - in the distance and in the shadows - with the expression she had upon her face when she vanished from him.

Weeks later, still in state of disbelief and muttering the name Eurydice as he walked, he encountered some drunken Bacchantes in a forest.

Bacchantes were the female followers of Dionysus (or Bacchus), the god of wine and parties.

They stopped him in his tracks near a river bank that ran through the forest and surrounded him. Abusively, they told him to play some joyful music that they could dance to because they had heard of his famous musical skills.

Still in mourning, he told them he was in no mood to perform, and if he could he would only be able to play sorrowful music.

Enraged by this refusal, they attacked him, tore him limb from limb and threw his remains in the river.

As his severed head floated down the river, his lips still murmured the name Eurydice, for even in death he could not forget his wife.

The surrounding streams, trees and fountains caught the cry and repeated it again and again.

The spirits of Orpheus and Eurydice were at last re-united in Hades realm.

THE END

The ancient Greek myths and legends have always appealed to me with their powerful, often tragic stories.

I thoroughly immersed myself in them during my school days and the story above is one of my favourites that I wanted to share with you.

Slightly abridged.

Click here to check out Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud

All original concepts are ™ & © 2000 - 2010 Rawle Austin

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