Turning a TV Pilot into a Comic Book
Kat & Phil talk about turning a TV Pilot Script into a successful comic book, our meet-up with Pat Shand (Space Between), our experience at Flame Con, and introduce Kat's adorable new puppy!
Hi Lifeline Comics Readers!
This week, Kat’s putting on her Masters in TV Writing cap and telling us all about how she turned her “Mob Princess” TV Pilot Script into a Comic Book!
We’ll also talk about our experience at Flame Con, our recent dinner with Pat Shand, share some adorable pictures of Kat’s new dog, Leni, and more!
Let’s dive in!
Turning a TV Pilot into a Comic Book
Kat: I have my Masters in Writing and Producing TV, and as part of my degree I wrote a few TV pilots to strengthen my writing portfolio. One of those scripts was Mob Princess.
I was born and raised on Staten Island, growing up watching male driven mobster movies like the Godfather and Goodfellas. In 2019, a mobster was killed on the doorstop of his Todt Hill mansion. It felt like a sequel to the very movies I watched as a kid!
This real-life event sparked the fire for the creation of Mob Princess. I wanted to make Staten Island, and all of its Mob roots, just as much a lead as our main character…and I wanted that main character to be a queer woman.
There have been a few mob stories that have touched upon the roles of women, but most have proven to be submissive roles to eventually stay by their man’s side. I wanted a woman to be allowed to be in the same room as the men. What happens when a person tries to break tradition with an organization built on it?
I put Mob Princess on the shelf for a few years once I started focusing on comic books full time, and it wasn’t until Phil’s fiancé, Julius, nudged me to make Mob Princess a comic book.
And, honestly, it should have been a no brainer - TV writing and comic writing are very SIMILAR, which is why we’ve seen so many adaptations over the years. They are both serialized visual mediums.
The Mob Princess pilot and first issue have a lot of similar beats as we lead towards the ending revelation that Bella is going to take over her father’s mob kingdom. The biggest difference between writing a TV script and comic is the length. In TV you have to fill up 60 pages of a script for one episode, while a standard comic issue has 22 pages.
TV scripts are broken up into four acts. These determine your commercial breaks and your “mini cliffhangers”. What will make a viewer continue watching once they get their bowl of popcorn? Think of your act breaks as comic book issues! They’re even around the same number of pages as your average TV break, ranging from 12-15 pages.
The biggest style difference is that you have to be very specific with your description for every beat of dialogue in comics, but with a TV show you want to give more leeway for the director and actors to have room to play. You don’t want to have blocks and blocks of action. It’s more about the dialogue!
It was a fun challenge to convert Mob Princess into a comic book script, but it really made me realize why I fell in love with both mediums in the first place. They are practically relatives! And I hope this is the first of many times I get to do something like this.
NYCC ‘24 Exclusive Cover is FUNDED!
In case you missed the announcement, we have a LIMITED TIME campaign live right now where folks who won’t be attending New York Comic Con 2024 can grab our Exclusive Variant Covers for that show!
We’re printing a limited run of The Beast & Snow #1 and Nightmare in Wonderland #1 with Connected Crossover Covers featuring art by Santiago Calle Vélez.
The campaign hit its funding goal on Day 1 and is already on the road to unlocking our first Stretch Goal! The campaign ends next week, so don’t miss out on your chance to grab the Connected Covers of the first crossover art in the EverAfterVerse!
What have we been up to?
We’ve kept ourselves pretty busy these last few weeks! Let’s talk about what we’ve been up to!
A New Member Has Joined Lifeline Comics - LENI!
Kat: I got a new puppy! I’ve only known her for 2 weeks, but she’s already my whole world!
She’s a big Spider-Man fan.
And she even helps me write comics!
Walking Around Flame Con!
Phil: Geeks Out’s Flame Con is one of our favorite events of the year! A queer comic convention that Kat and I love to attend as fans every year. This year, we also got to bring my fiancé, Julius, and my brother, Dan, along for the ride with us.
As creators who spend a lot of our time during the year behind tables, it’s really nice to have the freedom to walk artist alley, attend panels, buy queer comics/art, and connect with fellow queer creators without the pressure of selling.
We love getting the chance to chat with friends and buy their books! Some of the awesome people we got the chance to chat with include Michele Abounader (who we’ll be seeing again this weekend when we help her fulfill When I Was Young…) and Richard Fairgray…
…Jeremy Whitley (who we just might be collaborating with on something really cool, but more on that in October)…
…and Rina Mata, our artist on Nightmare in Wonderland!
My brother and our Transphoria co-Editor, Dan Falco, was a speaker on the Transcending Comics Panel. It was such a fun, thoughtful, and informative panel about Trans representation in comics!
It was great meeting panel host, Tomi Trembath, in person after appearing on her podcast a few months ago. She has her own awesome Trans superhero comic live on Kickstarter right now. But more on that later in this newsletter 😉
And we walked out of the Con with an awesome haul of comics and art prints!
We can’t wait to be back for next year’s show!
Pink - Summer Carnival
Kat: As an early birthday gift, we surprised my Mom and took her to a Pink concert!
She’s been talking about wanting to see her for YEARS. She loves her music and her acrobatics, and man did she not disappoint. Pink played her hometown stadium with heart, vocals, and a whole lot of athleticism.
Hanging Out with Pat Shand (Space Between)
Phil: Kickstarter superstar, Pat Shand, made the trip out to Staten Island last week to grab some Denino’s Pizza and talk about comics, fulfillment, Charmed, Alex Mack, and more.
We had a blast talking to Pat and getting to compare notes with each other. And we’re even in the process of cooking up something really cool between the three of us. But more on that in a future post 🤐
Media
And let’s discuss some non-comics media!
I Used to Be Funny
Kat: I’m a sucker for introspective character pieces, and if I see a movie with Rachel Sennott attached it’s an automatic watch!
I went into I Used to Be Funny knowing nothing, and I’m glad I did. There’s this feeling of dread throughout the film that I can only compare to watching a thriller. Rachel Sennott’s character has gone through a traumatic event that has caused crippling PTSD. She used to be a stand up comedian, but she can’t seem to find the humor in life anymore.
The film doesn’t reveal the event that led to her PTSD until the end, but it’s not the “surprise” of what happened that makes this a well-crafted piece. It’s as an audience member “knowing”, but not having the words to explain it right away. It really allows you to go through this emotional journey with the character.
It’s not only a story about her relationship with herself, but her relationship with a child she used to babysit. This is what truly makes this movie unique! Information about their relationship is expertly revealed as Sennott has to deal with their new complicated dynamic that just exudes raw emotion throughout.
Phil: There’s a very specific subgenre of indie movie that I like to call the “sad standup comic” story. Think Jenny Slate’s Obvious Child (2014) and Kumail Nanjiani’s The Big Sick (2017) for two more popular examples.
A lot of the time, these movies feel like they’re specially made for a group of twenty people who live a very specific life (on-the-cusp-of-mainstream-success standup comics). That isn’t to say these movies aren’t good. Just sometimes…inaccessible. But the best members of this genre (like the two mentioned above) find ways to feel both specific and relatable. And I Used to Be Funny is maybe the best example of that to date.
The film is heartbreaking, artistic, and funny. Rachel Sennott, as always, makes an incredible lead. And the sense of tension and dread as the past and present storylines slowly converge on one another is masterfully written. By the time the “big reveal” flashback hits, the viewer already knows what’s coming. But we’re still glued to the screen, horrified and worried for both Sennott’s character and her relationship with Olga Petsa’s character.
We almost missed out on seeing IUTBF, and I’m really thankful that we ended up finding the time. My Top 10 Movies of 2024 list at the end of the year would have been incomplete without this entry.
“Frieren: Beyond Journey's End” Season 1 (2023)
Phil: An introspective Fantasy Anime about an immortal elf who realizes too late that she should have better appreciated the time she spent with her mortal companions.
Frieren is a wonderfully thoughtful and somber reflection on time and change. With the main story taking place in the “present day” - nearly a full century after the typical “fantasy quest” to save the world by killing a Demon King - and the B-Plot often flashing back to the titular Frieren’s original quest and shading in her current experiences.
Frieren is built upon premise that we really don’t know/appreciate when we’re in the “good old days" until they’re over. By the time the centuries-old Frieren realizes just how much the relationships with her questing companies meant to her, her mortal companies begin to die of old age. It’s sad and beautiful all at the same time, seeing Frieren mourn the past and try not to repeat the same mistakes with her present-day relationships.
And for fans of Medieval Fantasy, D&D, and magic systems, Frieren has a lot to offer in its rich world. But above all else, it’s a character story that is dripping with theme. There’s a wonderful moment at the end of the first anime opening for the series where two different panning camera shots of the past and present-day characters converge in the middle on Frieren, present in both timelines. It’s a striking visual, and one that I think really encapsulates the creativity that makes this series poignant and special.
Comics
Let's discuss some comics we've enjoyed recently!
As always, we'll spotlight a Direct Market Indie Book, a DC or Marvel book, a Kickstarter book, and a Webcomic!
Indie Book: Kill All Immortals (Dark Horse)
Kat: Comics have been built on the backs of mythology. It’s sometimes a challenge to make a story using mythology feel unique. But not for Zack Kaplan and Fico Ossio! They bring a modern, Norse twist on these iconic Gods as they put humanity at the center of Kill No Immortals. The book has some solid emotional beats as the creative team dives into the concept of immortality, all while creating a high-tail action piece as a war between the Norse family brews.
DC Comic: Primer: Clashing Colors
Kat: Primer has a new volume, which means I’m going to shout to the rooftops that you should pick up this book! There have been a plethora of new characters that have come in and out of the Big Two, but it’s been a long time since a hero has come along with an origin story that feels unique, but still connected to the classics. Primer does this with her stylish powers and adoption story.
Clashing Colors is a great follow up to Primer’s first volume as she learns the ropes to being her city’s new hero, while running into a few idols like the Teen Titans…and maybe some familiar villains with their own Primer twist.
WEBTOON: Dark Mermaid
“Seulbi just wants a fresh start in her new town and to leave the bad memories of bullying at her last school behind. But when visiting a local lake, she comes across something she never imagined seeing in her wildest dreams: a wild, dark mermaid.”
Phil: A Korean Fantasy Webtoon Original that features Mermaids as carnivorous monsters who can pose as humans. When the titular Dark Mermaid is caught by her new classmate, she plans to just erase Seulbi’s memory with her Siren Song…only to find that her ability mysteriously doesn’t work on Seulbi.
This Webcomic has the classic set-up of the sociallyawkward loner with a tragic past (Seulbi) meeting a persistent bubbly new friend who isn’t put off by her attitude (Hae-on). It’s a strong set-up for a romance and one that I enjoy. And the added twist here of Hae-on being a Dark Mermaid adds a very interesting layer to their relationship.
Dark Mermaid is a slow-burn, not revealing its mermaid until the end of its first chapter. And slowly revealing more information about the characters and intrigue of the series. The comic teases the reader to reconcile the bubbly image of Hae-on with the darker glimpses we get behind the surface. It’s an interesting angle - one I’m hopeful will pay off as the webcomic continues.
And while not *explicitly* queer yet, it’s pretty clear from these first few chapters that Dark Mermaid is building towards a WLW romance. But as someone who’s been burned before with the queerbaiting, I did a little digging and found that the author confirms that romance is in the future for our two leads. Definitely more reason to keep reading!
Kickstarter: When We Transform: A Superhero Tale of Transition
“A first-of-its-kind, color-changing Tokusatsu comic book about the Trans Experience.”
Phil: We first met series creator, Tomi Trembath, when we went on her podcast, Transcending Comics, as guests during our Transphoria campaign. And we’ve been big fans ever since!
This Issue #0 superhero comic promises to be the start of a sprawling universe that fans of Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Evangelion, Power Rangers, and Sailor Moon are sure to love.
One huge unique factor for this book is that it’s a color changing comic! The demonstration of this effect looks AMAZING! I really can’t wait to hold it in my hands. I’m sure it’ll make for a one-of-a-kind reading experience.
In Closing
Thanks for reading this newest post!
We hope you enjoyed a peek behind the curtain at Mob Princess’ TV script origins, as well as meeting Kat’s new dog!
Be sure to check out our current campaigns - Mob Princess #1 and EverAfterVerse NYCC ‘24 Variant Covers!
Subscribe above for biweekly updates on our future projects!
Current Kickstarters:
Mob Princess #1: Journey to Becoming a Made Woman (ends 9/05)
EverAfterVerse NYCC '24 Exclusive Connected Covers (ends 8/29)
Next Cons/Events: Jersey City Pride (08/24)