[This is being posted as part of the hiatus for KttFF’s second chapter. The comic will resume with CHAPTER 3 on August 24th, 2023]

A bit more finalization, along with testing out some more alternative designs for the main Fair grounds platform. This would ultimately be the last of the sketches I did for the structure of the Fair grounds area, though there are still tons of little details and specific locations that I’d end up developing after this.

Still, it took a good 8 PAGES of sketches to reach a point where I was comfortable and satisfied with how it looks. I’m proud of that, actually, since I have a bad habit of just running with my first idea sometimes.

[This is being posted as part of the hiatus for KttFF’s second chapter. The comic will resume with CHAPTER 3 on August 24th, 2023]

I consider this to be the point when I truly had a strong foundation for what the Fair would look like. I realized by this point that I didn’t have to make it mono-colored; in fact, by using a bunch of different colors, it would help with navigation for those visiting! I also started to establish what the area around the Fair would be like. Ultimately, it didn’t play much of a role, but that’s the funny thing about comics; the difference between whether or not you have to design an entire area can come down to what camera angles you pick.

[This is being posted as part of the hiatus for KttFF’s second chapter. The comic will resume with CHAPTER 3 on August 24th, 2023]

By this point, I was being better about using reference to inspire parts of my setting. It’s fitting that much of the stuff here was inspired by Ratchet and Clank, since that was one of the major inspirations for KttFF!

Some of the structures I would end up making use of for the initial part in the city, though some others were repurposed for the Fair or are yet to be used… perhaps waiting for their chance to show up in a future chapter!

It took quite a while to figure out how I wanted the Titanwood trees to look. The base was inspired by rainbow eucalyptus trees, but none of the canopies I tried felt quite right. Eventually I settled on the wavy, blobby forms, which I’m pretty happy with.

I also tried a ton of different looks for the base platforms, though most just served to add unneeded detail clutter to the trees.

By this point, I was also getting a handle on the scale of everything here. The Spring Fair proper is only about half as tall as the Titanwoods; the pillar on the top floor only barely reaches into where the canopies start on them!

[This is being posted as part of the hiatus for KttFF’s second chapter. The comic will resume with CHAPTER 3 on August 24th, 2023]

… Huh, still playing around with those modular tree base designs by this point. Well, in any case, as you can see, I figured out a more simple alternative instead. And one I’m proud of! Unfortunately, looking back, I’m becoming aware of so many design elements (like the awning under the tree’s holo-projecter) that I almost certainly completely forgot through the comic proper. I’m gonna have to set up some kind of system for ensuring I don’t forget details like that in the future…

Anyway, we get to see some more of the tree bases here! Obviously by this point, I had decided to add the scene of Leon’s encounter with a paradox bubble before the “food and interview” part of the script, hence the need to design some detailed bathrooms! The tree bases have lots of other fun things to see and explore, but Leon and Luca only really experienced the bathroom before their tree fell. Such a shame.

[This is being posted as part of the hiatus for KttFF’s second chapter. The comic will resume with CHAPTER 3 on August 24th, 2023]

FINALLY, the Fair is starting to look like it would in the comic! Though I do admit I am sad I never found a spot to show off the expansive sprinkler system of the Fair, it’s at least worth it to see the other elements of its identity come into play.

The Fair would finally start to get split into six sections, and the walkways would finally start to look the way I like. I wish I had done a few more distant shots to allow for better appreciation of the architecture. At least the tower and the connecting keystone bars (which emit a holo-barrier over the Fair in case of rain or falling branches) get shown off.

Also the weird orbs-in-a-bowl look is strange to look back on; I kind of want to find another place to use it.

[This is being posted as part of the hiatus for KttFF’s second chapter. The comic will resume with CHAPTER 3 on August 24th, 2023]

It doesn’t read very well, in hindsight, but I LOVE the top sketch. It gives a view as Leon and Luca walk along one of the tree platforms and looks over to the Fair at the center. By this point, I was also starting to get into the idea of making the Fair multiple floors… but still struggled with what to make it /look like./ I tried a few different looks, but none of these particular ones would stick.

I also started to play around with color for the Fair here! At this point, I only intended it to have one or two major colors, though of course that would change down the line…

[This is being posted as part of the hiatus for KttFF’s second chapter. The comic will resume with CHAPTER 3 on August 24th, 2023]

The Fair is starting to take shape! I reached the point where I aimed to include a bunch of criss-crossing walkways reaching out from the central platform to some HUGE trees… but struggled to figure out a good iconic look for them. Along with that, I needed to figure out what the “bases” along the trees would look like. Ultimately I scrapped the more “clustery” look in favor of the rings due to the former likely being an accessibly hassle. It is, and remains, a major point of intent for me to make sure as much of this future is traversable by people of as many walks of life as possible.

[This is being posted as part of the hiatus for KttFF’s second chapter. The comic will resume with CHAPTER 3 on August 24th, 2023]

Now we come to one of my FAVORITE things got to design: The Spring Fair! These are the earliest sketches for what I had in mind, and it’s safe to say it shifted drastically. The connections between some HUGE trees were a constant, but at this stage, I don’t even think I had a strong idea for the “central structure” for the Fair.

Also of interest here is the sketch outline I did. Before actually working on the script for this chapter, I didn’t even plan to have Leon’s early encounter with one of the paradox bubbles! Hence why you’ll note the outline goes straight to “arrival and getting food.”
Most of the outline is pretty true to form, though the specific contexts for all of the stuff obviously changed in the final version; the food part showed us differing opinions, the ride how the paradox bubbles can vanish after overtaking something; I didn’t even have a concept for the Quizard or Junk Divers game at this point!
The paradox bubble encounter in the end was (more or less) originally going to be the only encounter Leon and Luca have with them during this chapter… before I realized that I could synchronize the pair of them becoming friends with slowly showing off some of the other aspects of paradox bubbles. Which I’m glad I figured out, because this chapter would have been a lot weaker if I hadn’t.

[This is being posted as part of the hiatus for KttFF’s second chapter. The comic will resume with CHAPTER 3 on August 24th, 2023]

Another set of designs that I had a blast working on! Notably, there’s a pair of cameos prepped here – Riiser in the bottom center, and the McElroys bottom right. Adapting real people for my story is a fun challenge.

I also made a specific effort to work out some of the NPCs Leon and Luca would end up talking to during the “interview” section of the comic. Most of the others are borrowed from another background fodder page. I’m gonna make use of every asset I make for this heckin’ story!!!