π Sample Comic Title β Issue 1
Written by John Smith
Art by Jane Artist
Lettering by Lex Graphix
Published by Sample Press Publishing
First published: 2025Β© 2025 Sample Press Publishing, licensed CC-BY-NC-SA.
This work is licensed Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.This script is part of the Sample Series series.
Sample Seriesβ’ is a trademark of Sample Press Publishing.
ποΈ Issue Overview
Title: Sample Issue Subtitle
Series: Sample Series
Arc: Urban Echoes
Arc Placement: Issue 1 of Arc
Issue: 1 of 4
Continuity Date: Winter 2025
Setting: Sample City, Modern Day
Main Characters: Jane Doe
Synopsis: Jane Doe uncovers a sinister plot beneath the streets of Sample City. As reality bends and fractures, the line between memory and magic begins to unravel.
Logline: A reluctant hero navigates a city haunted by past trauma and future horrors.
Tagline: Magic hides in the cracks of the familiar.
Genres: Horror, Urban Fantasy, Mystery
Rating: Teen+
Keywords: supernatural, memory, urban decayRuntime (Adaptation Estimate): Estimated 90 mins if adapted to screen
Aspect Ratio (Suggested for Screen): 2.39:1
Language: English
Subtitles Available: Spanish, French
Adaptation Notes: This comic is structured for both print and screen adaptation. Each page maps to a scene beat, with room for pacing and visual rhythm.
π Script Notes
π¨ ARTIST: Maintain realism with subtle surreal cues. Use strong shadows and ambient details to create unease.
π COSTUME: Janeβs trench coat should appear increasingly worn through the issue.
π¦ PROP: The pendant must always be visible when Jane speaks with the ghost.
π«οΈ ATMOSPHERE: A humid, cold quality to all indoor scenes. Mist clings to windows.
π REFERENCE: Inspiration for city layout from Fritz Langβs Metropolis.
π REFERENCE: See aerial image reference: /images/skylines/sample.jpg
π Page One
π² PANEL LAYOUT: Full-page splash panel.
πΌοΈ PANEL ONE
π¨ ARTIST: Birdβs-eye view of Sample City skyline at dusk, Jane walking alone. Cold palette. π BACKGROUND: Include faded billboard advertising βDreamTechβ π FLASHBACK: Color tones shift to pale sepia. π REFERENCE: https://unsplash.com/photos/cityscape
- ποΈ CAPTION (JANE):
You never forget the first time you see it from above. - π SFX (AMBIENT):
wind whistling
π Page Two
π² PANEL LAYOUT: 3 top panels, 1 wide panel below.
πΌοΈ PANEL ONE
π¨ ARTIST: Close-up of Janeβs eye. Reflections hint at a ghostly figure.
- ποΈ CAPTION (NARRATOR):
There are cracks in every surface.
πΌοΈ PANEL TWO
π¨ ARTIST: Side view of Jane on a subway train. Reflections distort in the glass.
- π£οΈ JANE (BALLOON):
You see it too, right?
βοΈ LETTERER: Janeβs dialogue should have a whispery tail.
πΌοΈ PANEL THREE
π¨ ARTIST: Insert of a pendant glowing faintly against her coat.
- π SFX (MAGIC):
thrum-thrum-thrum
πΌοΈ PANEL FOUR
π¨ ARTIST: A wide shot of the train speeding into the underground tunnel. Mist trailing.
- ποΈ CAPTION (JANE):
It always begins underground.
π Page Three
π² PANEL LAYOUT: 2x2 grid
πΌοΈ PANEL ONE
π¨ ARTIST: Interior hallway, flickering lights. Janeβs shadow splits into two.
- π£οΈ VOICE (OFF-PANEL):
Janeβ¦? - π SFX (ELECTRICAL):
bzzzZT
πΌοΈ PANEL TWO
π COSTUME: Janeβs scarf is now twisted unnaturally.
- π£οΈ JANE (THOUGHT BALLOON):
Not again. Not this soon.
πΌοΈ PANEL THREE
π¨ ARTIST: Flashlight beam reveals a sigil on the wall.
- ποΈ CAPTION (JANE):
Iβve seen that mark before.
πΌοΈ PANEL FOUR
π¨ ARTIST: Close-up on Janeβs hand brushing over the sigil.
β»οΈ REUSE PANEL: Page 2, Panel 3 (same pendant glow and composition).
- π SFX (MAGIC):
humMMM
π REFERENCE: Arcane sigil sketch:
Layout Examples
Panel Layout Descriptions
- π² STANDARD SIX-PANEL GRID: Two rows of three panels each
- π² NINE-PANEL GRID: Three rows of three panels each
- π² WIDESCREEN: Three horizontal panels stacked
- π² VERTICAL STACK: One tall panel on left, smaller panels on right
- π² SPLASH PAGE: Full page single image
- π² DOUBLE-PAGE SPREAD: Image spans across two facing pages
Notes for Graphic Novel Script Writers
- Visual Storytelling: Remember that comics are a visual medium. Show donβt tell.
- Panel Economy: Each panel should advance the story or reveal character.
- Page Turns: Use page turns for reveals and cliffhangers.
- Dialogue Brevity: Keep dialogue concise. Comics have limited space.
- Artist Collaboration: Leave room for artist interpretation while being clear about essential elements.
π Legend of Tags
Script Formatting Elements
π - Issue/series markers
ποΈ - Organizational sections
π - Script notes for overall script
π - Page markers
πΌοΈ - Panel designator
π² - Panel layout instructions
π¬ - Panel markers and layout instructions (alternative to πΌοΈ)
π¨ - Artist notes and visual direction
ποΈ - Captions (narrator or character internal monologue)
π£οΈ - Character dialogue (spoken)
π - Sound effects (SFX)
βοΈ - Letterer notes
π - Costume notes
π¦ - Prop notes
π«οΈ - Atmosphere/mood notes
π - Background/setting notes
π - Flashback/time shift indicators
β»οΈ - Panel reuse instructions
π - Reference links/images
Dialogue Types
- (BALLOON) - Standard speech balloon
- (THOUGHT BALLOON) - Internal thoughts
- (OFF-PANEL) - Voice from outside the panel
- (WHISPER) - Quiet/whispered dialogue
- (SHOUT) - Loud/shouted dialogue
- (ELECTRONIC) - Radio, phone, or digital voice
Sound Effect Types
- (AMBIENT) - Environmental sounds
- (IMPACT) - Collision/hit sounds
- (ELECTRICAL) - Electronic/energy sounds
- (MAGIC) - Supernatural sounds
- (MECHANICAL) - Machine/device sounds
GNSF Template Version History
- v1.0 - Initial draft template (Current)
End of GNSF Template