Want to know how to format a comic script, then turn it into a comic? We’ve got you covered. Together with Mr. Abstracto, we’ve created a two-page sample for you!
Click HERE to download the Sample Script, page templates, and more!
Page 01 of 02 (5 panels)
[Panel 1: Interior: Wide Shot – Inside a dusty old-western saloon, there is sparse attendance of card players at well-spaced tables and the odd lone cowboy getting tanked on Shwhiskey [REF] here and there. PERSON ONE, a tall, lanky man in dusty cowboy getup, walks nonchalantly into the bar. PERSON TWO, a non-binary astronaut in a space suit, is seated at the bar with their helmet on the bar next to them, and they are staring at PERSON ONE incredulously.]
01 SFX (PERSON ONE hitting bar): THWUMP!
02 PERSON ONE: Hey, watch it, bar!
03 PERSON TWO: What the hecky, fella?!
[Panel 2: Medium Shot – BARTENDER, quintessential old-timey saloon-keep man, leans over the bar toward PERSON ONE. PERSON TWO looks away, sipping their opulent cocktail minding their own business.]
04 BARTENDER: So, what’ll it be, buddy?
05 PERSON TWO: This is already turning out to be a great sample script…
[Panel 3: Close-Up – PERSON ONE rubs his guts where he hit the bar and looks wearily at the bartender.]
06 PERSON ONE: A double shot of Shwhiskey…and a couple aspirins, please.
[Panel 4: Close-Up – BARTENDER, squinting his eyes, looking visibly annoyed.]
07 BARTENDER: No, I mean what’s the punch line?
[Panel 5: Medium Shot – PERSON TWO two looks deadpan into the camera. Over their shoulder we can see PERSON ONE and BARTENDER squaring off.]
08 PERSON ONE: Thankfully, this is just a sample script. We don’t need a punch line.
09 SFX (off-panel trombone, a music note before and after): Womp Womp
Page 02 of 02 (4 panels)
[Panel 1: Exterior: Wide Shot – Outside the saloon, LITTLE BIRD, a small blue finch with a yellow belly, sits on a fence post, looking at the saloon.]
01 LITTLE BIRD: Well, this is just a sample script, so we’re not gonna do the whole thing. But here are some pointers…
[Panel 2: Exterior: Bird’s-Eye Shot – LITTLE BIRD, close to camera, is now starting to fly up above the saloon, which is still clearly visible in the background.]
02 LITTLE BIRD: Use a page break when the comic page changes and clearly label what page we’re on. That way, the editor, artist, and letterer won’t get confused.
[Panel 3: Exterior: Medium Shot – LITTLE BIRD is perched on edge of nest, where 3 little babies are peeping loudly with mouths wide open.]
03 LITTLE BIRD: Clear formatting distinctions between descriptive text and dialogue are vital for your artist and your letterer to understand your needs.
04 BABY BIRD 1: PEEP! Spacing between paragraphs makes it read easier.
05 BABY BIRD 2: PEEPER!! Write how many panels the page has in the page header.
06 BABY BIRD 3: PEEPEST!!! Number each item your letterer has to add!
[Panel 4: Exterior: Extreme Close-Up – Reveal a WORM inside LITTLE BIRD’s mouth. The foreground of the panel is framed by the peeping beaks of the 3 BABY BIRDS.]
07 WORM: Welp, this is the end, folks…
08 Text Box: END
The above is a two-page sample to show you an overview of how we format our scripts. Hopefully this will give you some ideas about how to keep your scripts neat, organized, and easy to interpret for the rest of your team. You can also find details on writing comics scripts at the Oneshi Press blog.
Feel free to ask us any further questions at info@oneshipress.com.
Need a letterer? Here’s our letterer Cardinal Rae’s contact info: CardinalRaeLetters@gmail.com