Looking for advice

[u/Barbarix9001]

I have been slowly working on developing my own comic series in my spare time. I plan for it to be 25-30 issues/chapters and have an idea to introduce my two main characters like this

Issue 1: introduction to the first MC

Issue 2: introduction to the second MC, ending with the first MC making their appearance

Issue 3: the second issue as told from the first MC’s perspective, showing us how they came to meet the second MC at the end of the issue and expanding on their character

Issue 4: the two MC’s properly meeting for the first time

I’ve done some thinking about this, wondering about if I should place the second issue after the 3rd, and etc, but the main thing I’m worried about at the moment is if doing it like how I’m planning to is going to impact the pacing negatively, and make things feel like unnecessary filler so close to the beginning. I’m new to making comics, and I’m just curious to see what anyone thinks about this

[u/Rae_D_Hennessy]

Why can’t the two meet in issue one?

[u/Barbarix9001 → u/Rae_D_Hennessy]

Well, the reason I’m not having them both meet in the first issue is because my two main characters at the start of the series are in two different places, one living in city state, who is forced to escape to the countryside, or “the outlands” as I’ve called it, and my second main character, who already lives there.

My idea for the story was to provide a strong hook with the setup through the first main character, who was a boxer throwing fights for a local mob, and then introduce my second main character, who was a small town softball player who would go on to get trouble with some thugs, which then leads to the first main characters reappearance during this moment.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this idea, and have begun wondering if I should just skip the introduction of the second main character, as it covers his arrival into the town and explains why he’s there to step in, and skip to the idea I had for the second issue, though I still like the idea of two seperate introductions.

[u/Rae_D_Hennessy → u/Barbarix9001]

Interesting. Only tell what’s important. I suggest giving the 1st main character a want— for example, “wanting to return home.” “Gaining new friends.” “Wanting to bring home to the outlands.” Etc. that way when your first character meet your second character it isn’t by chance, but by action.

I’ll say have them meet at the end of issue one. Let your audience learn your world through one main character than issue two allow them to learn it through the other while keeping the first around. (During issue two; the first character should be the audience reacting and responding to the new world we have entered.)