Heartless the Workblog part 1

So I started a workblog at Panel and Pixel because as previously mentioned there have been a few really interesting ones set up there recently. The goal being to make me finish the project, there's nothing like the thought of stuffing up and not following through in a forum full of professionals and soon-to-be's to focus the mind. Just starting it up made me think in more detail about certain aspects of the story, how to explain ideas concisely and what exactly was missing from what I'd already done. Don't think I nailed either part but if nothing else it is a start and something to build on. Here's where I am so far:

Putting up or shutting up, as B. Clay Moore said in his comicsbulletin interview - Do The Work. So here we go, the old familiar new format, bastardised from Jimmie and Brandon with apologies to both for not being quite as good at it.

Tales of the Two Planes: Heartless by Owen Jones and (any artist interested - email me)
Action / Myth / Tragedy

Format: Standard comic book, colour – may need to seek other format if pitches are unsuccessful.
Length: Tentatively Five issues
Distribution: Comic direct market for singles, wider book distribution for trades
Audience: Teen to adult, comic violence.
Production: Sometime in 2009 dependent on artist and eventual format.
Publisher: Still researching, small indy is likely my best bet at this stage.
Goal: Make the story-come-myth I enjoy reading myself.

Pitch (lengthy at present – just getting it set in my head):

Tajitsu is the Balance. Formerly a large group of warriors set against the Demon Lord, Orash Dream- Stealer, the Balance used to control the Collectors, creatures Orash unleashes to steal the City’s dreams. Now that duty falls to just the one man and the burden is taking its toll. However, Tajitsu wields the Dragon’s Dream, one of the most feared dream weapons, a blade that grants any dream being the finality of the real world in the dream plane and the abilities of the dream plane in the real world. Problem being Tajitsu isn’t a dream being, so he must remove his heart and give it to his soul mate, Mari, and rely on the blade to sustain him until his hunting is done. But the blade is driving him insane and Orash is about to attempt to merge the two planes.

High Pitch Concept: Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams (The Blizzard) meets Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.