Tales from the Sanguine Box

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the end of The Sanguine Box. I am glad you joined me for this story. This project began with a childhood dream. I wrote a comic in fourth grade about killer stuffed animals with enormous claws and I’ve always remembered that as a fun, transformative experience. Life led me toward graphic design with an illustration minor. At some point, I realized my drawing skills and speed did not meet my own standards for a project like this. Producing fifteen finished pages requires immense labor. I oftentimes tell stories to my son at bedtime, but I needed support to build a larger narrative. AI technology accelerated my workflow. It allowed me to incorporate video and other media. I wanted to build a multimedia experience for you. My goal was to learn more about using AI as a tool and at the same time create something fun.

The production involved several technical layers. I used ComfyUI and local models for initial character art. I transitioned to Nano Banana for the majority of generations. I used local upscalers to refine the images. I applied Detail Daemons on a few specific panels where the art required more focus. I produced video elements with Flow and After Effects. I did the lettering and word bubbles manually in Photoshop. I performed digital paint-overs to adjust lighting and atmosphere. Some panels required compositing multiple images to achieve specific compositions. I spent over one hundred hours on this work.

Future installments depend on your interest. I am so happy to share this story with you. I appreciate every person who reads it. No matter what, I’m counting this project as a win. I finished a project and made a thing I am proud of. This process taught me how AI functions within a professional pipeline. I’d really love to hear what you think of the comic and thank you for being part of this journey.

With gratitude,

Brian Alvarez