FIVE OBSTRUCTIONS, OBSTRUCTION THE SECOND

Tom

Your second obstruction will consist of two constraints. The first
constraint is related to the
writing process: I want you to write the last panel first, then
retro-write the panel from the penultimate back to the first panel. You
can use five or six panels total.
Your second constraint: this last panel that you begin the story with must
contain the following elements:

-an animal of some sort (but not a bird!)
-Hutch and only one other recurring character
-use of or reference to at least two of the colors of the rainbow
(ROYGBIV). these could take the form of text in the dialogue, in
narration, or incorporated in the image; or they could appear in the
images (you could even use your spot color, as long as it’s deliberate and
intentional, that is, if someone has a red shirt on it must be relevant to
the outcome of the strip, like say they’re at a White Stripes concert…)

Ideally, you would also connect this strip to H’s abduction in the first
strip. However, the backwards composition is the most important thing, so
the first thing you should do is concentrate solely on the second
constraint and the generation of your last panel. Only then, as you start
to write the story backwards, should you think about bringing the birds in
somehow. (that’s why there’s a “no birds” rule in the last panel.)

In fact, now that I think of it, to ensure that you are truly writing
backwards, I think it would be best if you were to draw that last panel
and post it on the blog for me to see before you do the next one, then you
should do the same with each successive (or, rather, preceding) panel.

Bonne chance!

Matt