Indeed, the text needs to be redone. The color of the word boxes clash with the words themselves, making it rather hard to look at, much less read.
I'd liven up that background a bit. You could go the out-of-focus path and make some really skimpy backgrounds in very blurry style. Avoid filters like the plague, though.
If you're going for a cel-shaded style, avoid using the fuzzy brushes. As Brodzkyman above said, it may cause some problems like in yellowguy's yinyang.
Some color pointers...
Just a bit of shading would rock, but consider the intense green in the background. It'd have to reflect on the characters.
However, about the green, it clashes with the overall mood I think you're trying to achieve. Cool colors tend to mean tranquility and such, while warm signify excitement, and Marlow looks pretty permanently pissed off to me.
Also, you could tone down the saturation. Even if you're going for a cartoony look, lean a bit more the grayer end of the spectrum when choosing colors.
What kind of pens are we talking about here? If they're microns, they only go for about a dollar fifty to two each to my experience. Probably pricy as far as pens go, but well worth it. <p>
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Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=redeyedragon89@rpgww60462>RedEye] at: 9/23/05 0:29