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Comic Creators Thread: Ways to Stay Motivated, Creative, and Productive?

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Posts

  • Robos A Go GoRobos A Go Go Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Munch, your Spectre pitch sounds a bit like a horror anthology series with Spectre serving as the Crypt Keeper or Rod Serling surrogate, albeit with a more direct role in the action. Is that what you meant?

    Robos A Go Go on
  • MunchMunch Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Munch, your Spectre pitch sounds a bit like a horror anthology series with Spectre serving as the Crypt Keeper or Rod Serling surrogate, albeit with a more direct role in the action. Is that what you meant?
    Exactly that, really.
    Cool. Tim Seeley did this for $20, so ... Gauntlet. Thrown.

    Seriously, though. I'll e-mail you. I'm not sure what I want, but I know it'll be something different.
    Dang, that's pretty awesome for $20.

    If I had my normal computer, I could give an example of what a normal commission from me might look like, as I recently did something for a comic artist that had sent me some free art, but didn't put it on my blog. Anyhow, when my computer's fixed, I'll be sure to make mention of it here, and show some examples of what people could get.

    Munch on
  • bobsbarricadesbobsbarricades Registered User regular
    Rubix42 wrote:
    We're just flying, he's laying down art, I'm crafting the story and plot, etc.

    -I have never in all my years seen a comic that looks like ours. Except maybe Heavy Metal. Is this a bad thing? All the art is heavily inspired by flash style tattoo work.

    -We are crafting a story leading to tragedy. Is there really any commercial appeal in the industry for a tragedy were the hero dies and the villian comes out on top?

    -Finally, we're not using panels at all. Everything is wide open, free flowing. For example, one page has a character who is lighting a smoke, fedora pulled down low, and the narrative of the page is multiple thought bubbles containing words and images.

    I am interested in what you will pump out. keep us posted. Maybe make a facebook page of some sort

  • The Lovely BastardThe Lovely Bastard Registered User regular
    oh yeah munch, I am posting this here, on the internet for all to see

    someone remind me to punch the dude who is fixing your computer when you get it back

    he is trying to halt progress

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  • MunchMunch Registered User regular
    It's looped around from being annoying, to outright absurdity.

    I can't even remember how long they've had it, but it's been well in excess of a month and a half.

  • WildcatWildcat Registered User regular
    Whoa, that is hella porno they must have to remove.

  • MunchMunch Registered User regular
    Lots of Blue Beetle slashfic.

    Actually, it was this weird confluence of events; the technician went on vacation, I waffled back and forth for a couple days on whether to replace the motherboard or buy a new computer, then they had to order a motherboard which took another couple of weeks, and now they're working on it, etc.

  • DouglasDangerDouglasDanger PennsylvaniaRegistered User regular
    I'm writing a thing. I'm not sure if I want it to be a comic or prose though, so it is kind of awkward. First draft, so it doesn't really matter. Feels good to be writing again.

  • The Lovely BastardThe Lovely Bastard Registered User regular
    douglas what did I tell you

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  • DouglasDangerDouglasDanger PennsylvaniaRegistered User regular
    you told me to write more

  • The Lovely BastardThe Lovely Bastard Registered User regular
    also to not talk about it

    just do it do it do it do it do it do it

    then shill it out when it is near completion

    it is the tried and true TLB method

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  • SolarSolar Registered User regular
    Yeah it really is the best way

    Don't think about it too much. Start writing. Otherwise you will never actually put pen to paper.

  • bobsbarricadesbobsbarricades Registered User regular
    Solar wrote:
    Yeah it really is the best way

    Don't think about it too much. Start writing. Otherwise you will never actually put pen to paper.

    truth. then when you've got something you get to go back and pick it apart!

  • GustavGustav Friend of Goats Somewhere in the OzarksRegistered User regular
    edited August 2011
    So I finished up that comic I showed some pages of here earlier on. Got it to be a nice twenty pages, I'm pretty okay about it. I'm sending it out to that print service Ka-Blam http://ka-blam.com/ for a proof now. I know of some other webcomic folk that use it, so I figured I'd give it a shot. The local comic book shop owner said he'd put a few on his shelves, so hey there's some incentive. Anyways I'll let you guys know if Ka-Blam is worth anything on the print quality scale when I get my stuff in. Should be a few weeks I think. If that doesn't turn out, I'll just sell it off my site as a digital download. Hell, I'll probably do that anyways.

    In any case here is the finished cover, I think it turned out neat. Especially since I hate drawing cars.
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    Gustav on
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  • GustavGustav Friend of Goats Somewhere in the OzarksRegistered User regular
    edited August 2011
    ...and a double post. Whoops.

    Gustav on
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  • SolarSolar Registered User regular
    That cover art is rather nice there Gustav!

  • bobsbarricadesbobsbarricades Registered User regular
    agreed, I really like it! Keep us updated.

  • MunchMunch Registered User regular
    Really digging that cover.

    It looks moody and kinda muted, without just being really dark and muddy. If you put it up as a digital download, I'll definitely pay a couple bucks for it.

  • GustavGustav Friend of Goats Somewhere in the OzarksRegistered User regular
    Thanks guys! I was really happy with it, makes me wish I started that particular comic in color really.

    I'm sure I'll put it up as a download at some point. I've already put up on digital download comic. I've been trying to start a business model of doing my main comic as a free webcomic, while doing supplemental 8 page short comics for a 99 cent download. The short ones focus on supporting characters, and work at world building one shot type things. Only got the one now, but I'm going to try to do one a month. And I figure its a better way to make money than ironic shirts or things like that. I'd rather make content then doohickies.

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  • bobsbarricadesbobsbarricades Registered User regular
    you ever think of learning Objective-C so you can make an iPad app? Keep all your releases inside it as in app purchases. Give the first 1-2 away free. It's actually not a terribly difficult language to learn.

  • GustavGustav Friend of Goats Somewhere in the OzarksRegistered User regular
    I actually had no idea what Objective-C was haha. I'm only know getting into any semblance of computer literacy. I probably need to give this a look though.

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  • Linespider5Linespider5 ALL HAIL KING KILLMONGER Registered User regular
    Gustav

    that is some very nice work

  • bobsbarricadesbobsbarricades Registered User regular
    There are some easy tutorials out there that help walk you through it - but I mean if you can start makin some money from this might be better to pay someone. Maybe you know a friend?

    http://www.cocoalab.com/ - I ran through 'become an xcoder' in about 2 weeks ( I have some programming background but...not a lot) What's great are the comments that you can read through. Some of it is outdated but not so bad that you get totally lost.

    My friend bought a book that had lots of examples on how to do things and I think those two paired together are the best way to go at it. I'll try and get him to tell me what book that was and post up.

  • GustavGustav Friend of Goats Somewhere in the OzarksRegistered User regular
    I actually have a friend who does all kind of fancy stuff with his Ipad, I could probably talk to him once semester starts round again. But definitely look around that site, so thanks for that. Frankly, it helps to hear it's actually learnable.

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  • bobsbarricadesbobsbarricades Registered User regular
    edited August 2011
    Just a thought for you guys.

    I'm LEARNING how to draw (pencil jack blog) and have gone through a time of it... but! I'm writing a graphic novel that's pretty ambitious. I'm pretty much using Brian Wood's scripts as to how to do the actual writing, but I find I write a lot of detail about the frames; point-of-view, expressions, backgrounds, warped visual effects, etc... So I thought it would be a good idea to start a sort of story board.

    Im basically using a huge sketchpad to lay out the pages (it's really hard or me to go from head to paper as opposed to looking at something and drawing it...which is still hard for me) so the pages suck but.. what are you're thoughts on this. So far I've only done like 3 pages but I'm finding the rough vis has been helping me with flow. I feel a huge rewrite when I get done with it 0.o

    Anyway, has anybody done something like that? did it help or was it just a waste of time when you handed it off to the artist (I'm going to have multiple).

    bobsbarricades on
  • GustavGustav Friend of Goats Somewhere in the OzarksRegistered User regular
    I know with my own work I rarely script. I mean I know where my stories are going on a very large scale. But on an individual issue or chapter basis I make vague outlines, or generally how many pages a particular scene can be and then go wild with layouts, scrawl dialogue in a notebook to insert later (which generally changes.) I've tried scripting myself, but I have to fight with myself not to try and overdo each page with too many panels and trying to generally do too much. I think the layout approach method helps out a ton for the pacing and general composition of a page. Also allows things to grow organically in a fairly rigid direction that I'm going for I think.

    That said, when working with other artists they may not necessarily want you to do that kind of work for them. Depends on the artist though. When I've written for others I've tended to have generally detailed scripts and sometimes drawn layouts. It has worked really well sometimes, and it has backfired others. In the times its work, I've gotten a pretty damn good looking stuff that was right along what I was looking for. The script was visual in the ways they were looking for. The times it didn't, well the art either looked constrained and way too controlled, or they went in their own direction with varying degrees of success.

    Needless to say you need some dialogue with artists, especially with ones who haven't done work with comics before. Which I'm guessing for most of us beginning creators will be the issue. Pretty much every artist who I've worked with didn't necessarily involve themselves with comics before, mostly art students who were focused on the painting gallery type get ups. (My college didn't really care much for illustration, comics, or animation unfortunately) Which is a completely different skill set than comic illustration really. It can produce some really cool work, but it can also be quite off. And it's kind of hard to change script style for various artists, but I think it's pretty much a must.


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  • bobsbarricadesbobsbarricades Registered User regular
    Thanks for the insight Gustav. I think, since I'm definitely not going to be the one drawing these (unless it really doesn't get going for another 10 years - I have a lot of projects...) I'll definitely start talking with more comic oriented illustrators. I've met one or two that are solid on Deviant art, and know 3 in real life so...Maybe when I get my now shorter first volume done I can give layout+script and see what their thouhst are.

  • BlankZoeBlankZoe Registered User regular
    Oh hey this thread exists.

    I do what pretty much all of you do and dream up my own ongoings/minis for various superheroes I dig and write them in hopes that one day I WILL DO IT FOR REAL. While I am actually pursuing a career as a writer(meaning I will be a waiter for the rest of my life) I realized I pretty much will never get to actually use these pitches even if I do get hired so what the hell I am putting my favorite here.

    Here's my Dr. Fate idea for the new DC Universe.

    The pitch:
    Dr. Fate, September 2011
    Monthly Series
    Talent:
    Zack Lastname, Writer
    RAFAEL ALBEQUERQUE OR SOMEONE LIKE THAT, Artist

    Concept:
    The helmet of Nabu has granted limitless knowledge and mystic power to scholars and sages for milennia, but after working with humanity's best and brightest how will the spirit cope with his newest host, a completely average man? Hector Hall, a junior at Salem University, is thrust into a world of demons, wizards and world-ending conflicts, whether he likes it or not. Will he rise to the occasion, or crumble beneath the pressure?

    The Cast:
    HECTOR HALL: A typical 23-year old college student unwittingly selected to be the new Dr. Fate.
    NABU: The spirit within the Helm of Fate, grown detached from humanity after millenia of service.
    DOCTOR OCCULT: Professor Richard Starks, head of anthropology at SU and advisor to Hector.
    CARTER HALL/HAWKMAN: Hector's estranged uncle. Occasional superhero pal, jealous of Hector's newfound power.
    MASON SHULER: Hector's best friend and roommate/sidekick. Tackles magic with baseball bats and handguns.
    ASHLEIGH MILLS: Librarian at SU and eventual love interest to Hector.
    UR: Demonic lord of Chaos, primary antagonist to Dr. Fate.

    Overview:
    Hector Hall is the latest in a long line of men chosen to take the mantle of Dr. Fate, mystic defender of this dimension. Unlike his well-equipped predecessors, a list that includes kings and philosophers, Hector is simply an average ma,. Through a combination of sheer determination and a helpful supporting cast he attempts to overcome his short fallings and live up to expectations.

    Outline:
    The heart of the series will focus on the relationship between Nabu and Hector. Nabu has grown somewhat cold in his milennia-long existence and is used to dealing with the best man has to offer. Hector, on the other hand, is a college student with a taste for partying, crappy job and a mostly solid head on his shoulders.

    The series opens with a quick summary of the legacy of Doctor Fate, appropriately narrated by Nabu. After seeing the brilliant men and women that have defended reality throughout the ages(mysteriously absent in the past few centuries) we are introduced to Hector mid-keg stand. We follow Hector through the party, introducing the supporting cast along the way, before he is seduced by a beautiful woman. After arriving at her place, Hector drunkenly explores while she gets a little more comfortable. Among the rather macabre, Hector finds the Helm of Fate, filthy and neglected. The helmet seems to call to him, and he places it on his head. After a brief blackout, he awakes to find his paramour in her true form: a horrifying demon.

    First 5 pages of script:
    PAGE 1
    1.1

    The vast void of space, stars twinkling and nebulae drifting. Off-panel, NABU narrates.

    1. (CAPTION) NABU: Our universe.

    1.2

    A cross section of the same scene throughout different universes. The first shows a frozen polar realm. Towering frost giants lumber alongside living ice sculptures. The second showcases a beautiful fairytale woodland, with elves swinging from treetop to treetop. The third is our universe, a busy street in a large metropolitan city. The fourth is a hellish landscape, with pillars of flame lighting the scene as demons soar over damned souls. The fifth is a realm filled to slithering tentacles surrounding a large unblinking eye.

    2. (CAPTION) NABU: One of many. Each a cosmic neighbor to the others

    From within the hell dimension a group of imps huddle at the feet of a massive armor-clad demon who watches a mystic portal showing events on Earth. Within the portal, a group of primitive clansmen bring down a buck with spears.

    3. (CAPTION) NABU: Typically, the realms remain separate.

    4. (CAPTION) NABU: Unseen barriers prevent passage from one to the next.

    1.3

    On earth, a group of dark cloaked cultists stand at Stonehenge. Demonic glowing runes have been inscribed on within the center of the stones.

    5. (CAPTION) NABU: Unfortunately, they are far from impenetrable.

    1.4
    Close-up on the center of Stonehenge. An infernal tear in reality forms, and the wardemon crosses through into our realm, an army of devils visible behind him.

    6. (CAPTION) NABU: When a breach does occur, a realm risks the possibility of being overrun.

    7. (CAPTION) NABU: Humanity, as a race, is poorly equipped to handle such things.

    8. DEMON: Forward, my legions. Leave nothing in our-

    9. (OFF-PANEL) AODHAN: Demon-

    PAGES TWO AND THREE

    2.1

    AODHAN CIANAIN, the Dr. Fate of 2500 BC, floats above Stonehenge with blasts of arcane energy bursting from his hands towards the demon. Cianain is shirtless, but wears an animal hide skirt and a flowing rough cloth cape. His skin is covered in celtic tribal tattoos, glowing with the same energy as his blasts, and wears the Helm of Fate upon his head.

    1 (CAPTION) NABU: Of course, they are not without aid.

    2 (CAPTION) NABU: He is Aodhan Cianain, sworn defender of this reality.

    3 (CAPTION) NABU: He, like countless others, bears the title of Fate.

    4 AODHAN: Get the hell off of my island.

    2.2

    The Dr. Fate of 300 AD battles against a towering giant in Ancient Rome. He wears an ornate set of centurion armor, with flowing capes and sashes as well as sporting the iconic helmet-mohawk on the Helm of Fate.

    5. (CAPTION) NABU: The best and brightest of humankind. Warriors and prophets. Kings and scholars.

    2.3

    Dr. Fate, circa 1650, battles a Thunderbird high above the grass plains of Oklahoma. The bird sends massive bolts of lightning in all directions while Fate, clad in shamanistic vestments covered in ornate feathers and other trophies, defends herself with a mystic shield.

    6. (CAPTION) NABU: From all across the world they serve.

    7. (CAPTION) NABU: Earth's first line of defense against any would-be conquerors or abyssal monstrosities.

    2.4

    The Dr. Fate of 950 AD, wearing incredibly ornate baggy robes, soars on a flying carpet above the building tops of Baghdad. He pursues a mad genie, which flies away leaving black scorching smoke in it's wake.

    8. (CAPTION) NABU: Men and women who place humanity's continued existence before their own.

    9. (CAPTION) NABU: Some survive.

    10. (CAPTION) NABU: Most do not.

    2.5

    The Dr. Fate of 1825, a trench coat clad gunslinger firing an enchanted revolver in one hand and raising a defensive ward in the other, faces off against a gang of goblin outlaws sporting cowboy hats.

    11. (CAPTION) NABU: Despite the risks, they continue to serve. Each following in the footsteps of-

    Page Four

    4.1

    Nabu, sitting, floats above a stone slab in an ancient Egyptian temple, the walls covered in heiroglyphics and statues to the gods. He wears the garb of a holy man of the time period, a white cloth skirt and elaborate golden necklaces and bangles. A jet black ankh is tattoed on his forehead between his eyes. The Helm of Fate rests on the slab beside him.

    1. (CAPTION) NABU: Nabu. I was the first man to answer the call to defend our reality.

    2. (CAPTION) NABU: Aided by the ancient Lords of Order I mastered magic far beyond mortal ken.

    3. (CAPTION) NABU: Under my watchful eye the world was able to flourish.

    4.2

    Nabu, now an old man carrying the helm of fate in his hand, stands before the Lords of Order. They tower above him, only their legs are visible, everything else remains draped in shadow.

    4. (CAPTION) NABU: For all of my might, I remained but a man. After a century, my time had come.

    5. (CAPTION) NABU: Yet the Lords had further plans for me.

    4.3

    Nabu is engulfed by a wave of raw magic. His form is silhouetted against the crackling purple energy, the Helm glows bright gold in contrast.

    6. (CAPTION) NABU: As reward for my service, they granted me eternal life-

    4.4

    Close-up on the Helm of Fate falling to the floor, smoking. The helmet's eyes glow with the same purple energy as before.

    7. (CAPTION) NABU: -within the Helm of Fate.

    8. (CAPTION) NABU: I would serve as guide to the men and women that would follow my legacy.

    9. (CAPTION) NABU: When one's service ended, I would guide the helm to the next worthy candidate-



    PAGE FIVE

    5.1

    HECTOR HALL drinks from a beer bong during a raging college kegger. Hector is a typical college student, wearing blue jeans and a red t-shirt sporting the Flash logo. His brown hair is somewhat shaggy and unkempt and he has a few days worth of stubble on his face. Around him the party rages: people drunkenly making out, furniture being smashed, vomiting in the trashcan, the works.

    1. (CAPTION) NABU: -no matter where they might be.

    TITLES
    DR. FATE
    ISSUE ONE:
    THE DOCTOR IS IN
    WRITER: Zack Lastname
    ARTIST: Fakey McNotReal

    Script could use some polish and dialogue tweaks but fuck it I am tired and it is almost 4 AM

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  • BlankZoeBlankZoe Registered User regular
    Oh and before TLB rips me apart I will be adding the panel layout descriptors tomorrow as well

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  • bobsbarricadesbobsbarricades Registered User regular
    I like it. I'm not one to dig the super-hero type comic books, though I was a big fan of Crossgen and what they were doing, but this seems pretty interesting. I'm not familiar with Dr. Fate but he sounds cool. Agreed, the script pages are confusing; have you seen Brian Wood's scripts? He's who I model my stuff after.

    http://www.comicbookscriptarchive.com/archive/scripts/brian-wood-script-pack/

    I loved going through DMZ#1 and looking from script to finished comic. Great learning experience.

  • The Lovely BastardThe Lovely Bastard Registered User regular
    you better, blank

    also @munch

    WHERE

    ARE

    MY

    WENDIGOS?

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  • MunchMunch Registered User regular
    I actually went by the place that's repairing my computer yesterday, and asked what exactly the hold-up is.

    A pale, thin young man disappeared into the back, and emerged minutes later to say, "Uh, the motherboard we ordered looks like it might be bad, too. So. Yeah."

    "Oh."

    "Yeah. The technician's going to call you later."

    In a surprise twist, he didn't call me later.

    I did draw an inked headshot of Juan last night, though. So, y'know. I'm doin' stuff.

  • CrimsondudeCrimsondude Registered User regular
    Munch, the most technical thing I've ever done to a computer is remove a HDD to back it up since the motherboard on my laptop died.

    That said, I could repair your computer using the fucking Force before these chuckleheads.


    Oh, I still mean to PM you about a commission. I've just been busy with other stuff (like the little incident involving the reaction to my recently killing off an old character in the SR storyline off-screen [which is its own thing]).

  • The Lovely BastardThe Lovely Bastard Registered User regular
    munch you need to sack up and ream these dudes out

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  • MunchMunch Registered User regular
    I could repair your computer using the fucking Force before these chuckleheads.

    Oh, I still mean to PM you about a commission. I've just been busy with other stuff (like the little incident involving the reaction to my recently killing off an old character in the SR storyline off-screen [which is its own thing]).

    I fully expect to get a call in another week or so, during which I'm informed the tower's infested with deep crows.

    As for the commission, feel free to PM whenever. Like I said earlier in the thread, as soon as I have my art-makin' computer back, I'll scan some examples of commission-quality stuff that I've done recently, so people can kinda see what a commission from me would look like.

  • CrimsondudeCrimsondude Registered User regular
    I have some immediate expenses that have come up beginning with a car, so I'm going to wait until the dwarves of Svartalfheim deign to return your fancy picture-making box.

  • bobsbarricadesbobsbarricades Registered User regular
    Well I know I never post up stuff here, but I feel pretty good. Today I finished editing my 114 page script (4th time?). It used to be one volume, but I've decided to split it up into 3. I'm working on defining my characters more - trying to have less dialogue and more expression through action. Sometimes I end up with MORE dialogue, but...well at least I feel it's stronger.

    People tell me I should read Sandman and I know it's tragic that I haven't already. Apparently it's really existential and dialogue heavy too.

    digitizing my edits is making me want to cry though =,( =,( =,(

  • RonnieRonnie Registered User regular
    sounds like an interesting project.

  • CrimsondudeCrimsondude Registered User regular
    edited August 2011
    Since I've been having a Hell of a time writing (or doing much of anything), I decided a couple of hours ago to sketch. And so I did this one in about 45-50 minutes from a photo from some magazine I haven't yet thrown out. All told, the last time I even tried to sketch (I took three-dimensional art in college for my Art GC) was almost twenty years ago, and the last time I did anything nearly this good (actually it was better) was (again, photo referenced) for a class assignment I killed in second grade. Meanwhile my brother's Drawing final for Robbie Conal in college was a teddy bear that included pretty much every damn hair on the beast.

    http://yfrog.com/hsplgyij

    I think I picked that one in part because it looks a bit like a favorite character of mine, but really it was just the first easy thing I flipped to.

    Crimsondude on
  • bobsbarricadesbobsbarricades Registered User regular
    Ronnie wrote:
    sounds like an interesting project.

    i hope so! I think the main problem is...me. The few people I've told the arch of the story to really like it..it's just the execution bit. I kind of want to get my masters in creative writing...but if there's one thing i learned in undergrad is that if I just do do do do do, I'll learn.

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