Anyone currently working in comics?

Niesta · Nov 28, 2005

Hey, wow! A comics forum! Is there anyone on these boards who works in comics? I used to, before I had my son, but my series (Amy Unbounded) has been on hiatus for a while. I have found it seriously difficult to draw with a baby/toddler in the house. It's much easier to write, so that's what I've mostly done.

However, I recently started doing a webcomic called Return of the Mad Bun. It's only a once-per-week obligation, which is all I can manage right now, but I think it's pretty glacially slow for the readers! I hope to be able to update more often eventually, but something is better than nothing, I guess.

Anybody else?

Anatole Ghio · Nov 29, 2005

I always wanted to write for comic books, but was never able to find an artist to draw my stories... damn the luck.

Now I am trying to be a published author first, before attempting to get anything published in a comic book format.

Glad to see this forum here.

Niesta · Nov 29, 2005

Yeah, the artist to writer ratio is always really bad. There are way more writers than artists, for some reason.

I draw my own stuff, and like all folks who can draw, I maintain that anybody can do it.

Which is probably not true. It's hard enough perfecting one craft, let alone two, although for me, the two are so inextricably bound that I don't think of them as separate (at least, not when I'm making comics). Writing prose fiction is a very different craft, as different as prose from poetry, IMO.

Richard · Nov 29, 2005

I draw my own stuff, and like all folks who can draw, I maintain that anybody can do it.

I'll dig out my report card for Art. It was meant to be an F, but for some reason the teacher drew a charcoal rendition of the Hiroshima bombings, with an arrow pointing to the middle that read 'You Are Here'.

Comic scripts are fun to write, although I'm sure a lot of that comes down to the difference between drawing scenes of destruction and just typing the words 'PANEL ONE: Ext: New York. A billion locusts suddenly attack, each with a unique Rorscharch pattern painted on their wings. The entire population of the city flees in terror '.

Artists tend to take such opportunities to prove that while the pen may be mightier than the sword, a Wacom stylus up the arse is a really bad day.

Richard White · Nov 29, 2005

Amy Unbounded?

Holy kraut! I remember that one. . . :banana:

Good to see another independent comic person around here!

I was doing Troubleshooters Inc, back in 1994-95 (right before the b&w implosion), but still did the comic cons for years afterwards hoping to hook up with some other artists or find a small company that needed a writer. Still a lot of fun to hang out with Pam Bliss, Matt Feazell, Troy Hickman, and the other small-pressers at SPX and other shows.

Just finished a new book (1-shot) that I hope to get out next spring and then find a regular publisher for. I've found, I like making comics, I hate running a comics company.

Glad to see you here!

fedorable1 · Nov 30, 2005

For those of you looking for artists, the following is a good forums to look in:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/

It's a very popular forum, and you're bound to find somebody - even if they're not "professional quality."

Niesta · Nov 30, 2005

Oh my god! Richard! I remember you! How funny! I was frequently seated right next to Pam Bliss at those conventions, but yeah, it's been three years or so. I had a baby and moved to Canada, so that was a bit of a disruption in the old comics career.

AceTachyon · Nov 30, 2005

fedorable1 said:
For those of you looking for artists, the following is a good forums to look in:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/

It's a very popular forum, and you're bound to find somebody - even if they're not "professional quality."

Don't forget the fine folks over at Digital Webbing: http://www.digitalwebbing.com/

Check out their Talent Search area. The Forums also have many artists displaying their stuff for critique. Chances are good you can find someone who has just the right art style you might be looking for.

Atomic Bear · Dec 2, 2005

some more ideas

Another good site might be: http://www.cartoonistconspiracy.com/

You can find many talented folks there. They have also "cells" in some citys, where you could meet some artists off-line at a Cartoon Jam session.

Another thing to do is to just head down to your local comic book store and ask around. It's easy to find Comic book artist there since they love comics. Plus it will give you some ideas on how to market your book.

Visit a local art school is a good idea. Here in the Bay Area we have at least 3. Lots of students to make some extra money.

Of course you might be able to find talented artist hanging out on these very board. Who knows.

Atomic Bear · Dec 2, 2005

Oops, I forgot the question

oops, after my last post I realized that I did not answer your question. I am working in comics. I self-publish a fantasy adventure called "Beyond the Great Chimney," in which I write and illustrate. I also do freelance illustrations, graphic design and digital production (scan, color, DTP).

Examples can be found at www.atomicbearpress.com. There I have a blog and production log that I update weekly with art and notes.

I am happy to ask any questions that you might have.

PeeDee · Dec 7, 2005

I have a really good comic idea that is, unfortunately, just sitting on the back burner for now. I lack an artist (although I'm happily drooling over ConceptArt.com) and it's the sort of story that will work beautifully with an audience, but does in fact need that audience.

(Well, to be fair, I could do it without audience participation, but it wouldn't have the same effect.)

Vuligora · Dec 21, 2005

I did a cartoon once! I plan on doing more. I also had an idea for anime, and I thought it was pretty good. Now I think it wasn't so great but could be if I re-worked it a little. The thing is, I sucked at drawing. I still suck at side-views and because I'm obsessed with do it yourself, I want to get better and draw my own graphic novels. I just lack the patience. I was never very patient, I don't even take the time to read the microwave instructions on frozen food packages. I estimate, throw away the still frozen and burnt sections, then eat whats left. Okay, aside from that, I do design and draw my own pictures for my novels. Ever since I started to take this art class it's really improved, so I'm happy.

PeeDee · Dec 22, 2005

I also guestimate my frozen meals, but they come out quite well. Sometimes, the potatos are still cold, though, and those are sad, bad days. Otherwise, I manage it rather well.

wordmonkey · Sep 26, 2006

The thread lives, Egor!

I'm writing comics.

I have an on-going book due out (likely in December) with Arcana.

A big one-shot (main story, back-up story and possibly a prose story all written be me, drawn by some super talented artists) looking like it will come out next September (I wrote the first script, main story, last year so it's gonna be two years from first writing to release!!!!) via Viper.

I'm working on two projects for Hard Way Studios (like the little engine that could in studio form).

I have two projects that I found the art teams for in various stages of evolution.

I'm writing a script for David Newbold and another for Erik Roman.

I also have a couple of other projects that I am in talks to do.

And yeah, finding good artist talent is a problem, but not impossible. Lots of talent out there. It's just well hidden.

CBeasy · Nov 13, 2006

Writing a comic has always been a dream of mine, but I as well as everyone else, could never find an artist. I've been thinking of writing it as a short story, then finding an artist later.

dale · Nov 15, 2006

I've been doing some single-page comics in color for Cracked magazine, I have a couple of pages in the issue currently out. I've also done some Web animation for National Lampoon. My wife's been getting into graphic novels for the first time, which has revived my interest in the form, and I'd really like to find some humor comics anthologies to submit to.

But I'm a writer first and foremost. I certainly can't draw everything I would like to be able to, and never as well as I wish. Still, I can render a cartoonish gag acceptably enough for my purposes.

uina · Dec 22, 2006

I am a comic book writer. Me and my friend have been working on it for 5 months now and, to us, our story-lines, our characters, our plots, are way cooler than anything Marvel or DC or Image or Dark Horse can come up with.

We just can't find a publisher

PeeDee · Dec 22, 2006

I don't know. DC-and-imprints gave me "Kingdom Come" and "The Sandman" and is currently giving me "Fables."

Marvel is giving me Astonishing X-Men.

I would be more than happy for you to blow their socks off, though.

PeeDee · Dec 22, 2006

As for finding a publisher, if you don't wnat to go with the big companies, then might I suggest Digital Webbing? I've always thought very highly of them, and they're a solid publisher all by themselves.

uina · Dec 22, 2006

Hey Alan Moore (that's your avatar right?). Alright. we'll trydigital webbing. but do they print the stuff out and put it at bookstores? or is it all online?

PeeDee · Dec 22, 2006

uina said:
Hey Alan Moore (that's your avatar right?). Alright. we'll trydigital webbing. but do they print the stuff out and put it at bookstores? or is it all online?

That's not Alan Moore. That's me on my 14th birthday, eighteen years ago. Why? Do I like old, or something?

(incidentally, I wasn't trying to take a jab at the quality of your work. It was just a gentle poke in general. I hope I didn't offend. I wasn't trying to at all.)

I don't know about their distribution methods. I have seen some of their BloodRayne comics in my local comic shop, but those are commercial tie-ins, so that might be different.

I seem to recall reading that Digital Webbing comics wind up in the Diamond Catalog like most other publishers. What they do beyond that to get stocked in stores is beyond me. The problem is, comic stores tend to have very limited space once you get past Marvel/DC/And-Imprints. I mean, Dark Horse is a major label in its own right, and even it gets wedged to the side.

uina · Dec 22, 2006

Oh i'm not offended. I am bragging about my comics and they're not even out yet.

dreamsofnever · Feb 5, 2007

Wow, I feel really blessed now. I have a friend who is an artist over at <a href=http://www.803studios.net/>803 Studios</a> and he approached me to ask for help with a project that should be produced by them. That said, we're gearing up for the possibility of having to split the production costs with the studio, as they are a very small independent studio and money is an issue. Of course, once we get it published, it's finding buyers and making a profit that's the trick.

Anyways, that's my inexperienced 2 cents. No idea if this is typical or what! I'll check back and let you know once we get the book finished

wordmonkey · Feb 25, 2007

Try Comixpress. They will print the book and ship you as many copies as you want to buy. They will also sell the book via their website.

If you wanna get in stores, you need a deal with Diamond. And I can tell ya now, you won't get one unless you print 1000's of copies and agree to take returns.

Lulu is another option.

You have to foot the bill for your copies, but you can sell them at Cons. And subbing a finished comic to a bigger publisher is a much more impressive way to show your wears.

Finally, if you present a finished book to a decent sized indie, and the quality is there, you actually do stand a chance. I know. I've done it.

jnesvold · Mar 9, 2007

I don't work in comics, but have a gob of ideas that I, of course, think are brilliant. I also feel (and who doesn't, really?) that the novel I'm working on now would be great to be adapted into the ocmic book form, or cartoons, or video games.

I have searched before for someone to partner with in crafting a comic (or online toon), wherein we would share ideas and somebody else would do the bulk of actual writing, and find a good artist, but am unsuccessful so far.

Anyone currently working in comics?

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