A recent trip to the comic shop got me thinking…. It’s been a while since I’ve really enjoyed going to the comic shop and picking up new comics. For some reason, the excitement isn’t what it used to be and there aren’t really any titles that I collect anymore. Part of the reason I don’t buy as many comics as I used to is that it’s just too hard to jump in on a comic series if you don’t have access to all of the back issues, as most comics nowadays are long stories that require previous issues to understand what is going on in the story. The other reason is that it’s just too darn expensive to buy those back issues, even if the comic shop has them all in stock. Don’t get me wrong, I like the collector mentality, where you have to hunt down missing issues and fill in gaps of the story, but missing issues shouldn’t stall your enjoyment of the issues that you have.
Like all of my comic thoughts, I turn them back to my own comic, The Possum. I’m currently working on issue #5, and I have certainly learned a lot as I’ve made mistakes on the previous issues. As I look over the last 5 issues of The Possum, and as I get set to plot out the next couple, I realize that I need to make each issue stand alone better as it’s own story. Issue #1 works, but it’s 72 pages. Issues #2,3 and 4 work together, but on their own they fall into the aforementioned category. Moving on, it’s a goal of mine to condense the stories more and try to make each issue work on it’s own. Sure there will be story arcs that weave their way through all the issues, as Stan Lee used to do so well, but each issue on it’s own HAS to make sense.
As I write this, I’m currently working on an 8 page Possum story, and a separate 4 page Possum story, for two different publications. In total, I will have completed 5 short stories over the last few years, and I find these really good exercises to condense my writing and try to get more happening on each page.
As I look forward to 2011, I’m really pumped to make comics and try to implement some of these observations into my own work. I’m going to start the year by taking a month or so off from my day job to focus on comics, with the goal of finishing these two short stories I’m working on, completing issue #5, and if all works out as planned, getting a good start on issue #6. I’ve never taken more than a week off to work on comics before, so I’m really looking forward to trying to make the most of my time off. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Blair,
I think working on the short stories are really good exercises. Like you mentioned, it helps you work on your editing skills, finding the story in less pages. Plus, it’s a nice way to have more stories with a particular character.
The fact that you’re doing them for 2 different publications also means that you’ll most likely be seen by two new groups of readers, so that’s always a good situation.
For the last two months or so, I’ve been using most of my creative time to actually catch up on some comics reading. Been reading and studying the work of Osamu Tezuka (BLACK JACK, MIGHTY ATOM). His storytelling, and the amount and variety of ideas he creates, is truly inspiring. Believe it or not, I’ve even been watching some Godzilla flicks, which, while I’m not planning on any giant monster stories, has helped me to realize how much I loved that fast-paced storytelling as a kid. Put logic aside, and go for an imaginative, non-stop train ride (train wreck??) of a tale!
I’ve also been planning, as you have, my next steps for the new year. My own goal is to really get on the ball and have a real hefty number of pages done. I’m looking at about a 60 page conclusion to one story, a new 50 ‘page’ web comic, and at least two other ‘secret projects’ in some sort of initial stages by the end of 2011.
Like my friend Ted says, ‘Talk is cheap’. So, let’s just see my progress as it goes along, as that’s really the only thing that counts.
Have a productive and prosperous new year. Draw your little heart out!
Javier
Hey Javier!
Yes, talk is cheap. I hate writing what I plan to accomplish in the new year, because all of a sudden, life gets busy and 5 months fly by like it’s nothing. It’s amazing how fast time goes, and according to my grandparents, it just gets faster and faster.
I haven’t read any of Osamu Tezuka’s work, but it’s on my list (especially after your blog post about him). I feel like I have so much to learn about writing comics and writing in general, but I’m sure that feeling never leaves you. It’s truly a life long journey, but that’s why it’s always interesting and exciting.
One of these years, I’d love to do 1 comic per month (12 comics in the year). I’m still not sure how or when I’m going to do that though. (maybe when the kids are grown up!:)
I get really inspired when I see people who have a passion for making comics, and can back it up with productivity. I’ll draw like crazy if you do!
Blair.
If either of you figure out how to get paid (a living wage) making comics, let me know, eh?
I think I’ve figured it out…… Make the best comic that everyone wants and that no one else is making and then sell it to lots of people…… Now the trick is to figure out how to make that kind of comic…….. hmmmm.
Luckily (or foolishly) I resigned myself years ago to continue making my own comics cause I love to. Maintaining and seeking varying sources of income has always been my way out of poverty!
On a serious note: I’m torn with the idea of making comics without the intention of eventually making money at them. I think it’s vitally important to make comics because you love them, and even if you aren’t making money, to continue to make them out of love, although I wonder if that could lower your standards and let you settle with making comics that are sub standard? (speaking for myself of course). The more serious I get about attempting to make comics a full time job, the more I look at other professional comics, and see the many, many areas that I need to improve on, while when I started my first few issues, I had the mindset that I was just doing this for me, and I slacked off in certain areas and looked at other indie comics as the ‘bar’. The majority of successful comic creators are really damn good. Their work LOOKS professional, and unless I get my work looking that level, then I shouldn’t expect to be able to do comics full time, which is where making comics because you love them comes in, because the only way to get to that level is to make a LOT of comics.
Blair,
These short stories sound great, can’t wait to read them! I like your idea of making the newer issues have more separate story lines, can’t wait to read them as well. I’m really looking forward to reading these and also collecting the newer issues and the short ones. I really liked the previous issues especially number 4, not because the others weren’t as good, they were all superb, just I enjoyed issue 4 the most because it pulled all the previous issues (#2 and 3) together, like you stated in your post earlier. I just have a question about your new idea, are you going to start with issue # 5 being the one that has a separate story line or are # 5 and 6 going to be a combined story, almost like #2,3, and 4? Also, I was very excited to acquire the”Front Lines” “team-up” poster for Spy Guy and the Possum, but was wondering what was going to happen with that? I mean, was that just a fun poster or is there actually going to be a Possum and Spy Guy team-up comic, like a “one-shot”? I’d be pretty interested in reading that, Spy Guy and Possum are so funny and make my day when I read them. Also, a note for Mike (who probably won’t get to read this, seeing as is it isn’t his blog…), I love the new Possum shirts and the Spy Guy “iSpy” glow in the dark T shirt are just awesome.
thanks guys,
James
big fan
Hey James!
I think the longer story arcs would work fine if I was coming out with a monthly book, but it’s just not fair to expect someone to wait 3 years to finish a 3 issue story. I spoke to Sergio Aragones about this last year, when he was kind enough to speak to me at Wondercon, and this was something that he pointed out, and I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but it’s really starting to make sense to me now. I’m glad you liked issue #4!
Issue #5 is going to be a slight continuation of issue #4 (with the robot), but will have a fairly clean ending and won’t be a ‘to be continued’ ending. Of course there will always be the soap opera type continuation with Steve Tacola, etc. Issue #6 will be a new bad guy, and a stand alone issue (with a bit of the continued Steve Tacola storyline of course).
And yes, Mike and I have a story that is plotted out with a Spy Guy / Possum team up, similar to the oversized cross overs that DC and Marvel did in the 60’s and 70’s. We’re really excited to start on it, but we each need to finish up our current comics first. (It might be a thing that we spend next year working on). It’s frustrating, because comics take so much time to do, especially when it’s not full time work. (baby steps I guess).
It’s nice to hear your kind words, and it really makes me want to get drawing comics!!!!
Blair.
James! I do stick my nose in here from time to time so I did get to read your comment. Glad you like that iSpy shirt. As for the Spy Guy / Possum crossover, believe me – I want to read that one as much as you do!
Blair, I know what you mean about looking at the other ‘professional comics’ out there and wondering where one’s one work fits on the scale.
I’ve got my own area I can improve on, that’s a fact. And I’m sure you can point out the areas you want to work on. We should always be critical of our own work, skills, production values, etc.
But what I often do (and it’s not meant to justify any of my shortcomings) is look at the ‘professional comics’ out there and realize, thankfully, that I’m not caught up in there assembly line stranglehold, whether that’s today’s ‘art style’, editorially mandated storylines, continuity suffocation, etc.
I realize, as I write this, that you’re probably looking at the more independent work out there, so perhaps my criticisms don’t hold. Regardless of your own standards you have for your work, (again, very important for us as artists to consider), know also that what readers also love about your books is your voice. The ideas and characters you create, that you own. While a voice has to be backed up with quality work, your comics, THE POSSUM, is worth way more to many of us (how many, I don’t know!!) than six volumes of trade paperbacks cranked out from the mighty comics companies.
Getting larger numbers of readers, enough to sustain an actual living, requires numerous factors. Frequency is a key. Being able to sustain sales through Diamond is another one that one really cannot ignore. And could it even be achieved today, given the ‘economy’ of floppies vs. trades? Given how ‘cautious’ the retailers are? Given how many people actually really want to read THE POSSUM? (and I can easily substitute EL MUERTO in there, so nobody think I’m picking on POSSUM!).
Whew, it’s almost midnight here. Perhaps I’m getting too reflective/melancholic. At any rate, I look forward to more of your work, and I hope you (and I, and all of us) continue to climb our personal ladders of improvement. And maybe, just maybe, pick up some more readers along the way.
Your compadre,
Javier
Hey Javier!
I hear ya loud and clear about the assembly line stranglehold, art styles, editorial driven storylines, etc. I’m caught up in all of that with animation, and the whole reason I’m doing my own comic is to avoid all of that BS. I think it’s possible to make a full time job out of the comics we are doing, but I know for myself, that if that is going to happen I have to improve in every aspect of my work, and I have to keep on improving. I look at comics like Cerebus, Groo, Savage Dragon, Mad Magazine…… These are all something to strive for.
The Diamond situation is bleak at best, and cautious retailers are another problem for sure. I DO know that people somehow make a living drawing comics, but I just haven’t figured out how.
It feels like the only thing I can control at the moment is to keep striving to get better and to keep trying to make a comic book that I would want to read and that would hold it’s own next to any comic in Diamond Magazine. (I’ve got a ways to go, but maybe in 10 years I’ll be close).
We need to have dinner again (without the crazy guy) so we can solve all of these problems and figure out a way to beat the comic industry!
Crazy guy? You mean me? Or that new-age hypnotist?
Oh yeah…. I forgot about that new-age hypnotist……… 🙂
LMAO! Was that interloper a new-age hypnotist? I could have sworn he was a homeless, vegan taxidermist with a 2nd grade education ?? Dang, I’m the worst judge of character…. 🙁
Yeah, you, me and Mike need to meet at another deli in another market on a late night weekend in some big American city and discuss the interlocking secrets of comic book success. Over soup and sandwiches, natch!