Maybe do one page and post it here so that we can ooh and aaah?
― let's not get too excited w/ the ouches (forksclovetofu),
I've got a page rough draft done, I'll start working on the panels and do the layout & save the page as JPG so you can all see how crappy I draw (lol).
― Frobisher, Thursday, 6 August 2015 23:54 (eight years ago) link
I would never want to discourage anyone from a creative pursuit, and I hope making comics gives you pleasure for life.
But - deciding to start off your 'career' as a cartoonist with plans for a not-fully-written graphic novel, that you estimate will take two years to complete, seems to be a mad case of running before walking. Forgive me if I say I doubt that you will ever complete it.
IMHO, you would be much better off working on a fully plotted and written 'short' script - four pages at most - and then paying careful attention to comic strips of a similar length. Think about the structure of both your narrative and of the pages themselves; tying yourself into a regulated, Watchmen-like grid of six or nine panels a page automatically gives your comic an internal discipline and focus that might well be absent from something more 'freeform' or unplanned. Look at the way someone like Alex Toth 'stages' his action even in a very short strip, and the way he transitions from one panel to another. Comics generally are not fast or improvisational - they are slow, meticulous, and requires a phenomenal amount of drudge work and planning to achieve good results.
Good luck!
― sʌxihɔːl (Ward Fowler), Friday, 7 August 2015 14:30 (eight years ago) link
Oh it's not a career, just a hobby. I would never imagine I could make any money this way. Thank you for the advice!
― Frobisher, Friday, 7 August 2015 17:07 (eight years ago) link
As a hobby you should just do whatever the hell you like. It's all learning. And if it's not learning, it should at least be fun. I understand the instinct -- I used to write for $$$ in my 20s but now I'm much happier hobbying it for no one in particular.
That said, would also love to see a page!
Also - never read any Toth. Is there a good place to start Ward?
― Chuck_Tatum, Friday, 7 August 2015 20:52 (eight years ago) link
http://www.tcj.com/rina-ayuyang-day-one/
― Meta Forksclove-Liebeskind (forksclovetofu), Tuesday, 18 August 2015 02:55 (eight years ago) link
depressing
― Nhex, Tuesday, 18 August 2015 04:24 (eight years ago) link
Chuck, apologies, I only just saw your question about Toth
His best work is spread amongst a number of different publishers, so unfortunately there isn't one obvious place to start.
If you have the money, the three 'Genius' volumes put out by IDW collect together lots of his best artwork, much of it shot from the original pages, and does includes some complete stories. IDW have also just brought out a lovely collection of 'Bravo For Adventure', the strip that was probably closest to Toth's heart, and which represents the longest single narrative he ever drew.
A cheaper option is the recent hardcover collection of all Toth's strips for Warren, which gives a good idea of his range and ability, though the stories are on the whole fairly dopey. The first page of 'The Monument' in this volume might be my favourite splash page of all time:
http://40.media.tumblr.com/e8cce4098536b8d168a47e9ef8f8eac4/tumblr_inline_nlmxngEVgB1qe90ht_500.jpg
― sʌxihɔːl (Ward Fowler), Tuesday, 18 August 2015 06:39 (eight years ago) link
i thought this was a really interesting conversation and a suggestion both of what the "new history" of self-publishing is shaping up to behttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CojfpoRZXOki like spike's 'poorcraft'; dunno about anything else from iron circus
― a llove spat over a llama-keeper (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 29 October 2015 17:02 (eight years ago) link
have vague memories of Templar, AZ - should revisit. spike seems cool, good talk
― Nhex, Sunday, 1 November 2015 03:53 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6F_CF7Yvo0
― a llove spat over a llama-keeper (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 5 November 2015 06:43 (eight years ago) link
another thumbs up. i've never watched Bojack Horseman
― Nhex, Saturday, 7 November 2015 18:13 (eight years ago) link
Kinda hate bojack based on the s1 first ep... But I love her work in general!
― a llove spat over a llama-keeper (forksclovetofu), Saturday, 7 November 2015 21:32 (eight years ago) link