So You Think You Have What it Takes To Be a Comic Creator

[Anim8r13]

Brian,

Thank you so much for starting this thread! It is really great to see so many talented people out there who love to tell stories.

A thread like this really helps all of us. I've been amazed at the artwork and stories I've seen on this site and think there is a lot of good product that I hope makes it out there.

Thanks for the inspiration and information. I would be remiss if I didn't share a few quotes/advice as well:

-Marilyn Monroe was once told that 75% of Hollywood says she had no talent. Her response: "If 100% says I have no talent 100% will be wrong."
-Every success starts with 1000 failures, so rejections are a way to keep track of your progress.
-Use rejection letters as sketch/writing paper.
-Never give up, because there is a market for everything. If people will buy crap like "Thighmaster", I know my book has hope.

My scratches and scribbles.

"If it ain't broke. . . . . .I can fix that."

"I’m schizophrenic, so everything I do is a collaborative effort."

[Brian Germain]

Well thanks Anim8r and everyone else... I never thought this would have this big of response I am glad it got some looks... hopefully I can help someone out along the way... some more helpful information if you have never checked out Comixpress.com it is worth checking out however someone was saying you could get 24 page full color comics for 85 cents, unless this is mini comics they were talking about I don't believe this is the case. as when i checked for a full color price the price was over 4 bux a book... so just goes to show you to be wary of everything but again I repeat the site is worth checking out.

if anyone else has anything to ad to this thread dealing with the cretaion of comics and there experiences I am more than happy to listen.

-Brian

[Brian Germain]

I realize this is an incredibly old thread but I believe that a thread can go on forever. beyond that there si still so much more to say and as I said previously from time to time I may come back and add to what I have already said especially if I learn something new and pertinent to this thread.

so here are some quickies that many of you may already know but some of you may have gotten discouraged abotu or given up on entirely...

Penciljack is a busy busy busy place everyday I would have to say at least hundreds of things are posted to and or responded on here. so here is some things I have to say about that.

Don't get discouraged because your post didn't get a response, chances are 100 other responses may have buried it before anyone got the chance to see how great that post was, also if your post is more of a statement (like this one) and it didn't get any responses it doesn't mean that no one read it. chances are they are reading it right now and you are none the wiser. So if you want a response ask for one! If all else fails post a reply to your own post asking for responses as the chances of your post getting seen again increases when it goes back up in the newly responded to list.

Know who/what you are.- Here is a little problem I ran into recently with one of my creators in my company,he didn't knwo what he was or whatr was expected of him. now many of you in my company or a similar company might have the same issue, of course right now you are probably going WHAT ISSUE WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?!? So I'll do my best to explain...

There is a difference between a creator and a publisher. There is also a difference between a publisher and a studio. A studio may not create an entire comic book, or sometimes it may. Sometimes a studio may only create the art ina comic book or maybe only the letters or maybe only the colors. because you have created a studio don't expect to have to be the one who does everything involved with turning a comic book into reality. Now on the other hand this isn't the publishers job either, the publishers job is to basically get a comic into print yeah there are some more facets to that but maybe I will talk about that some other time.

A comic book may be created and published by as few or as many people it takes ie; 1 or 10 etc. and so on. You can take as much or as little of the workload as you want, however if you aren't an artist and you decide to do the art that is just stupid. Contrawise if you are an artist and you decide to write the book but you suck at writing well that doesn't make much sense either. yeah I believe you are all probably thinkign "thank you captain obvious!" but I am continually surprised at the number of "Creators" who don't know what their role in the "Creation" process actually is. If you are the Creator of a project sometimes you can helm the whole project (if the publisher let's you) but if you have a publisher it is up to the publisher to tell the editors who do what or if the "creators" are the editors then they sometimes tell the "creators" which artists, letterers, writers, etc. to use not the other way around. when you approach a publisher you don't always get the luxury of picking your own art/writing team otherwise wouldn't ,many of you be picking Jim Lee/ Jopeh Loeb as part of your team?

Point here is slow your roll, and know your role. IF you are the "creator" of a concept that doesn't always get to mean you will be doing even the actual writing or the actual art in a book. and if that's what you are holding out for, it may take a little longer to find the right publisher who'll let you do it that way.

and as a "studio" don't confuse yourself with having to be the editor and publisher unless you are self publishing because the copy will most likely still have to pass by the publisher and publishing editor as well in order to be published.

Never Give Up!- If comics or art or writing or whatever it is you think you want to do is "really What you want to do then don't let anyone discourage you. because believe me nearly everyone you know and love will try or accidentally do it at some point or another. I don't know why, but it just seems to happen that way. you can't listen to what other people think about your crazy dreams or beliefs but instead make sure you have a back up plan or make sure you are at keast taking care of business to some degree in other aspects of your life or things could get ugly. People who see you being succewssful and loving it will hate it, and people who don't see you being successful will chide you about it. People who really care about you will try to be supportive and somtimes they will succeed, other times... enh,.. Not so much. Anyway doing this is hard work and dedication but if it is what you love then the work is it's own reward. and the trying is it's own payoff. yeah we are looking for our meal ticket but you never know when that ticket is going to pay off or (even if you already have it) expire! believe me it's happened to more people than you would like to think. So love what you do, do what you love. and when it starts to become soo much that you hate it either quit and take a break (if that's feasible) or keep doing it until you remember why you love it!

ok anyway that is all for now, hope I didn't bore you all to tears...

and remember until Galactus has a sex change turns into a lesbian and sleeps with the newly gay rawhide kid,
make mine comics!

-Brian

I'm definitely going to read through this when I get home from work tonight. From what little I've read so far, this seems to be a very informative thread. Props to whoever bumped this one to the top.

[jayvee]

So You Think You Have What it Takes To Be a Comic Creator

Yes... I DO think I have what it takes.

I've spent the last year and a half cranking out scripts and trying to find good, reliable artists to collaborate with. Unfortunately, I'm poor so all the pay has to come at the back end and most people are, like, "Uh, uh." I can't draw very well; I can only write... And thereby hangs our tale.

Anybody have advice for a writer who can't seem to find collaborators?

[Inkthinker]

You could draw it yourself.

No, seriously!! It doesn't have to look spectacular... if the story is awesome, then people can be quite tolerant of artistic mistakes (as is true of the opposite). And you'll become a better illustrator over time just by doing it.

Furthermore, if you have the story roughed out visually, it's much less work to get someone who can redraw it or clean it up.

The fact is, getting a skilled or experienced illustrator to work for nothing more than the back end, which may never exist, is like trying to win a lottery. It could happen, but I don't suggest you hold the baby's breath while looking around.

A lot of writers have been their own artists when no other option presented itself. Bendis is one famous example. If you want to make a comic... then make one! Don't sweat the issue of how good it looks, a good book is more than just a pretty face.

[jayvee]

My art isn't even passible.

I can draw figures but my backgrounds and objects are horrible.

No matter how much I practice, I can't seem to fathom perspective or lighting.

So, ha... Looks like I'm screwed!

[Brian Germain]

Originally Posted by jayvee

My art isn't even passible.

I can draw figures but my backgrounds and objects are horrible.

No matter how much I practice, I can't seem to fathom perspective or lighting.

So, ha... Looks like I'm screwed!

this is a good point. sometimes other artists are required where you are lacking. it coulf be good to get two artists names ona book. backgrounds aren't my strongest area either but you could do the subjects and get someone else to do the backgrounds.

I have actually seen someone else do cartoony type pics in front of photoshopped backgrounds... something to think about.

also some things tyou just might not get through practicing alone. so here is a tip for everyone "don't be afraid to take art lessons" if I had a dime for every time I wished I had an art class I would ... well I'd probably have about 2 dollars but the point is there are times when I think I would like to do something..

also don't worry about lighting because if you have a good inker he can help you with that and maybe your inker can do your backgrounds for you.

-Brian

[Inkthinker]

Man, there are comics with stick figures. All I'm saying is, there's solutions.

[NickGuy]

wow way to revive a hella old thread.