You are currently viewing HCRealms.com, The Premier HeroClix Community, as a Guest. If you would like to participate in the community, please Register to join the discussion!
If you are having problems registering to an account, feel free to Contact Us.
Consider this a general survey, if you will, snuck in somewhere after my editorial. Stay tuned and get the context for the question, or just skip ahead to the ###-end and answer the question.
See, I'm at the cusp of being seriously committed to producing my own comic. I have the first issue written, the rest of the arc plotted [3 more issues] and I'm getting ready to start looking for an artist to turn my chicken scratchings into something beautiful. But I'm wondering if there's a reason to do so. I must first feel confident that there is an audience for my comic. It's not a superhero story, and it's not a pseudo-anime thing that seems to be all the rage these days. It's not a "sittin in my apartment wondering why society is so wonky" introspection piece that my indie-ness would imply. It's a historical mystery series set in small-town Ontario following the adventures of an intellectual trying to figure out the vaguely Lovecraftian happenings of his little city.
My question is, as a pretty good cross-section of comic people [I'd call you nerds but I don't know if you'd take it with the good intentions I'd say it with] why do you read comics? Do you like the big action, the plot, the character? Do you read the "classics" simply because they are classics? Like, has Superman been grandfathered in and you'll read it just 'cause it's Superman? See, despite the high-silliness my aforementioned premise seems to promise I have a feeling my comic will be closer to that issue of Ultimate Spiderman where he's just on the bed with MJ talking the whole time.
To reiterate: Does this sound worth doing, and, as fans, what SHOULD I be aiming for in producing a comic?
PS If you're an artist in or around the Toronto and you're interested in this, PM me.
My policy is that I'll read anything that's good. If something has an interesting concept, I try to give it a chance. Certain writers or artists can also catch my attention if I become a fan of their work. That being said, most of the time I usually end up reading the typical big action super hero stuff simply because that's usually what's around most of the time. I do read the occaisional indy title, but sadly they aren't all that common to find in most comic book stores. The bottom line for me has always been if something sounds like it can entertain me in some way, itellectually or emotionally or whatever, then I'll read it.
Also, I live in Toronto as well and was considering doing the same thing myself. If you ever become a big success, feel free to let me ride your coat tails to the top. I can draw, but only a little bit better then a chimp with a broken hand.
More seriously, I read only comics that pleases me, no matter it's a "classic" or not (there's a lot of classics that I love though) : for example, I'm a huge fan of the first years of Spidey, but I can't stand recent productions of that title (those titles in fact ...); as dumb as it sounds, art and writing are really important to me, no matter what characters or series is involved (I'm a huge fan of Jim Lee's X-Men for the art, but I don't think scenarios were so great ... ) so they are series I'll get just because I love the penciler; on the other hand they are series with a really ugly art, but which writing is so good that art doesn't really matter (I'm thinking of some French comic books when I say that ... ); on top of that, there are comics that have a great art and a great writing at the same time (Watchmen). I do love superheroes comics, and non-superheroes comics (and mangas and French stuff), but I would never buy a title only because it's a Spidey one (or a Bats one, or a Spawn one, etc ...). Trouble is many people buy comics only because it's "(insert-the-name-you-want)" one (specially thinking of the latest huge amount of X-titles) no matter the quality. But what the heck, that's only my view, and I guess my tastes are highly arguable too ... Hope that helps ...
To conclude, I'd say that if your series is "vaguely Lovecraftian", it might interest me
I pretty much agree with the other posters so far. If something is well-written and interesting, then I'll tend to read it. Having good art is also critical, but there are many definitions of "good" art. I also feel the art needs to match the writing. That synergy can help raise the effectiveness of both the art and the writing.
Your concept sounds interesting, but I hope you have some action in there to spice up the "sitting on the bed talking" scenes. While exposition in and of itself isn't bad, if that's all the book is, it will tend to cause the story to drag. A well-placed action scene, even if only a couple of panels, can help break up the monotony and refresh the reader for more of the story.
That said, there's a number of self-publishing sites out there now where you can pay to have your comic published so even if you can't get an official company to publish it you can still have your very own comic. I'm working on doing such a thing with my own comic which I am writing and drawing myself. I'm not the best at either, but I do okay with both.
In conclusion to my long-winded answer, go for it. And good luck finding an artist. By the by, there are also many sites where artists exhibit their work and are looking for other unknowns to make comics. That way you could work with someone even if they don't live near you.
1) For characters I love. I'll read anything with Hellboy, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Danger Girls, or the Thunderbolts in it.
2) For great comics. The thing about great comics is this: I'm not as much interested in comics that read like short movies or television episodes (I'll looking at you, Ultimates!) as I am in reading comics that are great comic art. What I mean by that is a story and a storytelling style that can only (or at least best) be told in the comics medium. I just started picking up Invincible, for example.
Write a great book and get my guys at Velocity Comics to recommend it to me and I'm there. (But you have to come see my theatre company's shows!)
I'm happy to read extremely talky comics without much action - I enjoy a lot of Bendis' stuff, for example, and I really like titles such as the old Silver Surfers and the Inhumans series by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee.
Dialogue is extremely important to me. It has to sound natural - realistic dialogue and refraining from hackneyed monologues is something I value in a writer.
I have to like the characters first and foremost. I can read a Punisher trade that I've borrowed from a friend and enjoy it, but I won't buy it - I don't like Frank Castle. But I'll always get the next Sandman Mystery Theatre trade because Wesley Dodds is a guy I would like to know in real life.
First and foremost, if it is a labor of love, or something you feel would entertain other people, then go for it. That is the beauty of today's DIY geek-centric society...there is pretty much an audience for everything and it is much easier now to "get things out there" without the backing of a major company.
I have been reading comics for almost 20 years now. In the early to mid 90's I would buy anything new because comics were still relatively cheap and there was a huge influx of talent then. You never knew what you were going to get in a single issue. Nowadays I tend to follow the Warren Ellis route. I buy comics based on the creator involved, whether it's a favorite artist or writer. For the most part, characters are going to remain the same, in the same environment, with the same themes. Unless it's a major revamp story or "death". What changes for me is the person behind that character and what they bring to the table. I'll read anything Brian Wood, Warren Ellis, Matt Fraction, Neil Gaiman, or Grant Morrison writes. Art? Chris Bachalo, Humberto Ramos, Charles Vess, Bart Sears...all artists I've followed to other books.
Don't get me wrong. I will still read every issue of Daredevil or Dr. Strange because I like those characters, but I am much more reluctant these days to try any new series released by Marvel or DC, instead I'll chose to spend my money on a favorite creator's new book.
Oh yeah...I read a TON of "indy" books too. If you haven't read Box Office Poison, I suggest you treat yourself to one of the best comics ever written.
But I know of lots of people who would. I generally skim 25 cent bins and just snatch up what looks interesting. Though it's generally charactors I like that'll see a full price book.
Charactors liek She-Hulk, Thanos, ect will get me to buy a book. Or a good gimmic. I for example bough the Jason Vs Jason X books becuase of the gimmic alone (And yes I know I'm alone in buying it).
The only Indy comic I picked up on it's own merit without charactors I knew was Dead@17 becuase I really liked the art. (Though I heard his newest is kinda blah). So it really depends on how it goes.
But even though I might not like it I really think it'd sell. Not hugely sell, but it'll do decent depending on the market. Best place to market it would be a game shop as the only comic there. That's what I'veseen doen and alot of those comcis sell out becuase of gamers going "Oh what's this" and flip through it.
Honestly it seems liek soemthing that would appel more to gamers then to the comic fans (that I personally know).
I play Heroclix, Pathfinder, and retro video games on Twitch!
I personally read comics if the story holds my interest and if I enjoy the characters. If a lot of my books are on the heavy side, I will genearally try to pick up something to lighten the mood and vice versa. I would probably read it because I like character insight and action doesn't always have to be present to drive a book.