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San Diego Comic Con 2014

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Left to right; Palle Schmidt, Chris Miskiewicz, Bryce Carlson, Vanesa R. Del Rey. Image courtesy of Bleeding Cool.
Left to right; Palle Schmidt, Chris Miskiwicz, Bryce Carlson, Vanesa R. Del Rey. Image courtesy of Bleeding Cool.

SDCC is so much more fun, when you have a book on the shelves!

My partner Chris Miskiewicz and I pitched Thomas Alsop to several publishers at SDCC 2013, and now only a year later, BOOM! Studios has published the two first issues of the series. Crazy times.

I got invited on two panels this year, both the Breaking Into Comics Right Now panel hosted by BOOM! and the Uniting the Worldwide #makecomics Community panel, hosted by my friends over at Making Comics (In case you missed the podcast interview they did with me, click here) starring Mark Waid, Jim Zub, Christy Blanch, Rachel Beck and Andy Schmidt. The talk was recorded and will probably go online soon.

I could tell you stories… But most of them are unrelated to the process of making comics, which is what this site is about. So I’ll just share a few quick things I learned:

  • Publishers are not just the evil people who turn down your book proposals. They can be wonderfully supportive, generous people. Thanks to the people at BOOM! for a warm welcome. I have the greatest respect for your line of books, your work ethic and your mind set.
  • Monthly books beat graphic novels any day, in terms of audience and interest. Most people I met had either heard of Thomas Alsop or were already fans. I have a feeling this will continue to build.
  • Introductions by other creators is still the best way to meet people. If you’re with a trusted friend of a publisher, he’s much more likely to give you the time of day than if you go at it alone.
  • What goes around comes around. Helping friends make new connections is an even greater joy than being helped.
  • Never go out without your books, portfolio or business cards.
  • Always pack above items in your hand luggage. My bag was lost at LAX and I was left with very little to show for the first few days.

The next few weeks I’ll be working out of Periscope Studios in Portland, Oregon, making new contacts and slow progress on the next issue of Thomas Alsop. Stay tuned…

 

ProFile: Jason Copland

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ProFile-Jason-CoplandJason Copland has produced art for various companies, including illustrating The Perhapanauts: Molly’s Story for Image and short stories from Trickster: Native American Tales and Postcards: True Stories that Never Happened. He recently provided art for a story in Ed Brisson’s Murder Book, and is currently working on the online comic Kill All Monsters. He also runs an experimental comics blog called Poutine alongside fellow artist Noel Tuazon.

What made you decide to work in the medium of comics?

The discovery of comics at age 13. There was so much awesome work coming out from artists like Frank Miller, Walt Simonson and John Byrne that it inspired me to start drawing comics. Miller’s RONIN in particular really opened my eyes to what could be done in comics.

What part of the process is the most challenging or frustrating to you?

Inking. I try to do most of my drawing in the inking phase. I keep my layouts/pencils pretty loose and then start inking over those so that the lines I put down are more spontaneous. I think the act of drawing should have a little fear infused into it. There should be risks taken. Needless to say, I use a lot of whiteout.

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring comics creator, what would that be?

Don’t be afraid to fail. Drawing is an adventure and should have the risk of failure present. Don’t let mistakes stop you from pushing on. It’s only lines on paper; there is nothing to worry about.

More at http://jasoncopland.com/

Thomas Alsop released!

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Thomas-Alsop-2014-ad

Big day for me, as the monthly book I’ve been working on for almost a year is finally released TODAY from BOOM! Studios.

Thomas Alsop is the current Hand of the Island. A title that’s been passed down from generation to generation of the Alsop family since Richard Alsop was cursed in 1699 by an Indian tribe to become the supernatural protector for all of New York. Ever since that day, members of the Alsop Family have battled against every type of darkness in the service of the Island, a mysterious woman who guides them all, but only reveals herself in their dreams. The book is written by Chris Miskiewicz and illustrated by yours truly.

Here’s what the first review of issue #1 says:

Thomas is a whiskey-soaked hipster who just happens to also be a warlock… In a great twist of irony, in order to remain inconspicuous, Thomas must be part of a reality TV show with a supernatural theme. It’s a great premise and this comics series looks like it’s up to the challenge.

Read the rest of the review at Comics Grinder.

Thomas Alsop is for sale in comics stores in the US and everywhere else. If your local store can’t order it for you, you can order it directly from BOOM!. If you’re in New York tonight, be sure to swing by Forbidden Planet and get a signed copy from the writer, Chris Miskiewicz, who’ll be there alongside Paul Pope, Nick Bertozzi and Dean Haspiel.

Follow TheRealThomasAlsop on Facebook and visit thomasalsop.com for the live action trailer and more news and reviews.

Two free one-sheets for freelance artists

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As told in this article on Muddy Colors, artists Lauren Panepinto and Marc Sheff are putting together a book for freelance artists called Make Art Work – in their own words: “a guide that gives artists the most specific information in the simplest  language possible”. The two held an Art Business Bootcamp at Spectrum Live and some pretty valuable info came out of that, as these two one-sheets will tell.

“There’s not one absolute rule that works for everyone, but these one sheets  present a good place to start, and a general consensus on a lot of the questions  that we Art Directors hear repeated from con, to con, to panel, to email, etc.”

I agree completely! And hereby present you with the two PDF’s for your convenience:

ONESHEET-BOOTCAMP1-226x300

ONESHEET-BOOTCAMP1

ONESHEET-BOOTCAMP2-228x300

ONESHEET-BOOTCAMP2

You can learn more about the book here and sign up to the newsletter at http://www.drawnanddrafted.com/ and stay in the loop about their upcoming Kickstarter campaign for the book.

The price of praise

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The-loser-takes-it-allI was up for an award here in Denmark this weekend, the Ping, something like the Danish equivalent of the Eisners. I was nominated for my graphic novel, STILETTO, in the main category. I didn’t win, which puts me in a position to talk about the nature of validation and the need for praise, instead of just tooting my horn and talking about how awesome I am.

Of course I would have loved to win that award, I was hoping for it and at the same time trying NOT to hope for it, because dissapointment is not the greatest feeling in the world. But here’s the thing: If I HAD won that award, it would have felt great for a few moments, maybe a few days. But the need for praise and validation never really goes away.

It’s never enough.

The needy little part of an artist’s soul is always going to want more. I don’t know anyone who feels they have enough fan mail or awards on their shelf that it fulfils their need. I don’t belive those people exist. You can never drink enough water that it keeps you from ever being thirsty again.

So while I would loved to have won, it’s more because it would have helped me with press and such going forward. It’s like those booster points you get in computer games, where you pick up the coin or whatever and you get a rocket attached to your back. An award or a great review gives you that boost for a few seconds, and then the effect wears off. The game continues. You start looking for the next gold coin.

What I’m trying to say is, if you ever find yourself up for an award or a job or anything, think of it as a step towards an end goal. Always keep that in mind. And stay busy! Keeping busy and working on your craft is not only great for building a career, it’s also your best defense against the needy, selfish little part of you that worries wether anyone really, I mean REALLY, loves you or they’re all just pretending. The part of you that looks on other people with envy and want to keep you from building confidence and self-sustainability. I don’t know what the purpose of that part of our brain is, but I’m willing to bet good money we all have it.

I try to teach my kids to be grateful of the things they have rather than bitch about what they don’t have. It’s hard for a kid to see another kid with an ice cream. But that’s LIFE. And it goes on like that.

So I’m here at the studio hunched over my desk as the sun is baking outside, grateful for working on the Thomas Alsop comic more or less full time, grateful for the praise I DO get and the support of all the subscribers on Comics for Beginners, thankful for every “like” on Facebook, but not depending on it for my sense of self-appreciation. Grateful for having done work I’m proud of and having it published, and having a supportive wife who takes care of our kids while I’m at work on a national holiday and who never asked me to get a real job instead of wasting my time doing comics. I am so very, very lucky and very happy right now, doing what I love and am relatively good at.

Thank you.

Now back to work.

—

Related post: Why you can’t learn from success

 

Do your comics pass the test?

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Dykes_to_Watch_Out_For_(Bechdel_test_origin)I first heard of the Bechdel test on screenwriter John August’s podcast Scriptnotes  – a podcast well worth listening to if you’re interested in the craft (and psychology) of writing. But I only just now stumbled upon the fact that the origin of the Bechdel test was a comic!

In case you have no idea what the Bechdel test is, the criteria is this:

  1. Are there two or more female characters with names?
  2. Do they talk to each other?
  3. If they talk to each other, do they talk about something other than a man?

The test was popularized by Alison Bechdel’s comic Dykes to Watch Out For, in a 1985 strip called The Rule (see above) and has since become a way to check Hollywood movies for equality issues. But why not hold your own feet to the fire and see if your comics pass the test? After all, women are an essential part of the population and (luckily) more and more prominent in comics, both as protagonists and as readers and creators. Still women characters in comics are often nothing but mere plot devices, like the worrying spouse or the damsel in distress – rarely do they drive the story and rarely do they have any personality to speak of (unless huge bosoms count as personality).

So what do you think? Do your comics pass or fail? I know my comics fail miserably, but at least the Bechdel is a way to gain some self-awareness on your storytelling habits.

If the test seems easy to pass, check out this list of movies that surprisingly fail the Bechdel test. If you want to hear the episode of Scriptnotes that discuss the Bechdel test, go here, and if you want to know more about Alison Bechdel and her comics, go here.

Now go make some comics with real women people in them!