With the switch over to WordPress, ComicZoneAZ.com can host its own blogs, and there is no longer a need for me to maintain this separate website. As a result, all of my past posts have moved over to the new site, and all future postings will be located there, as well.
26 November 2009
20 November 2009
Breaking in to Comics
As a store co-owner, it's kind of amazing how many people come in and ask me about things that I should rightfully have no idea about. One of the questions I get asked the most that actually pertains to comics, though, is how to get started in the industry, usually as an artist.
First off; if I had THE answer, I would be penciling comic books myself. I'd know what I need to fix about my artwork, it would be fixed, and I'd be making funny books, instead of selling them.
Secondly, I get asked this question via the Internet. So, clearly, these people have online access, where there is an abundance of information about EVERYTHING. In fact, the Internet even knows what I had for breakfast this morning (It was waffles. See? The Internet knows). And I'm not even some pop-celebrity like Lindsay Lohan or Johnny Depp (intentional key word placement to raise search-engine rankings, there? Hmmm, could be!)
HOWEVER. Somebody, someday will have come here from some random search and been like, "Yo, Andy, why you wasting my time with this?" To those people, I say this:
http://www.makeshiftmiracle.com/Writing.html
http://zubkavich.livejournal.com/165953.html
Read every single thing that Jim Zubkavich has written. He's an editor for UDON Entertainment (creators of the wonderfully super Street Fighter and Darkstalkers comics, on sale now!), and, as such, knows what editors are looking for (shock and awe!). My personal favorite is in "Portfolio Horror," with the Sailor Moon crayon drawings.
In addition to reading Zub's stuff, the best way to learn about what you need to do is READ COMICS. Don't just get art styles that are what you're into: Get EVERYTHING! If you like Jim Lee's work (X-Men, WildC.A.T.S., Batman, etc.), buy comics by Skottie Young (New X-Men, Wonderful Wizard of Oz). If you like Frank Quitely (All-Star Superman, New X-Men, We3), pick up stuff by Takeshi Miyazawa (Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, Secret Invasion: Young Avengers/Runaways). If you like David Finch (New Avengers, Moon Knight), get things by Mike Allred (Madman, X-Statix). The only way to grow as an artist is to look at everything that's out there, and be inspired by it. Heck, don't just limit yourself to comic artists - Look at the works of the great Renaissance painters (You know, the ones the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were named after). Check out some Van Gogh. Know who Brunelleschi is.
Read Scott McCloud's books - Understanding Comics, Making Comics, and Re-Inventing Comics. How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way should be on your bookshelf. DC has an entire line about becoming a professional comic artist. Wizard has countless Basic Training books. Get them all.
Then, draw. Draw again. And when you're sick and tired of drawing, do it some more. Because if you can't even be bothered to draw a portfolio, there's no possible way you can draw 22 pages of comic a month. And once you've drawn your little hands off, go to conventions. Meet creators and editors. Go to portfolio review sessions. Befriend important people! Brian Michael Bendis got a job in comics because he wouldn't stop going to conventions. Eventually, the editors at all the major companies got to know him, and now he's the head writer at Marvel. But in 1995, nobody knew who the hell he was.
Make a webcomic! Update it daily. If you're not comfortable writing, find somebody who is a writer. Go to websites like PencilJack and find people who have stories but are looking for an artist. A friend of mine just got her first published work in the mail by doing exactly that.
These are just some of the things you're going to need to do to break in. And I don't even know what I'm talking about.
First off; if I had THE answer, I would be penciling comic books myself. I'd know what I need to fix about my artwork, it would be fixed, and I'd be making funny books, instead of selling them.
Secondly, I get asked this question via the Internet. So, clearly, these people have online access, where there is an abundance of information about EVERYTHING. In fact, the Internet even knows what I had for breakfast this morning (It was waffles. See? The Internet knows). And I'm not even some pop-celebrity like Lindsay Lohan or Johnny Depp (intentional key word placement to raise search-engine rankings, there? Hmmm, could be!)
HOWEVER. Somebody, someday will have come here from some random search and been like, "Yo, Andy, why you wasting my time with this?" To those people, I say this:
http://www.makeshiftmiracle.com/Writing.html
http://zubkavich.livejournal.com/165953.html
Read every single thing that Jim Zubkavich has written. He's an editor for UDON Entertainment (creators of the wonderfully super Street Fighter and Darkstalkers comics, on sale now!), and, as such, knows what editors are looking for (shock and awe!). My personal favorite is in "Portfolio Horror," with the Sailor Moon crayon drawings.
In addition to reading Zub's stuff, the best way to learn about what you need to do is READ COMICS. Don't just get art styles that are what you're into: Get EVERYTHING! If you like Jim Lee's work (X-Men, WildC.A.T.S., Batman, etc.), buy comics by Skottie Young (New X-Men, Wonderful Wizard of Oz). If you like Frank Quitely (All-Star Superman, New X-Men, We3), pick up stuff by Takeshi Miyazawa (Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, Secret Invasion: Young Avengers/Runaways). If you like David Finch (New Avengers, Moon Knight), get things by Mike Allred (Madman, X-Statix). The only way to grow as an artist is to look at everything that's out there, and be inspired by it. Heck, don't just limit yourself to comic artists - Look at the works of the great Renaissance painters (You know, the ones the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were named after). Check out some Van Gogh. Know who Brunelleschi is.
Read Scott McCloud's books - Understanding Comics, Making Comics, and Re-Inventing Comics. How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way should be on your bookshelf. DC has an entire line about becoming a professional comic artist. Wizard has countless Basic Training books. Get them all.
Then, draw. Draw again. And when you're sick and tired of drawing, do it some more. Because if you can't even be bothered to draw a portfolio, there's no possible way you can draw 22 pages of comic a month. And once you've drawn your little hands off, go to conventions. Meet creators and editors. Go to portfolio review sessions. Befriend important people! Brian Michael Bendis got a job in comics because he wouldn't stop going to conventions. Eventually, the editors at all the major companies got to know him, and now he's the head writer at Marvel. But in 1995, nobody knew who the hell he was.
Make a webcomic! Update it daily. If you're not comfortable writing, find somebody who is a writer. Go to websites like PencilJack and find people who have stories but are looking for an artist. A friend of mine just got her first published work in the mail by doing exactly that.
These are just some of the things you're going to need to do to break in. And I don't even know what I'm talking about.
13 November 2009
International Crossover Appeal?
Over at The Beat, Heidi MacDonald points to this articlewritten by a fella named Joe Lawler, who has converted his girlfriend into a comics-reading monster. But said girlfriend is not reading any Superhero comics.
Heidi responds with questioning why Mr. Lawler didn't recommend comics written by women or manga. I question why manga would even be a factor at all?
Let's face it; There is very little crossover between manga readers and American comics readers. Comics as a medium is not the same as comics as a genre.
I've dipped into the manga/anime pool several times, over the last 15 or so years. I used to tape Sailor Moon every morning, because I had to leave for school before it ended. I watched every single (often-excruciating) episode of Dragon Ball Z on cartoon Network. I own 6 of the 8 Ranma 1/2 season box sets, plus both movies, as well as both seasons of Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex, and all 3 GITS films. I have the entire series of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. I've watched all of Hellsing. I have bootleg tapes of Japanese episodes of Transformers: Headmasters. Every single anime that appeared on Toonami, I tried for at least 10 episodes; Many I continued with, such as Tenchi Muyo!. I own volumes of Mermaid's Scar, Ranma 1/2 and Gon manga, and I'm reading through a lot of Oh My Goddess!, currently. The number of single volumes of manga I've read and anime movies I've watched are countless. And that's just what I can think of off the top of my head.
But you know what I have absolutely never seen?
Original Japanese superhero comics. You know why? They practically don't exist.
The vast majority of folks who read American comics are genre fans - We like stories about overdeveloped men and women running around in form-fitting outfits, being overly angsty and smashing things. And that's what about 90% of American comics is. Over 99% of manga is NOT about that. Yes, there are things like X-Men Manga, where Japanese creators take American characters and bastardize the hell out of the original stories - Much like American moviegoers just experienced with Astro Boy.
But, really. Go to the Manga section of any bookstore. With the exception of Adam Warren's "Empowered" (which isn't actually manga, but most book retailers are too ignorant to know the difference), you will not see any spandex-clad superhero stories.
Most of the folks who come into Comic Zone looking for manga want nothing to do with the American comics we carry. They have opinions about them (mostly comprised of why they're supposedly not as good as manga), but they won't actually read them. Most of the folks who come into Comic Zone looking for American comics want nothing to do with manga, often because they can't get past the big eyes on the few anime/manga they've seen, and aren't willing to try something different.
However, even then, it boils down to this; Manga and American Superhero comics have almost nothing in common, except that they are told in the same medium. And people will not automatically like one or the other based on the medium; They're going to like one or the other based on the quality of stories, and personal taste.
But is there a way to get the two groups to meet? I believe so.
Trying to hand somebody who just read Ultimate X-Men a copy of Bleach is not going to work. But maybe handing somebody who reads Superman a copy of Dragon Ball Z might; Both series have a main protagonist sent to a world while they were infants who grow up in hicksville to become the most powerful fighters on the planet.
If someone digs Vampire Hunter D, show them Spawn. Both have a supernatural presence that the stereotypical 14-year-old Metallica fan would love the hell out of.
For the fan of Wolverine: Old Man Logan, try handing them Fist of the North Star. Mega-violence in a post-apocalyptic world, with a serious badass for a main character? That describes both series, if you ask me.
Both groups should enjoy Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, written by Sean McKeever (Teen Titans), with art by Takeshi Miyazawa (Robotech: Invasion). Hey, it's Spider-Man, and what American comics reader doesn't like him? But because the book focuses around Mary Jane's point of view, coupled with Takeshi Miyazawa's über-manga art style, there's a natural crossover for manga fans.
Similarly, Left-to-Right versions of Gon can appeal to anybody, because the stories about the three-foot tyrannosaurus have no dialogue. Though, I think a lot of American comics fans may have trouble reading the stories in the original Right-to-Left format in which manga is published.
Unfortunately, despite all the similarities, people will still often prefer one country's storytelling over the other, due to personal preference.
But me? I just enjoy a good story.
Heidi responds with questioning why Mr. Lawler didn't recommend comics written by women or manga. I question why manga would even be a factor at all?
Let's face it; There is very little crossover between manga readers and American comics readers. Comics as a medium is not the same as comics as a genre.
I've dipped into the manga/anime pool several times, over the last 15 or so years. I used to tape Sailor Moon every morning, because I had to leave for school before it ended. I watched every single (often-excruciating) episode of Dragon Ball Z on cartoon Network. I own 6 of the 8 Ranma 1/2 season box sets, plus both movies, as well as both seasons of Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex, and all 3 GITS films. I have the entire series of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. I've watched all of Hellsing. I have bootleg tapes of Japanese episodes of Transformers: Headmasters. Every single anime that appeared on Toonami, I tried for at least 10 episodes; Many I continued with, such as Tenchi Muyo!. I own volumes of Mermaid's Scar, Ranma 1/2 and Gon manga, and I'm reading through a lot of Oh My Goddess!, currently. The number of single volumes of manga I've read and anime movies I've watched are countless. And that's just what I can think of off the top of my head.
But you know what I have absolutely never seen?
Original Japanese superhero comics. You know why? They practically don't exist.
The vast majority of folks who read American comics are genre fans - We like stories about overdeveloped men and women running around in form-fitting outfits, being overly angsty and smashing things. And that's what about 90% of American comics is. Over 99% of manga is NOT about that. Yes, there are things like X-Men Manga, where Japanese creators take American characters and bastardize the hell out of the original stories - Much like American moviegoers just experienced with Astro Boy.
But, really. Go to the Manga section of any bookstore. With the exception of Adam Warren's "Empowered" (which isn't actually manga, but most book retailers are too ignorant to know the difference), you will not see any spandex-clad superhero stories.
Most of the folks who come into Comic Zone looking for manga want nothing to do with the American comics we carry. They have opinions about them (mostly comprised of why they're supposedly not as good as manga), but they won't actually read them. Most of the folks who come into Comic Zone looking for American comics want nothing to do with manga, often because they can't get past the big eyes on the few anime/manga they've seen, and aren't willing to try something different.
However, even then, it boils down to this; Manga and American Superhero comics have almost nothing in common, except that they are told in the same medium. And people will not automatically like one or the other based on the medium; They're going to like one or the other based on the quality of stories, and personal taste.
But is there a way to get the two groups to meet? I believe so.
Trying to hand somebody who just read Ultimate X-Men a copy of Bleach is not going to work. But maybe handing somebody who reads Superman a copy of Dragon Ball Z might; Both series have a main protagonist sent to a world while they were infants who grow up in hicksville to become the most powerful fighters on the planet.
If someone digs Vampire Hunter D, show them Spawn. Both have a supernatural presence that the stereotypical 14-year-old Metallica fan would love the hell out of.
For the fan of Wolverine: Old Man Logan, try handing them Fist of the North Star. Mega-violence in a post-apocalyptic world, with a serious badass for a main character? That describes both series, if you ask me.
Both groups should enjoy Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, written by Sean McKeever (Teen Titans), with art by Takeshi Miyazawa (Robotech: Invasion). Hey, it's Spider-Man, and what American comics reader doesn't like him? But because the book focuses around Mary Jane's point of view, coupled with Takeshi Miyazawa's über-manga art style, there's a natural crossover for manga fans.
Similarly, Left-to-Right versions of Gon can appeal to anybody, because the stories about the three-foot tyrannosaurus have no dialogue. Though, I think a lot of American comics fans may have trouble reading the stories in the original Right-to-Left format in which manga is published.
Unfortunately, despite all the similarities, people will still often prefer one country's storytelling over the other, due to personal preference.
But me? I just enjoy a good story.
11 November 2009
Veteran's Day Reads
Yes, new comics DID come out today, even though it's Veteran's Day!
Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #1 - Not bad. I haven't kept up with Marve's cosmic stuff as much as I'd like, but I'm enjoying Gladiator as the new Shi'Ar Majestor.
Dark X-Men #1 - Oh, well. Okay. Let's just re-introduce a whole bunch of forgotten X-Men family characters, like the Mimic, Weapon Omega, and... The X-Man?
Green Arrow/Black Canary #26 - Wait, what? Two Ollie Queens? ...did I miss something? I thought I've been reading this series since #1.
Deadpool #17 - Deadpool continues to try and join the X-Men. Good fun, but Daniel Way uses too many censored swear words (#&%@!). More than once per issue is really distracting, and takes me out of the story.
S.W.O.R.D. #1 - A solid start for the SWORD series, but what's up with Beast's face? I'm not sure if this series is necessary, but more info on Abigail Brand is certainly needed for casual Marvel readers.
Amazing Spidey #611 - The banter between Spider-Man and Deadpool is always exquisite!
Strange #1 - Quite fun. Emma Rios & Christina Strain KILL on the artwork chores. I wish more comics were like this; everything is far too epic and crossover-y, right now. I like simple, fun, one-off adventures.
Batgirl #4 - Ah, yes. This is what I was waiting for the last three issues to get to. Stephanie with Oracle backing her up. Wonderful issue.
Batman & Robin #6 - Wait, whaaaat? So, is this out-of-continuity? Or are the DC editors just THAT out of touch with each other...?
Red Robin #6 - I read about half the issue and gave up. I just don't care. Glad to see Marcus To getting work, though.
Batman #693S - Intriguing.
Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #1 - Not bad. I haven't kept up with Marve's cosmic stuff as much as I'd like, but I'm enjoying Gladiator as the new Shi'Ar Majestor.
Dark X-Men #1 - Oh, well. Okay. Let's just re-introduce a whole bunch of forgotten X-Men family characters, like the Mimic, Weapon Omega, and... The X-Man?
Green Arrow/Black Canary #26 - Wait, what? Two Ollie Queens? ...did I miss something? I thought I've been reading this series since #1.
Deadpool #17 - Deadpool continues to try and join the X-Men. Good fun, but Daniel Way uses too many censored swear words (#&%@!). More than once per issue is really distracting, and takes me out of the story.
S.W.O.R.D. #1 - A solid start for the SWORD series, but what's up with Beast's face? I'm not sure if this series is necessary, but more info on Abigail Brand is certainly needed for casual Marvel readers.
Amazing Spidey #611 - The banter between Spider-Man and Deadpool is always exquisite!
Strange #1 - Quite fun. Emma Rios & Christina Strain KILL on the artwork chores. I wish more comics were like this; everything is far too epic and crossover-y, right now. I like simple, fun, one-off adventures.
Batgirl #4 - Ah, yes. This is what I was waiting for the last three issues to get to. Stephanie with Oracle backing her up. Wonderful issue.
Batman & Robin #6 - Wait, whaaaat? So, is this out-of-continuity? Or are the DC editors just THAT out of touch with each other...?
Red Robin #6 - I read about half the issue and gave up. I just don't care. Glad to see Marcus To getting work, though.
Batman #693S - Intriguing.
08 November 2009
Updates, quickies
So, I've been kinda poor at keeping this thing as updated as I would like. But there's a very good reason for that; I've been working on the NEW ComicZoneAZ.com! Hopefully, if all goes according to plan, it will be up and running before Thanksgiving.
Here's some quickies from our Twitter account - Twitter.com/comiczoneaz
Wednesday, 5:20 pm
If Superman sales were so poor already, why was it a good idea to take Supes out of his own book? Who'll buy "Superman" without Clark Kent?
Wednesday, 5:22 pm
Clearly, DC didn't think this one through. People are already dropping Justice League, because Mon-El is just not an interesting character.
Wednesday, 5:24 pm
I think Blackest Night: Superman actually using him just goes to prove that the New Krypton experiment didn't work. Put Kal in his own book!
Wednesday, 5:26 pm
Inversely, how great has Batman been since Dick Grayson took over the cowl? It's nice to give Bruce a rest, and put Dick in the limelight.
Thursday, 6:50 pm
How did X-Men Origins: Iceman get Iceman's origin wrong? "I got mutant powers and my dad kicked me out of the house" isn't hard to do right.
Thursday, 7:00 pm
Deadpool Team-Up #899, meanwhile, made me into a big Hercules fan. I should probably start reading his solo book. Can't wait for #898 in 30.
Thursday, 7:05 pm
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man continues to be wonderful. Just the right mix of high-octane action and high school drama. Magnifique!
Thursday, 7:25
The Psylocke/Revanche/Betsy Braddon/Kwannon story (X-Men #20-23) was my first X-Men story. So this new Psylocke miniseries feels like home.
Thursday, 7:27
Re: Psylocke #1 still, I'm digging Harvey Toliabao's action panels, but I'm not sold on his storytelling quite yet.
Here's some quickies from our Twitter account - Twitter.com/comiczoneaz
Wednesday, 5:20 pm
If Superman sales were so poor already, why was it a good idea to take Supes out of his own book? Who'll buy "Superman" without Clark Kent?
Wednesday, 5:22 pm
Clearly, DC didn't think this one through. People are already dropping Justice League, because Mon-El is just not an interesting character.
Wednesday, 5:24 pm
I think Blackest Night: Superman actually using him just goes to prove that the New Krypton experiment didn't work. Put Kal in his own book!
Wednesday, 5:26 pm
Inversely, how great has Batman been since Dick Grayson took over the cowl? It's nice to give Bruce a rest, and put Dick in the limelight.
Thursday, 6:50 pm
How did X-Men Origins: Iceman get Iceman's origin wrong? "I got mutant powers and my dad kicked me out of the house" isn't hard to do right.
Thursday, 7:00 pm
Deadpool Team-Up #899, meanwhile, made me into a big Hercules fan. I should probably start reading his solo book. Can't wait for #898 in 30.
Thursday, 7:05 pm
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man continues to be wonderful. Just the right mix of high-octane action and high school drama. Magnifique!
Thursday, 7:25
The Psylocke/Revanche/Betsy Braddon/Kwannon story (X-Men #20-23) was my first X-Men story. So this new Psylocke miniseries feels like home.
Thursday, 7:27
Re: Psylocke #1 still, I'm digging Harvey Toliabao's action panels, but I'm not sold on his storytelling quite yet.
07 October 2009
Quickies - 07.Oct.2009
I'm back! I'll try to get these up and going more frequently.
Batman: Unseen #1 of 5 - Not a bad first chapter. I'm not convinced this has to be a Batman story, except that it happens to take place in Gotham. But I can't tell you to NOT read it...
Batman and Robin #5 - I'm digging the Red Hood story far more than the Pyg one. Phillip Tan's improved, but he's still no Frank Quitely.
Cable #19 - Everybody vs. the Brood! God, Emil is annoying. I hope he dies so Hope can become the hardened warrior the adopted child of Cable SHOULD become.
Daredevil #501 - It would've been nice if, y'know, there was some warning in Daredevil #500 that I would've had to read Daredevil: The List before it sold out in order to read #501.
Batman: Unseen #1 of 5 - Not a bad first chapter. I'm not convinced this has to be a Batman story, except that it happens to take place in Gotham. But I can't tell you to NOT read it...
Batman and Robin #5 - I'm digging the Red Hood story far more than the Pyg one. Phillip Tan's improved, but he's still no Frank Quitely.
Cable #19 - Everybody vs. the Brood! God, Emil is annoying. I hope he dies so Hope can become the hardened warrior the adopted child of Cable SHOULD become.
Daredevil #501 - It would've been nice if, y'know, there was some warning in Daredevil #500 that I would've had to read Daredevil: The List before it sold out in order to read #501.
29 August 2009
5-word reviews: 29.August.2009
Blackest Night Titans #1: Poor BeastBoy. Hooray Ed Benes!
Green Lantern #45: Good! Star Sapphire's history appreciated!
Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #s 1-3: Excellent background info for everyone!
Timestorm 2009-2099 #4: Good story, mediocre ending. Sequel?
Green Lantern #45: Good! Star Sapphire's history appreciated!
Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #s 1-3: Excellent background info for everyone!
Timestorm 2009-2099 #4: Good story, mediocre ending. Sequel?
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