Putting the Angst back in the Day

[spqrblues]

A second paranoid note of disclaimer: That is honestly not meant to be you unless you are 1. female Alexander the Great; 2. random lady I see on the subway; 3. guy from some old movie; 4. Crazy Mean Jesus; 5. DanielJackson in flannel.

In other news: Strip Fight #64 is online and awaiting your voting pleasure.

Comments

Re: Needy and Depressed

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

"Make apple juice out of lemons." I like that turn of phrase.

You've given me something to think about :-)

So, I am feeling pretty low today. But I used to spend the low days just sort of staring at nothing, or maybe at the television. I think (hope) it is an improvement to spend the low days drawing about it instead.

I was hoping to say I am now all caught up with Grittie (http://www.fableforge.org/grittie), but there is a lot of Grittie to read. This is a good thing. The more I read it, the more I think it would be spectacular in print, too. It might have to be edited and might need new art (I'm sure there are restrictions on printing what you use to produce the art now, but in collaboration with the right sort of artist you could recreate the tone), but it's so dark and strange, I can see it gathering a following among comic-book-shop denizens who might not be skimming the net for their diet of things dark and gritty. Not just trying to flatter you :-) Have you ever considered something like that, maybe applying for a Xeric grant (http://www.xericfoundation.com/)? (Have I asked you this already? I can never remember these things....)

Re: Needy and Depressed

[(Anonymous)]

Wow! You have reassured me back!! How did you know -I- was feeling needy and depressed today? B)

You've given me the best compliment ever on Grittie.. saved it again.. B)

And yeah.... english is not my first language, and my office has photoshop 6 (no spell check until version 7!) so I'm not surprised on needing edits here and there. Plus, I keep wishing to revise issues 1 through.. hm.. 9, and cut like half the angst B)

The only thing is.. I can never imagine Grittie gathering any sort of following, lol B) Its one of those comics that require .. er. commitment. And thats like.. the holy grail of comics.. hard to earn. Each week I tell myself this is it, and then somehow.. a comment.. from you, or from someone, makes me push through it again and I churn the next episode B)

I had never heard about the Xeric Foundation! I just clicked on it, and I'm reading about it now. Am so glad you decided to tell me again just in case!

And.... well, when you read this, it'll be tomorrow maybe, and too late to help at all with you feel, but.. just in case.. I'll tell you the little I know about you: in the discussion thread about copyright, you had the most open mind of them all... I was just posting so many weird things, and I think you were the only one who really understood me. And then you posted about.. the forest of ideas, and the.. humus underneath.. you had the whole analogy down.. and I smiled when you said the forum scolded you for making a post too long. Heheheh B)

Of course, your comments on Grittie around issue.. oh, 17 or so, single-handedly prevented me from throwing the towel right there. After that, I lost you for a whle, but then, I dont remember how, I found out you had your own comic, and you had me hooked at number 7. The one I mentioned in onlinecomics.net in your comments section. I felt that was my life too. Of course.. its not, its just.. my first impression. And any author that can make that deep emotional impact with paper and ink, is worthy of respect. To me, art means to capture a feeling into media (any feeling, any media), and then blast it to the audience with as little dilution as possible. So, by all means.. you have a lot to be proud of.

And I'm not posting this just because you feel bad today. That was just my excuse B)

Marco

Re: Needy and Depressed

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

I wasn't going to continue on the theme in this comic, but you started me thinking, and hence I decided to do today's comic (next entry). That's going to go on for, hm, maybe another three comics. I don't know how folks will feel about how it all ends up, but I suppose I will find out when I get there.

I'm honoured (humbled?) to have been some part of the impetus to keep you working on Grittie. I hope doing the comic continues to be enjoyable for you, and never just an obligation or burden. And, speaking of commitment and getting readers to dedicate time to the story: that's part of why I think a print version might very well be successful. Whether it were all in one large volume, or spread into issues, readers would have that tangible, in-the-hands sense that the story is progressing toward revelations and conclusions. Plus, they could flip through it and catch bits and parts of the narrative and decide it's something they want to read. Plus, they could curl up in the back seat on car trips and sink into the creepy parts :-) You'd lose that interesting "fade to gloomy" effect, of course, shifting to a different medium. But I do believe there is a good potential audience of readers who don't look online. Something to consider for the future, anyway.

I'm glad I didn't sound over-the-top or silly in my discussion thread comments. It's too easy to dismiss others' arguments when disagreements online get heated, and I do try hard to step back and explain myself, try to be persuasive, try to see clearly what I'm arguing. Even if I don't change any minds, I've churned it through my own mind and I'll either have a firmer sense of where I stand, or I'll begin to think up some new ideas myself.

Thank you for letting me know you have connected to some of the events in my comic. I know not every one will click for you, but it means a lot to know even one day meant something for someone who stopped by to read.

Reassurances given all around! I don't feel perfect today, but I'm doing better than sitting and staring at the wall.

Good luck with the Xeric possibility. It may not be the right direction for you and Grittie, but you never know.

Re: Needy and Depressed

[(Anonymous)]

I would continue this thread until the end of days, so feel free not to reply [smiles]. . I lack the gene that tells people when enough of a good thing is enough; I must rely on others to wrap things up B)

I'm glad I somehow made you think about your next comic! It was a fun one to read, its interesting to see how you float slightly above the group dynamics of the RPG group, but you're in it all the same. I miss my tabletop days in Mexico so badly. And they can never come back, cuz in way or another, everyone of us who got together then has gone off the deep end by now, including me B) But other things shall come B)

Grittie... depending on my very volatile mood, is sometimes fun to do, and other times an almost unbearable burden. I think the part I enjoy the most is the last one, when I add the text. Often times a new story comes to life instead of the one I had written in the script. If this is a good thing or not, I'll never know, but its fun B)

I'll think about a print version! I'd have to make a lot of calls to a lot of people in offices who wish to be somewhere else, to get permissions to print the thing. I wouldnt make it for profit, just .. to have it printed. I did read into the Xeric grant! so kind of the TMNT guy! The cap is $5000 though.. and I feel an amount like that would help more some other artists in direr straits than me. I know some artists who really do that for a living, and they're having a hard time. I dont feel I'd deserve this more than them, specially since I have a 9-5 job and a salary.

Heh.. so many things to comment!... I loved it how you keep saying its dark, and back-seat-curl-able. I will definitely think about how to make a print version... you have got me started thinking that now B) [Ego bonus plus 2]

You certainly did not sound over the top or silly in the discussion thread! But I would have enjoyed it more if you had B) I am pretty much over the top myself sometimes B)

Most comics you draw connect with me! The roleplaying things, the interesting dichotomy of floating slightly above social interaction, while still needing its warmth, and your humor. Crazy Mean Jesus would make one heck of a T-Shirt, consider cafepress.com if you haven't yet B) They care of everything for you (for a large price, but hey.. its a Crazy Mean Jesus t-shirt! I'd buy one!).

So glad you didnt stare at the wall. Take care! B) B)

[thinks he replied it all. .. hopes LJ will not scold him for such long post]

Re: Needy and Depressed

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

No scolding from LJ, I see.

I'm seriously considering a Crazy Mean Jesus t-shirt, or maybe pins. Or both :-)

But I'm going to stop there before I write a post I'll get scolded for.

(Maybe I should also consider installing a message forum instead of using LJ for comments, so conversations can easily carry on. Hmm...)

Re: Needy and Depressed

[(Anonymous)]

[smiles] Also consider blacksmith@fableforge.org or ICQ 764464 if you are bored one day B)

--Marco