Comic Book In Progress

[Heitkemper]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a writer who was lucky enough to find a great artist to team with in creating a comic book. Right now we're going all out to get our book published. Here's a link to some of the pages:

(link expired)

We've submitted to a lot of publishers, and most just say they have no room for any new books this year, and to try again later. They've also had some encouraging words. We've only gotten one bad reply, and that was from Erik Larsen at Image Comics. He said that the art was uninteresting, and the writing was sloppy. I've heard that Erik is very picky about what gets published at Image, but when we got his reply we just couldn't believe his opinion about it. Does anyone else here share his opinion? Any reply is helpful.

Also, I'm running out of Independent Publishers to submit to, but I know I haven't found them all. Does anyone know where I can get a list of every comic book publisher out there? Thanks a lot, and I hope you enjoy the preview.

Heitkemper

[K-Mark]

I liked the art. It's better thn some of the comics I read and guys who are supposed to be cutting edge.

The writing is good, too but does need a little tweaking. Let's do this page by page.

Page 1 (the Newspaper). Good page. I liked it.

Page 2. The captions need just a little bit of tightening or rewording. Just a little, not a lot, but a little clunky. Maybe posting in the SYW section could help.
And as for the captions, how does this sound. Either it's a newspaper reporter typing (newspaper font) or a reporter talking. That seems to be the theme nowadays.

Page 3 and 4 were good for me.

Page 5. The hippie dude and the last dude were good, but the lady needs something. In the world of comics, a guy jumping out of a window isn't as crazy. Maybe spice her words up somehow. Which brings me to one other question. Is this a real world where no other heroes exist, or is this going to be part of a superhero universe.

If part of a universe, this guy isn't that special yet. If he's the only hero around, it might be hard selling to a comic line full of heroes.

The last page with the army guy was great and the closeup of the eyes was a great touch.

This is just my opinion. You may not agree, but at least it gets you thinking. I hope it helps. This is a cool concept, but just needs a little tweak.

[Heitkemper]

Hey, thanks for your reply.

The captions on pages 2-4 are supposed to be the news anchor on page 5 reporting what happened. Maybe I should find a way to make this more obvious? And the woman, I know what you mean, and you're not the first to suggest something for her. Maybe it's time that we do something about her?

As for your question, this is supposed to take place in the real world. The whole basis of the book is that a super hero suddenly appears, and no one, not even the reader is going to know who the Hero really is. We're pitching it as a mini-series, and there will be a big reveal in issue 6.

Glad to hear you liked it.

Heitkemper

[CyberCobre]

I had problems with the hydraulics gone out on the fire truck. And in the picture there are two fire trucks. And it seems to me that fire companies keep their trucks in top condition, don't they? So that made it seem rigged instead of real? Now, I am NOT a writer or an editor, just a reader, so ignore me if I'm what I say isn't appropriate, okay?

[icerose]

I am not a comic book reader so take my opinion as such.

I think you could do a lot better. The news report brings out the passage and sequence as passive and weak. Charge your comic strip, give your characters life and have them speak. Instead of having the fire truck break down [weak, they maintain their trucks in tip top condition, even the small towns with crummy budgets] have a section of the building fall onto the firetruck, smashing it, or burying it. So the firefighters are busy digging out their own people, their truck is down, the fire is running away from them.

Rack up the stakes, show us the neighbors running out, the people coughing from smoke inhilation. "Where's so and so? He's still up there."

Firefights just uncover the driver. A second explosion rocks the area. "There's nothing we can do, the building's gone."

Man inside, guy comes to save him. It feels in it's current format you are handing us the story rather than letting us experience.

On the art, my guess is the lack of that next color depth. Again I am not a comic book reader but I would say the drawings, although good, are a bit flat, the colors don't pull me into it.

With that said, good luck with it.

[CyberCobre]

Actually, from my perspective, the artwork is absolutely excellent inking and color treatment. It's very Noir in flavor, but the story feels a bit Noir.

[icerose]

I didn't know "noir" was a good thing in the general comic book market.

I stand by what I said, I think all around it needs more umph.

[CyberCobre]

Sin City is Noir.

[icerose]

Like I said I don't read comic books and as such my exposure is limited. Besides, I thought Sin City was a graphic novel.

[CyberCobre]

I was referencing Noir, but never mind. Thanks.

[icerose]

I understood the reference of Noir, but I didn't understand the connection to comic books.

[CyberCobre]

Graphic novels and comic books are simply different versions and lengths of the same type of publication. The genres are as unlimited as any other literary type, though some genres defintely out do many others. Just the way I see it.

[icerose]

I thought the comic book market was focussed more toward 12 year old boys who want the flash and zing, and graphic novels were more for the grown up comic book fans who want the blood and gore and such. Again, this is from an outsider.

[CyberCobre]

Um, well, the most popular is, but there are more genres printed than that.

[icerose]

Okay so I'm not completely out there. From the comic strip and the original poster, I just assumed it was for the mainstream market so I was commenting on that perspective of it.

[CyberCobre]

The inking isn't like Marvels, that's for sure, but it's still very good, IMO. A budding enterprise should have a distinctive inking style and drawing style, yet this one is very close to the most successful comics. It has the stamp of the biggies with a flavor that shows it as different. The story isn't the most riveting. As a reader, I see big plot holes and some very cliche mechanics, but the artwork is very good as is the layout. Just my opinion, though, and I'm no expert in this media at all. Inking and comic book art is an art to itself, and one I have never studied. I did have an artist friend who worked as an inker for one of the biggies. He was quite good, and I learned a few things from him about its ins and outs. Art for pulp print uses completely different techniques than for glossy. It takes a lot of skill to do it well, and I think they have a very good lock on theirs.

[CyberCobre]

One thing that does concern me is the front image on the periodical they show smacks of Spiderman and copyright infringement could be an issue. Once the blue electric stripes show, the difference is more apparent, but the mask is very close as is the head shape, so I think that should become more unique.

[veinglory]

IMHO general comic books have up to 50 pages, graphic novels have more. At least that is hpw we sorted them in the comic shop I worked for.

[CyberCobre]

Yes, I think you are right. I haven't looked it up, but they graphic novels and comic books are still in the same general classification, aren't they?

[veinglory]

I would say so.

[icerose]

There you go Veinglory, dispelling all the images in my head. I thought a graphic novel was a novel with many graphics in it. :o Sort of like a picture book for adults, with less pictures and more words.

Okay, back to my corner I go. :gone:

[veinglory]

The art is extremely good although I see some minor issues with anatomy and proportion, the perspectives and textures are very nice. The words, as noted, are not so good. The language is often somewhat unclear and sometimes awkward and you do not need to "tell" us things that the art already conveys--less is more.

[Heitkemper]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I respect each and everyone of your opinions, and they're exactly what I asked for. I must say, some of your words have been a real eye opener. I mean, I knew that the book had a few flaws that needed to be worked out, but now I'm seriously considering a rewrite of the entire book. I'm convinced that this story has potential, but maybe not in it's current state. Thanks again for everyone's help. I'll post again if the book ever gets off the ground.

Heitkemper

[icerose]

Good luck with that. :)

[Inkdaub]

Saying comic books are for twelve year olds is like saying motorcycles are for biker gangs.

[icerose]

Saying comic books are for twelve year olds is like saying motorcycles are for biker gangs.

I meant general target audience, not only audience, and like I said I don't read comic books and am guessing from what I've observed.

[uina]

Okay. None of you know me because i'm new here.

Comic books are not for young people. If anyone took the time to sit down and read any of them, they're incredible. Like Marvel's new Earth-X, Marvel also had a sweet Marvels, DC comics made a very profound story with Kingdom Come.

I am two things. I am a comic book creator. Plus a an author.

Any questions?

Comic books aren't always about the good guys fighting bad guys.

[PeeDee]

And all of the best comics for kids are really subversive. Say what you will, but I built a very strong code of morals and ethics at an early age because of Superman, Green Lantern, Flash, the X-Men......er...Swamp Thing (what Alan Moore's Swamp thing does to a young person, I don't know.)

The best comic that kids should read, apart from all of them, is Jeff Smith's Bone. Really, everyone should take a weekend and read Bone, though.

[uina]

Bone. That sounds familiar but i'll check it out.