How Feasible Is It. . .

[OverTheHills&FarAway]

. . . that a young teenager could write/illustrate a comic book, and have a fair amount of success with it? (Kind of a cult following, if you will)

My novel WIP kinda revolves around the fact that a twelve-year-old writes this comic about Victorian spies. He doesn't ink it (or any of those other things I don't know about. I don't know much about comics), but he does write and illustrate, at least. Has anyone that young published and gotten decent exposure?

I had tons of friends in school who had their own manga or something of the like, passing it around among friends. The only one who came close to having anything published went off on a Mormon mission, and so far no word on his drawing. So I know someone that young can have the talent and drive to produce the work.

Also, how exactly does that work, submitting a comic to a publisher? I've done some research, a piddly amount, but asking the experts is SO much easier!

And the premise behind the story is that the big mysterious "they" are telling him what to write and draw, and somehow, his comic is controlling the world. Does that make any sense?

Thanks in advance to anyone who dares to venture into the work of my twisted brain! I appreciate anything that might help.

[wordmonkey]

Well, my take here is that it's not the real world, so real world rules don't apply. As long as they are consistent in your WIP's world, it's OK.

As for the plausibility. That depends on talent. Plain and simple. And you'd need a LOT of talent to write and draw a comic book that was picked up for publication.

It's bloody difficult whatever your age.

But again, if he's destined to guide the world, then he's clearly supposed to be where he is, and thus it's OK.

[OverTheHills&FarAway]

Okay, so I give him talent.

Done. He's talented.

So he writes his talent-dripping scripts and draws talent-dripping little Victorian spies, puts them in an envelope with a SASE, sends to editor/agent, and . . . does it work like the book world? Would he send a query, a synopsis, a mock up of the comic? And would he get an advance?

And, after he's been writing/drawing for a while, how long between giving editor finished product and seeing the comic on the newsstands? This is important, probably is the most important question I can ask. Months? What if he learned to ink and color and all that? Weeks?

Sorry, I'm such a nitwit, but I need to know!

[wordmonkey]

And, after he's been writing/drawing for a while, how long between giving editor finished product and seeing the comic on the newsstands? This is important, probably is the most important question I can ask. Months? What if he learned to ink and color and all that? Weeks?

Sorry, I'm such a nitwit, but I need to know!

S'OK. Different places have different turn arounds and lead times.

EASIEST way to get your hero rolling and in with the bog boys would be to have him take his comic-book to a con. that way he can put itin the hands of an editor.

I'd suggest he ink and letter his own comic, that way, if he shows up with a finished comic or three, itis ALL done. If the thing has to go to an inker and a letter (maybe even a colorist) that all adds delay.

I would guess you'd be really lucky to get a book out and running within six months. Remember, if this is going through someone like DC or Marvel, or any other big indie publisher, they want to get the book right, get it printed and market it before the release. Several months before the release they will list is as coming out and a couple of months ahead of time it would be available for pre-sale.

HOWEVER, your world, your magic drifting through the air, the owner of the publishing company suddenly takes it into his head to launch that book in record time and you are only constrained by the practicalities of printing and distribution.

[PeeDee]

A cult following, though, is unpredictable and uncontrollable, no matter your age or your skill level.

[wordmonkey]

A cult following, though, is unpredictable and uncontrollable, no matter your age or your skill level.

And it usually has little to do with quality. In fact, in most cases (not all) there is a definite LACK of quality in cult faves. There is something deeper that hooks the fan-base. Either a definite anti-establishment vibe, a humor that hooks in on a subversive level, or it just hits a cultural hotspot and sticks.

AND cult faves rarely translate to the bigger companies. Whatever it is that stricks a chord with the fans is usually snuffed out when big-time companies get involved. PLUS cult faves tend to be smaller in groupings so the big companies don't try and get them. (That isn't to say that they don't stumble on them with their own projects from time to time, but they don't tend to active seek out that market).

All of which leads me to suggest, if it's a cult fan base your character generates, then you might wanna have him just print his own projects and sell them himself around town to local stores or at comic-cons. Lead time on a POD comic is, at best, about six weeks.

Don't know if that helped or just muddied the waters further.

[OverTheHills&FarAway]

All of which leads me to suggest, if it's a cult fan base your character generates, then you might wanna have him just print his own projects and sell them himself around town to local stores or at comic-cons. Lead time on a POD comic is, at best, about six weeks.


Hmm. . . interesting. Maybe he started out that way, and, once people started loving it, the big boys notice it and buy it up? That could work. Besides, it needs to develop so that someone higher up, an editor or someone, dictates what goes into the story. And so controls the world.

So you're saying that the issue has to be completely finished six months before it is released by someone like DC? Even, like, issue #50? It wouldn't need that much marketing, I'd say by then a fan base would be well established. People would have subscriptions, it'd be like the latest issue of Spin or whatever. You know it's coming out. (really showing my ignorance here. I've read maybe five whole comic books in my entire life, all the same day.) But six months. . . that really kills my plot.

But, you are right, this is my magical little world. And it is fiction, after all. The whole point is to tell lies truthfully. And the main character is the brother of the guy writing the comic. He can be as ignorant as me. (In fact, he has no choice.)

Thanks for taking the time to help me. I would never have thought about POD for comics. That really clears things up.

[wordmonkey]

Hmm. . . interesting. Maybe he started out that way, and, once people started loving it, the big boys notice it and buy it up? That could work. Besides, it needs to develop so that someone higher up, an editor or someone, dictates what goes into the story. And so controls the world.

Then I would suggest that his comic gets bought up by a big indie. Beings a smaller company they CAN move faster. Remember that the bigger the company, the more egos need to be fluffed and more departments need to be navigated. That also allows you to have the top guy more hands-on if you want.

So you're saying that the issue has to be completely finished six months before it is released by someone like DC? Even, like, issue #50? It wouldn't need that much marketing, I'd say by then a fan base would be well established. People would have subscriptions, it'd be like the latest issue of Spin or whatever. You know it's coming out. (really showing my ignorance here. I've read maybe five whole comic books in my entire life, all the same day.) But six months. . . that really kills my plot.

My experience of the big boys is somewhat lacking, but that lead time doesn't sound too out there. It can take a novel 12 months to get released from you signing with a publisher. Most artists will take at least a month to do 22 pages. Now if your hero is doing faster, more rough-and-ready artwork, he might be able to get ahead. But to give you an example, I have an indie one-shot due out in May. I wrote the script 20 months ago. The book was "officially" picked up in January for a then release of September. That got bumped to May and it is available NOW on pre-sale (which doesn't mean it's available now, btw). between now and May, the company will market the book and send out review copies, etc.

As for Issue #50. Books get canceled all the time. Massive, established books don't, but others do. And if you go to the subscription services, they have a clause in their contract that states if the book is canceled during the period you are subscribed with them, they will try and get you thenext best option. It happens.

But, you are right, this is my magical little world. And it is fiction, after all. The whole point is to tell lies truthfully. And the main character is the brother of the guy writing the comic. He can be as ignorant as me. (In fact, he has no choice.)

Exactly. And as I say, if you go for an indie publisher, you can twist the rules more to suit your need.

PLUS, and I don't wanna tell you how to write your plot, but if the world changes when the book is written, that can be immediate.

Thanks for taking the time to help me. I would never have thought about POD for comics. That really clears things up.

POD doesn't have quite the same sink in comics that it does in prose.

[OverTheHills&FarAway]

You're amazing. I could kiss you.

[wordmonkey]

You're amazing. I could kiss you.

Quite good, maybe.

OK, brilliant. I'll give you brilliant. But amazing?

Nah!

And feel free to kiss away! Just don't tell PeeDee, he'll only get jealous.

Look forward to seeing your book in the store. Sounds interesting.

[OverTheHills&FarAway]

Well, since you asked. . . . here's the first three chapters (buried on pg 2 of the SYW children's forum.) Some things have changed since I posted this. Mostly the removal of backstory.

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52843

It's YA, and if it sounds anything like Frank Portman's King Dork, it's because I started writing it three months before I read that fantastic book. I can't help it I channel the mind of a fortyish punk rocker/book writer. Then again, I could just be vain and hopeful that my prose is even the least bit clever and relevant.

So tell me about this Pub at the Center of the Universe. Reminded me of Douglas Adams so I checked your site, but all I could find was some witty footnotes. Amazon wasn't talking either. Sounds interesting . . . .

[wordmonkey]

So tell me about this Pub at the Center of the Universe. Reminded me of Douglas Adams so I checked your site, but all I could find was some witty footnotes. Amazon wasn't talking either. Sounds interesting . . . .

Since you asked...

If Kirk Deighton, perhaps the worst store security guard in history, is to survive and save the universe, he'd better learn a few basic rules.

Rule 1; Never, ever, switch of your forced reality bubble.
Rule 2; The most prevalent species in the universe are bugs.
Rule 3; There are 5 known dimensions in the universe.
Rule 4: Never ask why there are so many wings and legs in a party bucket.
For Kirk failure will mean more than the end of things as he knows them. It will mean the end of everything-Period.

A gigantic do-over.

But hey...No Pressure.

I'll have a look at those chapters and get back to you.

[The_Grand_Duchess]

If you want your MC to gain noteriaty then why not have a website? Like stip he updates daily or something.

The only real life person I know who ever got picked up by a comic company (I think it was either slave labor or oni press. . . it might have been someone else though) was exposed through a comic book store. Like on a fluke.

[OverTheHills&FarAway]

If you want your MC to gain noteriaty then why not have a website? Like stip he updates daily or something.

The only real life person I know who ever got picked up by a comic company (I think it was either slave labor or oni press. . . it might have been someone else though) was exposed through a comic book store. Like on a fluke.

The comic book store is a good lead. One features heavily (well, it features at least) in the story. The kid spends all his time there. Maybe that's where he first started selling.

[wordmonkey]

The comic book store is a good lead. One features heavily (well, it features at least) in the story. The kid spends all his time there. Maybe that's where he first started selling.

This is do-able. However, even if the comic book store guy knows the kid, he's likely to only take a couple of copies and they'd be on sale or return (which means that the kid gets back tatty, dog-eared copies if they don't sell).

But again, that's a real world scenario and you can make ANYTHING happen in your world. He's a kindly old guy with a mysterious twinkle in his eye and he'll take as many as the kid can provide because he has this weird inkling that the book will sell.

If you sell the premiss and make it work and keep it true, you can do anything. Charlie Bucket can find a Golden Ticket. Harry Potter can talk to snakes in the zoo. Monty can sell his comic.

[Tallymark]

Harry Potter can talk to snakes in the zoo.

Forget talking to snakes! There's nothing amazing about that; after all, Harry's got magic. What I want to know is how the snake winked at him. Snakes don't have eyelids!

So, if Rowling can get away with a winking snake, you can tweak your world a bit too. Just be careful to keep it within the realm of plausibility (but if you're hinting that these other people are pushing his comic to the forefront on purpose, then you can stretch things more). Actually, it sounds like basically this kid's comic ignites a Harry Potter-esque phenomenon. In which case his age probably would have come into play in marketing it faster--same way the age of Eragon's author was highlighted in every review. Someone spots it, thinks it's great, finds out it was done as a kid, is totally wowed by the possibilities, and offers to publish it.

[Stacia Kane]

Hey, South Park ended up on TV because George Clooney got a hold of a short the creators did, loved it, and showed it to quite a few Influential People.

So who says a movie star/tv star/Hollywood producer couldn't stop into this comic shop, grab a copy of the kid's book, and...?

[Leva]

I don't know a huge amount about the comic industry, but I know there ARE may pros who have a soft spot for kids in general. If a kid had true talent and showed up at a con toting a portfolio they might be able to get the interest of a pro who'd mentor them and make the right introductions, whereas an adult would have far less chance.

[OverTheHills&FarAway]

Well, it's looking like I wasn't crazy after all (at least not in this instance).

Thanks all, for your suggestions. I'll try real hard to make his rise to fame believable (enough). The whole plot is pretty fantastic and unlikely, so I suppose I have some leeway. :)

Hey, and as mentioned recently on these boards, didn't the Violent Femmes get "discovered" by one of the Pretenders by busking out in front of one their concerts?

Thank goodness the Pretenders have good taste!

Jordan, who wishes she was Chrissie Hynde

I'm special (so special)

[TsukiRyoko]

I'd say that, thrown the right hand of cards, it'd be easier for someone young to get publicity as opposed to someone much older. While they'd still need a good bit of talent to get them there, it's very possible. Why, their career would probably rocket off. All you needs a dash of talent and a bit of motivation....