Comic Book Confidential

I found this when I was looking for lazy ways to research for my dissertation (watching something being considerably easier than having to read >.>). I then found it on veoh (an annoying player thing that makes you download it)

Comic Book Confidential on veoh.

I've since downloaded it and would recommend people watching it...Its essentially just alot of interviews with comic book greats. I expected it to be lame, with the focus mainly on marvel and dc and such but it was actually really informative, with big names like Art Spiegelman (talking about Raw, as well as maus), Charles Burns, Will Eisner, Harvey Pekar, Stan Lee, Sue Coe, Lynda Barry etc etc. It has alot of them explaining what they did, why they did it and also reading from their own work as well as a bit at the beginning talking about the comic code, the rise of comics and the general history of the medium.

If anyone wants it, they can give me a CD and I'll burn it for you!

I also watched American Splendour this weekend which was a really interesting film...Not a cliched making of a comic book...It has the real Harvey Pekar narrating and parts of the comic come into the films...I'd recommend it...I also have that if anyones interested!

Something to think about

When starting off in comics it seems fairly natural to stick to a horizontal/vertical layout of panels (if you use them), but have a look at this analysis of a few Akira pages, where the artist has used the angling of the panels to accentuate action, perspective, character gaze - more or less the whole feel of the action.

Just thought it might be an interesting aspect think about having played a bit with angled/non grid panel layouts in Shatterface.

Panel transitions discussed

Ever since reading Scott McCloud's chapter on panel transitions - blood in the gutter, I have had my doubts about the way he conveniently compartmentalizes his definitions - I think the following article is a very interesting analysis of where to move on in part!

http://madinkbeard.com/blog/archives/rethinking-transitions-part-one

first roughs

hey guys
long time no seen!! i love it here in thailand but feel sort of left out from what s happening in uk and missing this whole thing :( ow well..i ve done some work for my graphic(short) story. a bit irrelevant with you ( sniff sniff ) but i d love your opinion on it.
thanks!
x.

http://sorrygrandmaikilledyourcat.blogspot.com/

Altenative Press Fair 1st February

Hi people! We plan to attend this event! I have paid for a table, and would like ink-soup issues 1&2, make-us-money, and the ABC zine and cheap book section to be represented. I need help however, with someone manning and selling our work (an enthusiastic, organized, and friendly soul, who is willing to sell their own as well as other people's work - you will be briefed and your train fare will be paid for)

If there are no takers then we will have to pull out of this event, as I am hoping to attend Angouleme at the same time! And will report back to you on this event!!!

New Project (I love never having any time to breath!)

I started to do a comic book diary of sorts. Don't worry its not me confessing horrible dark secrets or anything...and I swear that chiuhuha isn't you Chiu >.>....They are really shoddy roughs because I do each one in like 10 minutes...I plan to redraw the ones I like the most so they don't look retarded.

http://the-awkward-days.blogspot.com/

Ps. I totally can't draw myself!

INK-SOUP almost sold out!

Can't believe it! They are selling super fast!!

This means two things!

We re-print issue one, with modifications that we discussed

Katie Coulton, Johan Hioe, Ed Homer and Murray Somerville! Can you see me please!!

For all those who bought issue one, and are aspiring to get their work in issue two, the deadline is Mid January, but the fumetto deadline is 5th January - link these together, and your made! Don't forget to check previous winners section!

Fumetto Competition deadline 5th January! Reminder

I'd like to do something about for the last four weeks you have for illustration, and allow some students to focus on another competition brief instead of animation:

http://www.fumetto.ch/index.cfm?nav=1,3,239&DID=1&SID=1&NewsID=14

English translation on pdf the deadline is 5th January 2009

L5 students may do this for a third project instead of animation if they are interested,

cheers,

chiu

Issue Two deadline Mid January!

Two Themes!

Virus & Post Christmas stress disorder! We may do a two in one comic - small size comic inside a bigger one

For the alternative book fair that I was invited to in London on the first of February 2009 - a Sunday!
http://comicsandzines.wordpress.com/

I have asked for two spaces and anyone interested in selling their own work can do so alongside the anthology - I will sell it for you, but you should pay careful attention to the previous two posts

anyone interested??

Need to do - comparative reflection

Although Jess did do this after the Manchester Artist Book Fair, we all really need to translate this into the next output of work:

After comparative analysis of the work that was being sold - And believe me, there was work being sold at cheaper or the same price, but more professionally, the following steps should be taken.

• A sample of the Artwork will be produced by all submitting work, and modifications will be made accordingly by us or preferably by the artist - example of how poorly this was done - Johan's work was lost in print and in size, so was Katie's - both of who's work is of exceptional quality, but reproduced not as well as could be - Milan, is either very jammy, or he could teach us a lesson or two, as his work reproduces beautifully, as did Ed's - (though Ed, I could have killed you for leaving that space!!)
• Production quality needs to be tighter - Indesign process should not be a by eye composing job, but should follow guides and grids rigidly - I know by my own experience how printers are unforgiving with our mistakes - to tight a deadline was mostly to blame for this.
  
• I spent hours the night before having to get up really early cutting 20, then ten on the train down, and then a final ten more in the British Museum of these books, all because of sloppy production management at service point (thanks Murray) and the attitude that "It will do, needs to go with it"
• We should make accompanying promo material - and I will buy some book stands - though it didn't help the guy next door

Finally, I honestly think we will sell much better either in uni or locally, as I think you shouldn't discount the student market - there is no reason why we don't have a table selling our anthology to BIAD students!

And double finally, I know Jess, Debbie, Sarah and Murray have been around some of these fairs, but all of you should take a much more serious look at your competitors and the quality of their work:

• Be open, be curious! Ask questions, be thankful! Most people are willing to share loads of knowledge

Again thanks to everyone! If you think you can sell ink soup come and see me, and I will be collecting money off you anyway!!

COMICA - a post event reflection

Don't be disappointed - only three issues of Ink Soup sold - (one to a close relative, erhm!) Around the tables someone had been going round checking, and rumor has it that the average was around 3 books sold.

Again Lessons to learn:

• Two types of books sold:

1. exquisite and finely drawn - Roo again sold four books and 4 sets of postcards
2. concept driven, either around narrative structure or book construction, these types sold very well

• Ink Soup in the wrong market - comica event was surprisingly filled more with handmade goodies, the two blokes next to me sold very little, though their work was professional, but not 1 or 2 (see above)
• Pound books sell! - 31 in all!
• Need to know when to be enthusiastic about the work - In the future I need more info about the books - more business cards and free stuff you wish to give alongside work
• I packaged and sold all of my raaas and smoking eyebrows (only took 5 of each), I packaged Johan's as well, and sold one, but wished I could have talked about his story!
• Interesting constructions do sell - the chiufold (only four books) sold out early on

Comica as an event was a fun experience for me, and very cheap table rent. As a venue for selling, it wasn't ideal as we were high up in the upper gallery, and the only signage was a feeble A4 poster on the stairs below the upper gallery - very poor signage promotion!

Lots of student work, with cheerful souls plying their goods - Isabel Greenberg's work was beautiful, Sarah Lynch bought some of her work in Leeds! I considered it seriously but was put off by the artist's indiffernce and almost obnoxious atitude towards buyers - Although I would like to sell my own work, that's not the resson for striking up a conversation, and I often just chatted to people to find out about who they were.
Some lovely packaging ideas, but the way to go is definitely to sell a selection of goods as opposed to just one idea - still, this person's artwork is real quality!
London underground comics later on didn't seem too happy! Having a whole table I'm not sure if they even covered their costs?
Our table really was a quarter table - though about half way through the guy on the far left (not there in the picture) left and we all spread ourselves over

The Good News! I took Ink Soup to Orbital comics shop in London, and the owner was pleased to sell are anthology after they move to new premises in the new year, so that shows promise!

Here they are!!

Well done! to all who contributed, but especially to Jess, Debbie & Murray!

The great thing about this anthology is that there is enough variety to pull a wider range of readers!

The product is not perfect, cut not to the bleed, cover with a white line down the spine, and some lines in the gutters of some pages. These issues can be solved in the next batch, as I do think we will be needing to print a second run!

Cost was only 40 pounds owing to a bit of eye fluttering by Murray! Must be that time of the evening?

Anyhow down to 48 copies - one to Murray, one damaged by attempting to cut edges - I won't bother with the rest, and will try selling them as is, as the content is well worth it

cost price 3 pounds base price 2 - table cost 8 pounds! cost to contributors will be worked out after selling... Hopefully you will all get copies free - though I'd like to put all profit towards next event

Selling the anthology online...?

My friend is bugging me to buy one and advertising the thing on his blog but he was on about selling things online...Alot of people do it, like that Blackcatpress place...I think you can do it with paypal...Or am I just aiming too high now :P?

The Anthology

Looks amazing! Providing the printing goes well and we don't end up with like 50 duds >.>...it will be immense. Special thanks to Debbie for her tireless efforts in sorting everything and actually creating the anthology and to Murray for all his work with the printing side (which is still going on but still XP). And thank you Chiu for all your abuse...it does produce good results in the end! Well done for all those who submitted and got in, better luck next time for those who were too late/didn't fit the feel of the anthology. We're already planning Issue 2: Virus now...We may extend it or such in page length...but lets see how this goes first!

I'll post up the finished cover once I've eaten!

Again, thanks to all involved and lets hope Chiu can flog them! (and they get printed >.>!)

Jess

PS. we now also have an official email- inksoup@hotmail.com...Chiu, Debbie and I can access it so if anyone has any enquiries or something (someone outside of the blog I mean) feel free to direct them there!

Picture Book: Now We Are Growing Up

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00fm6vc/Picture_Book_Now_We_Are_Growing_Up/

We've been recommending this to people on Eat My Drawing but the final episode in the series is actually useful for Graphic Novelists I think, especially towards the end because it talks about how books for children are heading increasingly in that direction (because all kids have no attention span and need constant pictures >.>). One particular example of this is The Savage by a very Geordie writer David Almond and famously comicy Dave Mckean...It looks amazing and Shirley Hughes talks about how this might be the new thing in childrens books...not quite a graphic novel (no speech bubbles...although I wouldn't say graphic novels need them...), not quite a prose book...The art is really great, very cinematic...I'm gonna try and get my grubby mits on a copy!

Bought train ticket for Saturday Event

sorry silly times 7.35 am morning, get to London 10 something. Means I get to go round London, before having to get to the ICA at 13:00

Victorious!!!!

Well well well, guess who just printed out our sample from service point completely paginated from a pdf? Lol not to say i know exactly how they did it, but the point is i was successful, so i have two samples now printed on standard and a slighty slicker, but pretty much the same paper. (was the only types they did)

The results are good, some people's work comes out better than others but overall the printing quality is good i would say, but i'll let the commitee judge properly tomorrow as i'm knackered/losing my mind and may now be being biased? But the best part is we know now we can def print out from exporting our indesign to pdf no problem, so yeaaaa! that means we have to just get everyones work now put together! And i've nearly finished my graphic novel so dear i say it but im feeling optimistic!

and yes.....i am the man

have you got mine? my laptop is being rubbish! so annoying! I created a new email to send them have they reached you? thanks daisy x

Where the Smeg is your work!!!?

So far we've recieved work from:

Katie

Chiu

Jess

Debbie

Murray

Milan

Alex

Johan

.......and we're making of the test sample today so um.....hmmm? If you want to be included in this anthology you need to send your work to debbie/chiu asap through yousendit! Unless you have a really good reason for not getting it in today you shall not be included, "well we're going to get married on top of a mountain, AND YOU WON'T BE INVITED!" anchor man jokes aside, please, please if you do want to be involved you have to get your work to us now because we're paginating the anthology and it will ruin numbers/layout if you hand in stuff late and will be forced to cast you away.

Meeting?

None of my files are sending ... think they're too enormous. I'll have to bring my laptop in - what time are we all meeting and where?
:) Kt.

second cover idea: ink soup propaganda

based on:

Test Print it A4 YOURSELVES

Hi Anthologists! Don't wait to test print for scale issues! Do it yourself, and see: if the text is still legible; the details have not been lost; and that the composition holds at reduced size - Then if you have problems, you have time to modify!

I have spent this evening modifying my second page, because after printing and putting it on the web, I can see more objectively design issues! I consider printing and web publishing an excellent method of accelerated critical learning - when it is placed in professional fromat it is easier to distance yourself from the personal responses to your work, and hopefully have the same expectations that you would have on when you purchase another persons art work.

more on bleeds

more on bleeds - do not work to the edges - for those of you who have, such as myself we will make either a black or white border such as the following - note that we may add some space on the side of the gutter so that the artwork doesn't feel likes it's slipping into the middle fold! In this case this is the second page, so the gutter (middle fold) is on the left

Another Cover....o.o

I had complaints that the other one was stupidly simple...which it was...this is my attempt to be abit less so. I'm trying to colour it at the moment but I don't have Photoshop CS3...so my computer is going 'gneerr' and its generally difficult o.<

Here's somthing I'm playing around with in photoshop but I'm conscious this much black might photocopy horribly...I like it...its just...very black o.o Might attempt to make the background white and keep the octopus black... Like below but better...just having problems with old program...


or using textures...this is a rough obviously...because photoshop 7 isnt so good for this...I like the idea of giving the octopus texture...but I'd need to do that on the comp at uni!

Send us things!

After talking with Chiu/Jess/Lee

Can people please start sending me and chiu your final, ready images for print.

Guidelines:

300dpi
tiff format
NO bleeds (ie centre/double page spreads)
greyscale
set up for portrait, A4 aspect ratio

We're going to need these ready for tomorrow really so we can get down to Service point and get a prototype printed off.

My email is Debbie.Lambert@gmail.com and chiu can be reached at his uni account (chiu.man@bcu.ac.uk) for sending large files ONLY use: Yousendit
DO NOT SEND LARGE FILES TO OUR EMAIL ADDRESSES DIRECTLY! They will bounce!!

Anyone who hasn't sent it by tomorrow morning won't be included, we need to get the contents, layouts and everything sorted or this whole thing will fall apart!

happy to help with jobs

im not so confident with finances as I havnt a head for numbers, but i could try if your desperate for a costs organizer.
I can help with putting everything in order, or just as a back up second opinion kinda person, if you need me too. Im more than happy to go to sevice point with you to ask them how we can print it/put it together on wednesday or thursday night if you like.
let me know thanks daisy x

Vote For Your Cover

All accepted contributors are allowed to vote for a cover - you are not allowed to vote for your own!!

send me a personal email if you want to vote anonymously:

covers so far (look below for images)
Katie
Jess
Cherry
Murray

ink soup idea

Really didn't have time to do this ... but I started drawing it anyway, so here's an idea for the front cover.
(names of contributers to go on sketchbook at top)

Now I'm going to get on with work!
:) Katie

Cover Design Part 2

This is the full front and back illustration for the cover (maybe XP). It need redoing partly because the original is A3 and I could use the A3 scanner and partly because I used pencil, not pen so the edges are very rough...if you click to make it big you'll see XP! But that's what I was thinking of when I drew the sketch last night!

Delegation of ink soup jobs!

What we need:

head editor - chiu (says what gets in)
assistant editor - ? (checks everything in order)
proof readers X 2 - Debbie & Jess (checks for spelling and grammar)
layout designer x 2 - Debbie + ? (sorts out format of magazine!)
Production manager - Murray (the leg work for production)
Production assistant for print preparation - chiu (will help prepare artwork - help with scanning and modifying work for print)
Financial officer - ? (needs to cost, keep and collect finances)

Did I leave any jobs out??

so far only:

Chiu
Debbie
Murray
Jess

(if the jobs don't get filled - you may not get your work printed!)

Cover Design/encouragement

Glad to see cover designs have been put up, we need both a back and front so the fact we have a few choices, both from cherry and jess (and now myself) is wicked, would love it if more people put any other submissions up, although understandably everyones busy finishing their graphic novels, but the more choice the better range there is to choose from, I'm going to give it til tomorrow for people to put any other cover designs up and then we'll put a quick vote out to who wants what, as don't want the cover being a hassle...lol of course if no-one does i'll have the last say, so haha apologies in advance :P 

Anyway heres mine, remember as well to get any queries to me at spineshank_rock87@hotmail.com, i'll be checking it regularly so will get back to you asap! Also going to service point in abit, so will have details regarding several different issues including paper and price posted later this evening! I know we've all been slogging at this for the last 4weeks and everyones probably exhausted with graphic novel now, but if we pull this off it will look bad-ass! 

Murray

cover design. mwahahaha.

hope its not too greedy to try get my character on the cover
;D

story page 2

Page TWO of my unfinished & unpolished story ... This is the part where she sneezes a seed into her handkercheif and plants it in the allotment.

Had problems scanning in and getting the paper to be all the same tones ... how do u do that in photoshop?
:) katie

here is my short comic story. the ending is yet to come

winners and runner ups to the observer graphic short story

winners and runner ups to the observer graphic short story
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/comics

Ben's first page - second page will not be ready for next Wednesday's deadline

Ink Soup Cover Design

This is the design I came up with for the anthology. Obviously it'd either be coloured, if we're having colour or blacked in if its just black and white...this is just to show the layout and concept. I went abit literal (when don't I?) with an octopus eating a bowl of its own ink. The space either side of the octopus were intended to have the artists names but I didn't know who was participating so I left it out for now. Lemme know what you think...and Chiu you could always print it out and show it to the meeting for their opinions/slating!

Jess

Graphic Short Story

My Graphic short story was drawn by hand and assembled on photoshop. 

I will add colour to it this week just to let you know, my computer crashed and died on friday eve so It put me back  a bit in work, its very sad. 

I also want to add a sort of boarder around the edge to tidy it up a little adding in other characters more creatures with different electrical heads, to suggest a series of stories. This project has really challenged me and forced me to develop a personal style of drawing and working. I'm not absolutely happy with the out come, I believe there is lots of room for improvement. I want to change some of the text to make it funny, and I wasn't sure about making it more adult by adding sware words? I'm not sure if I'm brave enough. 

Also the ending I have done, wasn't my original idea, maybe I ran out of steam, I was going to make it gory at the end when the man gets annoyed with the singing stereo dog and kills him or himself...

Oh well, I will stop ranting. 

Daisy   

second page done

Only the woman with three eyes would give birth to man, for none of the two eyed immaculately conceived woman could ever think twice at this vulgar notion.
However, man in response to this benevolent and gracious act, thought only of how to impress and conquer what he considered to be a vulnerable soul.
The cruel capture of a wild carousel horse did nothing to help man gain the woman's respect, but instead caused floods of tears to uncontrollably flow down his cheeks.
As man began to drown in his own stupidity, the wild carousel horse could be seen to mock man's foolishness.
Finally it was left to a woman, albeit a three eyed woman, to save man and defy the horse's desire for revenge - a wish that could be kept safe by woman for future use.

Graphic Novel

This is my Graphic Novel titled 'Down from the Sky'.
Hope people enjoy reading it and any feedback would be appreciated.

Be Careful What You Wish For

Should be a four page story, but had no idea where I was going when I started, and I have no idea how it will end - it's another menage a trois

COVER for INK SOUP

Those of you who have the time! Could you come up with Cover Designs Please!!!!
Front and Back - Title = Ink Soup - slurp at your own risk!

Schedule for first edition:

Monday meeting - sort format and content, and delegate responsibilites - we are a publishing house now!
Tuesday come see me and other editors for editorial advice, and start to mock up page order
Wednesday continue to mock up and late evening get a sample printed
Thursday we check and proof read sample, late evening go for the print run (all those submitting should have paid towards printing cost) if we all chip in a tenner, then we may get a reasonable print quality

Inspiring films from Joann Sfar (in french)

http://www.toujoursverslouest.org/joannsfar/

Actually very funny, it's a live reading of the little prince, while Sfar illustrates alongside - this form of performance, you could say is niche not often seen, but quite charming type of live event - though you may not understand french, I hope you get the potential

Graphic Novel Upload

As was requested I thought I'd get the ball rolling which will most likely be a mass raping of art, ive uploaded three pages from my graphic novel "The Sleeping Man" (originally the dying man, but as the ending changed so hilariously has the title) My parameters are abit different as last minute i changed my layout to that of "Cest Bon kul Tur" (check that stuff out btw some of it is awesome) so each page is 20cmx26cm. Just to really piss people off, two are in succession, but the third page jumps ahead in the story as i sketched it earlier. Anyway feel free to tear away, i should probably explain more but ill just answer any (hopeful) feedback people give me instead.

Anthology Anyone?

Is anyone interested in pooling our work together and creating an anthology together for next weeks Comiket event? Most of you second years should technically be finished your work I think (the deadlines monday right >.>?) and I know that Johan, Debbie and I (and Lee I think) have stuff we could put in...It'd be a good showcase for your work...Apparently Murray has mentioned it to Chiu but I don't really know how to get intouch with him >.>....

A good use of 6 minutes (maybe)

Timelapse video of Meredith Gran creating one page of her comic, Octopus pie. Pretty interesting even if your style and media are nothing like hers (She does all her comics digitally, using a program called Manga Studio).

comica confirmed

It's confirmed!!

A quarter table is booked and I will be attending!!

L5 & L6 get printing!!

COMICA 08

http://www.paulgravett.com/comica/comica08/comica08.htm

with the selling and buying event being on the 22nd November!!! I am trying to get a table at this moment in time?? The suspense is killing me!!!

Fumetto- Last Years Winners

http://www.fumetto.ch/07/ausstellungen_e.cfm

Johan posted this on Eat My Drawing but I thought you'd want it on here too! So you can see the standard!

Publisher for Debbie

I'm doing research into publishers to contact and I came across these guys. I'm not really familiar with the work they publish but they all seemed heavily Victorian which you do so I thought I'd put it up before I forgot!

http://www.pfpress.com/home.welcome.htm

and they have a submissions page.

http://www.pfpress.com/home.submissions.htm

Incase you're interested!

Oh and another one who seem to do alot of Victorian history based comics...

http://www.transfuzion.biz/Contact.htm

That woman I mentioned and then couldn't remember her name (And other people too!).

Catchy post title isn't it? Her names Catherine Doherty and the book is called Can of worms.
I couldn't find an example of the idea of photo realism and cartoon alongside >.> and was too lazy to scan it...but heres the cover of the book...if thats any use XP

Also I mentioned pleasantville, for the black and white vs colour.

And the Red Nose Studio...

Murray, you might want to look at David Hine's Strange Embrace...very dark and weird...sort of similar to David B's use of black but more stylised and horror based (since you seem set on murdering children and turning them into sweeties with Chiu >.>) And if you're into really weird and don't mind manga, Junji Ito is quite the little weirdo, most famous for his book about a world infested by spirals called Uzemaki. High calibre Japanese horror right there.

David HineJunji Ito

The girl who was doing those characters and the patterns that Chiu said were too pastelly, you should look at Jim Woodrings weird work, such as his Frank Books which are completely wordless and full of really weird characters. Also when I was looking at the colour and it reminded me of Japanese Artist Junko Mizuno who remakes classical tales in really odd and often gruesome stories but they always have a sort of pastelly colour tone along the lines of the artist you were looking at (whose name I've also forgotten).

Jim Woodring
(who has my initials I just noticed...I shall steal his work and pretend I drew it!)Junko Mizuno

I'm sure there was probably more but I do tend to ramble. Thought I'd put them up since you might have missed it in my ranting. Sorry I can't remember anyones names...I am utter crap when it comes to that! I did try to think of someone who worked in pencil...but apparently there are none...so I don't blame you all for being so Shaun Tan obsessed >.>

Jess

MONDAY!

I'm leading a little walkthrough/tutorial on digital colouring in Maggies room, Monday, 10am.

Those of you that want to come will need:

1.A piece of b+w art scanned at 300dpi (The method I'm going to talk about works best with lineart rather than tonal work, but if that's what you do, bring it anyway, it could be interesting). Scanned in and ready to put onto the macs.  Email it to yourself if you don't have a memory stick to bring it in on.

2.Some interesting textures like handmade papers etc, around the same size/resolution as your artwork.

If you don't bring in any art ready then you'll be stuck google image searching for something decent  to use instead so please please please bring SOMETHING in! Even a doodle will do!

Cheers