Max Riffner
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Webcomic Sketches
I have been a busy little bee the last few months in my sketchbook. I’ve been developing two comics. One I’ve already mentioned (my next graphic novel), and I’ll be sharing some of those sketches soon too. For right now, I want to talk about my next webcomic idea.
I was never very good at comic strips, which happens to be webcomics’ most popular format right now. Nevertheless, I love how the web can build you an audience and a meager living. What I am attempting to do now is effectively tell the long form stories I want to tell in a printed graphic novel format, and then build an audience with a webcomic in strip format. I didn’t like doing strips in high school and college because I always wanted to do the long stuff: the graphic novel material. Strips like Diesel Sweeties, Achewood, and PvP have helped show me how someone can bring in the funny on a single day, but over time really have great characterization and large story arcs.
What I’m coming to realize as a new creator is that moving to Markosia as my publisher is a great move for me, but I’m too new; so new that not many retailers or consumers are willing to take a chance on me. I need to change that, and instead of moping around this is one way I know for sure that will help. Free comics always help. And since I know from experience that graphic novels as webcomics are difficult to get a tangible audience or other rewarding factors (financial or otherwise), I’m going to follow what many of the “market” leaders are doing (the quotes here not meant to be condescending, but rather point out that webcomics are a rather ambiguous business).
Now for the most important part: I’m not exactly sure I’ll be any good at this! So with that, I’m going to make 9 test strips, and I’m going to make them available to my loyal Parlor readers to beta test and give feedback on. If you are interested, drop me an email or leave a comment on this post. I’ll get at you.
In the meantime, here are some sketches of the main characters. The elephant’s name is Hank. Guess what? He’s drunk in both sketches.
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“パワークリーン!”
TopherJun 30, 12:19 AM
I can try and help or something.
Holtmann
I always preferred the serialized strips m’self, so you could always go the Jonny Crossbones route:
http://www.evilspacerobot.com/
You doing a ‘gag’ comic intrigues me, though—I’ve been toying with one myself off and on but always found myself devoting my limited free time to El Rey. Anyhoo, I’d be happy to give feedback—I’m a pretty decent armchair critic.
Oh, and it looks like the elephant is amazed at the lack of bulge in his pants in the first sketch. And how does he put his shirt and pants on if he has no fingers? THINGS TO THINK ABOUT, MAX, COME ON.
@ Kyle: I love Johnny Crossbones, but I always forget about it since he never updates. That is something I want to avoid. I want retain my audience and grow it, and that means more updates more often.
I’ve gone back and forth about giving Hank (the elephant) hands, but I think it I’ll stick with the way I have it now. There is just something comic about it.
@Everyone: You’ll be hearing from me soon.
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Jun 27, 01:09 PM
I’d love to see the new comic.