Web Artist Wednesday: Space Base 8 interview

This crash test monkey must be indestructible! Creator David Scott Smith gives us an inside look at his webcomic Space Base 8!

1. For the poor souls not already reading, please give a brief synopsis of your comic.

My comic strip, Space Base 8, is a gag-a-day style webcomic starring Cargo the Rocket Ship Crash Test Monkey. Cargo lives on a space station called, of course, Space Base 8. His best friend is a shy little robot called Lighthouse, whose head is a big light bulb; he serves as SB8's beacon light. Cargo has a crush on Meela, the Space Base 8's administrator and ambassador. It's obvious to everyone Meela returns Cargo's affections… that is, it's obvious to everyone but Meela herself.

There are lots of jokes about jetpacks, ray guns, robots and rocket ships. The universe of Space Base 8 is a crazy place, and Cargo and his friends try to make sense of it. Which is probably impossible.

2. What materials and/or software do you use?

I use a combination of real ink on paper and Photoshop to make Space Base 8. Using my iMac and a Wacom tablet, I write the dialog and draw thumbnail sketches at the same time, directly into a comic strip template I have set up in Photoshop. I print this out on legal sized copy paper and use a lightbox to transfer and refine tight pencils onto Borden & Riley #234 Paris Paper for Pens. Then I ink the comic using Zebra Disposable Brush Pens and a Pentel Pocket Brush. I love both of those tools so-o-o much! Then I scan the inks back into Photoshop, add gray tones and color, and I'm done.

Even though I could do it all on the computer, I like to ink with pen and brush. What's more, it's cool to have a physical piece of original art that I could sell someday.

3. Are there any books, movies, toys, artists, or authors that have inspired or continue to inspire your comic?

I have always been a big Star Trek and Star Wars fan, and find plenty of inspiration there. Visually, I take a lot from Mid Century Modern design. I am a fan of fifties and sixties space toys, and steal a lot of ideas from those. I have even started a toy ray gun collection that I have featured on my blog a couple times.

4. Are any of your characters based on real people in your life?

I originally thought that I was writing Cargo, the main character, as myself, but he quickly evolved into someone very different from myself. After a few years of writing the strip, I think Lighthouse has turned out to be a lot like me. People tell me they think Meela is my wife, but I don't intend to write it that way.

5. Are there any actors you know you would want to play or voice certain characters in a movie of your comic?

I have some friends whose voices I hear when I write the characters, but no celebrities.

6. What songs would you like in a soundtrack of your comic?

I like the soundtracks to the old Laurel and Hardy and Little Rascals films. I'd want to use that music with SB8.

7. What is your overall goal for your comic?

The goal of Space Base 8 is really to give me a creative outlet, and to hone my cartooning skills. I never expect to make any money at it, but if I can that would be nice. Every once in a while I may have an opinion to express, and I'll sneak it in as a joke.

8. How has managing a comic impacted your life?

I spent most of my free time working on Space Base 8. I have gotten burned out on it, and have taken breaks a few times. I am constantly surprised by how much time and effort it takes to make a decent comic strip. I really admire people who can do it well on a regular schedule.

9. What do you do to advertise your work?

I have advertised on The Webcomics List and joined Ink Outbreak. I get some decent traffic from them. I tried Project Wonderful but didn't get very good results from that. Facebook and Twitter work well, but mostly to remind people who already know the strip to go and read it.

10. Web comics can be very time consuming and sometimes expensive to keep up. Often there is little reward in regards to money and sometimes public attention. Why do you do it?

I do SB8 mostly to see what I can do, and to practice doing it. I love comics strips, and I love comedy. I want to be a creator and not just a consumer of comic strips. I want to write jokes and draw funny pictures. I like to make myself laugh.

11. Got any other projects we should know about?

I don't have any other projects. What free time I have goes into Space Base 8.

12. What advice would you give to aspiring creators?

I would tell everyone to keep learning new stuff. Get interested in something you don't already know about. Expand your knowledge base and skill set. I waited way too long to learn how to ink with a brush, and now I love it more than penciling. I waited way too long to learn how to structure a joke, and now I want to write comedy even more than I want to draw (sometimes). This all makes you a better all-around creator. Being interested makes you and your work interesting.  

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Thanks so much for taking the time Dave! I'll definitely be picking up Space Base 8 book 1 BLAST OFF!

If you dig Space Base 8 you can show your love by up-voting the submission for this interview at Reddit Webcomics. Up-voting keeps Space Base 8 on the front page of the webcomic category longer which means more people get to see it!

Thanks for reading Folks! Drop us a comment below to let us know what ya' think. Then hitch a simian space flight over to Space Base 8!

-Mat
evanyeti.com

If you would like to be interviewed about your web-comic send an email to evanyeti@yahoo.com titled "interview" with a link to your comic.

Ray Guns! Robots! Rockets!

David Scott Smith creator of the awesome webcomic Space Base 8 (who we will interview this Wednesday) has a feature on his blog called Ray Guns! Robots! Rockets! He was kind enough to post my submission for a space colony transport. Give it a gander and I bet you'll stick around the Space base 8 site exercising your gut laughter muscles!

-Mat
www.evanyeti.com

Web Artist Wednesday: Clockworks interview

A steampunk Savage Worlds adventure in webcomic form! Shawn Gaston discusses creating Clockworks!

1. For the poor souls not already reading, please give a brief synopsis of your comic.

Clockworks is a steampunk fantasy adventure, following a group of Private Constables in Clorencia City as they deal with anarchists, masked villains, government agents, a mage with a clockwork arm and an army of robots, a mysterious black steel device, and more. It's also a Role-Playing Game setting, due out as a Savage Worlds setting in 2013.

2. What materials and/or software do you use?

All the line art starts by hand, using mostly Sharpie markers and pens on sketch pads, then I scan it in and color everything, create all the backgrounds, and do all of the lettering in Photoshop.

3. Are there any books, movies, toys, artists, or authors that have inspired or continue to inspire your comic?

Thousands. Everything I've ever enjoyed or everything that's ever struck me in some way. Major influences on Clockworks include Fritz Lang's Metropolis, old Final Fantasy games, most everything Neil Gaiman has ever done, and so on and so forth.

4. Are any of your characters based on real people in your life?

No, yes, sort of. Clockworks is a sometimes loose retelling of our tabletop RPG campaign, so the events are all based characters my friends created and things that happened while we played the game. So there's some of my friends' personalities in each of the main characters. Additionally, I've drawn some Clockworks fans or friends in as cameos or background characters from time to time.

5. Are there any actors you know you would want to play or voice certain characters in a movie of your comic?

I've never really thought about it.

6. What songs would you like in a soundtrack of your comic?

Why, I'm actually working on a soundtrack for the Clockworks tabletop RPG. It will be released for free via Creative Commons and it's entirely created of tracks built by remixing songs by musicians who have released their music via Creative Commons. So it will end up being a mix of Nine Inch Nails, Unwoman, Beats Antique, Ad·ver·sary.

7. What is your overall goal for your comic?

To tell the best adventure story that's ever been told, to create the greatest anything ever. I probably won't hit that, but I like to aim high.

8. How has managing a comic impacted your life?

It's been a lot of work, but it's also brought my art and this world to the attention of a lot of people who wouldn't have otherwise seen it. I can safely say that Clockworks has brought me paid gigs and opportunities that I never would have had otherwise.

9. What do you do to advertise your work?

I run Project Wonderful ads, I'm a member of Rampage Network, I have a Facebook fan page, I sometimes answer interviews from random yetis. The usual.

10. Web comics can be very time consuming and sometimes expensive to keep up. Often there is little reward in regards to money and sometimes public attention. Why do you do it?

Sheer bullheaded determination? A desire to tell this story and share this world with people? A love of adoration and ego stroking fans? Being too stupid to know better? A burning need for some sort of creative output? Most likely some combination of all of the above.

11. Got any other projects we should know about?

First and foremost, the Clockworks RPG setting. My plan is to write the entire manuscript before I launch the Kickstarter for it, so people don't have to wait on me writing it. The Kickstarter will pay for more art, editing, layout, maybe some additional writing, and of course printing and publishing. I'm hoping to launch it in late January or February. The entire thing will be open via Creative Commons, and I'm writing it in public. You can view the entire in progress manuscript on Google Drive, and give feedback/join in the progress on Facebook. 

I was also the sole illustrator for the recently published RPG setting Streets of Bedlam, by Jason Blair and Fun Sized Games. It's an ultraviolent neo noir setting for Savage Worlds (noting a trend here?) and I'm extremely proud of it.

12. What advice would you give to aspiring creators?

Just keep making stuff. Go out there and write and draw and don't stop. Keep pushing yourself to be better, not in terms of sales numbers or page views, but just in how well you do the thing you do.  

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Thanks Shawn! Looks like you're keeping very busy. I love the idea of being able to role play a webcomic!

If you dig Clockworks you can show your love by up-voting the submission for this interview at Reddit Webcomics. Up-voting keeps Clockworks on the front page of the webcomic category longer which means more people get to see it!

Thanks everyone for reading. Let us know what you think with a comment below. Then begin your adventure over at Clockworks!

-Mat
evanyeti.com

If you would like to be interviewed about your web-comic send an email to evanyeti@yahoo.com titled "interview" with a link to your comic.

Web Artist Wednesday: Monster Isle interview

What do giant monsters do in their time off? Creator Joey Weiser answers this and other questions in his webcomic Monster Isle!

1. For the poor souls not already reading, please give a brief synopsis of your comic.

Monster Isle is about the day-to-day life of giant monsters living on an island together. It’s about their life when they aren’t destroying cities or fighting the Anti-Monster Task Force.

2. What materials and/or software do you use?

I draw the strip on bristol with blue pencil, and ink with a brush and crowquill pens. I color and format the comic in Photoshop. There is a walk-through of how I drew a page of my graphic novel Cavemen in Space linked from my webpage, which has a more in-depth list of materials and things like that. It’s pretty much the same process for Monster Isle.

3. Are there any books, movies, toys, artists, or authors that have inspired or continue to inspire your comic?

Monster Isle is inspired by Japanese movie and TV monsters, also known as “kaiju.” I take a lot of influence from the Godzilla, Gamera, and Ultraman series in particular. Other than that, comic strips that I love like Peanuts and Calvin & Hobbes have a lot of influence on my work in the strip.

4. Are any of your characters based on real people in your life?

A lot of the ideas for my strips come from real life, but there isn’t any specific character based on anyone in my life.

5. Are there any actors you know you would want to play or voice certain characters in a movie of your comic?

No, I’m real bad at remembering actors and stuff like that. I would be a terrible casting director.

6. What songs would you like in a soundtrack of your comic?

Even though the action and drama is pretty light in Monster Isle, I think it would be awesome if the great Godzilla music composed by Akira Ifukube could score Gary and the gang’s lives.

7. What is your overall goal for your comic?

Honestly, Monster Isle is pretty goal-free. I purposefully keep it low-stress in order to just have fun and create some work that hopefully others enjoy. It started as a strip in a local paper, but I haven’t pursued print for Monster Isle very heavily because I’d like to just keep it as a fun side-project.

8. How has managing a comic impacted your life?

Monster Isle is weekly, and I typically take one week a month to work on all four strips for the upcoming month. Before I know it, my buffer it gone and it’s time to work on more strips… It certainly has made me very aware of the passage of time!

9. What do you do to advertise your work?

Like I said, I keep Monster Isle pretty stress-free, so I don’t really worry too much about advertising the strip. Whenever I put a new strip up I’ll post about it on Facebook and Twitter. Also, I’ve started making mini-comics to have at comic conventions, which I suppose serve as an advertisement for the strip.

10. Web comics can be very time consuming and sometimes expensive to keep up. Often there is little reward in regards to money and sometimes public attention. Why do you do it?

Well, I love comics! I love making them and I love knowing that people are reading and enjoying the work that I’ve made. Doing a webcomic is a great way to stay productive and also to keep giving people something new of mine to see on a regular basis while I work in secret on my other projects.

11. Got any other projects we should know about?

I have a new graphic novel coming in February from Oni Press! Mermin Volume 1: Out of Water is the first in a series of graphic novels about a fish-boy who is found washed up on the beach by some human kids. It’s a full-color, hardcover book that collects the Mermin mini-comic issues, with additional scenes and some changes to the pages of the original series. I’m currently working on volume 2, so there hopefully won’t be too long of a wait between books!

I have also been working a lot for SpongeBob Comics recently. Over the next year I’m going to have a lot of work in their monthly comic book, some comics written by me and drawn by other artists as well as comics that I’ve written, drawn, and colored myself!

12. What advice would you give to aspiring creators?

Draw and write as much as you can! Draw draw draw! And if you really want to make comics, make sure you finish the work you start! I suggest starting small with short stories or strips for the web or mini-comics, giving yourself something to work towards, finish, and move on. The more you make, the better you will become! 

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Thanks for taking the time Joey! I'll be looking for the Mermin graphic novel in February!

If you dig Monster Isle you can show your love by up-voting the submission for this interview at Reddit Webcomics. Up-voting keeps Monster Isle on the front page of the webcomic category longer which means more people get to see it!

Thanks again for reading! Drop us a comment to let us know what you think. Then ride a pterodactyl on over to Monster Isle!

-Mat
evanyeti.com

If you would like to be interviewed about your web-comic send an email to evanyeti@yahoo.com titled "interview" with a link to your comic.

Web Artist Wednesday: Nightmare Pro Wrestling interview

It's good to have a werewolf in your corner! Creator Jon David Guerra tackles our twelve questions about Nightmare Pro Wrestling!

1. For the poor souls not already reading, please give a brief synopsis of your comic.

The comic is about pro wrestling monsters competing to become the NPW Champion. The main story line follows a young monster named Grave and his tag-team partner Lobo (a cowardly werewolf) as they have fun and hone their wrestling skills

2. What materials and/or software do you use?

I started out penciling the comic in sketchbooks but the last couple of years I've gone all digital just to save time. It's a lot faster and makes it easier to experiment. So now I draw everything first in Photoshop, Ink in Illustrator, and then do colors in a program called ArtRage.

3. Are there any books, movies, toys, artists, or authors that have inspired or continue to inspire your comic?

Classic Looney Tunes cartoons definitely inspire my comic, especially the Chuck Jones ones. I love the creativity and the fun atmosphere they are able to create in such short skits. As for artists I'd have to say Bill Wray, Jim Smith, and John K for the shapes in their character designs and Mike Mignola for atmosphere. French artists Fabian Mense, Bill Otomo, and Gobi have also had a big influence on my character designs and I'm amazed at how they're able to get so much action and movement into one panel. I also always go to directors Guillermo Del Toro and Hayao Miyazaki when I need a little creative boost.

4. Are any of your characters based on real people in your life?

Not really, though a lot of their motivations from personal experience (like Grave's love of pumpkin empanadas).

5. Are there any actors you know you would want to play or voice certain characters in a movie of your comic?

I wouldn't mind seeing it animated or having it animated through stop motion would be really cool. I never really thought of who would voice the characters if that happened but here's my dream cast. I say dream because I'm including dead people on this list. Grave: A young 'Back to the Future' Michael J. Fox. Lobo:Maybe Zach Braff? Grim: Christian Bale, the crazier the Bale the better. Dr. Nightmare: The great Vincent Price. Devastator Dragon: Let's go with Frank Welker doing something similar to the original Megatron voice. Dorian Morbid: Bela Lugosi. Victor Monstor: Boris Karloff, of course but he would have to speak spanish. The Beast: Peter Lorre. Britney Nightmare: Emma Watson. Luna: Emma Stone. Mr. Hyde: Lets get Robbie Coltrane.

6. What songs would you like in a soundtrack of your comic?

Hmmm...Probably a heavy mix of classic Halloween songs like Children's Day At The Morgue by Sheldon Allman, Jam at the Mortuary by Griz Green, and anything by Tarantula Ghoul. Along with a score by John Carpenter. I'd also throw in a few modern bands like The Birthday Massacre, Trust, and State of the Union.

7. What is your overall goal for your comic?

I want anybody to be able to drop in and have a spooky fun time in the NPW universe.

8. How has managing a comic impacted your life?

It's made me happy. It's the first time I have a job that I don't hate doing. I get up in early in the mornings excited to get to work. I think it's also helped me be more disciplined with my time. In order to get everything I need to and want to do I've learned to use my time wisely.

9. What do you do to advertise your work?

I go to a lot of conventions. I planning on going to even more next year. I also do my best to create a lot of content and post it on various social media outlets like Twitter, Deviantart, Tumblr, and Facebook.

10. Web comics can be very time consuming and sometimes expensive to keep up. Often there is little reward in regards to money and sometimes public attention. Why do you do it?

love doing do it. However, I don't pursue it selfishly. Family and friends stillcome first. What's the point of doing it if you don't have loved ones to share it with?

11. Got any other projects we should know about?

I've got a few other stories on the back burning but my projects are pretty much all about NPW. I'm working on making art prints of some of my favorite movies. Right now I'm finishing up a print based on The Cabin in the Woods movie. I've also been messing with doing some animation for NPW. Just trying out a few things in Adobe, nothing big...yet.

12. What advice would you give to aspiring creators?

Start now! The sooner you start the sooner you'll start growing as a creator. The best way to learn about something and get better at it is by doing it--so don't worry about if you're good at drawing, or if your story is good, or any of that. Just get started and learn as you go.

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Awesome thanks Jon! Guillermo Del Toro and Hayao Miyazaki are definitely in my top ten favorite directors of all time!

If you dig Nightmare Pro Wrestling you can show your love by up-voting the submission for this interview at Reddit Webcomics. Up-voting keeps Nightmare Pro Wrestling on the front page of the webcomic category longer which means more people get to see it!

Thanks for reading! Let us know what ya' think with a comment below. Then elbow drop over to Nightmare Pro Wrestling to see who reigns supreme!

-Mat
evanyeti.com

If you would like to be interviewed about your web-comic send an email to evanyeti@yahoo.com titled "interview" with a link to your comic.

Web Artist Wednesday: Lilith Dark interview

This fearless warrior battles the evils of bath time! Welcome to the world of Charles Dowd's brave battle-ready girl Lilith Dark!

1. For the poor souls not already reading, please give a brief synopsis of your comic.

Lilith Dark is about a little girl who likes to pretend that she's a D&D type of warrior who fights monsters. Most of the time her imagination gets a little carried away, and instead of fighting monsters, it turns out she's actually just fighting with the family dog, or her big brother Dewey. That is until she discovers a tree full of real monsters just across the street!

2. What materials and/or software do you use?

I'm trained in most traditional art materials, but for Lilith Dark I'm pretty much 100% digital. I do all of the penciling & inking in Manga Studio with a Wacom drawing tablet, and I do all of the painting in Photoshop.

3. Are there any books, movies, toys, artists, or authors that have inspired or continue to inspire your comic?

Lilith Dark is a celebration of all the stuff I was exposed to as a kid. I'm drawing inspiration from all of those classic 80's fantasy and horror films like The Neverending Story, Legend, The Dark Crystal, Evil Dead, and The Gate. Jim Henson's work has always been a huge influence on me, especially his dramatic works like Labyrinth and The Storyteller series.

4. Are any of your characters based on real people in your life?

Lilith & Dewey are really just caricatures of my kids, at least visually. Some of the stuff they do, and the way they get along with one another are definitely reflected in the characters. Honestly though, that's as close to reality as they get. Lilith for example is really based more on myself as a kid. I was out crawling around in sewers and chasing down ice cream trucks on my bike. There was always an adventure!

5. Are there any actors you know you would want to play or voice certain characters in a movie of your comic?

I'd love to see Lilith Dark played by someone like Maria Lark. Maria may be a little old at this point, but she's the type that would really fit the roll.

6. What songs would you like in a soundtrack of your comic?

I've always imagined Lilith Dark to have a punk rock & metal soundtrack. I'd love for Lilith Dark the Movie to feature classics like Danzig and Slayer, and some current bands like Arch Enemy & Cradle of Filth. Bikini Kill's Rebel Girl would be the theme song. That would be awesome.

7. What is your overall goal for your comic?

The ultimate goal of Lilith Dark is to prove to the comic industry that you can make a comic book that's safe for kids to read, that stars a little girl, and people will like it and want to spend money on it. Publishers just don't seem to be into taking a risk these days, so it's just super heroes and licensed characters doing the same things over and over again. Time to shake things up a little!

8. How has managing a comic impacted your life?

It's a ton of work. I do everything myself. I'm the writer, artist, CEO, marketing dept, treasurer, and secretary. It takes a lot of time and sacrifice. I don't get to go out every weekend, or come home at night and veg out on the couch. I have to keep making more comics. Don't get me wrong, I love it, and it's a fun job, but it's a job, and that means work. Thankfully I have an extremely loving and supporting family that puts up with my late night comic making.

9. What do you do to advertise your work?

I buy ads a couple of times a year, I go to cons all the time. The best thing to do is to be available to talk with your readers, either on social media or in person. Word of mouth is still king. If you're a nice guy, people don't mind helping to spread the word. That's the best way to get your work out there in my opinion.

10. Web comics can be very time consuming and sometimes expensive to keep up. Often there is little reward in regards to money and sometimes public attention. Why do you do it?

Well Mat, maybe you're doing it wrong because I've found that I make tons of money and am wildly successful. Oh wait, none of that's true at all!I do it because I love it. It's in my blood. I'm compelled top create. If I wasn't working on Lilith Dark and my other projects, I honestly don't know what I'd be doing. Maybe watching Honey Boo Boo and eating Ding Dongs. I happen to think creating comics is more fulfilling than that though. It's like, who I am.

11. Got any other projects we should know about?

I just finished being a part of a horror anthology called Winter's Eye. I did the cover art, and illustrated a short story written by Martin Brandt. That'll be out in print just in time for Halloween. I'm also part of Zazz Comics, along with Joel Poirier of Stripped Comics, John MacLeod of Space Kid!, and Jess Boudrie of Dax and NightMaiden. You can check all of that out at ZazzComics.com. We'll have some great collabs and other stuff coming out in the new year. I'm pretty excited about that. I'm also in the early development stages of a sprawling epic that will knock your socks off when it finally sees the light of day. Look for that hopefully late next year.

12. What advice would you give to aspiring creators?

Get off your @$$ and do it. Sitting around thinking about it won't accomplish anything. This is a new era, and there's literally no excuse why you can't start a comic right now. Get a website and just do it. Marvel and DC are never going to come knocking on your door. You have to do it yourself if you want to break in. Stop making excuses and draw some comics!

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Thanks for taking the time Charles! I'd love to see an animated Lilith Dark battling some baddies to Slayer!

If you dig Lilith Dark you can show your love by up-voting the submission for this interview at Reddit Webcomics. Up-voting keeps Lilith Dark on the front page of the webcomic category longer which means more people get to see it!

Thanks again for reading! Drop us a comment to let us know what ya' think. Then dare to join Lilith Dark as she battles a world of monsters as big as her imagination!

-Mat
evanyeti.com

If you would like to be interviewed about your web-comic send an email to evanyeti@yahoo.com titled "interview" with a link to your comic.