Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Web Artist Wednesday: The Ghost Engine interview

It's hard to concentrate with a ghost in your brain! Writer Danny Djeljosevic and Artist Eric Zawadzki team up to discuss their webcomic  The Ghost Engine!



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

Danny: The Ghost Engine follows a supercool art thief named Becky Chapel, an uncouth ex-reality TV bounty hunter named Geoffrey Price, and the 19th century ghosts that live inside their heads. Becky shares a brain with William Bark, a steadfast English secret agent who investigated the paranormal for the Queen, while a fairly sinister Russian occultist named Grigori Mikhailovich Zimyatov occupies Price's headspace.

That clustercuss of mismatched personalities relates to this huge machine in the French Catacombs called The Ghost Engine that's capable of opening portals to the spirit world -- provided you have enough living beings to fuel it. The last time our heroes were forced to rebuild the thing and turn it on, a giant monster emerged and bunch of people died. Now Becky and Price are under the custody of a secret US agency called MAESTRO that's been taking part in ongoing -- and thus far, abortive -- attempts to explore the afterlife. Now MAESTRO wants to turn the Ghost Engine back on again as a last ditch attempt to actually accomplish something. As of my writing this, a giant creature has burst out of the portal, so yeah, it's not going very well.

It sounds incredibly high-concept, but we spend a lot of time developing the characters and going into their backstories and figuring out just what makes our heroes the way they are. It's got action. It's got pathos. It's got jokes. It's got amazing art from Eric.

Eric: What he said.

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

Danny: For writing comics, WriteRoom is usually my jam -- it takes over the entire screen so that you can't easily click away to Facebook or whatever. It also makes your screen look like some old school DOS computer if you change the font and page settings right. As a word processing program, it's pretty bare bones compared to Word or OpenOffice, so if you're the kind of person who needs extreme amounts of organizational stuff to keep you in line, I'd probably recommend Final Draft or Scrivener (which I've got on my computer but haven't tried out yet).

In the physical world, I use unlined note cards for sketches and page layout thumbnails. And, of course, a pen.

Eric: I primarily use a Cintiq and Photoshop. I do everything on it. Roughs, illustrating, colouring and lettering on Photoshop. I'm told that it's better to do the lettering in Illustrator, but I like the all-in-one aspect of Photoshop and I tend to letter first so that I can tailor my layouts to it all. (I make adjustments while I go, though)

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

Danny: Besides everything I've ever read, watched, played with, gazed at or idolized? Let's see... there's likely some Grant Morrison and Warren Ellis in everything I do. This one's probably more Ellis than Moz. We started working on this comic in 2009, which was the summer I got obsessed with Fraction/Bá/Moon's Casanova. That one really opened my eyes to making comics with a clear authorial voice that actually intend to be comics instead of something that reads like a movie pitch.

Eric: I'm also a big fan of Casanova. Those guys are crafting a masterpiece. I'm inspired by a lot of creators so my answer changes every day. I'll read anything by Brian Wood and Joshua Dysart. Olivier Coipel is one of favourite working artists. R.M. Guerra, Frank Quitely, Ryan Sook, Stuart Immonen... a lot of these guys clearly don't do work that doesn't looks anything like my stuff, but they inspire me quite a bit.

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

Danny: Nah.

Eric: Nope.

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

Danny: Y'know, I've never really thought about it. I rarely consider stuff like that when I make comics, which prolly stems from my "this is a comic, not a movie" thing. Occasionally I've been inspired by a specific actor when writing a character, but I never think about who'd play them in movies.

But since you asked...

I imagine the Ghost Engine movie -- co-directed by Ryuhei Kitamura and Harmony Korine in a blatant cash grab to help fund his backwoods erotic thriller with Joaquin Phoenix and Lindsay Lohan -- would feature Matthew McConaughey hitting Magic Mike levels of sleaziness as Price. His ghost, Zimyatov, would be played by either Daniel Craig or Liev Schreiber -- whichever one can do a better Russian accent. Mustache required.

As for Becky, Gillian Jacobs of Community or Anna Kendrick would fit the role pretty well, but I'm also biased because I'm in love with them. William Bark would be played by, I dunno, that guy from Sherlock, Benedict Pumpkinpatch? Or one of those young lads who played The Doctor. Someone weird looking, British and easily befuddled. Mustache also required.

I'd populate the rest of the movie with Elias Koteas leading a cast of under-appreciated character actors and guys from The Wire. Josh Charles would finally play a role where he doesn't betray the team. The Ghost Engine itself would be played by WWE Superstar John Cena.

Eric: Hah! Everything Danny just said would make for an absolutely perfect movie translation!

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

Danny: Metric's album Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? is pretty much Becky Chapel in audio form. Price's soundtrack is probably Mountain Goats, though I doubt he himself listens to them. For the rest of the comic... let's go with electropop. Anytime the Ghost Engine gets activated the soundtrack is Dan Deacon and that time Dan Deacon layered "Call Me Maybe" 147 times.

Eric: Any score from John Powell works for me.

7. What is your overall goal for your comic?

Danny: Tell an entertaining story that only we could tell, build an audience, have something we can show people to prove our skills and hopefully get other gigs by virtue of being able to create comics that look good and read well. Like anything I do, it's a desperate cry for attention.

Eric: Yeah, basically we're just trying get an audience. I don't think we have any illusions of profiting on The Ghost Engine. We're just trying to have fun and build ourselves up a bit, show the world what we can do. And of course get better at what we do. I'm always running towards that 10,000 hours goal.

8. How has managing a comic impacted your life?

Danny: For one thing solid proof that I'm a guy who makes comics, which I now tell people without having to mitigate it with "Well, I'm still looking for artists so I have nothing to show for it now..." And it's made me realize I need to work on my pitching skills. This one time a pro I'm pseudo-friends with asked me what The Ghost Engine was about I stumbled and stuttered my way through an incoherent plot summary. Never again, I said.

Eric: Well, some of my friends joke that I have no life because I'm always drawing. But I figure I should only really be concerned when there's no one left to make that joke. Hah!

9. What do you do to advertise your work?

Danny: We got the social media game on lock -- new pages come out every Monday and Friday, and I put the word out through Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, MySpace, Friendster, Faceparty, Face the Jury, OkCupid, JDate -- what was that comic book social networking site that was popular for five minutes? ComicSpace? I don't post anything on there. I give out business cards for The Ghost Engine at conventions to anyone I think is cool. We're also on sites like ComicRocket and Just the First Frame. Then there's Project Wonderful, but I'll let Eric talk about that one.

Eric: I put about $20 a week in to Project Wonderful over the course a month a little while ago and our stats jumped through the roof. Unfortunately, I couldn't really keep that up because I'm not made of money. We're basically just using social media and word of mouth these days.

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?

Danny: In the year 2012, it's the only game in town, isn't it? Self-publishing physical comics isn't exactly sustainable anymore, but there's an entire Internet to put up your stuff at a minimal cost and get it in front of people's eyes. Comics is a world where talent outnumbers jobs, and one of the only ways to prove your chops is to put out a comic yourself. Anyway, like everyone who makes comics, you do it because it's in your blood and you can't do anything else anyway.

Eric: I'm going to make comics no matter what. It just so happens that Web Comics ensures the widest possible audience. If we were to sell $1 PDFs, I'm sure we'd make about $20 after a year and we'd have a tiny audience. Web comics ensures a bigger audience and that's all we're really after right now.

11. Got any other projects we should know about?

Danny: Let's see... the other artist I regularly work with is Mike Prezzato. Together we do a lot of lo-fi "Kirby meets 2000 AD" style garage comics. The collaboration I always show to people is our short "Sgt. Death and his Metachromatic Men" which is basically a war comic pilot where a bunch of robots fight a dinosaur. I'm actually working on coloring (or, in some cases, recoloring) our previous collabos with some old school simple Photoshop spot coloring to make our stuff pop in weird psychedlic hues. I got a thing for pre-digital comics coloring.

I'm also Co-Managing Editor of Comics Bulletin, one of the older still-functioning comics websites on the Internet. And, at this point, probably the coolest. I write about cool comics, the latest movies and bring on writers who are prone to making indie music references.

Otherwise, Eric and I are doing preliminary stuff on our next big comic project. Too early to talk about it, but it's the biggest thing I've ever written.

Eric: I'm working with a couple of different writers on various shorts and long form projects. I've got a short with Ed Brisson (of Murder Book and Comicback fame) up on Challenger Comics.. I did an Occupy Comics short with Patrick Meaney (known for his comics based documentaries) and we're working on something else at the moment. I've got some things brewing with Ryan K. Lindsay and of course, there's the previously mentioned follow-up project to The Ghost Engine with Danny.

12. What advice would you give to aspiring creators?

Danny: Make comics. Just make them. Make them however you can. Nobody's impressed with the guy at the comic shop telling his friends about his awesome idea for a Heroes for Hire book. Comics are the visual medium with the lowest barrier to entry. There's no such thing as an "aspiring creator" -- just people who make comics and people who don't. You keep at it, get better, make sure people know about you, and you'll be fine.

Eric: Yup, just go out and do it. Put as many hours into it as you can and you'll just get better and better. Also make a lot of friends who are at the same level as you in the industry. Work with as many people as you can. Eventually, one of those friends is going to hit it big and suddenly you'll be connected. And, of course, that only works if you're not an asshole. So basically just be a nice person to everyone and try not take anything personally.  





Sounds like you guys are keeping crazy busy. Thanks so much for taking the time!

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

Thanks for reading.Drop us a comment to lest us know what you think. Then follow that voice in your head to The Ghost Engine!

-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.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Web Artist Wednesday: The Pride of Life interview

From adolescence to untold power! Creator Rhandi Fisher makes us wise to  The Pride of Life!




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

The Pride of Life is mostly a coming-of-age adventure story in a low-fantasy setting. It follows the misadventures of Kedamono--a scrawny, somewhat eccentric teen who belongs to a race of dog-like people--who, after eating a legendary fruit, gains a powerful new body along with superpowers. He ends up discovering that his new abilities are more of a hindrance than a help, and end up causing him more problems than he ever bargained for.

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

In the beginning, PoL was strictly pen and paper, but these days, it is digitally created in its entirety, drawn in Photoshop CS5 using a Wacom Cintiq. I personally care more about being able to produce work more quickly without sacrificing quality, and don't like having a ton of drawings hanging around, so the latter method suites me just fine.

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

Early on, PoL was pretty heavily influenced by anime and shonen manga (particularly Dragon Ball Z), It's pretty apparent in the first two books, but the tone has since shifted away from that. If I had to name inspiration, it would probably come from the adventure stylings of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics (Archie Adventure run) and Jeff Smith's "Bone".

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

None in particular, but Kedamono is the most like my goofier myself.

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

The only ones that really stands out are Johnny Yong Bosch (Vash the Stampede in "Trigun") for the role of Kedamono, and David Brimmer (Sunshine in "Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy") for the role of "Daddy" Valdez.

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

If it could actually work, I wouldn't mind some funk/jazz fusion for some general overworld themes, and classical for the darker scenes.

7. What is your overall goal for your comic?

Mainly just to finish it!

8. How has managing a comic impacted your life?

Well, since the comic began, it's given me the opportunity to meet many individuals that have become good friends and peers. Some have even gone as far as supplying equipment and pointing me toward job opportunities (one of which leading to my current job as an artist at a Disney-owned social media company). Sometimes its a pain to have to keep up with, but I genuinely enjoy it.

9. What do you do to advertise your work?

I mainly advertise via Project Wonderful, but because this comic features anthropomorphic animals, I also advertise on platforms where such is the focus, FurAffinity being one such place.

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?

Really, I just wanted to tell a story, and invite others to have fun with me as it unfolded. That's pretty much it. I'm not really interested in being internet/regular famous, so if only a handful of people get enjoyment out of reading it, then that's enough for me. If we can have fun together, great! If people find the comic isn't to their taste, that's fine, too.

11. Got any other projects we should know about?

Nothing worth mentioning.

12. What advice would you give to aspiring creators?

Just remember to have fun with your work! If you aren't particularly interested in your own comic, why should you expect anyone else to be? When you enjoy what you do, it shows. Also, if you're going to put your work on a public forum, just be prepared for criticism--both good and bad--and understand that not everyone is going to like what you do. It's perfectly all right, so don't let it bother you. Just keep doing what you do and have a good time!  





Awesome thanks Rhandi! Many people have listed Bone as an inspirational comic. I never got around to reading it but I think I'll have to check it out!

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

Thanks again for reading. Let us know whatchya' think with a comment below. Then join in the fight at The Pride of Life!

-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.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Web Artist Wednesday: The Petri Dish interview

Mac wishes they had invented iBall! Creator John Sutton introduces us to Dr. Euphemism, B.O.B, iBall, and the rest of the crew of his webcomic The Petri Dish!



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

The Petri Dish is about an enthusiastic -- albeit inept -- genetic engineer who works at a medical sciences company called "Clones R Us". He is assisted by his two biomechanical robots, Bob and iBall ... two of his few successful innovations.

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

I draw each character and element of the strip separately on white paper using a pencil and a sharpie, and scan them into the computer. I then use Adobe Fireworks to position and resize those elements on each panel of the comic strip, and export the final product to a JPEG.

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

I was very inspired by the humour and art of Berke Breathed of Bloom County. Doctor Euphemism's character was loosely inspired by the nerdy character Oliver Wendell Jones in Bloom County. Calvin and Hobbes and The Far Side were also very inspirational. When I'm looking for inspiration for comic strip ideas, I usually take a look at an issue of popular science or some science blogs. Often everyday conversations with friends and co-workers will inspire comic strip ideas that aren't science related.

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

Some of the side characters are based on my co-workers such as Dr. Andrew Wong the psychologist and Naomi the bike courrier -- but those aren't their jobs in real life. Some elements of Doctor Euphemism's life are similar to my life -- to give me some basis to write about -- but otherwise he is a complete fabrication.

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

I think Billy Crystal would make a good voice for Doctor Euphemism, and Bill Murray would be excellent for Bob. I hear Jack McBrayer's voice in my head ('Kenneth' the page boy from 30 Rock) whenever I draw iBall.

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

"She Blinded me with science" by Thomas Dolby

7. What is your overall goal for your comic?

For a long time I've been looking for a creative outlet that wouldn't break the bank or take up too much room in the house. I love to laugh and be silly, and make other people laugh ... so I guess the overall goal is to make at least one person smile, even if it's just me. :-)

8. How has managing a comic impacted your life?

When doing my research, I heard many artists recommend setting a reasonable posting schedule and sticking to it, no matter what. I decided to set up a posting schedule that I could reasonably stick to, and so far I haven't missed a deadline. I talk about the comic strip to many people, and I get some interesting reactions.

9. What do you do to advertise your work?

Right now I have a Facebook Fan Page for The Petri Dish, and I have done a little advertising with Facebook. I try to connect with other well-established artists to submit fan art and guest strips. I have listed my comic strip with several indexing sites, such as Comic Rocket, Top Web Comics and Ink Outbreak. I've had a lot of success with a new index site called 'Just the First Frame', which posts the first frame of hundreds of comic strips each time they post a strip. And of course I talk about The Petri Dish with anyone who will listen. Most people are happy to support my hobby by dropping by to give it a read.

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?

Honestly, apart from the cost of the web-hosting and domain name, a few bucks for pencils and pens and paper, the strip doesn't cost me much. I've set a reasonable posting schedule of two days a week, and I made sure to get about a 30-strip buffer drawn before I started posting so the time requirement wouldn't be overwhelming. It's rewarding when I show someone a comic strip and they can't suppress a smile or a chuckle or an all out guffaw. But the biggest reward comes from pure creation and seeing my drawing and humour improve over time.

11. Got any other projects we should know about?

I've done some preliminary drawings and character sketches on another weekly comic strip about an IT support firm set in the future on the other side of the galaxy, but I haven't started drawing any comic strips for it yet. I'll let you know when I start posting them.

12. What advice would you give to aspiring creators?

It's really tempting to compare yourself to other established artists and think "Aww, my stuff is crap!!" Understand that the well established artists do that too. Never give up. Draw as often as you can. Talk to everyone about your project and most important, have fun.  





Thanks for taking the time John! Now I am going to have "She Blinded Me With Science" stuck in my head all day. But that's a good thing!

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

Thanks for reading. Give us your opinion with a comment below. Then split your genes and your sides over at The Petri Dish!

-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.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Web Artist Wednesday: The Graveyard Gang interview

What did kids do before video games? Annoy the creatures of darkness! Rich Clabaugh answers our twelve questions about creating his webcomic The Graveyard Gang!



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

THE GRAVEYARD GANG is about 5 rascals who annoy the creatures of darkness that seem to continually plague their coastal Massachusetts town. Oh and it takes place in the 1930s (I wanted a time where there were NO computers, video games TV, when kids played all day outside). It's kind of like if the LITTLE RASCALS, or OUR GANG as they were originally known, fought monsters, ghosts, witches and Lovecraftian menaces.

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

Well I draw the comic in pencil, scan, then do my inking and coloring in ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR.

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

Yikes! There are so many!!! *L* I am in love with old comic strips especially MICKEY MOUSE, POPEYE, and WASH TUBBS. THE SPIRIT by WILL EISNER is also a HUGE influence, I love how he wrote those stories – He even had stories where the main character (The Spirit) wasn't even in it much at all! I also love Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's stuff, especially The FANTASTIC FOUR. I love they way they built an amazing supporting cast like the Inhumans, The Silver Surfer, and Black Panther. The first 12 issues of The Graveyard Gang will have me building my supporting cast for the Gang, I think it adds so much to the overall story. I could go on forever about influences!

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

Hmm, that's a tough one. I suppose the actual OUR GANG kids are in there a bit and I guess they have parts of me thrown in there too, heaven help them! *L*

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

Another toughie! I can only think of actors that are dead, like the kids from those OUR GANG, Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello. Gee talk about living in the past! *L*

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

Every time I listen to Vampire Weekend's Contra cd it reminds me of the Gang. They have a real different sound. Especially their Horchata track, the instrumentals are spot on for my Gang!

7. What is your overall goal for your comic?

To create a fun entertaining comic book that will be remembered long after I'm gone! I'm trying to write a story that all-ages can enjoy, that doesn't talk down to kids.

8. How has managing a comic impacted your life?

It's been scary! *L* I did my first issue a year ago, had it printed so I could trademark and copyright it. I had a great buffer when I launched in June but working/getting used to the website ate up a lot of my time (and buffer) so now I'm up against it so to speak! I'm going to try and stick to 2 longform comic pages a week as long as I can. I am getting faster, doing my backgrounds having been tripping me up this issue. But it's still so cool to see my stuff up there online! After years of my art being so private to have it out there and have people like it is amazing!

9. What do you do to advertise your work?

Using TWITTER and FACEBOOK mostly. I need to actually make some ads so I can try that too. I've had some fellow webcartoonists blog about me on their sites, which is super flattering and kind!

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 have SO MANY stories to tell I cannot wait to share them with readers. I still work a day job so I do get frustrated that I can't produce my stuff at a quicker pace. I have my main comic and there are some daily strip ideas I have (with various characters from my comic), there just isn't enough time in the day!

11. Got any other projects we should know about?

Well, I'd love to do some of those daily strips I just mentioned but for now I need to get used to doing my comic on a regular and timely basis.

12. What advice would you give to aspiring creators?

Draw every day, it's been said many times but it IS true! I draw on my train ride to my day job and I've honed my craft so much! Also, believe in yourself and your comic. I find most people don't ... unless/until you start making some bucks doing it.  





Thanks Rich! I was tempted to post page thirteen with the dead mouse but I'll let the readers find out for themselves :)

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

Thanks again for reading. Let us know whatchya' think with a comment below. Then prepare to snoop and be spooked with The Graveyard Gang!

-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.