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.

Hang Tough

Still waiting in some interview answers from more webcomic creators. We'll be back next week. Until then, HANG TOUGH...

-Mat
evanyeti.com

Which Color?

This Vehicle is going to appear in page 86 of Evan Yeti tomorrow. Trouble is, I can't decide on a color! I'm leaning towards the blue with orange dome but I need your input. Which color do you like best? This vehicle is for the Trash Men mercenary group from my Evan Yeti webcomic. It's called the TM Snow Rat.

-Mat

evanyeti.com

Web Artist Wednesday: Monster or Myth interview!

If you go looking for monsters you just might find them! David Felizarda Reel's characters learn this lesson the hard way in his webcomic, Monster or Myth.

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

Monster or Myth is the story of two friends, Lars and Herman. They have a show online where they try to find monsters and check the myth and facts about that monster. 
One day they find a monster, Pinto, who is not from our world. The world he came from is at war and he can't get back. With the help of Lars and Herman, Pinto succeeds to go back to his home and our two friends decide to join him and fight in the war.

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

The first few pages of the comic are done in a traditional way. Sketched with pencil, inked the lines with a pentel brush pen and after scanning it, I colored the page in Photoshop.
At the moment I work fully digital, I bought a Wacom Cintiq this year and God, do I love this machine!! I do my sketching and inks in Manga Studio and afterwards I color the page in Photoshop.
Only thing I still do on paper is the lay-outs of the pages, but that’s because I do it when I'm at work for most of the time. (please don't tell my boss)
I really like working digitally because it saves time, it's less messy and you can CTRL-Z the shit out of everything!

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

Everything I see, hear and touch is inspiration. But as for comics, a big inspiration for me, and for this comic was Bone. I love the style, the atmosphere and the fact that it starts so cartoony but end up being such a big, dark story. I also like the comics of Doug TenNapel, these also inspired this comic.

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

No, not at all. The character of Herman is a bit of a "homage" to Dikke Herman (fat Herman). This was a character in the comic Urbanus, which I read a lot when I was a kid.

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

Hmmm, I never thought of this. I never thought of the comic being made in an animation. But if it should, I think Keenan Thompson would be great as Herman and David Schwimmer as Lars.

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

Again, never thought of this. If I had to choose... 'You Look Familiar' by Team William -

7. What is your overall goal for your comic?

This comic for me is really just an exercise. I want to see if I can make a comic, if I can commit to drawing it until the end. And what better way to learn how to draw comics by making one.

8. How has managing a comic impacted your life?

A part from the fact that I'm even more at my desk than in front of the tv, not much. I have a wife, a litlle kid and another one in the oven, a job in the logistics department of a multinational (boo!) and I go to class every Saturday morning (to learn how to draw comics), so every bit of free time I can spare, I'm making the comic (and other ones, not online)
I just need to remember to update it. But I succeed in it for now, not one update missed since the comic launched.

9. What do you do to advertise your work?

Nothing much, I don't have any advertisement, I don't have a links-exchange thing with someone. I don't write much on forums.
All I did is register the comic on some sites like inkoutbreak, topwebcomics etcetera. I do have a Tumblr account. I post some art and pictures from time to time.

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 just love making comics, it's that plain and simple. If I would not put it on the web I would still be making comics.

I would be alone at my desk, when finishing a comic, I would print it, and then read it myself. No one would ever see it. (although it's not that big of a difference, I do not have many readers for now)

11. Got any other projects we should know about?

I am currently writing a graphic novel for younger readers. It's my thesis for the class I follow. (the one about comics)

It's about I young orphan boy who has to go live with his grandfather who is a magician. The boy starts to practice magic himself but all sorts of shenanigans happen.
I will post the progress on my tumblr account once I finished writing and start drawing it.

12. What advice would you give to aspiring creators?

Don't think, just do it. If you want to make comics, if you like making comics, If you love making comics, start making comics. Don't be afraid you will suck, or people will not like it. Just do what you love to do!
  (also don't compare yourself to the millions of genius artists out on the Internet, it's deadly)

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Sweet! Thanks so much David. Looking forward to that graphic novel!

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

Thanks as always for stopping by! Leave us a comment below to let us know what ya' think. Then begin your own monster hunt at Monster or Myth!

-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: Marooned interview!

Marooned on Mars with a sarcastic robot! Tom Dell'Aringa talks about creating the adventures of his astral abandoned heroes in his webcomic Marooned!

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

The hapless Captain John and his robot sidekick Asimov land on Mars, where they quickly realize they are stranded. They find a thriving settlement of Martians underground and have all sorts of adventures, as John makes his journey from hapless to hero. 

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

I work exclusively digitally, drawing and coloring directly in Photoshop CS3 with a Wacom Intuos 4 tablet.

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

I am inspired by everything that I consume, from cartoons to books to movies and more. Generally when I read a really well written book or watch a great movie or TV show, it always lights a fire under me.

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

Not specifically, no. However the Martian girl Ril shares many traits with my two daughters, and Lian Fisher has a bit of my wife in her. Captain John shares many of my own faults. Good stories draw from life.

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

I've honestly never thought about this. Luke Wilson would probably be great as Captain John.

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

Space Oddity by David Bowie has been tossed around the comic in the past, it only makes sense. I suppose Rocket Man by Elton John would fit, too. Other than that, I'd rather have a movie score composed by Howard Shore or Patrick Doyle. 

7. What is your overall goal for your comic?

To tell great stories. 

8. How has managing a comic impacted your life?

It has given me the creative outlet that I was lacking. It also has been a vehicle for meeting some excellent friends.

9. What do you do to advertise your work?

Right now, practically nothing. I post comics to Twitter/Facebook when they come out. I used to advertise using Project Wonderful, but I don't really have time to manage that right now. I used to try and network with other artists and do lots of stuff along those social lines (fan art, etc). But again, those things take time I don't generally have available.

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 it first and foremost for myself, because I love doing it, and I love telling stories. Certainly the fact that people are reading and responding well to the comic is something that drives me as well.

11. Got any other projects we should know about?

I have a couple of ideas for the next project that will follow Marooned (which ends in early 2013), but nothing I can talk about as of yet.

12. What advice would you give to aspiring creators? 

If you do it for money or notoriety, you will fail, and you will be unhappy. 

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Thanks a lot Tom! If your overall goal is to tell great stories then mission accomplished. Can't wait to see what follows Marooned. 

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

Thanks for reading! Let us know whatchya' think in the comments section below. Then get stranded with Captain John at Marooned!

-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: Golden Campaign interview

If you want a tattoo you're going to have to kill a mech! Such is life in Golden Campaign. Creator Cristian Ortiz and co-writer Daniel Martin answer our twelve questions about the world they've created.

    

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

Cris: Golden Campaign is a dystopia which is centered around war, clans, mechs, empires and tattoos where the main character has to grow into adult life learning that life doesn't  always give us a clear path to our goals but it's up to us as to how we achieve them.  Technology only goes as far as the 1940's but you still have clans and warriors using bows and rudimentary weapons.  

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

Cris: I use standard photoshop with some personalized brushes to colour my pages after I hand drawn them.

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

Cris: Akira Kurosawa has always been a great influence in my work in the way his stories are simple but have flawless narrative with strong characters. Italian Illustrator Gipi  and American Comic book artist Brandon Graham play a big part in why I do Golden Campaign. oh and Tekkon Kinkreet by Taiyo Matsumoto too.

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

Cris: of course, starting with the main character which I loosely base on my self and past experiences but always adapting it to the story with the help of Daniel. My partner is somewhere there in the story too and sometimes some random people I sketch at cafes make their way to the pages of Golden Campaign because of the way they look.

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

Daniel:  This is an interesting question for me to answer... if I could think of certain actors to play some of the characters in this comic, I think that Shia Labeouf could make a good Monty, voice-wise. For some of the other characters, I'd have maybe Jeremy Irons do the voice of Von Kruger, Louis Garrel and maybe some other French toned actor to voice the Twins, and that's all I can think of to do some of the voices of characters that have appeared thus far...

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

Cris: Well I never thought of this until last month when I friend of mine showed me the game Sword & Sworcery (which is stunning) and has a beautiful soundtrack called "The ball;ad of the space Babies" by Jim Guthiere. I would love the music of Golden Campaign to be just like that.

7. What is your overall goal for your comic?

Cris: My overall goal really is a following, a fan base for Golden Campaign. I want people to talk about it and enjoy it so much that they want to know about back stories and ask me questions that I dint think of. That's mainly why I have been publishing the whole thing for free. I just want people to know Golden Campaign exists!

Daniel : I contribute this comic, and I just hope that this comic gets the recognition that it deserves because I think it's a pretty cool concept and from others I've personally shown this project to, they seem to love it and ask when it's getting published...

8. How has managing a comic impacted your life?

Cris:  Well considering that I have only done it since July this year, I'd say the impact has been positive so far. It gives me the discipline to make at least two pages a week since I want to be consistent and don't want to let people down on my weekly updates.

9. What do you do to advertise your work?

Cris : Well I mainly do it through twitter and Facebook. I also have wonderful friends and followers who always spread the word about it and it really helps a lot. 

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?

Cris: Public attention and recognition all the way. I don't want any money from it right now. If I was to choose between having loads of money from a comic book noone cares about or not getting money at all from a comicbook everyone loves and praise, I would always choose the latter. 

Daniel: The reason why I co-write with Cris is because it's been a long time dream of mine to be involved in comics, one way or another. This story has drastically evolved from what Cris had in mind and I am kind of glad to have contributed to that factor. If I wasn't doing this project, I'd probably be doing something with comics, but it wouldn't be as widely recognized.

11. Got any other projects we should know about?

Cris:  At the moment I can only handle my everyday job and Golden Campaign. from time to time when I come across a commission that I find interesting I recklessly take it.

Daniel:  Well… I personally, when I'm not working on the script for Golden Campaign, am working on a variety of writing projects that I am pursuing with other small time artists just getting a start. I also do some drawing of my own, though they're not as great as Cris' stuff.

12. What advice would you give to aspiring creators? 

Cris: I'd say the most important thing is to finish things. if you have an idea or a project, make sure you finish it and make sure you do it. There is always a big gap between thinking, talking about something and then doing it.

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Thanks so much for taking the time for our interview. I'm eager to see the mech battles in all their horror/glory! 

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

Thanks for reading! Please drop us a comment below to let us know what ya' think. Then prepare for battle in he Golden Campaign!

-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.