The Ink Well Runs Dry
Move over, Pencils, I have a show to do!
I have started inking pages for the final issue of The World Is a Funny Page. There’s a big scene in the book where I’ll need to set aside a full day of uninterrupted commitment, so instead of continuing layouts for the rest of the issue, I switched to printing out the digital pencils and inking by hand. It shouldn’t interrupt the flow too much since I’ve already finished a very nice-sized chunk of pencils. It feels like I’ve made meaningful progress. Things are going well. The inking phase is very different from penciling. During pencils, I’m just trying to get my idea out in a legible way. Inking is much more precise and permanent. Luckily, digital clean ups are there to save the day if needed.
I asked for a final digital proof for Eclosion after I made a few edits. I’m happy that I asked for this because there were a couple of major issues in their print file. Note to creators, always ask for a digital proof, even after receiving a physical proof! You don’t want to get stuck with a bunch of misprinted comics because of a printer’s mistake. Unfortunately, I’ve learned the hard way during some older projects.
STAPLE! is just around the corner and organizer Chris “Uncle Staple” Nicholas has asked the vendors to draw their own version of the show’s mascot, the staple-gator. It’s a really fun idea and I think some drawings will be going in their program print-out.
I did the inks this week and will follow up with paint soon.
Showtime
For the most part, I have my convention schedule set for the year. It’ll be closely aligned with what I had last year. I’m happy to do the shows, but I’m also not exuberantly excited about them like I used to be (STAPLE! is the exception). I wish that I was. I think that after years of doing comic cons, I’ve come to understand the formula, and things rarely go off the rails in an insanely positive direction. I guess there is always the possibility of something major happening, like selling every unit of product, or striking some major deal.
I think every vending creator feels this sentiment in some fashion or another. For a small press creator, the convention circuit can go from murky to downright confusing. Costs can be back-breaking, even with in-town shows. Many conventions are charging record-high table fees now, and there’s no sign of those prices going down. Now, imagine that, plus travel and stay? You’re looking at a big fat credit card charge. For most small press creators, just covering table tends to be a struggle. Outside of the lucky few, the game is a grind. Good, bad, ugly - it’s all in the trials of being a comic book maker.
Dangerous Game
I haven’t had time to do much reading or TV watching this week. My household now has a PS5 and I’m trying to not let it distract me too much. The machine is so powerful, and now, you can stream a huge library of games, both new and old. I was wowed by this! Playstation Plus is Netflix for gaming. I can see how kids get addicted to this stuff. Everything is incredibly accessible now. Gone are the days that you need to run to Wal-Mart to buy the latest blockbuster game. Nope, just hit a button and you can play over 300 games - all at your fingertips with amazingly fluid transitions. It’s dangerous.
I played an hour of a game called Returnal, and oh man, is it cool. The plot seems to be pretty basic. A star traveler crash lands on a mysterious planet. You have a blaster. You take down crazy looking creatures and explore the planet.
The graphics are super immersive. The biggest thing that stood out to me was how well the shooting plays. It feels like you are using a real blaster, right down to how the controller kicks back in your hands each time you pull the right trigger. It’s insane. Gaming technology has really jumped into a different level this time around. It’s fun, and I look forward to checking out more (in a low dose, of course).
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Thanks for your time,
Nico