The Official Mythopoeia Blog

Creator Resources: Podcasts!

29/8/2019

Today, we look at the podcasts of comic creation. The writing, the sequential art and the business of the production of your masterpiece. Here are 5 comic book creation podcasts that should skyrocket your project to the next level. Enjoy!

Webcomics Weekly!

If you’ve ever looked into comic creation podcasts before, this is probably the one you are most familiar with. Featuring Scott Kurtz, Dave Kellett, Kris Straub among others, discuss the ins-and-outs of drawing comics for the web. News, tips and tricks, technique and pet-peeves. This is a fantastic podcast for anyone who is at any stage in the comic crating process, be that a pro or a total beginner.

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Creator Resources: Comic Writing!

1/8/2019

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I first knew I wanted to create comics back when I read Alan Moore’s Watchmen. It was my brothers copy and he lent it to me when I was about 12 or 13 and said, ‘Just read it. You’ll love it.’ He was right.

I’m sure you've had a similar moment when you realised that creating comics is something you should at least investigate further. What ever that moment was, I’ve got some resources here that’ll help that creative flame burn a little brighter.

Write or Wrong

Indie comic creator turned pro, Dirk Manning, has written a comprehensive guide on how to create a comic book from the very first idea to the back cover. He then goes onto give you the basics of marketing and self-publication, but there are better books on those subjects. If you’re looking for a starter manual on how to get your idea onto the page, this is the book for you.

My personal favourite part of the book is right at the back where Dirk gives quotes from every artist he has ever worked with asking them what qualities they look for in a good writer. If you are serious that want to create comics professionally, then a large part of your working life will involve collaborating with artists – this part of the book above all other is extremely important. Great book.

Very good resource

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Creator Resources: Documentaries and Film Analysis

9/7/2019

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Today, I thought we could have a look at some resources for all you aspiring creators. I’ve done more than my fair share on research into the art of storytelling for the comic book medium, so here is a short list of resources pertaining to the moving image that I think may be quite useful. Enjoy!

Comic Books Confidential

Ron Mann's playful documentary works in two ways, first and foremost as an affectionate thumbnail history of comic books and the social attitudes that nurtured them, from the super patriotic fervour of the Second World War to the right-wing paranoia of McCarthyism to the counterculture underground of the '60s and beyond.

Elsewhere it's an introduction to almost two-dozen comic artists (the tag cartoonist doesn't do them justice) still plying their trade, all of them misfits, rebels, radicals, and malcontents.

Here’s an extract, an interview with Stan the Man from the 1988 documentary:

Here, the late father of Marvel Comics tells us about the need for heroes and how such a need spawned from US politics during his childhood. He also goes on to explain how his own creative influence was forged by the years of the depression. It’s a good interview in a very solid documentary that will be sure to aid any aspiring creative.

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Publishing 101: How to Print Your Own Comic Books

10/6/2019

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Everything you ever needed to know about how to go about printing your own comics books. No jargon. Just simple explanations for print file setup.

It feels as though the print industry has kept self publishers in the dark when it comes to creating correct files for printing. And that secreting away information about bleed, binding, papers and pricing has kept traditional printers in control.

Thankfully, the rise in online printing has empowered people to take charge! So Adam from Mixam has written this very detailed guide using our Skies of Fire comics, to clearly and concisely explain how to print your comic books.

Index

• Sizes
• Print File Setup
• Trim Line
• Bleed Area
• Quiet Area
• CMYK Color
• Image Resolution
• PDFs
• Paper
• Finishes
• Binding
• Templates
• Examples
• Summary

Comic Sizes

Before you begin drawing your artwork, you should choose what size your comic will be.

The vast majority of people create US Standard 6.7" x 10.2" sized comic books. This is the industry standard size, which we recommend, because most comic store shelves are designed to accommodate these dimensions. Although Skies of Fire is a custom sized comic, measuring 8” x 11”. There is also Manga Standard 5" x 7.5" and a number of smaller sizes for Japanese comics.

If you have already created your artwork or are planning to print a web comic, you may need to request a Custom Size from your printer. Just bear in mind that if your comic isn’t printed to an industry standard, you may have issues with comic stores stocking it.

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Post-SDCC Wrap Up & Thoughts

24/7/2018

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It's the Monday after San Diego Comic-Con and I'm sitting back at home in 105F degree weather. I miss San Diego already! (editor's note: this post was written over the last two days :P)

Ray with our Spring/Summer 2018 intern, Ivy.

2018 was the best show I've had since our debut at NYCC 2014. There were so many parallels between that show and this one. I'm blessed to have experienced both.

This year, the week leading up to the show was especially hectic for me as I rushed to not only prepare for the con, but this Kickstarter as well as the imminent arrival of 5,000 pounds of book at my office doorsteps.

47 boxes, or about 1/4 of the North American order.

On Monday I finalized touches on my booth for this year. Tuesday, the books came on three massive pallets, and on Wednesday we were off the San Diego for preview night. I did final shipping calculations on Wednesday night and on Thursday we launched

Small Press: our corner of SDCC.

The response to the new booth and books has been overwhelming. Over the past year or so I've been feeling a bit of con-burnout. This show, I was determined to get our numbers back up and update our display for the first time in four years.

The mock up of the convention display at our office!

Zephyr Model

Part of our wonderful updated display this year was a brand new customized Zephyr model made by Captain Nate Seekerman.

I first met Captain Seekerman at Long Beach Comic Expo in 2015. He was in full costume and at that time did not have a muffler. He bought a copy of Skies of Fire and introduced himself with much gusto, though it was hard to understand him at the time because his costume didn't yet have a voicebox!

The Captain himself.

Since then I've seen Nate at various shows, sometimes in costume and sometimes out. This year at WonderCon this year he approached me with an interesting proposition. He wanted to make a to-scale model of the Zephyr.

This wasn't the first time someone has come up to us wanting to do a model. Everyone else who has asked over the years eventually flaked, so when Nathan approached me I was a bit reserved knowing that he had a challenging task ahead of him.

Nate was a consummate professional. He kept us updated every step of the design process, showing us numerous work in progress shots to which we could only say "Awesome!" or give a thumbs up of approval.

Here's Nate's description of the Zephyr in his own words:
This project was based purely on the Steampunk aesthetic from the illustrations in "Skies of Fire" by Ray Chou and Vincenzo Ferriero. The Illustrations were incredibly detailed and they even had hand-drawn schematics of the Zephyr Airship in north/south/east/west. First step was to import those 2D images into Fusion 360, so the 3D blimp could be drawn exactly and scaled to 18 inches long. This process takes a few weeks, then it's onto breaking down all the drawn pieces into parts that can be printed with a 3D printer.

In this case, we went another step and only printed the frame also called formers in PLA plastic, so Battens made of brass could be fit to create an inner frame. It took a week to print over 54 parts, so the skeleton could be assembled before applying Silk Paper, Dope Resin and Paint much like those balsa wood planes of the 1950's. And, before the Silk Tissue Paper is applied, the skeleton has to be wired for electronics which include 6 drone motors and 3 LED lights. Once the paper application and paint is complete, then the propeller engines can be soldered and glued into place.

To finish, the rest of the small parts on the outside are now applied for a process that takes about a month. My favorite part is the electronics, because seeing a working airship is really great for the imagination. Of course assembly is always the most difficult, because you have to be so careful with the Silk Paper, until it's painted when the paint thickens the outer shell. In the future, I could see this printed at a higher resolution for garage kits that fans would like to build themselves!

Overall, I couldn't be more pleased with the way things have gone the last two weeks. It's been a rejuvenating series of events for me. Onwards and upwards!

- Ray

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