HEY ALL, IT'S ANOTHER MONTH, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?!? It means it is time for another Sven's Comic Challenge. In the past, we had such comic artist greats as Martin Murtonen, Brien Sparling, and Steve Crespo submit amazing displays of comic strip genius. And despite fewer submissions in the past, I am naively confident that we will have a truckload of submissions this time around!
What is this and Why is it Important?
The best online communities have challenges for its members. The Christian Writing community has writing competitions, the Christian Gaming community has gaming competitions (ha ha if the community had more than 5 people, that is), and it stands to reason that a Christian comic community should have comic competitions. Competitions create a greater sense of unity and interdependence, and inhibit the tendency in hobby related communities for the people to work in their silos without interfacing with anyone outside of their own work.
I also have noticed that there have been not one, but multiple articles and essays linked to or composed by Christian artists about problems they have seen in the medium. The latest one read was graciously offered by Crespo: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/05/28/how-to-discourage-artists-in-the-church/ , wherein the author describes a box that Christian artists find themselves in - and I would argue a lot of us find ourselves in these boxes. This competition will attempt to prompt submissions that require the artists to work outside of these boxes.
What Can I Win?!
No doubt you are saying to yourself, aside from the obvious spiritual and internal satisfaction and rewards for participating in such a prestigious venture, what else do I have to gain? Well, I am excited to announce that you could win a trophy... in a graphical JPEG format! Tangible gold trophies can break or be melted down during hard economic times, but a standard JPEG file can stand the test of time!
Look at those gradients and bold lines, which say to anyone you show your trophy to "HEY LOOK AT THIS GUY/GIRL, HE OR SHE IS A REAL WINNER!" Your name and all other relevant information will be engraved in the wood (*cough* photoshop emboss effect *cough*). Second and third place winners could receive a silver and copper trophy too (I KNOW IT IS JUST TOO MUCH!), with a plate that has their name! And hey, what better accomplishment to put on your resume or illustration portfolio than your winning this fine and impeccable award! They are fighting wars for this award!
WHAT IS THE CONTEST?!
One of the criticisms the article raises is that too often Christian works try to give all the answers, without recognizing the importance of questions. Too often Christian comics attempt to provide platitudes and wrap every difficulty in a theological bow. The author of the aforementioned article, Philip Ryken, criticizes Mark Lewis who says "Make certain that your piece (or artifact or performance) makes incisive theological or moral points, and doesn't stray into territory about which you are unresolved or in any way unclear. (Clear answers are of course more valuable than questions)."
Therefore, the objective is clear! Create a strip, or a comic page, or a panel (doesn't matter!) with the purpose of posing a question in the reader's mind. You may even know the answer, just as Jesus knew the answer when rhetorically frustrating Nicodemus, the woman at the well, and the Pharisees - but He nevertheless questioned them and had them at least attempt to work His questions out. Sometimes a good question, or a good controversy, without a clear answer, or an explicit solution, is more beneficial to the observer. Perhaps your comic is merely a person looking at the sky and asking why he is here, or perhaps your comic is an unresolved argument - who knows!?
SUBMISSION AND JUDGING CRITERIA
Post your submissions to this discussion post so that everyone can read your awesome work. This time around, judging will occur via polls so everyone can be apart of the judging process (which I will create given we have more than one submissions *smile*). Submissions will be due August 9th!
Happy days!
Replies
hmm... I missed this too. It looks fun. Sven, thanks for doing this when you did. Hmm... it gives me an idea though.
Matt: People rarely do em :-P.
Dang it why do i have to find out about this website and this competition a year late lol .... can we have another?
hmm....
this is a great idea....the challenge that is...
and looking good Mr.Brien....
The Ohlone were one of the main tribes in my area of California when the Franciscan missionaries evangelized the coastal tribes in the late 1700's. By the early 1800's the Oholone thought they had the Spanish figured out. Those who rejected the Spanish lifestyle made up the story that the Spanish were the spiritual "Children of the Mule."
Well, I might try it; if I have enough time.
Also, you have no idea how inspiring the first verse was to me...
Alika Parsons said:
Colossians 4:6 - Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Works for me, what good is a challenge if its not challenging?
Donny Yule: HOOORAY! Remember my CHALLENGES are very CHALLENGING and you may at some point think to yourself, "MY GOODNESS THIS IS SO TRICKY - THAT SVEN IS A TRICKY MAN WITH HIS TRICKY CHALLENGES." Put those doubts aside though! I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU DO!
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next