However, my personal crusade to find Christian professionals in the mainstream Comic Industry has yielded few returns. Perhaps some are on this site, but I am also open to suggestions on blogs, magazine/news articles, and preferrably interviews on podcasts, secular or Christian.
If you know of any, please post.
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I've been seriously considering having a go next year at trying to break into the super-hero comic market, once I have finished working on the current Christian projects I am doing. I totally agree that the huge majority of secular super-hero material today is totally off, and I guess my thinking was that if I could break into the market, then i could do my part to be salt and light in amongst a lot of darkness. Now after reading your posts and everyone else's, you have me wondering if that is such a good idea. Hmmmm. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights, I obviously have a lot of praying and seeking God's will to do.
Calvary Comics said:
Alec- those quotes were interesting- esp. the one from Darwyn Cooke. I think his name is respected for producing quality comics, even in the gay comics community- so I find the comment about a character being made a lesbian overnight as bold. Its good to know that people can recognize that as a bad writing tactic independent of making a political or ethical statement.
Frankly, I just don't enjoy the majority of comics today.
I certainly know of Watchman Nee and Watchman Lee, as well as Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, and of Pastor Hsi, a former Confucian scholar in the mid- to late 1800s whose story would make a great graphic novel. He took on the name of "Sheng Mo" (conqueror of demons), and was raised up to pastor many Chinese churches in the decades prior to the Boxer Rebellion, and was even given Divine revelation to produce medicinal pills, coupled with prayer and fasting, to help opium smokers to break free of their addiction. In this area he was tremendously successful.
Years ago I once read riveting accounts of believers and missionaries in what is now North Korea; these stories took place in the decades prior to 1950. The devil has tried hard to put out that candle of faith there, but even now there is an underground church in North Korea (I've seen video footage of secret meetings) who loves the Lord Jesus Christ and is carrying the Gospel to their brethren.
All blessings in our Saviour,
Alec
I can totally understand the struggle of working full time and doing the Lord's work in this arena on the side and still maintaining a balanced lifestyle in other areas. Your zeal and focus is inspiring and provides a good reminder to be a good steward of my time and gifts.
Favian
I will keep this sort of thing in mind when and if I have an Indian ministry partner with me in reprinting SADHU SUNDAR SINGH (a bio of India's most famous Christian, and well-known in much of Asia) in a lower cost format.
At present, I'm establishing the beginnings of a line of non-fiction graphic novels---six are out, the seventh book is completed and slated for printing next spring, and I'm doing the preliminary work for the eighth---the first seven of which I intend for print (and perhaps the eighth, God-willing), and then I'll be pursuing the digital book market.
There are so many possibilities for material like this...once it's completed. When you're working full-time (like I am, teaching college art and art to homeschoolers), there aren't a lot of hours to waste; every moment counts.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Alec
I've also had the dream of producing comics that are Gospel-themed / Bible-based / biographical (eg. of missionaries). For some reason the Lord provided me a full-time job in visual effects for now (definitely not something I planned as I wanted to go into concept art and storyboarding, but was "coincidentally" trained for in school though I couldn't foresee it then).
Will keep seeking the Lord for His direction and timing. Already have some story concepts in mind.
Favian
We've spoken often on this topic in person and on the phone. I've never once tried to coerce him to quit the mainstream, but have encouraged him to maintain a prayerful ear to discern God's voice, which he does. In my case, I left secular comics in 1999 (and illustrating for secular magazines and newspapers a few years after that), and the Lord has opened doors for me to write, illustrate, and publish Christian graphic novels which neither the secular nor Christian market would subsidize me to do. This may simply be our Lord's way of simultaneously keeping my options limited and also revealing His plan for me at this time in my life.
For me, my dream is already a reality: to produce godly, edifying, Full Gospel material that is not tainted by commercialism (the love of money) which has an indefinite 'shelf life' because it has an eternal message, and is suitable reading for young and old.
Finally, if we are indeed seeing the demise of print material, then, as Lee mentioned in a phone conversation the other day, the 'playing field' will indeed be made level again for a period of time. Digital books, with today's technology, will be equally easy for large companies and startups to promote and sell online. Indeed, with all these 'viral' attention getters obtaining rapid interest, the media moguls are at a loss to be trendsetters. It's grass roots time on the 'net, and will be shortly in the realm of digital publishing, which is very exciting for those who are ready to produce Christian comics in numerous languages for a global audience.
I dare say we can sell much larger numbers of quality books under these circumstances than Marvel or DC; after all, the recent Christian bookstore market is about ten times larger than the secular comics market in the U.S.
It's time to get your stuff ready.
Kind regards in Christ Jesus,
Alec Stevens
I suggest you contact Art at Kingstone Comics. There might be a good fit there.
Ken Raney said:
This is something I've wrestled with more than a few times over the past several years. Early on in my walk God impressed upon me how He provided a patch of land within Babylon for Jeremiah and would do the same for me. He's continued to provide within Babylon for me -- jobs that I can do in good conscience, while giving me confidence to turn away those I cannot (there have been many). That patch of land has shrunk through the years, but it has been made clear time and again that He uses us where we are. Where the heart is is much more important than where our feet are. God knows my heart is not in this industry, and that it hasn't been in some time. There is very little good about mainstream comics these days (I was blessed to see Darwyn's and Mark Waid's comments in Alec's post - maybe the Lord is doing something in their hearts - I hope so).
We have to divest of the world but it doesn't mean we leave physically ... that is, unless God says to do so. When it's time to leave (and I believe the time is coming for me), I trust in God to make it clear. It's easy to get caught up in the well-intended expectations of others, but we must each be led of God in these matters - not the reasoning of man ... even believing men.
I also think it's just as much a mistake for a believer to seek this job apart from God's clear leading. We (self included) can at times mistake our own desires in the flesh with what God is calling us to do. We have to be honest with God and with ourselves.
He is faithful!
God bless--
Lee
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