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Hey All,

I thought it would be fun (and helpful) to shoot a survey out there to all the other independent creators.

If you have independently published a comic book, take a moment to answer the questions below!

1. What are the titles of the comics you've published?

2. How long have you been self publishing?

3. What is your biggest challenge as an independent creator?

4. What are some mistakes you've learned from?

5. What social media platforms do you use to promote your work?

6. Do you attend conferences? Which ones?

7. What is your average sized print run?

8. Do you print your comics in the US or China, or somewhere else?

9. Is your target audience primarily Christian, or general audiences?

10. What is something you've learned through hard earned experience that will help other Independent creators out there?

"Why a Giant Fidget Spinner?" (click for full comic)

"A Major Tourist Attraction" (click for full comic)

"Planning the World's Largest Fidget Spinner" (click for full comic)

I'm experimenting with a longer story line than I usually do.

Hello, everyone. Here's another question:

What is your favorite art style to do? 

(Sci fi, realistic, manga, abstract...Everything counts.)

I am about to go back to figure drawing, as well as a painting class. So, really, I should be reviewing anatomy and things like that. But what I did instead was check out 30 comic book collections from the library and am drawing pictures from there. :) Working with charcoal is a great way to learn anatomy, but after months of it, I really love working with my Prismacolor colored pencils.

"The Robot's New Project" (click for full comic)

What are the three scariest traits in a villain?

What are the three best traits in a hero?

I'm wondering, what are all your favorite comics? (Manga is included.)

I like one called "Final Fantasy Type-0 side story: The Ice Reaper" Aside from the occasional uneeded comment and the mini-skirts, (Which I fixed. You gotta love ballpoint pens) It was really good. 

A friend of mine recently reminded me that I need to be reading lots of comics if I am going to be making them.

So, one trip to the comic book shop later I discovered this wonderful all ages gem! Herobear and the Kid, by Mike Kunkel is absolutely glorious.

You can tell the artist is an experienced animator. All of the characters, even minor ones, have fun, well crafted designs. The art choice of leaving it all in black and white except for the herobear's red cape was smart and flashy. My eyeballs devoured this comic book over and over again, and I found myself wanting to make more fun cartoony art.

Story wise, it is pretty simple: Boy turns his stuffed bear into a superhero, goes and fights various villains. Appropriate for all ages. But the thing that really shines here is the art. Every panel on every page was carefully chosen; the posing and staging all communicate something.

My recommendation?: Get this book! You will not regret it. If you think making cartoony art is easy; think again. This is good quality cartoon art.

"What Mood is Tan?" (click for full comic)

has anybody bought a Final Fantasy T-shirt before?

I'm wanting to get one, but I can't find a place that looks official. The one I got looks pretty bad. Does anybody know of a good place to get nerd t-shirts?

How do you guys represent social media in your comics?

It is such a big part of our lives, it would make sense that it would be in our characters lives as well. but frankly, it is not as fun to look at.

A lot of it is text-heavy; and when there are pictures, it's the pictures that are interesting, not the format.

Any clues? Thoughts? Have you seen it done well somewhere?

I have a few pages of social media interaction in my comic and it is stalling me hard right now.

Three things need to happen:

1. My super hero character is following a number of villains on my fictional version of Instagram.

2. There is an online battle with the fans and villains to get old back issues of a rare comic book (that happens to be almost prophetic in that it spells out events before they happen in my story).

3. One villain tries to hack my hero's social media account and find out his secret identity.

Ideas appreciated!

Thank you!

"Mood Ring Accuracy" (click for full comic)

"Fidget Spinner's Companion Product" (click for full size)

Make a place in your week for an inspiring biography/autobiography. 

 As a Christian, I have been a bit reluctant to do so because I want to keep my focus on Christ; however worthwhile lessons, encouragement and exhortation can come from the lives of everyday people living out exemplary commitments.

   I was reminded of this somewhat accidently as I was flying through the internet, looking for knowledge-resources-inspiration to make me better prepared for the upcoming school year as a high school teacher. I came across this youtube video, titled “Amazing Physics Teacher” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfW_2tzusyI    and spent 12 minutes of my short life watching an amazing life.  I am sharing this on this site because of what makes this man’s life inspiring.

I’m only sharing one of several lessons I got out of this video:   Insert the small words and gestures that tell people you care about them, without expecting reciprocation. Human life is a tapestry of many threads, our words and deeds. Doing our duty, our jobs, supports the lives of others; showing love and caring helps make their lives worth living.

*I originally wrote this mostly as a reply to someone else's post, but I thought it was worth repeating in a blog.

I think if you are a Christian and a storyteller, you don't have to turn your writing into a superficial representation of Christianity. A good story is a good story, and it does its job whether you emblazon crosses all over it or not. 

I remember when I worked as the Acquisitions Editor for a small Christian publishing house in Chicago, we were often sent piles of trite, unimaginative Christian manuscripts by authors wanting to get published. It was always a retold bible story, or a prairie romance where a midwestern woman falls in love with a pastor (seriously!), or (MAYBE) a desperate attempt to copy CS Lewis's Narnia books or Screwtape Letters.

There was/is a desperate lack of imagination in the Christian world---and to an extent a fear of the imagination. So many people are afraid to think outside the box for fear of what their fellow Christians might say, because it does not beat everyone over the head with basics, in the same ways they've already heard it told 10,000 times before.

And yet, we serve a God who created the world and everything in it. Drink that truth in for a second. Not only that, we were made in his image---in the image of the One who created all the vast varieties of everything in existence! God burst forth with wild creative energy, and we are meant to be like him.

We are redeemed, forgiven, and loved---we should be the boldest wildest most imaginative people out there. There is no need for mediocrity among God's people.

Jesus talked about farming and fishing and a woman who lost her money, and only later did he explain to his disciples what his stories meant in relation to God.

In the same way, you can tell stories with super heroes, or spaceships, or dragons--with no overt mention of God, and yet God can certainly use it (think about The Hobbit, for example!). The pharisees in the church won't like it, but who cares? Let them criticize your work unjustly, and he will honor you.

I try to emulate CS Lewis: Some of my work is back-door evangelism, like Chronicles of Narnia, knocking on the door of the heart before reaching the head. I also do some projects that are more like front-door evangelism--some overtly Christian stuff mainly for edifying other believers. 

My superheros--that is all back door stuff. Completely subtle and under the radar; not directly marketed as a Christian Comic--but the spirit of Christ who dwells in me leaves his mark on my work.

BTW: I'm going to re-release my superhero comic in about a month or so. I will let you know when it is out. There are no crosses or direct mentions of God; but lots of deep theological truths are at play in the core of the story. I hope that you like it.

Meanwhile, at the villain's lair... wait, what? This looks like a normal downtown storefront. Our thinking was that the villains would hide in a normal place. Be patient until tomorrow.