JP: So last week I finally got around to uploading one of my comics online. A day went by, and I was curious to see how many people actually viewed my comic. 2,798 visits?! RESULTS! HUZZAH!
On the occasion of receiving the International Manga Award for my graphic novel, Dolltopia , this spring, I’ve been reflecting on my relationship with manga and Japan over the past fifteen years or so. I’ve been lucky enough to study in Tokyo as well as exhibit at conventions there, and am grateful to have had manga as an influence and inspiration for my own journey as a comics creator.
Mari Ahokoivu featured on our blog a month or so ago with her wonderful direct drawing activity. Now she’s back as a (we hope) regular contributor with a look into to her history as a teacher and her teaching philosophy. When she asked, “Can I draw the post?” I knew we had a winner! Look for parts 2 and 3 in the next week or so.
It happens that there have been several popular blog posts floating around that offer different kinds of advice to cartoonists, students, and creative people of all stripes. Here are links to a few of them in case you missed them on Twitter, Facebook, or wherever else people share things these days!
I had the pleasure of meeting Howard Chaykin last week in Minnesota for the MCBA’s SpringCon. I was particularly interested to hear that he’s been teaching in an unexpected venue: the Marvel Bullpen. He and Klaus Jansen spend 3 days every 6 months in the Marvel offices giving what-for to 5 artists under contract with Marvel.
Kevin and Zander have collaborated on a number of comic books. This wouldn’t be unusual, except that they’ve developed an intensive style of collaboration, where each works on every stage of the comics, from conception to layouts (thumbnails), to pencils, to inks. Like French authors (who famously use a similar system) Dupuy & Berberian, they’ve evolved a consistent combined style where you really can’t tell where one’s work ends and the other begins.
Upon Twitter’s initial release I am absolutely baffled to the rationale behind its creation. Who needs this? Why are people compelled to share with the world, every inch of meaningless minutia that befalls them?
