Words from the Artist.
September 14th, 2007
I’ve been working pretty hard on the comic these last few weeks. As a side effect of this, I haven’t been saying much. It’s not because I’ve run out of things to say or anything like that, I’ve just been busy thinking about the strip and what to do with it. I notice though, that I haven’t even been asking anyone about their opinions about what I’ve been doing. I figured I might as well rectify that situation right now, so if anyone wants, here’s a chance to give some feedback.
- How about the change to the regular strip format vs. the larger “double sized” format? I still plan on making more larger strips, but I was just wondering if anyone was leaning more one direction or the other?
- Does anyone care if I post fewer words? A big part of my silence has been due to my needing to post more on The Panel Mammal site, but does anyone miss the more technically focused discussions here?
- What’s up? How you been doing? Heard any good jokes lately?
- Eventually I plan on making some merch. I’m not in a rush, but it could be cool eventually. Is there anything in particular anyone would like to see?
Well, that’s about it… Feel free to let me know, or not, and don’t be afraid to stop by my fellow panel mammals websites as well. They’re easily accessible through the panel mammal navigation directly below the comic.
Thanks for reading.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:02 am
I miss the technical discussions. I prefer the smaller strips. I’ll sober up and have some witty comments later, you do the same.
September 14th, 2007 at 8:32 am
I prefer the larger format, more words, and merch would be awesome. The reason I like the larger format is because to me it feels alot more open to what you want to do with it. The words I love just because it gives me more insight into another perspective on the comic, there are some things I don’t notice until you mention them.
September 14th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Thanks guys!
@Kevin: Yeah, I’m going to try to bring back more technical discussions.
@Samineru: Well, I have been toying with doing a couple of larger format strips next week, so we’ll see. As for the words… I’ll have to see how I can work that part out.
September 27th, 2007 at 4:55 am
In order of your questions:
- I tend to prefer a larger format, but I believe your common reader will prefer something that they can get through within about forty-five to sixty seconds, maybe less for fast readers. I’m not really sure what that’s saying. I think your best bet is to just use whatever format that you believe is best. If it turns out to be the wrong choice (no idea what metric you’d use to determine whether), you can always pick a new format down the line.
- Your news blog is your most important interface to your readers. Use it. Talk. Show the readers that there is a person with a personality behind the drawings. It’ll build empathy between yourself and your fans, which will do wonders for retention and, crass as it sounds, marketability.
- I’m good. Getting ready to put out my first book collection. Have you heard about the guy whose urine was white? No one could ever tell whether he was coming or going.
- You can never go wrong with book collections, especially if you go print-on-demand, since the financial investment will effectively be zero. It’ll just cost you the time to lay the book out. I’m using Lulu for my first book, and they print some quality stuff for ya. If you’re going to do any cons, some thin, saddle-stitched minis would be good to have for cheap on your table, too. Remember that you can also ask your local comic shops if they’re willing to give you a little counter space.
T-shirts are popular (see: all Dumbrella comics), though I’m not personally interested in making them yet.
Buttons are good for viral marketing, in addition to having very good margins.
October 18th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
- I’d say go with a consistant, smaller strip. leave the large ones for special occasions.
- I like your news. It gives insight into the comic, explains a joke that I might not understand, and it’s always interesting.
- as for merch, I’m not big on buying stuff over the comp, but I know people who are…
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:12 am
For merch I need t-shirts that show how sophisticated I am.
Suggestions:
1.. A full body shot of Fred and Adam looking ‘back’ at the viewer with a pithy comment taken from the strips.
2. I’ve got to get an Announcer t-shirt with his head thrown back and again a pithy comment taken from the strips.
The lettering should be your hand made cartoon font. And for a pithy comment, I would suggest non-sequiturs. Such as only the first line from Panel #1 of the November 30th strip. An outsider looking at such a shirt is going to have a brain tantrum trying to decipher what he/she is seeing. And why…. [ooooh… ellipses…]
White shirts / black lines or the reverse - no grays.