For those thinking of making their own manga

[EvilDracy]

Hi there! ^^ I do a TON of anime fan art and character requests (for example, I do requests like drawing characters based on descriptions of your own original character idea). And, I've started doing my own manga. I got inspired while listening to Flying Dragon and Black Escaflowne. It's original, as in not copied off of ideas of other anime (except maybe Escaflowne in an indirect way). If you like drawing and you're thinking of doing a manga of your own, you can hang out here and talk about what you like to do: which is drawing!

:kawaii:

[Project Akira]

*points you to thread about AB members starting their own company* Um, no comics being made here *rolls eyes and whistles*

[EvilDracy]

umm.....what the hell are you talking about? I'm not HIRING people, I'm just getting people who enjoy making manga/drawing art to come and talk about their ideas and hopes and stuff. sheesh, I'm not advertising for employees, I'm only 15.

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Originally posted by EvilDracy
umm.....what the hell are you talking about? I'm not HIRING people, I'm just getting people who enjoy making manga/drawing art to come and talk about their ideas and hopes and stuff. sheesh, I'm not advertising for employees, I'm only 15.

LOL. I hear ya EvilDracy ;).
I'm planning to create my own manga comic too, and I plan to make it big big big too :D. I realise I'm not good enough ATM to draw my manga, so I'll practise all my skills for the next couple of years, and try and complete my concept of the manga. I'm now in the progress of creating characters, learning to draw more dynamic (very important), and how to draw as good and fast as possible (don't want to be spending too much time on one drawing considering I want to make a huge manga).

If you like drawing and you're thinking of doing a manga of your own, you can hang out here and talk about what you like to do: which is drawing!

Let's try and do just that, and make this a big thread, lol. I can use something like this to refine my ideas. :lol:

[EvilDracy]

hehe. when it comes to manga, I'm not that great an artist, but I'm still pretty good. or at least I try. ^^

[akai manji]

im starting work on a manga and im also 15! ya!!!!! :D i wanted to work on a colaboration with someone cause im having a hell of a time trying to think of a story that people want to read!!! aaaahhhhh :mad:

[akai manji]

heres a really quick ink i made

*charactor from*
*blade of the immortal*

[akai manji]

here

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by EvilDracy
umm.....what the hell are you talking about? I'm not HIRING people, I'm just getting people who enjoy making manga/drawing art to come and talk about their ideas and hopes and stuff. sheesh, I'm not advertising for employees, I'm only 15. Finally someone who wants to talk about making comics ^_^

But if you are going to refer to what you are doing as anything I think it would be more appropriate to have you refer to them as making comics since that is what you are doing. Manga is only a Japanese word for comics ^_^

[akai manji]

incorect akira-san :eek:

manga are graphic novels
the are more than cheep comics
they are novels which contain
REAL ART!!!!!
:eek:

[akai manji]

and a worthwile story line!!!

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by akai manji
incorect akira-san :eek:

manga are graphic novels
the are more than cheep comics
they are novels which contain
REAL ART!!!!!
:eek:

and a worthwile story line!!!Don't start with me. This is the kind of stereotyping that I hate to see people make. American comics contain as much art as Japanese comics do. And you want me to start listing American Graphic novels that definitely qualify as art and have worthwhile stories? Don't make posts where you state that one form of something is better than another because I can name a ton of manga that are crap and could just as easily qualify as some of the cheap comics that you think American comics are. If you are going to post in this forum, I suggest that you take a more open mind to the variety of art syles that all comics have to offer. If you don't you become a hypocrit that says that they are open to many things when in fact they are an art snob. >_< *goes off and burns a Gunsmith Cats GN*

[akai manji]

i apologize for my steriotype and you a right, there are may crapy manga, but the twoart styles fit into different categories, some thigs are to one side, some to the other, and some in the middle. The reason that I say that manga have reel storylines and art is because realistic manga like BLADE OF THE IMORTAL and LONE WOLF AND CUB have a reel style of art as opposed to that american superman/captain america stuff that hasn't changed in over 50 yrs (IM NOT SAYING ALL COMICS ARE LIKE THIS BECAUSE MANGA ARE ALSO STERIOTED BY LARGE EYES AND MECHS) but over all in my oppinion, manga are better! More apealing to look at beter reading and better everything! its a preferense!!!!! its like saying i like action movies more than romance!!! chill out!!! i just prefer that because i dislike comics you dont refer to manga as comics as i wont refer to comics as maga! i have an open mind! but jst dislike the overal comic art style.!!!!!:D

[EVA fiend]

Originally posted by akai manji
incorect akira-san :eek:

manga are graphic novels
the are more than cheep comics
they are novels which contain
REAL ART!!!!!
:eek:

Actually, the literal translation for manga is 'irresponsible pictures' & it's the term used to describe comic books..., manga are not 'graphic novels'.., that's an American term used to describe the collected version of comic books...,

And PA..., don't burn Gunsmith Cats GN.., I rather like them.., even if you don't..., ;)

[akai manji]

yes gun smith cas are good!

[akai manji]

\

[KtHM]

How could you not like Gunsmith Cats with all it's funny nudity?

So, yeah, Kiva's making a comic. Really. I won't be letting anyone see it. o_o That's because I am most distrustful of you. You being everyone.

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by KtHM
How could you not like Gunsmith Cats with all it's funny nudity?
Funny nudity is good every once in awhile but gratuitous T and A gets old quickly -_-

[akai manji]

but.. but...:eek:... how could you not trust me????

[Project Akira]

You're a newbie that's why :p

[akai manji]

yo! im no newbie! mabie to this board, but in general, no!

[InCreDiBLeRice]

LOL.

Hey, aren't you two going a bit off topic here? :lol:

IMO, Manga is the most commonly used term to describe any comic, graphic novel, piece of crap and more things like that are produced on paper, coming from Japan, or inspired by this Japanese art ^_^.

To get back on topic, whom of you have already a concept of their comic?

I had written down my concept in about 1000 words, but it's in Dutch, so I can't let you peepz read it, lol.

If you're interested, I'll translate it for you.

I'm sorry to confess that although my story is original, I still lend some from Ghost in the Shell (Atmosphere and a cybercity setting), Neon Genesis Evangelion (deep characters and drama), and Dark City (The hopelessness, the enormously powerful enemy, one from whom you'd never see it coming).

That's the concept in a box, it can be a lot bigger than that, and plus, this is too vague.

[Project Akira]

Ink is already going to paper as I begin work on "The Clockwork Chaos". What it's about you will have to buy from my publisher Trompe Le Monde Press.

[InCreDiBLeRice]

I see ;).

I'm just in the "idea-phase", if you get my drift.
Quite literally, I decided to make my own manga about 8 days ago ;).

To ask you something else, how old are you peepz?

I wanna know if I'm 'late' or 'early' with this.

I'm 16

[Project Akira]

Never too early or late because I'm 19 and I'm already making my own company as well as comics ^_^

[EvilDracy]

Sorry I haven't been by in a while. ^^ I'm kinda stuck in my manga...in my next panel is a cylinder glass tank exploding and I don't really quite know how to effectively draw exploding glass. >.> Damn special effects. :bawling:

(oh, and in case u dun know, I'm 15) >.>

[EvilDracy]

Oh, and I have the entire plan set out pretty much for my first comic...then the comics that follow...I really have no clue >.o
I got the idea one night before falling asleep....I got inspred for the idea while thinking about the song: Black Escaflowne. If you ever get the chance to listen to it, you might get an idea of the action in my comic. I guess the only thing I am using from other anime stuff is from Escaflowne (people with wings) and the movie Final Fantasy (planet blowing up). I've typed up most of the outline for my first comic, I've been too lazy to finish it...>.> but when I do, I'll say so here and I can send it to you via e-mail if you wish. :D That is....unless you're willing to wait for the final result...which might be in another month or so. >.> :lol:

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Hehe, you've been taking things a lot more seriously a lot more sooner than me ;).

But all things considering, I have more than one hobby/ambition ^_^. I work a lot, 3 days a week, I sport 3 days a week, and I'm maintaining an ATM small anime site, which is growing into potential as we speak. Somewhere in this busy schedule, I'm trying to draw manga, hehe. Once I realised I was getting quite good at it, about 1 month ago, I started carrying my sketch book with me everywhere I go. I'm open to criticism as well, have you seen my two art postings lately?

http://animeboards.com/t35857/s.html

and

http://animeboards.com/t34839/s.html (about 3 weeks older).

I still have a long way to go, but I'm seeing improvent with every drawing.

[EvilDracy]

Of course! ^^ If you've seen my sketchbook, you'll be able to see how my art has progressed and improved over the past 2 years. It's pretty cool....and horrifying to see my crappy art from 2 years ago. :lol: Heh. But now that I'm starting my new sketchbook with my manga, I don't have to worry much about my old sketchbook. The last 2 pages are filled with my 4 main characters' sketches.

[EvilDracy]

And I still don't know how to draw exploding glass.....like....I mean glass from an explosion that's flying out in all directions...>.> :(

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by EvilDracy
And I still don't know how to draw exploding glass.....like....I mean glass from an explosion that's flying out in all directions...>.> :( Perspective might help

[EvilDracy]

Well....let's see....you're standing 10 feet or 15 feet away from a glass cylinder that just exploded?

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by EvilDracy
Well....let's see....you're standing 10 feet or 15 feet away from a glass cylinder that just exploded? I'm saying that you use one point, have that as the center of your explosion, draw all of that, then put your character in front of that and that's how I would do it ^_^

[EvilDracy]

That's what I was thinking....but I still can't quite visiualize it.....but I'll try. :)

[Phantom Angel]

*waves at everyone* hehe, i've got nothing much to say... ED knows my drawing talents. they are absolutely nonexistent.... but yeah.. i'm just here to cheer her on. she's a really good artist. did some stuff for me. they looked really really really good. so.... ED... how about u scan your manga for these peeps to see? i'm sure they can coment on it and help out. hehe... i can only give yah tips with the story line... so... umm... yeah. *blinks* umm.. yes... by the way... i deny ED's signature. :D i did not... phrase it THAT way....

[EvilDracy]

lol. awww...PA, I think your art is great. ^^ your first attempts are much better than my first attempts :D

[EvilDracy]

And that WAS your quote PA! don't deny the truth! be nice to nuns! lol

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Phantom Angel]

ahhaha, well i suck... still... scan ur manga and post it here. come on... it's not that hard... just point and click!!!

hmm... what if i don't want to be nice to nuns? (tho i say that all the time...)

[EvilDracy]

yes....it IS that easy, it's just the actual SCANNING that's slow. and I'm too lazy right now to do so. :heh:

[Israfel]

hmm.... What style are you looking for?

Or, atleast I would have to observe some of your work and then try to get the flow going...

PA is probably the only one who has seen my art... And even then I don''t really see him around anymore so that art is atleast 2 months old and I have got alot better between now and then ;)

so I guess you'll be the judge :sleep:

cya around...

AIM handle... KodamaMan

[Bekkachan]

I've had an idea for a manga too, for a while... its funny, i havent been on the net since last year, but ive been thinking of setting up a thread to discuss this kinda thing, and voila! here it is already!

Well, ive got a basic plot worked out, and characters are well and truly on their way. I haven't started drawing the actual manga yet, but I know this kinda thing could take a long time, If you want an involving story and everything. Plus the fact that i'm in my final year of high school, everything will start having to be put of till the end of the year. I see the layout in my head, anyway, so im hoping it'll stay there till i can put it on paper!

The basic style is fantasy, but not computer-game-type, more like LOTR-type. If you know what i mean... On the topic of copying ideas from others, it may well be true that nothing is original these days. Basic ideas are nothing to be ashamed of if you've seen them elsewhere before, good vs evil being the most simple. Even if you think you've come up with something original, you're bound to find somthing else like it if you were able to read and watch every other book, film and text in the entire world! I've had that experience many times before. I don't go out of my way to copy other peoples stuff, and most everybody else wouldn't too, but of course you're influenced by what you see. Some of my characters are like that too, but there are different character types that most characters are built on, and looks also have to indicate the chara's personality, which means stereotyping to an extent. Like, I have a male character who based on elves, except for the fact that he isn't one. Now, his face is one I came up with long ago, even before my manga plans, and he has long blond hair, tied up on only one side, and he wields a bow. Now, who does that remind you of? Hmmmm... *coughcoughaghlegolasrghsnifflesnort* :D
It's so annoying!! But I'm not gonna change him now, at the moment anyway...

The only problems i'm having are that i have all these story fragments and scenes i want to include, but i havent yet worked out where! Not that I can't change the plot or anything: it's still only developing, but it's still mostly in my head, and i'm going to have to do some serious pen-to-paper type stuff for a while yet!

The other little problem is clothing! It's easy to design female clothing with a minimum amount of armour, but i really have little experience in more detailed armour for the guys. (no, my story is not sexist!) Maybe I can get a bit of design help from someone??? :p

Oooh, that went for a bit too long... heh heh, i guess everyone'll skip it, just like i do sometimes with the long posts... :o

[EvilDracy]

I've finally drawn flying/exploding glass...thanks to my eva manga volumes and project akira. Thanks!!!

[EvilDracy]

Oh, and I think that I'll scan the 4 completed pages of my manga so far and post it up.....though I think it kinda sucks...I'm not too good at drawing anime people from my head in many different positions....and don't mind my ATTEMPT at a background in some panels....I'm too lazy to do detailed backgrounds..... >.> :heh:

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by EvilDracy
I've finally drawn flying/exploding glass...thanks to my eva manga volumes and project akira. Thanks!!! No prob ^_^

[EvilDracy]

*glomps project akira* weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! :bigclap:

[Project Akira]

If you need any other advice pm me and I'll be more than willing to help ^_^

[Phantom Angel]

come on.. scan... scan.... heheh, lol... gosh..i m impatient aren't i?

[akai manji]

havn't posted in a while so i have several things to sat

PROJECT AKIRA: lets call a truse! :)

EVIL DRACY: I think this is a little late but if you study the movie AKIRA there are about 200 framesof nothing but exploding glass

EVERYONE: Im 14!

EVERYONE: Right now im workin on a short BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL doujinshi (its sort of depressed (EVA STYLE)). And when im done with that im ging to begin work on something of my own creation. I decided to to the blade doujin because i figured it would help me think up a story line. :)

...:rolleyes:...
...:rolleyes:...

[akai manji]

i also wanna see the scans!!!!:)

[EvilDracy]

Hehehe...well...the moment u all been waiting for! I've got the first 4 pages that I've completed scanned and saved. Hope you enjoy them....they're not that great, but eh...umm....hold on, I'll have them up in the next post which will be in the next 5 minutes or so >.> :sweatdrop

[Phantom Angel]

come on.. dunt be shy...

heheh, hey ED, do yah like my avie? guess who it is???

hint

"Sukiaki, sukiaki, we are happy!"

"Shut up, somoene will think we're poor."

"We're poor, we're poor, we're sad, we're sad!!"

hahahaha, ne how... manga... post.. now... please?

[akai manji]

ya dracy!!

[EvilDracy]

Ok, ok! Here it is...the file was too big to put as an attachment, that's why I had to make another post. Anyways, this is the link to the site that has it, it's the last 4 pics, you'll see. If they're really big, then good, they should be, so u can read my messy writing. :D

The 4 pages of My Manga (http://www.anime-chat.com/cgi-bin/art.cgi?name=evil_draconian)

[KtHM]

Do you have photoshop? If so, I have a suggestion for the 'grainy' quality of the pages. Ink it with something other than a ballpoint pen, erase the pencil lines (once the ink is dry. God, how I have hurt myself smearing ink and then screaming in agony) and then scan it in. Once you have it in Photoshop go Image->Adjust->Levels

Bring the black triangle and the white triangle closer and closer together to get rid of that grainy gray stuff.

I love your work! You did PA's charrie piccies for the Esca RPG. Lovely stuff.

[EvilDracy]

I know I know....everyone says that to me. Do forgive me, but I don't have Photoshop. I have Microsoft Photo Editor....>.> I'm too lazy to all that clean up work.... I plan to do that once I have it all done. But for now, I just wanna get the rough sketch of the manga over with.

[Phantom Angel]

hehe, yes she did do my stuff. it was gweat. hehe

ED, you know we'll keep supporting u. but keep on putting blank pages in between to avoid smudging. *nods*

[EvilDracy]

>.>

[akai manji]

nice, the diologue is somwhat of a cliché
i think you should edit it. it seems a little
frankinstien. but this is a rough right???
thats what rough copies are for!!!!!!!!!!

:eek: :D :lol: :p :lol: :D :eek:

[EvilDracy]

well....it's sorta a rough......I'm not gonna re-do it, just edit whatever needs to be edited....like perhaps dialogue, or the actual images. But really, the beginning is kinda irrelavent, so I'm not worrying about its dialogue right now.

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Originally posted by Bekkachan
I've had an idea for a manga too, for a while... its funny, i havent been on the net since last year, but ive been thinking of setting up a thread to discuss this kinda thing, and voila! here it is already!



Hehe, I was thinking the same thing, this thread is great, helps me getting ideas, and it also motivates me ^_^. I'm a very busy man :rolleyes:, and the only time when I really can get to drawing is on school, during the courses and in the breaks, hehe. So I guess the whole school knows that I'm drawing manga.


The basic style is fantasy, but not computer-game-type, more like LOTR-type. If you know what i mean...


Interesting ;). I think I follow ya. Care to explain your storyline a bit more?


On the topic of copying ideas from others, it may well be true that nothing is original these days. Basic ideas are nothing to be ashamed of if you've seen them elsewhere before, good vs evil being the most simple. Even if you think you've come up with something original, you're bound to find somthing else like it if you were able to read and watch every other book, film and text in the entire world! I've had that experience many times before. I don't go out of my way to copy other peoples stuff, and most everybody else wouldn't too, but of course you're influenced by what you see.


Quite right. Just be original in your individuality, design your own characters with their own distinguished personalities, and select the theme (IMHO, almost every theme you can think of has already been thouhgt of) of your story. Mine is cybercity combined with great parapsychological power, a bit like Dragonball I think. About the influencing thing, whatever you've already seen/watched/read/listened to on radio, in books and comics or on tv, anime series you've watched, cinema movies, they shape your ideas, without it, it would be very difficult to think of your own story, I think.


The other little problem is clothing! It's easy to design female clothing with a minimum amount of armour, but i really have little experience in more detailed armour for the guys. (no, my story is not sexist!) Maybe I can get a bit of design help from someone??? :p


I haven't gotten around clothing yet, I just did some basic designs. Long coats Matrix-style, a slim dress suitable to fight in, and a casual set, for a casual girl :rolleyes:. That's it so far. What I'll do is look into a model/clothing-book of some sort, and try and come up with more ideas for clothing.
As for your armor thing, you could borrow a book about it in your library, about knights or something? * just an idea *


Oooh, that went for a bit too long... heh heh, i guess everyone'll skip it, just like i do sometimes with the long posts... :o


Heh, maybe. Has anyone else responded to this post too?

Ok, enough in one post. I'll be posting a next one right away, hehe.

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Goes out to EvilDracy:

I've already seen that page of yours, I remember ^_^. But I don't remember seeing those 4 pages, so I just read them.

Very kewl, I think the drawings will look great once I've seen a finished page (not rough). As for the dialogue, it looks a bit cliche, but I don't know about you, but I'd paying as much or even more attention to my dialogue than my drawings, cuz I have this great story to tell, and images are not enough ;). I see them as tools to tell a story, and I'd like to play with shots and different angles to make more clear what I mean with certain scenes.

Leaving out dialogue is something cool too. If it were me, I'd make the lab almost completely silent, all ppl were tensed, working without talking, concentrating on completing the experiment. The main characters would talk in whisper, and say as few words as possible.

Instead of the verbal questioning of the assistant concerning the ethics of this project, I'd let them look at eachother, the assistant in silent protest, the one in charge hesistating before looking away (and as for explaining the purpose of the experiment and the general behind it, I'd explain that later in the story, love those complex plots).

Oh well, that's just an example how I would do it, I don't have any pages of my manga yet, I want to work more on my characters and settings first.

But it's really great work! This was no criticism, just some insights in my motivation, please not be offended :lol:.

And oh, I know I'm really crappy with Photoshop ATM, but if I were a bit better, I'd volontuer to edit your pages to get a cleaner scan. But you should ask someone in this forum to help you, it's ashame you don't have Photoshop, I can't live without it anymore, hehe.

Ok, It's cuz I have to go to work within the hour, or else I'd posted my idea of my manga's story, but that'll just have to wait.

Continue the hang out! :p

[akai manji]

as a friend of mine once said,

"good writing can carry not so good art,
but good art can't carry a bad story"

if the diologue is no good no one wants
to reed on! and like InCreDiBLeRice said
its better to say noting than say something
stupid just to fill space, if you want the
workers to look devotd, just make keep
them sient (maybey add some argh... or
hhmm....) and when the thing in the tank
is loading show a frame of the docs hands
shaking and sweat drippin. and experment
with cinimatography and good angles, it will
give you the dramatic (EVA like) feel that i
think you are looking for!!! keep workin !

[EvilDracy]

Yes yes....I know about how I should use angles...like odd view points and stuff, but my free-style drawing isn't that great yet, and I dun wanna screw anything up. And IncredibleRice, I think your idea about everyone being silent is great....but.....it's a lil too late to fix dat....I'm not too crazy about erasing it all and starting over for only a few beginning shots....but beginnings are improtant. Yes..so is text. But right now....I dunno....I'll see which parts of the text I mat consider removing. I know this may sound bad, but I'm very prideful with my drawings, no matter how crappy sometimes. I'm not offended by any of you though, so don't worry. I know what you're giving is constructive critisism, and I'll keep it all in mind. Like I said, my manga are usually weak and crappy, but that's just cuz my free-hand drawing can be crappy. Gah...this is why I wish I had a machine that could animate and record all the pictures that come into my mind so I won't have to worry about screwing it all up with my lame manga skillz.

[akai manji]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!
your not serious!!!! your not makin a
rough!!! your jumpin to a good wthout
setting up your frames on a junk copy!
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

:mad: :eek: :confused: :eek: :mad: :eek: :confused: :eek: :mad:

[EvilDracy]

I hate drawing things twice, because it gets screwed up the second time.

[akai manji]

hmmmm...

[EvilDracy]

:mad:

[akai manji]

sorry, didn't meen to be rude! :rolleyes:
you should considder using that as a
rough, it will help you to work out the
bugs. unless you feel you did the best
job you can do on the first try, since i
don't know your art well i don't know...

*yes i will get an avitar*:p

[EvilDracy]

:D Good.

[akai manji]

*MY AVATAR IS HERE*
*i made it in less that 5 secconds*

[akai manji]

c r a z y

[EvilDracy]

lol

:lol:

[EvilDracy]

Oh, and by the way:

Canada Women win hockey game for GOLD! :yippee: :bigclap: :dance: :agree:

[akai manji]

yaaaaaa CANADA

__ ^ __
| | ^ | ^ | |
| | \ | / | |
| | <\|/> | |
|__| | |__|

[akai manji]

sorrybout the crappy ascii

[EvilDracy]

What the heck was that supposed to be? :confused:

[SamIam]

hmmmm...

I like the feel of your "roughs".... it has drama and emotional content ... which tend to round out an otherwise wooden character...

... I would also agree with the comments to date though about the effective use of differing angles and prespectives... but in all fairness, you have valid reasons for keeping it the way it is... far better to get the entire story "fleshed" out in some form of layout than to loose yourself in to much detail for a single panel.

I look forward to seeing more of your work, and in particular, more of the completed Manga.

SamIam

[InCreDiBLeRice]

I've said before the roughs were great :D.

But ED, I understand you don't want to redraw them (I hate that myself), but you could make some sort of study using those roughs, writing/drawing stuff down you could improve. Maybe then you'll realise it won't be as much copying the original sketches, and more drawing new shots and angles.


I hate drawing things twice, because it gets screwed up the second time.


Naw... With your skills? And those 4 pages were rough, weren't they?

Another small tip if you don't want to redraw your roughs: try writing down what will happen and be seen in each cell before you'll start drawing, dialogue and sketch. That way, you may be able to have a better result in your rough.

Ok, that's it for now, when will I find time to post my story? Not today it isn't :P

[akai manji]

ya i think you can do better than what you had, and like rice said if you look over it and scrible comments and redraw examples and go over your work until the page is ready to fall apart, youl end up changing so much that it wond be redrawing i should show you some of my rough copies!!! :eek: there crazy edited!!!

i love my avatar!!!

the thing was a canadian flag and it looked really good, but when i posted it, the spacing changed and it got f**ked!

[EvilDracy]

I see. Well, again, I'll take note of what all of you guys said. Thanks for all your tips and stuff. I can see you guys would make better manga-makers than me. Guess I don't have enough experience.

[Phantom Angel]

ED... dunt say that. you're a great manga maker. as long as you've got ideas, and you're willing to try it, the rest will come with work and practice! *huggles* i can't even draw.. so... be happy u can!!

just remember

*crosses fingers*


LOVE AND PEACE!

[SamIam]

Originally posted by EvilDracy
I see. Well, again, I'll take note of what all of you guys said. Thanks for all your tips and stuff. I can see you guys would make better manga-makers than me. Guess I don't have enough experience.

Well, I would not say better in general, but different, and as for experience, you seem well on your way at getting that quickly!

Keep up the good work

SamIam

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Originally posted by EvilDracy
I see. Well, again, I'll take note of what all of you guys said. Thanks for all your tips and stuff. I can see you guys would make better manga-makers than me. Guess I don't have enough experience.

Don't say that, you're well underway, and besides, besides (lol) some crappy comics I drew when I was 8 or 9, I don't have any experience, just these ideas in my head and a lot of basic knowledge.

When I saw your first four pages of your comic I was itching to draw my own, but I said to myself: you need a lôôôôt more practice!!!

ARGL.

Anyway, check out my new thread, it's my latest drawing, took me over 4 hours to make, is that long???

Here's the link: http://animeboards.com/t36291/s.html

Ok, that's it for now ^_^

P.S.: Isn't this a great thread or what? :up: ED!

[EvilDracy]

-.-

[EvilDracy]

ummmm.........*silence*

[Uzi]

Originally posted by InCreDiBLeRice



Anyway, check out my new thread, it's my latest drawing, took me over 4 hours to make, is that long???








Dunno, could be a nice idea for a new tread.. how long do you work on your drawings or something.. I honestly don't know how long I work on my pics, sometimes I think I worked about a hour on it, then I look at my watch and see that it took me 3 hours.. :p

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Well, It usually takes at least 4 hours to make a complete drawing, but if I'm really picky, it can take over a whole week, hehe.

There's not a real deadline for me yet, I just want to make sure I've put the best of me into a drawing :D.

[akai manji]

ya dracy your good but you should take your time, make rough copies and draw you pages big and the when you scan them, shring them so that everything is more detailed!!:cool: :D

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Aaah... The great resizing deception....

Gotta love it ^_^

[EvilDracy]

Ya really, *kicks her scanning program and her scanner* @.@

[Uzi]

Hi... I'm planning on making a manga too.. a year or something ago, I made a story, and I'm thinking of making a manga of it.. It's about a cute, normal girl, who gets a mission, to bring a ring to the ruler of the planet..(the story takes place on a planet, kila, it's ruled by 7 magical sister, they all have 1 piece of the planet to protect). to go to her, she meets all of the 7 sisters.. on her journey, she meets a guy named Villi, he's the last one of an evil race that once lived on the planet, they travel together, and the manga kinda tells the story of these two complete different people travelling.. it's crap I know, I'll scan some profiles of the main characters ^_^

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Hehe, naw, it's no crap IMHO, sounds like a great theme ^_^.

Two different character forced to live/travel with eachother.

Lots of fireworks in the beginning, a lot of comedy, but it can grow in something nice, and you as reader will be totally empathizing with those characters ^_^.

I'd love to see/hear some more of this.

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Yo, ppl, I know I've been saving this for a moment when I had enough time to write it down (which is not now :lol:), but I figure I can also tell it in parts, and maybe u peepz then can reflect on it :D.

This post has been devided into: concept, characters and main story line

Concept

I told something about the atmosphere of my comic. Take elements from Dark City (don't know wether or not you know this movie, it looks like the Matrix, but less spectacular, better acting and better actors :P. I lend from DC the dark and mysterious feel, the feeling of: "I know something's not right here..."), Ghost in the Shell (I lend only the setting from this anime. Huge Cyber city, looks like a big japanese city, could be something else :P. I won't explain exactly where the story will take place I think), Neon Genesis Evangelion (my characters' personalities will be very well explained, and how they are feeling is one of the most important aspects of my manga. Their emotions and their actions flowing from it will determine what will happen in the story, so yea, it's kinda important :lol:), and last but not least: Dragonball (The 3 most important characters are all masters in the martial arts, and possess psychotelepathic powers, as well as huge speed and strength. Did I also mention they can fly? I don't exactly know how I'll explain how they can do all this, I think I will keep this SEL-like vague, hehe).

Ok, that's the main concept.


Tell me what u think :D.

[Project Akira]

*goes to copyright everything you just posted in my name*

That's what I think. It is very easy to steal things nowadays, and if I were you, I would edit that post to the bare essentials so that this doesn't happen.

[KtHM]

I fear no thieves because you'd have to be an idiot to want to steal my comic. v_v Awwwww yeah, so bad.

Becoming Carri is about an unhappy girl, named Carri, who has everything working against her in life...

...her best friend Samantha, hacker and X-Files fanatic...

...her family, who seem to do everything in their power to drive her to madness...

... and her sometimes boyfriend, sometimes ex-boyfriend Trevor, slimeball extraordinaire.

It's also about heaven, hell, and the approaching apocolypse.

And don't forget Aerin, Carri's guardian demon.

In short, it's an anti-romantic apocolyptic comedy shoujo.

...those are the best kind.

[KtHM]

Aerin is so cute. Everyone thinks Aerin is more cute than Carri. Fools.

[EvilDracy]

great drawings KtHM. :D

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Originally posted by Project Akira
*goes to copyright everything you just posted in my name*

That's what I think. It is very easy to steal things nowadays, and if I were you, I would edit that post to the bare essentials so that this doesn't happen.

Grmbl... :mad: Should I really be careful of things like this? I hated to edit the post, but I just did.

Anyway, if you're thinking someone could think my story is 'steelable', that's a good thing :lol:

[InCreDiBLeRice]

* pokes this thread *

I finally designed my fourth character, I posted the image in the same topic as "Fumio Doi from Sugoi^2", on the 2nd page.

Now I'm working on the close-up of the face :D.

[Nairohe]

i just realized what KtHM is using for her avie... hides away in embarrassment*

anyhoo... if you wanna check out the mangas that I've worked on... they're not good or high quality but i'm still sorta happy to be able to keep em... I've worked on a few more like Princess Naomi, Jem and the (something) knights.... and uh... something similar to Magic Knight rayearth... well hey, i was a kid back then. My imagination wreaked havoc... blink blink*

http://www.nairohe.com/psycho/comic.html

well, comments, suggestions and stuff are deeply appreciated. Oh, and that one comic about Finaly Dynasty, it WAS NOT MEANT TO BE READ. The captions read like mistranslated english.... like a bad sub...

jumps and hides inside a dark dark well*

[KtHM]

Omas is sexy, Nair. And I've roped TM into helping me with Carri. YES!

[Project Akira]

Nairohe, I still have the same opinion of your comics, I can barely follow the panel action. Your panel to panel transitions need lots of work if you are going to keep doing comics.

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Well, I can follow along your comics, but it's confusing sometimes :confused:. It's a kewl style, but maybe you shouldn't use as much... how do u call it... drawings outside panels. It's just a suggestion.

Besides that, I think they're great, it helps me get îdeas ^_^. I like the site too, I even signed the GB :D.

[EvilDracy]

I'll have to agree about the comment on a bit confusing...but otherwise, kawaii! :D

[SamIam]

Originally posted by Nairohe
i just realized what KtHM is using for her avie... hides away in embarrassment*

anyhoo... if you wanna check out the mangas that I've worked on... they're not good or high quality but i'm still sorta happy to be able to keep em... I've worked on a few more like Princess Naomi, Jem and the (something) knights.... and uh... something similar to Magic Knight rayearth... well hey, i was a kid back then. My imagination wreaked havoc... blink blink*

http://www.nairohe.com/psycho/comic.html

well, comments, suggestions and stuff are deeply appreciated. Oh, and that one comic about Finaly Dynasty, it WAS NOT MEANT TO BE READ. The captions read like mistranslated english.... like a bad sub...

jumps and hides inside a dark dark well*

Nice work there... I think, if you wanted to, you could get published for profit. Your illustrations show a level of comfort and versatility that come with a good grasp of a your "universal constants"

... if anything, I would say that panel dynamics as the narrative element could use some tweaking ... IMO, the hardest part of doing a comic, is in the page/book layout... the artist is usually at odds with the boundarys of a (boring, yet readily comprendable) matrix of graphic panels.... the "art" is to find the balance between conventional symbols and the artists desire for unbridled creative flexibility.

SamIam

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by SamIam


Nice work there... I think, if you wanted to, you could get published for profit. Your illustrations show a level of comfort and versatility that come with a good grasp of a your "universal constants"

... if anything, I would say that panel dynamics as the narrative element could use some tweaking ... IMO, the hardest part of doing a comic, is in the page/book layout... the artist is usually at odds with the boundarys of a (boring, yet readily comprendable) matrix of graphic panels.... the "art" is to find the balance between conventional symbols and the artists desire for unbridled creative flexibility.

SamIam I'll argue the opposite. I feel that Nairohe would never be published by anyone with at least a minimal grasp of what makes comics truly work. Nairohe's work has a very stiff, unemotional feel to it. Everytime I look at her work I feel this sort of coldness to it. Nothing seems to jump out to me or come alive of the page. Her work seems very static something that is not good in the world of comics. Nairohe needs to look at more than just Japanese comics if she is going to really attempt to understand what she can do with the medium of comics. Having a love of the fine arts is nice but when it comes to comics you really need a basic understanding of storytelling to get anywhere as well as an energy that jumps off the page. Until she gets these, Nairohe won't get published.

And I'll also argue that comics isn't what you define it as. Comics is trying to find a balance between words and pictures so that one does not over power the other. Symbols and creative flexibility are nice but you can certainly make comics without them (as Nairohe has proven in her work). Making comics, in my opinion, is the same as trying to make a film. It's as Scott McCloud says in his book (which is where I think you stole your quote) Understanding Comics "Comics is a medium that is neither solely words nor pictures yet is both at the same time." That's what comics are. To me in order to understand comics, you not only have to understand fine art, graphic design, and creativity, but also literature, theater, and film. Comics encompasses the best of all of those things.

[EvilDracy]

I have only one word: harsh o.o *stays out of scene*

[Phantom Angel]

As ED, i choose not to take sides.

Here's what i have to say to both of you.


Nair: i really like your drawings.

Project Akira: since you're such a genius how about you show us some of your expert work so that we may marvel at all the things you do with comics.

Until I will see some of it, to be able to compare, I think that Nair's attempt at actually doing is something is better than nothing at all. And IMHO she is quite good and talented.

Thank you

*bows and leaves*

[TradeMark]

I'll argue the opposite. I feel that Nairohe would never be published by anyone with at least a minimal grasp of what makes comics truly work.
By this you couldn't possibly be refering to interest or art could you? Because from what I've seen, her work certainly has both those working for it.

Nairohe's work has a very stiff, unemotional feel to it. Everytime I look at her work I feel this sort of coldness to it. Nothing seems to jump out to me or come alive of the page. Her work seems very static something that is not good in the world of comics.
I disagree, the first time she showed me any of her work I was struck by the layout and placement of the characters and panel breaks, I found her free flowing layout easy to follow, a delight to the eye, and to hold my interest far more than the static work of more traditional artists. Advancement comes first from artists and people who test the boundaries of an art. Gee, thanks for supporting stagnation.

Nairohe needs to look at more than just Japanese comics if she is going to really attempt to understand what she can do with the medium of comics. Having a love of the fine arts is nice but when it comes to comics you really need a basic understanding of storytelling to get anywhere as well as an energy that jumps off the page. Until she gets these, Nairohe won't get published.
Story telling is indeed the most intergal part of a comic, just as it is any form of literature. I've seen maybe 4-5 of Nairs projects (hah, in fact she messaged me with her newest just as I started this post, freaky) and though short, they've all been something capturing interest. I think that her newest, which I'm hoping she's going to make nice and long and developed, as i like where its going.

And I'll also argue that comics isn't what you define it as. Comics is trying to find a balance between words and pictures so that one does not over power the other.
I disagree. A comic is a uniting of pictures and words to create a single entity. Why else use the benefits of both if not to combine them into a single message?

Symbols and creative flexibility are nice but you can certainly make comics without them (as Nairohe has proven in her work). Making comics, in my opinion, is the same as trying to make a film. It's as Scott McCloud says in his book (which is where I think you stole your quote) Understanding Comics "Comics is a medium that is neither solely words nor pictures yet is both at the same time." That's what comics are. To me in order to understand comics, you not only have to understand fine art, graphic design, and creativity, but also literature, theater, and film. Comics encompasses the best of all of those things.
Creating a comic is like a film, I agree. So is Drawing. Posing, characterization, angle, attire- all these aspects go into a picture. Being an artist means being experienced with all these aspects, and applying them to ones work is the key to being a good artist. I think Nair is well on her way at encompassing all these things in her work.

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Hehe, interesting discussion, no joke.

I'm at the process of creating my story and I am thinking about all the things discussed in the last few days. I agree with the opinion that a comic is like a film, but I disagree about the balance between words and pictures. I think it all depends on the comic, and whether or not dialogue is required in certain panels.

Wouldn't it be great to have a comic where not a word is be said, and it still can be totally understood?

And about Nair's art, I don't think it's cold and emotionless, I think it's quite the opposite. Nothing wrong with the story telling as well ;).

Hehe, now off this subject: I'm almost done designing my four most important characters, I'm gonna practise some dynamic shots now (made some sketches today), and maybe I'll try and make a rough sketch soon (just for kicks, it won't be even near the final work, just practising my panel-skills.)

It's gonna be an interesting new era for me :cool:

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by Phantom Angel
Project Akira: since you're such a genius how about you show us some of your expert work so that we may marvel at all the things you do with comics.

Until I will see some of it, to be able to compare, I think that Nair's attempt at actually doing is something is better than nothing at all. And IMHO she is quite good and talented.

Thank you

*bows and leaves* My stuff is only in the rough draft stage at the moment so I don't feel comfortable showing what I have.

TM, I advise that until you've done some serious studying of the comics artform (as I have done quite a bit) you just stick to philosophy. Trust me, I have more than a clue what I talk about here.

[KtHM]

This thread is getting vicious to I'm stepping in and doing something about it.

I love Nair's art. Her panel work flows well, I think, and don't tell ME that I haven't been studying comic art long enough. I think you know what my dinner parties consist of, dearie. Just a couple days ago I ended up in a heated debate about that old Muir Island saga from the late 60's and it's panel flow.

What I would like to see more in Nair's work is 'camera angle playing'. I know she can do it, but I don't think it's occured to her. Ever since Johnny I've looked for fascinating camera angles, so to speak, in comics. Nair, play with those, and I will worship you even more.

By the by, the "guns and cars" AB comic you did had me rolling. I like your 'strip' comics a lot, they remind me of the little quickies I see in my manga collections.

[TradeMark]

Originally posted by Project Akira
TM, I advise that until you've done some serious studying of the comics artform (as I have done quite a bit) you just stick to philosophy. Trust me, I have more than a clue what I talk about here.

Are you saying I haven't? I found simple fallicies in your argument that pertain to an assumption based on a single contributor, whom I find lacking. hah, some of us don't see the inventor of 'Zot!' as being the best source of information on a topic. Comics is not a 'standard' art, Jhonen is so popular because his stories and art broke from conventionality, not saying he was the first but he's a good example. Personally, I'd much rather look to the work of artist such as the Pini's and Vasquez for a guide, even then its not them who show me what I want to, or should put on paper, it's still the story and cinematic aspects I concern myself more with. Through that knowledge, I can easily contribute and refute.

[Project Akira]

I got bored and decided to defend my statesments. What I said earlier is in italics, TM's response is in bold.
I'll argue the opposite. I feel that Nairohe would never be published by anyone with at least a minimal grasp of what makes comics truly work.
By this you couldn't possibly be refering to interest or art could you? Because from what I've seen, her work certainly has both those working for it.
Sure there's an interest and she does have knowledge of fine arts but that's where it ends. Nairohe has gone to conventions and been shot down time after time, she's said so herself. Her work looks pretty (we'll call this presentation) but no storytelling elements (we'll call this craft). I find that Nairohe has trouble balancing presentation with craft. I won't argue that she has decent presentation skills when it comes to comics but when it comes to craft she cannot craft comics very well.

Nairohe's work has a very stiff, unemotional feel to it. Everytime I look at her work I feel this sort of coldness to it. Nothing seems to jump out to me or come alive of the page. Her work seems very static something that is not good in the world of comics.
I disagree, the first time she showed me any of her work I was struck by the layout and placement of the characters and panel breaks, I found her free flowing layout easy to follow, a delight to the eye, and to hold my interest far more than the static work of more traditional artists. Advancement comes first from artists and people who test the boundaries of an art. Gee, thanks for supporting stagnation.
One of my favorite comics Blade of the Immortal have some of the best and chaotic battle scenes I have ever scene. The page layouts are insane and at times seem difficult to follow, but they have a flow to them. They may not flow smoothly but they flow. I have nothing against new page designs and layouts or ones not used that often. One of my favorite cartoonists, Will Eisner, doesn't even use panel borders in his pages anymore. I wish more was done to experiment with them. However if you are going to experiment you still need to pay attention to how you craft your pages. Nairohe does not craft pages in a way that can be read by both an audience and herself.

Nairohe needs to look at more than just Japanese comics if she is going to really attempt to understand what she can do with the medium of comics. Having a love of the fine arts is nice but when it comes to comics you really need a basic understanding of storytelling to get anywhere as well as an energy that jumps off the page. Until she gets these, Nairohe won't get published.
Story telling is indeed the most intergal part of a comic, just as it is any form of literature. I've seen maybe 4-5 of Nairs projects (hah, in fact she messaged me with her newest just as I started this post, freaky) and though short, they've all been something capturing interest. I think that her newest, which I'm hoping she's going to make nice and long and developed, as i like where its going.
I'll be honest and admit that nothing I've read by Nair has really captuyred my interest and that maybe because we don't enjoy the same types of stories but the graphic novel Safe Area Gorazde was about a subject that I had not staked any interest in (the civil war in former Yugoslavia) and that work was able to hold my interest for the entire time I read it. The mark of a good cartoonist is to be able to capture an audience with whatever you have. Nairohe has failed to do this with the majority of her work for me.


And I'll also argue that comics isn't what you define it as. Comics is trying to find a balance between words and pictures so that one does not over power the other.
I disagree. A comic is a uniting of pictures and words to create a single entity. Why else use the benefits of both if not to combine them into a single message?
But how entertaining is a comic when you have to read an entire page of captions?

Symbols and creative flexibility are nice but you can certainly make comics without them (as Nairohe has proven in her work). Making comics, in my opinion, is the same as trying to make a film. It's as Scott McCloud says in his book (which is where I think you stole your quote) Understanding Comics "Comics is a medium that is neither solely words nor pictures yet is both at the same time." That's what comics are. To me in order to understand comics, you not only have to understand fine art, graphic design, and creativity, but also literature, theater, and film. Comics encompasses the best of all of those things.
Creating a comic is like a film, I agree. So is Drawing. Posing, characterization, angle, attire- all these aspects go into a picture. Being an artist means being experienced with all these aspects, and applying them to ones work is the key to being a good artist. I think Nair is well on her way at encompassing all these things in her work.Not exactly. Costumes yes, settings definitely, but like I said earlier, there is no life to her characters. They feel flat. The dialogue is dull and cheesy. If she is going to succeed her interests need to vary from what she is interested in at the moment.

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Originally posted by Project Akira
TM, I advise that until you've done some serious studying of the comics artform (as I have done quite a bit) you just stick to philosophy. Trust me, I have more than a clue what I talk about here. [/B]

I thought this thread was s'possed to be a friendly discussion on our ideas/work/comics etc. :lol:. AP, you're prolly quite skilled, but try and be careful when you're stepping on toes here. And ehm, you can criticize a lot, but can you give some tips as well?


To me in order to understand comics, you not only have to understand fine art, graphic design, and creativity, but also literature, theater, and film. Comics encompasses the best of all of those things.

Agreed ;). You need quite a lot of skills to create a good comic, not just being able to draw well. If you're raised with a lot of good books, comics, movies and stuff like that, it'll train your story telling skills, as well as give you lots of inspiration.

I agree with KthM about the camera angles, they really make the comic IMHO (I don't even consider drawing a panel before I visualized the events in my head like a movie, choosing the best angles which will provide the best info).

Ok, enough about that.

I know there are tutorials for drawing manga, creating CG and stuff like that...
Are there also tutorials on how to draw panels and comics? Hehe, never really found'em (too confidential? :P).

[EvilDracy]

This thread WAS supposed to be friendly discussion. >.o

Changing topics:

I'm afraid that I'm going into a state I wish not to happen until I've completed the rough of my comic. But, sadly, I am. I'm sinking into my "I don't feel like drawing my comic now, I'll continue tomorrow" state. It's horrible! This is EXACTLY the state I went into during my other comics and they never got finished. >.> What to do! What to do! I hate these states of sudden unexplainable boredom! :eek:

[Phantom Angel]

how about u draw ED? or take a one week break and then go back to it. it mite be best. i know i can't write all the time. hell knows pple beg me to write now and I just can't. take a break it mite be the best.


And i still like Nair's work. It's very good, adn very amazing. I'm sorry Project Akira, but until I see some proof of your greatness, all your theories weigh more than nothing. Where it's true that you might be a strong critic, I don't think that you have the right to critic everything, unless you put your time and work into creating a comic and everything. It's not easy.

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by InCreDiBLeRice

I thought this thread was s'possed to be a friendly discussion on our ideas/work/comics etc. :lol:. AP, you're prolly quite skilled, but try and be careful when you're stepping on toes here. And ehm, you can criticize a lot, but can you give some tips as well?THAT'S PA NOT AP, PROJECT AKIRA!!! :mad: Can't people get my name right >_<

Originally posted by InCreDiBLeRice

I agree with KthM about the camera angles, they really make the comic IMHO (I don't even consider drawing a panel before I visualized the events in my head like a movie, choosing the best angles which will provide the best info).

Ok, enough about that.

I know there are tutorials for drawing manga, creating CG and stuff like that...
Are there also tutorials on how to draw panels and comics? Hehe, never really found'em (too confidential? :P). I suggest going to a library or bookstore and picking up "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" by Stan Lee and the late John Buscema, "Understanding Comics; The Invisible Art" by Scott McCloud (this is the book that has given me many of my own ideas on comic making), and "Comics and Sequential Art" and "Graphic Storytelling" both by master cartoonist Will Eisner. Those should help you out ^_^

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by Phantom Angel
I'm sorry Project Akira, but until I see some proof of your greatness, all your theories weigh more than nothing. Where it's true that you might be a strong critic, I don't think that you have the right to critic everything, unless you put your time and work into creating a comic and everything. It's not easy. "You don't say" says the man working his ass off to get his first mini comic out the door.

[EvilDracy]

Guyss......please...this is supposed to be friendly chat between people who share the same interests. This isn't a "drill-your-faults-into-each-other-until-it-hurts" thread. So please...find some more appropriate topics. We're not grade 3's here. And I'm not taking sides so don't start getting mad at me or anything.

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by EvilDracy
Guyss......please...this is supposed to be friendly chat between people who share the same interests. This isn't a "drill-your-faults-into-each-other-until-it-hurts" thread. So please...find some more appropriate topics. We're not grade 3's here. And I'm not taking sides so don't start getting mad at me or anything. Sorry ^_^;;;;

All I will say is that my comic involves male homosexual gladiators engaging in combat against each other as well as against killer robots. And yes I'm in the process of copyrighting this so don't steal the idea.

[Nairohe]

Since when did i ever sell my art in convention? The only anime convention I've ever in was AX 2001? blink blink*

And yes, my artwork has been sold, distributed, published... but mostly in the Philippines. I'm a little known artist whose artwork is either displayed in the background of TV shows, government officials and some known people back in the philippines. I was nominated for the Music Arts Center Spotlight awards and they even used my artwork for their CD cover.

yes, nothing major really and these aren't even arts related to anime or comic but they do show I have knowledge of camera angles, skills, craft and even content. I guess I never mentioned that the comics i have posted up are experimental work. I'm not really proud of them but its nice to be able to see how much I've improved throughout the years.

I must be doing something "right" in order to get this much of a criticizm wouldn't you think? AND for a 13 year old peices, those are pretty well done and beyond my years, they're probably the BEST i've ever done for my whole career. I'm not really focused in comics in general but in costume design though its something I have an interest on and something I like to play around with. For anyone who has been following me around, my style has ranged from landscapes, to portraits, to abstract, to impressionist, but no... you don't really know that and i never really show them.

(((haha... i dont have much confidence with myself and much of my art is either stolen from me or brought or given away as a present. Yet they're mine and I have some desire to show them to people. Opinions good or bad benefit me and the fact that you're criticizing me is a benefit to me. It's not going to shoot me down. I think you're only doing this because I declined to let you promote your company here on the forum I still do because I dont think you're giving me enough reliable information and sources. It's pretty obvious that you display a great deal of knowledge about comics but that doesn't impress me. )))

Anyhoo, back on topic. Comic is just an artform and it shouldn't have rules saying you should draw or arrange text such and such... As an infamous webcomic artist Shari states from 'sketch of love...'

http://www.survivebadblood.com/sol/comics/004/index.cgi?date=20001207


http://www.survivebadblood.com/sol/comics/004/20001207.jpg



You shouldn't limit yourself to 'rules' that were established. Art is EVERYTHING. Those rules that you know of were simply there in order for people who dont have prior knowledge, or weren't born with that gift to follow guidelines to help them understand concepts like anatomy, shadows, content, meaning, etc...

I'm not a kickass artist. In fact, majority of my artwork is merely sketch after sketch after sketch of experimentation and studies. I have a handful of finished artwork I don't even agree with. I don't try to be pretentious with my art. I simply try to capture the images stuck in my head and hope my hands can put them into words or images that I can share to the world. Not that many people have that gift and I'm grateful to have it even though I usually keep it to myself.

I can tell that my artform isn't as polished or meaningful as a professional artist though it has some potential. I can push it further but I just dont have enough time to devote myself in perfecting it at this time... haha... yeah, i need to work on something and doodle.

Ps.

wORSHIP SHARI. SHARI ROCKS. GO TO SHARI'S WEBSITE AND READ HER COMICS. SHARI ROCKS. WORSHIP SHARI. WORSHIP HER NOW. DO IT. DO IT NOW.

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by Nairohe
haha... i dont have much confidence with myself and much of my art is either stolen from me or brought or given away as a present. Yet they're mine and I have some desire to show them to people. Opinions good or bad benefit me and the fact that you're criticizing me is a benefit to me. It's not going to shoot me down. I think you're only doing this because I declined to let you promote your company here on the forum I still do because I dont think you're giving me enough reliable information and sources. It's pretty obvious that you display a great deal of knowledge about comics but that doesn't impress me. Yes that's exactly it. Nairohe, you've completely figured me out! It can't be because I actually have an opinion. No that would not be self centered enough for my selfish purposes in life! And you figured out that I was trying to impress you with my vast amount of knowledge in comics and comics art!!! Now if you'll excuse me I have to completely throw AB completely off course as you think I am set out to do!!! *laughs maniacally and twirls my moustache*

Ok that was my sarcastic response here is my serious one. Seriously though, I really have never been that big of a fan of your work. It looks pretty and your flair for costume design and such is very apparent. I was just stating all that knowledge to back facts up, I'm not trying to impress anyone here, just asserting that I might have a clue what I'm talking about.

But I'll argue endlessly on form and content if you want that. I'm always up for a good discussion on comics form and storytelling. Anytime you're ready ^_^

By the way I don't need to promote my company here or recruit anymore. The Cruel Angel's Thesis and I are doing quite alright by ourselves. Besides we're setting everything up at the moment and more people would get in our way ^_^;;;

Though pin-ups are always welcome!!!

PS

WORSHIP MATT WAGNER. MATT ROCKS. GO TO MATT'S WEBSITE (www.mattwagnercomics.com) AND READ HIS COMICS (WHENEVER HIS WORK COMES OUT). MATT ROCKS. WORSHIP MATT. WORSHIP HIM NOW. DO IT. DO IT NOW.

[Nairohe]

The fact that you assumed that i've sold artwork in conventions is why I don't trust you Project Akira. I'm still not going to support your company. I've never even gotten close to selling 'anime' artwork. It has always been traditional paintings. Yeah, i like posting my crap art. I don't draw to please, I draw to please myself.

[Project Akira]

Getting back on topic here....

I say that this thread be turned into where mini-comics and webcomics by self and friends be advertised here. Just a thought ^_^;;;

[Nairohe]

Originally posted by Project Akira
Getting back on topic here....

I say that this thread be turned into where mini-comics and webcomics by self and friends be advertised here. Just a thought ^_^;;;

You're a really good critic and quite an artist yourself so let's have other people see how good you really are.

http://animeboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26376

http://animeboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25231

http://animeboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25221

Those are quite a few of PA's works. I haven't really seen any of the hitomi comics but hopefully he posts it around here sometime soon.

[EvilDracy]

It's good to see we're all managing to get along. >.> Well, I'll keep dropping by from time to time to make sure no one is beating each other up. >.<

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by Nairohe
You're a really good critic and quite an artist yourself so let's have other people see how good you really are.

http://animeboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26376

http://animeboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25231

http://animeboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25221

Those are quite a few of PA's works. I haven't really seen any of the hitomi comics but hopefully he posts it around here sometime soon. Thank you for the compliment. To be honest, I did that crap months ago and don't really work in those styles anymore. I find the anime style to be limiting and I've been working hard to develop my own style. Still any criticism on those works is fine by me.

By the way, the Hitomi thing I ditched when I realized that I was ripping off too many ideas. I'm working on something that's mostly my own at the moment. When I get it to a point that I would show that public, I will. Right now though, the roughs look like stuff by a two year old.

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Hehe, nice to see this thread is more at ease now :D.

PA, I'm really interested to see any art you made recently, can't you post something? ;). And thanks for the book info, I'll try and find those books, but I don't think I'll find them in my library, cuz I live nowhere near the US (* points at 'location' just above post number)

Hey hey, I'm glad cuz I just finished all my main character design sketches ^_^. I can finally work on something else :D.

Anyway, plz take a look at this thread, it's my latest drawing: http://animeboards.com/t36758/s.html.

The general expression of this character is that you don't like him ^_^. He's suppossed to have this evil, bored and arrogant look on his face, and he also looks very capable, and in a bit very devoted. I hope some of that is noticable, I worked so hard to get it right :lol:.

Anyway, another thing I'd wanna ask y'all...
Are your ideas entirely yours, or do you sometimes get this 'light-bulb'-moment cuz of what someone says? This might only happen to me cuz I'm still in my 'creating a story'-phase, but I see an idea everywhere, it really messed up my daily observing :cool:.

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by InCreDiBLeRice
Anyway, another thing I'd wanna ask y'all...
Are your ideas entirely yours, or do you sometimes get this 'light-bulb'-moment cuz of what someone says? This might only happen to me cuz I'm still in my 'creating a story'-phase, but I see an idea everywhere, it really messed up my daily observing :cool:. Well to be honest, the story I'm currently working was at first intended solely as my way of showing Matt Wagner that I was the right guy to finish a comic he started a decade ago called "The Aerialist" about an imaginary world where the majority of people are homosexual and there is some kind of tv show where guys beat each other up. I started doing something along those lines until I went off in a direction that I began to get more comfortable with. The ball has since kept on rolling ^_^

[EvilDracy]

Hmm...I recently did a sketch during math class cuz I was bored...it's of my RPG character from the Kudana RPG in Open Misc. She has the same name as the character of my manga (Junokai), but, she's totally different....anyone wanna see it? I'll even scan the portion on the top where I first did a body layout so I could get the body position right...since the position I drew her in isn't one I use very often. I'll have to scan it later though, must do math homework right now.

[KtHM]

Y'know, I have no idea where the Carri story came from. Wait, yes I do. It's like my high school experience. With the apocolypse.

Because EVERYTHING is better with the apocolypse!!

[EvilDracy]

Y'know, I have no idea where the Carri story came from. Wait, yes I do. It's like my high school experience. With the apocolypse.

lol. Hehehehe. That's actually very interesting and VERY scary >.>

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Originally posted by EvilDracy
Hmm...I recently did a sketch during math class cuz I was bored...it's of my RPG character from the Kudana RPG in Open Misc. She has the same name as the character of my manga (Junokai), but, she's totally different....anyone wanna see it? I'll even scan the portion on the top where I first did a body layout so I could get the body position right...since the position I drew her in isn't one I use very often. I'll have to scan it later though, must do math homework right now.

Hehe, I'd love to see those drawings, plz scan them ^_^.

And eh, KthM, your Carri sounds really kewl, can u elaborate (within certain extent, you don't want anyone stealing your idea :lol: )?

[KtHM]

Um... Carri is a high school student with a friend who is obsessed with conspiracy theories. Her family hates her, her mother is frighteningly abusive, and she really doesn't like herself very much. Typical teenager bs.

She has a mental breakdown, a nervous snap. When she comes around, there's Aerin, who claims to be her "Guardian Demon".

Then there's this guy.

Then there's the end of the world.

Yeah, that about covers it.

[akai manji]

hey! a little manga charactor sketch
what do u guys think???????

[akai manji]

i think im gonna chainge the hair...

[InCreDiBLeRice]

akai manji:

Looks nice, she looks like a bit shy but kawaii girl, am I correct? Good drawing too, although it's a bit vague, you should make some lines thicker.

Could u tell us something about this character?

And KthM: sounds like a great concept for a story, just your average teenager, and the end of the world, ppl could really empthatize with the characters if it's brought nicely :up:

[akai manji]

yup shes not a main chara, shes a friend of the main charactor, who im not shure of yet. the main chara i also think is a girl. I think it will be sortof a reel life sorta manga, but i don't know quite where its goin right now... im lost:( *sniff*

[EvilDracy]

*hands akai mangi a tissue* Awww.... >.>

[KtHM]

This is a teaser sketch for Becoming Carri.

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Hehe, don't forget about the demon ~_~

[EvilDracy]

Kiva: Waiii! nice pic!! ^^

[MS06JZaku]

Manga, comic, same thing to me basically. Yeah, I plan on doing one once I have the funds to do it, characters are go, but no concrete stroy line, oh well.

[EvilDracy]

Well, you seem a lot closer to publication than me. Hehehehe.

[Project Akira]

I'm closer than he is. I have a small business planning in the making, a partner to start my business with at the moment, and a commitment to promoting my ass off. To me having a game plan is the best bet to get anything going in today's comic industry. Otherwise, you'll just end up like many other self publishers who have fallen simply so they could make a cheap buck.

[EvilDracy]

Ok...so you're ALL closer than me...>.>

[Project Akira]

Yes we all are. In fact we have turned this very thread into one dedicated to showing how much closer to making our comics we are than you are. *points and laughs at EvilDracy*

[akai manji]

*manji hands dracy a tisue*
just returning the favour :)

[EvilDracy]

*cries and takes the tissue from manji*

[KtHM]

I'm lucky to have Tommy poking me along. I drag my heels about stuff like this. It's like, if it were up to me I'd only do the comic for just me and maybe a few select friends. Tommy has other ideas it would seem. ¬_¬ Hah well.

I guess I'm lucky to have a friend who will push me along to do these sort of things. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go bash my head against that wall.

[InCreDiBLeRice]

* pokes this thread alive

I have a question for those who obviously know more about comics and publishing than me ~_~.

Imagine: I have my characters, my comic's name, I know the main storyline, and I know I wanna make a real comic out of it, release it, and hoping that a lot of ppl wil eventually read it.

How should I pursue? Should I call cousin vinnie? -_-
Things like copyrighting, finding partners, sponsors and finding a publisher caught my attention.

I was thinking of quietly drawing my manga without any help, taking all the time I need (I'm only planning to create one manga in my entire life, which will be perfect of corz :p), and then finding the means necessary for publishing.

Good idea? Bad idea?
Anyone?

Hehe

[EvilDracy]

*helps incredible rice poke the thread*

I can't help you on that one, obviously. I feel so detached from the publishing world. >.>

*listens to scary songs on her Lord of the Rings soundtrack*

*dun dun dunnnn!*

[EvilDracy]

*just about chokes to death*
WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED TO MY WEBSITE!?!?!?!
*screams in agony*
All that work I put into it! It's gone! Well....not really, my account is still there, but all my html files....sabotaged.......I don't know how......well.....I think someone must have screwed with them, cuz there's no other way that the extent of my damage could have been done by a simple error....my website....it used to be quite nice for someone who hardly knows html.......but all my pages....they all are screwed and different....my images (thank goodness) are all still in my directory, but none show up on any of the pages I put them on....this is not good....not good at all.... Oh damn it....why has this happened.....oh well, perhaps it was for the better, I was gonna discontiue my site anyway....but I still needed the text information, but all that is gone....practically.....hmm..I'm gonna check how badly my html has been changed..... *shoots whoever destroyed her website*

[EvilDracy]

Waiiiit a minute.....I just clicked on my "edit page" option....and when in edit option, my page shows up perfectly normal.....but when I actually go there, it's screwed.....hmmm......something's weird about this.....

[EvilDracy]

Ok.......I've figured out the problem...>.>
No one messed with my files...
but...
The strange thing is, the old address that I used to redirect people to my new site....the URL doesn't seem to work....so I changed the URL in my profile that takes people directly to the new site......all the url's now have a double slash: // at the last part, and I don't know why, but those got changed for some odd reason....hmmm.....oh well. the problem's fixed.....and I feel very much relieved indeed. But before I solved the problem, i was almost having a heart attack....>.o

:eek:

[InCreDiBLeRice]

Hehe, glad it's solved ED ^_^.

Websites can be a pain :P. But ehm, don't you keep a complete backup of your site on your pc? If not, you should, hosts aren't that reliable, unless you pay for it.

Anywayz, what's the URL? :D

[Yui_Reborn]

Well, here I am. You just had to know that miss-constant-manga-in-progress was going to drop in sooner or later. Good luck to everyone on all stages of 'production', It's never too early to start and never too late to give it a go. Or something.

Mind if I butt in with a technical question though? What SIZE are you all drawing your manga on? I would tend to assume that it's an 8.5X11 copy paper (Maybe not PA, are you doing 11X17 Bristol???) I have a bunch of pages drawn on copy paper, but lately I've been realizing that I can't get the detail I want on such small sheets of paper. Plus, I draw with the side of my hand on the paper (I'm right-handed but I have a left-handed slant. It's weird), and it tends to get really muddy at that size with my smearing it, and erasing the smudges becomes a problem because the art is so small!

I thought I might switch to the 11X17 format because I can draw with more detail and it will probably be less messy, but then it's completely un-portable. Most of my best drawings are done between classes lately, I can rarely concentrate at home.....probably because my comp takes up my whole desk and I have to draw on the floor :mad:

Also, 11X17 takes a REALLY long time to draw, and scanning becomes a nightmare. I'd probably have to pay to reduce them on a copy machine to 8X11 so the pages will fit in my scanning bed. I absolutey abhore that 'stitch' feature, the pieces never line up!

Then again, my plan is to have a webcomic, and if it's a web comic than it almost doesn't matter how it gets to the digital file so long as it gets there. I can mock up the pages in Photoshop, draw each panel on an individual piece of paper, and fit the drawings together on the computer. That does seem like it would make me less of a 'real' comic artist though, and it would screw things up royally if I ever changed my mind and wanted to print it.

Gah, too many choices. Otherwise, things are going pretty well. I was having a lot of problems drawing the male characters in my comic, so I'm taking some time now to practice drawing anatomy, and refreshing on hands and feet. I'm also trying to figure out the right balance between how much detail to put in the backgrounds and saving time (backgrounds are by far the most time-consuming element for me, because I had to be a jackass and create my own city for this comic.) Finally, I have a fair amount of script (I have about a thousand pages of comic in my brain if not all on paper), but I don't know if I want to be a slave to words on a page; some of the best story decisions are spur-of-the-moment. Also, I really like the story arc I have in mind, but I don't know exactly where my comic is going in general....it was originally supposed to be a fun-loving spy-espionage-cyberpunk kind of thing, until I suddenly grew up a year ago and it's become realistic. Now, there seems to be a hollowness to it until I figure out WHY I've created all these characters and what the whole purpose of this exercise is.

So that's where I am now in my comic, maybe one of these days I'll post some of my pages that I've done so far (although I'm doing them all over because they suck....naturally......) Unfortunately, for all the thought, research and drawings I've put into this, I'm not really any farther ahead than those of you in high school who are just starting out. Until I have an issue or two under my belt, it's all just a big thought experiment, isn't it????

[KtHM]

Okie-dokie, time for Kiva to give what advice she can.

Digital Fun Time

I draw panels individually these days, but since I can't get a good idea of the 'flow' of the panels when I do this I also do layout. This is the fun, sketchy, no-work bs that's to scale (8.5 x 11 or whatever) and basically just shows what's happening in your panels. Then you want to measure the single panel, double that, and draw the panel double size on a seperate sheet of paper.

What you do next is largely up to you. I usually scan, mouse-ink at double the size (this is four times the size of what the actual panel will be when it's done) color and then shrink.

Sounds complicated? This is actually the simple version. Once upon a time, there was no scanner. Boo no scanner.

Story Arcs and the High School Mentality

I know exactly what you mean. Carri started my Freshman year of highschool and it has changed drastically in the five years I've been trying to get it ready. The entire story has changed from something light and fluffy to something that's almost sort of dark. There's still comedy, of course, because I believe that you can't have a good comic if you focus too much on the dark or the light. You need a good balance of elements in my opinion, and believable characters who people can relate to. Trust me when I say that you can probably salvage your original story and most the original characters personalities. However, you might just want to scrap some of them and start off with things you know you'll like. There is always the chance to adapt, but in some cases people find it hard to relate to the character's they're adapting at all, and then adapting them becomes near impossible. If this is the issue, start from scratch with that character. Hey, nothing is down in ink... yet. And with layers and digital inking, nothing is EVER down in ink and can be constantly changed. I love you Photoshop.

Wacky fun spy-espionage stuff can be a trip, totally fun to do. Just remember, delicate satire makes it all the more sweet. And what better genre to lampoon than the one that spawned 007 and Mission Impossible? My God, it begs for gentle ribbing.

However, it also begs for those serious moments that make a comic memorable.

Closing Notes

It doesn't matter when you start, it's more important how serious you are about it. And it sounds to me like you've got drive enough to pull it off. Post sketchies of comic? Come on, I put up Shitticus Earlicus Sketchicus, or lame Carri sketches before the dem thing is finished. You can too!

[Yui_Reborn]

Thanks KtHM. A lot of what you said about having to re-invent your characters as you yourself change is absolutely true.....another big problem is that I now have so MANY characters, and when the story got more realistic they became too much alike. But I'm working on it.

I will post a few of my pages methinks, my regular computer is going back online tonight (assuming everything works out) where I have all my files. I should be able to post them soon ^_^

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by Yui_Reborn
Mind if I butt in with a technical question though? What SIZE are you all drawing your manga on? I would tend to assume that it's an 8.5X11 copy paper (Maybe not PA, are you doing 11X17 Bristol???) I have a bunch of pages drawn on copy paper, but lately I've been realizing that I can't get the detail I want on such small sheets of paper. Plus, I draw with the side of my hand on the paper (I'm right-handed but I have a left-handed slant. It's weird), and it tends to get really muddy at that size with my smearing it, and erasing the smudges becomes a problem because the art is so small!

Also, 11X17 takes a REALLY long time to draw, and scanning becomes a nightmare. I'd probably have to pay to reduce them on a copy machine to 8X11 so the pages will fit in my scanning bed. I absolutey abhore that 'stitch' feature, the pieces never line up!I go with both 8.5x11 cardstock and 11x17 bristol. Whatever I feel best suits the story, I go with that size. In regards to reduction, I suggest seeing if you can get some time in at your mom or dad's office and use their copiers since they have nice copiers at offices ^_^

[Kimmychan91]

I've been thinking of making my own anime series. I've got sketch of the main character...but i just need to adjust the JPG compression. :( He was orignally for an art project. ;P I just need to get the storyline in order and I'll post some of it here.