I got a promotional email from Zuda right before I headed off to the great northwest. Something about the email got me thinking...
Ed's tale would be perfect for Zuda (well, at least I think it would be). But I'd want to re-do it. The sketch style takes too long, & the "moneyshot" format never sat well with me. So I worked up some character sketches, & thought of a different way to visually approach Ed & his cast of supporting characters. I even came up with a whole new character (as you can see from the concept work). You'll like her... or you won't, but she will play a large part in the revised tale (should Zuda bite).
I'm not a fan of the dot gray tones either. But i think this could work, i like this character a lot. Hope you do something new soon man, keep up the great work.
I think your original style...had more of that kinetic energy...the pages actually looked like they moved or shook with your style line work. These come across..as it's been said before by Midge...to cartoony. Cool characters. And you know I'm a fan of Eds. Jim
Hmm, the sketches interest me. The new character as well. I believe it could work, I definetely loved the cross-hatching skills but this looks quite amazing too :) I say you give it the good ol' college try.
I am torn, Chip.
I loved the feel of the hatching and what that had to communicate with the story of ed.
I like these designs but I wonder if they feel too cartoony, especially with the dot gray tones (I don't know the word)...remeniscent to a comic strip of sorts.
But thats my opinion.
I wish the best to you in however it shakes out for you.
I really dig this art style. Reminds me of some of the cooler stuff I'd seen back in the mid-90s when I was struggling in the independent comics scene. It's almost like Reynaldo's Rob Hanes stuff, but dirtier. Which is cool.
Where in the northwest did you spend Christmas? I used to live up there. It's a nice place.
Yeah, T, I liked the crosshaching style as well. At first I thought it'd take less time to do a page that way, but quickly found otherwise. I'm hoping this new approach will help me make Ed's story even darker while allowing me to render a page in 5 hours or less.
I haven't cared for Zuda's offerings either, DAJB. Too... I don't know, tame? They say they accept "R" rated books, but my concern is that that'll narrow the number of people who can view & vote for Dead enough to ruin my chances of winning the contest. I thought about PG-13ing the book, but couldn't come up with a way to do that that would keep the integrity of the concept. We'll see.
I don't truat anyone in this fucked up industry either, Harry. It's sad that I love the medium so much. My hope is that I can earn some money doing what I love AND get my wife off my case about doing it. I'm not redoing TS or BT, so that left Dead. I'm not all that optimistic, but I definately won't succeed if I don't try.
dv, I really appreciate your dedication to my work. You're a true fan.
i would be glad to see ed´s tale goin on !
and i like the new style .. ok the old one looked dirtyer but this one looks fine as well!
i think you could even draw in ms paint and it would be fine ... its your storywriting that keeps us in the ban of your comics!
Good luck with that, the art looks great and appears, to me, as yet another distinctive style. I did my QnA series of stories in a format for submission to Zuda but decided not to submit. Make sure you're clear on your copyrights and such if you get accepted. I've been on my own so long I no longer trust anyone!
I must be honest, I've not visited any of the Zuda comics since the first couple went live but I wonder if Dead might not be too 18-certificate for them?
Oh, well, you've nothing to lose by trying and the character sketches here certainly look cool!
I think this style will work. The crosshatching style gave a very "dirty" look to the series, but as you said, it makes it harder to draw. This retains some of that (and I'm sure you can make the world look dingy and cluttered without all the crosshatching) but makes it a bit cleaner for you to work with. I hope they bite.
