The Purple Pioneer Page 7

The Purple Pioneer and all characters therein are Copyright © 2026 Jason B Theobald.

The Purple Pioneer Page 6

The Purple Pioneer and all characters therein are Copyright © 2026 Jason B Theobald.

The Purple Pioneer Page 5

The Purple Pioneer and all characters therein are Copyright © 2026 Jason B Theobald.

The Purple Pioneer - Pages 3 & 4

More pages!

The Purple Pioneer and all characters therein are Copyright © 2026 Jason B Theobald.

Introducing The Purple Pioneer

I’ve decided to post the comic magazine that I’ve been working on for a couple years now, a page at a time (give or take). The book is called The Purple Pioneer: the story of a young man, learning to be a hero, throughout the turbulent times of twentieth century America.

Everything is written, drawn, and lettered by me. These are raw scans of the original art. Enjoy! Please, if you are so inclined to comment or reach out to me to talk, please do.

The Purple Pioneer and all characters therein are Copyright © 2026 Jason B Theobald.

I'm a bit embarrassed

So, I'm a bit embarrassed. I remember reading a blog of a published comic artist recently who stated that many, many aspiring comic book creators tend to think of themselves as destined to become a creator and become successful because it is ordained in the stars. I was thinking that, "Holy crap, that's me".

I try very hard to be down-to-earth and realistic in my overall life expectations. Comic books and I have had an odd relationship over thirty years, and there was a time where that relationship was damaging my prospects and ability to get a good paying job. For years, I thought that's what I wanted: draw comics and become successful. Honestly, it's a very childish, immature outlook, at best, and the chances of it happening to my expectations are little to nil. Brutally honest.

That said, this recent episode of depression that resulted from just ONE person not acknowledging my creative pursuit has sent me to a literal artistic mental roadblock. I haven't drawn very much, at all, since that all went down. I've been stuck on the same page of art since then.

I think I have to accept the fact that this whole comic book endeavor will always be a hobby for me. From what I have read, being an artist of any kind is a real grind and can be long hours, and if you are not in love with the concept of drawing A LOT and the more than likely possibility of making very little to no money doing it is not for me. I've always been fantastic about keeping my personal and work lives separate. When I clock out, work for the day is done. I get my salary, pay my bills and move on to the next month. And the next. And the next. That simplicity and repetition is important to me and gives me peace.

I think I will always have the tendency to believe that to be happy is to be a comic book creator. I've thought that way for so long, that to not think that way disrupts my rhythm. Maybe I'm always meant to kind of feel unfulfilled in this regard, if it means that I will always have a roof over my head and a steady salary. Maybe it's my own personal tragedy that has become so much a part of my life, that letting it go just leaves me feeling emptier than I should feel. Like, the thought itself is enough. Otherwise, it just consumes my whole being and I feel stressed and anxious and short of time.

One day, I'll be an empty nester, retired, with looking for something to do to occupy my time in-between all the cruises, television show binging, and babysitting that I'll likely be living at that moment in my life. Maybe that is ultimately where my comic creator-ness will live. Or not.

And I think I just have to be okay with that, either way, otherwise that daily stress of doing it nowadays, with my "plate" so full as it is, that it is ruining my present through either anticipating a possible future, or regretting days past. There are only so many hours in a day; and I don't know if I am being fair to myself forcing something like creating a comic book, opposed to watching television with my family, or enjoying my comic book collection, or raising my children (not necessarily in that order haha).

Well, that's how I feel today; and I think that is okay. Organically, we'll see if I get back into it, but I just can't stress about it anymore. It's not fair to me.

That all said...

Another thought:

If you haven't read my last post from Nov 3, might I recommend that you read that over, as this post will make more sense if you do.

Even if this "love of comics" is nothing more than a grab at reliving my younger days, which, as a result, releases that much needed dopamine jolt I crave at times; even if I create comics for no one other than myself, in an effort to prove to myself that perhaps I just want to do it for me; even if I tell myself to just get over it and live my life, do it for fun, or don't.... no one cares. THAT SAID, why SHOULDN'T I publish it and just see what happens? Can't I do both? Can't I just override that sense of approval of others, and push this artwork out to the world and just let it be what it is?

When it's out in the world, it's out of my hands; but, I can say I did that. As a father, I can show my two boys that I did that. Even if the world, being full of naysayers and people trying to force you into a role, is telling you to just let "it" be and accept what "it" is, isn't it worth just publishing my comic book and giving it a shot?

This is the crossroad that baffles me: one road is full of "why bothers", "do your job as a provider so you can feed your family and keep a roof over their heads", do the husband and father thing, and a crowd of people too concerned about their own lives to really care or acknowledge what you're doing with yourself. The other road is the one leading to a better version of myself, fulfilling goals, taking care of my well-being, embracing my roll as a father and husband, but also remembering that I am an individual with his own wants and needs. That intersection is a jumble of excuses, dreams, demands, time, talent, and confusion; and my kids asking for more Robux haha.

Perhaps I am experiencing a fight or flight response and just doing the easy thing; keep on my path and don't rock the boat, so I can survive. Just give up, enjoy my hobby for what it is, and continue on my path for another 15ish years until I can finally retire from full-time employment. My wife would tell me it'll more likely be 20 years. I've always been overly optimistic.

Am I trying to force happiness? I am content (for the most part; being a middle-aged, Generation X man in American is great, but our economy, with AI taking over white-collar jobs, income inequality, and goods and services generally being too expensive, is a bit stressful), but is that all there is? Sit down, shut up, and do what you're supposed to do. Is that the most I can hope for? Isn't there something more that I can strive for? I am not delusional, even though my mind plays and thinks of the most best case thing in the world as it relates to being a comic book creator; more than likely, this will garner me no money, will not be a huge success, and, if I'm lucky, a few people will notice me.

... but, isn't it worth a shot? The process of making the comic book would be fun for me; and doesn't that, in and of itself, mean that it's a hobby that brings me joy? I think I just came around full circle haha

See you....

Something on my mind...

I've something on my mind, and thought maybe writing it out will help me sort it out.

One of the obstacles I've always had difficultly overcoming is the need of feeling wanted and of approval, often at the whims of someone else. I am aware of it, but it always seems to crawl back into my life somehow. Recently, I messaged someone important to me that I am working on a comic book and might publish it; the lack of acknowledgement and response in general threw me for a loop and drove me into a depressive state. It was an eye-opening experience and made me question why I'm even looking to self-publish in the first place.

There are really two parts of the equation here, the first being why I enjoy comics and art so much, and why they are so intertwined to me. It's interesting to examine, as I know how to "art" but I've little interest in any of it unless it's comic book character related; especially, if it is related to finishing a comic book project. When I took time away from comic books, I effectively walked away from all art, in general. I stopped drawing, stopped referring to myself as an artist (I would often go out of my way to tell myself and others that "I am not an artist, anymore"). When I let myself get back into it, very slowly, it started with a couple Batman graphic novels I bought used, then, after about a year, I got myself a nice drafting table (free off FB Marketplace, thank you very much), bought the proper bristol board paper, dug out all of my (really old) art supplies, started buying Microns again, and off I went. Gosh, the first few comic sequential pages I did were not great, but I told myself to trust the process and just keep going. Which worked. But it begs the question of 'why' I enjoy it so much, and feel the need to turn it into something. Which leads me to the second part of the equation...

... other people's approval. Picture this: my book hits the comic book landscape slowly, but word gets out; eventually, I'm contacted by a larger publisher asking if I'm interested in any paying work from them. I do that, gain more fanbase, and on the sidelines continue my self-published book, when I can. Eventually, the book begins to sell well enough to support my family, and people know my name. I shake hands with all of my favorite artists and they all know my name. I am at a table at a large comic convention and the line to meet me is fifty or sixty people deep. In twenty years I'm considered a force in the comic industry and people want to still know me.

No wonder I gave up on comics and art; seriously. Why do I even do this, anyway?

What is really telling is that I imagine all of my old friends from school cheer for me, and want to join me in my comic adventures and its amazing. We start our own comic book business, and we're like Image 2.0. This is my mind. It wonders to the fantastical and, while I tell myself, it could happen, and I guess, yeah, it could, but I am not a young buck anymore. I am on the highway to fifty years old here, and perhaps I need to re-examine why I enjoy doing this at the core, opposed to trying to make a buck or two. I've already a good job, have a house, two kids, pets, two paid-off cars, married, I'm investing my money. Why the need to go into comics to become something when I'm already doing "something"?

If I'm lucky, I've got at least 30 years left on this Earth; I've dreamed of being a comic book artist since I was 13. I like myself better as an active artist, drawing my comic, rather than not. Do I really need to do something with it? Do I need to be a "pro"? Does it need to be commercialized? Can't I just do this for me, exclusively? Do I really have to show other people in order to validate myself?

When I quit drawing and gave up on comics, it was after a brief critique that I got from an independent comic book creator, that who honestly I don't even remember too much about. I just remember his critique was brutal, like work at it eight hours a day, re-learn everything, and this was like after five years of art school. I've since learned that not everyone is going to like your work, which is part of the "game"; but if one critique just "killed" me, doing this comic book now, as a much older man, will it just "kill" me again if certain people tell me what I don't want to hear?

I guess I'm afraid; I don't WANT to stop reading or drawing comics, but I can't seem to get over the need to SHOW some kind of finished product for other people's approval and the potential of making money doing it.

I also wonder if this is all just another dopamine grab or escapism to nourish years gone by, and relive my pre-responsibility younger days and just bask in the warmness of my childhood hobbies. Because THAT is a thing. If that's all this is, then perhaps I am just overthinking everything and I need to just enjoy the experience for myself and live in the moment. And don't confuse it as a means for a professional, money-making opportunity.

It's something to think about. More to come...

Getting closer....

Time flies. It's hard to believe it has been nine months since I last updated this blog. A couple things:

I've just ten more pages of art to go before my comic book is done; well, the drawing part anyway. I decided I'll likely color it, and I have to prep the book itself for layout, but, for me, it's quite an achievement. I do my own hand lettering, too, so that's also completed as I go. I'm thinking it's going to go onto Kickstarter, and we'll see what happens. I guess some people actually do read this blog, which is crazy because I don't publicize it, at all. It's more for me, than anything. But when I get around to a Kickstarter campaign, I'll post about it here. It looks like it'll come in at 43 pages.

The other big thing in my life that has changed is that I lost a good friend I've known for upwards of twenty-five years this past June. He was 48 years old. Another reminder that our time on this Earth is not only limited, but, in part, very much out of our control. I wish I tried harder to talk to him over the phone more often than I did.

The funny thing about this comic book I'm doing, honestly, to me, is the artistic evolution from page one to the latest page. I could be 100% wrong, but I think it will be part of the charm of it. Like, even if your work is sub-par (to you), there is no time like the present to just start and keep going and push forward through the doubt and struggles. Re-doing any of the work, at this point, seems wrong, because that's just where I was in the journey.

Anyway, I'll see you again soon; hopefully with an update that the art is done and onward to the colors. I decided to color it based on the era of the story, which will be an interesting experiment.

Back to working on my art

Hello, world. Jason here. If, somehow, you made your way here randomly, welcome. I last posted two years ago about "doing a thing" and to stay tuned. Well, I am in the process of doing said thing, as over the last year and a half or so, I've taken up drawing again; through working on my comic book/web comic (both?) called The Purple Pioneer.

I've managed to pencil twenty-one pages, and inked about sixteen of those, so far. Back in 2011, I seemed to be complaining a bit about being a bad inker. I love how, as you get older, you get wiser and more patient with yourself. Initially, when I first started this new journey into "comic-ing" (as my oldest son once called it), my pencils and inks were pretty rough. See, after around 2013 or so, I pretty much gave up on comics. Sold mostly everything comic-related that I owned. I kept some Spider-Man comics from when I was a kid, mostly for keepsake purposes. But I was out. This comic that I was "hired" to work on never panned out.... I remember I wrote a full script for the gentleman I was hired by, and drew at least two pages of art, with (to my younger self, crappy inks). The whole project got scrapped and I never got paid for any work. At the time, it was fun. I remember a couple times in there, while talking to people and asked what I do for a living, I told them my day job is a District Manager for printing services, and my night job was a comic book artist. Like I said, it was fun :) But that didn't last long.

Shortly thereafter, my son, Hayden Lawrence, was born December 1, 2011. As I write this, he is thirteen years old now. Wow. Between there and now, we moved to a new state (Wisconsin) in early 2013, and in late 2015, I welcomed my second son, Landen Matthew. Landen, as of January 2025, is nine. I'm still married, thankfully, to my wonderful partner, lover, and companion, Clarissa. This year we celebrate our eighteenth anniversary.

Between 2007 and 2013, I worked in the printing industry. When I first started, I convinced myself that getting into printing would help my art career. Over the course of six years, financially, it was a disaster, which led me to leave and move to Wisconsin. Far less expensive than San Francisco, and a slower pace of life. I got a job in sales as a Printer and Copier salesman. During that time, I finally realized that wanting to "draw comics" and art, in general, as a job was holding me back far too much, and, in its way, sabotaging my life. I gave it all up, out of necessity. It was driving me nuts. How could I want something so badly, but not work hard at it to achieve it? As of that time, I literally no longer considered myself an artist. Sad. But had to be done for me to grow, I think.

Financially, while my job and income were better than years prior, it still was not good enough. We had to live with my mother-in-law because we didn't make enough money to get our own apartment. There is nothing wrong with that, but at the time, it was a decent situation and thankful that she let me live with her for those early years in Wisconsin. Ultimately, in 2016 I realized that I'm approaching my forties and I make less than $40,000 per year. My wife, who did the stay-at-home-wife thing for a good three or four years, started to pick up odd jobs here and there, ultimately, at one point, she had at least four different gigs going on... which pretty much accounted for full-time work, overall. It helped, and I guess if we stayed in our situation, at the time, and continued to live with my mother-in-law, paying pretty inexpensive rent, it would have been fine. More than fine, if anything. I realized though, that if I want to better myself, get out of this job rut I was in (I was not a great sales person), I need to do something to shake things up. So I went back to school in the Fall of 2016 to pursue an Associated Degree in Software Development. Ironically, I did that part time until Fall 2018 when I realized my time as a sales person was probably coming to an end (writing was on the wall--I was not very good at Sales, like I said). I kicked up my studies to full time, and still somehow managed to work, too. Nonetheless, in March 2019, I finally got fired from sales due to low sales performance, and in May I graduated from school with an AA degree in Software Dev. That July, I transitioned into my new career as a Software Engineer.

Then 2020 happened. That March, my work made us all do the remote work thing, which I pretty much did for over three years there. Around this time, well, my wife and I thought about, and succeeded in buying our first home, where we live to this day. I've also since moved up in my career, and make pretty good money now. On paper, life is good. No reason to not be happy.

But I started to miss drawing.

So that is where I'm at now. Originally, I wrote a first issue script of twenty pages, but later decided to make it forty. I am doing it for me, for my soul. It makes me happy, even if I just draw and work on the book twenty minutes in a day; because I get busy. After all, I'm a man maintaining my marriage, raising two young boys, working a full time job.... not a whole lot of time for "me". But, I've been making time.... and I love that I figured it out.

I can't help but have an end goal in mind for this whole thing. I think I'll put it on Kickstarter. For a $1 pledge, you get a digital copy of the book. Who knows if it will sell, or make my any side-income. As the saying goes, if you don't try, it will definitely never happen. There is literally no downside to any of this. Love it.

What has also helped me, is realizing and accepting that all my art is perfect for me. Anything anyone ever creates, whether its a drawing, sculpture, painting, digital art, whatever... its all perfect. The only time it wouldn't be is if you are creating for someone else. But if you do it for you, nothing you create is wrong. That attitude has helped me get over these humps of self-doubt, especially early on when I first got back into it. For what it is worth, comparing those early pages, to stuff I've done recently... well, there is a very obvious improvement. Funny how consistency in taking time to actually draw can do that. I'm not a bad inker, anymore, in my humble opinion.

It's early in 2025 yet; we'll see how long it takes me to get this 40 page comic created; but then I have to digitize it, format the book, and figure out if it's going to be B&W or color. If I get to that point, I look forward to whatever I decide.

Life is too short. We only have right now. If you have a passion/goal/dream, whatever you want to call it, start pursuing it today. Start right now. Take the time and make it part of your life. And do it until it feels wrong if you don't..... just make sure you still pay your bills on time. :P

Take care,

JT

I’m doing a thing…

 Long time; it’s been eleven years since I last posted anything here. If you somehow made it here and are reading this, check out this space for more stuff coming soon. Life is good :)

Too hard on myself...?

Okay--maybe I am being too hard on myself in regards to the inking. I'm kind of a perfectionist, I guess. I just watched some youtube videos on inking, and they were awful. I'm certainly better than those guys. I found a small wealth of micron pens, and I was using those last night. Maybe I need to go the route of a ink nib pens and/or brushes, opposed to technical pens. Get better line weights that way, anyway.

Guess I'll try it again tonight. Zoinks.

Another day...

Not feeling so great today. Last night was a disaster. I tried to ink for about an hour, but it was coming out horrible. I think I am biting off far more than I can chew.

I am a penciler. That is my strength. Unfortunately, I am not very strong at inking. I don't think I can wing it with rough layouts and finish with inking. I still want to give it a shot, but I think I will have to pretty much do full pencils before putting ink to paper, which will take more time. I guess I don't have to be a picky about erasing erroneous lines until after the inking is done, which will save some time, but still, this is a blow to the ego.

I just need to sit down, buckle down, and draw. Last night, I didn't get home until close to 8pm, because of my full time job obligations. Not really an excuse, but between eating dinner, spending time with family, showering, shaving, doing some chores, the art gets pushed way down the line; in this case, until past 10pm.

I wish I could afford to hire an inker to take over that responsibility, but with my making $60 per page, well, I am pretty sure my publisher won't be willing to pay someone else to ink it, so I'd have to hire someone on my own, and take money out of my own fee (which isn't really an option). So, I'm stuck with myself. I'll just have to accept that I'll have a few crappily inked pages to get through before I start to improve. (but man, it sure would make my life easier).

I also have to remember that ALL artists start with the same demoralization. As long as I keep with it, I'll improve. I mean, what did I expect? I literally took years off of drawing and art. I'm lucky I still remember how to hold a pencil, let alone someone willing to pay me to draw.

I have to have faith in the process. Keep drawing. Keep improving. The artwork doesn't have to be a Rembrant or Picasso; just get paid and move on.

Time Commitments

I haven't gotten nearly as much done with the artwork as I wanted, unfortunately. It's tough. Hopefully what I am experiencing now is just growing pains to get used to drawing and commiting to the artwork for a set number of hours per week. Hopefully.

I've laid out the first page, which is a "splash" panel, meaning it is one giant frame. I am doing it to introduce the reader to the environment that the story takes place in. Lots of different levels, lots of perspective in play. It's not an easy page to draw. I don't have a light table, so I am pretty much forced to either keep the vanishing points on the 11x17 sheet of paper I am drawing on, or tape pieces of paper to the sides of the artboard, and get my vanishing points that way. It's crazy. One of my vanishing points is so far off the page that I needed to tape together three sheets of paper to the artboard, and also tape together two rulers, so I could even reach the vanishing point. Sheesh.

I am also having some anxiety with the inking. It makes sense to make rough layouts with no real detail to them, and just get those details laid down in the inking stage. Otherwise, I am essentially drawing the same page twice. I am not nearly as confident in my inks, so it's tough to get myself to sit down and do it. I'll get it done, but let's just say I am happy that the deadline for this book is months away. I have inked before, and more or less understand the bare fundamentals, but still, haven't done it too often.

It's funny. I look at other artists as examples of what is possible. For example, I know Todd McFarlane, back when he was drawing Spider-Man, has stated that his layouts were essentially just blobs, to show roughly where the people are standing. He does all of his details and drawing with ink. Am I stupid to think that if he can do it, then so can I? Besides, if I am trying to get faster, I need to take shortcuts. This seems like a good way to save a couple hours.

My time went okay, over the 3-day weekend. I took Friday night off to spend some time with my wife, but Saturday I drew for a good 4-5 hours. That's okay. But, again, I did spend some time pacing the house to get over some mild anxiety with the art, but overall, I did at least, as I stated above, get the layout done for the first page. Sunday was tough to get anything done, which was mostly my fault; I could have done more in the morning. In the afternoon, we were pretty much gone all day at my Father-in-law's place, and didn't get home until close to 9pm, as I recall. Monday we went to a SF Giants game, so no work got done at all. Hopefully, tonight will fare better.

I've adjusted my time frames a little bit. I think so as long as I can get 60 pages of art done between now and November, I'd be pretty happy. I plan to use the money I make from this gig to help pay down some debt before my baby is born. If I get more done, great, but 60 pages would bring in enough money to make our lives a lot easier come the end of November. Also, I'll still be able to meet my publisher's plan to get the comics in stores in January, and still have at least another issue in the bin ready to go (and hopefully another one close to being done, as well).

I'll let you know how tonight goes. Hopefully, I'll get some inking done.

DC's New 52

DC Comics announced last month that, this Fall, they will be relaunching their entire line of comics books; there will be 52 new titles (they love the whole 52 thing), each starting with issue # 1. A collector's dream. A great jumping on point for new readers. But, alternatively, a great jumping OFF point for current buyers. It's funny, that I think more new people who haven't purchased a comic book in ten years will likely be the majority, but the faithful that have been buying for those said ten years will quite possibly jump off the wagon and move on. Funny.

Comic book collectors, or the popular term "Fanboys" or "Fangirls", just love to complain about comic books. In fact, I heard of a major protest, picket line and all, happening this year at the San Diego Comic Convention, protesting DC's relaunching event. Again, funny.

I have always been a huge fan of comics. But, I've evolved somewhat, I guess. I've always been more of a fan of the creator's, the artists and writers, than the characters represented therein. Now that I am actually involved in creating a comic book, and seemingly, I really hope, a new "comic book" universe, I am no longer a fan, per se, but an actual pro working in the industry. Which, possiblily, if all goes well, could lead to future work with the larger comic book publishers (Marvel or DC). Maybe I am being very naive, but I've always kind of known, hey, if SOMEONE gives me a shot at creating a comic, I will not let them down, and the train will keep on going. The momentum will likely not stop, so as long as I have work to produce.

Anyway, my point. My point of all the above goobley gook, DC and Marvel have always been in direct, somewhat fierce competetion with each other. There have been times when they've done books together, and collaborated, but lately, it's gotten to be a little more cutthroat (in my opinion). DC is making a huge push to be the premier comic book company, and outdistance Marvel. And, it could quite possibily happen.

DC is also making a huge push for digitial distribution. And for the first time ever in the industry, they will be offering brand new issues for digital sale through their website on the same day as the actual comic book at stores. So, if digital sales begin to improve, and especially if digital sales begin to overtake those of the comic book stores themselves, this could lead to just 100% digital distribution, and comic book stores will be left with 1/2 their sales just gone.

DC recently made another comment about how those that do not have comic book stores near them, or can't get to them for one reason or another to get their weekly fix of new comics, can simply log on to their website and buy the digital copy. Now, I think comic book stores RELY on people to drive through bad weather, 20 miles, after work to buy their comics. If these stores, again, relied on those that live within 5 miles of their store as their sole customers, again, they would close. Man, what a fragile industry.

So where does that leave the small publishers? Image, Dark Horse, Boom, IDW, they pretty much follow in the dust trails of Marvel and DC, because without the "big two", there would be no comic book stores. If DC or Marvel suddenly decided to either go 100% digital with their output, or stop publishing altogether, then the other publishers would have to follow suit, because comic book stores would cease to exist. They could not stay open. From a business standpoint, well, the comic book store owners must have a TREMENDOUS amount of faith in Marvel and DC, to stand by them and make sure they are taken care of. I just have my doubts that they will stand by them, especially since the larger parent owned corporations have taken a notice of comic books since Hollywood has invested in the brand and characters.

I just think, in the 21st century, business will not take care of it's own anymore. A little cynical, I know, but with a pretty bad economy, and with most businesses just trying to survive, can they afford to be nice to a smaller sub-industry, and give them what they want? Maybe it's always been that way. I don't know. I've only been a working adult for 7 years or so. I don't know.

I say this because Marvel and DC are the ONLY reason comic book stores still exist in America. I believe it is only a matter of time before either one stops publishing comic books, and goes digital.

So, small publishers would have to either close down, or also go 100% digital. Comic book newstands at your 7-Elevens and Safeway and AMPs are gone the way of the dinosaur. Sure, some are still around, but the vast, vast majority do not carry a comic book rack. So, you certainly can't rely on selling your products in those outlets.

I think I successfully lost complete track of what my point was. Let's just call all of that venting, and be done with it.

:)

Maybe my point is that the comic book industry is very fragile. It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next few years.

The Direct Market of 2011

Warren Ellis recently wrote on his website and interesting snipet about the current status of the direct market of comic books (ie: sales through comic book stores):

"For as long as I’ve known him, Dan Didio has believed the key to a resurgent DC is reclaiming all the readers the commercial medium lost in the 90s… It’s all about accessing that hypothetical lost fan base. The impression the recent statements have left is Dan saying “comics used to sell loads back then, let’s do that again.” And that can’t happen in print.Comics used to sell loads back then, yes. But a big part of that — and this is the part he isn’t mentioning — is that there were ten thousand comics shops back then. And now there are, optimistically and rounding up, about two thousand. There simply aren’t the number of outlets left to sell the kind of volume comics could shift in the 90s.

The gamble here is this: that hypothetical lost fan base is older, has credit cards and disposable income, and an internet connection that can bring the DC Comics section of a notional comics store right to their desks. That, in fact, digital comics services will do the work of those eight thousand stores that don’t exist anymore."

It's a shame, but true. Comic book sales are very limited to the number of comic book outlets actually open to sell your merchandise. The 1990s were a comic book boom, because, well, as you read above, there were 5x more stores actually open, so, theoretically, that would mean 5x more sales.

Interesting to see where the comic book industry will be in 10 years.

Script is approved

So my publisher approved the script I've written for him. Which means, time to tackle the art.

The first issue comes out in January, but I'd like to have at least three issues done by then. As I write this, it is around the end of June, so I have about 6 months. Theoretically, that should be plenty of time. More than plenty of time. But, again, I don't do this full time. I can't afford to do it full time. My time is limited until after I get home from my "real" job, and to the weekends.

I won't repeat what I've said in other posts on my blog, but time management is going to be incredibly important. I've got to impose deadlines on myself, otherwise, I can see it taking one month just to get a few pages done. And if that is the case, well, I just hope I can sort through it and make it work.

So, tonight, I figure I'll sort through my art supplies, and see what I need to buy. The timing of all this is actually good, because I've a three-day weekend with July 4th coming up; I can spend some time getting back in the swing of doing art in a timely manner, opposed to drawing for five minutes and walking around to take a break. lol I tend to have anxiety issues when I draw, so I find it hard to concentrate. It's like trying to push an ocean through a cocktail straw sometimes. But, need to do it. It will be challenging on a personal level.

I just have to keep reminding myself, Jack Kirby could do it, Jack Kirby could do it.

And we're off.

Script is done

Okay--don't have a lot of time to write today, but did want to mention that the script is done, and off to my editor/publisher. We'll see what he says. I am, of course, very hopeful that he'll enjoy it :)

Day 4

Day 4 was another productive evening. I was able to get 4 pages done, which was my goal. To keep on track and finish the script by Sunday, I need to finish about 3 pages per day. So, with 12 pages done, I'm right on track. Sweet.

I've been reading Jim Shooter's blog. I enjoy the snippets about his time as Editor-in-Chief at Marvel. In more than one passage he's written, he talks about how many writers were asked to script out a story overnight. In one very recent instance, he himself wrote dialogue for a comic, overnight, which, as a result, didn't sleep that night and went to work the next day. See, when he was an editor, that was his full time job, and any freelance work is done after hours (not on company time).

Stories like that make me feel lazy. A script in 7 days?? Hell, I should have seven scripts in seven days. But, I told myself very early on that, if I am going to do this, I will not jeopardize my full time job, which means late night and all-nighters just can't happen at any regular basis. I'll accept it may happen on occasion, but my full time job takes priority. My wife agrees. Even if the comic thing takes off and I get regular work and higher pay, I'd still have a tough time leaving behind a steady full time job.

I've been thinking about what I want out of my career lately. With my full time job, I've recently been promoted to District Manager, which, consequently hasn't gone through yet, because they are trying to hire someone to take my old position--there is no one within the company locally that can fit the position, so to speak. They are being very picky. Which is good, but until they do find someone, I'm stuck with my old position and my old pay. Bleh.

I've wanted to draw comics for money for a long, long time. I won't get into the whys and hows and wheres and whens, but this is my first opportunity to make money doing something I really love and want to be a part of (and actually pays fairly well). My full time job is neither here nor there. It is decent work, and the opportunity of the District Manager position has re-ignited my interest in the Company and the printing industry. But, the comics thing, yeah, that is my hobby and where my creative interest lies.

But, as it is, I am pretty content with my career now. Full time District Manager, and moonlight as a comic book artist. Yeah--pretty happy with that.

I also want a life outside of work. I do not want to work 100 hours a week. I am trying very hard to keep my work/life balance in check, especially since I am a soon-to-be-father. As I write this, my wife is about 18 weeks pregnant. So, it is important to be able to spend time with my family and be a great husband and daddy, but I also need to keep my full time job a priority, AND I want to keep going with the comic book artist gig. I hope I am not in over my head.

Like I stated earlier, I want to keep my comic book time around 25 hours per week. My full time job, on average, as most people, is a steady 40 hours per week. Sometime I work overtime, but serious overtime is few and far between. So, I think 65 hours per week making money is reasonable. And, up to this point, if I stay up late working on the comic, it is my own doing, opposed to my publisher cracking the perverbial whip. Maybe that will change later on, but for now, I think he is more about "slow and steady wins the race."

But, it is inevitable that deadlines will become a regular part of the gig. That is why now, I am hoping to get a few issues drawn and ready for publication before January, so I'll have lead time and not be up all hours of the night trying to hit deadlines, because those said "deadlines" are months in advance.

Maybe I'm being naive. I am sure someone, somewhere will tell me I am. I just won't know until it happens.

I'll update again on Monday. If all goes well, I'll be telling you I finished the script and sent it in for approval.

Marketing your comics

This has been on my mind lately. How do you get comic book store owners to order your comic books? It's a very small industry, and the way distributors are set up, these stores take a tremendous risk each and every month when they order, because there are no guarantees that customers will walk into your store to buy their inventory. This is how most of the comic book stores collapsed in the 1990s, after the speculation boom, because they ordered way too much, lost money, and had to close down.

And let it be known, I believe you are selling your products to the comic book store owners, not so much the fans or customers. Sure, those guys are the ones that collect your book, or idolize you in those rare cases when you probably don't deserve it at all just because you are "good" at art, but the ones that actually purchase your comics are the few and far between comic book store proprietors. They are the ones shouldering most of the risk.

So that leads to the question, "Why should I give you some of my precious magazine rack space, when I could put Wolverine, Batman, or Spider-Man there instead?"

That is an excellent question.

Going back to the aforementioned risk, as you likely know, the big two in this industry are Marvel and DC Comics. Their comics are almost guaranteed sellers. Some are better sellers than others, but more or less, if a store owner is conservative in their purchasing and does their research, by all rights they should sell all of their Marvel of DC comics, without much of a problem. Then throw in the other small publishers: Image, Dark Horse, IDW, Boom, upcoming Valiant, Archie, Slave Labor, etc etc. The store owner, I imagine, pretty much divides what little space he has remaining on his shelves, and gives it to those guys. And, again, some sell better than others.

And then, the REALLY small publishers, well, where do they fit in? Well, some stores likely don't even sell those kinds of book at all, because there is no money in them. Why would a store give you the time of day, if they can order Spawn and sell 15 copies of that, opposed to your little corner of the universe comic book??

It's a tough industry to be in. There is very little room for distributing your work, outside of online maybe. But, if you want your book to be visable, you need to be in a store, a brick and morter honest to goodness comic book store.

So, how do you do that?

I think you have to introduce yourself as personally as possible to these store owners, perhaps threw a mailer; it's easy enough to get a list of all the comic book stores. Then, you have to prove that you are marketing your comic properly, getting the word out, so there will be people willing to spend money on it. Get your name out there, get your work out there, and the store will take a shot on you. In a perfect world, each month your orders improve, however slightly, but, really, one should feel lucky to only LOSE 10% of your readership, especially after the first issue. Like I said, tough industry.

Wish us luck. Part of the Work-for-Hire contract with my publisher is that I get 15% royalty checks based on comic book sales. I think it works out to around .06 cents per issue, based on the offset printer we found (cheaper the printing, more money you profit - cha cha cha). So, it is in my best interest to help market and promote the work. I'm looking forward to it.

Plus, I want to do this for a while, so the more money my publisher makes, the more he'll be willing to stick around another month and publish more comics :)