Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
OK. I'm gonna tell you a couple of words about creating comics.
As you know, comic is a complex structure.
Not just text accompanied by images.
It's a story represented by pictures, in which the harmony is essential.
Yeah, we know.
First, a script is written.
Everyone has his own technique of writing it.
For example, if a writer and an artist understand each other, it's not necessary to write a detailed script.
By Western standards, the work on the comic is divided.
I mean, one person writes a script, and another person does visual arts.
Visual arts are also divided into parts: usually they're penciling, inking and coloring.
It's a great method, because...
...because the work is divided between people.
Yeah, it makes a job easier and faster, because everyone does what he can do best.
For example, he may be a good inker, but not a good penciller.
Here are the examples of comic book scripts.
It may be in a form of a synopsis.
And may be a detailed one, where every panel is described.
Like, all the onomatopoeias and dialogues are written separately.
That's how we do it.
Here's a script for this comic.
Every panel is described in detail.
A writer can also make his own sketches or layouts.
To show his own vision of a comic.
But, in most cases, layouts are done by an artist.
It may be schematic.
Just to arrange the pictures in order.
Yeah, and then he can make them more detailed.
Sometimes, an artist just draw sticks and circles. Sometimes, detailed figures. It varies.
Sometimes a writer himself makes layouts. To make an artist's job easier.
And after creating layouts,... well, I'm gonna show you...
What comic is this?
- There are different... - Is it TMNT?
- No. Here are the TMNT. - Jim Lawson.
Yeah, when Jim was both a writer and an artist of the comic, he created the layouts for himself.
OK. So, they draw schematic figures...
Oh my God! Your eyes! [Magnus was wearing his "snake-eye" contact lenses]
Yeah, just to see how it will look like. And to show it to a writer.
Yeah, and to correct it if necessary.
And then, the penciling is done.
With all shades and stuff.
And it becomes clear where the inking is needed.
Yeah, in most cases, the inking areas are just marked by crosses or something like that.
And then, the inking is done.
And then, coloring.
Yep.
Arseniy, let's change our position and face the audience. So we will look more sexy.
Yeah, we should attract people.
You can take it and take a look.
It reminds me of Gen13.
That's great.
If so.
If my art is compared to J. Scott Campbell's, I'm glad.
No, I mean a plot.
There was something similar.
- What do you mean? - Gen13...
What is similar?
All the main characters were kidnapped and placed in some kind of containers.
Maybe it wasn't Gen13, but some other similar comic.
Maybe DV8?
- Maybe, I didn't read the whole series. - DV8.
OK, nevermind. These containers were used in many franchises before that.
He was cloned. You should read Hellsuckers.
The character named Icer cloned himself.
Yeah, I meant these containers were similar.
So, he's a politician and he never goes anywhere by himself. He sends his clones instead.
On our website you can find the full version of this comic.
In color. And uncensored.
Yeah. The author's vision.
Here we present our first 4 projects.
All of them are b/w, except Hellsuckers.
And tomorrow you're gonna see a report about the convention on our website.
At first, we'll upload b/w versions and then, after coloring them, we'll upload the colored ones.
So, we told you everything about creating comics.
Yeah, I think you already knew how to create them.
Yep. Nothing new.
What books about creating comics can you recommend?
There are many books about it.
Many of them were published in Russia.
No, I mean not only about drawing, but about other technical aspects.
There was a book called Making Comics, and also...
...you mean, what to do with it after making it?
No. It was written by some guy who worked at DC. I don't remember his name.
He published 3 books.
- Making Comics, Reinventing Comics... - Christopher Hart?
No, it was definitely not Christopher Hart. He sucks.
It wasn't about drawing techniques. It was about layouts,...
...about dialogues. He gathered many theoretical data.
I know the book about drawing manga. But it's different from the Western comics.
His books were translated in Russian. You will hardly find more detailed information on the subject than in his works.
After reading him, all other books seem useless.
So, you don't remember his name? I should know him.
Yeah. Anyways, we will keep in touch with you.
We have more topical question to discuss.
Actually, everyone knows how to make comics.
But they don't know what do with them after that.
You know, people in our country make comics only for fun.
And then... they don't know what to do.
They just throw them away.
Yeah, they make them only for themselves.
Some of them post their comics on websites, but don't get any positive feedback.
And abandon their work.
So, what should you do?
For example, you made a comic. Maybe you didn't make it, just keep it in yor head.
So, you should contact Illusion Studios.
We have distributors.
Who will help distribute your comics around the world.
Through digital distribution.
Actually, industry of physical production died.
- No. - Yes.
And many people still think: "I'm gonna publish my comic on paper..."
It won't help. If you publish your comic on paper, you won't have any income.
Why? Because you will spend money on paper...
But if you go digital, you will never have any problems with print.
Yeah, your comics could be sold, like, forever. Don't bother with them getting "out of print" and other stuff like that.
Yeah. You just have a digital copy, and that's it.
All the people who want to buy it, will buy it.
And digital distribution makes prices a lot lower.
But, you know, it's better to hold the comic in your hands...
We agree.
But it's bad for business.
The physical copy of a comic costs about $4.
And the digital comic costs only $1.
Yeah, it's only a buck. Just buy it and read it.
Well, maybe it's not a bad idea to publish trade paperbacks...
...or hardcover collections. It may bring some money.
You can name it "limited edition" and publish only 1000 copies. They will all be sold, definitely.
It's, like, for collectors.
Yeah, it's rational.
Some people don't know anything about digital distribution.
They say, why should we buy it?
If we could just download it for free?
So, OK. I understand.
Physical comics are bad for business.
We're talking about, like, what can bring you profit.
Yeah. We tell you how to get money from making comics.
Yep. Through digital distribution.
Yes.
What I was trying to tell you, that many people are just not familiar with the fact that...
...you will get money not only from sales.
Digital distribution is also good, because...
...you can sign contracts with many internet stores.
And you will get money just for allowing them to use your content.
And you will get money from all the ads, as well.
So, you can get good money.
Are your comics digital?
Yeah, we will sell them in internet stores.
Right now we want to gather at least 5 series, of each 3 or 4 issues should be ready.
And then we will start our business.
Approximately, it will be in the beginning of 2013.
If there are people, who CAN and LIKE to make comics...
...believe us, they can get money from doing that.
We are limited liability company.
We have partners who can help us to distribute our comics to the Western market.
Our comics are aimed at Western audiences.
And these partners have many contracts with such interesting companies as...
...Warner Bros. and Big Fish Games.
Big Fish Games also sells their games through internet stores and gain much profit.
We're gonna make a game for them.
We will write a script for it. And get more money from that project.
Another good thing about comics - they maybe adapted into a film or a TV series...
Yeah, many things...
...cartoon series, feature-length cartoons...
You see, it's a good tendency...
...to adapt a good comic into a film.
So, if your comic will be popular, maybe some guy like Michael Bay...
...will adapt it into a movie.
The main thing is to promote your comic properly.
Christopher Nolan is better.
In Russia, there are few good comics.
They're not popular here.
People just make them and don't know what to do with them.
We chose our own way. We just gathered and created a business.
People don't believe they can make money from that.
Some people try to publish them on paper...
...but all the publishers...
...just give you about 12-13% from sales.
You should consider that, in most cases, they're manga-style comics.
These publishers may be interested in developing comic book industry in Russia...
...but they don't consider the fact that tankobon is about 120 pages long.
If they will publish, like, 5000 copies...
...and its cost is about 200 rubles. And you get only 12% of that!
You make 120 pages of a comic, and get nothing from that!
Making 120 pages is a pretty long job.
Considering that you'll have expenses from publishing it on paper... it just sucks.
It's unprofitable.
Digital comics are not only our future, it's our present already.
Marvel and DC sell digital comics.
It's an era of tablet computers.
In Russia, it's not so obvious.
But in more progressive countries everyone has an iPad, which can be used to read comics.
Actually, reading from tablet is not worse than from paper.
But not everyone can afford a tablet.
It won't be for long.
Yeah, in Russia, not everyone.
I think it will be so for at least five years.
No, in two years everyone will have a tablet.
And you just push one button, pay one buck and read your comic anytime.
$1=30 rubles. It's cheap!
And if a million people will buy one comic, you'll have a million dollars!
That's it.
It's pretty simple. Many people just don't know about it.
Now you know about it.
Will you be here for long?
Well, we will leave after an entr'acte...
...and then, after cosplayers competition, we'll return.
I will come back in 15 minutes. I'll just look up a name of the author that I forgot.
OK.
I have a laptop with internet.
Leave us your contacts. We'll write you.
That's it. It's the end.