Greetings! Much has happened in the world since Bud and Jeff last were seen at ISU’s Rites of Spring concert in May of 1977. Mostly I want to express support and condolences to all those suffering in Japan after the earthquake/tsunami late last week. The images are simultaneously riveting and sickening and I wish all of them a speedy recovery.
Next, you will notice a difference in the comic today. As you may or may not know, I was in the process of looking for an inker to help me with the comic. The idea was to delegate a portion of the process to another person so I may ramp up output of the pages. The individuals who took the time and effort to submit samples to me were both talented and well qualified, but there was an element missing it seemed to me. Not that their work was anything short of professional, it was top notch. So, after much struggling with a decision, I decided to simply continue doing the comic solo for now.
Enter in my oldest son Justin. Justin is a trained student of art, having taken many courses in drawing, illustration, graphic design and color theory. I had him come in this past Saturday and look over the samples sent in by the other inkers. Justin then surprised me as he never has before: he sounded like a professional. He was rattling off terms I had never heard part his lips before and it hit me like an angry mule kick: my own son could do this. NOW… Justin and I have tried this before a year or so ago and the process was less then pleasant. I believe given our relationship as Father and Son, neither one of us took the other seriously. I treated him like my son, not a professional and he treated me like a typical rebellious 23 year old. Thus, it was not a great experience.
But on Saturday Justin came through as an artist and not my son. Perhaps I was ready to hear him, but whatever. Now, grading his results compared to mine, I’d give him a 6 out of 10. He knows the characters very well (he’s heard my adventures from college MANY times over) but he doesn’t have the feel yet, but he’s not far off. I’m going to give Justin a shot at inking and coloring the comic for a while. Thus enabling me to do two comics a week. There will be a comic Thursday. Yay!
Okay, leave your comments for he and I to read. Don’t hold back, speak your mind so we can hear from the ones who matter: You, my readers. If you’re not happy, then we’re not happy. He’ll need a few comics to get his bearings, but I think he’ll do just fine. But, ultimately it’s you who we need to satisfy. So, comment away!
Today’s song: “Godzilla” from Blue Oyster Cult. Now, I’m not posting this song to make fun of Japan, but rather placing it here out of the sheer irony of the song’s contents and the devastation witnessed in Japan. My little brain could not help but think of every Godzilla movie made that showed the monster ravaging Tokyo as I watched the footage over and over of the tsunami crashing into buildings, power lines and boats. So, if you haven’t done so yet, get to your favorite charity, like the Red Cross, and donate some money to help with the relief efforts. I already have.
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You know I never hold back anyway, so here goes…
IMO the difference is significant, and it’s not a difference that improves the comic. Quite simply put, it no longer looks like the 1977 we’ve come to know and love since you found your style about a year ago. It’s beautifully inked, yes, but the actual drawing is far, far weaker and less distinctive than it’s been when you were doing the whole thing on your own. The faces – possibly the most important part of this comic! – lack definition and thus lack individuality; they’re too bland. And Bud seems to have suddenly had a nose job! So all in all I’d have to say I’m not too happy with this new look.
On the plus side, the backgrounds look good. And of course the storyline rocks as always 🙂
No one can learn with polite pats on the back and “that’s okay” so honesty is the only thing we can learn from.
And being totally upfront, I gave Justin a 6 out of 10. In academic terms, that’s a “D”. It’s a good first effort, but he needs to grow quickly and conform to my style. Of course, I want any inker to bring something to the comic, but we can’t jar the readers wither. Today’s comic is a bit jarring in that terms. It is not ME. Now, I’m willing to let any inker, including Justin, some time to adjust and get their stride.
Time will tell.
~nods~ I get that. Also, wot most of the others said, especially Bearman and Nick.
And it’s interesting – now that I’ve seen your original sketchwork for this one, my thoughts are 1) you’re a wayyy better finisher (ink/colours) than you seem to give yourself credit for being, and 2) Justin was working from one of your weaker sketches – if *you* go back and compare the sketch to, say, your sketches from two months ago, I think you’ll see it too…
to add to that guy’s comment. Also Bud looks more like he’s 16 and baby faced..
Cute at least..
Byron, could you post the original pencils to this page for comparison?
Your son may have the artistic training to help assist you – but its going to take some time and practice. There’s a difference in your linework and his inking – since you have more experience with those characters, there are some shortcuts and tricks you have injected into them in order to make them your own.
Right now, your son is basically just tracing and filling in with color. Give it some time, and instruct him on the look you’re after, or trust his judgment to add to the characters.
There will be a shift in the style of 1977 if he takes on a greater role, but it may be a good one provided he sticks with it. Just make sure he hits his stride with enough practice – don’t just throw him to the lions.
I will allow any inker time to make the adjustments to my comic as I would need to adjust how I pencil the comic. Most of my pencils are very rough as *I* know what I’m going for. But, to hand it off to another person, I have to be very exact and even give specific notes. Not an uncommon practice in the industry I understand.
Here’s a link to the original pencils:
https://1977thecomic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/2011-03-14-pencils.jpg
That’s my style, and an inker needs to capture that. Justin has a long way to grow, but if I’m going to give anyone a chance, it would be my own son.
Well now that I look at the sketch, I think YOU made it kinda Disneyesque in that one. haha
Snap! 🙂
Beautiful work. I think he has done a great job. However, I do think it has altered the feel of the cartoon. Justin’s style is more Disney while yours is pinup. Not a bad thing but you have to make sure that is the direction you want to go.
Your are correct, sir. I do a sexy Hanna-Barbera and they do not teach H-B style in art school for some odd reason.
🙂
Saying he’s a bit Disney is actually a good description as he does study their animation films a lot. I’m not sure I want him coloring them either, as that brings a lot to the comic too.
Hey, doesn’t hurt to experiment a bit. We’ll know soon enough if this is going to work or not.
Thanks for your input!
Yeah, I thought of Godzilla too. The monster appearances always started with earthquakes and a great disturbance in the sea, before Godzilla emerged from it and started swimming towards land. It all looked very familiar. Except this was real.
Playing this song in concert, BOC used to cut the stage lights when it hit the slow drum part, then when they brought them back up the drummer was wearing a Godzilla head. Great fun. I always thought he’d have to be really hot in that thing, though.
BOC was a fun group and this is just a fun song.
The inking is not bad just heavy. You can see the starts and stops, given time he’ll get the feel and flow better. The heavy lines change the characters, changing the females laugh lines in the first panel to crows feet. Effectivly aging the character perhaps more than intended.
The heavyness also makes the hair and clothing look more ruffled and wind tossed. Not bad considering their location.
Good way of stating it… he does seem to have a thicker line than I do. And I did bug him big time about the “start and stop” on his lines. Reading these comments will help him improve. Thanks for you input!
I agree with the previous comments. As a non-artist, I think it looks pretty good, but, as Tafkan said, a bit bland. I’d like to see more of Justin’s work, as his style gets closer to yours ( a necessity by a new inker on an established strip).
Go, Justin!
I’m hoping as Justin gets comfortable working for his old man, he’ll loosen up and let his real chops out. I’ve seen some of his pencils and they’re just great. So, pushing him to ink better is a great step for him.
Doing is the best teacher sometimes. 🙂
I took some of the differences as a throw back to a different time, and thus maybe not being concurrent with present styles, before I read the commentary. I’m withholding any kind of judgment myself, as I’d like time to adjust if I were in the same position. 🙂
Yes. I want Justin to do 6 or so comics and take a look then to see where he’s at. I believe he’ll improve quickly. Or I’ll ground him. That’s motivation for you!
😛
My first instincts upon reading this comic was that I was amazed at how beautiful it was. I love the linework, and I definitely noticed a change. It was only until I read the blog portion that I found out why.
This comic really looks good, in my opinion. It’s got a certain….I dunno, flavor, that appeals to my senses. That’s just my two cents. I think you two make a great combo.
Thank you, George. Nothing would make me happier than to work with my son professionally. I think he’s got talent he just lacks confidence, and shit, I’m full of that (among lots of other stuff).
🙂
Well, I don’t think he’s varying his line widths much if at all. It leads to a sketchy look, which might be fine if the coloring was altered to complement it, but as it stands it looks a bit messy.
If you like these inks, maybe experiment with softening and desaturating your colors a bit, rather than the hard cel-shading we usually employ in webcomics.
Messy is not a bad term. That’s how I described it to him originally.
He inks in Photoshop and I’m kicking his ass to start using Manga Studio as it would make my life a helluva lot easier in the production phase. But, I’m going to upgrade his Photoshop to CS5 and that should help his brushes he uses for inking.
Thanks Nick!
I have to agree with Nick. By opening the previous comic and this one in separate tabs, I was able to flip back and forth and there is a decided ‘hardness’ to the current comic. That is the best I could describe it.
A good first effort. with practice and patience I believe that Justin will become an asset to the comic. After all nobody is perfect the first time they try something. Rock on
Thanks, Lee!
Now a days if you say stuff like that to a guy they say either ” ok!” do it with you and you never hear from them again or they say ” No you slut!” .. That’s why I haven’t gotten any in a year 3 months and 20 days. Yea I now the amount of days..
Well, when you reach my age, you stop counting as it can go months and months sometimes. With family and stuff, you just lose track.
lol Ok I’m never having kids now ( joking ). I know one things for sure if I ever do get married again he better get used to getting a lot. lol
History shows again and again how Nature points out the folly of Man…GODZILLA!