Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Punching the Clock #2 - When First We Meet
Punching the Clock #1 - Orientation
In an effort to keep Punching the Clock on the web for free, I've been sloshing around the notion of re-posting all of the strips here, in an archive. This is the original Punching the Clock strip, officially posted here on my poor neglected blog.
To be honest, I'm not really sure the best way to do this. I guess I will start by posting one a day, and see how it goes. The cost of keeping up and maintaining the original PTC website has been a bit daunting; hopefully this will turn into a solid replacement!
Monday, February 2, 2015
Punching... The End?
I guess I'll just address the elephant in the room and get this out of the way: the final strip of Punching the Clock posts this week.
"But Rob, you just said that it was the last one, right?"
It's more like an extended break. Jeff Manley and I officially reached the end of our initial work agreement for Punching the Clock this past November. After much discussion, we both agreed on the following things:
-It's better to go out when it's still good.
-Both of our plates were beginning to pile up with other comics work (not a bad thing).
-Both of our personal lives had been... challenging... for the past year.
-The weekly deadline was really beginning to take a toll on Jeff.
-If it's not fun, we shouldn't be doing it.
-We needed to stay good to our word and finish delivering the last few unfulfilled Kickstarter rewards.
Jeff graciously allowed me to wrap the story by working past our original timeframe, which allowed me to really give each character their own sendoff as well as some closure for the series. I've always looked at Punching the Clock as a snapshot into the lives of these characters- we're only really seeing them for the brief time in all of their lives in which their particular existences cross paths and occupy the same space as the other characters in the series. Call it Season One, if that makes it easier.
Worried about your weekly PTC fix? I've got you covered. There will continue to be updates to the website every Tuesday for the foreseeable future- we've got a cache of pin-up and guest artist work to showcase- and there may even be a guest penned/drawn bonus strip thrown into the mix here and there. So please, continue to check the website!
The ending to this chapter was written specifically to close out the "Buy Lots" era, but left in a way that I could pick up with most of the characters (if you've been reading, you already know what they're up to post-Buy Lots!) and begin the next chapter in their lives- Season 2, if you will. I already have a jumping-on point plotted out, so rest assured that I've thought this through.
I'm pretty certain that you can expect new adventures in the future.
Your Friend In Webcomics,
Rob
The Hell, You Say?
Sadly, it is no joke... but maybe I should explain what that means. It means... the last strip. On the web. For now."But Rob, you just said that it was the last one, right?"
Yeah... About That. Allow Me To Clarify.
It's more like an extended break. Jeff Manley and I officially reached the end of our initial work agreement for Punching the Clock this past November. After much discussion, we both agreed on the following things:
-It's better to go out when it's still good.
-Both of our plates were beginning to pile up with other comics work (not a bad thing).
-Both of our personal lives had been... challenging... for the past year.
-The weekly deadline was really beginning to take a toll on Jeff.
-If it's not fun, we shouldn't be doing it.
-We needed to stay good to our word and finish delivering the last few unfulfilled Kickstarter rewards.
Jeff graciously allowed me to wrap the story by working past our original timeframe, which allowed me to really give each character their own sendoff as well as some closure for the series. I've always looked at Punching the Clock as a snapshot into the lives of these characters- we're only really seeing them for the brief time in all of their lives in which their particular existences cross paths and occupy the same space as the other characters in the series. Call it Season One, if that makes it easier.
So, What Now?
We work. Volume Three has been a work in progress for too long, so that's first and foremost. With that, the last of the Kickstarter rewards- guest strips, drawn in rewards, etc.- will be buttoned up. Then, Volume 4- which will bring us up through this week's strip. Then we hit the reset button. Discuss the future. See where we go.Worried about your weekly PTC fix? I've got you covered. There will continue to be updates to the website every Tuesday for the foreseeable future- we've got a cache of pin-up and guest artist work to showcase- and there may even be a guest penned/drawn bonus strip thrown into the mix here and there. So please, continue to check the website!
The Future: Will We Ever See NEW Punching the Clock strips?
Jeff is on board for a standalone book or two in the future, but he will be unable to return to a weekly posting schedule should I decide to bring it back to the web. That said, he has given his blessing should I choose to approach another artist to pick up and run with the strip on the web.The ending to this chapter was written specifically to close out the "Buy Lots" era, but left in a way that I could pick up with most of the characters (if you've been reading, you already know what they're up to post-Buy Lots!) and begin the next chapter in their lives- Season 2, if you will. I already have a jumping-on point plotted out, so rest assured that I've thought this through.
I'm pretty certain that you can expect new adventures in the future.
Damn You, For Dropping This On Us. Right In The Feels.
I've been struggling with how to approach this for weeks. This comic has meant the world to me, since day one- and your love and support of our little corner of a much larger webcomic world continues to floor me every single day. I have made so many good friends through Punching the Clock, and will do my best to honor those friendships and continue to make comics that mean something. I am truly, truly lucky to have been afforded the opportunity to have been touched by so many of you, and am humbled at just how many people have read my words each week for the last three years. We truly have had the most dedicated and loyal following; the BEST fans that comics has to offer. I hope that you will continue to enjoy our work for years to come, and will be excited when new content is ready to go. I cannot even begin to show my appreciation for your constant and very vocal support.
To close, I will leave you with this- every Punching the Clock that Jeff Manley and I worked on together, all in one place:
Your Friend In Webcomics,
Rob
Thursday, May 22, 2014
The 100 "Writer Sketch Cover" Challenge
Back in September, I was a participant in the birth of what will hopefully be a new trend at conventions: the "writer sketch" cover. I'm bringing it to Cherry Capital Comic Con THIS weekend.
Some backstory: At some point during Cincy Comicon, I wandered over to visit with the face-hiding, Shirley Temple-drinking, uber-talented writer extraordinaire Dirk Manning. Dirk was engaged in conversation with a fine gent by the name of Andrew, who had just commissioned Dirk to write him a short story on one of the blank cover variants that you see released for most major titles these days. I immediately fell in love with the idea, and Andrew officially made it a "thing"- collecting up short stories from writers all over the convention; including one from yours truly. Shortly thereafter, Bleeding Cool picked up the story and ran with it.
The thing about conventions for writers is this: we don't get to really "create" on the spot like artists get to do. Its frustrating to just sit behind a table and "sell" all weekend, so the opportunity to flex some creative muscle is welcomed... and the potential for some cool mashups that would otherwise be unseen are just waiting to be written. Wanna see Spidey team up with the Tick? Done. Experience the thrill of the Joker FINALLY getting the best of Batman? Completely possible. Wish someone would do more with Cloak & Dagger? Now they can. The possibilities are endless, and artist alley is FILLED TO THE BRIM with super talented, independent artists who would LOVE to add a quick visual sketch to your one-of-a-kind short story for an exceptionally reasonable rate (hint, hint to all of my artist friends attending C4 this weekend alongside me). Everybody wins- creators, both of the written word and illustration, can throw down a fun one off and make a little cash to help support their art, and fans own a unique piece of original comics work that no one will ever be able to replicate.
So, here's the challenge:
100 Writer Sketch Covers. C4 Weekend. How much you pay is up to you.
The Catch? There's Charity involved.
I will donate 10% of all writer sketch cover commissions, no matter how many I do, to the Walking With Giants Foundation- an organization very near and dear to my friends at the Great Lakes Garrison of the 501st Legion, Cherry Capital Comic Con and the family of my young friend Matthew Litchfield, who passed away last October.
If we hit 50 sketch cover commissions, that number goes to 15%.
If we break 100, it goes to 20%.
You choose how much to pay. Bring me a blank cover, and I will fill it with words. Help me hit my self-abusing goal of 100. Help out a great cause along the way. You know you want to. Then, find one of the MANY talented artists in the "Alley" and make my words look good with some stellar art.
I will post updates on twitter all throughout the show- follow along with me (@RPHumphrey) with the hashtag #100writersketchcovers
What say you? Challenge accepted?
Some backstory: At some point during Cincy Comicon, I wandered over to visit with the face-hiding, Shirley Temple-drinking, uber-talented writer extraordinaire Dirk Manning. Dirk was engaged in conversation with a fine gent by the name of Andrew, who had just commissioned Dirk to write him a short story on one of the blank cover variants that you see released for most major titles these days. I immediately fell in love with the idea, and Andrew officially made it a "thing"- collecting up short stories from writers all over the convention; including one from yours truly. Shortly thereafter, Bleeding Cool picked up the story and ran with it.
The thing about conventions for writers is this: we don't get to really "create" on the spot like artists get to do. Its frustrating to just sit behind a table and "sell" all weekend, so the opportunity to flex some creative muscle is welcomed... and the potential for some cool mashups that would otherwise be unseen are just waiting to be written. Wanna see Spidey team up with the Tick? Done. Experience the thrill of the Joker FINALLY getting the best of Batman? Completely possible. Wish someone would do more with Cloak & Dagger? Now they can. The possibilities are endless, and artist alley is FILLED TO THE BRIM with super talented, independent artists who would LOVE to add a quick visual sketch to your one-of-a-kind short story for an exceptionally reasonable rate (hint, hint to all of my artist friends attending C4 this weekend alongside me). Everybody wins- creators, both of the written word and illustration, can throw down a fun one off and make a little cash to help support their art, and fans own a unique piece of original comics work that no one will ever be able to replicate.
So, here's the challenge:
100 Writer Sketch Covers. C4 Weekend. How much you pay is up to you.
The Catch? There's Charity involved.
I will donate 10% of all writer sketch cover commissions, no matter how many I do, to the Walking With Giants Foundation- an organization very near and dear to my friends at the Great Lakes Garrison of the 501st Legion, Cherry Capital Comic Con and the family of my young friend Matthew Litchfield, who passed away last October.
If we hit 50 sketch cover commissions, that number goes to 15%.
If we break 100, it goes to 20%.
You choose how much to pay. Bring me a blank cover, and I will fill it with words. Help me hit my self-abusing goal of 100. Help out a great cause along the way. You know you want to. Then, find one of the MANY talented artists in the "Alley" and make my words look good with some stellar art.
I will post updates on twitter all throughout the show- follow along with me (@RPHumphrey) with the hashtag #100writersketchcovers
What say you? Challenge accepted?
Thursday, May 15, 2014
New Project Announcement!
I'm a firm believer in first impressions... so, rather than whip a bunch of "words" and "sales pitches" at you, or "beg" for your interest in my musings, lemme hit you with an image that lands EXACTLY what my newest collaborative project is all about:
He's fancy... he's high society... he's a gentleman... and he's judging you.
What you are seeing here is the FIRST piece of concept art for Judgmental Giraffe, pencilled/inked by the ridiculously amazing Leslie Gauthier and colored by the equally as amazing Sara Sowles of Killustration Studios. This is the product of what happens when you put a whole bunch of creative-types in a room together after a convention (or in this case, the officially unofficial after-party of the MSU Comics Forum).
Now that I have your attention, allow me to officially announce this project. *Ahem*
Coming late summer/early fall 2014, to an interweb near you: Follow the exploits of Judgmental Giraffe and a host of other equally ridiculous characters in Animal Nature, a new collaboration between myself and artist Leslie Gauthier.
The "Elevator" Pitch: Animal Nature provides a unique, tongue-in-cheek look at the best and worst of human nature through the eyes of an anthropomorphic cast of animals who live, work and interact side-by-side with their human counterparts.
The backstory: Leslie and I have talked off and on about working on a side project together for a while. After a phone conversation a few months back, the wheels began turning. I awoke the next morning with an image of a fancy, tuxedo-wearing, monocle-rockin', smarmy giraffe in my head. I frantically called Leslie back and explained in a completely rational and not crazy-man-rambling sort of way what it was that I had thought up... and the concept was born. Over the next few days, I began getting a lot of ideas down on paper... mainly for an entire cast of characters, including my personal favorites: Dapper Dolphin and Emotionally Unstable Elephant. There's much more in store, but a lady can't give away all her secrets now, can she?
When and where can you expect to see more? We're really just getting started on this, and we'll want to build up a backlog of content before posting begins... so likely not for a few months. Both Leslie and I will be at Cincy Comicon in September, so I would expect that we would be up and rolling by that point. As for the "where"- our good friend, artist and webmaster over at Two For One Comics Sherief has offered the comic a home on the Two For One site when we are ready to go, which is way cool of him and super exciting! However, if you want to be one of the lucky few to pick up a limited "sneak peek" preview pack... read on.
Next weekend, at Cherry Capital Comic Con, Leslie and I will be offering an EXTREMELY limited number of sneak peek preview packs for sale to officially launch the comic- stop on out, pick one up, and be among the very first to jump on board our new project! In the sneak peek pack, you'll get a Judgmental Giraffe pinback button, a super-cool 16 oz can-shaped Judgmental Giraffe glass, and an Animal Nature preview comic! Here's a look at the button and glassware artwork:
Again- these will be limited, and will NOT last long. Be sure to grab 'em while you can!
As we get closer to a launch date, I will keep everyone updated through the normal channels... Facebook, Twitter, and right here at my poor neglected blog.
He's fancy... he's high society... he's a gentleman... and he's judging you.
What you are seeing here is the FIRST piece of concept art for Judgmental Giraffe, pencilled/inked by the ridiculously amazing Leslie Gauthier and colored by the equally as amazing Sara Sowles of Killustration Studios. This is the product of what happens when you put a whole bunch of creative-types in a room together after a convention (or in this case, the officially unofficial after-party of the MSU Comics Forum).
Now that I have your attention, allow me to officially announce this project. *Ahem*
Coming late summer/early fall 2014, to an interweb near you: Follow the exploits of Judgmental Giraffe and a host of other equally ridiculous characters in Animal Nature, a new collaboration between myself and artist Leslie Gauthier.
The "Elevator" Pitch: Animal Nature provides a unique, tongue-in-cheek look at the best and worst of human nature through the eyes of an anthropomorphic cast of animals who live, work and interact side-by-side with their human counterparts.
The backstory: Leslie and I have talked off and on about working on a side project together for a while. After a phone conversation a few months back, the wheels began turning. I awoke the next morning with an image of a fancy, tuxedo-wearing, monocle-rockin', smarmy giraffe in my head. I frantically called Leslie back and explained in a completely rational and not crazy-man-rambling sort of way what it was that I had thought up... and the concept was born. Over the next few days, I began getting a lot of ideas down on paper... mainly for an entire cast of characters, including my personal favorites: Dapper Dolphin and Emotionally Unstable Elephant. There's much more in store, but a lady can't give away all her secrets now, can she?
When and where can you expect to see more? We're really just getting started on this, and we'll want to build up a backlog of content before posting begins... so likely not for a few months. Both Leslie and I will be at Cincy Comicon in September, so I would expect that we would be up and rolling by that point. As for the "where"- our good friend, artist and webmaster over at Two For One Comics Sherief has offered the comic a home on the Two For One site when we are ready to go, which is way cool of him and super exciting! However, if you want to be one of the lucky few to pick up a limited "sneak peek" preview pack... read on.
Next weekend, at Cherry Capital Comic Con, Leslie and I will be offering an EXTREMELY limited number of sneak peek preview packs for sale to officially launch the comic- stop on out, pick one up, and be among the very first to jump on board our new project! In the sneak peek pack, you'll get a Judgmental Giraffe pinback button, a super-cool 16 oz can-shaped Judgmental Giraffe glass, and an Animal Nature preview comic! Here's a look at the button and glassware artwork:
Again- these will be limited, and will NOT last long. Be sure to grab 'em while you can!
As we get closer to a launch date, I will keep everyone updated through the normal channels... Facebook, Twitter, and right here at my poor neglected blog.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
The Liar
So...one time... I did a thing. In this case, that "thing" is a five-page script called The Liar, which was brought to life in the stunning art of the insanely gifted Peregrine Angthius. Though this story is a few years old, the pages have never been shared publicly- until now.
The Backstory:
A few years back, my friend and fellow writer Chris Meeuwes (The Naturals) called me up and invited me to be a part of a 24-hour comic jam.
For the uninitiated, a 24-hour comic is pretty self-explanatory. You complete an entire comic- script, pencils, inks, lettering, etc.- over the course of a 24-hour period. It's really a best of/worst of scenario... you are either hitting a groove and producing some amazing stuff, or you shit the bed. Either way, the results are oftentimes fascinating.
At this particular 24-hour comic event, there would be a twist- that multiple writers would each pair off with an artist and produce a section of the book- hence, the "jam" portion of the event. A collaboration of epic proportions. Full-scale nerd-out. If you've ever been in a room full of creative-types while they work, you'll understand why I immediately jumped on board- the creative energy just takes on a life of its own.
The night of the event, about a dozen total artists and writers met up, drew names from a hat, and began working with their respective partners. The process was really intriguing- blindly drawing a name more or less ensured that you would end up working with someone with whom you had never produced anything with before. In my case, it would be the first time I met my randomly selected partner.
Once partners were chosen, it was announced that the only limitations that we would have to follow (to keep the book relatively cohesive) were that each story had to involve a casino, and should only run about five pages. Other than that, free reign- superhero, horror, sci-fi... any genre was open, any story you wished to tell was fair game.
After settling in and taking a few minutes to get to know Peregrine, we began to hammer out the details of our story. I really felt that her style lent itself to a crime noir vibe, so I began pitching ideas around crimes that could happen in a casino- robbery, drug use, murder- until it just kind of clicked that we could use all three.
Because I like to "people watch" in public settings, I was really stuck on the idea that while you are surrounded by all these people in a casino, you never really know anything about them. Sure, you play a few games with someone, have a drink; enjoy shared success at the tables or bond over the bitter failure of coming up red when black proved to be the better choice, but you really don't know who they are. An acquaintance at the table could be an insurance salesman in real life, but pretend to be an oil tycoon while gambling. Maybe, just maybe, that guy you lost ten bucks with at the blackjack table was gambling the very last of his life's savings to pay for a child's medical bills... or a drug habit. The fleeting moments you spend together could never come back to haunt you if you were to misrepresent yourself, right?
After discussing these ideas, I felt like I had a solid story to tell: a guy- rough around the edges and down on his luck from gambling with poor life choices- finds himself at the end of his rope (and his cash flow) one night in a casino bathroom. Pushed to the edge, he does the unthinkable and attacks another casino patron (a well-dressed one, at that) and assumes a new identity once he has taken his victim's wallet, clothes, and life. The story is told from the point-of-view of our bedraggled villain, and begins with his plopping down at a table dressed in the other man's clothes. He then weaves a tale from a distorted point of view as to how he ended up at that moment in the evening- really hammering home the idea that what people tell you can't always be taken at face value.
I knocked out a quick script, titled it The Liar, and passed it off to Peregrine- who absolutely nailed the gritty, dirty world I was looking to create in just five short pages. Seriously, I can't even begin to describe how talented she is. If you aren't checking out her work, you should be. It. Is. Amazing.
Though I have seen most of the short stories completed for the 24-hour comic jam, they have never actually been collected into a finished product or published anywhere... and that is a shame. Remember when I said that some amazing work comes out of 24-hour comic events? The work done that night was truly inspired, and a lot of really tight friendships were born from it. I hope that one day, it will be assembled as originally intended and everyone can check it out in a printed format.
Until this point, I have never publicly shared any of the pages from The Liar. I was hoping to use it either in a compilation book, or as an ashcan, or see it printed with the rest of the short pieces from the jam comic... but each of those scenarios is not likely to happen. For now, it remains one of those "never went anywhere" projects... though it actually brings me a lot of joy knowing that these pages will finally have a home-right here in my little corner of the Internet- and have a chance to be read.
The Backstory:
A few years back, my friend and fellow writer Chris Meeuwes (The Naturals) called me up and invited me to be a part of a 24-hour comic jam.
For the uninitiated, a 24-hour comic is pretty self-explanatory. You complete an entire comic- script, pencils, inks, lettering, etc.- over the course of a 24-hour period. It's really a best of/worst of scenario... you are either hitting a groove and producing some amazing stuff, or you shit the bed. Either way, the results are oftentimes fascinating.
At this particular 24-hour comic event, there would be a twist- that multiple writers would each pair off with an artist and produce a section of the book- hence, the "jam" portion of the event. A collaboration of epic proportions. Full-scale nerd-out. If you've ever been in a room full of creative-types while they work, you'll understand why I immediately jumped on board- the creative energy just takes on a life of its own.
The night of the event, about a dozen total artists and writers met up, drew names from a hat, and began working with their respective partners. The process was really intriguing- blindly drawing a name more or less ensured that you would end up working with someone with whom you had never produced anything with before. In my case, it would be the first time I met my randomly selected partner.
Once partners were chosen, it was announced that the only limitations that we would have to follow (to keep the book relatively cohesive) were that each story had to involve a casino, and should only run about five pages. Other than that, free reign- superhero, horror, sci-fi... any genre was open, any story you wished to tell was fair game.
After settling in and taking a few minutes to get to know Peregrine, we began to hammer out the details of our story. I really felt that her style lent itself to a crime noir vibe, so I began pitching ideas around crimes that could happen in a casino- robbery, drug use, murder- until it just kind of clicked that we could use all three.
Because I like to "people watch" in public settings, I was really stuck on the idea that while you are surrounded by all these people in a casino, you never really know anything about them. Sure, you play a few games with someone, have a drink; enjoy shared success at the tables or bond over the bitter failure of coming up red when black proved to be the better choice, but you really don't know who they are. An acquaintance at the table could be an insurance salesman in real life, but pretend to be an oil tycoon while gambling. Maybe, just maybe, that guy you lost ten bucks with at the blackjack table was gambling the very last of his life's savings to pay for a child's medical bills... or a drug habit. The fleeting moments you spend together could never come back to haunt you if you were to misrepresent yourself, right?
After discussing these ideas, I felt like I had a solid story to tell: a guy- rough around the edges and down on his luck from gambling with poor life choices- finds himself at the end of his rope (and his cash flow) one night in a casino bathroom. Pushed to the edge, he does the unthinkable and attacks another casino patron (a well-dressed one, at that) and assumes a new identity once he has taken his victim's wallet, clothes, and life. The story is told from the point-of-view of our bedraggled villain, and begins with his plopping down at a table dressed in the other man's clothes. He then weaves a tale from a distorted point of view as to how he ended up at that moment in the evening- really hammering home the idea that what people tell you can't always be taken at face value.
I knocked out a quick script, titled it The Liar, and passed it off to Peregrine- who absolutely nailed the gritty, dirty world I was looking to create in just five short pages. Seriously, I can't even begin to describe how talented she is. If you aren't checking out her work, you should be. It. Is. Amazing.
Though I have seen most of the short stories completed for the 24-hour comic jam, they have never actually been collected into a finished product or published anywhere... and that is a shame. Remember when I said that some amazing work comes out of 24-hour comic events? The work done that night was truly inspired, and a lot of really tight friendships were born from it. I hope that one day, it will be assembled as originally intended and everyone can check it out in a printed format.
Until this point, I have never publicly shared any of the pages from The Liar. I was hoping to use it either in a compilation book, or as an ashcan, or see it printed with the rest of the short pieces from the jam comic... but each of those scenarios is not likely to happen. For now, it remains one of those "never went anywhere" projects... though it actually brings me a lot of joy knowing that these pages will finally have a home-right here in my little corner of the Internet- and have a chance to be read.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Obligatory First Blog Post
After putting it off for what feels like forever, I have finally gotten around to "building a web presence," as the in-the-know-type-folks say. Aside from my Facebook account- which I frequent- and my Twitter account- which were it a child, I would be imprisoned for neglect and abuse- I realized that all I have as far as places to go on the web is the website for Punching the Clock.
Oh, that's right... the first post is always supposed to be under the guise that every reader is someone just discovering you for the first time. So, for those of you who are new to me and what I do, let me break the news to you (and simultaneously let you down): I write comics.
That's right, comics. Y'know, those things you see in the newspaper, at bookstores and in the hands of nerds and children all over the "civilized" world. And, just to be clear up front (because I know you're wondering)- No, I'm not making enough money to survive by writing comics. Yet. That's really where you come in. You see, this blog marks a rather interesting point in my life: the true start of making comics a career.
Up until this point, I have only really been self-publishing one comic series (the aforementioned Punching the Clock). I have been writing the strip since mid-2011, and have partnered with my pal and cartoonist extraordinaire Jeff Manley on art duties. It's been a cool gig- we've put out two collected editions in print, had a successful Kickstarter (of which I am still diligently trying to wrap up reward allocation), and have enough content for at least two more books. We've produced a LOT of merch, attended conventions, were nominated for a Comic Buyers Guide Fan Award, and have carved out an impressive and insanely loyal fan following. I feel truly lucky when I think about all that we've accomplished in just a couple of short years.
Up until this point, PTC has been my main focus. I have started a few other projects, but ended up holding off on them for one reason or another. At this point, however, I need to have more projects under my belt and have quite a few stories I need to tell... and you (if you choose to follow this little slice of Internet blogginess) get a front row seat to watch it all unfold, right alongside me. In fact, I am starting work on no less than three new comics, and picking up one that I had set aside for a short time.
So, here I am.
I plan on filling this space with random thoughts, promotion for upcoming projects, organizing past works, and sneak peeks- at stuff in the works, completely finished and dead in the water. If all goes according to plan, I will make it a point to post regularly and divulge the inner workings of my mind... and hope you don't run away screaming.
I love comics. The business, the artistry, the storytelling- all of it. Financial success be damned, comics are my way of life, and I hope that these posts in the upcoming days, weeks, months... years... really encapsulate my love of the medium and serve it up on a pedestal for you. I hope you enjoy the ride, because I plan on doing so.
-Rob-
Oh, that's right... the first post is always supposed to be under the guise that every reader is someone just discovering you for the first time. So, for those of you who are new to me and what I do, let me break the news to you (and simultaneously let you down): I write comics.
That's right, comics. Y'know, those things you see in the newspaper, at bookstores and in the hands of nerds and children all over the "civilized" world. And, just to be clear up front (because I know you're wondering)- No, I'm not making enough money to survive by writing comics. Yet. That's really where you come in. You see, this blog marks a rather interesting point in my life: the true start of making comics a career.
Up until this point, I have only really been self-publishing one comic series (the aforementioned Punching the Clock). I have been writing the strip since mid-2011, and have partnered with my pal and cartoonist extraordinaire Jeff Manley on art duties. It's been a cool gig- we've put out two collected editions in print, had a successful Kickstarter (of which I am still diligently trying to wrap up reward allocation), and have enough content for at least two more books. We've produced a LOT of merch, attended conventions, were nominated for a Comic Buyers Guide Fan Award, and have carved out an impressive and insanely loyal fan following. I feel truly lucky when I think about all that we've accomplished in just a couple of short years.
Up until this point, PTC has been my main focus. I have started a few other projects, but ended up holding off on them for one reason or another. At this point, however, I need to have more projects under my belt and have quite a few stories I need to tell... and you (if you choose to follow this little slice of Internet blogginess) get a front row seat to watch it all unfold, right alongside me. In fact, I am starting work on no less than three new comics, and picking up one that I had set aside for a short time.
So, here I am.
I plan on filling this space with random thoughts, promotion for upcoming projects, organizing past works, and sneak peeks- at stuff in the works, completely finished and dead in the water. If all goes according to plan, I will make it a point to post regularly and divulge the inner workings of my mind... and hope you don't run away screaming.
I love comics. The business, the artistry, the storytelling- all of it. Financial success be damned, comics are my way of life, and I hope that these posts in the upcoming days, weeks, months... years... really encapsulate my love of the medium and serve it up on a pedestal for you. I hope you enjoy the ride, because I plan on doing so.
-Rob-
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)