"All Rock is Local Rock" - A Comic

SLIV · #1 09-24-2009, 09:11 AM

For about a month now I've been working on a comic about playing in a local band. It kind of mirrors my own experiences putting a band together many years ago.

I've never made a comic before so any feedback or comments on anything-- content, design, layout, art-- would be appreciated.

First page:http://theparkinsonsrock.blogspot.co...nd-pp-1-2.html

Thanks and I hope you enjoy it!

(Oh, and one more thing.... as it deals with rock music scenes, the language is not suitable for children.)

sirpug · #2 09-24-2009, 09:15 AM

Cool man.

RedLeg · #3 09-24-2009, 09:19 AM

talking drum machine, that was hilarious. Well I would read more.

jmac · #4 09-24-2009, 09:25 AM

I, too, thought it was funny. I'd read more.

RedLeg · #5 09-24-2009, 09:32 AM

I am reading more, good stuff. The bartender is great. It may be niche humor, but I bet it could garner a loyal base.

bassteban · #6 09-24-2009, 09:36 AM

Not bad, but I'd suggest some exaggeration- it reads to me like reality. Maybe make the talking drum machine(a very clever concept, BTW)more argumentative, or wanting to branch out into jazz. The *between 22 & 26* could be *between 21 3/4 & 22 5/8*
My two cents(apologies/tip of the hat/drink to Maki

).
Oh, & I'd also suggest checking out some *comix*, like the Freak Brothers, Dr. Atomic or Zap. Also good is Mickey Rat.

DaveDeVille · #7 09-24-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLIV

First page:http://theparkinsonsrock.blogspot.co...nd-pp-1-2.html

excellent ...

artwork is super cool .

... i know you didn't ask , but here's a few ideas for future strips :

** girlfriend { yoko } influences the band into becoming a Fleetwood Mac tribute band .
** new drummer is actually on the F.B.I. " most wanted " list .
** band vehicle gets vandalized / stolen at local bar gig .
** bass player learns the hard way , how not to approach ex-girlfriends ,
asking if they want to get together for a night of sex , for old times sake .

CBgaragebassist · #8 09-24-2009, 12:26 PM

Love the Big Black comment. i've actually said that to my guitarist one time.

really cool comic. great job!

EricF · #9 09-24-2009, 05:11 PM

Thoroughly enjoyed

I want to know what happens next!!!!

BritPicker · #10 09-24-2009, 05:52 PM

I enjoyed it! I wanted to see what would happen next!

Can you put them all in a PDF or something so we can print it out more easily, like a REAL comic?

It would be cute/surreal if the drum machine actually had it's own personality and was pissed off with the guys looking for a human replacement.

But hey you're the writer, not me!

The only thing that got me was sometimes the frame-order and speach-bubble order was ambiguous (and I've read a lot of comics!). Maybe that needs a little work.

What do you use for your graphics?

Loved it!!!!

SLIV · #11 09-24-2009, 09:53 PM

Thank you all for the comments, feedback, and criticisms. I really appreciate it-- and need it. I've never done a comic before and have only read a couple so I know I've made some mistakes (such as panel flow)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

Not bad, but I'd suggest some exaggeration- it reads to me like reality. Maybe make the talking drum machine(a very clever concept, BTW)more argumentative, or wanting to branch out into jazz. The *between 22 & 26* could be *between 21 3/4 & 22 5/8*

Thanks for this observation, bassteban. You're right, it IS too realistic. I am aiming for some realism (to introduce playing in a band to people who never have) but it can be quite boring. I'm going to step up the exaggeration or "absurdity" level.

SLIV · #12 09-24-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BritPicker

I enjoyed it! I wanted to see what would happen next!

Can you put them all in a PDF or something so we can print it out more easily, like a REAL comic?

It would be cute/surreal if the drum machine actually had it's own personality and was pissed off with the guys looking for a human replacement.

But hey you're the writer, not me!

The only thing that got me was sometimes the frame-order and speach-bubble order was ambiguous (and I've read a lot of comics!). Maybe that needs a little work.

What do you use for your graphics?

Thanks, Britpicker. I use Pages (a word processing program from Apple much like Microsoft Word) to create the characters. A lot of the objects are images taken off the web or photographed and then processed through Photoshop Elements. The backgrounds are, again, images that have been filtered and obscured in Elements. The layout and lettering is done with ComicLife (Plasq).

A friend enlightened me on some of the panel order and text bubble errors, but alas, they were already done and posted. I'm learning!

The PDFs aren't so big and I can put them on our band website. When each "episode" is done I'll upload it as one file. I'll post here when I do.

Again, thanks for good feedback and words of support!

Sizlack · #13 09-25-2009, 07:57 AM

I enjoyed...I have a ton of web comics I read on a daily basis.
My only bitch about it is the size/formatting, I would try to make it fit horizontally on the screen. I don't mind scrolling up and down to read it, but left and right is a bit annoying. Other than that keep up the good work.

shadowtippy · #14 09-25-2009, 09:20 AM

Not bad at all. I'd read it. Good job.

**baba** · #15 09-25-2009, 10:28 AM

Read all of them. Nice work!

Uribam · #16 09-25-2009, 09:33 PM

I like it. You're bookmarked! If you want to learn more about webcomics you can learn by reading other's. I'd recommend the only two I read (I'm not a big comic guy but these two are sweet). QC by Jeph Jacques. You can see when you read from the very first to the most current how far he's progressed himself in having a very outstanding comic. The other is XKCD. The XKCD is much shorter usually but it's alternative niche comedy. Yours will be the third I read whenever there's a new one. I don't really like comics, just these ones seem to entertain me enough. I hope it helps and I wish you the best of successes.

Scott

SLIV · #17 10-01-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uribam

I like it. You're bookmarked! If you want to learn more about webcomics you can learn by reading other's. I'd recommend the only two I read (I'm not a big comic guy but these two are sweet). QC by Jeph Jacques. You can see when you read from the very first to the most current how far he's progressed himself in having a very outstanding comic. The other is XKCD. The XKCD is much shorter usually but it's alternative niche comedy. Yours will be the third I read whenever there's a new one. I don't really like comics, just these ones seem to entertain me enough. I hope it helps and I wish you the best of successes.

Scott

Thanks for the comic recommendations-- I've been reading Questionable Content and LOVE IT. XKCD is real clever but I prefer storylines and QC has got it. Thanks again.