Webcomics Reviews & Interviews

- Season 2

(2019)

Writers have a problem getting into the proper state of mind when it comes to writing. Viking zen, the idea that berserkers attained a meditative state in battle, should help them attain the proper mood for writing. You may not need a battle axe to listen to this podcast it could help. After listening to this you should be ready to charge the typewriter ready for battle.

Professional artists and professional athletes share a number of similarities, and so it may be worth looking at how athletes become successful. This includes follow-through, the importance of practice, worrying about the game but strategizing for the season, listening to a coach, working with a team, and playing to the fans, including making appearances. By using some of these techniques you may find better success as an artist.

When it comes to rides, there are two different kinds of rides most people gravitate towards: merry-go-rounds and roller coasters. Merry-go-rounds are slower, safer, and for romance, while roller coasters are faster, exciting, and for those looking for a thrill. They can also describe different approaches to art; find out which one you are and how to mix approaches.

Writers and artists have problems eating right and getting enough exercise, and that needs to change. We are looking primarily at diet, such as the basic diet, things to avoid and dangerous myths, some quick and basic recipes, as well as how to survive a con, fast food restaurants, and convenience stores. We will also take a quick look at exercise, including a really simple exercise plan to keep you active.

Artists need some sort of social life in order to remain grounded as well as to make sure that their material remains fresh. Thus we look at social media as a means of establishing contact with others as well as keeping an eye on things, including Facebook and discussion boards. Meeting up with others is also looked at, as well as the social aspects of conventions, gaming, friends and family, clubs. Volunteer work and even local chambers of commerce are looked at. Stay social and stay sane.

Artists are sometimes too worried about doing art and not too worried about eating right. They need a little help eating and avoiding the wrong foods. With this podcast you will be able to identify food that's good for you and not so good for you, how to eat healthy at convenience stores and conventions, and how to cook some great and really simple recipes.

With love in the air, it may help to look at what love means for writers. The definition of "love" is discussed, with an emphasis on how it should be written. We look at why overs need to be equal on some level, and why secrets just don't work. We also look at what love is not, why sex isn't required, and how to use forced romances to best effect.

Friendships are something most people don't worry about but maybe you should. In this podcast we explore what defies a friendship, the limits of a friendship, the difference between friends and allies, and what to do when friendships become something else. In short, there are a lot of different issues to consider when it comes to friendships and it can only help to think about some of them.

Warning: This podcast may feature subject matter that some listeners may wish to avoid. You have been warned. Sex is a complicated subject, and it's one that every writer justifiably dreads considering what it can do. We look at the act from a number of angles, such as symbolically, what it does to relationships, and some of its ramifications. We also look at rape and how to avoid it. We also look at how to draw it. In short, we cover a lot of ground, so this should be interesting.

Comicsgate is arguably one of the biggest controversies when it comes to comics. In this podcast we look at its main points, why it's right and how wrong it is. We also look at how to fight it and ways we can improve the comics community.

Being politically correct has some serious problems from the writer's perspective; while we should encourage diversity there is a problem with taking it to an extreme. We look at some of the problems. and how to make your comic a little better by keeping in them in mind. We look at writing a character for "who" they are as opposed to "what" they are, cultural appropriation, and even why you should be more honey badger and less worried about what others think.

Writing a comic is an interesting compromise between art and business, even if that usually goes to the art side. We look at several problems that can create problems for that equation: Comics that inspire anarchy and their problems are looked at, as well as why focusing on particular ratings and even the use of nudity may be an issue. Why "exposure" may not be all that bad is considered. We also look at the issues with using racism in settings that you have complete control over.

Creatives hate gatekeepers, both the good ones and the bad. We look at getting your comic past the gatekeepers: Why Diamond sucks, the importance of adhering to the submission guidelines and judging your audience, and why your product had best be THAT good. We also look at dealing with trolls, knowing the difference between trolls and those just disagreeing with you. In short, why you have no real excuse to not submit your comic and why you need to ignore that voice telling you not to.

Pacing can be a major problem for new writers as they are more worried about just getting it down. We look at how pacing works and how it makes your comic better, and then we break it down into the "three-act fractal", showing you how your acts, your scenes, and even your strips break down into smaller and smaller three-act structures. We also show you how to use beats for maximum effect and how to build suspense based on how fast people read.

Protecting your rights as a creator is something we all need to worry about. With guest Gamal Hennessy, comic book lawyer, we look at the basics of copyright and trademark law, slam the poor man's copyright, and talk about the Fair Use Doctrine. How to lose your copyright is also discussed as well as some of the problems with fan art.

One of the biggest problems facing writers is finding an artist; this answers the question of how a writer can do the art. Also, how artists can use these tips in their own art is explored, and using other media for the sake of graphic storytelling is looked at.

After establishing my scale of 1-5, the following webcomics are reviewed: Penny Arcade, Girl Genius, and Young Protectors. I explain my system and how it breaks down to writing, art, and web design, and how it will be implemented during the show's run. The three presented are examples of how this system works.

Conventions represent their very own risks for the uninitiated. This podcast takes a look at the problem in every convention with an eye towards making sure that you will escape it relatively unscathed. Prepping for the con, from self-defense to costume design, securing your belongings and your table, and even going to a bar afterwards are all explored. For those worried about going into a convention this may help allay a lot of those fears.

Interview with Natx Wang, nutritionist/podcaster as we discuss the issues facing those trying to find healthy food at a convention. She was given two fast food restaurants (a burger joint and a taco outlet), a convenience store, a carneceria, a microwave, and a refrigerator, and told to have fun. This interview represents what she came up with, and the discussion created by those options.

Interview with Gordon Firemark, business/entertainment attorney. We cover all sorts of legal issues, ranging from transformative versus derivative works, copyright versus trademark, and even libel versus slander. The advantages to incorporating your comic are looked at, and we even look at using orphan works.

WARNING: Mature subject matter. This is my breakdown of Game of Thrones, as I look back at how great show was, and a few theories, such as Danaerys' intent to liberate the world and why she didn't go insane, Bran setting himself up as king, and a few other issues of the last season. I also summarize what I think should have happened, and have some fun with major events.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that we need the support of fans in order to succeed; sure they can be irritating but we need to remember that without fans all creative endeavors are bound to fail, be they patrons, our support, or the people we're counting on to pay our bills. Here we look at ways to show our appreciation for the fans, from merchandise to giving them some agency, and even just doing what we do. We can't afford to forget what we owe them, and we forget that at our peril.

Interview with Ben Dunn, founder and editor of Antarctic Publishing. We discuss the various anthologies of Antarctic Publishing and how to use them to get into the comic business, as well as the history of Antarctic Publishing. We also talk about Warrior Nun Areala, the newest comic-related series on Netflix.