Creating a Graphic Novel : Art – Food – Photography

The Word Smith Kickstarter sketch rewards arrived yesterday! It’s always exciting to actually see P.R.’s work in real life. They will eventually be going to good homes when Word Smith hard copies are ready to be packed and shipped. I have been advised the first print run of Tabby will be ready next weekend!

Word Smith – Sketch Rewards :

The Wall of Fame for Word Smith is now up! Thanks for everyone who has supported this project and helped bring it to life.

Link to the Wall of Fame :
http://sigmatestudio.com/wall-of-fame-5/

The Word Smith Kickstarter is tracking well to be finished by October. Once it’s done and printed, I’ll start the process of packing and shipping Word Smith to the world. I had a special Word Smith commission completed by Malaysian artist Brian Lim who also designed the Word Smith Logo.

Word Smith – Final :

Word Smith – Initial Sketch :

The Word Smith Kickstarter logo is done! The primary font is by Marta van Eck and the ‘W’ and ‘S’ was a special commission completed by Tixit (Brian Lim). I’m very happy with the final results. Logos take a lot of work to get right!

Word Smith – Logo :

This will be one of the reward sketches from the Word Smith Kickstarter. She’s not part of the story but is a character design for the next issue of Word Smith. (YES! A next issue is already in planning!) Like Victoria, Mei Li is also a Word Smith with her trusty friend, Pan Hong (a red panda). She has a different approach to her craft than Victoria.

Word Smith – Mei Li :

Link to Kickstarter

Bless the Children is a Western horror story by Joseph Duis where he describes it as a cross between Ravneous and Sixth Sense. It follows Edsel who stumbles into a town of mysterious silent children. The creator, Joseph was kind of enough to share some of his time to answer a few questions about the Bless the Children Kickstarter.

Thanks for your time! What was the inspiration behind Bless the Children?

The inspiration was actually history, as with most of my stories. I started researching a lot about very early westward settlements that didn’t work out and I started thinking about how most of these migrations probably ended in failure and how terrifying it would be to be stuck out there in basically hostile territory. Kind of reminded me a lot of Ravenous, and how that movie really worked as a horror movie, with the isolation and desperation palpable.

I started thinking about horrific elements I could add to it and children can be very creepy especially if they’re completely silent, which is wholly unnatural for kids. The second creepy element was some kind of repetitive enigmatic sound. I think I managed to work that in too.

I didn’t really know how it was going to look until I read a book someone gave me about the earliest comic books. They were right in the period when the story takes place so I decided to go with that style. Hopefully it gives a bizarre discordant feel being in a format that’s recognizable but not exactly what we’re comfortable with.

You mentioned an enigmatic sound? How did you work that into the comic medium?

The SFX and dialogue are done a little bit differently. Dialogue bubbles weren’t in use at the time in comic books so I gave each character a different font and their dialogue kind of hovers near them in boxes.

How was it like working with Greg Woronchak?

Love working with Greg. He is so fast, his style can be adapted to anything. I couldn’t approve his pages as quickly as he was doing them! Also Greg added a ton of little touches that are all Greg. The design of the wallpaper, adding children in the background when they weren’t scripted in, and reaction panels really showing the emotions of the characters!

What have you learnt from your first Kickstarter?

After the first Kickstarter I learned to spend a LOT more time before the Kickstarter promoting it!

All the best with your Kickstarter! I know it’s already funded but hope it finishes strong!

Link to Kickstarter

Link to Word Smith Kickstarter.

With the Word Smith Kickstarter over, there’s been a million things to organise to get everything ready. Here’s a sketch from P.R. Dedelis that’s going to be an awesome reward. I always feel a little sad posting off original artwork.

Word Smith – Sketch :

However my favourite reward is definitely the Drawn In reward. It’s really cool to give a backer their own little cameo in the graphic novel! It’s a fantastic way to be part of the Word Smith world.

Word Smith – Drawn In :

Link to Geek-Girl Kickstarter

Geek-Girl is a fun series following the (mis)adventures of Ruby who uses a special set of glasses to gain super powers. She’s not trained in battling super villains and finds herself in situations over her head whilst having to deal with issues in her normal life.

Geek-Girl is currently on Kickstarter where you can pre-order the series. I had the opportunity to ask some questions to the author and creator, Sam Johnson.

Thanks for your time! What was the inspiration for the lead character Ruby?

Ruby was one of three characters I just came up with for a Who Wants to Create a Superheroine Contest.

What was the Create a Superheroine Contest?

Jim Valentino’s Shadowline Studios ran it, inviting people to pitch ideas for new super-heroines, the idea was the winner was intended to be turned into an Image Comics Mini-Series.

How far have you planned the story?

The second Mini-Series is plotted and half-scripted, and if enough of a fanbase has built up for GG after its TPB comes out, an ongoing series will follow, which I already have lots of plans for.

Anything the fans can expect coming up?

It’s difficult to go into this much because of how the first Mini-Series ends on a cliffhanger. But what I will say is that following Lightning Storm’s actions, the heroes of Ruby’s home town are going to have their hands full, and more weird and wonderful villains will be coming out of the woodwork.

What motivated you to write Geek Girl?

She’s a fun character, I wanted to develop Ruby and her universe, and see how the effects of the glasses change a character who doesn’t necessarily start out as the most likeable.

How was it like working with Carlos (artist)?

Great, Carlos is The Man for the job, he brings loads to the Geek-Girl in terms of fleshing out the characters in their facial expressions and body language, as well as delivering great action; and I’m very pleased he’s on board for Series 2.

We’ve never physically met, I advertised for a long time for artists on online comic-related forums and Facebook before finding the right artist in Carlos. He’s in Colombia and I’m in the UK. The power of the internet.

Any words of advice for aspiring comic creators?

Start by getting short stories done for anthologies; that doesn’t mean they have to be completely done in one; you can use them to introduce creations you want to take beyond.

Thanks for your time Sam! Please check out Sam’s Kickstarter where you can Pre-Order a copy of his work.

Link to Geek-Girl Kickstarter

Link to Word Smith Kickstarter.

The Word Smith Kickstarter was successfully funded last Friday. Sorry for the delay in posting but a huge thanks to all the supporters with 274 backers and $8008 raised. Wow! It was a long campaign so I’m taking a little time out to myself but will keep the updates coming on how Word Smith is progressing!

Just found out Tabby is on display at The Comic Place. If you live near the area, be sure to check it out!

The Comic Place
50 Playne St Frankston Vic 3199
Open Wed to Mon

The Comic Place :

Link to Word Smith Kickstarter.

The Word Smith Kickstarter is funded and going strong! The first stretch goal has been reached and all backers will have their name on the Wall of Fame! It’s the next stretch goal that has got me very excited, P.R Dedelis (pencils) and Peyton Freeman (colours) have put together this amazing new print that will be added to the A4 Prints rewards!

Word Smith – Draft Banner :

Word Smith – Pencils :

Word Smith – Final :

Thanks to Creative Partnerships Australia’s MATCH program, every dollar you give to this campaign will be matched dollar for dollar, provided we reach our campaign target of $5050.