Call for new Q&A questions.
As alluded to in previous posts, it's been a tough year, which has meant less of the fun sketches and daft comics that usually fill the Patreon. But I enjoy answering questions and talking through the creative process, so if you have any creative (or other) areas you'd like me to tackle, please put your query in the comments below. I usually get to most of them.
Comments (13)
You dabble a lot in the quasi-paranormal across all your comics over the years where characters just kind of acknowledge it as a thing. On that point: 1)Have decided that a monster of the volume was just too much paranormal for your comics and 2)How do you come up with your ideas for what the monsters will be/do, so essentially how are you influenced on them.
Have you ever thought of having your work translated in another language? Do you think that the way you play with English, that I find quite impressive, might transfer well enough for the comics to be at (almost) the same level as the original?
Hey John, Long time fan. I started with the Scarygoround web comic back in the day. Keep up the good work. My son is an aspiring illustrator (in college) and has been drawing every day since he was around 4. Is there any bit of wisdom you wish you'd had as an artist just at the beginning of your career? Hope things are going better for you! I just backed the Giant Days collection and am looking forward to having some of your work in Library Edition!
In Circus Windows, a clown refers to Lotte as "Chibi Vampirella" (and Mildred as "Lanky Blonde"). I really got a chuckle out of "Chibi Vampirella" because, to me, that would be an internal reference of how to draw the basic character. (Plus, I have only just started reading Vampirella and Vampirella-related comics, so it hit home on a character I am learning about... see Sacred Six comics arc) Do you have any other pithy nicknames for your characters that would also cause some of your readers to have some chuckles?
What are you reading/ watching/ listening to that you really like and or really dislike?
Can you finally reveal who WOULD win in a fight between a living carpet, giant sloth, and automated one-man band?
Your depiction of Cricket in the "SGR universe" is single-handedly responsible for sparking my interest in the sport. However, I'm in the US, and can't find a good place to watch the sport. Do you know where I can watch? Any plans on featuring more Cricket in your work (please)?
Great questions, everyone! Keep them coming and I will begin to answer them next week.
You had a series of comics where Desmond was a candidate for office, and you've occasionally had some comics/sketches with Jacob Rees-Mogg in them. Have you ever considered doing political satire of actual politicians in your comics as a regular thing? Or devoting an issue or book to the subject? Or is it too stressful a subject with which to engage? (which I would certainly understand lately, given the Tory churn)
I really enjoyed Our Little Sister ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Little_Sister ) after seeing it recommended in a post by John here. Any other media recommendations? (Happy to hear from fellow Patreonisters as well!)
There seems to be a fashion/style theme to the questions so far. I was wondering how you go about designing outfits for your characters, what influences you and whether any of it informs or is informed by your own dress sense?
is there a subcultural aesthetic or style of dress you've ever wanted to include but not found a character for?
Hi John I hope things are looking a little rosier for you now. I was just wondering - imagine you were taking a *really* long time to make a comic (maybe because you were holding down two jobs at the same time). What if, over the course of ten pages (which took, for the sake of argument, *two* years), you realised one of your main characters was sporting a hairstyle at least 20 years out of date and just *had* to fix it (because it's like a slap in the face every time you look at it). Would you go back and change all the instances of the old style, write the change of style into the story, or try and find a third, better and more professional solution? As I say - just wondering. I expect when you've been in the 'comics biz' as long as you have and done your time you don't make any such schoolboy errors. Sorry to be so long-winded and thank you for offering to share some of your 'Leet Comix Knowledge' . P.S. Whatever your year's been like, it hasn't affected the quality of your comics - Master Craftsmanship in action!