27 notes &
SWC crew you ain’t kiddin’, the comics industry (in AMERICA, at least) is a fuckin’ mess.
The above image is the symptom of the mass censorship of comics back in the mid-50’s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comics_Code_Authority
Go educate yourselves if you don’t know the story, because it helps explain how SJW’s of that era demanded for change to “protect the children” from their hobby while the news published story after story on how comics were getting more and more gruesome while some greedy-fat head rides on the tails of this debacle and sells book after book titled “The Corruption of the Innocent”.
If this shit doesn’t sound familiar then you haven’t been paying attention, cuz this is the same shit that #Gamergate is about.
The only difference is that the hobbyists are fighting the SJW’s this time from implementing regulations that would hobble an industry for ever.
Also unlike the mid-50’s the gamers are taking an active stance to protect their hobby from being turned into a hobbled shell of it’s former glory.
To answer the question as to why the companies are only interested in pushing capes is the fault of the fanboys who work in the industry. Like Anime and Miyazaki’s utter disappointment, you’ve got an industry filled with people who grew up LOVING the artform as kids who wanted to grow up writing their own fanfiction now as head writers and Editors in Chiefs of these companies. They’re stuck in the late 70’s and early 80’s with their Superfriends bullshit who do very little to push the boundaries of the industry anymore.
That and by the time the Comics Code Authority was in place, the genres besides ‘capes’ weren’t as popular anymore, since Superheroes were now entering the “silver age of comics” which was more appealing to kids than Westerns, Suspense or Science Fiction (swear to god, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen sold millions of copies).
I think the reason why Comics only sell THOUSANDS instead of MILLIONS is because of Diamond Distrbutions, inc. They own the monopoly of comics distribution in North America, and they control how much is sold through their company. They make ordering comics such a fucking hassle and take SO much off the top from the sold books that the shops ‘n publishers don’t make much (it’s why Marvel sold the licenses to their franchises to movie companies in the early thousands). I think they also set the price for the books, too.
In regards to those fucking events? Started when Marvel Comics was owned by Mattel. Mattel was making action figures and said “Hey, Marvel, we want a story where all these characters fight”. Marvel was under contract to do so or lose their funding, and created “Secret Wars” (the tests showed that kids loved the words “Secret” and “Wars”. Hence the name). It was a 12 issue miniseries in 1980-something that spawned the In-house event for Marvel and DC for the rest of their publication lives.
As far as creators pushing their political idealogies in comics? It’ll always happen, man. The underground comix were radical, Little Orphan Annie was Republican, Marvel and DC comics are obviously liberal. There’s nothing wrong with inserting politics because everyone has their opinions on the matter, just avoid strawmanning in your comics and it’ll be fine.
As for your advice on making your own comics? Yes, do it.
Be like the underground comix makers in the 70’s and 80’s who used their art to speak out against the bullshit in society (and not like the underground hipster douchebags, they’re trendy, not underground). Be edgy, be mean, speak your mind. Silence isn’t golden in art, it’s a sign to be ignored.
Study the guys who made comics after fighting in wars, they paved the way for ground breaking storytelling that shaped a nation’s interest. Don’t try to emulate and study from anyone your own age- they’re making the same mistakes you are, and you’ll be making twice as many mistakes following them.
That goes double for Tenk- I know you love Mangos but since your audience is westerners you should learn to study some tricks developed by Western artists.
The great thing about the internet and Patreon and Kickstarter is that there is now a viable way to make comics without relying on the publishing houses or distributor taking all of your money.
It’ll be more work, but it’ll be worth it.Kinda lost track there.
So yeah, the industry’s a mess. But until we can knock over Diamond Distributors and have the fanboys running the Big 2 shoved into lockers we’ll just have to make our own comics.
and fucking avoid Neil Gayman’s advice on “make good art”. Fuck him. Make your crappy comics then make better ones. Just fucking improve you fucks.
But seriously Tenk, where’s page 9 of RHK? Kill Everything’s going to sweep you under the mat.
