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Messages - fesworks

#61
Ardra / The Road Trip (Redux)
February 08, 2010, 09:32:55 PM
The currently updating story in Ardra is a remake of the original "Road Trip" written and drawn by Jason.

This new versions has some character and plot tweeks and some new content! Written more or less by Jason and Fesworks, and Drawn by Trevor.

We're pegging this story to be printed in some fashion. It's likely that many of the old "Jason Art" comics and stories will be redone like this. POSSIBLY a couple of the early "Trevor Art" and "Fesworks Art" stories, if we get that far. We'll see.
#62
Applications / Re: The Green Avenger
January 17, 2010, 02:30:28 AM
Haha! Oh wow, Hey Abby! Welcome! :P

#63
I am planning on doing new character pages for PSI. This is new art I'll be using for the cast profile pages. While not every character that has appeared in PSI is on the cast page, those are just the one's I'm planning on. Starting with the main cast, and working my way down.

Another reason for me drawing new art, is to have a nice reference for their designs and clothes. Yes, some characters' clothes will change in these profile pictures. It's not really meant to be a spoiler, but they will be clothes I'm planning to get some of them into.

If there's any character you want me to draw, and show, sooner than others, I'll accept requests for that.

I'm also planning on releasing a couple of old sketches I drew for Nemi, with complete Armor of the Day Raven... while KIND of a spoiler, I figure showing CONCEPT sketches of it, won't be a bad idea.

Thoughts?
#64
Well, really, January and through April.... though specific dates and ranges may actually vary, depending on a few factors.

Some of this may be a ******* SPOILER ******* but, honestly, I really don't say what specifically happens.

Presently, if you've been reading and paying attention, there are a few running storylines... or groups of people with things going on. In addition to various weeks that will be entirely character sheets (new character profile art, to help me buy time in drawing) here's what's coming:

January
- Finishing off the last few scripts I wrote last summer. This should conclude the main mall scenes with Fes, Ernst, and Bodil, and then also a couple other characters.

February
- We'll be looking at Jenny, Scale, and Nemi in Magical Misfits (just in my comic), not a simultaneous crossover, but still a direct crossover because Nemi, Jenny, and Scale do show up in Magical Misfits at said Baby Shower. It's short (in MM's version), but it does happen. Also, more was supposed to happen, but, obviously, I'm incredibly behind, because we WERE supposed to have some sort of simultaneous crossover.

March
- Back to Fes and Ernst, and Bodil.

April
- Fes, Ernst, Bodil, and Nemi all get back together. Things should finally start to settle down almost complete from the past couple years of involved crossovers (essentially the majority of loose-ends should be tied up.)


Though I think I can get all of this done BY April, I did not check my scripts to actually count them out... plus I'm also planning on having un-planned scripts that pop-up because they work just right. It's also possible I may take a week off and upload PSI art instead of strips for a week here and there, if I feel I need more time to draw the more involved strips that come later.

I'm still committed to at least "3 strips worth" a week, even if I can't make 3 separate updates.

Also, I'm still looking for Questions about PSI or it's characters to answer. There's a thread in this forum for that.
#65
Quote from: Celtic Minstrel on January 14, 2010, 04:32:22 AM
I agree that, in general, it's not necessary to know the identity of a cameo — if you don't know who they are, then they simply seem like one of the "extras", ie characters who appear once (often in the background, or in a crowd) and are never seen again. Even without cameos, such characters exist.

Why can't one do the same for a character that has some sort of role?

Dahla and Rachel don't really have much to do (thus far) in the comic, and they could have easily been cameos. Same for Becky too. Granted their roles have been less involved than other cameos.

I guess the most recent Role'd Cameo would be Suzy, Toh, and Toshubi (since Brunhilda and Gertrude had already been pre-established, i don't count them). Certainly it's complex, but... wait, actually, that was a crossover... Still, for PSI, the reader is really supposed to know just as much as the main trio know... I *try* to avoid making assumptions that the reader may also know of the characters moreso. I mean, these two characters, it's apparent that they are rivals. During the crossover, you do get a sense of their characters. Does it overall add to the story of PSI?

Not entirely. But their storylines interwined enough that they became directly involved with the chaos going around (Zombies at the mall), and how Fes and Ernst had to deal with things. It also resulted in a couple of PSI story defining moments, such as a good portion of the Nemi/Bodil thing. It's where my muse was stronger than my desire to stick to the plan. The fields of character development and plot were too ripe to not harvest.

Could I have had that whole mess without the crossover/cameos? Well, Gertrude and Brunhilda HAD to be in it. Toh and Toshubi didn't have to, and I could have made other characters to cause a conflict... but hey, my comic is specifically designed to do cameos and crossovers :P

I hope I don't sound like I'm "trying to convince myself", but honestly, it's me sticking to what created PSI originally for, and PSI is my comic to have just fun with, experiment, while improving overall. Hopefully taking what I learn for other independent comic projects.

I do accept all criticism, though, as long as it's obviously not trolling for hits and just to be a dick for entertainment value.
#66
Ok, I don't know WHAT the real issue was... or WHY, rather, it was behaving that way.

I found that a simple fix was removing the "on-hover" link commands... which I have not touched in over a year, if I did at all.

You are the first to tell me about this.

IE still sucks ass.
#67
Quote from: harkovast on January 11, 2010, 04:44:09 PM
The other problem with crossovers is that they rely on the person reading being familair with who the crossover characters are.
For example- on the site "that guy with the glasses" they do lots of funny reviews of things. But sometimes they do crossovers with other reviewers. While this sounds great in theory, the main problem is that a lot of the time they cross over with someone I dont watch, so the joke is completely lost on me. Even if I go check who the guy is, thats basically just making me explain the joke so its not funny anymore.

You are thinking about it too much.

Sometimes, just KNOWING that it's a crossover is enough. Like in the case of those reviewer crossovers, You may think "Who's that guy?" But really, that's not important. What's important is what they are reviewing.

In other cases, like comics, you don't even have to know it's a crossover.... so some character you don't know comes in.... you don;t need to know everything about every character. could be as simple as a passer-by character... which is something, for the MOSt part, I try to do in PSI. Many of the characters that op up as cameos from other comics (especially recently), are like that.

When Toh (that ninja cat) comes in and steals the pendant, you really don't need to know who that is... just that they stole something, and the guys got to get it back. Sure, it may HELP if you know about the other comic, but I tried writting it in a way that things were just happening all around them.

Same with the ghosts in the graveyard. They were ghosts. there were some references to their respective comic storylines, but really were not that big of a deal to go into and explain.

When the Crossover Wars were starting during that battle in the graveyard... well, I cheated and broke the fourth wall, etc. However, from the crossover wars, even without knowing Scale's, Jenny's, or Gertrude and Brunhilda's comics, NOW in the comic, you are least know they are from other worlds. All that the reader needs to know/remember are the past experiences and interactions they had in the comic... not necessarily anything else they are doing, or have done... however, this may seem like a "cheat", but they are already explained enough WITHIN PSI's storyline, that I could bring them back with no trouble.

Most of this relies on my ability to storytell as well. A goal of mine is to keep making cameos and crossovers that meld into the story. If I don't go into who a character is, the audience doesn't need to know any more than what I present.... I just need to make sure I present that character enough when I introduce them.

AKA not bring in a character and assume the audience knows them, and in turn, utilize the character in a way that baffles the audience.

This last part is a flaw for many comic makers... A good example of this would be if I had Jenny Everywhere come in towards the beginning of the comic... Shift in, Grab Fes and Ernst for toast, and then just shift out, and going out it as though it was normal.

Granted, sometimes random comics can work like that... or a joke could be made at the expense of the characters or scene (which in turn gives the scene and/or cameoed character some basis for existing, etc).

I'd like to think, that for the MOST part, that I behave with the cameo characters and crossovers I do... meaning, that I *really* don't think that any of them "require" the reader to know who they are. They are merely there, and do stuff, as though I made up a new character anyway (except all the background work has already been done for me :P )

Of course, feel free to pick something specifically and I can try to explain myself or admit fault ;) :P

Quote from: harkovast on January 11, 2010, 04:44:09 PM
Especially in niche area like webcomics, you cant gurarantee that everyone will have a knowledge of other comics that you include...or worse yet they might not like the other comic you are borrowing from (Jack is dumb....there, I said it!)

I just cant figure why it wouldn't be better to make a new character to fill that role, and make something unique people can care about rare then a pale reflection of an existing work.

Remember that PSI was originally designed, specifically, to have cameos and crossovers. And was really just going to be my little hobby comic.... and it still is. However, these days, I'm trying to improve myself more, and write the stories better intertwining with the comic...

... however... and this might be a slight spoiler... a coming arc will kinda put it to the challenge. However, with what happens, it all relates to the story of PSI in some way.

PSI is already well established as a cameo and crossover type of comic... so future cameos and crossovers can be excused for the most part.

If I have the characters go to another webcomic, I will design it so that they are actually dimensionally traveling, so that things stay correctly defined in each world. Will the reader need to know what world it is? No. What about the characters they meet? Not really. They will be introduced like any new, unknown character. (unless I'm making non-cannon side strips for quick jokes).

You mentioned Jack... well, when I had to pick a reaper, I *did* want to use Jack, because I think it's cool :P And it goes in line with some of the stuff I was trying to do back then, for world defining.

HOWEVER, when you see Jack in PSI... the audience doesn't need to know who specifically he is... just that he's the reaper... and it works. You go on to ask "why not just make your own character?" ... well... I WANTED a cameo of Jack in it :P Also, the PSI world was mostly not really designed back then anyway... I wasn't really planning a whole lot. And I especially wasn't planning a "profession" type of comic. I wasn't trying to make something marketable. I was just having fun, and doing what I wanted. Which is a viable reason, and will fight to defend it (for myself and others), regardless of how stupid others may find it (ah, good 'ol freedom of speech and exprerssion).

Now, when I am thinking about redefining... or DEFINING rather... the world of PSI: If there's a rewrite (like for print), cameos and crossovers are ousted. Some existing characters (and some new characters) will fill in cameoed roles.

But yeah, you bring up good points. And if written properly, the reader doesn't need to be lost, when there's a cameo or crossover.

But sometimes, people don't care and are doing comics for themselves, others that also read those other comics, other cameo and crossover lovers, etc....

OH, and feel free to bring up examples if you will. Especially with new ones that come ;) :P

#68
Quote from: Celtic Minstrel on January 10, 2010, 11:02:59 PM
I dunno if the cameos would really be a legal nightmare... at worst you'd need explicit permission from every cameo's creator to include the character in the print comic.

For legal reasons, technically, you need expressed, written and signed permission... with stipulations of use and any sort of compensation sited, if any, etc.

In small scale, this is usually not an issue. Still, it's something that could get me in legal trouble, especially when I have a few cameoed characters that actually have roles.
#69
I.... have no idea what you are talking about o_O

For me, they are static. They are simply image links, that link to the main site (because the said pages do not exist on the Drunk Duck site). They should not be jumping around. I have no idea what could be causing that.... what browser are you using?


Ok, just checked with Internet Explorer... yeah. Stop using Internet Explorer... Runs fine in FireFox, as it is supposed to... I'll double check the code to see if I can try and prevent it, but it looks like it's something Internet Explorer is having a fit about.
#70
There are a couple that I said I'd draw before, yes.... have I done them, no... partly from being busy, and partly from not really having something to go off of, other than a description.... which is tougher for me when it comes to draw someone's character essentially from scratch... it takes a lot more time and work than if I already had some art to really go off of.

For now, I'm not really taking any requests, and just doing what I feel like sketching or such, when I can.

I should probably at least sketch or draw busts of the two I already said I would, but I'll have to find said descriptions.

Sorry :/
#71
Quote from: harkovast on January 09, 2010, 02:27:42 AM
I think using characters from other comics is generally a bad idea.
It always makes the work they appear in seem like the lesser work, and where is the need?

Maybe in general, yes, but there are a lot of comics that do it regularly. The trick is that if the comic is known for it, it's audience already generally accepts it. PSI has been doing it since close to the beginning, and was even apart of the original plan I had. These days I'm trying to integrate it more, WITHOUT world jumping in most cases. Or if world jumping is apart of it, avoid the 4th wall crap.

The point was to have fun (as PSI is a hobby comic), and connect with other cartoonists, etc. Also I LOVE crossovers and such, and world jumping. The webcomic will continue to have such cameos and crossover. When/If I print, things will be mostly different.

The main answer to these concerns are this: PSI was an experimental, hobby comic from the beginning, original meant to do cameos, parodies, and crossovers. Things have changed and improved all over, but I love the cameos and crossovers, and will continue to do them. However, I will continue to use PSI as a learning comic, and improve my storytelling skills to intertwine everything with the story that eventually developed from PSI.

PSI is my continuous project. It helps keep me sane as a creative outlet.


Quote from: harkovast on January 09, 2010, 02:27:42 AM
Why not just invent an original character instead to fill the same role?
to be honest... when I do the rewrite, some existing characters' roles will be extended to cover various cameoed characters' roles in the story. Some existing characters' roles will also be extended to help mold the story better, and streamlining certain things to avoid runarounds.

In some cases, such as the Reaper, I already have "invented" some characters to fill the same role. This will be explained in-comic soon.

In the rewrite, the crossover wars will likely be entirely written out. However, it's possible I'll still write SOME sort of dimensional mishap to bring in some characters... but it'd basically be all new.

Quote from: harkovast on January 09, 2010, 02:27:42 AM
The long term implications of two works existing in the same universe just provide further headaches for continuity.
I just cant see why you would want to go down that road.

The idea is that Webcomic PSI will continue as it has, while Print PSI will streamline PSI's 300+ pages into something smaller, simpler, and more to itself. Webcomic PSI should mostly continue as it has with cameos and crossovers, but the main story and plots would relatively be the same as the Print version when the Print version catches up. Basically they'll more or less share continuity, with little differences.

The other thing is that PSI is impossible to print as it is. On TOP of not having enough original material that is actually printable, without re-inking, scanning, and coloring the majority of strips... the Cameos and such are a legal nightmare... I'd also like to make PSI all "mine" too...

I could just up and start completely over. Stop the webcomic version, and just focus on a rewrite... but I can't bring myself to do that. All that time and effort and progression to just up and quit? Without finishing the storylines and plot points I've been waiting years to get to?

I also had another idea to make some stories that would work in EITHER the Webcomic or Print versions... Like I said, aside from the first 200 or so strips, the basic plot and story of PSI is basically going to be the same for both versions.. as long as I don;t reference past events that only exist in on or the other's version.

It all makes sense to me, anyway :P

I mean, if people are STILL reading my comic after what I have in the archives, that's good enough for me, as long as I keep improving my storytelling.
#72
Well, I've been back since late October (and updating consistently!). After  a computer fiasco effing the previous return from Hiatus, I has started again!

The plan is this:

Update 3 Strips a week at minimum. The PLAN is to update M-W-F... however, if I have an update that may need 2 strips, or a whole page, I'll update twice... on Tuesday and Friday.... the end result is that there will still be at LEAST 3 strips WORTH of updates a week.

If I miss Monday's update, you can bet that I'll be updating Tuesday and Friday.

I'm hoping to avoid single update weeks, but if I do, it should be a full page (aka 3 strips stacked).

#73
2010 Q&A Campaign! Ask Questions!

It's time for another Question and Answer round!

In the past, I have done "campaigns" to get more questions from readers, for me to answer! Some of which have been answered in comic form, as well. Recently I have fixed up the FAQ section of PSI (it was still on the OLD site), so please check out the past FAQs. The 2007 answers have been updated a bit, so please check it out again!

Now I want some more questions! You can ask me ANYTHING! ... of course, I will not directly answer questions that are future spoilers, but I promise to respond to every question in some way... just don't ask more than 10 questions. Some questions may receive comic answers.

You may e-mail me, or ask through a comment!


http://psiwebcomic.com/about/faqs/
#74
I've been too busy, and REAAAAAAAAALY need to update the site o_O
#75
Announcements / Re: Bandwidth Use Issues
January 02, 2010, 07:37:41 PM
Yay!