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Topic:
Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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Jedi Ben
Registered:
Jul '99
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:04pm
Subject:
Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
- Date Edited:
5/12 1:30pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Jedi Ben
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Some of us have been collecting comics for some time and know their eccentricities and odd behaviour, but I'm sure quite a few of our fellow fans are not so well-versed. They're loving the content but are baffled by the release schedule, or that DHC says a comic is due X but there's no sign of it or their local store doesn't have it.
The idea of this thread is to help people get their heads around how the comics process works which in turn will help reduce their frustration and confusion when the comics hit an inevitable bump in the road!
So, rules are:
1. Post whatever comics Qs you have, I'll do my best to answer them as a fan. I'm not a pro, in the industry or anything, I've just been collecting comics for years. Won't always have a great answer for you either!
2. This is not a thread for ranting about how crap delays are or how unprofessional people are, it's to understand how the process works, how it goes wrong and how it goes right!
3. Similarly it is not a thread to be moaning about the weaknesses of the medium. This means no rants about how you hate artist X or that 22 pages isn't enough or anything!
In case it isn't clear: Rules 2 + 3 = No ranting about anything comic-related!
Finally, I know I'm not the only one here who knows a good deal abouit comics, this isn't intended as a one-man band - more a thread for those of who do know comics to help those who are baffled by 'em! 
JB
-----signature-----
"There is no struggle too vast, no odds too
overwhelming, for even should we fail -
should we fall - we will know that we have lived."
Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness
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jfostrander01
Title: Writer:
-Legacy
-Republic
Registered:
Oct '01
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:22pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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Good idea for a thread, Ben. I'd be happy to chime in from time to time if it would be useful.
I'm also aware that, if you have not grown up reading comics, sometimes getting the trick of HOW to read them -- what do you look at first and where do you go from there -- can be confusing at first. Do you look at the art of the words first? (The answer is -- yes. Whatever works for you.)
In general, it follows the way you'd read anything in our culture -- left to right and down. You start in the upper left corner of the page and work your way down to the lower right corner. Same holds true in a panel -- whichever caption or balloon is upper left, that's what you start with. It then goes diagonally across the panel and down to your right. Next panel -- start at the upper left hand corner again.
Sounds mundane but i know many people who have told me they never learned the 'trick" to reading comics and so just didn't get into them.
-- John
-----signature-----
writer on SW Legacy
I'm making this up as a go.
Jan Duursema's badassery knows no bounds.
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Jedi Ben
Registered:
Jul '99
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:26pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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Well, that's a surprise! Wasn't expecting you to drop by John - not that you ain't welcome.
Thanks for the reading point, it's fundamental but due to that is often overlooked.
-----signature-----
"There is no struggle too vast, no odds too
overwhelming, for even should we fail -
should we fall - we will know that we have lived."
Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness
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Manisphere
Registered:
Aug '07
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:29pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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I have a bit of a nagging question or two, Ben. Is DH making up for delays with such a flurry of comics released this past month? Are they catching up? If so, do they usually catch up with a wild fury of releases? More than 3 comics in a month must make the average comic buyer pick more carefully.
Is it DH keeping up with the Vector schedule, or is DH mostly clearing the table for the upcoming Clone Wars stuff?
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r2d2istheman
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:31pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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jfostrander01 posted:
Good idea for a thread, Ben. I'd be happy to chime in from time to time if it would be useful.
I'm also aware that, if you have not grown up reading comics, sometimes getting the trick of HOW to read them -- what do you look at first and where do you go from there -- can be confusing at first. Do you look at the art of the words first? (The answer is -- yes. Whatever works for you.)
In general, it follows the way you'd read anything in our culture -- left to right and down. You start in the upper left corner of the page and work your way down to the lower right corner. Same holds true in a panel -- whichever caption or balloon is upper left, that's what you start with. It then goes diagonally across the panel and down to your right. Next panel -- start at the upper left hand corner again.
Sounds mundane but i know many people who have told me they never learned the 'trick" to reading comics and so just didn't get into them.
-- John
You are completely correct John. The first comic I ever read was your first issue of Legacy at the age of 20 years old and it took me a bit to be able to figure out how to read the dialogue balloons in the right order. Good call, and thanks for all your hard work on such a great comic series.
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SuperWatto
Registered:
Sep '00
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:34pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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Good topic Ben.
I got one or two questions....
1. What materials do Jan Duursema and Colin Wilson use?
2. How long does it take either of the above to:
a. sketch a page
b. ink it
3. And how long does it take to color it?
-----signature-----
TRACK THAT TRACK http://trackthattrack.blogspot.com frustrating you with sound
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Jedi Ben
Registered:
Jul '99
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:38pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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Manisphere posted:
I have a bit of a nagging question or two, Ben. Is DH making up for delays with such a flurry of comics released this past month? Are they catching up? If so, do they usually catch up with a wild fury of releases? More than 3 comics in a month must make the average comic buyer pick more carefully.
Is it DH keeping up with the Vector schedule, or is DH mostly clearing the table for the upcoming Clone Wars stuff?
Short answer: Yes, to some of them.
What is happening now is the flipside to delays where DHC is concerned, for they have a record for doing this from time to time. Several issues will get delayed then there'll be a month with about 7 SW comics! Vector isn't doing too bad, we're in May and part 4 is out this week so there's only 1 issue to catch up on.
You may also ask why bother to catch up? As a buyer it's good for a comic to establish itself as a regular monthly, it makes it easier to get people buying as: 'When's the next issue in? Same time next month' beats 'Don't know'.
There may also be a measure of professional pride in DHC wanting to get all 12 issues out on time too!
In regards to Clone Wars, space for that has been created by halting the Rebellion and Dark Times - the term is hiatus - but they are not cancelled!
I'd caution you on the use of the phrase 'average comics buyer' though, as I know people that buy 10 titles a month, others 30, some 50, some even more. In terms of buying comics, if you know how the industry operates in terms of selling and when, you can reasonably plan your comics expenditure two months ahead of time. If someone is buying strictly SW comics and have already been buying all 4, then 3 more is $9 - not an amount that's likely to break the bank.
-----signature-----
"There is no struggle too vast, no odds too
overwhelming, for even should we fail -
should we fall - we will know that we have lived."
Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness
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dp4m
Registered:
Nov '01
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:40pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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Can we have Marvel back?
-----signature-----
"Looks like you're about to get pwned" - Eric Cartman
"Awarding experience points for cleverly and creatively generating an enjoyable experience. How warped is that?" - Darths & Droids
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Jedi Ben
Registered:
Jul '99
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:42pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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SuperWatto posted:
Good topic Ben.
I got one or two questions....
1. What materials do Jan Duursema and Colin Wilson use?
2. How long does it take either of the above to:
a. sketch a page
b. ink it
3. And how long does it take to color it?
You did read rule 1, didn't you Watto? 'Cause you're going to have to hope Jan drops by to be nice and give you an answer - I don't have one for you!
-----signature-----
"There is no struggle too vast, no odds too
overwhelming, for even should we fail -
should we fall - we will know that we have lived."
Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness
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HedecGa
Registered:
Apr '06
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:42pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
- Date Edited:
5/12 1:42pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
HedecGa
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dp4m posted:
Can we have Marvel back?
-----signature-----
"The Coming Evil, Book One: The Strange Man" available NOW at http://www.thecomingevil.com Author of the Dusty Duck databank entry - The 71st "Greatest Thing About Star Wars...Ever!" - SW Insider 100 Co-author of the Silya Shessaun databank entry
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Jedi Ben
Registered:
Jul '99
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:43pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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dp4m posted:
Can we have Marvel back?
Do we need 'em? Really?
-----signature-----
"There is no struggle too vast, no odds too
overwhelming, for even should we fail -
should we fall - we will know that we have lived."
Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness
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SuperWatto
Registered:
Sep '00
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:45pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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JB posted:
'Cause you're going to have to hope Jan drops by to be nice and give you an answer - I don't have one for you!
I know, but I've been wondering for years, so I thought, won't hurt to ask.
-----signature-----
TRACK THAT TRACK http://trackthattrack.blogspot.com frustrating you with sound
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ZanderSolo
Registered:
May '07
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:46pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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I read alot of manga if anyone needs help on how to read that(pretty much exactly like a comic, but right side to left.)
Has there been any SW Manga that anyone knows of?
-----signature-----
Make a move and ill stab your jugular.
I dont have a jugular.
Then ill keep stabbing you until i find someplace that bleeds copiously.
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Jedimarine
Registered:
Feb '01
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:48pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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Go to a comic book store once every 8-10 weeks.
That way if you get 1 issue or 8...it's a positive gain for the experience! 
-----signature-----
GO SEE "THE DARK KNIGHT"
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Jedi Ben
Registered:
Jul '99
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:49pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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ZanderSolo posted:
I read alot of manga if anyone needs help on how to read that(pretty much exactly like a comic, but right side to left.)
Has there been any SW Manga that anyone knows of?
Yeah there is.
I don't know the availability of it but DHC did a series of adaptations in the late 90s, think it was when the SEs came out. 4 issues for ANH, ESB, ROTJ plus a 2-issue TPM. Don't think AOTC or ROTS ever got the treatment.
About a year ago my local had some books by Tokyopop that looked to be adaptations too - no idea how good they are or what they cover though.
-----signature-----
"There is no struggle too vast, no odds too
overwhelming, for even should we fail -
should we fall - we will know that we have lived."
Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness
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Jedi Ben
Registered:
Jul '99
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Date Posted:
5/12 1:50pm
Subject:
RE: Loving SW comics but confused? Come in.....
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Jedimarine posted:
Go to a comic book store once every 8-10 weeks.
That way if you get 1 issue or 8...it's a positive gain for the experience!
Ah but can you handle the agony of all of us lot talking about a comic you haven't got?
-----signature-----
"There is no struggle too vast, no odds too
overwhelming, for even should we fail -
should we fall - we will know that we have lived."
Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness
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