Are you 'married' to your own webcomic?

Eve Z. · Post by **Eve Z.** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:41 pm

... well literary.

Do you think your comic is that something you live for, your true love, that you spend most of your time doing it? Do you sometimes think your meaning in life is to create that sort of story, to tell it to the people like you are telling your life experience?

To me, yeah. when I don't have anything better to do I draw or colour comics on my computer. I think this is my path in life: to be a cartoonist that tells a story in their way. I sometimes feel that my characters are alive, as they dictate me their actions and I only put them on paper. they're being parts of my personality.

Does your told story help you discover yourself?

In a way, yes. I'm creating situations and I'm placing my characters in front of them, so I'll have to think how they react. How would I react if I were in their place. Aftel all, these are inspired by real-life, so in a way I'm turnung back to the past and I'm solving my past problems. And do you know what's the most interesting thing? I can sometimse predict the future. I don't know how to say it, but I once drew a scene of a random character taking pictures at people on the street, and shortly after a pervert took a picture of me with his phone while I was walking in a park, I lost my wallet(related to keys) and I found it, I got splashed while looking at a cute guy, etc... all these after I drew those scenes.

There are alot of strange facts related to my comics and this scares me a bit.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:48 pm

My comic is the only psychiatrist I will talk to.

Pimpette · Post by **Pimpette** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:35 pm

If I were married to my main webcomic... it would be out having an affair, hoping that I'll notice and react in some way.

Levi-chan · Post by **Levi-chan** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:50 pm

I am, but the sex went downhill.

Eve Z. · Post by **Eve Z.** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:19 pm

I do hope I'll see some serious replies till morning, from people who read more than the title of a topic.

Jim North · Post by **Jim North** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:20 pm

My comics are my neglected mistresses. I go 'round to see 'em every once in a while, but only when I feel the urge.

Eve Z. wrote:I do hope I'll see some serious replies till morning, from people who read more than the title of a topic.

Hi, you must be new here! Welcome to Comic Genesis!

Eve Z. · Post by **Eve Z.** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:34 pm

wrong. I only changed my avatar.

Redtech · Post by **Redtech** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:20 pm

You want serious? I can get down to the level where I say that my comic is one of TWO things in the whole world that keep me sane. The other being my closest friend.

BEWARE OF THE LONG POST.....OF DEATH.

Anyhows, to answer the questions: yes, I do spend a lot of time on it. I tend to see things more in "comic" forms and see music videos and TV in panals. Just because I can't draw them doesn't mean they're not there. I like doing my comic, I like drawing new things and even when they suck hard, I appreciate the fact I am in a position that I can tell the difference and care about it. Sort of how a theoretical spouse may respond to my weight, I guess.

Does my told story help me discover myself? Yes and No.
I've deliberately decided not to base Meiosis on myself as far as what I like, desire or fancy, the characters do stupid things I'd never agree to and I would get verbally mobbed by them as I'm nowhere near as 'pleasant' as they are. BUT! It occurs to me that subconsciously the circumstances are relatable. I'm unemployed and in the unique position of being too smart for manual labour and too dumb for anything else so if someone hired me to root out a biological catastrophe, I'd be all for it!

I am the reflection of my own intent. A "ultra-l33t-psychologist" could work out my entire psyche based on that theory.

Datachasers · Post by **Datachasers** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:41 pm

A interesting choice of words "married"

I guess the answer would be yes -

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:42 pm

I am my comic.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:59 pm

I was being serious. I work out my personal issues by drawing them out. If others want to read it too, then cool.

Bustertheclown · Post by **Bustertheclown** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:06 pm

Eve Z. wrote:
Jim North wrote:
Eve Z. wrote:I do hope I'll see some serious replies till morning, from people who read more than the title of a topic.
Hi, you must be new here! Welcome to Comic Genesis!
wrong. I only changed my avatar.

I'm pretty sure he meant that facetiously.

As to the questions at hand:

How much time? Not enough. I fancy myself a cartoonist. I love cartooning. I would love to be a cartoonist on a professional level. The problem is, creating just for myself isn't really incentive enough to stick to one project for a long span of time. That's why I haven't had a webcomic up in nearly three years now. Frankly, I have a lot of artistic outlets that vie for my attention, and I suffer from the Creative ADD a lot, so I've found in recent years that it's just much simpler for me to draw random humorous illustrations or short strips, rather than try to rope myself in with one particular story that I do have to "marry". I guess that just makes me a playa, and comics one of my many tricks.

I truly believe, however, that if I had someone to share the experience with, to keep me excited and on task with a given long-term project, I'd have much more success with it. I've just never found that partner. In the meantime, I'm continually trying to keep myself focused on one or two projects at a time, and hope that it all pays of with a return to the internet sometime this year. We'll see. Maybe the recent changes in my physical circumstances will have the anchoring effect I want it to, and help me to focus better on long-term projects.

Does it all help me discover myself? No. As a creator, I don't approach storytelling in a manner that's cathartic for me. I want to entertain, I want to inform, I aim to sort of direct the way the viewer looks at the world as translated by the work, and I want that catharsis to be felt by that viewer. I want for the audience to discover things about themselves in how they react to my work, or what it makes them think. To me, that's good storytelling. It's how I feel when I experience a good story, so it's what I strive for in my own products. Still, I don't think that the creator necessarily has to be crucially attached to his creations in order to yield great results to those who look at them. I don't want to be so emotionally attached to my work that it might get in the way of creating it to the best of my abilities.

Then again, maybe my creative detachment might only mean that I'm creating boring and drab stuff. Who knows? I guess I'll know better when I actually find an audience, and get some feedback.

Komiyan · Post by **Komiyan** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:15 pm

God, no, there are things in life that come first. Also if I was married to it then the divorce would be due in four chapter's time

Dutch! · Post by **Dutch!** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:50 pm

I'm not married to the strip... but it's a really good mate.

Warofwinds · Post by **Warofwinds** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:52 pm

Komiyan wrote:God, no, there are things in life that come first. Also if I was married to it then the divorce would be due in four chapter's time

Will you be a widow, or just divorced?!

Anywho, back on topic, I wouldn't consider myself married to my comic, but certainly have a worthwhile long-term relationship. A significant other, perhaps? hehehe Is there true love there? Aw, heck yeah. Otherwise I wouldn't spend the amount of time coddling it like I do.

Zwuh · Post by **Zwuh** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:16 pm

This thread makes Metaphor Jesus cry.

Birdie · Post by **Birdie** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:24 pm

If I was married to my comic, that'd be some sort of asexual behavior. My comic is really a reflection of my life in one aspect, and I care for it, and I try to nurture it the best I could... maybe my comic is like a really good almost loyal pet?

VinnieD · Post by **VinnieD** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:25 pm

If you're asking if I'm devoted to my comic then I'd say yes. I spend a large amount of time thinking about it, planning it, and working on it.

Perk_daddy · Post by **Perk_daddy** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:33 pm

I feel more like its papa than its husband. They're my kids and I need to raise them right so they'll update on schedule.

Hisinvisiblefriend · Post by **Hisinvisiblefriend** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 12:23 am

I wouldn't say I'm married to it. I'd say it is myself more than it would be a spouse. I designed my characters to each embody my perception of a particular character trait I see in myself. For example, one of my characters is my inner child, grossly exaggerated; another is my sarcasm. I used those traits as the base model for the characters. From there though, I have tried to give them their own life - try to make them stand on their own.

So I guess in a way it's schizophrenia showing through

as for living for my comic.. it's really just a side thing right now. Yet another project of mine. I'm anxious to see how it evolves though, what these things I have (tried) to breathe life into end up doing, be it live on and be successful, or end up tossed aside and forgotten like so many other of my projects.