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Crimebuster

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Journal Entries posted by Crimebuster

  1. Crimebuster

    A crazy dream

    By Crimebuster,

    Should I draw and self publish a comic even though I am not an artist?
    One of my dreams is to someday publish Boy Comics #120.
    I know, some people dream of being rich and famous, I dream of reviving a forgotten comic book series that ended 58 years ago. What can I say. Crimebuster is one of my favorite characters and since Boy Comics and Crimebuster are in the public domain it's actually feasible. It's just a matter of having the time, energy and - most importantly - the money. Time and energy I can supply. The money...
    Over the last few weeks I've been messing around a little bit, looking at the cost of artists and printing and that sort of thing. It's a pretty decent chunk of change to hire an artist to draw a full length comic book. And obviously, the better they are, the more they are going to cost.
    Unfortunately, I have certain standards for art, especially if I am going to be paying for it. Even more importantly, since I am going to be writing the story, that art is representing my work. No matter how great my story is, if the art isn't good, the whole thing is going to be poop. I don't want to be known as the guy who wrote the poop.
    Still, the idea of publishing Boy Comics #120 is something I can't really shake. I have a little money socked away from my tax returns and instead of buying some expensive back issue to look at, I keep thinking it would be so much cooler to publish my own comic instead.
    So... still not sure what I am going to do. Every so often I get the bug to just draw it myself. I haven't drawn anything in probably 15 years, but I was thinking about buying a tablet. I wasn't sure, though, if I could get used to looking up at the screen while I drew instead of down at the paper. So I thought, well, let me mess around a little in photoshop and see if I could get used to that.
    Anyway, I ended up with a doodle that's far from great. But I unexpectedly kind of enjoyed making it, which I wasn't expecting. Drawing it myself would sure save me a lot of money, but more importantly it would save me a ton of headaches in trying to find the right artist and, you know, also be an editor that has to worry about art corrections if I don't like how my words are being translated. All that stuff just seems like a giant pain in the butt to deal with. Plus, even if my art isn't very good - which it isn't - I think I know how to tell a story in comic form, which is the main thing.
    Not sure what to do. Any of you guys have any experience creating or self-publishing comics?
    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  2. Crimebuster
    Episode #28 of the Classic Comics Forum Podcast is now live, with the second part of my three-part discussion about the Fall of Yellowjacket storyline. This time around we finish talking about the infamous court martial story in Avengers #213 before moving on to discuss #214-220:
    https://classiccomics.podbean.com/e/classic-comics-forum-podcast-28-avengers-211-230-the-fall-of-yellowjacket-part-2/
     
    Meanwhile, on the YouTube front, I've got a couple new videos to share with you. 
    In the newest episode of Origin Stories, I speak with Roquefort Raider about his experiences getting into comics in Quebec in the 1970's:
     
     
    And in this one, I show off some comic strip sketches that my Grandmother made in 1940:
     
  3. Crimebuster
    A couple weeks ago now, I was inspired by a thread in the Comics General section to do a video for YouTube showing off the Top 50 comics in my collection. To my surprise, I discovered I really enjoyed making the video — and some people actually watched it!
    So I've decided to make some more YouTube videos about comics and comic collecting. I'm hoping to just post like one video a week, and every so often I'll share those videos here.
    Here's the link to my channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbNBYQo08Ebr9kD_7HS44mA
    and here are some videos!
     
     
  4. Crimebuster
    Here's my latest batch of YouTube videos!
     
    In this one, I go through a box of miscellaneous back issues I've picked up over the years for no real reason:
     
     
    Here's a look at some foreign comics I have picked up as souvenirs on my travels:
     
     
    In this one, I go through my run of Avengers #101-150:
     
     
    And here's my latest group of new purchases:
     
     
  5. Crimebuster
    Well, I sent The Crimebusters #5 to the printer on Monday, so I'm launching my next Kickstarter next Monday!
    I'm tired!! 
    This one is a little different form the others, though, so hopefully it won't be as much work. I'm just doing a short, simple Kickstarter to print a new blank variant edition of Cthulhu vs. Uncle Sam #1 so I can do sketch covers on it for fans of the series, or so they can draw their own covers, or commission someone else to do it. 
    Since the art is all done and everything, this should be really simple, and the goal is very low too since I just need to cover printing and shipping costs and not the art costs. 
    You can check it out here!
    My next new comic will hopefully be the first issue of my new ongoing epic fantasy series Quest. Once that is closer to being ready to launch, I'll do a whole journal entry about it with all the characters and variant covers and everything. 
    Thanks again for all the support everyone!!
  6. Crimebuster

    Another update!

    By Crimebuster,

    Man, the updates are coming fast and furious!
    I've just finished setting up a new mailing list entry portal, and I wanted to share it with everyone here. I just send out one email a month to give updates on The Crimebusters - a little more often when it's actually time for a new issue - so if you're interested, it's a great way to get the direct scoop. Anyone who signs up now will get a welcome email that includes a link to a new digital ashcan which has short previews for both issues 1 and 2, as well as variant covers and a new pinup. And I'm going to try to offer fun digital content to people on the mailing list as well from time to time.
    Anyway, no hard sell here, just wanted to let you guys know about it. Thanks for the interest and the support, I appreciate it!
    Here's the link:
    https://mailchi.mp/35996240ec7f/adventure_awaits_with_the_crimebusters
  7. Crimebuster
    I've been a busy beaver, buying comics and making videos about those comics, so I've got a batch of new videos for you today.
    First, here are two haul videos where I show off the stuff I've been picking up on ebay during the pandemic:
     
     
     
     
    And then in this one, I discuss some of the my favorite storylines in comics history:
     
     
     
  8. Crimebuster
    Hello, friends! I've made a couple new videos I thought you might enjoy.
     
    First, here's a look at the revolutionary storyline science fiction grandmaster Samuel R. Delany had planned for Wonder Woman, and how it got abruptly cancelled by DC after just one issue thanks to some very unexpected and highly ironic political interference:
     
    And here's a look at some of the back issues I've been buying as retail therapy during the quarantine. This is part one of what looks like could be an infinite part series, as I've got a ton of other books still en route from ebay and the boards here:
     
  9. Crimebuster
    I'm back with three more videos from my YouTube channel.
     
    First up, a look at some of my books about comics:
     
    Next, it's an Ask Me Anything, where I answer viewer-submitted questions about everything under the sun, but mostly comics:
     
     
    And finally, another back issue haul video, with some more new acquisitions, including a batch of Archie books purchased here on the boards! Plus: the thumbnail image is an homage to Gil Kane!!
     
  10. Crimebuster
    The latest episode of my podcast is now available, featuring the first part of a four-part examination of Marvel's classic Star Wars series. In this first episode, we cover the contributions of Roy Thomas, from the title's genesis through his departure with issue #10. Enjoy!
    https://classiccomics.podbean.com/e/classic-comics-forum-podcast-21-star-wars-by-marvel-comics-part-1/
  11. Crimebuster
    I took a small break from working on my comic The Crimebusters to finally finish editing the next episode of my podcast. This is the second part of a four part look at Marvel's original Star Wars series from 1977 through 1986. In this part, we discuss issues #11-38. Enjoy!
    https://classiccomics.podbean.com/e/classic-comics-forum-podcast-22-stars-wars-by-marvel-comics-part-2/
     
    Now, back to work on the comic!
  12. Crimebuster
    Well, it took me a full year to edit this episode, due both to major real life concerns as well as some messed up audio problems with the recordings. But I've finally got part 3 of my discussion of Marvel's classic Star Wars series ready. 
    this was originally supposed to be part 3 of 4, but now it's part 3 of 5, because there's still hours and hours of raw audio left to edit from this conversation!
    This episode discusses Star Wars #39-63:
    https://classiccomics.podbean.com/e/classic-comics-forum-podcast-23-star-wars-by-marvel-comics-part-3/
  14. Crimebuster
    If you ever wanted to listen to three hours of discussion about the 80's revival of DC's Blackhawk, now is your chance!! This episode is the last of three about this classic series. 
    Next episode: Cap's Kooky Quartet!
     
    Classic Comics Forum Podcast #14: Blackhawk by Mark Evanier part 3
    September 1, 2017 In the final part of our three part discussion of the 1982 reboot of the classic war comic Blackhawk by Mark Evanier and Dan Spiegle, Prince Hal and I examine the last 14 issues, covering #260-273. 
     
     
  17. Crimebuster
    This time around we do something a little different, as I talk to a new reader/collector about her experiences getting into comics more than two decades after being briefly introduced to the hobby as a kid. We also discuss the stories she first read as a kid, particularly the Wonder Woman: Space Pirate storyline from Bill Messner-Loebs in Wonder Woman #66-72. 
    Here it is. Hope you enjoy!
  19. Crimebuster
    The latest episode of the Classic Comics Forum Podcast is now available:
     
    https://classiccomics.podbean.com/e/classic-comics-forum-podcast-19-the-brave-and-the-bold-50-73-part-1/
     
    This time around we're starting a 2 part discussion of the team-up era of The Brave and the Bold, before they settled on Batman as a permanent star. In this episode, special guest MDG and I discuss issues #50-56, as well as his time working as a writer for both DC and Valiant/Acclaim, where he co-wrote X-O Manowar for several issues. Hope you enjoy!
  23. Crimebuster
    I'm still plugging away at the line work for #120. I'm currently working on page 10, and hope to have the line work done before I leave for vacation on Friday. I decided to bump my page count up from 28 to 30, so that has slowed things down as well, so I am currently looking at a mid-February date for finishing the line work for the whole book. 
    When I get back from vacation, I hope to share a sneak peek at another page in progress, but for now, I have updated my production blog with a look at the process behind creating my new leading lady, Trixie Trouble. Enjoy! 
  24. Crimebuster
    Well, it took 15 months of work, but my new comic Cthulhu vs. Uncle Sam #2 is now live on Kickstarter. 
    I'm really happy to finally have this done and get it out there to the world!
    Here's the link if you're interested:
    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thecrimebusters/cthulhu-vs-uncle-sam-2?ref=cux6cc
    Thanks all!

  25. Crimebuster
    Coming to the end of the first week, and we just passed 50% funded. So things are going pretty well!

    But it's been a lot more work this time than with most of my previous campaigns. For whatever reason, we're actually several hundred dollars behind where the first issue campaign was at the same point. So I am really grinding this one out, prooting it everywhere possible in a never ending losing battle against social media algorithms. It can definitely be a tough row to hoe, so I really appreciate all the support you guys have bene giving me, it helps a lot!

    I had been hoping to start working on the third issue at this point as well, but I've decided I better hold off until I see how this campaign ends up doing. Even if I hit my goal there's a reasonable chance I may still lose money on this issue, so I don't want to start spending more until I find out whether there's enough interest to warrant a third issue.

    I've got a big cross-promotion with the folks at Miskatonic High coming up, so we'll see how that imapcts anything. Once they are live I'll post all the details here.

    Still a long ways to go!

    Here's the link again if you didn't see it:
    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thecrimebusters/cthulhu-vs-uncle-sam-2?ref=93y8kv