Update: Love, And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves
Added 2015-04-12 05:29:55 +0000 UTCMy first Dogmen story has kinda exploded into a whole novel outline and it kinda has me excited; I might have something here for real. Although I do want to talk about some things concerning it. Dogmen is an adult series. It does not shy away from coarse language, violence, gore, phantasmagoria, drug use, and sex. It is not a pretty series, though in my own idiom I always seem to make room for flashes of adorability because I like that (see, naked Spencer I drew in Storyboard 18, and naked Spencer in general) But regardless: not pretty. I kinda worry that people will take this as an out-of-left-field departure from my "normal stuff"--cute, funny, silly, sexy. From most of my visual art I don't seem like the kind of person who would go for raw intensity. I mean, a lot of the praise I get for things like Housepets is how much better it helps people feel. In contrast, Dogmen is not a feel-good story, even if it has parts that can be construed as fun. This does not however mean that this kind of thing will necessarily bleed into my other settings, if that worries. I very much prefer the tonality of each series to be true to itself. I don't know how well I've gotten this across but if you have any thoughts re: me doing raw, violent, sexual stories, I'd like to hear; you are, after all, supporting me.
Comments
The way i see it, after seeing Housepets! for the first time, I always pictured you drawing Housepets!. If you ever written other material, I would consider it something you would know what you are doing since you already demonstrated many times you are good at making some tough choices. If you do have to worry, I can only suggest from my perspective that it would be off-putting if It were to somehow have a Housepets! feel to it. Think of it like Lord of the Rings Vs. Game of Thrones kinda deal. Nonetheless, though, I'm sure it would work out fine.
GameCobra
2015-04-15 22:42:41 +0000 UTCDo I think people will take this out-of-left-field? Yeah, I think there'll be people who dislike it because it's not cute, funny, silly, sexy etc. I think those people will be in the majority too (I imagine you've attracted your main audience mostly due to your comic Housepets... possibly the most PG furry comic on the internet). I think your concerns are valid. I don't think you'll lose fans unless you decide your new gimmick will be dark, gritty and 'adult', and stop drawing the cute and cuddly. That being said, I've got no experience here so my opinion may as well not exist. You're the guy who's been doing this for years. Don't let my advice (or anybody elses) cloud your judgement. You know, unless you get a professional editor.
44R0NM10
2015-04-14 12:43:19 +0000 UTCSounds good to me. Cute and fluffy is everywhere but the grittier stories have their places too. I've always been a fan of the Noir genre and grittier themes so I'll give it a read.
Brandon
2015-04-13 06:41:02 +0000 UTCSeems pretty reasonable. I'd be interested in reading some darker stuff from you, and would love to read more about Charli. I'd just make sure if you go this route you publicize your pseudonym to your fans well, so they know what's going on.
Eric Trombly
2015-04-12 19:00:48 +0000 UTCPrecisely. It is not about change as much as exploring many areas of interest. No worries!
Petrov Neutrino
2015-04-12 18:57:21 +0000 UTCWell it's good if you understand it's "not to your taste"--it's why I try to be as upfront as possible about content. I'd think it a bad thing if everyone expected that everything I did was to their select taste--I've spent a great deal of effort to say I'm not changing, my scope is just broad
Rick Griffin
2015-04-12 18:04:41 +0000 UTCI have considered doing this, even have a possible name picked out-- H. S. West. Though the question there is, what precisely would go under that category? Dogmen, sure, but what about Charli's Gang? I have one Charli story published under Rick Griffin that barely cracks PG-13, but I have others in mind that probably wouldn't be perceived as anything less than R. So I'm still thinking about it.
Rick Griffin
2015-04-12 16:49:52 +0000 UTC"They" are a single person. UV is the author of the Digger series, along with the Dragonbreath comics for younger readers. She publishes her more adult material under the pseudonym T. Kingfisher, but does not hide that the two are the same author. This was done strictly for branding purposes. I -think- that she posted an online article about why she decided to do that.
Petrov Neutrino
2015-04-12 14:37:20 +0000 UTCHonestly, I'd find it odd if you never did do more raw stories. Violence and sex are part of life, and to avoid those territories because someone might monocle-pop about it is unfortunate.
MountainGoat
2015-04-12 14:23:08 +0000 UTCWhat did they do?
MountainGoat
2015-04-12 14:20:20 +0000 UTCI feel that all artists should experiment and move out of their comfort zone sometimes. Gives a chance to stretch their talents and grow. Looking forward to seeing this comic :)
Marcwolf
2015-04-12 13:41:03 +0000 UTCAdditional: If you have serious concerns or a publishing empire at stake, you might want to follow the steps of Ursula Vernon / T. Kingfisher.
Petrov Neutrino
2015-04-12 11:47:33 +0000 UTCGreetings! Thank you for the update and for the warning. Given the subject matter and darker nature of this newest story, it might not be in my personal taste. However, I have no intention of discontinuing support, nor any fears that this will change the tone of your other creations. If I find that I do not enjoy the Dogmen story when it is done, I will merely stop reading the Dogmen story. No fear of bonfires, pitchforks, or angry villagers on the horizon!
Petrov Neutrino
2015-04-12 11:44:53 +0000 UTCI always think creators should do what they feel like doing. As long as people are warned that is adult and different in tone then no fault no foul. I realise that there is a possible monetary fallout to pissing off your audience and that does lead a lot of creators to tread very carefully nowadays but, personally, I feel this impoverishes all of us. I love Housepets, but I've also enjoyed your other stuff too and it is all different in tone. If people think it wont be for them then they don't have to read it, end of. Personally... looking forward to it.
Lemurvid
2015-04-12 09:36:49 +0000 UTCIt sounds like an interesting story and I don't have any problem with the subject matter. Agreed that you shouldn't let it change the tone of your other settings, but I never thought that you'd do that :)
Dahan
2015-04-12 06:53:54 +0000 UTCI think that it would be interesting to see how this radically different approach will pan out. I would enjoy reading pieces of your work, to get a sense for the style, even if it does not suit my tastes. As long as you keep the Housepets train moving along in all its glory, then you are free to pursue any other ventures that strike your interest. -my two cents.
Sterling Hulling
2015-04-12 06:28:20 +0000 UTC
