My Own Precious

Dipping my toes in the online comics community

Published on August 17, 2006 By Harumph In Misc

Twenty four years ago, I stood in front of a comic book stand inside a flower shop in Loudon, Tennessee while my mother ordered flowers for Memorial day. The flowers were to commemorate my grandparents’ graves in a small graveyard. I, however, was much more focused on the “Tales from the Crypt” and whether or not the Red Skeleton guy would actually defeat Spiderman in this particular issue. These comics were packed three in a loose bag, perfect for the disdaining parent to placate their restless child.

Comics were, for me, a rare treat. My parents didn’t believe in such nonsense. I bought comics with my own money from time to time, but growing up in the country provided little access or opportunity to buy them.

Twelve years ago, I stood in a small comic book shop in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband, perusing the odd Magic, The Gathering cards. Invariably, we found ourselves drawn toward the “Sandman” comics, “Hellboy”, “Monkeyman and O’Brian”, and other similar comics. My taste for comics grew, fed by a hunger for the artwork now. I grew to love certain magic cards merely because they were drawn by certain artists. I reveled in unique story lines and stunning artwork in one shot comic series. I collected art cards, and tried to get the crossover comics. I loved “The X-Files” comics. One of the greatest birthday presents my husband ever got me was the original 4 set comic of “The Crow”. Gone were the three comics per bag sets.. replaced by boards and bags, special tapes and the pricey hard clear plastic cases that the comics could be particularly protected in. I still have these, carefully hoarded in special chemically treated boxes.. to be gotten out and carefully read and re-read.

I stopped collecting when it seemed the publishers thought that collectors would buy anything; including twelve of the same comic just because they had different covers. The price was too much. I became a disillusioned comic collector.

Five years ago, my husband showed me something that he thought I would enjoy. An ONLINE comic. Free to look at. Updated regularly. I was in awe. I was in shock. I started reading it regularly. The story was good. The art was unique. I was in love. The best part: It was FREE.

Here was a medium that was intimately connected to what comics could achieve. ANYONE could do it. That gave birth to hundreds of concepts and stories that were unique.. that were not formulaic or corner-holed into what a publisher felt it should be. ANYONE could read it. That gave rise to the possibilities of communication and trading culture. I could literally read a comic from the Ukraine about their vampires or a Japanese comic about feudal Japan… from their point of view.. With their artistic styles…

I began searching out other comics, finding ones I liked. Discarding the ones I didn’t like. My favorites file grew. Some of the comics I came across turned to pay sites. These I discarded. In a way, I felt guilty. I wanted to support these artists for doing what they were doing, but just didn’t have the funds to do so.

For the past five years, I have regularly followed 20 or 30 comics online. Everyday. My junkie comic habit had been redefined.

Three years ago, my daughter purchased a book through her school on how to draw Manga. It’s a fairly simple book, written by a seventeen year old, and my daughter’s drawings drastically changed. I was so impressed, I began looking at it. I began incorporating it into my doodling. As a laugh, I drew myself and a friend of mine. We were both so impressed with it, I jokingly starting drawing little strips of conversations we had. An idea began to form.

Why couldn’t I do a comic? Here was a medium that I could utlize to produce anything any way I wanted. So for three years, I’ve been slowly working toward that. A month ago, it was realized. It’s a small piddley thing, but for me it’s an important small piddley thing. Here is something I have admired, been in awe of, and had massive amounts of respect for the artists who produce in this medium. It’s not a deep, politically motivating or emotional comic. It’s not even intricately drawn or tons of background. It’s designed in such a way, that I can sit down and piece together my story from items I have already drawn.. thus reducing the time it would take me to put a panel together. Should I need something new, I’ll draw it. Add it to my catalog of things I’ve already drawn.. and can reuse. Not as artistic as I probably would have liked, but certainly functional.

This is the evolution of one person through comics.. Who knows what other kinds of ideas will evolve in this same manner?

My baby.

May I Help You?

Brings a tear to the eye, don’t it?

Comments

foreverserenity

on Aug 17, 2006

This is great! I like it and added it to my favs links. I love comics too. You might follow them more closely than me though!

! My brothers and I used to have a very large collection when we were younger. Alas when we both traveled and left home our younger brother sold most of our collection. We really wanted to kill him but spared him because of our mom.

!

Keep on enjoying your comics. I've been on line to the comic links from Marvel.com and those are free only in a limited capacity though. I also get there newsletter. I'll keep an eye out for your next blog.

Harumph

on Aug 17, 2006

Thanks! I don't blog that often.. but this is like extra advertising for me.

Yeah, I didn't get to read a lot of comics when I was a kid.. so I went uber overboard when I got married and out on my own. I still really just love the fantastic stories you can tell in a graphic medium. On my comic, there is a links page, and all the ones listed there are free online. They are some of the BEST story lines I've ever come across. Everything from zombie fighting and evil mongering to everyday slight humor. Every morning, grab my cup of coffee (or whatever I've got on hand) and instead of grabbing the paper, I check my online comics. It's a fun way to start the day.

foreverserenity

on Aug 18, 2006

Every morning, grab my cup of coffee (or whatever I've got on hand) and instead of grabbing the paper, I check my online comics. It's a fun way to start the day.

Cool! I haven't been back but will make a point to do so in one of my quiet times!

Tova7

on Mar 25, 2007

I just discovered this....wow.

You are so talented. Did you draw those comics?

I am totally ignorant about the world of comics, but hope to learn more as I read here.

Your website rocks, by the way.

Harumph

on Mar 30, 2007

Did you draw those comics?

I am totally ignorant about the world of comics, but hope to learn more as I read here.

Your website rocks, by the way.

Hey Tova!

Thank you very much. Yes, I do draw those comics. It's sort of like my fantasy life at work.. how I make sense of what happens around me. The treefrogs, well, I just like treefrogs.

I used to be quite knowledgeable about comics, but that was about 15 years ago. It may be a geeky thing, but to me it's just an extension of reading a really good book. People don't look at you funny if you like the latest Caleb Carr book, but mention comics and they sort of peg you as a nerd. The world of online comics is a very different place than print comics. It's much more fluid and open to communication. Many of the people on my links page, I've spoken to personally.. asked advice from and it's just a much more relaxed and sharing community. Not to mention, free.

Thanks for the feedback and keep checking out the comic. Evil corporate lackeys and dustbunnies abound in upcoming strips which update once a week. (that's all the time I have in between actual work and motherhood). Say hi on the shoutbox occasionally.

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