It has been a crazy busy period since the holidays! From Jack the Ripper to Norse Gods, mythical deities to 7 covers in two months and there’s no lull in sight. But…it isn’t always like this. Since I started going full time back into comics it has been a hustle and grind and a ton of mistakes with the occasional win - no matter how small - to keep the wind flowing in these sails. There is an ebb and flow to making comics, especially when you’re self publishing, drawing, marketing, project managing, freelancing and trying (key word) to be present for two young boys! There’s no easy path or quick route to avoid the work. And one major takeaway I have learned is the work better be enjoyable. Making comics is no get rich quick scheme, no matter what delusions comic cinematic universes have spread out there. It is some days sluggish and some days the art is flying off the page. I am constantly faced with panel descriptions in the script I have never drawn before and I love the challenge. I also never rest on a “way”. Studying, reading, occasionally emulating and finding my own style and vibe. And indie comics communities are no utopia. There are just as many selfish, uncaring folks as there are in any field BUT I’ve also found an ever growing community of supportive, encouraging and honest folks in this business and for me that might be just the key to sustainability and sanity in the world of making comics. There’s no promises in this business, at the end of the day you have to love it. And love it I do, always have and always will, taking every mistake - especially my own - and growing from it.
That being said, I have come back full circle to Immortal Coil. It was my second go into the comics world and it’s a story worth telling. I’ve taken time in between to level up my art, my understanding of sequential storytelling and making good use of great collaborations. Taking every suggestion and feedback to heart. Here we are, prepping for a Monday launch of issue #3 and I could not be more excited about this particular issue. I feel like it’s grown, in every aspect and I think that will come through for readers. This comic may not make me and Frank rich but it lights a fire in my soul and feels like a purpose and I’m grateful for the handful of readers who have enjoyed it so far.
Making comics is not for the faint of heart, we get knocked down so we can get back up and be better. I believe Immortal Coil #3 is a beautiful example of a comic that takes all of what it’s been like being an indie creator today and learning from each fall, misstep, and setback before.
Jack the Ripper. A fascinating historical figure that’s been inspiring writers ever since he rampaged through London over a century ago. Probably because so little is known about him (or her). Even as historians try and narrow down the Ripper’s identity, we love to insert our own mythology around the killer to fill in the blanks. Personally, I find serial killers to be my writing wheelhouse. There’s something oddly comforting about entering the mind of a homicidal psychopath. So when given the chance to modernize the Ripper for Holiday Spirits I jumped on it.
But how? In what way can we bring the monster into the modern world while also tying him to the holidays? Like most adaptations, my process started with boiling the Ripper down to his core, to understand his mindset and intentions. While his identity and motivations are still a mystery, we do know a lot about his victims. They were prostitutes, women of the night whom he probably viewed as less than human by the way he left their bodies.
Sample our first page in progress. Written by Frank Martin and art by Gerald von Stoddard
So the idea was to find a new set of victims that set our modern killer off the way harlots did for Jack. Gerald and I found our answer in social media influencers. (I know, right?!) These are people who thrive on vanity and attention, and what better time to capitalize on that attention than the holidays? Flashing lights and Christmas shows provide ample opportunity for narcissists to make the giving spirit all about themselves. It’s not hard to find influencers annoying enough to kill. It just so happens our Jack the Ripper actually goes out and does it. So if you’ve ever been annoyed by a tweet or Instagram post, we hope you can live vicariously through him. At least for a moment.
Until next time,
Frank & Gerald
Third Contact Comics
0 comments