InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "back, back, back it up"

jlroberson (jlroberson) wrote in scans_daily,
@ 2009-07-08 18:26:00

Current location:	Seattle
Current mood:	bouncy
Current music:	the news
Entry tags:	char: black cat/felicia hardy, char: bullseye/hawkeye, creator: john linton roberson, in-joke: shameless plug

In Which I Tried To Sell Out

Some may recall I posted some of my work at SD 1.0. Here is more, but this time, stuff that will never be published. And me drawing Marvel characters.
So recently, I finally got up the nerve, after building up a small indie rep as an illustrator and cartoonist, to try to attempt a Marvel sample. As what I draw best, it seems, is attractive women, a friend suggested I use the Black Cat.
So in thanks, she ended up the face model for same.(she also suggested Bullseye, because she wanted to see him kicked in the face)
So: What was going to happen here was she was going to kick Bullseye about the room a bit, and Bullseye was going to be in humiliating pain. Then Norman Osborn was going to come in at the end--I still hadn't worked out why, I just wanted to use him.
But alas, once I had finished this page, Marvel stopped taking submissions right then.
So as it will go to no other purpose, I thought y'all might get a small kick from it, though there are a few errors I was going to fix. Here then is the page of the abortion. Hope you like.

If anyone's interested, more of my stuff can be seen here.

(Post a new comment)

	jlbarnett 2009-07-09 02:24 am UTC (link)
	An unprecented number of submissions. I wonder how many were basically fix fics? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	parsimonia 2009-07-09 02:51 am UTC (link)
	Marvel stopped accepting submissions because they got too many submissions? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jlbarnett 2009-07-09 02:56 am UTC (link)
	sure, it makes sense. If they're cheap When they can have one or two people go through them in a timely fashion and oass them onto someone who matters it doesn't cost much. If they have to start hiring more people then it costs them. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	jlroberson 2009-07-09 03:09 am UTC (link)
	Basically. So they're probably going to that portfolio-at-conventions model I loathe. Partly because I do not go to conventions, and I think it's a bit degrading. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	parsimonia 2009-07-09 03:17 am UTC (link)
	Huh. What is that process like? Do they review portfolios in front of you, or do you just submit them? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jlroberson 2009-07-09 03:20 am UTC (link)
	You stand in line and a guy spends about a minute looking at it. Which, if I were twenty, and unpublished entirely, I probably wouldn't mind. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	parsimonia 2009-07-09 03:21 am UTC (link)
	Ah, I see what you mean. I can imagine that would be frustrating. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jlroberson 2009-07-09 03:25 am UTC (link)
	To me that's as horrifying a situation as a job fair. Same thing, really, and just as high a probability it'll be worthwhile. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	faile_neume 2009-07-09 06:44 am UTC (link)
	I don't know if this helps how you feel about the situation but going to conventions with a portfolio was how Nicola Scott got her job at DC. So it can work out in the end. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	icon_uk 2009-07-09 12:00 pm UTC (link)
	Why do you consider it degrading to have your work assessed by a professional, it's what you'll have to deal with if you do become a successful comics artist. From what I gather of such things they are usually very polite and professional and have no interest in humiliating those who submit their work for evaluation. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	greenmask 2009-07-09 01:39 pm UTC (link)
	It's public, you're there, they're there, a con is somewhere you go to have fun, you're one of many hopefuls.. I'd hate it too, just the social level it's on is a very odd one. It's an atmosphere thing for me I think. I would resent the entire process like heck, even if they leapt up and shouted BY GUM, MADAM, YOU'RE HIRED! (Reply to this) (Parent)

jlroberson
2009-07-09 09:35 pm UTC (link)

It's the cattle call aspect of it that I don't like. Also that you can only find work there when a convention is in town. I suppose the fact that I'm already a professional, just not at that level, makes it itch a bit more than it otherwise would; I just don't care for that kind of anonymous in-person thing. If I have to be evaluated that way I'd rather it was by submission in an office, and not affected by factors like, this person at the table wants to go to the bathroom or whatever.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	kingrockwell 2009-07-09 03:20 am UTC (link)
	I remember one of your smut comics from 1.0, I think it was Martha? I really like the way you do faces, it's got its own signature and a lot of expression to it, but that's about all you seem to be focusing on in this page. The angle of the gun is a little weird in the second panel. (Reply to this) (Thread)

jlroberson
2009-07-09 03:29 am UTC (link)

Thanks. Yeah, that was one of the errors I was going to fix. Her arm in the third as well, that glares at me like a sore thumb.

This one focuses on faces and expression, but the next page or two was to be asskickery. As said, there was no point in completing it, so I didn't...

BTW, Martha's now published & available if anyone cares:
http://www.cafepress.com/bottomless.381291647

(Reply to this) (Parent)

psychop_rex
2009-07-09 08:40 am UTC (link)

Hey, man, I have a question for you - do you write your own stuff as well as draw it, or would you potentially be interested in working with a writer?
The reason I'm asking - and you could probably see this coming - is that I myself am a writer trying to break into the comic book biz. I have a submission all ready, but as you've probably noticed, art seems to matter more to a lot of companies than writing does - most of the companies that I'm interested in submitting my stuff to require some art samples as well, and since my artwork is strictly cartoon-level, I've been trying to find an artist to team up with.
Now, here's the deal - I've actually found a guy who's interested, but I haven't heard from him in months, and am beginning to think that he's either A: changed his mind, B: too busy to work with me, or C: dead - any of which, obviously would preclude a rewarding partnership. I've held off calling it quits with him for quite a while now out of courtesy and respect for him as an artist, but I can't wait forever, and my patience has just about run out. So here's my question - if I DON'T hear back from this guy before too long, which is likely going to be the case, would you be potentially interested in working with me, assuming, of course, that you have the time?
If you're not interested, no problem, but I've had a hell of a hard time hooking up with artists so far, and your artwork ain't half bad, so I figured I might as well ask. If you'd consider it, I'd appreciate it.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	jlroberson 2009-07-09 09:25 pm UTC (link)
	I'd be interested in talking more about this, but not in public. Does Insanejournal have private messaging? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	psychop_rex 2009-07-09 09:44 pm UTC (link)
	I have no idea, but we can exchange E-mails if you'd like. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jlroberson 2009-07-09 09:49 pm UTC (link)
	john.roberson@gmail.com (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	psychop_rex 2009-07-09 09:54 pm UTC (link)
	Okey-doke. Here's mine: flochity@yahoo.com (Reply to this) (Parent)

Noirsensei suggests...
(Anonymous)
2009-07-09 02:03 pm UTC (link)

If you can put together an actual comic book, writing and art packaged together in a done deal, Image still takes that kind of submission. I've heard that Marvel, on the other hand, are royal dicks.

As far as the quality of the submission, I dig it but not for Felicia.

You have a kind of Venture Bros. with a touch of Strangers in Paradise thing that'd work really well for down to Earth characters. I'd recommend something like Runaways, but that's just me.

(Reply to this)

nezchan
2009-07-09 04:44 pm UTC (link)

I'll be honest, I can't see this flying over at Marvel. It's a good style for indie stuff (like what Adam Warren did with Empowered) or parody (some periods of Mad had stuff a lot like this), but for the so-called "big time"? Unfortunately not. There are a lot of structural problems that need ironing out that would get picked up right away at that level.

What would be really good is if you could get an assessment of your portfolio from someone who works with Marvel (or DC, whatever) and get them to give you advice on how to strengthen your stuff. I was talking to someone a few months ago who did something similar with an assistant director at Disney. Guy flipped through the portfolio in less than five minutes, then gave commentary that made it clear he saw everything and gave him advice on what to do from there. Saved him the whole application and rejection process, and now he's building a much stronger portfolio. That'd work great for someone at the level you're at now, and get you further than a quick review at a con.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	jlroberson 2009-07-09 09:24 pm UTC (link)
	Thanks. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	ashtoreth 2009-07-11 07:32 am UTC (link)
	Good luck. I couldn't stand having the type of criticism that gets leveled at artists in the comic book community. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	jlroberson 2009-07-11 09:47 am UTC (link)
	I spent years being torn apart on the Comics Journal board. Or the House of Knives as I like to call it. Someone once posted a series of pictures of a real kitten being tortured and killed as a response to my work(yes, seriously). After that, it's kind of hard to care. I highly recommend spending 4 years drawing smut as well. That REALLY inures you.;) (Reply to this) (Parent)