Fan Comic General Discussion

[Fay Graydon]

Is the OotS art style under copyright? Obviously, the actual characters, scenarios, locations and so on are owned by The Giant. Does the art style fall under the same copyright? Does it have a specific copyright license (like, say, Creative Commons)?

Simple answer: No

Picasso couldn't exactly say that his art style was 100% his own AND then copyright it...
However, if you were to pain one of his pictures or use one of his paintings as part of your own, yes it would be.

So if we were to use Roy, or V in one of our own comics without his permission that would be copyright.
But simply using his style is not.

I hope this has helped

[MeTheGameGuy]

I hope this has helped

Ah, thanks. That makes sense.

[Fay Graydon]

Ah, thanks. That makes sense.

Hehehe... Now there's something that I dont hear often
Glad to be of help.

[Darklord Bright]

The way I see it, apart from his actual characters, you can't really copyright stick figures.

[CrimsonAngel]

*generally discusses fan comics.

[MeTheGameGuy]

The way I see it, apart from his actual characters, you can't really copyright stick figures.

Well, you could copyright the ratio of eye sizes. Or the male (rectangular) and female (sort of bean-shaped) body designs. Or the various kinds of eyebrows.

[Darklord Bright]

Well, you could copyright the ratio of eye sizes. Or the male (rectangular) and female (sort of bean-shaped) body designs. Or the various kinds of eyebrows.

You can't really copyright rectangles and beans.

[MeTheGameGuy]

You can't really copyright rectangles and beans.

You could, uh... copyright the use of rectangles or beans to represent specific shapes?

[MethosH]

You could, uh... copyright the use of rectangles or beans to represent specific shapes?

Err... I don't think you can. You can copyright a image if it represents a logo or a character. If you could could copyright a certain style I would go out copyrighting every single art style and trademark-troll the artists for money


Anyway.... I came here to talk about something...

I'm thinking of starting a "Comic Lab" thread here. A place to the authors and artists to post experimental comics and discuss comics technics. Should I do it or you guys think it will end up forgoten and unloved?

[Maximum Zersk]

Err... I don't think you can. You can copyright a image if it represents a logo or a character. If you could could copyright a certain style I would go out copyrighting every single art style and trademark-troll the artists for money


Anyway.... I came here to talk about something...

I'm thinking of starting a "Comic Lab" thread here. A place to the authors and artists to post experimental comics and discuss comics technics. Should I do it or you guys think it will end up forgoten and unloved?

I'd be willing to help out with the lab.

[DoctorIllithid]

Heya, can someone tell me how to break apart objects in Inkscape?

[icastflare!]

about how long does It take for a comic to be approved by the moderators?

[Darklord Bright]

about how long does It take for a comic to be approved by the moderators?

For me it was somewhere between a couple days and a week.

[Teutonic Knight]

Do fan comics have to be funny? Or can they just be like normal comics only drawn in OotS-style?

[Tiffanie Lirle]

Do fan comics have to be funny? Or can they just be like normal comics only drawn in OotS-style?

Funny is optional. If you want to make a comic just telling a story then I'm pretty sure that's fine.

But a little humor once in a while doesn't hurt.

[Teutonic Knight]

Funny is optional. If you want to make a comic just telling a story then I'm pretty sure that's fine.

But a little humor once in a while doesn't hurt.

Of course. Witty dialogue and comical characters are needed, but I just wanted to make sure that they don't have to be like OotS dropping references and disintegrating the 4th wall every few panels.

[Darklord Bright]

Of course. Witty dialogue and comical characters are needed, but I just wanted to make sure that they don't have to be like OotS dropping references and disintegrating the 4th wall every few panels.

Mine began semi-funny, but if you read on it definitely isn't the point of the comic. It also doesn't break the fourth wall when it makes jokes

[MethosH]

DAMN! I'm missing Q's comic reviews! There is so many new comics! I would like to know where to start!

[HalfTangible]

DAMN! I'm missing Q's comic reviews! There is so many new comics! I would like to know where to start!

I like the one in your sig =(

EDIT: The big sig. one that isn't in a spoiler

[Darklord Bright]

I am very tempted to create some sort of comic guide, talking about things that are overused and giving ideas on how to spice it up a bit. I figure I'd have to make comics for it though, but it could be fun talking about overused and underused things and some tips and such of writing comics... it'd probably descend into ranty territory if I wasn't careful, but it'd be fun just to try and be helpful and talk about genres and suchwhat.

[Zexion]

I am very tempted to create some sort of comic guide, talking about things that are overused and giving ideas on how to spice it up a bit. I figure I'd have to make comics for it though, but it could be fun talking about overused and underused things and some tips and such of writing comics... it'd probably descend into ranty territory if I wasn't careful, but it'd be fun just to try and be helpful and talk about genres and suchwhat.

That sounds like a good idea. Use tvtropes as a reference.

[Darklord Bright]

That sounds like a good idea. Use tvtropes as a reference.

I like TvTropes, but my answer to using it as a reference for anything is: No.

[BRC]

I like TvTropes, but my answer to using it as a reference for anything is: No.

Inspiration maybe, but not as a Reference.
You might want to include select pieces of advice from other fancomicers.

Here's my piece of advice: never assume people will read anything but the actual archives. Character profiles and supplementry writing is a great way to flesh out a story, but it should always be able to stand up on the comics alone.
If people need to read anything but the comics to follow the story, you're doing something wrong.

[Bayar]

I am very tempted to create some sort of comic guide, talking about things that are overused and giving ideas on how to spice it up a bit. I figure I'd have to make comics for it though, but it could be fun talking about overused and underused things and some tips and such of writing comics... it'd probably descend into ranty territory if I wasn't careful, but it'd be fun just to try and be helpful and talk about genres and suchwhat.

Would you mind if I occasionally post some of my own pointers and rants in your thread ? The fact is I wanted to do this for a while now...but got lazy

[Darklord Bright]

Would you mind if I occasionally post some of my own pointers and rants in your thread ? The fact is I wanted to do this for a while now...but got lazy

I am, at the moment, trying to figure out if it goes in Fan Comics or Arts and Crafts, due to not actually containing any comics.

[Ninjaman]

Hey guys i was thinking of making a sci-fy roleplay comic, where i would have a couple of members each controling a character, and then make a comic to represent it oncein a while. What do you think oof that idea?

[ImmortalLiam]

So, I have two friends. One is an art major, and has been having a comic drawing craze as of late. The other is a computer major, but he has a vow of silence type deal (its kinda complicated) so he cant get on a forum and ask this himself, thus they designated me. First, my art friend wants to make a website to showcase his comics. He intends to start doing them on a regular basis, then adding them online. Not like a story, but more like VG cats or penny arcade. The whole random adventure of the week. They will be based on our everyday life, and the craziness that happens. Now, we have our computer friend to help us get it going, but I will be the voice of the site we make (his vow prevents him from typing as well). So, he wants to copy right his work, and we need a good free site, at least to get started on it. If it gets popular, or we get a loyal fan base, we will pay for a better site. So, any suggestions about this plan of ours? Sorry the post was so long

[Oppolo]

So, I have two friends. One is an art major, and has been having a comic drawing craze as of late. The other is a computer major, but he has a vow of silence type deal (its kinda complicated) so he cant get on a forum and ask this himself, thus they designated me. First, my art friend wants to make a website to showcase his comics. He intends to start doing them on a regular basis, then adding them online. Not like a story, but more like VG cats or penny arcade. The whole random adventure of the week. They will be based on our everyday life, and the craziness that happens. Now, we have our computer friend to help us get it going, but I will be the voice of the site we make (his vow prevents him from typing as well). So, he wants to copy right his work, and we need a good free site, at least to get started on it. If it gets popular, or we get a loyal fan base, we will pay for a better site. So, any suggestions about this plan of ours? Sorry the post was so long

This was asked a long time ago, so I'm sure you've found your answer. But if not, I'd advise starting up a website. It doesn't take much money to register a domain name, only like $15 a year, and you wouldn't need much bandwidth unless you got popular.
Tell your tech-savvy friend to google wordpress (a blog template for your website), and then comicpress (which edits the wordpress template to make it a webcomic website).

If you'd like to get some practice in before you make your website (to make sure you can stick to an update schedule before you commit), just use deviantart, tumblr or a free online blog service. I wouldn't advise using an online webcomic hosting service, as some have sticky agreement terms that mean they can sell your art in return for hosting you. Google online hosting sites for testimonials before you use them.


edit: Also, tell your artist friend to be very careful if he's including himself and his friends in the comic. Often these comics become cliché (friends and their talking cat sitting on a couch playing computer games, with one female character who's snarky and cool!), or become full of in-jokes that aren't funny to anybody but the author and his friends.
It might be a good idea to brainstorm some original characters, and an original setting. What haven't you seen done before? Maybe your characters are firemen/women sat around the break room, waiting for the siren to ring and having a laugh in the meantime? You can then incorporate real-life experiences into your new characters.

[Lord Raziere]

I have a new idea for a comic...

Bio-Exalted
What if Bioware made an Exalted videogame? What if they had all the money in the world and all the best technology to go with it to simulate Exalted's awesome? It would probably turn out something like this:
Age of Sorrows:
Return of the Solars
You are a Solar Exalted. You are the reincarnation of one of the former god-kings of Creation, and you have returned to retake your rightful place from its usurpers- but you must gather followers, for what is a king without his subjects?
featuring companions such as:
A Dragon-Blooded who is bad at working in a team
A Lunar who hates shapeshifting
An Abyssal who believes he is irredeemable
A Yozi-loyalist, anti-reclamation Infernal
Another Solar, who doubts he can do anything to change the world
another Lunar, who is completely obsessed with her Solar mate- you.
A sociopathic but hilarious Alchemical
a coldly logical Fair Folk.
Weirdest. Sidereal. Ronin. Ever.

The entire thing would be an affectionate parody of bioware's games. except since its Exalted, it would also be awesome.

[CountD]

So I attempted to post a fan comic a week ago, but no moderator ever passed it through. Does it usually take this long, or was my comic rejected?