This page, I feel, marks a new paradigm in my skills. I would like to formally dedicate this page to Doug TenNapel. I have included a few panels that are very similar to a few from Ratfist to honor the author and the work. In 2009 I spent a year at a very good art school, and I was around a bunch of comic students. Even though I could see their work, and talk about it freely, I never really learned anything from them. In fact, I had no idea I would attempt a comic myself. I was studying film, and I really didn’t care. The only thing I had that sparked my interest was my stack of Doug’s graphic novels. I loved them. Sure, sure, I liked the Green Lantern, and I’d read plenty of other things, but nothing felt quite as awesome as a real TenNapel graphic novel.
One of the aspects that I praised the most – fantastic artwork aside – was the stories and story structure. Something I have been interested in, even with film, was things that had a definitive ending. A guy could read ever single DC and Marvel comic forever, and that’s great, but when reading a TenNapel novel you’ll receive the whole story. Getting the entire concept, seeing the whole thing have an absolute home is something that turned me on. I could read them all and have read a dozen different stories instead of different takes on the same story.
When I dreamt up Alice, imagined four stories. Sure that wasn’t one story, but I had a definite ending, and that got me going. This will end someday, but in that time I will develop and learn as well as gain feedback. I think it’s these concepts that really kickstarted this experience.
Recently, as I said in my blog yesterday, I started looking closer at the books and authors that inspire me most. (Doug’s stuff, Buffy, Angel, etc.) I got fired up, and I looked at each page of Alice, with my dear Carrie over my shoulder. I couldn’t help thinking it wasn’t that great. I could do so much better. These older pages, were too easy, I think. I needed to challenge myself. Now over this week, I have pushed myself to a new level, expecting much more out of my work. My new pages are getting better and better, and I sure can’t wait to bring them to you. I think you’ll really love them.
In closing, I have to say that everything I have learned about comics I have learned from Doug TenNapel. Thanks for all the immensely inspiring work, and thank all of you for reading. Stay tuned for an ever improving page on Wednesday!
Ever,
Dylan
sending...
Nice, I like the last panel with the punch.