Ongoing Comic

[esper]

ONGOING COMIC COMPETITION

Welcome to the ONGOING COMIC COMPETITION, where multiple artists will advance a comic book story one frame at a time. The rules are as follows:

RULES SO FAR:

Ã,  Ã, ---No going non-sequitur (off topic) unless it progresses the story in a logical manner.
Ã,  Ã, ---Make your work exist in a 640 X 480 frame. If you need to show action, you can use multiple frames, but they all must fit within a 640X480 space.
Ã,  Ã, ---If you want the next frame, post a space holding message. Once the frame has been drawn, edit the post to reflect the newly drawn frame. After twelve hours have passed with the person who claimed the space not posting anything, someone else can take the post.
Ã,  Ã, ---In a fourteen-point Comic Sans font in the bottom left hand corner of the frame, insert a sequential frame number (the first being 1).
Ã,  Ã, ---To keep with ease of reading, uniformity, and legibility, use Comic Sans font at any legible point size that befits your frame. For "Bangs" and "Booms" and such things, feel free to draw it yourself, but only if style calls for it (that type of thing wouldn't be found in, for example, a survival horror type of comic, but would abound in a superhero story).
Ã,  Ã, ---You must wait at least 5 frames before posting a new frame, to ensure that everyone gets a chance to participate.
Ã,  Ã, ---The story will be indefinite. This does not mean that certain storylines will not end, but the main story should be kept going.
Ã,  Ã, ---Stay uniform. As nice as nonconformity is, it makes it difficult for readers to enjoy our work. If in one scene the main character is wearing a red shirt, do not change him into a blue shirt randomly in the middle of that scene in which said clothing change would be completely illogical. While we all may have different art styles, it does not mean that just because it is part of our "style" we should feel free to give the main character spiky anime hair and an eyepatch when he has never had these in prior frames...
Ã,  Ã, ---Have fun!!!

The selected topic is going to be simple: ___<insert random number here>___ guys are on a trip around the world. The purpose of this trip, and even the world in question, is entirely up to the authors and artists who contribute. If the opening scene turns out to be in a medieval world, it very concievably could turn out just to be part of a movie the characters are making to finance their trip, or they could be travelling through time as well! Anything goes, as long as you stay in the boundaries of the rules. If at one point in time you want to have everything that has happened so far be a dream, go for it, as long as you can do so and still have everything that has happened up to that point be pertinent.

The first place is being held for Eggie, but he was volunteered, so if he doesn't post within twelve hours, anyone can feel free to take the first frame. Just follow the placeholding rules mentioned above!

Who's on board as of now: Esper, Tuomas, Eggie, Pablo, Zor, Mozesh, Gilbot, Guybrush Peepwood, YakSpit, and maybe ScummBuddy (he never actually SAID if he was on or not, just gave a foundational idea...). Anyone else is free to join in as long as they follow the rules posted.

[Eggie]

EDIT: Note to self. Type stuff into Google before typing...nouns.

Okay. You know what, screw this. I can do better. Just give me a few hours and I'll try and come up with something that will get this off to a good start.

Besides...I forgot the page numnber.

[SSH]

So thats what she did after Calvin and her grew up!

By the way, they're not called the Inland Revenue anymore. It's now Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

[Bluke4x4]

dangit, Eggie! I just finished page 2! 

[esper]

bluke: you need to post a placeholder, or someone else is going to post your frame before you anyway.

[Eggie]

I was kind of banking no-one would done a page 2 yet...but...

Oh well, we'll just stay with this. I'll go add the page number now...

[Paper Carnival]

Wait, I'm confused... Does Blake have the placeholder now?

[esper]

he hasn't claimed it. Chances are, after Eggie said he was scrapping the first page, Bluke scrapped his.

[Bluke4x4]

Yes, I claim this placeholder for number 2.

[Al_Ninio]

I assumed we were going one frame at a time? One page at a time seems sort of awkward.

[Paper Carnival]

I assumed we were going one frame at a time? One page at a time seems sort of awkward.

It's one big frame, but we can put as many parts in it as we like, as long as it keeps the 640*480 size

[esper]

however, the standard was kind of to keep only to one idea or action in the course of the one frame. It is a bit hard to progress a story at that slow a pace, so frames like Eggie's will be accepted: roughly what you might find in a half or quarter page of a comic book. Try to keep it down, though, so everyone has a part in shaping the story as it goes.

[Bluke4x4]

Here's my page...

[Vince Twelve]

In the interest of helping what I think is a good idea, here are the rules again with emphasis added to the important comic-structure-related rules:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   ---No going non-sequitur (off topic) unless it progresses the story in a logical manner.
   ---Make your work exist in a 640 X 480 frame. If you need to show action, you can use multiple frames, but they all must fit within a 640X480 space.
   ---If you want the next frame, post a space holding message. Once the frame has been drawn, edit the post to reflect the newly drawn frame. After twelve hours have passed with the person who claimed the space not posting anything, someone else can take the post.
   ---In a fourteen-point Comic Sans font in the bottom left hand corner of the frame, insert a sequential frame number (the first being 1).
   ---To keep with ease of reading, uniformity, and legibility, use Comic Sans font at any legible point size that befits your frame. For "Bangs" and "Booms" and such things, feel free to draw it yourself, but only if style calls for it (that type of thing wouldn't be found in, for example, a survival horror type of comic, but would abound in a superhero story).
   ---You must wait at least 5 frames before posting a new frame, to ensure that everyone gets a chance to participate.
   ---The story will be indefinite. This does not mean that certain storylines will not end, but the main story should be kept going.
   ---Stay uniform. As nice as nonconformity is, it makes it difficult for readers to enjoy our work. If in one scene the main character is wearing a red shirt, do not change him into a blue shirt randomly in the middle of that scene in which said clothing change would be completely illogical. While we all may have different art styles, it does not mean that just because it is part of our "style" we should feel free to give the main character spiky anime hair and an eyepatch when he has never had these in prior frames...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And here is a rule abiding version of Bluke's page 2:





And finally, page 3:

[TheYak]

Sorry for the blurriness - entirely operator error.  Always save a backup.  Argh.

(Edited for horizontal compliance, but more difficult to read given that I erased the "Meanwhile" box in the middle.  Two scenes, same time.)

[Bluke4x4]

Oops. I missed a couple of rules . Thanks Vince Twelve.

[esper]

Because no one has posted for so long (I think it's because this is kind of hard to follow ) I will hold my place in line for the next frame.... But it might take me longer than twelve hours (it'll be twenty-four, actually, since I'm at work and didn't bring my tablet, and I don't have internet at home).

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Esper - don't worry about people not posting for long. Take a look at the ASCII comp, or the MSPaint comp. People will enter in their own time, I'm sure.

[JudgeDeadd]

esper didn't write anything...
So, I claim the next frame.

[esper]

Actually, I said I would post in 24 hours, and that was only two hours ago... But I'm glad someone else wants to get this thing moving, so go ahead. I wanna sit back and see what's happening. I am a bit confused so far...

[JudgeDeadd]

I completed the comic:

[Tuomas]

There, you happy now? I'll leave something to the next one to use his/her's intuition, as that is the meaning of this as far as I know...



Post edited, sorry, but the rules are a bit tough... Hey, I just did that to show what one should not do... well, this new one ought to do it for now

[JudgeDeadd]

It's not 640x480.

[Gilbert]

I'd just done some clean up in this thread, no matter what, this is not a kindergarten.

It's not 640x480.

Also, it's missing the frame number.

[Haddas]

Frame 7

[Czar]

Are there spaces ready and free?

[Bluke4x4]

Yes.

[Phemar]

Frame 8

[Krysis]

I'm next.

EDIT: Never mind... Its too hard to draw a comic page.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

I don't want to be a spoilsport, but this is falling prey to one of the things that often happens with these - when it started out each panel actually had content. Don't get me wrong, but these last few panels have been a bit "what he said and this small little bit of small extra thingie and a big l337 suspensefull finale".

No offense, Zor, or Haddas, or the guys just before you, it's just that I was enjoying it when I started reading and now it's falling out a bit.

Yeah, I know this is a community effort and these things are likely to happen, I'd just like to point out that I'd like someone to advance the story again.

[esper]

Hmmm. I started this thing, and I never even put up a frame...

Here's a better idea. I like Krysis' art. I see he posted a bit that he would like to be a part of it, but it is "too hard to do a comics page." I also very highly esteem Krysis for his work and for the big part he plays in this community.

I started this thread as a complete newbie, just to let people know that I was here and wanted to be a part of the community. However, Kry, would you take it off my hands?

The original idea was that there be one frame comics, 640 x 480, that told the story the way one-frame comics usually do, unless there was some action, in which case the "manga" style of having a couple frames of animation in one single frame of comic would come into play. That would probably work alot better. I eventually renigged and said "just go ahead and make about half a page of a comic" because it seemed no one was interested in that.

So, if someone wants to revamp this... I've been looking at it for a while trying to figure out what to do with it, but to tell you the truth, I don't even know what the hell happened after this went to second page, so... Maybe we could start again, new rules, a new idea... This is, IMHO, a really good idea. It just needs to be done right.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Oh, well, I wouldn't say "start from scratch" either, that wouldn't be good. If we do that, we risk keeping doing that every time we think it's not going all that well - and in a community effort, that gets us all nowehere.

[Phemar]

Hey sorry for my entry, guys! I just though that was what we're supposed to do ...

[esper]

Don't worry about it. Technically, it kind of was what we were supposed to be doing... It's just that the comic has gone in such a direction now that it is completely unrecognizable or unintelligible. You actually did a good job of continuing it, using the same style and format of your direct predecessor, like most people should have done. It's just there wasn't any noticible (or cogent) story going on at the time you got to it.

And Rui, I totally agree with you, even though you no longer are a furry... 

However, if you look at all the other comps, entries that do not match the desired, preset qualifications are disqualified. Since this activity has kind of gotten out of hand, it might be best if it were restarted and then just monitored a bit more tightly.

Or, we could do it this way, effectively turning this from a simple "Activity" to a competition...

One person makes a competition starting entry. Then, everyone makes the next page / frame / nostril / whatnot... and they are voted on. The winner's strip is inserted and the competition begins the following period (be it a week or a month) for the coveted spot of "next page."

This could weed out the MSPaint entries from the people who are trying to contribute, and make for a better read (as nonsensical strips would not be eligible for the win).

So thus, although you are totally right, I still think we should backburner this one, having used it as a way to see where this thing should go (or should have gone) and establish some new rules to make it cleaner and more... ummmm... comical.

[Phemar]

Erm, Esper, Comic Contest!

[TheYak]

It's difficult enough to write a story, let alone communicate your ideas in comic format.  After Eggie's tough-to-follow, excellent entry, I had a pre-conception about the direction of the storyline.  Intervening entries modified that somewhat. 

Without the ability to work on it ahead of time or even figure out what you'll be drawing, the entire thing's on hold while waiting for somebody to submit.  The competition for next page is a worthy idea, but would slow the already sluggish activity to a grinding halt, even if it meant ensuring all entries are aesthetic and make logical sense. 

I submit that a "Director" takes the reins, writing up a short story with X number of scenes.  As people volunteer, that director PM's them the scene number they'll be doing (descriptive narrative becomes pictures, dialog in comic bubbles).  Each scene should be no more than a paragraph with fairly simplistic summary.  Panels are only posted sequentially as available.  Readers get the writers story, illustrators show off artwork & style, director gets to see their vision realized (or massacred). 

My idea might be too restrictive.  Without any creative lee-way, activities are stale; with absolute creative license, however, it's chaotic.  [if activity continues as is, feel free to wipe out my lengthy post]

If it stays nearly the same or the existing images stick around with transfer to new rules, it'd certainly help if someone could summarize "our story thus far . . . "  I was starting to, but to be frank, there's a couple panels that completely lose me.

[esper]

Zor: Yes, I know it's similar, but the way this would go, every [insert set period of time here] would bring about the continuation of a story... Rather than having one week be "pirates" and the next week be "robots," it would be a serial story, written by different people... And also, it would be kind of like a choose-your-own-adventure, in that voters would get to select which page qualifies to be added to the comic, and therefore are contributing to a linear storyline.

Yak's idea would probably be the best, but he's right... it is too restrictive, and with restriction of outlet comes restriction of creativity...

I think my idea is a happy medium, actually, but I agree that this particular competition/activity would need to be "moderated" by a "director."

[Phemar]

Oh, I get it now! That sounds brilliant, seriously. I'd love to see this in action. I didn't quite get it the first time.

[Ubel]

I say let's scrap the Comic Contest for good and continue contributing this idea. It never had much popularity anyway.

[Krysis]

I say let's scrap the Comic Contest for good and continue contributing this idea. It never had much popularity anyway.

Yey! I agree.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Aw. I loved watching that contest.

That and caption, I love 'em both. Don't leddem die!

Ok, so one is already dead - no reason to kill the other one too...

[Vince Twelve]

No need to go scrapping all the other contests!

I think this one was going fine, it just needs someone to take the next frame and point the story back into a direction where it's going somewhere.

I had been waiting for someone to contribute another page so that I could jump back in (by the rules I had to wait 5 pages) and now that I can, I will.  ...as soon as I have time.  But I'm a bit busy now.

I don't think this activity is broken, it's just wandered onto a little tangent.  That's the nature of these community activities.  Don't end it, continue it in a better direction.

Interesting ongoing story threads to follow up on:

*Someone has to wrap up Harry's flash back.  Why are people being beaten?  Who threw that toilet paper? Who did he turn around and see?  Why does he need to go on a trip around the world?

*The un-named main character, his Brother Harry, and Harry's un-named partner (who has only been seen on page 2) have to start their cruise.

*Suzie Dorkins and Walter are currently chasing Harry and his brother on donkeys... apparently.

I'll join in again as soon as I have time.

[Bluke4x4]

I may have forgotten the number.

[esper]

While we're waiting for Bluke (you've already surpassed the time limit, so hurry up!) I was wondering if there was anywhere someone could put all the pages in order, without the banter in the thread... Could we maybe sticky a thread which is JUST the comic?

[sergiocornaga]

What exactly do you mean by a cruise, Bluke?

[Bluke4x4]

Cruise. Around the world. Remember? Sigh. He's putting on a world cruise (newly revealed) for masochists. I thought it was obvious. He's bringing his brothers for some other reason.

[esper]

Allright, let's wake this sleeping beast up.

Here's a recap of the story so far:

Harry's brother refuses to go on a surprise world tour with him. However, when Susie Dorkins of the Inland Revenue calls, he instantly changes his mind. That change is of little pertinance, however, as Harry and an unnamed assistant come and kidnap him, knocking him out and putting him in the back of their cruise van. Suzie Dorkins persists in calling Harry's brother, and Harry discovers his brother's problem when he picks up the phone of his unconscious sibling. Meanwhile, Suzie decides the only way to get Harry's brother to pay his taxes is by hunting him down. When all logical methods seem to be unavailable due to Inland Revenue cutbacks, she decides to do this herself. Falling victim to yet another IR cutback, she and Walter, the maintenance man, are forced to travel by Burro. When Harry's brother wakes up, tied up in the back of the van, he inquires to Harry about what is going on. He must travel around the world, he explains, and apparently wants his more intelligent brother to plan and possibly finance it. We learn that Harry was always the baby in the family, constantly whining about everything. Why this amazing risk, then? Harry explains:

He had been walking down the street on a dark evening when a poorly conceived code word gets him mistaken as a gangster, and he is led by a Paizon to the mob hideout. He opens the door (which, for some reason, Haddas is convinced required an unusual feat of strength) and is shocked to see people being beaten. He wonders why, when suddenly a soggy ball of toilet paper hits him. He turns to see the culprit, Mob boss Joey (whatever happened to Luigi) Flabboney, apparent moderator of Maso-Con 2005, a masochist convention. Brainwashed by the Masomob, Harry begins his own masochistic trek across the globe, indulging his newfound tendencies, with a (possible gangster) assistant and his kidnapped brother, who is all the while being chased (on burro) by Suzie Dorkins of the IR.

EDIT: That having been said, I claim the next frame as my own... My... preciousssssssss.....

AND HERE IT IS!

[Huw Dawson]

... That makes little sence ...

Oh well... 

[esper]

 Flabboney's masochistic tendencies have driven him to the ultimate form of masochism: Omnicide (the killing of everything). Through some inexplicable method (e is a mafia don, he could get the money if he so chose) Flabboney has gotten himself a nuclear warhead and is dropping it on whatever city Harry and his brother are from. Harry is a masochist, not a sadist, and as such has no desire to die. Therefore, he has gotten his brother with the help of said unamed assailant to get him out of the country.

And why did they "need his intelligence?" Maybe Flaboney has more up his sleeve?

Makes sense now?

[Ashen]

I think you've got sadism and masochism the wrong way round - sadism (after the Marquis de Sade) is about inflicting pain, so Omnicide is more like an extreme form of that. A masocist (after someone von Sacher-Masoch) is more likely to want to die than to avoid it - however since they're both about the suffering (AFAIK), I'm not totally sure dying/killing is necessarily a part of either.

Here ends the slightly creepy lesson.

Anyway, it's nice to see this re-starting, and actually moving along some.

EDIT: (After esper's post).
Well, a Masochist Convention would presumably need a few sadists, to deal out the punishment. Perhaps the sadistic Flabboney and his men saw an untapped market, and decided to make a little extra doing what they do best. It could also be a that Harry ain't the sharpest tool in the shed, and just misunderstood what he saw (Flabboney and his men beating on people - perhaps to secure the bomb?).

[esper]

Dammit... you're right. Well, I got confused because the people at the masochism convention were attacking other people... I guess Harry was just making believe he was a masochist so Flabboney wouldn't kill him, and thus got in with the mob and found out about their plan...

Yeah. That works...

[esper]

BUMP!!!!

Because we now have space over at smackjeeves.com! See my sig for the link! So let's start this thing up again!

[Bluke4x4]

sweeet. and i don't think they needed sadists, did they? i mean, just beating the crap out of eachother, they're masochists, that's what they want, right? diod they hire sadist's then? and i thought harry was actually brainwashed... i'm confused.


Edited by mod: deleted the bumps so this won't be on top of the list.

[Revan]

[bush_monkey]

Hope you don't mind if I join in

[Vince Twelve]

Revan, I just wanted to say that I love that you never showed Walter's face.  It was my secret desire when I created him that never showing his face would be an ongoing joke in the comic.  Like    Al from Police Squad.

And I love your art bush_monkey.  Very cool.

[MrBen]

i'l go next!

TA DA!



I noticed Harry's acomplice hadnt been mentioned in a while.....so i named him GEOFF!

[En garde!]

There we go.

[Revan]

[esper]

Okay, this time, but you're supposed to wait five frames. I'm just happy this thing is taking back off again.

[Revan]

Okay, this time, but you're supposed to wait five frames. I'm just happy this thing is taking back off again.

Ah yes.... sorry forgot that part , So can I post a new one on the 5th or 6th new frame?

[esper]

Yeah. It's highly subjective, so 5th or 6th doesn't really matter... Just as long as people are posting.

[Revan]

come on guys.......... I want to be able to advance the story.......

[MrBen]

so im not allowed to post one right?

[esper]

Yours was only posted three ago, so no, but I'll post something and then you can, okay? THIS SPOT RESERVED.

[sergiocornaga]

I think that rule should be modified, as few others are really entering. But not by much... maybe only one post less.

[Bluke4x4]

eh

Meet Tutter.

[bush_monkey]

Tutter and Joey's history


Re-reading through the early comics, the tax guy's name is Walter. So is his name now Walter Tutter?

*edited to 640x480

[Mozesh]

I here by reserve the next spot!

[Squinky]

Then me. Can I do that?

[esper]

Yes, you can.

Thanks, Bushmonkey, for your awesomely drawn additions to the contest. There is the 640x480 rule for a reason though. Some people can't view the entire page width that you've drawn, and it throws the whole thread off balance. I really like your frame, but is there any way you can reduce it's width to at least match the width restrictions of an average computer monitor? Maybe do away with some of the white space between Sally and Walter, and bring whatever the tied-up guy's name is between two of their heads...

[bush_monkey]

oopps! Totally forgot about the 640x480 rule  :, I'm off to work right now but I'll modify it tonight.

[Mozesh]

Arg my tablet is going crazy, hopefully it'll be up within a few hours...

EDIT:

Better said it is up within the hour...
It's a quicky didn't wanna keep anyone waiting any longer...

[Squinky]

Drawing right now....



The little sign at the bottom says "Slippery Surface".

[Revan]

Here you go...

[biothlebop]

[bush_monkey]

[FrogMarch]

[bush_monkey]

Hey Esper, would it be at all possible to relax the rules? I mean, if the comic hasnt been updated in over a week I reckon it should be up for grabs to anyone. We don't want it stagnating, do we? ....Not that it's going anywhere great right now but it could be steered back quite easily.

Anyway, that's my two cents 

[Grapefruitologist]

Errr, I don't really know the rules about reserving and everything, but can I reserve the spot? We drew a picture already, we just need to finish it.
We, as in, me and my brothers.
And I agree with bush_monkey-this will eventually die out if you keep the rules that strict. There just aren't enough people. This is just for fun, it's not like a competition with a $1000 reward or anything. In things like this, I'd almost say there should be NO rules, as people just come here to goof around and draw some pictures. If anybody complains about something, then you can make a rule about it. Otherwise, I really don't see the need for so many rules that we can't even remember them all.

UPDATE: We're DONE!

Sorry for all the silly jokes, heh

[bush_monkey]

Okay, it's been over a month since the last update so unless anyone objects, i'm reserving the next spot 

[Squinky]

I think we either need to scrap this, or be more lax with the rules.