So let’s kick things off with the first actual post with some artwork to be about comics. I’ll have a recap about some other comic events like CXC, SPX, A2CAF, etc. later on. For now I want to go back in time to Summer, 2021.
It all started by chance when I decided to participate with an online convention and art jam on July 31, 2021, hosted by a local comic book chain in Michigan called Vault of Midnight. The idea came from just the general concept of “How could someone make a comic with as little difficulties as possible? Quick and simple.”
From there I made a challenge for myself to make a mini comic about making comics in two weeks for Free Comic Book Day, which had a couple of dates throughout the year of 2021.
What initially started as just a fun idea, slowly but surely turned into a whole ordeal, though in the best way possible. The mix of trying to convey the process of making comics and doing so in only 8 pages presented some interesting challenges. I needed to omit some items here and there and synthesize things into their most core fundamental elements. I also decided to make this more about making comics by hand, DIY (Do It Yourself), than the more “professional” way of making comics. This way it could more approachable for anyone who didn’t have loads of money to spend on printing. Add on top of all of that, I didn’t just make one version of this mini comic, but three for three different comic shops; Green Brain Comics in Dearborn, Vault of Midnight in Detroit, and Comics and More in Madison Heights. Each got their very own unique version with a special panel dedicated to each shop.
It was August 13th when I was in the final stretch to get the mini comic completed. Assembling all my materials of paper, stapler, cutting board, etc., I stayed up all night to complete the mini comic, all three versions with about 30 books per shop. Without getting any sleep, I drove around to each shop and delivered the books. After getting home, I was finally able to get some rest. It was August 14, 2021.
To me, this whole project was my way of proving to myself that I could make comics even in the most extreme of situations, but also my way of paying it forward to comics by giving away something completely for free so that others could make their own comics. As Jim Rugg and Ed Piskor say on Cartoonist Kayfabe “Make More Comics!”
If you would like to see some more behind the scenes look at how I put this mini comic together, please consider supporting me on Patreon where I have some posts going over my process.
