My latest SUMMER TO WINTER episode is on its official page: Summer to Winter on Tumblr!
The webcomic is also on: Summer to Winter on GlobalComix!
I'm really glad I'm getting more into the Boy's Love(BL) genre now. Because years ago, there was a lot of problematic elements in it being worked through and even the genre's fans pointed them out. Probably being a newbie to this medium, I may have taken those problematic elements for granted and unfortunately, may even have adopted them into my own works.
MY LOVE MIX-UP!(2021) [1 season/10 eps] based on the manga series by the same name "Kieta Hatsukoi" by Wataru Hinekure Watch the series on Viki now! Or on YouTube!
MY BEAUTIFUL MAN(2021) [6 eps] adapted from the novel "He, Who Is Beautiful" by Nagira Yuu Watch the series on Viki! Or on YouTube!
Last week, a well-known author whose story was required reading back in grade school, made a disparaging comment about graphic novels. They pretty much dismissed and even insulted fans who were graphic novel readers, myself included. Immediately, because it was social media, people swarmed into her comments.
The first to strongly contest the author's words were, of course, the graphic novelists! The graphic novelists not only explained what got them into their field, some even mentioned how they struggled to read when they were young and that comics helped open the doors to the world of books. Then came the librarians and educators, citing that because of a variety of obstacles students and young people face academically, whether it's a first language not English at home, or a host of learning and reading disabilities, educators and librarians cited that when students and youth struggled to read, graphic novels were their keys.
This lauded author's comments reinforced my understanding that comics and images with text are still not respected as art and literature in the U.S. Since subscribing to the periodical, World Literature Today, I have sadly seen that, while comic books and other illustrated books are derided in the States, other countries, most notably in French-speaking Europe, French-speaking African countries, in parts of the Middle East and Latin America, the graphic novel, comic books, and even comic strips are still judged in award ceremonies that celebrate literature and the arts. As far as I can read, it seems that the U.S. is still behind in uplifting the idea that books that combine images and text can share the same space as other great works of literature and the classics.
I am not ashamed to say that as an aspiring graphic novelist, and as a consumer of comics with other books since I was a child, the author's words hurt me. I was also a fan of this author's book when it was chosen as the title
my junior high class had to read. Other students were not happy but I
was. I knew that sitting in my family book case was a 60s hardcover with
psychedelic-type artwork waiting for me. I also blogged about my love
for this story and its film. Also, I am currently an educator, so I was
hit twice by their comments.
I remember being taken to Barnes and Noble's basement with my big sister to scour for bargain books where I found 25-50 cent mass market paperbacks of illustrated Flintstones novels and Peanuts comic strip collections. Now, the graphic novel publisher, Fantagraphics has been collecting a lot of classic Sunday Funnies titles and I regret that my paperbacks did not survive to be worth anything now! I also read many of the classic literature in my junior high library when a press started to publish these works into pocket-size graphic novels. Small enough for me to read in class and hide in my pocket or sweater so I didn't get bullied by other students.
To make a long story short, the author did re-post many of the comments and responded that they would learn from their mistake. But, I still do not understand this vitriol and derision towards a medium that is some centuries old -- we thought comics were younger than they really were, until caricature graffiti was discovered on Egyptian pyramids and that in a Japanese museum lies a 1000-year-old scroll with anthropomorphic animals engaged in human sports and other human activities, long before Beatrix Potter's ancestors were a gleam in their parents' eyes.
We must change this narrative, and though the author apologized, it seems that people need to be schooled more about how comics actually help to expand the world for its readers while making fans and creators into a tight-knit family.
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| From my WIP "Straight From the Heart" |
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| From my WIP "Straight From the Heart" |
When I start to draft these scenes, I'll post on Instagram. One of the styles I use is as free-form as possible with little background and not as many panels. My comics look more like illustrated books for grown-ups.
I also wonder if there's any way I can get short comic stories published by lieu of indies, really small press, and literary journal publishers? I notice there's more journals that have comics and graphic arts in their submission guidelines.
This is what I'm looking at and have been submitting to. I want editing as well. Just like with my short stories.
I'm lazy. So, so lazy. I want to work at my own pace. I'm not good with deadlines
(But getting better) and feel I'd do worse with comic submissions. Especially if it were a regular comic publisher.
[This happened 3-4 weeks ago]
Folks, I've had a traumatic experience today (Nobody died, thank goodness) but I feel no less devastated. The local comic store (LCS) I've frequented and patronized since middle school closed down and I only found out while I and my mother ran errands.
I saw the lease sign big as day in the window and the possible new owner going inside and I just. Lost. It. Only those who frequent bookstores can understand the hurt involved because the stores we shop from are also tied into our identities.
Villains Comics & Collectibles was that sort of store for me. When stuff got stressful. When life got foolish. When jobs became hell. When sh!t hit the fan. This comic bookstore became my 'watering hole'. My sanctuary. My refuge.
Not to mention the owner was 1 heck of a guy. 1 of the few comic bookstore owners who didn't treat females any differently than the males. This week has been a mess. Last month was hard. September was worse. 2018 has been hard for a lot of us. But there were places to retreat to.
I'm going to start looking into other LCSs in other cities and nearby counties. Maybe I can discover new places, I don't know. Florida isn't casual-explorer friendly and nearly everyone needs personal transportation because the state doesn't have good public transport.
So, yes, to make a long story short, this has been a sucky week. My body cramped up from driving until I had to take a day off from my part-time. And now, one of my favorite places in this God-forsaken city is gone. So yes, this week's been a hot mess.
Farewell, Villains of NMB. I hope at least to run into the owner again. Hopefully, he's doing well. Sigh.😞ðŸ˜
And if you feel as blessed as I do, you've come across and may have even read a handful of these titles!
http://www.vulture.com/article/100-most-influential-pages-comic-book-history.html?utm_campaign=vulture&utm_source=tw&utm_medium=s1
Month of February was both a difficult month emotionally, mentally, and physically for me.
I won't get too much into one of the reasons but I can talk about the other reason: I worked on a 20-page graphic novel! It was a rush job as I only had roughly two months to complete it.
Instead of using my special micro nib pens for inking, I decided to use my double-head black designer markers instead. It gave a children's book feel. I drove this idea home especially that I used a junior high school-aged Latin-American boy as protagonist.
I had my mom and five co-workers read the graphic novel and received only positive and heartfelt feedback!
The application package had four deadlines and, on my part, I completed the cover sheet, my bibliography, a resume, and the work sample (graphic novel)! I already had an appointment with a professor colleague who worked on my letter of recommendation. I only have one letter left. That deadline isn't until the first day of next month.
I posted cropped pages of the comic on my Instagram (@Handdrawnbycarmenjr) since it's in the submission process.
Please wish me luck and keep your fingers crossed!
