Hello, citizens of Menewsha. I'm Hyena, and I have a unique gift: I am a storyteller. But not just ANY storyteller. I am a comic book artist.

I advertise my comic book via my sig, and quite often that leads people to begin talking about my story rather than other things that are going on in the thread, so here is a thread for specifically that to avoid interrupting the normal flow of conversation. Yes, yes, its a little self-indulgent, but often times talking about my work leads to other people discussing their ideas for comic books, and discussing the comic books industry, or what they prefer. So outside of that primary self-indulgent coat of paint, this is actually a discussion board for artists, writers, and readers alike. (Or anything that has anything to do with the comics industry, syndicated or otherwise.)

Conversation isn't limited to comic books, of course. But its nice if we all have something that ties us together. And comics can range anything from independent to Marvel, slice-of-life to epic adventures, Schultz to Arikawa.

THE RULES!
1. TOS yada yada.
2. No capes... okay, some capes. But just because you have a cape doesn't mean you can fly. And don't be so snobby about your cape. Some of us can't afford fancy things like capes.
3. Respect. I shouldn't have to say it, but there's always that one time.
4. Some 18+ material may come up in the course of conversation. Proceed with caution.
5. Mind the stray femurs. We're still cleaning up from New Year's.
6. For added fun, pretend you're a superhero!


Important links!
The Bend - Updates Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday By Hyena: A webcomic about a cannibal, a geomancer, and an alcoholic as they try to take down a brainwashing cult. Features pirates, conspiracy theory, and losing your mind.

The Xeric Foundation : Get started on your project, apply for a grant.

If you have a comic that you would like featured on the first page, let me know and provide a brief synopsis.

Beer! Yes! Beerman is here! We're saved!

W00t! First post!

BA-ZAM!

Taiyo popped the thread cherry. WITH SUPERPOWERS.

I don't have a comic, or any artistic skill to speak of, really, but this thread is well done. Well done.

Thank you. -small bow-

And now, if you'll excuse me, I must go undercover as a Walmart employee.

-puts on the Disguise Glasses and whooshes away-

:lol:

I know this is off-topic (already!!), but is it just me or is Gackt an amazing singer?
YouTube - GACKT EVER (PV) - Full Version (HQ)

I'm not really so much on the Japanese music. Its just not my aesthetic. ._.

It's mine. Hopefully I'll be able to learn Japanese! :eager: I wanna go to Japan! (doubt it'll ever happen though.....)

Part of my problem with Japan isn't the country or culture itself, because there are a lot of things that I really like about Japanese culture. The HUGE problem I have with it is that I know someone who was born in Okinawa on the American military base there and its REALLY hard to get her to shut up about how awesome Japan is compared to America. And its like... "Okay, Kayla. We get it. Japan is better than America. Japan has no problems whatsoever. Japan is the be all and end all of intrigue. Go Japan."

There are some things about Japanese culture that I really like, as a xenophile. I mean, I really like the idea of Zen buddhism and how its reflected in their art and architecture. Hokusai is one of my favorite print artists (I got to see some of his Mt. Fuji series in person). And its REALLY pretty. But when someone goes on and on and on about something as if it has no drawbacks whatsoever... it makes me skeptical about whether or not they did their research. >_____>

But you seem smart enough to realize that Japan has its own problems. So I'm done lecturing. xD

There are plenty of exchange programs that allow you to live and work in Japan. The most common is Japanese-English Teaching (JET). If you know English and are at least working towards a degree, they're like... "YOU! COME HERE! TEACH OUR CHILDREN ENGLISH!"

I've got to agree with you there; when you've got someone going on and on, it's annoying as hell.

And is it really a wise idea to let Americans teach people English? We've mangled the language so bad it can't even be called English anymore! Just listen to people talk! You've got to use an American-mangled-English-to-ACTUAL-English dictionary to be able to translate the crap!

Actually, my professors told us that, while it use to be pretty common that people would love to grab you off the street and pay you to tutor their kids in English, that isn't really the case anymore.

Since I was part of the not-so-good-at-Japanese crowd when I studied abroad, we had fun with our Japanglish.

Hiya. ^^ I don't have a comic. Not for lack of trying now and again, but I'm a perfectionist who cannot abide my terrible attempts at drawing one (especially backgrounds!) and I have trouble keeping a cohesive storyline or actually finishing one.

I must clicky your comic.

I think they have the JET program because American English tutors come cheap and they don't care as long as their kids know enough English to know how to ask for the bathroom. xD

I didn't know that, Taviren. Interesting. =D

Backgrounds used to be the bane of my existence. I'd be like... "well... I drew all the characters. They're okay floating around in nebulous space, I'm sure. Maybe I'll grant them a couch or something." Do you have a specific storyline in mind, or are you dabbling in several different ideas?

MUAHAHA! snagged another one.

Sooo many ideas in my head. None terribly current. I guess the most current idea was to base it around me and my friends' antics playing DnD and other board games. But then there are ideas revolving around the character I named my avatar after, alien romances, fallen angels, demonic wars, etc.

Only gotten through chapter 1 of your story so far, but it's keeping my interest. I enjoy some good banter, and even a creepy character or two.

-participates in thread enhancing magic-

I would like some cranberry juice.

Originally Posted by Taviren

fallen angels, demonic wars, etc.

This reminds me, I need to finish Angel Sanctuary...

Muahahaha... creepy characters. I seem to be known for them. Hans was the product of a migraine I had once... >_____>

Mmm... alien romances. Not something you read about every day. I hope you get the ball rolling on it. It can be hard to get started when you can't decide what you want to do with it. I started out by putting two characters in a bar (obviously) and seeing where it ended up.

@Biggles: Good series. If a might-bit messed up.

@Hyena: Well, yours went somewhere interesting. XD I'm afraid my would just fizzle nowhere if I tried such an approach. I think what I really need to do is convince myself that it's ok if it's crap (supposedly one gets better, I hear).

-conjures cranberry juice for Biggles-

Taviren: Mine went somewhere, I think, because I had a friend looking over my shoulder telling me if something was bad. The plot didn't really come to me until after I'd established the characters in their environment. Then it was like... "okay, you can go off and do what you want now. I'll just control the weather."

EDIT: HA! Just found something awesome: http://www.xericfoundation.org/index.html

Putting that in the first post.

Edit edit: If I don't respond, I'm doing more character profiles. I've been kind of slacking on them over the past month because work got in the way. >________>

@ Taiyo: I found that video distracting, because his apparel and his choreography made it looked like he has a bosom. He... he doesn't does he?

Gackt, if I recall, is REALLY into androgyny. I can't remember if it was him or some other androgynous Japanese iconic figure that was really into crossdressing.

Yeah, I used to know more about this stuff, but I don't recall who was into that either. Was it T.M. Revolution? Plus, I believe there is a band that makes one of their members dress as a lady pretty much always. But I don't recall the name. It's a fairly popular one.
Either way, I don't care if he has boobs. It was just that I would prefer him to own it if he did, rather than making people distrust their own eyes...

T.M. Revolution is one of my favorite J-rock bands! Yes, i'm that much of a nerd.

I thought T.M. Revolution was a person? Dang, I really have been leaking knowledge...

-totally doesn't know what TM Revolution is- o____o

Liz is into lolita fashion and there was one guy that was the spokesperson for one of the brands (I think it was Baby) who was always dressed in harijuku lolita. -shrug-

I have some Baby stuff. Picked it up in the San Francisco shop. T'was a cool experience.

Liz makes her own lolita clothes. Its pretty awesome. =O

But she makes them herself because she's poor and not the right build for most of the things they sell. She has a large ribcage, a tiny waist, and big hips. >>