The opinions expressed in the Editor’s Rant! Are the opinions of the writer and not necessarily the opinions of the other members of the Original Comic Creator’s Club. Any questions or responses to this article please post in the club. Well, it looks like the Yahoo! Clubs are starting to generate communication and are bringing people together to discuss issues related to comics. This is a good thing. But I’ve been noticing a disturbing tread in the various discussions in the OCCC club and other clubs. There seems to be a rift between those who do super-hero comics and those who either don’t or aren’t at all interested in super-heroes. The end result seems to be a lot of super-hero comics bashing, with those who support super-hero comics, only doing so reluctantly and apologetically.
I have no problem with people who don’t like or aren’t interested in super-hero comics. I personally enjoy comics of all types, including some super-hero titles. However, I have no reason to be ashamed of liking “goofy” super-hero comics, it doesn’t make my creative efforts less “artistic”, or “serious”. People, we rail at the “outside” world for dismissing comics as a serious literature medium, yet some of us exhibit the exact same attitude towards certain aspects of that same medium! I can’t change opinions, but it’s just something to think about.
Another problem at the OCCC is that there seems to be a belief that the OCCC is ONLY about super-hero style comics. This is not true at all! I want the OCCC to be inclusive and diverse in the style and subject matter of comics. The mistake is that people are confusing GENRE and MEDIUM (i.e. Comics).
This club is about COMICS, not just super-heroes, but comics of all types. You know as well as I that comics can be about any genre, from sci-fi, action, super-heroes, humor, slice-of-life, etc. The list goes on and on….
However, from what I gather, the concern seems to be that the OCCC CLUB COMICS are only super-hero comics, and that comics of other genres just aren’t allowed. Again, this is wrong! Of the complaints I’ve heard expressing this, NO ONE has actually submitted any comic and had it rejected. It’s not like Dwayne or myself are throwing out (or deleting, I guess) submissions that aren’t super-hero comics. With the fine exception of JLPToon’s story, we haven’t gotten ANY complete comics that are non-super-hero comics.
There is a forum for any new comics in the OCCC Club Projects, CLUB COMIC #3 (Mistress Of The Gateway) is meant to house comics of almost any genre (“almost”, because we do not accept ADULTS ONLY material, like graphic sex & violence.) The hostess for CC#3, Mystica, is only there to introduce the comic to the reader, she doesn’t have to be included in the comic at all.
My suggestion to those creators who are frustrated with the proliferation of super-hero comics in the OCCC Club Projects: Well, create your own comic! If you think you know what comics are lacking in story or subject matter, create your own with these elements! The reason that super-hero comic material is so prevalent in the CLUB COMICS is because most of the creators who worked on them LIKE super-hero material. That’s why these pages are here; because creators put in their time, energy & passion to get the job done and produce comic pages dealing with subjects they like, which happened to be super-heroes.
THAT is the only criteria of the CLUB COMICS, ultimately: Get the job done, and produce works that you’re excited about.
Now, CLUB COMICS #1 & 2 are more formal in style, subject matter, and requirements, I agree. Because the focus has been on super-hero type of material for those comics since the beginning, it wouldn’t be fair to change that very much. And the rules do stipulate that a creator must both WRITE and DRAW their chapter. Honestly, I personally have the most problem with that rule (hey, this is an editorial, I can disagree with Dwayne if I want to!) But I really don’t disagree. I understand that this rule is necessary to maintain a proper schedule, otherwise, there’d either be more confusion and hassle; getting writers and artists coordinated, or they’d each have less time to work on their part (each chapter is due in 10 days, a writer/artist team would only have 5 days each!) So the rule does make sense, that is unless YOU MEMBERS have a problem with it, and say so in the club. (hint hint! hehe, always the trouble-maker, I am!)
If you’re a writer who needs an artist or vice-versa, try to get together in the club, then create your own comic & post it in CC#3! Don’t worry about losing copyright or ownership over your creation by publishing it in the OCCC CLUB PROJECTS site. You retain full ownership over whatever you create. The CLUB COMICS are only a place to post your comics to make available to readers. It’s not about taking ownership of people’s creations, that’d be very wrong, since we don’t pay (hint to other clubs for whom this IS policy!)
The comic you create can be one that either ONLY you (and creative partner, if applicable) work on, or it can be open to other creators to make continuing chapters, like CLUB COMICS #1 & 2. Or it can be a one-shot story, with a finite ending; it’s all up to you!
So is the lack of non-super-hero comics in the OCCC CLUB PROJECTS because we only like super-heroes, or think super-hero comics are the best? NO! It’s only because we haven’t yet received more than one non-super-hero complete comic (I believe we have 1 or 2 fantasy-genre scripts that need artists to work on them).
Are we going to post only super-hero type comics in the future? That, my friend, is up to you. Show us what you’ve got!
Later
~Don