Attn: Sputnik- We're making a webcomic (brainstorm session)

[Hep Kat]

Yes indeed, the Happy Webcomic Exchange is going to have new meaning soon. After discussing things with morrissey, I've decided to start the publication of a webcomic based on Sputnik. As you may have already guessed, it's going to be a part of the newsletter. I've been wanting to write some kind of webcomic for a little while now, but I haven't exactly been able to come up with a topic. The other day, however, the thunder of realization struck me and I decided that Sputnik would be the perfect setting for said comic.

My main inspiration for all of this are the Penny-Arcade (http://www.penny-arcade.com/) comics by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik. The Sputnik comic, I'm thinking, will be relatively similar to that, only in reference to music-related pop culture, not video games. Now, I'd like this comic to be as open as possible to all members. And so, what I need from you guys is the following:

1) Input on the Comic Itself

I've had ideas from having the plot involving Sputnik regulars being in like an office area writing reviews for the mods (with hilarious results!), to having an almost blatant Penny-Arcade rip-off, with characters constantly around the computer (only on Sputnik/Mx). Needless to say, I need some plot/character ideas from you. The comic won't be story-line driven, but each strip will be related (basically the same characters and everything).

2) Topical Ideas

Naturally, it will revolve mostly around music. However, I see no harm in breaking from that on occasion. Also, I want this to appeal to as many users as possible, but I'd still like for occasional comics to feature inside jokes focusing on either Sputnik of the forums.

-If the latter is used as an occasional plot device, then I'll probably write some sort of explanation for each comic the issue after it's released. Sort of like an author's commentary thing like you find in most comic strip collections. It would be something short that would follow the comic and be titled something like: "Last Week's Comic Was About..." or something along those lines.

3) Patience

It will take a while to get all of this together. Remember that I'm a stranger to writing webcomics. I'm hoping we can come up with some good ideas, ones that use several different plot devices/characters/settings/etc. Hopefully then I can make beta strips of all of the ideas and put them to a vote. I assume we can do this two ways:

-We make a poll on Sputnik (much in the way that the eventual ROTM voting polls will [possibly] be), or we could simply link to a thread containing a poll and the comics (probably the easiest option). I would also ask one of the mods to make a global announcement about the comic so the denizens of Mx can come vote on their favorite or whatever (mods ;)).

-We could also feature one of the beta comics in each issue of the newsletter until we've shown them all. We could then put it to a vote. The only problem with this is that the newsletter is currently monthly, meaning it would be a large gap between showing the comics off. So, that should be due incentive for you guys to write more for the newsletter, so that it becomes biweekly, or even weekly.

4) Help!

I'd like one (or more) people to help me with this as any editor, writer, illustrator or anything else. I'll be accepting input on anything and everything as you know, but I also want people who will consistently help me with putting this together. Submissions, I suppose, will be via email. I guess I'll have to set up a gmail account similar to the contacts we already have for Sputnik. So, if you want in, let me know (email's in my profile next to MSN, screen name, too).


Now get your thinking caps on people :cool:

[Neoteric]

Awesome :cool:

Make Eliminator Jr. a robot that speaks L337 :p

[Kyle]

This sounds great, could be really entertaining.

[The Jungler]

Yeah, this sounds awesome.

[Storm In A Teacup]

^Or he could die early on in the script.

Anyway, :eek:, sounds like an awesome idea! I'd be happy to help out, but I'm not too creative when writing so it'd just be like a spur of the moment idea I might have, or something. I'll still try though.

[DFelon204409]

I'd like to take this thread to make the announcement that I'm retiring from this website the second you tie a webcomic to its name.

[Neoteric]

I'd like to take this thread to make the announcement that I'm retiring from this website the second you tie a webcomic to its name.
k bai xxx

[Hep Kat]

I'd like to take this thread to make the announcement that I'm retiring from this website the second you tie a webcomic to its name.

You'll be missed :(

[morrissey]

I'd like to take this thread to make the announcement that I'm retiring from this website the second you tie a webcomic to its name.
This is probably a best argument for a webcomic.

Like I said to you before Heppy, I like the idea and can't wait to see what you guys come up with, but I don't think I'll be participating, I'm not too creative on the ideas front.

[Iluvatar]

Oh hey this is what I do in my free time anyways cool I'll help out. My writing in general lends itself to this whole kind of deal I think. Or I could just be tooting my horn. I've always wanted to say that.

But yeah I'd be interested in being a writer etc etc I'll prolly contact you when I dont feel sleepy.

[Hep Kat]

Oh hey this is what I do in my free time anyways cool I'll help out. My writing in general lends itself to this whole kind of deal I think. Or I could just be tooting my horn. I've always wanted to say that.

But yeah I'd be interested in being a writer etc etc I'll prolly contact you when I dont feel sleepy.

Wait. What? You already do this?



Awright :cool:

[Hep Kat]

*ahem*



So, anyone have any ideas?

[mynameischan]

I can draw, so I'd be happy to illustrate, and I like to write too. Anyway I can help out, I will.

[Hep Kat]

I can draw, so I'd be happy to illustrate, and I like to write too. Anyway I can help out, I will.

Sounds good :)


I can always use artists to help me and stuff (especially with conceptual character creation). I'll probably use some sort of program to illustrate everything when all is said and done, though.

[mynameischan]

Yeah, character creation would be a lot of fun. I need to start drawing again anyway.

I think one plot should be this: some of the mods are sitting around and then Eliminator Jr. walks in and then the mods say "Banned lolz."

That's really stupid, but no one is giving any plot ideas, so whatever.

[Hep Kat]

Well, one of the two plots I was thinking of was having the Sputnik staff and other regular contributors in like an office setting where the office would be like a representation of the site. King of like a huge metaphor. Maybe I'll slap together a comic sometime today or tomorrow to show you guys what I mean.

[mynameischan]

If you're going to have it be an office building type setting, you could have newer users be interns or something.

[Iluvatar]

The first webcomic should so involve the whole Apathy situation from a few months ago.

/starts to formulate uh...stuff

[Phaedra]

Who the hell is apathy?

I don't remember no Apathy situation.

[Iluvatar]

wtf you surely jest sir

/remembers the fake review of sputnikmusic.com and then the eliminator jr follow up and then someone else did it and then oh hell I'm rambling

[Cygnus Inter Anates]

A sane choice would be to just let me do everything so you don't embarass yourselves.

[Hep Kat]

A sane choice would be to just let me do everything so you don't embarass yourselves.

Uh-huh.


Anyway, the user Ficus and I just talked, and he's interested in helping with illustration. Apparently he has experience with making comics of this nature.


So, Hanson kid, tell me what you know about making comics. You said you do this in your free time, so pander to us.

[Ficus]

yeah I'm down with this, good idea

[pulseczar]

We should get the writer of Cathy to help out, that comic is HILARIOUS.

[Hep Kat]

We should get the writer of Cathy to help out, that comic is HILARIOUS.

What?



That is in no way funny whatsoever =/

[Iluvatar]

I dont do web comics perse, but I do random things for friends online for their school papers comics, and since I'm a story dork, I actually create storyboards in my spare time. Yeah, I don't do exactly this, but I do stuff that relates to it well enough.

Basically, I know how to pace whats being written here. A lot of upstart web comics fail because they don't put enough into any given comic, or try to overstuff them with too much goings-ons. Yeah. Just two more cents of knowledge from Hanson-boy.

[Hep Kat]

I dont do web comics perse, but I do random things for friends online for their school papers comics, and since I'm a story dork, I actually create storyboards in my spare time. Yeah, I don't do exactly this, but I do stuff that relates to it well enough.

Basically, I know how to pace whats being written here. A lot of upstart web comics fail because they don't put enough into any given comic, or try to overstuff them with too much goings-ons. Yeah. Just two more cents of knowledge from Hanson-boy.

Well, as long as you can help, that's cool. Just let me know if you want in.

[pulseczar]

I'm good at drawing cartoons but I don't know if this will be all CGI and stuff like Star Wars.

[Iluvatar]

It would be better if we just picked like "band of the week", and superimposed cartoon caricatures of whatever sputnik users head we wanted to have in the comic over the band members head. Not a good idea? Kk. Just throwing em out there. I have no clue about graphics :(

[The Sludge]

Make sure you place me as the "guy who plays mean and uncalled for jokes on members of the site, such as fart on random objects and whatnot."

Actaully this idea would sound pretty cool. Maybe somewhat of what Iluvatar said about the band idea. Only maybe have either a well liked band/artist (Pink Floyd, Radiohead), or a hated band (Simple Plan, Hawthorn Heights), and have charators of us making generalizations of them in a humorous and delightful way.

[Cygnus Inter Anates]

That wouldn't be funny though.

[NEDM]

I could help with animation. I took a class on flash and photoshop =)

[JohnXDoe]

:smash: <-------------Me
:upset: <-------------Hep


/comic

[Damrod]

I'm game for the comic. I have some pretty absurd ideas for this kind of stuff, so maybe we should exchange ideas via AIM or similar. :)

Sounds cool though, nice idea :thumb:

[Dave de Sylvia]

I'd like to take this thread to make the announcement that I'm retiring from this website the second you tie a webcomic to its name.
hahahaha

im oddly conflicted now

[The Sludge]

I want to give people aids, even though I dont have aids in the story.


But I'm too n00bish.

[Damrod]

I think it would be nice to parody some of the user's habbits. Like (I think it was him) The Sludge and his ongoing cries for "blood orgys". Spmething like him getting whacked by someone for it to silence him, or convo stuff like

*random convo*
"BLOOD ORGY!" -> him looking like a goth n stuff
"What stroke him?"
"Ever since he got into this >include cliche genre here< stuff, he gets these random ticks..."
"Shouldn't we... like do something about it?"
"What, whack him with a shovel?"

Stuff like that. :)

[Wildhoodlum]

hahahaha

im oddly conflicted now

I don't know what to do :(




Oh well, on with the comic.

I want to give people aids, even though I dont have aids in the story.


But I'm too n00bish.

Sure, you can give aids, I guess. Depending on how we work this all out, that is.

I think it would be nice to parody some of the user's habbits. Like (I think it was him) The Sludge and his ongoing cries for "blood orgys". Spmething like him getting whacked by someone for it to silence him, or convo stuff like

*random convo*
"BLOOD ORGY!" -> him looking like a goth n stuff
"What stroke him?"
"Ever since he got into this >include cliche genre here< stuff, he gets these random ticks..."
"Shouldn't we... like do something about it?"
"What, whack him with a shovel?"

Stuff like that. :)

Yeah, yeah. Stuff like that is good.

[The Sludge]

Like (I think it was him) The Sludge and his ongoing cries for "blood orgys".
Naw it wasnt me, it was Eliminator Jr. I just carried it on.

[mynameischan]

I think the "secret area" should be incorporated somehow. That's where the whole "blood orgy" thing started.

Or not.

[Damrod]

Well, it is no more. So that could be incorporated as well.

[Cygnus Inter Anates]

I think for every comic, a single user should decide on the story and everything else that goes into a comic. Otherwise, I think it would get repetitive and boring after awhile.

Then again we'd probably get a lot of lame people messing it up.

[Wildhoodlum]

I think for every comic, a single user should decide on the story and everything else that goes into a comic. Otherwise, I think it would get repetitive and boring after awhile.

Then again we'd probably get a lot of lame people messing it up.

I was planning on writing it, tbh. I just want input from people, is all.

[Cygnus Inter Anates]

Well poo on you. Big fat stinky doo doo.

[Wildhoodlum]

Well poo on you. Big fat stinky doo doo.

This comic is going to be a dictatorship :evil:



/cue "Imperial March"

[Cygnus Inter Anates]

Heil Hepkat!

[Iluvatar]

Oh ok so the comics going to be a lot of Jersey jokes kk/

[Wildhoodlum]

Heil Hepkat!

Meh, that doesn't quite have that evil ring.

Oh ok so the comics going to be a lot of Jersey jokes kk/

You aren't worthy of them :o

[mynameischan]

Okay, me and bassist201 just thought up a great idea. Lord of the Rings, Sputnik style.

[Hep Kat]

Okay, me and bassist201 just thought up a great idea. Lord of the Rings, Sputnik style.

We'll do it.



Eventually.

[mynameischan]

Yessssssss!