Two Soapboxes...

I got two mini soap boxes to jump on today. Sorta the same subject but different matters. First of all, with Kevin Smith saying he's taking his new film RED STATE to the people himself and forgoing the marketing/distribution from a studio. I hear at Sundance he made a huge statement which pissed a lot of people off. But in the end after looking at it, its sorta true. For him anyway. He compares what he's doing to people like Trent Reznor and what he's doing with his music now. And Ani Difranco as well. Making the art yourself and taking it to the people yourself. He says: "I’m actually kinda living Clerks III instead – inasmuch as, as the end of that flick, Dante and Randal buy the Quick Stop and re-open it themselves. I’m just giving that a shot in real life." An interesting thought.

Art is in flux right now. Movies, music, comics, books, EVERYTHING. No one knows where its going to go. Technology is changing everything. I have no idea where it will go either. Hard for me to score a touchdown if I don't know where the endzone is. But really, its an exciting time as well. Little guys like me don't have to rely on big companies to give me that big deal in the sky for me to make my dreams come true. Idiothead the band doesn't need to sign to Geffen records to sell records. And I don't have to sign with any company to do my comics or anything like that. I can (ANYONE CAN) make what they want.

Now people like Kevin Smith, Trent Reznor, etc have advantages. Because they have a following and more people know of them. So thats the arguement I have with it. It will be easy for them to sell and make money doing it cause they are names. How do newer, little people trying to do their work via this method become as reputable a name?

This brings me to the other soapbox subject: The Eric Powell video. I mentioned this a couple blogs ago. Well, its got a lot of people talking. Some have publicly come out and said they would never buy anything BUT superhero comics. Thats fine. Some have came out saying they would buy ONLY creator owned. Thats fine too. But a lot of nastiness and hurt feelings have come out cause of the video and its statements. Understandable, absolutely.

Eric has since down taken the video and I think that is a shame. Cause it sure got people talking. I stated before that I think bashing on the big two simply is the wrong way to go about it. Superhero comics have their place and yes, they are cool. And some people want to devote their life to work on those properties. Hell, I mean, if Paramount called me tomorrow and said "hey, we want you to write and work on STAR TREK and nothing else for the next ten-twenty years," I'd have a hard time saying no. Not saying I would say YES right away. I'd sure think about it. Cause people want to work on things they love. If its superhero properties that they grew up with, great! More power to them. and they make great comics while doing it! Why fault them for that? I know artists working on those books that love their job. They certainly don't feel the sting of a cock in their ass while doing it. Not that I've ever heard anyway. They have grand opportunies while doing it too. So why fault that?

What I think the video should have stated more is to the creators themselves. and this is something I mentioned earlier as well. Its up to us as creators to MAKE THE BEST PRODUCT YOU CAN. From conception, to execution, to distribution. Find a way to get your work out to the people. There are many forms to do that in. Throw enough crap at the wall and see what sticks. Just do it. Also, ENJOY WHAT YOU ARE DOING. I cannot tell you how many people I talk to that say "I wish I could do this or that" with their life. Well, you can. If you want it bad enough, you will find a way to make it happen. I cannot stand when people tell me they cannot. Even when I say I cannot do a thing, I know deep down that if I wanted to bad enough, I could. Its all about earning that WANTING IT BAD ENOUGH. You gotta be willing to do what it takes.

And the efforts will not go unnoticed. Every industry is filled with people who make their mark. Work hard at a thing and people will discover it. Sooner or later, they will. Look at me as an example. Years ago, I'd go to conventions and make maybe $100 or maybe even nothing all weekend. A total bust. Now years later, my products look better and I make bank at every show I do. Its cause I worked hard. And I certainly am not there yet. I got more work to do. I got more goals to beat. I'm not even halfway to where I want to be. And I'll get there. I know I will. Cause I feel the burn. I feel the drive. Eye of the fucking tiger bitches!

I hope you can find that in yourself as well. Don't point to this or that as a reason why you cannot have what you want in life. Take lessons from ROCKY BALBOA (ROCKY VI):

"But somewhere along the line, you changed. You stopped being you. You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you're no good. And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow. Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!"

So avoid the negativity and pointing. Instead, change yourself to check out everything. Mainstream, creator owned. In everything. There's great stuff out there if you are willing to look for it. Cause its there. In the big time and small time. Support it all. Cause its all art, in whatever form it takes, and its all good. We be in this together.

(off soapbox)

I humbly appreciate all of you who continue to follow me and check out my work and support me in your various ways. It means the fucking world to me. And I ain't stopping. I'm still standing. I got eighteen plus years doing comics for a living. ANNA POCALYPSE trade comes in a couple weeks. My new projects are on my table as I type this. and as soon as I hit PUBLISH on this blog, I'm turning around and going back to it. You fuel me. Now I hope I have fueled you. And we can all be the greatest at what we want to do in life. Its out there right now. Go out and get it.

Luvs, T