Bah. I need to see that band like I need a hole in the head.
And I guess most of you know by now, but the Templar, Arizona Pre-Order Project is just... wow. I am completely speechless.
I put the pre-order page up and started spamming the link at around 4:00 AM Monday morning. I thought I was being reasonable when I responded to a curious email by saying I hoped I would be able to print the book before the end of the summer.
72 hours, and the progress bar is nearly half-full.
72 hours.
I am not worthy. Seriously.
I've had orders and donations from France, the UK, Canada, and Japan. I've been linked on Metafiliter, Newsarama and The Beat. I've had some hilarious and truly imaginative requests for sketches and commissions I really, really look forward to drawing. And there's been no end to the kind words and encouragement from bloggers, readers and other cartoonists.
I originally dreaded that this would just turn out to be humiliating. I'm a bit relieved to report that it's merely been amazing.
Have I said thank you, yet? Cuz I need to. Thank you. Thank you so, so much. You guys are great.
I do hope that, when I am thrust ever so unceremoniously from the nest that is my university, I experience the same joy at my first bump. Let's cross our fingers I survive it. Congratulations, Ben!
And, um, you too, Spike. :D I am eagerly awaiting my copy.
last week-end of this month, (january 25th-28th), I'll be attending the Angouleme Festival (France's bigger comic festival). I hope that one day, when your comics get published in France, I'll see you there !
AND I just ordered your book, and this time it worked ! (27 $ + 3 $ for shipping to France)
Well of course you're going to succeed, Spike. You rock at comics!
I don't know why you're surprised. You have superior artwork, dialogue and ideas. Of course people like it. Looking forward to the book coming out.
I don't know why you're surprised. You have superior artwork, dialogue and ideas. Of course people like it. Looking forward to the book coming out.
See, Spike? You need to start listening to us when we tell you how much you rock.
Just when I thought this comic couldn't get any better, you bust out "old school moscowbilly klezcore".
I officialy bow down before your greatness. That is fucking hilarious. I haven't laughed that ahrd in a LONG time.
Oldschool Moscowbilly Klezcore? Try Alamaailman Vasarat, self-described producers of "kebab-kosher-jazz-film-traffic-punk-music with a unique Scandinavian acoustic touch". (Yes, they're real! http://www.vasarat.com/)
And I just pre-ordered Templar, too. :-) Only I'm not sure if I missed some button or so to add shipping costs to Europe?
Hmpf, Paypal is truly bizarre in that they insist on charging S+H for donations. If you wanna cover shipping, Paypal an extra $2.00 to spike at ironcircus.com, wouldja?
Hey, I had a question about commission related reference art...did you want that detailed again in an email, or should I just submit what I want, and if you have any problems, you'll contact me?
If I have questions or comments, I'll email you. But if you forgot to add something to the instructions or change your mind about what you want, don't be afraid to drop me a line about it! The description field on the order page is usually enough room for most information, though.
Oh. Before I forget, here's something else to think about -- if the preorder fund drive is as successful as it appears to be, you should consider printing the book in Duotone, as opposed to just plain black and white. It costs a little more, but isn't anywhere near as expensive as 4-color, and would preserve your lovely lovely sepia tones. Barring that, think about picking a dark pantone brown instead of black, and creamy paper. See Jim Ottaviani's Cowboys, BoneSharps and Thunder Lizards to see what I'm talking about.
Janer, I think Spike's already going with Duotone. The quote she talks about on the pre-order page mentions two-color printing.
Would you take it as a compliment that the little posters and brand names in the background of this comic are so interesting that today I read them before the dialogue?
Durr. Avram, you are quite right. I am a doofus.
I'm not at all surprised that your webcomic is as sucessful as it is... the second I first was introduced to it I knew it was really... I can't even dicribe... it was indiscribable... unlike any other comic I had ever read, and it still is.
Just wanted to let you know that the "bump" is indeed life affirming. I am a recent arrival to the L.A. from flyover country and within 3 weeks I was mugged at gunpoint for the very first time. Ever. I was more upset about losing the pictures of my kids than the wallet. Thanks to a good friend and the LAPD, I had my wallet and all it's contents back in my possesion and the perpetrator in custody in LESS THAN 1 HOUR! Statistically speaking I should not have another incident like that for another 35 years.
You Rock Spike.
C:)
You're welcome. Now Where's my book!
Fabulous that the bookselling is going so well!
I am completely, entirely enamored of the facial expressions in panel three. That's about the most spark Ben has ever shown.
I suspect, however, that the real bump in the road is upcoming yet.
I'm moving 2k miles from Ohio to Portland, OR. My bump will be coming in March when I leave my quiet 'burb for a city I've only visited for two months total because the love of my life's there.
Bump bump bump. I can only hope my similarities with Ben continue!
PS: Congrats on the Project. I plan on buying, eagerly, and hope the printing of The Mob Goes Wild is TWICE as successful. Spike, you are my favorite artist online point-blank and I wish you good luck wherever you go (come to Portland! We have Dark Horse! :p ) and do because you are possibly the most imaginative person I know. You've achieved more characterization than I've ever squeezed from a word processor and better art than any of my illustrator friends have procured. You do both the job of novelist and illustrator and that just blows my damn mind.
<3
I'm more curious about the New Age Moscowbilly Klezcore, myself.
Re the old school Moscowbilly klezcore; in my head I'm hearing Gogol Bordello's gypsy punk - complete with violin, accordion and lead singer with a thick Ukrainian accent. Eugene Hutz was insane. Seriously the best concert I've ever been to. People were stage diving by the third song and security was tearing their hair out by the end of it.
I need to see that band. Yes, Gogol Bordello. Yes, Balkan Beat Box. Yes, Red Elvises. Yes, Phineas Rage!
HI,
Have you considered on demand publishing? There's a site called: www.lulu.com. It is well suited for black and white work and a large page count. I don't know if you're doing color or not. But if you use Lulu.com, you don't front the money. You set a price and people order. Take a look at it.
Good Luck
William, did you miss the FAQ at the bottom of the Project page? Lulu is the very definition of "print-on-demand".
Gah, I keep posting in this thread...I FINALLY noticed the little skull-with-a-rod-through it on the poster, which caused the "Ohhhh, Phineas GAGE" thingy to click in my brain - and now, your comment "I need to see that band like I need a hole in the head" makes perfect sense. As the Guinness guys say, "Brilliant!!"
I wants to order one, but I wants a sketch! and I don't know what I wants! I am torn with indecision. It will be the end of me.
For some reason I'd never discovered the sketchbook. Well, I just did, and wow. I didn't think it was possible to increase my love for Templar, but the Sketchbook just did.
I want to see this comic go on for years. I want to see where it all goes. I want to know this city inside out. Bring it on!
Templar's way, way up there with Finder and Dicebox. :-)
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