The Pixel Place

Changes

2009-02-02T13:20:00.000-08:00

The format of Pixel is shifting to a graphic novel presentation. It will still update once a week, will be more focused on telling a story and developing the characters, but will still be packed with humor and jokes. It won't get gritty, dramatic, or self-indulgent. Pixel will still have the same lighthearted tone that makes it so much fun to create. The cover's up this week, and page one goes up next week.

On the Format

2009-01-26T15:42:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking of switching things to a more free-flowing comic book format, and chucking the four-panel format to the curb. I'm really leaning in this direction, and I think that I'm going to play around with some thumbnails tonight to see what works. I've got two potential things going on, completely dependent on this decision. If I go comic book, I'm going humor/graphic novel. If I stick with four panel, more gags and shorter storylines.

Working on a Commissions System

2009-01-19T17:50:00.000-08:00

I think I'm going to start doing commissions, and have created a page for that in the side links. It's just a placeholder for now, but when things are in place, I might kinda make a big deal about it. Just a warning on that.

Holiday Slowdown

2008-12-29T07:34:00.001-08:00

Sorry that I've only gotten the Christmas strip up in the last few weeks, but things should be back to normal by next Sunday. The update schedule will still be weekly, but I shouldn't be missing any more updates.

2008-12-03T13:24:00.001-08:00

This getting fun; I'm not used to the one-shot gags, but it's letting the creativity flow like crazy. The new strip, however, is the first of a very short Christmas story focusing on Zap, which will conclude with a very special over-sized strip.

Flame Wars Explained

2008-11-28T18:32:00.000-08:00

About the latest strip...

This was a fun one to do; if you think about it, there really isn't even much a joke.

Now for the forum. For those who frequent the Pixel forum - all NONE of you - you might have noticed a quick influx of new members and major activity. Well, Halfpixel killed their forums, and I took in the castaways for a time in order to help reorganize the community. They've got a new board over at http://www.halforum.com/index.php - but it felt good to help and it was nice having company for a while.

Taken for a Ride

2008-11-16T14:24:00.000-08:00

Cars are hard to draw - let me just get that out of the way. I hate drawing cars. However, it was too good a joke to give up on, and it's proving to be fun doing single gag strips. I've got tons of ideas and plenty of time to do them - okay, not really, not with all my student teaching stuff, but I'm in no rush to cram all the jokes in.

It's weird getting the strips done as quickly as this; I'm already quite a bit ahead of the game by nearly two days on the next strip. It's probably because I'm really into this, or that it's just getting easier the more comfortable I am drawing these characters.

http://pixel.bombsheltercomics.com/index.php?strip_ID=28

Efficiency

2008-11-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

I actually got the comic scanned, finished, and uploaded today, a whole day early. Not too shabby. The next Pixel goes up first thing tomorrow. I'd be ahead of the game if I hadn't promised to make another guest comic...

Brace for...the end!

2008-11-09T15:45:00.001-08:00

So this strip wraps up the first storyline, and not a moment too soon. Kevin was held prisoner far too long, really. This was a fun one to make; I realize that Kevin seems to have suffered more concussions that Steve Young, but this might be the only real one. Gonna have some fun with some shorter storylines and some one-shot strips, and I'm planning to explore some of that ancillary cast, too.

That Half-Year Mark

2008-11-07T15:59:00.000-08:00

So I'm on pace to easily make my Sunday deadline for comic number 27, which will officially wrap up current storyline. I'm planning another, much shorter story and some single strip gags after that - some time to settle down and establish some of the ancillary characters. There's only so much you can do with your main character strapped down to a table by a mercenary plastic surgeon, you know?

But Sunday brings a real milestone for me; I'm going to have gone more than half a year without missing an update, which is something I've never done before with my other comics. Cute Ninja Girls and Cain is Able both had some gaps - Cain having some large gaps - but I just keep sitting down at the computer after work on Sunday to scan and letter the latest Pixel, never missing a beat. It really helps me to feel that I'm working on the right comic for me, that it's almost as if I'm meant to do this strip. Let me tell you, that's a wonderful feeling.

2008-11-06T14:51:00.001-08:00

Welcome to The Pixel Place! I have an art blog, but this is where I'll blog about my webcomic Pixel. I'll share the latest strips, talk about my process and comic projects, and share some rarities - I'm talking about versions of Pixel that have never been seen on the web before; the old stuff is not my best or proudest work, but it was still an important part of the evolution of a comic I created nearly eleven years ago.

So here's the latest strip, number 26, which is the half-year mark for Pixel. It's an odd place to start off with a blog like this, but why not?

This one just about wraps up the first storyline - Kevin's run-in with a rogue plastic surgeon sent after him by a vengeful FCC. Yes, I'm lifting a joke from Abbott and Costello - but I swear, it's intended to be an homage; I'm just paying my respects to great funnymen who came before me.