This Is What Comics 'Fans' Do Today

So, someone on one of my Yahoo groups mentions 23 issues of the old UK weekly  Battle Storm Force is for sale on Ebay. I mention I'm in contact with the seller, before buying, to check on the condition since he mentions some damage.  I am a big Storm Force fan and I did do some scripts for it -I got paid but no idea if the stories were used.

I then see in my emails a message from a member of my Yahoo group -he's just bought the comics and "thanks for the heads up".

No wonder the seller never responded to my offer.

I can only shake my head.  I'm speechless.

Blogger Comments or, rather, Now you see them-now you don't!

An apology to Dave.  Never saw the comment nor the link. Blogger seems to be having a problem with Comments that I had thought was sorted out.  Thanks for checking and the link!

Avengers of Oz: Age of Tin Man

You Will NOT Earn A Living Wage Working In The Small Press

I mentioned the Small Press or Independent Comics as being the best area to look at the invest in comics but when I was doing the QRD interview a few of the questions made me think.

You see, buying short print-run titles from a Small Press publisher, or just one specific creator-publisher, might be a good investment if that is what you are looking for.  However, it does not do much for the actual creator.  You buy their book at £3.00/$6.00 and hold onto it a few years then sell it and make money.  The creator of that book doesn't earn anything other than that £3.00/$6.00 -unless they keep a couple of copies of each book back to sell when the value picks up -if it picks up because, remember, investment is a form of gambling.

And I knew I had written about this whole working in the Small Press because someone had asked that specific question.  So, here.  I hope it answers any questions!

Working For The Small Press -What's It Worth?

 I was thinking how things have changed over the years. Back in the 1980s/1990s, if I had a zine that was short of 3-4 pages I'd knock out a letter and send it off to other zine publishers/creators.  Within a week I could guarantee having enough material to fill 2-3 zines.  And, if contacted by other zine publishers looking for material, well, yes, I'd send something to them.

At no point did anyone ask "How much are you paying?"  It was simple fun -contributors got a copy of the zine their work was in. Again, no one asked: "If you make anything out of this what's my cut?"

We were selling our "end product" for 25 pence.  50 pence.  75 pence or, and, I tried and succeeded in never crossing this particular price barrier myself, £1.00.  Yes, £1.00 which back then was 50 cents? So, buy my zines and you got a lot of pages for little money.  I try to keep doing that still.

Although, via Zine Zone mail order or marts you could sell quite a few zines -in fact, it's odd but you would guarantee at least doing fairly well sales-wise back then where as now the attitude and expectation is that selling one or two books is a good day! In fact, zine publishers reported that they did far better sales-wise with Zine Zone than they did with Fast Fiction (which saw ZZ as a competitor though we never considered there to be any rivalry).

"Hey -I made £2.00!" Not bad -snicker-  now to divide that up between 10 contributors! Seriously, no one expected to make big money because it was all for fun. Also, a lot of the creators of the 1980s who made it into comics as writers or artists all started in the Small Press -it was seen as a place where you could hone your skills. It is interesting to note that a few of these creators when asked how they got started in comics tend to gloss over any mention of the Small Press!  It all seems to be "I started writing/drawing and used every opportunity to hone that skill and then DC/Marvel saw my work" I think that is actually shameful.

People ask me how I got started I'll tell them.  Putting together a school magazine (Greenway Boys School, Bristol, 1972) titled Starkers -The Magazine That Tells The Naked Truth which was a title suggested by our Deputy Head, Mr Wright. Getting everything together, drawing, typing on the stencils for the Gestetner copier and then....getting banned by the Head because one of the secretaries complained about the title (yes, there was more to it because I was seen as an "H-dropping" pain-in-the-ass by the snobbish head and his school kid cronies).

Then I got work with a printer.  I then started working with the early photocopiers.  I wrote articles on everything from nature to astronomy and history and then I decided I wanted to get into publishing so I got friendly with those folk as well as editors and distributors and even stupidly spent money buying rights to certain characters/publications (see one of my previous big posts -they are there somewhere).

Putting all of this together helped in making dummy copies of proposed titles to submit to publishers.  Some of those titles, such as Preview Comic got a few people into permanent comics work both in the UK and US.  Then there were scripts for London Editions, Fleetway/Egmont, Marvel UK and so on.  And even while doing my comic work (and the officially unofficial other job) I was writing comic articles for publications such as Comics FX and other publications promoting comics and particularly the Small Press which has never gotten even 2% of the publicity 'real comics' do.

Today, obviously and I never ever do this any other way, all art is (c) the artist. If the contributor wrote and drew something then it is all (c) the creator. Even if I lost out I made sure contributors got something.  But then you hit the big problems.

You learn, quite by accident, that an artist you have written a script  for and who then with no explanation break all contact, are actually trying to sell the strip with a couple of character name changes.  When found out and contacted over this there is either silence or "Oh, I thought you'd left comics" -right.  Then you have the artist who wants to have full control over the end product which includes changes made "to make it better" and believe me I have had artists change characters names, sex and even whole chunks of story because they feel they know better.  That just is not on.  The writer writes and the artist draws -perhaps making an odd change to make action flow.

I have had one artist ask me to draw character sketches because he just could not understand what I meant by stating the right hand side of a characters body was all robot while the left was wholly human.  Another had to have a sketch when I described a central tower in a city had, at the very top,  a clock face on each of the four sides...?

 

 

 

Then you get an email out of the blue "I don't want this published unless I get a 60% royalty deal, a page fee and creative rights"  hmmm.  Or, you publish after putting a lot of work into a book and the artist then says he doesn't want to be associated with it because it might affect his work prospects with Marvel or DC???

You will also get artists who email every single week asking about sales.  "You can't be doing enough to promote the book!" And then there are the artists who complete books and simply vanish.  They no longer answer emails and so the book HAS to be withdrawn.  Or the families of people you have worked with....don't even get me started on that.

There are no huge profits in Small Press publishing and Independent comics will not make you rich!  So, as a publisher you have to make decisions that affect your output.  Books are withdrawn. Decisions are made so that you no longer have to rely on other creators and all the problems associated with them.

Black Tower no longer accepts proposals from creators.  Everything is in-house and there are only two creators...and a very large selection of books to buy.  No distractions or problems other than those you get normally as the UK largest Independent comics publisher.

The small Press rely far less on collaborations these days.  There are some but more and more it's an individual thing with the creator writing, drawing and publishing the book.  No profit no problem. A profit -nice.

 

 Above: If you remember this you are old...like me!

 

 

 I think the anthology titles of old with any number of contributors will eventually vanish because unlike the doing -it -for- fun days where publishing was smooth and creators did not scream out "I'm a star! Pay me!" 

If you ask what money you are going to get out of the Small Press as an artist or writer then the true answer is that you'll be lucky to make any.  And the proof is there if you don't believe me: publish yourself and see all the 'joys' first hand!

So if you go to this weekends Small Press event remember: no one there is getting rich!

My Greatness Knows No Bounds...But The Meds Help

As King of British Comics (you know, some morons think I'm being serious!) I am not surprised that QRD online asked me to do an interview -a lengthy one at that!

I'll post a link when it goes online.

Dinosaurs Beat Super Heroes Claws Down...Time For Devil Dinosaur?

Oooh, could super heroes have had their day?  Was the novelty of seeing Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Black Widow and other comic stars grouped together in one movie just that?  I notice that anything "dino" or "Jurassic Park" related on Ebay and Amazon have increased in price. The next lure to deprive suckers of money?

But before Avengers Age Of Ultron was even released it was being criticised and a lot of nasty things were said of it -before anyone had even seen it.  Well, as I was told years ago: "People who can -DO.  Those who cannot -become critics!"

Let's see how 'little' money the movie made -care of iDigitaltimes.

According to iDigitalTimes http://www.idigitaltimes.com/jurassic-world-beats-avengers-age-ultron-domestic-box-office-hits-record-high-453917

Jurassic World Beats Avengers: Age Of Ultron As Domestic Box Office Hits Record High

By ND Medina

ADVERTISEMENT

Jurassic World has taken in $460 million at the US box office, overtaking Avengers: Age of Ultron’s roughly $450 million domestic gross. Despite middling reviews for both titles, Jurassic Park and Avengers: Age of Ultron are worth nearly a billion dollars in the domestic box office. Jurassic World is in fact on track to make $500 million in just a little over two weeks, beating another Marvel Studios film, The Avengers. The Avengers reached $500 million in 23 days, but Jurassic Park will hit that in 18 or 19 days if current trends continue.

All this means great stuff for the American box office, which is at a record high for year-to-date: $5.303 billion. "We have been breaking records in almost every single month, and that's how you build a record year," Rentrak box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian said. For reference, at this time in 2012, the domestic box office was at $5.153 billion.

This comes after 2014’s box office saw the biggest decline in almost a decade, with revenue 5% lower than its previous year.

Money’s all good and well, but quality? Jurassic World has at least garnered reviews more positive than those for Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III. Avengers: Age of Ultron has maneuvered past a lot of Joss Whedon’s gossipy dish and personal drama to a lukewarm Rotten Tomatoes score of 74%, indicating that despite some major disappointments, moviegoers pretty much felt they got what they went to the movies for.

Waiting in the wings this year is Star Wars: The Force Awakens in December, as well as The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2, for this holiday season. With Warner Bros alone releasing nine movies this summer, audiences won’t exactly be starved for choice. Warners’ domestic distribution chief Dan Fellman says, "It will be tough work, but I think it will pay off. As [CEO] Kevin [Tsujihara] says, if we aren't going to handle these movies, someone else will."

 

I think there ought to be a point made here - 'only' $450 million at the US box office. 'Only'...I never know whether to laugh or cry at the sheer moronic nature of these statements.  Did a movie back its production costs? For Avengers Age Of Ultron I belie that cost came to $250  million. Let me get my calculator...that's $200 million profit.  

Oh gods forbid that I ever made a profit on selling comics that low!

And does anyone take Rotten Tomatoes seriously any more?  It was a bit of fun in the 1970s but it's floating dead in the compost heap.....no, if people like that sort of thing let them but I just see it as pointless.

But some of the shine has definitely gone from The Avengers franchise.....wait....I need to contact Disney. Think about it -super heroes make money in movies but not enough and people are already criticising the move (I call it "pointless look-at-me bitching").  But dinosaurs make more money...I see the next Marvel Universe movie....

DEVIL DINOSAUR!

Don't knock it.  It has potential -goddam super heroes versus a dinosaur, man!!!  $$$$$$$$$$

Hey, You....

I AM The "King of British Comics"! I Really, uh, am not saying that to annoy certain people. Honest!

I am told that I "underplay" Black Tower Comics & Books.  According to a good few, based in Europe, BTC&Bis Europe's largest Independent black & white comics publisher.  They'd know, of course, but I'll stick to the claim of being the UKs largest Independent publisher.

All Black Tower comic albums (that is A4 format) are in black & white.  Once you've had black and white you won't go back to colour, baby.

I almost laughed out loud.  Apparently, what were described as "the usual group of washer women" (I know names but I don't dignify them) were gossiping about me....I could swoon!  Seriously, one accusation made was that I keep promoting my own books...on my own blog!

Thanks, "washer-women" -great idea!

BTCG has specialised in presenting original material covering super heroes, crime, adventure, sci fi, horror as well as illustrated prose -not to mention ground breaking books on "world mysteries" and wildlife.  Oh, and even a huge book of interviews with comic creators and publishers.

All the books are, naturally, available for overseas licence -but we cannot translate work: that will be up to any licensed publisher.

What follows is a brief glimpse at some books but you can visit the online store to see more details and books at:

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/hoopercomicsuk

You  can also find some on Amazon and other sources but they do not make me much money so, come on, buy from the online store and remember that at least these books will be collectibles! 

To contact me please check out "About" at the top of the page -thanks!

 ****************************************************************************

Black Tower Comics began in 1984 as a Small Press publisher of A5 (US -Digest size) titles such as Adventure,Presents,Windows and Hanley's Garage.  Then came the news, reviews, previews and interviews publication backed up by the mart and mail order service -Zine Zone (later Zine Zone International).

In 2009, with the innovation in publishing of Print On Demand (POD), Black Tower jumped in head first!

One of the first titles to see print in the new comic album format (A4) was The Bat Triumphant! This saw the complete story, begun in Black Tower Adventure vol. 1.  William A. Ward's long lost 1940s character once again saw print as he fought a host of  enemies in an attempt to reclaim his homeland.




And while The Bat may have fought fist and nail to reclaim his homeland, another 1940s Ward creation, Krakos the Egyptian, seemed far from willing to claim a new Egyptian Empire as promised to him by the Gods.  Tackling a number of foes and even encountering the Many-Eyed One, Krakos turned his back on the gods and the final panel of Krakos -Sands Of Terror, delivered a true twist!




Of course, the flag-ship title had to return!  And so Black Tower Adventure -eventually reaching new heights when the legendary Ben Dilworth jumped on board!  Volume 2 consisted of  ten issues. Just look at these covers....



And, with something like 40 years worth of files and investigation reports could all that much delving into UFOs, lake and sea creatures and many other mysteries not result in a book or two...or three? Some Things Strange & Sinister, Some More Things Strange & Sinister as well as Pursuing The Strange and Weird: A Naturalist's Viewpoint set a precedence.

Whereas for decades those involved in "UFOlogy", "Cryptozoology" and "Forteana" declared many mysteries, that photographs were lost "to history" and so on, these three books swiped away the false claims.  Alleged lost photographs -found.  'Mysteries' solved by doing actual research work and reading the sources -something others had never done.


And, of course, mention natural history and Black Tower Books broke new ground with that in The Red Paper: Canids.  It's also available on Amazon, etc..




But not all the prose books covered mysteries and wildlife.

There were the comic creator interviews, too!

The Hooper Interviews!  To celebrate, at the time of publication, over 25 years of interviewing comic creators -writers, artists and publishers- this 365 pages book was produced.   Interviewees included Yishan Li, Marv Wolfman, Dave Ryan, John Cooper, Mike Western, Donna Barr, Roberta Gregory, Sonia Leong, Emma Vieceli, Pekka A. Manninen, Alan Class, Karen Rubins, Kate Glasheen, Ron Fortier, Jon Haward, Franco Francavilla, Rick Geary, Tania Del Rio, The Etherington Brothers, Olivier Cadic (Cinebook the 9th Art), Holly Golightly and MANY others.  Profusely illustrated with art and photographs!


And if there is one thing "Herr Professor" loves it is discovering and presenting long lost UK Golden Age (1939-1951) comic strips and characters from publishers such as Gerald Swan, Foldes, Denis M. Reader, Cartoon Art Productions and others.

Scanned and restored as best as can be considering the poor print quality of the rationing years -especially red, orange, yellow, blue and purple ink printing!

Ace Hart The Atomic Man!  The Tornado!  TNT Tom!  Dene Vernon!  Acromaid!  Cat-Girl! Bring 'Em Back Hank! Robert Lovett:Back From The Dead and so many other action heroes and humour strip characters -William A. Ward, Jock McCaill and a host of known and unknown creators contribute -either in single volume " Black Tower Gold" albums or all six collected into the 400+ pager -The Ultimate British Golden Age Collection!

The Collected book is available on Amazon, etc. -but I get VERY little back from sales.



Another great love is Centaur Comics from the United States.  Right at the very start of the American Golden Age of Comics Centaur had creators who were ahead of the others!  Before Plastic Man there was Plymo!  Before The Human Bomb there was TNT Todd!  Before Green Arrow and waaaaaaay before Hawkeye there was the mysterious red hooded archer called The Arrow!  And, to just break your comic mind world there was even a Black Panther -decades before Kirby came up with his character of the same name.

The Eye Sees All.  The Owl. The Iron Skull.  Amazing Man. The King of Darkness.  The Invisible Terror. The Blue Lady. The Shark. Mini Midget & Kitty.  Mighty Man. Super Anne.  The company may have been short-lived but it's characters -oh boy!

The two volume Centaur Heroes Collection has been compiled into one sweet 140 page comic collection!


Horror. Ghost stories.  The twist-in-the tale.  Did you think that a publisher who is a big horror comic/film fan would ignore these?

Nope.  Each year since 2010, BTCG has published a Tales Of Terror anthology album and 2014s included some fun and spooky lost Swan Comic strips.  I mean how can you go wrong -even Ben Dilworth is in these!

 

The Church Of England has it's own basher of dark forces in the Reverend Merriwether -"God's Demon0-Thumper" as the press billed him.  From an ancient Egyptian demon to a village of the damned and Varney the Vampyre, werwolves and a final confrontation with Satan himself -Merriwether pulls no punches and offers no compromise.  And in those last few seconds between life and death, Merriwether's mind recalls past cases -thanks to Ben Dilworththe Tall Man of Osaka.

Merriwether: God's Demon Thumper and Merriwether: The Test Of Satan are available as individual comic albums or in one swanky book The Collected Merriwether: God's Demon Thumper.

 

Oh, did I forget to mention Dene Vernon -British comics' first investigator of the supernatural and strange mysteries?  I did? Unbelievable since Gavin Stuart Ross drew the 1948 based Dene Vernon: The Thing Below!

 


 And did you know Ross also drew the two adventures of Victorian mystery man Chung Ling Soo? Chung Ling Soo: The Curse Of The Jade Dragon and Chung Ling Soo: The Case Of The Thames Serpent were two cracking tales of magic, adventure, murder and deception -still available as single comic albums or collected together to form The Adventures Of Chung Ling Soo!









Ben Dilworth is no slouch either!  Chung Ling Soo's police "counter-foil" isnone other than old London "Jack" (police man) Inspector Wilberforce and when Dilworth says "Here's a Wilberforce one-off: PUBLISH IT!" you do not argue!





And did you know you can be a Gold Master of Japanese Haiku?  Well, neither did I -but guess what?  Ben Dilworth is such a master and his Osaka Brutal features his Haiku in English!

 

Old saleman that he is, Dilworth just keeps on going.  He produced Aesop's Fables -a darker version of the childrens tales and then went on to write two well illustrated prose albums looking at spirits and demons -Dilworth's Japanese Yokai and Dilworth's Western Yokai.  Osaka and the Yokai books were combined with Aesop's Fables into the one volume The Collected Ben R. Dilworth -though the single volumes are also still available.

Horror comics yes but also some nice illustrated prose from Dilworth in...Dilworth's Horror & Ghost Stories but for the connoisseur those stories were collected together with the Phantom Detective comic strips into The Complete Phantom Detective!

And could anyone forget the sensational Iron Warrior Versus Big Bong:When Giants Fought? But add to that the various Iron Warrior strips from Adventure and you get The Iron Warrior Collection -When Giants Fought!  In the 1940s, William A. Ward's creation was to be the most graphically violent comic strip seen until the 1970s.  That is some legacy. It continues....with a touch of fun!



In case you are wondering, yes, obviously there are super heroes.  Mix in ancient pantheons of gods, giant robot, alien invasion, Lovecraftian dark ones and so much more that the book runs to over 320 pages then you have part 1 of Terry Hooper-Scharf's Invasion Earth Trilogy" or as it is titled Return Of The Gods: Twilight Of The Super Heroes!  And epic ending with the words: "Dr Morg has killed us all" -and if you have never read the mind altering counter actuality that is The Dr Morg Trilogy you may be saying "What? Who-?"

And part 2 of the trilogy The Cross Earths Caper ought to get you in the mood for 2015s big 31st Anniversary third part of the trilogy The Green Skies.

Again, these two are available via Amazon and other online services -just check!

 

If you pass the ESTC (Epileptic Seizure Test Cover) on Dr Morg well, you are fit and healthy enough to read it and to check out all the Black Tower Comics and Books at the online store -see why we are the UKs largest publisher of  Independent Comics!