Start
I was informed this week that I won’t be nominated in the webcomics category of the Eisner awards due to the fact that my comic is ‘comparable to a newspaper comic strip’ rather than a continuous of long-format comic and whilst I don’t mind that, since I don’t really know what The Flowfield Unity should be classified as, there is a narrative thread that runs through the (no longer available) printed version…
In a way, this is going to be a bit of a nativity story of my comic, so sit back and relax whilst I tell you the first part of the birth of The Flowfield Unity….
Back in 2005 I had just finished working as a games designer and had moved back to my home town. Things weren’t so great – I was technically homeless, working in a temporary job and was at a loss, creatively. I was also spending a lot of time sat in front of a computer screen.
I picked up a pen and some paper to jot down a plan and some ideas. Instead, I found my self sketching out what would become my first comic, though I didn’t know that at the time. I also scrawled all over it with other random bits of ideas for things I thought I may do, short stories, a novel that sort of thing.
Then I forgot about it for a while.
I got a new job working at a publishing house and started spending my time learning how to publish books. Again, I found myself sitting at a computer for over half my waking time. Eventually though I stumbled upon the worlds greatest self-publishers, comics, and I thought, ‘hey, I could use my publishing skills to help people out’.
Turns out, they didn’t really need my help.
I was still determined to make a comic, even if I had to write and draw it myself… drawing – something I hadn’t really done since I was a young teenager. I wanted to make a graphic novel, and try to make everything by hand rather than computer.
The problem I had was one of distraction. I couldn’t focus on a traditional story, like the one I wanted to make, because so many ideas started getting in the way… I figured, ‘well, might as well use them, get them out of my head’.
And there, technically, without really thinking about it, I started The Flowfield Unity that you know… and that first strip? It was a version of the one here today.
So, everyone, meet Anton… you’ll be seeing him again over the next few days.
Pt. 2 of The Flowfield Nativity will be here on Sunday.
Its always great to know how these things start out. Often the hardest part is putting the first step out the door.
I wait with baited breath.
Will the Eisner committee be revoking PvP’s win, then? It actually WAS a newspaper strip, briefly, at least in theory. I swear, that webcomics category gets insaner every year.
That’s the problem of being on the edge of technology… people still find it hard to resolve the idea of slightlyoff-the-beaten track ideas.
The idea that narrative is what makes a comic, or that pictures do, is rather old hat these days.
But I think they will catch up sometime.
As for PVP. Good for them, the best of both worlds I guess.
that’s delightfully odd
Anton might survive his stereo, but
if he uses headphones like I do, his
hearing might be the first to go.
Grats on the Eisner nominations!
Awesome!!!
I think I’m going to start my own awards ceremony and just give them all to things I like (but mostly to myself, because I’m great).
No, I’m definitely doing that. Just a matter of when.
Ah, Anton, how I love him. I certainly hope you get nominated for some kind of award; the Flowfield Unity really deserves it. I was nominated for a Shuster award last year, but since it’s a self-nomination process that doesn’t actually mean much. ^^;
So, um, can we see this first strip?
I feel that I should know it.
Please?
I also misread the opening line as “Anton, the Immoral”. Guess I just have a guilty conscience today.
This webcomic and XKCD have majorly changed the way I see the world.
I told Roo and Justine my social morphology stunt and I had an XKCD moment today.
Look foward to Sunday.
Top stuff, this. Let’s face it, what else do you have to do if you’re bored and immortal.
It’s always good to have hobbies.
I laugh at my stereo. Mainly because my music taste amuses me.
It’s interesting to know how the Flowfield Unity started out, although I will confess I only started reading it in about september, was it? I just read through the entire archives and now read updates and enjoy what must be the best wecomic’s comment section on t’internet, certainly within my knowledge.
Your comic? Makes me smile. and it teaches me stuff sometimes an’ all. which is preeettty frickin’ awesome
A Flowfield Nativity. That sounds like one of those terribly exciting animated specials that turn up on ABC family (and a million other channels) this time of year. This is a lot better, though.
It is really interesting to see how things started. (Or at least the beginnings of things that I actually care about, like this comic
)
I’m not immortal, but I rather hope I outlive my stereo, too.
Your tweeters will always be remembered, GW.