My Slog Towards a Finished Comic Book

Graphic Novel, Actually; Come Trudge Alongside Me

This past week, I finished coloring (then lettering) Page 33 of Threat Quotient. Luke has turned in inks for 91 pages so far. Approximately just 20 more to go.

Why have I lagged so far behind my illustrator? First off, he does sequential art for a living. However many hours per day he spends in his office, drawing pages for my project is just part of his normal workload. I color and letter in the gaps between my day job and other mundane details of life. I’ve mentioned some of the obstacles to coloring quickly in other posts. Also, I’m a comics FNG, and have much to learn, still. And though I haven’t mentioned it much, lettering, placing word balloons, whisper balloons, thought balloons and caption boxes takes time, too. (I don’t mind this part—in fact, it stokes me.)

As I do all this, I’m brainstorming on a strategy and timetable for publishing. Based Con is in September and I’m considering taking off work to go there, network, sell some books, hopefully learn something useful, and pimp my graphic novel. Spring might be the best season to launch a crowdfunding campaign, but Fall of ‘25 looks like a more realistic target so far. And if I do that, it’s possible the campaign will be underway when (if) I get to Based Con.

One reason I’m not yet certain about Based Con is because it’s going to cost a couple hundred smackers on top of the hotel and travel costs—which won’t be cheap. Money is extra tight right now thanks to Bidenflation and the fact that I am paying for art.

My writing, blogging, Substacking and everything else has been on the backburner while I spend every free moment trying to color Threat Quotient. When I’m finally done with that and the lettering, I must transition directly to preparing for the campaign, which looks like a hefty chore all by itself (for a well-strategized and executed crowdfund, which I hope to run). And I also have to pick up the pace considerably on marketing.

To be continued.