Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, comictalk, diversity, entertainment

Diversity In Comics On #ComicTalk

Published Sat, 21 Nov 2015 09:00:13 -0600

Last updated Sat, 21 Nov 2015 11:16:27 -0600

Written by Jamie Me

Thanks to @JamieMeWrites for having me on #comictalk

— Mike Marts (@mikemarts) November 15, 2015

This past week the hashtag #ComicTalk on Twitter hosted a 'future of comics' special that featured Mike Marts (Aftershock Comics Editor-in-Chief) answering questions on the state of the industry, and giving out advice to indie creators from all over the world. Myself included.

@jamiemewrites @aftershockcomix The ability to start my own company…create a business the way I had always dreamed #comictalk

— Mike Marts (@mikemarts) November 15, 2015

A lot of us indies felt vindicated in our efforts after talking to Mike, who is a former Executive Editor at Marvel among other things, but something stood out to me inparticular. He stressed in a series of tweets that you have to take chances with your stories, and that got me thinking. Stories from other countries, about other cultures and experiences outside the mainstream sphere of influence is the answer.

@aracarrascoart @jamiemewrites @aftershockcomix creator-owned is the future of comics…so I wouldn't say I went "indie"… #comictalk

— Mike Marts (@mikemarts) November 15, 2015

This week's #ComicTalk, starting at 10.00am PST Sunday, will be about diversity as a result. I want to reach out and talk to creators from all over the world. I want to hear more about creators in Finland, what creating comics is like with depression, if the LGBT community are represented well and much more. As someone with a clinically diagnosed condition called OCD* I often create comics with elements of anxiety infused into them based off of my experiences.

*David Beckham has it.

@approbat @jamiemewrites if you're a self-publishing writer, make SURE you have a good artist to see your story #comictalk

— Mike Marts (@mikemarts) November 15, 2015

For anyone who hasn't joined in #ComicTalk before, but fancies giving it a go, it's easy! All you have to do is follow @JamieMeWrites, my Twitter, show up at 10.00am PST (1800 in the UK) on Sunday every week, and answer my questions using the #ComicTalk hashtag. The event recently reached it's 14 week mark, and we've trended every single week since inception. It's magnificent to think that we've reached, literally, millions of eyes promoting the indie comics scene. Last week was especially huge, and the event trended for a whopping 4 hours.

@approbat @singmirehaze @jaywingblue @freyahorn @rilpersona Comics is MORE than a full-time job. It's a vocation! #comictalk

— Mike Marts (@mikemarts) November 15, 2015

Now is the time for the entire indie comics community to voice their opinions every Sunday, and socially influence the comic industry. I'm proud of every single tweet we get for the event, and yeah… I'm plugging the hell out of this, but I want to see the indie scene have the maximum amount of power it can. With social media there is no glass ceiling.

@alanahknibb the industry as a whole has been a bit more writer-driven the last few years…but great art is a necessity. #comictalk

— Mike Marts (@mikemarts) November 15, 2015

I'll hopefully see you Sunday, and if you need more information on the event? You can read a full guide here.

@jakewithapen find someone in a similar spot. people breaking in are HUNGRY. Artists don't like to work for free, but they may!!! #comictalk

— Mike Marts (@mikemarts) November 15, 2015

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