Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, entertainment

To Get Ahead, You Must Be Set Back – Kickstarter Fail To Kickstarter Hail

Published Tue, 06 Sep 2016 07:19:38 -0500

Last updated Wed, 07 Sep 2016 17:41:33 -0500

By Brett Uren.

What is Torsobear: Back on the Blocks?

True Detective vs Toy Story. Volume 3 of the anthology series is set to conclude the story of Detective Ruxby Bear told in last year's 'All Stitched Up' and 2014's 'Yarns from Toyburg'. Ruxby Bear has been a hero cop, held prisoner on corruption charges, and now he fights for right as the imaginary city of Toyburg is torn apart by unrest.

Along with his old wooden friend Hazbrow, and wife Mytell, they must stand strong against the tyranny of powerful toys. Can they stop their fellow citizens from wrecking the districts, and the evil Copycat in his quest for chaos?
Ruxby gets real, because it's time to clean up those blocks.

Why do we fall?

We have a rather toxic relationship with mistakes. Yes they can be costly, in terms of trust and businesses and success, we see them regularly in government, politics and science.

Yes, a Space X test launch just spectacularly failed and exploded. Yet, we know that Elon Musk and his teams will try again.

We all grow that way – from infancy we fall when trying to walk and stain the floors with spoons dropped from tiny hands with minimal dexterity.

The prevailing attitude with reference to celebrities, leaders and our favourite creative talents seems to broadcast at a high frequency, shrill and aggressive.

The leaping on those who publicly fail would seem contradictory to our more nurturing instincts toward those closest to us, and that the majority of us do understand that to evolve, one must err.

A comics career can very the perfect illustration of that. Many artists of the Gold and Silver ages are having financial difficulties due to a lack of financial or contractual acumen, perhaps underestimating their corporate employers. Even the great Alan Moore has made as many mistakes in his business dealings as he has had creative high points. He has evolved on the matter, contentious as it may be. So must we all.

It goes without saying that my career in comics has been similarly difficult, in great part to my own stumbles. My first graphic novel, Kuzimu Volume 1, was the labour of six years – drawing, colouring, writing, lettering, myself for the most part (gratefully with assistance from my partner).

From the get go, a local comic store owner and friend told me 'it looks great, but what's about?' He was trying to impart wisdom, but I was too wrapped up in myself to deviate from the path I had laid out over some 20 or more issues (of which, only 7 were completed).

I was somehow convinced that I was creating some deeply layered and symbolic Lynchian sci-fi horror epic, and that it would be decoded later by avid readers.

It was arrogant to be so wilfully ignorant of what readers would enjoy, or to not learn any aspect of comics craft from the work of industry greats. When a Diamond pre-order by a US publisher went badly, and a series of bad reviews mentioned the very flaws that my friend had brought to my attention years before.

I even tried to lead a crowdfunding campaign to allow me to travel to NYCC, so that I could pitch story ideas to the big publishers. Let's just say that it failed hideously, and it ended up on a few 'most idiotic campaign' lists on websites that year.

Through the creation of self-published UK magical sitcom 'The Vale', more attention was given to make a fun book. It was in the spirit of great modern UK comedies such as Spaced, Peep Show and Phoneshop – or great works of British Fantasy like Sandman, Discworld and Harry Potter. Misanthropy, beer and Cthulhu-tinged jokes about weed. My friend created a tiny self-publishing imprint, through whom I have met some of my finest compatriots in the small indie scene. Sales were decent for a small self-pub (500+), the reviews were mixed between critiquing dense artwork/impenetrable slang and lauding the character depth.

I don't mean to be dour, these are just the facts of the matter. It felt for the longest time like an uphill slog. Nights feeling sick as I force myself awake at a desk, depression setting in at times, and fluid collecting in my ankles and bursting blood vessels from sitting down too long (my biggest error second to not paying my partner enough attention, a permanent blip on my health).

Now, thanks to much advice, reading and collaboration from many tens of people, I have helped to produce two Torsobear anthologies. They have for the most past met with positive reviews and we've sold/distributed upwards of 600 books. I even received an email from an ex-policeman from the US, saying how the first book helped him feel that a citizen might understand how hard it is for cops to come home, after what they deal with.

That isn't to say it plain sailing – volume 2 saw 4 artist switches after production had starter. I've already switched one as the 3^rd campaign has started. But that's the thing you learn, that others can help you and vice versa, and that failing publicly isn't the end. You will fail often, but if you keep picking yourself up, you'll evolve into something more complete and capable.

The promo part

BC readers get a free set of posters, sketch cards and digital wallpapers! Pledge and message quoting 'BC TB POSTER' to get your free 3 pack when we're funded (see reward pictures on the page)!

Help us get funded on Kickstarter to pay our creative staff and send new Torsobear books to you and retailers.

Keep up with all the daily giveaways and help us create Torsobear characters by heading to our Facebook page.

Are you a comics retailer looking to stock our books or just plain chatty? Get in contact:

Twitter – @brett_uren Facebook – bretturencomics Email – bretturen@hotmail.co.uk