Corporate VS Indie Comics!

[@ddexpress]

Working on an indie comic from the start sounds like a great idea, as it'll allow you to better experiment and improve on your craft, while working on something you enjoy. Not to mention I think every person that wants to work/make comics, ends up doing their own book or story in the end in some form or fashion.

[@ScottSerkland]

I totally agree!

[@adwoozley]

Great vid, Scott! When I give talks about comics, the phrase I use is "comics are a medium, not a genre." Then I point out that comics are just a way of combining words and pictures to tell a story of any kind, it doesn't have to be about superheroes. For example, some of my comics work is autobio or about social issues. I think people catch on pretty quickly if you give them a couple of examples.

[@ScottSerkland]

Absolutely, I totally agree, and I love that quote!

[@terriermonisgod]

love seeing your enthusiasm and hearing your history with comics. i can completely relate but with manga instead. i would really like a future where these styles mix more. maybe western comics start releasing BW paperback versions for lower cost binges, and manga start releasing color versions for collectors

[@ScottSerkland]

I think there is a lot that western comics can take from Manga.

[@GaryHodgesDVSM]

Obviously everyone has their own goals and dreams and I'm not dismissing anyone else's - whatever your'e trying to accomplish, I'm all for it. But PERSONALLY: I can't even imagine wanting to tell stories about someone else's characters, drawing someone else's idea, or trying to come up with something interesting within well-established properties.

[@GaryHodgesDVSM]

Oh and I just noticed after I wrote my comment: thanks for the DvsM cameo, haha!

[@ScottSerkland]

Absolutely Gary, One of my personal favorite indie comics!

[@Onthegoart7790]

I'm all about superhero comics and basically anything magical. I've tried so many times to get my own comic going, but people just wouldn't like it. So I'm trying new things now. It's tough, but I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere.

[@ScottSerkland]

That good to hear Darris, you are not alone I have had so many projects that I loved doing , but didn't resonate with an audience and its hard to know whether to get going or try something new.

[@ronald48]

I think that the superhero stories are the most popular. Because it's essentially modern gods and playing in that sandpit. Is really fun! Even though creator's can make different stories beside that.

[@ScottSerkland]

True Ronald, however there are other inspirations other than modern mythology that people are fascinated by that for whatever reason haven't found a mass audience in comics.

[@ronald48]

@@ScottSerkland It's probably because comics to a certain degree. Is a stereotyped piece of entertainment. That naturally brings to most non comic readers minds. That comics just only offer one type of story. Which are superhero stories! But like me and you and other comic readers know. That there are much more to offer regarding storylines in the world of comics and it might be too. That non readers of comics just can't get past the idea. That comics were first made as a children only entertainment. To give comics a chance in the first place, which is a crying shame! You don't get this problem with normal books, do you.

[@holdthetruthhostage]

Whats missing is that there are actually three forms of indie, Corporate Indie Published indies by Corporate companies, Indie Corporate Former Corporate Creators as in worked for the corporate companies, then Indie None Corporate

[@ScottSerkland]

Yes, indie comics is a broad term and you can definitely brake it down into those categories.

[@holdthetruthhostage]

@@ScottSerkland man if you live stream let me know

[@Rometiklan]

Great information, Scott! I wish someone had told me all this stuff in my younger days. Right now, with a wife, kids and a mortgage, the dream will probably have to wait til I retire HahA! But somewhere out there, I know your insights will help some aspiring comic book creator. Thanks for all you do!

[@ScottSerkland]

Thank you, I appreciate that, even with all our responsibilities we all still need a creative outlet, even if its just a little bit at a time.

[@sumitpawaskar1207]

Man loving your stuff. Thanks for casting light on this topic. Iam into scifi spaceship /mech stuff. Can you suggest any comic book with good spaceships/mech art other than star wars?

[@ScottSerkland]

The IDW Transformers stuff is pretty strong, also check out Mech Cadet YU from Boom Studios, I think Marvel did mech versions of the Avengers too.

[@sumitpawaskar1207]

@@ScottSerkland thanks man thank you so much i will definitely look into it

[@rhyvcota7343]

You know I used to be mainly a dc/marvel comics reader, but ever since I got into manga and got more Interested in making comics, i've always felt that there's so much more creative freedom in the Indie business or making up your own characters and stories. Prefer those way more now.

[@ScottSerkland]

I won't argue with you about that, I agree!

[@PaulGomez790]

First, love your videos. I'm making my own comic, originally it was just to encourage my children that I could do it... Now I'm thinking of making it a 12 series issue...and I'm collaborating with another writer making another series...everyone I talks to wants their comic to be picked up by the big two... I just want to get mine done

[@ScottSerkland]

That's so awesome. These are the comments I love to see.

[@komtooncartoondrawings2562]

i like your honesty my bro, bro i am a indie cartoonist i working on my own comic own stories but i use characters from (My little pony friends is magic) do i have to ask for the permission from hasbro ?

[@ScottSerkland]

I know there are people out there that do fan art comics and if they are super small print run you could go unnoticed, but yes if you wanted to do anything publicly using someone else's intellectual property you would have to get a license from the owner

[@komtooncartoondrawings2562]

@@ScottSerkland thanks for the advice bro

[@Kandhaqprotector]

Interesting video. Indie comics can be good but the issue I have with them is the art and just overall viewing quality of a lot of indie comics is just so cheap. Sometimes it just looks like it has been drawn out rough on paper. But with big two, not only are they themselves owned by some of the biggest media companies on earth. They themselves have a lot like a serious lot of resources and access to best talent in the industry.

[@ScottSerkland]

Thanks, Well, indie comics is a very broad umbrella, and yes many indies are from up-and-comers who don't have the skills of a typical big two artists and might not be using the best paper stock or printing quality. This isn't always the case, a lot of indie artist are producing beautifully bound hardcover books with premium extras, thinks that the big two would be hesitant to do in order to appease the beancounters who are interested in profit over artform, good indie artists are more likely to produce the best quality book even if it means paying a few extra bucks.

[@Kandhaqprotector]

@@ScottSerkland yes I agree with what you said. the big two because of their near infinite resources have an unfair advantage here. I reckon in marvel and dc offices they are utilising state of the art equipment and printing quality for these comics. But you are right there are some indie comics that have good artists like image comics. Some of their art is top notch. You should check out savage Dragon. But generally Though Indie comics. There art isn’t the best and I think that’s it’s one big thing that separates them from corporate comics. And I swear a lot of these indie artists are quite hard pressed for cash aren’t they? Which is why I believe you see them using campaign sites like Kickstarter for crowd funding. Where else with the big two, they have access to the bank accounts and resources of some of the largest media corporations on the planet. So the gap in art quality is expected,

[@find_the_gnar6194]

Dude you could defiantly get work doing one of those scholastic DC or Marvel books, Just saying.

[@ScottSerkland]

Thanks, I never though that, but I think I would just rather create my own stories.

[@thefriendlyaspie7984]

i have to disagree with you. I think you are trying to stay in the good vibes of keeping a positive image in your channel or perhaps you are afraid to make negative comments cause reasons. 1. what disney is doing with marvel and dc in a nutshell is packaging it and sell it in a business model profit as efficient as the McDonald franchise, not only as in terms of how both Disney and McDonald are huge industries, but mainly its creating an standard product were you see very little variation between one movie and the next. When i watch the tons of movies i watch, i feel like its corporate people who are investing huge amounts of money to make profit. And dont get me wrong, they bought the rights to these franchise, they have the rights to work with them as they see fit. Personally i find them quite blend, unappealing, lacking of content, they worry too much on playing it safe, on what makes money, they dont take risks. As someone said to me, obvious thing, when you invest around 300-400 million dollars you wont be able to make any money if you appeal to the true fans who know all the comics, and have follow the story and more hardcore fans, so they appeal to 1. the general population. 2 the world market. The superheroes become as saturated in movies creating many movies per year, as the main market of movies. One of the main problems in my opinion, is they rely too much on the CGI as a means to save the movie for having oversimplistic bad plot, full of plotholes. or when they change the characters from what its on the comics or the animated series . Example ( apocalypses ) xmen apocalypses, or they change the powers of certain mutants, example (rogue) . I used to love DC and marvel, i havent read anything in one or 2 years at least, more marvel than dc. but what movies is doing to me is kinda creating rejection for superheroes. There are still some good movies. Example Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, you can see how they give more creating freedoms to them, and you can clearly see their love for what they created, another interesting twist to superheroes is the series ( the boys ) www.imdb.com/title/tt1190634/ i am 43 years old, i have watched tons of stuff, i prefer watching something fun than something that will look like its a clone of the other 500 movies they have done especially since Disney took over.

[@ScottSerkland]

Perhaps, or maybe I honestly just don't hold the same vitriol for Disney that others do. Yes, they are a huge company and they will probably one day enslave us all. I'm not a fan of many of their business practices, and a lot of what they put out has been disjointed and leaves me scratching my head at how some of these decisions were made. but, I truthfully like a lot for their content, particularly the Marvel moves, Judging them for what they are; big tentpole CGI blockbuster movies I don't find them formulaic at all. I like the way each particular movie in the franchise has its own voice, One movie might be a spy thriller, another a buddy road trip movie, and yet another a wacky action-comedy. I like how they play with themes and genre within the framework of a superhero story I also think they have accomplished something amazing in the way they waive all of these plotlines together from movie to movie, sure there are some plotholes but that is to be expected when orchestrating a storyline spanning 20 plus movies in counting.

[@Kandhaqprotector]

What Disney has done with marvel and DC? Disney only owns marvel. D.C. comics is a subsidiary of Warner Brothers

[@ArronSturgeonPaintings-so2xc]

All comics are corporate. Allways has been. It is not necessarily a difficult thing.

[@ScottSerkland]

I'm not sure how someone who writes , draws and self publishes their own comic is corporate or can be grouped in the same category as Disney or Warner Bros. but you're certainly welcome to that opinion.

[@ArtFreddy1]

have you seen what Marvel and DC have been putting out? or the gender/race swapping of original iconic established characters? erasing comic history is not cool and disrespectful in most cases. Through the lack of artistic and writing talent they produce, it makes you wonder what is going on over there? I'ts sad and depressing to see "the Big 2" like this. It's like the original Bruce Jenner fans who were there supporting and rooting for him when he received all his metals and trophies now having to adjust to Kaitlin Jenner and forget his entire sports past and every article and pictures you read and saw of him. sorry for those ladies if they had a picture of him in his athletic days on their wall still. i believe in creating new things not "spray painting" over creation you don't like or disagree with like some vandals. so I'll put my money on independent comics instead. where real organic diversity and respect exist.

[@ScottSerkland]

I'm a bit confused at what Bruce/Kaitlin Jenner has to do with comics, but I tend to avoid getting wrapped up in sports, politics and celebrity gossip. So what do I know? It seems like your view of comics is a bit clouded by your own political biases. I'm not sure how long you've been into comics but here's something you should remember that might ease your mind. "Nothing ever changes in comics." If your favorite character is killed off, don't worry they will be back. If your favorite character is swapped out for someone of a different race, gender or sexual orientation don't get triggered they will be back. This is nothing new, when James Rhodes took the mantle of Iron Man in the 80s there was similar outrage " What? Iron Man can't be black!" guess what happened? Tony Stark came back and Rhodey became War Machine. This has happened countless times. It's difficult to introduce new diverse characters so writers put them in the role of a character we are already familiar with, allow them to gain a following then spin them off into their own character and then bring back the original character and then we have two characters that have their own unique fan base. It makes perfect sense to me, unless you're just totally opposed to having anyone you personally don't identify with in comics I don't see what the big deal is. The more unique characters we have that resonate with more people the more we grow the fan base and reassure that this beloved medium doesn't fade into obscurity.