And hopefully you all are having a very merry one!
Although there's no Christmas art this year for Mythics, next year should be a different story.
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Been a while.
The funny thing is that I've always been a terrible blogger.
I've been trying to improve upon that, but there's the combination of work, and making certain that Mythics will be a quality comic.
I have no doubts about the artwork, as evidenced by the examples that I've put up in the sample pages. And with how certain publishers are now using their political views to guide their titles (names will not be mentioned, but I believe you all know them.), their stories began to suffer as a result.
I'm taking this time to state that all of my work will be mostly free of my political views. I say this because a writer has a responsibility to be honest about what they're writing about.
Once the writer has fallen into writing their political views, they begin to demonize everyone whom they disagree with. When that happens, they start to write characters that are two dimensional, essentially paper cutouts that really alienate the audience. There's no one to identify with, and it becomes "Who cares about who wins in the end?"
It is true that sometimes art can elevate bad writing, but there are often times when bad writing, infused with politics, will sink a title with good artwork.
Which is one of my fears when it comes to my characters.Every one of them is like my child, and as much as I'd like to boost that I have the greatest characters ever, it's just as possible that they are the worst characters ever, and I should be ashamed of myself.
But, getting these characters out there is a start.
And Elthia is getting impatient.
I've been trying to improve upon that, but there's the combination of work, and making certain that Mythics will be a quality comic.
I have no doubts about the artwork, as evidenced by the examples that I've put up in the sample pages. And with how certain publishers are now using their political views to guide their titles (names will not be mentioned, but I believe you all know them.), their stories began to suffer as a result.
I'm taking this time to state that all of my work will be mostly free of my political views. I say this because a writer has a responsibility to be honest about what they're writing about.
Once the writer has fallen into writing their political views, they begin to demonize everyone whom they disagree with. When that happens, they start to write characters that are two dimensional, essentially paper cutouts that really alienate the audience. There's no one to identify with, and it becomes "Who cares about who wins in the end?"
It is true that sometimes art can elevate bad writing, but there are often times when bad writing, infused with politics, will sink a title with good artwork.
Which is one of my fears when it comes to my characters.Every one of them is like my child, and as much as I'd like to boost that I have the greatest characters ever, it's just as possible that they are the worst characters ever, and I should be ashamed of myself.
But, getting these characters out there is a start.
And Elthia is getting impatient.
Sunday, November 27, 2016
The Writing of Mythics
I've always enjoyed classic serials. Horatio Hornblower, and Sherlock Holmes come to mind, and I've decided to break with the tradition of having an independent comics in which each issue is part of a larger storyline. While Mythics will have a larger storyline in play, it's not going to be apparent until later on.
So, I decided to do what the old serials would do, write this comic in that same format.
20-32 page issues would be self-contained stories.
100-200 page graphic novels would house the majority of the ongoing storyline, while remaining independent.
Why would I do this?
Simple, most independent comics rely on crowdfunding, such as Kickstarter, or IndieGo-Go, which a single issue would need to raise around $2,000 on a timeframe of a month. Often, comic creators would just do one campaign, and release the comic. And then do one afterward, which there's often a period of six months to a year before the next issue is released. Unless they have the comic already made, and the crowdfunding is publicity to recoup the monetary losses. If multiple issues are released within
Unfortunately, it's the reality that nearly all those that use crowdfunding tend to have day jobs that prevent them from working on a comic full time.
Same with me.
And I like the idea of doing self-contained stories until it becomes a reliable income.
On another note, the world of Mythics won't just feature stories about Elthia Fletcher, but also characters from different aspects of the setting. Some plans for series are;
HitWitch: A series revolving around a witch that unwillingly became part of a criminal organization ran by warlocks. Meant for mature audiences
Spirits: A series that will explore the realm of the spirits, the series will have Galatyn starting off as the main character, before giving the role to another character.
And I've considered the idea that while I have a lot of ideas, that if I want to connect them all, I might as well come up with something that would connect them together, in this case it would be the Walkers of Worlds, a race of beings that walk between the dimensions as easily as we can walk into another room.
They're not human, but not elves either.
So, to wrap things up, these are my plans for the world of Mythics, and from the overall story that I've put together, it'll be a fun run.
So, I decided to do what the old serials would do, write this comic in that same format.
20-32 page issues would be self-contained stories.
100-200 page graphic novels would house the majority of the ongoing storyline, while remaining independent.
Why would I do this?
Simple, most independent comics rely on crowdfunding, such as Kickstarter, or IndieGo-Go, which a single issue would need to raise around $2,000 on a timeframe of a month. Often, comic creators would just do one campaign, and release the comic. And then do one afterward, which there's often a period of six months to a year before the next issue is released. Unless they have the comic already made, and the crowdfunding is publicity to recoup the monetary losses. If multiple issues are released within
Unfortunately, it's the reality that nearly all those that use crowdfunding tend to have day jobs that prevent them from working on a comic full time.
Same with me.
And I like the idea of doing self-contained stories until it becomes a reliable income.
On another note, the world of Mythics won't just feature stories about Elthia Fletcher, but also characters from different aspects of the setting. Some plans for series are;
HitWitch: A series revolving around a witch that unwillingly became part of a criminal organization ran by warlocks. Meant for mature audiences
Spirits: A series that will explore the realm of the spirits, the series will have Galatyn starting off as the main character, before giving the role to another character.
And I've considered the idea that while I have a lot of ideas, that if I want to connect them all, I might as well come up with something that would connect them together, in this case it would be the Walkers of Worlds, a race of beings that walk between the dimensions as easily as we can walk into another room.
They're not human, but not elves either.
So, to wrap things up, these are my plans for the world of Mythics, and from the overall story that I've put together, it'll be a fun run.
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Vignette #1
Since I'm a writer, I'll have the occasional vignette from within the multilayered world of Mythics. In this case, an extremely short look at Elthia, and Galatyn.
Sunday, October 23rd, 2005
Ellis Island, New York.
For Elthia Fletcher, time stood still while they were on the boat.
True, it was no cruise liner, no unending supply of entertainment for a 21 year old woman. Not that Elthia cared, her mind was on other things. Things like her new life away from England.
To America.
And Elthia, whom was no stranger to irony, felt it was appropriate to arrive by boat, rather than plane. It appealed to the adventurous side of her, months on the ocean. Some time to reassess her life, and what she was going to do to keep moving forward.
"There were faster means of travel." Galatyn, Elthia's familiar, said, gruffly.
The spirit had complained nearly nonstop since their trip began, and while Elthia would normally be annoyed by the attitude, it was rather amusing to her. A two thousand year old spirit, and he was as impatient as a fast food customer.
"I didn't think that a spirit could be impatient, until you came along, Tyn-man." Elthia's amused quip came after her first sip of coffee. Galatyn had made his displeasure over the boat trip known to her.
"It's not impatience, it's simply inefficient use of time!" Galatyn snapped.
Elthia held back a chuckle, the spirit reminded her of a cross between Sherlock Holmes, and the stereotypical old man. "It is, but sometimes you have to slow down, and relax." Elthia winced as her arm accidentally brushed against her wounded ribs. "...as well as recover."
It always amazed Elthia how quickly the spirit changed his moods. One moment he was on a rampage over whatever had ticked him off, but when Elthia showed signs of pain, he would be at her side, tending to her every need.
Spirits aren't as emotionally balanced as we humans like to believe. Elthia had noted during her early years with Galatyn.
The two of them had been bonded since Elthia was 15, soon after she had banished a classmate's poltergeist on her own. Galatyn taught everything Elthia needed to know about surviving in the kind of work expected of those like her. And eventually, Elthia began looking up to the spirit as a surrogate father.
Her love life on the other hand, died not only a month before.
But, that would be a tale for another time.
Sunday, October 23rd, 2005
Ellis Island, New York.
For Elthia Fletcher, time stood still while they were on the boat.
True, it was no cruise liner, no unending supply of entertainment for a 21 year old woman. Not that Elthia cared, her mind was on other things. Things like her new life away from England.
To America.
And Elthia, whom was no stranger to irony, felt it was appropriate to arrive by boat, rather than plane. It appealed to the adventurous side of her, months on the ocean. Some time to reassess her life, and what she was going to do to keep moving forward.
"There were faster means of travel." Galatyn, Elthia's familiar, said, gruffly.
The spirit had complained nearly nonstop since their trip began, and while Elthia would normally be annoyed by the attitude, it was rather amusing to her. A two thousand year old spirit, and he was as impatient as a fast food customer.
"I didn't think that a spirit could be impatient, until you came along, Tyn-man." Elthia's amused quip came after her first sip of coffee. Galatyn had made his displeasure over the boat trip known to her.
"It's not impatience, it's simply inefficient use of time!" Galatyn snapped.
Elthia held back a chuckle, the spirit reminded her of a cross between Sherlock Holmes, and the stereotypical old man. "It is, but sometimes you have to slow down, and relax." Elthia winced as her arm accidentally brushed against her wounded ribs. "...as well as recover."
It always amazed Elthia how quickly the spirit changed his moods. One moment he was on a rampage over whatever had ticked him off, but when Elthia showed signs of pain, he would be at her side, tending to her every need.
Spirits aren't as emotionally balanced as we humans like to believe. Elthia had noted during her early years with Galatyn.
The two of them had been bonded since Elthia was 15, soon after she had banished a classmate's poltergeist on her own. Galatyn taught everything Elthia needed to know about surviving in the kind of work expected of those like her. And eventually, Elthia began looking up to the spirit as a surrogate father.
Her love life on the other hand, died not only a month before.
But, that would be a tale for another time.
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Opening Post
Hello everyone!
The Mythics blog will be the center of all information involving the story.
It's been a wild ride in the concept stages of the series, creating the characters, building the world that they'll inhabit, and crafting the story. All in that order, so it's going to be a more character driven story.
Check back in a month for more information on the upcoming IndieGoGo campaign, and future updates!
Thanks for stopping by!
-Matt Trinh
Left to Right: Elthia Fletcher, The Masked Man (villain), Galatyn (both human form, and animal form)
The Mythics blog will be the center of all information involving the story.
It's been a wild ride in the concept stages of the series, creating the characters, building the world that they'll inhabit, and crafting the story. All in that order, so it's going to be a more character driven story.
Check back in a month for more information on the upcoming IndieGoGo campaign, and future updates!
Thanks for stopping by!
-Matt Trinh
Left to Right: Elthia Fletcher, The Masked Man (villain), Galatyn (both human form, and animal form)
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