Wanted Hero eComics! KID TESTED…PARENT APPROVED!! Bookmark WANTED:HERO now!

One of the last commercials we did with Doctor Amos, PhD of the 3rd Light District in ClockWorks City.

Dr. Amos didn’t want to o the commercial at first, being a traditional physician. So, we donated dozens of copies of WANTED:HERO to his practice, which he proceeded to prescribe in rare humor-dysfunction cases. The results were so dramatic, he was the first qualified physician to sign on as an advocate for this eComic and promotes it to this day.

Have a listen. Created back in 2006.

~MotherBoard

 

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One of the first commercials we did, which got the attention of children everywhere and made them laugh.

In fact, this was the first true promotion we did using Gnomes, and it has never been the same since. I mean, we Gnomes are such lovable people, who wouldn’t want to hear more from us, right?

Click on the podcast and hear one of the most popular commercials for this fantastic eComic (made in 2006).

~MotherBoard

 

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(Article written March 2006)
You may think these lessons (and podcasts) are out of order. Well, you’d be right. I’m trying to create them for you in the midst of getting the next issue out of WANTED:HERO, and sometimes I’m in the middle of a phase of the project…and it’s just natural to write down what you’re already doing.

So, with that in mind, I’m preparing the script for Issue #13…so the Lesson today is on Outline, Page Plot and Script.

First off, there are a few books that I would like to recommend, because they give a great hands on look at what a script can be…but you need to understand that each writer has their own style and format that works best for them. One is not necessarily better than the other…it’s just what works to get the job done.

Luckily, I work alone. I think my method of writing would drive another artist insane. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. My side notes and changes nearly drive my dear wife insane…and she’s my editor.

The books I would recommend, are: PANEL TWO: MORE COMIC BOOK SCRIPTS BY TOP WRITERS…by Nat Gertler, …and ALAN MOORE’S WRITING FOR COMICS. Those two books will give you a great taste of what you need to know and do to form your ideas into workable stories for an artist.

As for my own method of writing, it simply works like this:

I spend a great deal of time looking at the ceiling, isolating myself, or talking out loud to my wife or a close friend that reads my comic book. It starts by discussing general ideas, which I usually have scribbled down on some piece of paper, or I get from the master timeline created for the whole WANTED:HERO story. I talk about what I want the characters to do, and my wife or friend, sometimes my older children, will throw out problems, or challenge the idea with what is already going on in the story.

This forces my mind to find solutions to the dilemma, or simply move on to another idea. As a general rule, I try to have at least 2 main story lines, which are part of the big whole, going at the same time….(though I think 3-5 are more fun). A good example is having Wendell on Akk-Arnon, dealing with a world of Gnomes, while there is a huge conflict at the Keep of Til-Thorin on the human home world.

Once I have the basic ideas of what I want to happen in a story, the outline becomes a matter of planning. Each digital issue is 20 pages, excluding ads. I know the intro is 1-3 pages, depending on the punch, there is a lead to the main dilemma and a climax that works from page 4-14, I have to resolve the dilemma by page 18, and then create a new dilemma for the next issue on 19 and 20. If there is an Epilogue, then I might increase the comic to 21 pages. You always have the freedom to add more pages if you need or want to. That’s just how I personally work.

Once I have the breakdown, I will create a page plot, where I describe what is happening on each page to trigger my penciling mind. This allows me to visualize everything that’s supposed to happen, and sparks my artist side. I do this for each page of the comic book.

The last step is a two stepper. I create the dialog. This is where you have to get to know your characters. They actually tell me what they would say and when they would get involved. Once I have written all the dialog, then I read it out loud. If it sounds like a real conversation, something that makes sense, should I overhear it, I’ll go straight to the artwork. If not—I will go back to an outside opinion, and work on the dialog.

Personally, I don’t think I’m a very good writer. I know, I know—most comic guys think they can write. In fact, most I have met personally believe they are God’s gift to the written word. Well, I’m not one of them. I’m still studying myself each day, on how to improve one step at a time, and I learn as I go.

I just know I don’t completely stink–so, I keep going.

Now, the nightmare is when I’m all done with the artwork. I have created something to fit the writing—but once I sit down and add the lettering, 9 times out of ten, I will change a script on the spot…and for some reason, it always turns out better that what was originally jotted down. I don’t have a reason why I do that—I just do. Something about looking at the expressions on the faces of my characters who are talking and they simply tell me something else.

So I change it.

So there you have my process of insanity. Outline, page plot, then the dialog.

It may not be the best way, but it sure works for me.

God Bless,

Jaime D. Buckley
Creator of WANTED:HERO

(This article was written the first part of 2006)

If you are going to make eComics, you have two basic options when it comes to getting your work online: start digital, or scan. Since my own experience is limited to the traditional production of comics, we will cover the aspect of scanning.

Now, keep in mind that I use one specific program above all others, and that happens to be PhotoImpact. I can’t recommend it enough—so look up Ulead.com and check it out when you get a chance. I have calibrated the program to work with my own scanner, which happens to be an HP Officejet 7130xi. It only scans up to 8 ½” X 14”—and using 11X17” Bristol, means I have to piece together each page. A pain, yes—but very simple when it comes to using PhotoImpact.

I scan in my pages in greyscale, not black and white. This allows me the ability to make the artwork crisp, without having jagged edges, and also to splice the pages easier…because it will pick up the non-photo blue lines on the page. I scan one side, then the other, both at 300dpi (dots per inch). By scanning it in at 300dpi, you have a master copy that allows you to create a printed book, as well as the digital copy. You can always scale down, which we do…but blowing up an image makes it fuzzy…so 300dpi is the perfect setting.

Once we have the two pieces on our screen, we then create a new white document at 10.5” wide and 15.75” tall, also at 300dpi.

Now here’s the beauty of PhotoImpact: I then take the selection tool and drag it over the “trim” line of the page. This is the same line the printer would cut off, to gt a full bleed, and prepare it for shooting. We drag the selection tool from one corner to the other, and bring it as close to the faded edge (the end the overlaps one another), and then cut. Drag the piece over to the new document. Do the same with the second scan. Place top on top and bottom on bottom. Simple enough…

Now change your tool to the selection icon, and simply select each scanned part in turn and hit the align tool. Chose for the pages to be centered in the middle, which will bring both pages close enough to eye the lines the rest of the way. If you need a better view, simply enlarge the page with the magnifying glass, and inch the pages together. Once in place, so the look like a single page, select both pages and choose “merge as a single object”. This fuses both scanned parts together into one picture. Then hit the align to center button, and your comic is now perfectly centered on your new page. Then simply choose ‘merge all’, and save your page.

Now, we still have all those non-photo blue lines as well as the shadow areas sticking out like a sore thumb. PhotoImpact to the rescue! Simply choose ‘format’ and then ‘Brightness and Contrast’. This allows you, with a few clicks of a button, to make the page as white as snow and crisp clear lines as dark as midnight.

Save you work, and you’re ready for the greyscale! That wasn’t so hard, now was it?

Jaime Buckley
Creator of WANTED:HERO

Each artist has their own ways of creating their stories. We have favorite tools, we have a favorite style, whether emulated or unique in our own right.

However, if you are making a comic book in a traditional form, and you have to perform inking…we all have a specific need in common, and that’s the right ink.

There are as many brands of inks that you can use, as there are pens and brushes. However, getting the right consistency is something we all strive for. Why?

Well, if you have ink that’s too thin, you’ll get splotch marks throughout your work—and when scanning, you’ll be doing a great deal of cover-up work. I had that problem myself during he first year of WANTED:HERO, and let me tell you—the last thing you want to do, is spend double the amount of time, inking—because you have to go over everything twice!

If you have ink too thick, you’ll find your pen nibs or brushes gumming up, which can not only be a pain—but it can ruin some brushes if left too long to dry.

So, the question is….how do we get an ink that is black as midnight, pliable, and consistent? Many message boards on the web pose that very dilemma.

Well, I have an answer for you—so grab a pen and paper.

If you have never heard of Dick Blick art supplies…these guys are huge and they have the thickest ink I have ever seen, in 20 years of cartooning. Go to dickblick.com, and look up “inks”. There you will find the gold in a jar, called “Black Cat”…and they Do mean BLACK. Not only is this stuff as dark as you can get, it’s also very inexpensive. Only $14.99 for a full QUART! However, they run sales most of the time, and I buy the same amount for only $10.98. This ink has been around since 1911.

Now, you can experiment with this ink, by thinning it with water…or you can add one more step, which is what I do. I use “Higgins” water proof India Ink, and simply mix ¼ Higgins, to ¾ Black Cat. When I open the container, before working with the ink—I simply take the back end of a brush, and stir the ink for about 30 seconds, wipe off the handle of the brush, and stat working. The consistency stays the same for over an hour, at which time I simply stir the ink solution again.

…and there you have it—a good, consistent black ink you can rely on, day after day.

I bet you’re thinking you know what program we’re going to talk about….

Adobe Illustrator? Nope.

Adobe Photoshop? Not on yer life.
Adobe InDesign? Hehe…not even close.

In fact, it’s not even an Adobe product at all.

This is a program that’s considered the workhorse in Jaime Buckley’s arsenal when it comes to eComic production.

It assists in the creation of the eComic, the development of promotional material, web content, optimizes all artwork, and can perform all the needed functions many artist rely on Photoshop for.

What is it?

PhotoImpact…a product of Ulead.

This single program is a lifesaver when it comes to the creation of WANTED:HERO. It performs effect art, such as beveled edges, visual effect, word manipulation, panting effects….not with layers (though it has that as well), but with a click of a button. No more working with Photoshop for 2 hours on an effect, when you can click a button to get the same results and move on.

Take a moment and check out this remarkable program. Not only is it amazing, it’s very affordable. It is the #1 art program, recommended by WANTED HERO STUDIOS, and Jaime Buckley himself.

So now you know.

Dear friends,

It has been a great pleasure to bring you the adventures of Wendell, Dax and Chuck for the past few years, and there is more to come. As of the writing of this post, 53 pages have been written of the first WANTED:HERO Novel, which we plan to release before Christmas this year.

Yet, while working on this next project, I have had the great privilege of meeting and getting to know many precious and noble families, struggling just to stay alive.

Families who are losing their homes due to market changes and lack of income–those who simply cannot support their family in the current economy, and in some instances, unable to feed them. Families being devastated by the evils of Cancer or untimely death of a parent (both of which the Buckley Family understands from personal experience). I never knew entertaining children would open so many important doors, and grant so many unexpected opportunities.

It’s when you get to know these kind, loving people, meeting them through children who love this story, that you want to do so much more.

SO,…

Today I come top you, asking for your help as I make a commitment of my own. I am by no means rich, but I make enough for my needs through other businesses to sustain myself–where WANTED:HERO is simply for profit and fun. It is my intention to work through Jubilee World Wide and The Jubilee Hope Foundation, to assist these various families who cannot help themselves, by donating any and all profits from the sale of WANTED:HERO materials to the relief of others.

I am bringing this to your attention, because I am asking for your help in spreading the news about this eComic and encouraging you to promote it, that together, we can change the lives of others for the better.

I hope you will take up this challenge with me and fill the life of a child with laughter, while filling a families heart with hope.

Just click on the “PRINTED WORKS” page to the left and make your purchase.

God Bless,
Jaime D. Buckley
Creator of WANTED:HERO

If you think for one moment you can get away with anything but the ‘pure’ paper…you’re wrong. Getting the wrong kind of paper can destroy your efforts–such as acid in the paper, or a yellow texture, which can corrode the scans.

In fact, there are many Gnomes who feel strongly about the type of paper you should use for an eComic. It’s almost a religous experience for some.

Here’s a podcast to give you a hint at what we are getting at:

 

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Hello, this is “The Voice”, filling in for Jaime Buckley who is off world this week.

You know what an eComic is, you have your amazing idea…so what now?

You need the right tools.

Ask yourself–how are you going to make your art?

Traditional? Digital only? …or maybe a combination of both, like WANTED:HERO.

Only you know what you specifically require…but there are some items you will need which are on every list—such as a computer, certain programs, and a connection to the internet.

Keep in mind, that you can only make art with as much quality as the tools you use. An ink brush without bristles, isn’t going to do you a bit of good. That, and, well…you’d be an idiot.

While Jaime was gone from his office, Cosmo and I decided to make a list for you. Our sound manager here also happens to be a ‘Lock Technician’, and got us into the shrine of WANTED:HERO.

And GLORY BE, we found all sorts of goodies to make a list!

So, here’s what Jaime Buckley uses for his own popular eComic:

1. Pencils (a few are 2h, for sketching, the rest are HB)
2. Erasers (some kneaded, but mostly a brand called Magic Rub)
3. Brushes (LOTS of brushes—which are his preferred tool)
4. A wide variety of ink pens called MICRON.
5. Quill pens with various tips.
6. A special mixture of ink, which ….hmmmm, this looks interesting…maybe we’ll do a podcast on the perfect ink too.
7. 11”X17” Bristol Board
8. Rulers of various shapes and sizes
9. A tooth brush….which is covered in ink—I guess it’s used for effects.

…and then we found the Holy of Holies…the computer.

It was a nice set up. Printer, scanner, two 20” flat screens, surround sound, wireless mouse and keyboard. But what was on the Inside, I asked myself? I mean, how can we tell you, if we don’t know, …right?

So Cosmo gingerly used the crowbar, to peel back the metal side of the tower.

We found a dual processor motherboard, top notch graphic card, 4 Gigabites of RAM, 2 DVD/CD burners, and 825 Gigabites of Hard Drives.

…which we learned should be renamed….”fragile” drives would be more appropriate.

Now, being an eComic creator, you need the essential tool to succeed: a web site.

This includes a domain name, a hosting package with a large amount of bandwidth (all Gnomes recommend BlueHost.com), access to a payment system, such as Paypal, a security system for safe delivery of digital content (Jaime uses Linklok), and then a slew of creative programming scripts, which can be retrieved from free service, such as Hotscripts.com.

It may sound like a large list—but most items can be purchased as you develop your eComic. The good news, is that once set up, you can keep an entire years overhead for a successful, money making eComic, to under $500!

That’s absolute peanuts, for a successful business.

Sit down and map out what you want to create, and how you want to deliver content to your readers—this will allow you to develop a solid basis of what you will require to get started. If you’re starting out and don’t have funds, search the web. There are many sources you can tap into for free tools…especially computer ones.

This may sound like a simple matter, but trust me when I say it deserves a measure of time for your consideration:

Do you have an idea for your eComic?

Sure, Brit-Boy is a Superhero from the UK, who has the phenomenal power of mind-over-cheese. He can also flip nunchakus of Leafield at deadly speeds, and slide under doors by transforming into liquid Lincolnshire Poacher…but will that be enough?

‘Enough?’ you ask, flinging your body over your sketches of Cheese-boy, like a protective parent.

What I mean is: ‘Will your storyline hold the interest of your readers?’

Now that you’ve decided to plug into the electronic center of the Universe (the web), what is it about your story that will set it apart? What have you created which will grab a readers attention…and KEEP it?

This is not a subject to rush into, or to take lightly. This first question can actually make or break your success. Simply being able to draw dynamic heroes, who can shatter meteors in a single blow, will only get you so far. Ok, you can also draw the bodacious babes, but that won’t solve your problem, either.

In WANTED:HERO, many of the characters were developed over a period of nine years. Now, I’m not saying you need that much time…but how well do you know your characters? How detailed is their background? Could you do genealogy on the people in your story? Yes, your Hero can rip apart the world with his bare hands…but what would he say in a normal conversation? Or, how would he react when he finds out his widowed mother, now has cancer and can’t taker care of herself??

That might sound silly to you—but knowing the past of your characters, help you shape a believable future.

Another point to consider–is creating a storyline that people can relate to.

Wendell P. Dipmier, the lead character in WANTED:HERO, is just an average guy, who finds himself mistaken as the Savior of the Nexus….the outer rim of all creation. Many readers write to me and tell me they actually relate to the simple guy, who used to live with his parents. The guy who had an opinion, but was never in a set of circumstances which allowed him to share those views. The guy who loves the band Keane…just like millions of other youth in the US and UK. They watch Wendell’s development through each issue, and see how becoming a ‘hero’ may actually be possible for people like us, after all.

…and yet, all I was doing, was telling the tale of my buddy, Wendell.

Asking this question may be a simple matter….but it’s an essential one.

Do you have an idea for your eComic?

“eComic” stands for ‘electronic comic’ (or comic book), and usually refers to the internet. However, eComics can be placed into to general categories, even though technology and innovation continue to progress:

The first is a purely electronic experience, which means the comic is viewed and enjoyed exclusively on the computer screen. Most are made to fit the parameters of the screen itself (the various resolutions) and are viewed page by page. Depending upon the company and comic, ‘creative’ navigation features are included—one of the most complicated (and fun) is used by Marvel—which let’s you read not only page by page, but by each single frame.

This class of eComic can be viewed online, some may be downloaded from online…and a few are even available on disc or DVD, which you can purchase. Regardless, this class of eComic is based upon “on screen viewing”.

The second category of eComics combines both worlds of the growing comic field: digital AND print, of which WANTED:HERO is an example.

WANTED:HERO is a traditional comic book in every sense of the word…written, drawn by hand with pencil/pen and ink, and then it is simply scanned into a computer, formatted for print, and then a copy is placed online for purchase. What made WANTED:HERO unique, is that the reader could purchase the eComic, download it immediately to their computer, and then print out a high quality copy to hold, sit back, read and share with others.

Can WANTED:HERO be viewed on your computer? Sure. In fact, there were also live ‘links’ in issues, which allowed the reader further opportunities to expand on the storyline experience, by visiting sites connected to the storyline. Because the printing cost is non-existent, WANTED:HERO was able to keep the price of each individual comic to .99 cents or less—even AFTER PayPal took a major chunk!

What set WANTED:HERO apart from other eComics in the same category, was that once a comic is purchased, there was no limit to the copies which could be made, and the publisher actually encouraged the readers to share copies with others! As long as you did not change the content in any way, or attempt to sell the eComic, your copy could be freely shared with others.

Another aspect which made WANTED:HERO fun and unique was it’s involvement of real-life people in the storyline. People of deep and noble character, which brought aspects of the story to life, as well as making further research a joy to do. The ‘Universe’ of the storyline ended up expanding into other aspects of life and to other sites not normally associated with comics, giving the backgrounds real ‘flair’.

Did you enjoy the eComics?

Enjoy the printed Novels?

Well Jaime Buckley’s hands might not be able to draw as the used to on volume…however, that won’t stop the story from moving forward to it’s completion. OH no.

WANTED:HERO STUDIOS is scheduled to produce a series of WANTED:HERO books, with all new illustrations (by the creator himself), to entertain you like never before.

In addition, these books will be posted—chapter by chapter, on this site, in this category, for your review, comment and enjoyment, before they are published! So stay tuned, tell a friend and get ready for the in-depth version of the original ‘eComic’ in literature form.

Once a master trapper, then a protector of nature, Cane left the society of men to pursue a life of solitude. His mission–to find peace within himself.

What he found wasn’t peace, but rather a set of experiences which convinced him that all things were connected by a certain rhythm or ‘dance’, and that if he could find the ‘music’ to that dance, he could move through life with greater ease and peace. Trying to get away from the cruelty and violence of mankind, brought him face to face with the brutality of Trolls and Orges, as they ravished the lands and raided nearby villages.

It was the Nethinim and Animal himself who came upon this seemingly frail man…sitting atop a pile of unconscious Trolls, sipping a flask of homemade berry wine.

Cane is a man of control who understands his surroundings and environment. Never willing to use an edged weapon or to use brute force on an enemy—it does not prevent him from doing what needs to be done to protect an innocent, especially women and children.

Cane is based on the real life personality of Ted Truscott.

“I started in regular traditional karate training in 1972, over 30 years ago. Even a slow learner like myself has got to get something out of that! As well, from 1986 to 2001 when he died, I was under the tutelge of Sensei Richard Kim, 10th Dan and Black Belt mag’s martial artist of the year, a very interesting time, for sure.

I have also cross trained, (while staying true to my first martial art love, karate), in the Modern Arnis style of Remy Presas whom I met often in Victoria BC, Bagua Zhang under the internationally reknowned Andrea Falk and I am currently an assistant instructor under Gordon Muir, taking Chen Style taiji, the Practical Method of Hong Junsheng, as taught by the 19th generation international standard bearer, Chen Zhonghau.

Wow, that’s a mouthful, neh?

As for the practical side of self defense, from 1977 to a few years ago, my work has been with aggressive, emotionally disturbed, violent teens whom I certainly had no desire to hit, kick or punch out, no matter how much they deserved it! (That’s a joke by the way: my style of dealing with their aggression was always with a deep respect for them as a person while I tried my best to prove to them that they could not dominate everyone they met.)

As well, I researched a (deplorably bad production values) production of a fighting cane or cane for self defense video which I called Raising Canes. It has received a lot of favorable attention.”