For easier screen reading: MAP OF THE GREAT HOLD OF THE SILL (Original) This is a cross-section slice of a desk-sized 3-D projection system found on Yanta. The system contains in-depth data of The Great Hold of the Sill, its territories and facilities, and of the wider galaxy. It is, essentially, a multi-tiered, data-rich, galactic map. The map is currently being studied by Jinyiwei Intelligence in collaboration with a small group of unacknowledged special-access-program (SAP) Imperial Stellar Cartographers. The Jinyiwei thank you for your service as part of this SAP. As you step away from your family, know that they are being treated with utmost care while you serve the Empire. The unique interface of the cartographic system, and its resulting data, seems to be especially confusing to the human mind. To help orient you to the uniqueness of the display system, this first 2-D slice of the map (seen here) was intentionally aligned with standard Imperial Galactic Cartographic Projection (ISO-8400). As you’ll come to find, various toggles can be adjusted to show: - The claimed territory of The Great Hold of the Sill. - Major planets within The Great Hold of the Sill (where discernible, SAP members have begun overlaying modern Hybrid names). - Military and industrial installations of The Great Hold. - Regions of space that present dangers to travel, such as ongoing gamma-ray bursts or colliding micro black holes. - Known spaceports, and the tonnage they can handle. - Known agricultural outputs of planets and colonies of The Great Hold. - Tourist spots of note. You’ll note that additional toggles bring up data of unknown value. Discerning these will be your primary task, during your service to the SAP. Current theories of these data sets include planetary energy output, regional density of space-time, spread of religious systems, and more. As you begin your work, you’ll discover that both the operation of the 3-D projection system, and the Sill language it is built around, are painfully complex. Fillipod linguists will be read in to the SAP to help on that front, beginning mid-month. In the 2-D slice seen here, the “lighter” hexagon tiles seems to indicate areas of control by The Hold. But this isn’t a settled matter, as some regions appear to differ from ancient Sill maps discovered on Veeta. Research is ongoing, and you may be called upon to help that effort. The smaller white hexagons seem to indicate planets of control — some of which match with modern galactic powers. Depending on the physical force exerted on the toggling (you will understand, once you first use the interface), more or fewer planets can be shown within The Great Hold. Highest current estimate is 754 total planets being ruled by The Hold. There are 4-5 dozen planet indicators that are of unknown meaning, such as the white triangles. Ongoing cross-referencing is currently being run against remnant Sill databases on Veeta and Du Fu. A.) Cartographic display from The Great Hold of the Sill. And, subsequently, B.) SAP read-in for the display. Cartography system discovered by the crew of the ISPS Machito in 2402. Currently held in The Panopticon of The Jinyiwei, Brussels, Belgium.
Drive book sale!!! Posted on December 13, 2024 by Beth Reidmiller Now through Monday! Give scifi-loving pals the joy of DRIVE — and save that sweet, sweet moolah when you do! Oh! There’s also a $50-off sale on all my SHELDON original art! Just navigate to your favorite comic in the archives, scroll directly below it, and click “BUY TODAY’S ORIGINAL ART”! When you buy Acts 1 & 2 hardcovers, we throw in Act 3, FREE! Here’s the link! https://sheldonstore.com/collections/sale/products/buy-drive-act-1-2-get-act-3-hardcovers (NOTE: This 3-pack will ship via Priority Mail, to arrive at US destinations for Christmas.) Also! Are you missing a DRIVE book? Did your pet chew one to high heaven? BOY HOWDY ARE YOU IN LUCK! It’s a sale on unwrapped and/or super-lightly-dinged DRIVE books. They’re 50%-off! Here’s the direct link for all that: https://sheldonstore.com/collections/sale (NOTE: These dinged books will ship via Media Mail, and will not arrive at US destinations for Christmas.)
This week’s ComicLab is live! Posted on December 12, 2024 by Beth Reidmiller Pals! Every week my cartooning pal Brad Guigar and I fire up the mics to talk about comics. It’s half shop talk, half how-to, and half friendship. That’s right: WE SQUEEZED IN THREE HALVES. It’s tips and tricks and all the joys of cartooning as a pro! And here’s a summary of this week’s show, which just went live! ——— LINK: https://www.patreon.com/posts/in-over-my-head-116117374 TITLE: In over my head What happens when your story gets too big for you to handle? Are you the right person for the job? (And if not you, then who??) On Today’s Show: In over your head UPDATE: It was FCS all along Crossbar-I technicality Advice to your older self Summary In this episode, the hosts discuss the challenges creators face, particularly when tackling complex themes such as systemic injustice in long-term comic projects. The hosts emphasize the importance of pushing through creative doubts and the value of learning from mistakes in the writing process. In this conversation, they explore the complexities of creativity, mainly focusing on the challenges creators face after a hiatus. They discuss the importance of embracing imperfection, the role of confidence in storytelling, and the value of completing projects. The dialogue emphasizes that it’s normal to feel doubt and that taking breaks can be beneficial. Ultimately, they encourage creators to follow their instincts and permit themselves to explore new directions in their work. In this episode, Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett revisit a previous discussion about the frequency of comic updates, introducing the concept of FCS (Frequent, Consistent, Significant) as a guiding principle for creators. They delve into the nuances of typography in comics, particularly the use of the crossbar I, and emphasize the importance of clarity in communication. The conversation takes a philosophical turn as they explore what advice they would give to their future selves, reflecting on the nature of change and the importance of embracing it as artists. In this episode, the hosts explore the themes of establishment in the cartooning world, the importance of embracing change, and the value of taking risks. They reflect on the advice they would give to their younger selves, emphasizing the need to cultivate joy and not let life’s challenges steal it away. The conversation also touches on the cyclical nature of life experiences and the lessons learned from past regrets.
This week’s ComicLab is live! Posted on December 5, 2024 by Beth Reidmiller Pals! Every week my cartooning pal Brad Guigar and I fire up the mics to talk about comics. It’s half shop talk, half how-to, and half friendship. That’s right: WE SQUEEZED IN THREE HALVES. It’s tips and tricks and all the joys of cartooning as a pro! And here’s a summary of this week’s show, which just went live! ——— LINK: https://www.patreon.com/posts/minor-problem-117033293 TITLE: A minor problem with a comic major Does an aspiring comics artist/writer need a college degree? And, if so, which degree is best? Next, a listener asks why Brad publishes his weekly comics page in half-page increments. What schools do we recommend? Why does Brad publish twice a week? Substack and Bluesky Summary In this episode of ComicLab, hosts Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett explore the importance of higher education for aspiring cartoonists, debating the merits of specialized degrees versus a broader liberal arts education. They emphasize the significance of writing in comics, the value of community colleges, and the necessity for aspiring artists to actively create comics during their education. The episode concludes with a discussion on the optimal update frequency for comic creators, highlighting the balance between reader engagement and creative output. In this conversation, Brad Guigar and his co-host discuss the nuances of storytelling in comics, emphasizing the importance of finding a ‘sweet spot’ in panel structure and update frequency. They explore the challenges of conveying narratives in short formats, particularly in the context of webcomics, and the need to adapt to new platforms and formats for compelling storytelling. The discussion also touches on the evolving landscape of comic publishing, including the potential of platforms like Substack and Bluesky.
This week’s ComicLab is live! Posted on November 28, 2024 by Beth Reidmiller Pals! Every week my cartooning pal Brad Guigar and I fire up the mics to talk about comics. It’s half shop talk, half how-to, and half friendship. That’s right: WE SQUEEZED IN THREE HALVES. It’s tips and tricks and all the joys of cartooning as a pro! And here’s a summary of this week’s show, which just went live! ——— LINK: [insert link] TITLE: Nobody believes I’m a cartoonist How do you explain to someone that you’re a professional cartoonist? More importantly — should you even try?! Also, Dave and Brad share details about the software they use, and Brad extolls the virtues of a Patreon content exchange. On Today’s Show… How do you explain to people that you’re a professional cartoonist? What software is best for comics? Take a break this holiday Patreon content exchange Summary In this conversation, Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett discuss the challenges of explaining their profession as cartoonists to others, as well as the misconceptions surrounding the field. Next, they explain the significance of using the right software for comic creation. They emphasize the need for cartoonists to be aware of the technical aspects of their work, particularly when it comes to color formats and printing. Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett emphasize the advantages of tools like Clip Studio Paint and Adobe products. They also highlight the significance of taking breaks during the holiday season to recharge creatively. The conversation shifts to strategies for Patreon content exchanges, where they share insights on effectively reaching out to other creators and the benefits of collaboration in building audiences.
This week’s ComicLab is live! Posted on November 21, 2024 by Beth Reidmiller Pals! Every week my cartooning pal Brad Guigar and I fire up the mics to talk about comics. It’s half shop talk, half how-to, and half friendship. That’s right: WE SQUEEZED IN THREE HALVES. It’s tips and tricks and all the joys of cartooning as a pro! And here’s a summary of this week’s show, which just went live! ——— LINK: https://www.patreon.com/posts/your-content-is-115212825?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link TITLE: Your Content is not your Community When comic creators try to market their comics, they often confuse what their comic is about with who it’s for. Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar offer some guidance on making compelling promotions that work. In the show’s second half, the boys have a devil of a time talking about angel investing. In this episode, Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett explore how comic creators can broaden their audience beyond niche markets, emphasizing the significance of themes and relationships in storytelling. The conversation highlights the need for creators to identify their comic’s appeal and engage with a broader audience. In this conversation, the hosts explore the concept of angel investing, particularly in the context of cartoonists and creative industries. They discuss the nature of angel investing, the challenges cartoonists face in securing funding, and the potential roles that angel investors could play in their careers. The conversation also delves into alternative funding models like Kickstarter and Patreon and the importance of marketing versus production in growing a creative business. Ultimately, the hosts reflect on their experiences and the realities of managing growth in the comic industry. In this episode, the hosts delve into the complexities of comic creation, discussing the balance between marketing and content production, the impact of hiring assistants, and the challenges of delegating creative tasks. They explore the dynamics of collaboration in writing and the potential growth opportunities for their podcast, ComicLab, while acknowledging the realities of success and the risks involved in expanding their creative endeavors.
This week’s ComicLab is live! Posted on November 14, 2024 by Beth Reidmiller Pals! Every week my cartooning pal Brad Guigar and I fire up the mics to talk about comics. It’s half shop talk, half how-to, and half friendship. That’s right: WE SQUEEZED IN THREE HALVES. It’s tips and tricks and all the joys of cartooning as a pro! And here’s a summary of this week’s show, which just went live! LINK: https://www.patreon.com/posts/lets-talk-about-114747356 TITLE: “Let’s talk about your bits and pieces” When a listener asks about Kickstarter strategy, the ComicLab guys are divided! Dave favors the traditional webcomics approach. Build your audience by posting the comic online, then monetize that engagement with a Kickstarter. Brad likes this, but he could also see using Kickstarter’s strengths in Discovery to build the audience through a series of smaller campaigns that lead to a big one. Summary In this conversation, Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett explore various aspects of creating and promoting comics, including the importance of audience engagement, the role of webcomics, and practical strategies for using platforms like Patreon and Kickstarter. They discuss the significance of consistent content release versus binge releases, emphasizing the emotional connection built through regular engagement with readers. The conversation also touches on personal anecdotes and humorous references, making it both informative and entertaining for aspiring comic creators. In the second half of the show, Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett discuss various topics related to comic creation, including the joys of attending the Alaska Comics Camp, the potential of drawing Q&A sessions for Patreon, the nuances of live streaming for community versus audience building, and strategies for overcoming comic paralysis. They emphasize the importance of community engagement, the legal considerations of using names in drawings, and the creative processes involved in writing and drawing comics.
Original Art on eBay now! Posted on September 10, 2024 by Beth Reidmiller Hello friends! I just put up this delightful original art on eBay…starting at just one penny! Go check it out: https://www.ebay.com/itm/296674958570
Gang, this is the week to join us on Patreon! Posted on July 31, 2024 by Dave Kellett DRIVE PALS! If you haven’t joined us on http://Patreon.com/drive yet, THIS IS THE WEEK TO DO IT. ( Patreon folks, you’ll know what I mean when you read this, about the upcoming Kickstarter: https://patreon.com/posts/patreon-sneak-1-109206275… )— AND A REMINDER: HERE’S WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU JOIN PATREON! 200+ pages of bonus “TALES OF THE DRIVE”! Weekly art giveaways! Behind-the-scenes! Pal-times forums! It’s super worth it! Jump in: https://www.patreon.com/drive
Original art on eBay: Chemistry! Posted on July 19, 2024 by Beth Reidmiller Hi Patreon pals! I just put this original art up on eBay starting at just one penny! Go snag it! https://www.ebay.com/itm/296573093804
ORIGINAL ART UP FOR GRABS! Posted on May 2, 2024 by Beth Reidmiller Hi friends! I just put up the drawing of everyone’s favorite squishy, loveable, not-horrifying-at-all dictator, (THE CENTER)! Go check it out! It’s starting at just one penny! link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/296403965956