Archive for November, 2004
21 items.
Nov01
Tom and Cami are about to embark on a crime-stopping spree. Click here to vote for Theater Hopper at buzzComix to see them launch into action Wonder Twins style!
Oh, and incidentally, the top list has reset for the month of November, so to help Theater Hopper stay in the Top 10, be sure to vote today and everyday!
In fact, to help remind you that you should be voting every day, I’m going to be doing a FULL WEEK of strips to celebrate the upcoming release of The Incredibles.
Frankly, I’ve pretty much grown tired of hovering around the middle of the Top 10 and I want to make a sincere push to the top of the list. I know I’m not promising you scantily clad women as a reward like some other web comics, but hey, let’s give it a shot?
As they say, thinking is doing and saying is action. So I’m out here saying I want the number one spot at buzzComix and I need your help to do it!
I think I’m pretty much going to leave things at that for now. Since I’ll be updating five times this week, I’ll have plenty of opportunity to talk about The Incredibles. I don’t want to waste all of my commentary in the first post, you know?
Tomorrow is Election Day. I’m not going to go on some big rag about it except to say that if you are of voting age, please be sure to make time to exercise your rights. I don’t care who you vote for (okay, that’s a lie – but I’m trying to stay unbiased here on the front page), just make sure you vote.
I took down the shirts from the store so I can give my printer time to catch up on orders. I know a few of you have been wondering when you’ll see your shirts. It really depends on when the printer can get them finished. He does a lot of work for some other comics, so he’s running a little behind. Last I heard, I could be mid-November by the time he has them done. So, after stuffing a few dozen envelopes, that might mean you guys won’t see them until the end of the month.
Regardless, I wanted to let you know that I didn’t run off with your money. When I know more, you’ll know more.
Thanks to everyone for their support on the shirts. Expect the store to be updated with access to posters and a page for commissioned artwork soon!
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Hey, kids! It’s that time again! Time to visit the latest Theater Hopper sponsor!
NJFILMCORE is an awesome site full of crazy independent movies. They’ve got movies about everything from superheroes, to monsters to robots and they’re funny as hell to boot! How can you go wrong.
Also, be sure to check out Theater Hopper favorite Ryan Sais’ new web comic. Actually, it’s more of a comic blog. Ryan used to do a comic called Urban Transmissions that he had to discontinue because he couldn’t keep up with the site maintenance. Now, through the power of Blogger, Ryan is giving us more of his unique perspective almost daily! Check it out!
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Nov02
THE HERO THAT COULD STAND TO DROP A FEW POUNDS
November 2nd, 2004 |
(10 votes, average: 8.20 out of 10)
You might think Thunder Gut is a figment of Cami’s imagination, but he’s REAL! And if you want to see a rough sketch of the hero about to lunge into action, all you need to do is vote for Theater Hopper at buzzComix. I implore you to check it out. I had a lot of fun coming up with the costume design.
It’s very important that you guys vote for Theater Hopper on buzzComix because – unlike yesterday when the list SHOULD have updated – it really HAS updated today! I’m making a sincere effort to get to the top spot on the list and I need your help. Be sure to vote EVERY DAY!
Remember, we’re doing a full week of strips to help spur this initiative, so be sure to come back tomorrow, Thursday and Friday to lend your support!
Of course you’d have to be utterly dense to be unaware of that OTHER, possibly more important election going on today. Here’s hoping those of you of age will be performing your civic duty in the ballot box. I plan on doing so after work this evening. Afterwords, I plan on drinking a fifth of whiskey, sliding under the covers and wait for it to all blow over. This election is like a 50 car pile up we’ve been collective predicting for the last 6 months and I don’t think I can watch the carnage.
To less depressing matters, The Incredibles! Tracking has been really positive for Pixar’s latest effort. I think they’ve hit upon an awesome formula. They’re sure to snag the kids with colorful action while simultaneously hooking the adults with jokes about being middle-aged. What 40 year-old couldn’t relate to Mr. Incredible wrenching his back while attempting to hurl a robot into the sun? Brilliant!
Analysts are already predicting The Incredibles could do anywhere from $200 to $300 million in business. I think it’s safe to say that Pixar will have its sixth consecutive number one opening weekend with no competition. After the Presidential election, I imagine people will be ready for a little fantasy and comedy.
We’re already starting to chat up The Incredibles in the THorum. One of our regular posters actually just got back from an advance screening yesterday evening.
More thoughts on The Incredibles later in the week, but until then, vote, vote, vote!
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You know what day it is… get out and vote if you are eligible. I thought it was funny when I saw the news headline yesterday: “Last day of early voting.” Well duh, it’s no longer early when the party has started.
“I see a red state and I want to paint it blue…” – ANYMOUSE
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Nov03
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT WHEN YOU PUT YOUR WIFE IN SPANDEX?
November 3rd, 2004 |
(15 votes, average: 8.33 out of 10)
Let’s just get this out of the way right now. I’m not going to talk about the Presidential election today. I’ve been watching news coverage all night long and as I write this, they STILL haven’t declared a winner. My mind is baked, so I’m just going to assume you all went out and did your civic duty and go about my business promoting Theater Hopper.
To that end, I wanna ask you to vote in another kind of election, the goal of which is to get Theater Hopper to the number one spot at buzzComix. It’s been a really close three-way tie and I’m looking to break away from the pack. Remember, every time you vote, you’re treated to a special reward sketch that’s related to the comic on the main page.
For example. How does Tom propose this embarrassing situation be prevented in the future? BOWFLEX!
So now you click on the link and you figure out what I’m talking about! See how easy that works?
By the way, in case you missed it, there was an extra comic yesterday. It was a really humdinger, too. In an effort to boost our position at buzzComix, I’m doing a WHOLE WEEK of strips. So that means there will be an extra comic Thursday, too. Don’t forget to come back then and check it out.
Now onto The Incredibles!
A member of the THorum recently posted a very interesting link to the Disney Japan web site promoting the release of the movie across the Pacific. It included a very different teaser trailer than what we’ve been exposed to here in the states. Besides the interesting narration (“MEEESTAH INVINC-AH-BULE!”), the trailer shows several scenes we haven’t been treated to yet.
It’s very interesting to watch because it really puts the focus on the characters internal struggles as opposed to the WHAM! BAM! action of the American trailer. For example, Mr. Incredible misses his glory days as a super hero. His son is wrestling with the advice to “do his best” when he’s not allowed to do his best by hiding his powers. His daughter meanwhile just wants to be normal and his wife is trying to keep them all together. As per usual with Pixar movies, it reveals a very meaty emotional core to the movie and it only makes me want to see it THAT. MUCH. MORE.
Friday can’t get here soon enough.
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Say, whatever happened to that lolly anyway? Looks like Tom found it. What will he do with it? Vote for Theater Hopper at buzzComix to find out!
Everyone has been doing a really good job remembering to vote every day and I want to let you know how much I appreciate it. Usually, once a month starts over and the list resets, the person who is going to snag the top spot is usually apparent. But we’ve kept the race pretty tight. Keep up the great work!
Quickly I have to thank Jeph over at Questionable Content and Zach from Joe and Monkey for calling attention to my efforts to get Theater Hopper to number one on buzzComix. If you’re a new reader coming from either site, we’re nearing the conclusion of a week-long arc celebrating The Incredibles.
As long as we’re giving shout outs, I also wanted to draw your attention to our latest sponsor, Split Reason. I love this store. It’s a great place to go for all kinds of geek apparel. They’ve got a bunch of stuff for the holidays, so now is the time to order! Check them out!
I’ve had a few of you write and ask where you Spoiler shirts are. I can understand you’re eager to get them and show them off to all your friends, but I’m asking for a little more patience. I recently talked to the printer and he thinks he can have them finished this week. Then he’ll ship them to me and I’ll ship them to you! This entire process could put your shirt in your hot little hands somewhere between two and three weeks from now.
I know that’s a while to wait, but please understand the situation I’m in and why it was necessary to do a pre-order. I don’t have the up front capitol to buy a bunch of shirts that may or may not sell. Considering I don’t have any place to store shirts in advance of sales, I could literally be sitting on a lot of product.
Besides, without the pre-order, I wouldn’t be able to offer you guys so many awesome colors for the shirt design. And you liked having all those colors to choose from, right? 😀
So, again. Just a little more patience. I *WILL* be getting your shirt to you soon. No, I haven’t taken your money and run off to Mexico. Yes, a burrito sounds good right now.
Thanks to everyone for their support and understanding!
No new thoughts on The Incredibles for today. I’m saving up the last of my commentary for tomorrow’s big close-out strip! Check back soon!
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Gotta give thanks to fellow Dayfree Press alumni Jim Burgess for giving Theater Hopper a mention on his site Able and Baker. Jim has endorsed our effort to get to the number one spot on buzzComix, have you?
I also forgot to mention yesterday that Boy On A Stick and Slither has updated it’s schedule to Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the month of November. Lend your support by visiting the site and letting them know you want more BOASAS action!
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Was it silly of Cami to refuse that woman’s reward? Probably not. But it sure would have come in handy when Tom and Cami wanted to grab a bite to eat later! If you want to see what I’m talking about, just vote for Theater Hopper at buzzComix to see the special incentive sketch.
Real quick, regarding the voting, many thanks to those of you who came back to the site every day to lend your support. You guys did a great job. We didn’t get the top spot, but it looks like we’ve lodged ourselves in a pretty solid third place. I’m happy with that. As such, don’t expect me to bother you about voting for the rest of the month, or at least not as much emphasis on it. I’m positive you guys are probably as tired of me pestering you for votes as I am whittling away a little piece of my integrity every time I do it.
I’ll probably still keep drawing incentive sketches. I think they’re a fun way to show a different facet of the comic by adding a little something extra and I know some of you have come to enjoy them. But don’t expect me to shill and shill and shill for your votes anymore. It’s too exhausting.
To that end, Theater Hopper will go back to its regular Monday, Wednesday and Friday schedule next week.
Maybe you noticed, but today marks the occasion of Theater Hopper’s 350th comic. I always get a little reflective around these milestones. I can’t help it. I still marvel that this is something that I do and people come around to check it out and support it.
I don’t have anything particularly insightful to say about it right now, but know that the direction I want to take the comic is at the forefront of my mind. There are things I’ve been doing for too long that need to change. Habits I need to break. I’m not talking about the comic itself, mind you. But rather how I approach the behind-the-scenes stuff. The THorum. The merchandising. The philosophy of the comic’s purpose. Changes need to be made. I’m just not sure what those changes are just yet.
For me, Theater Hopper has been not only about creative expression, but self-improvement. Over the course of nearly two and a half years I’ve struggled to improve the writing, improve the art and improve myself. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes it comes off all wrong. But if I’m not trying new things with the comic, the site, the business or how I choose to manage all of them, then we’re not moving forward. If we aren’t moving forward, there’s no point.
Sorry if this is spooking anyone. Milestones. Reflective. You know how it goes. Maybe we should move away from this line of discussion and talk more about the comic and the movie that inspired me this week
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So in addition to The Incredibles doing over $70 million in box office this weekend, the big movie news is the release of the Star Wars: Episode III – The Revenge of the Sith teaser poster and trailer.
Personally, I’m not bowled over. I felt they spent too much time highlighting the footage from the older movies and then whizzing past anything of interesting from the new movie after that.
Perhaps my expectations are a little high – it is a TEASER trailer, after all. But, surprisingly, watching the Episode III teaser has not whetted my appetite in the least in regards to seeing this movie. It has a very rushed feeling. Not in the sense that there are a lot of quick edits and all the images are slapped together. But almost like someone forgot that it was due. I’m just imagining some guy out at LucasFilm looking at his Palm Pilot saying “So when does this movie come out? MAY 19TH?! CRAP! Quick! Get a teaser trailer out there!”
All I’m saying is that I remember back in 1998 when the teaser for Episode I – The Phantom Menace came out. I was sitting in my dorm room back at college, taking advantage of the high speed internet connection and I watched that trailer with the sound cranked up. I had chills. It was that good.
Fast forward to 2004 and I think the older generation of Star Wars fans have come to the grim conclusion that George Lucas is not making these movies for us, but the next generation of 8 year-olds that want to wield a light saber. Sure, we’ll all plunk down our cash for the last chapter, but we all know the soul evaporated from this franchise a long time ago… in a galaxy far, far away.
…Marin County, California…
Something I totally forgot last week and I’ve been kicking myself over was the guest strip I did for Joe and Monkey. Zach posted it on Friday and I totally ignored it! I have no excuse. He even e-mailed me to remind me.
In any case, check out Joe and Monkey. If you want to see my guest strip, you can view it here.
I’d also like to point out our new sponsors, Niego and Wacky Comics. Both two excellent web comics for your entertainment purposes. I really dig Niego’s style. It’s simple, yet expressive. It looks like it would have no problem fitting into a syndicated comics page of a large-circulation newspaper. Wacky Comics recently celebrated their 100th comic and it has a very playful style.
I saw The Incredibles this weekend and I’m still thinking about it. I’m thinking about it SO much in fact, that I’m trying to put together an honest-to-goodness review for you guys to read! It’s been a LONG time since I’ve done one of those.
Oh, by the way. Those of you that ordered shirts? Well, I got an e-mail from the printer and the shirts are being shipped to me TODAY. That means I should have them in the next couple of days and you guys will get your shirts before Thanksgiving! How does that sound!
Yeah… sounds good. It’s a weight off my shoulders!
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Nov10
Another Star Wars comic? Why not? It’s in the news right now and it’s good to kind of dust off some old nerd jokes before we’re deluged with Star Wars coverage next May. I thought the idea of a Star Wars fan club sounded funny and ran with it. Expect a continuation of today’s strip on Friday.
I’m kind of trying something new with how I’m rendering the background and the environment the characters reside in When Theater Hopper started, it was pretty much just a couple of characters in front of a colored background. Eventually, I moved up to gradients. Then evolved toward putting two gradients together to form the illusion of two walls meeting at a corner. Sometimes I would toss in a window to complete the effect.
But I’ve always felt that that background should be more realistic. Or, at least as realistic as the characters in the strip to create a wholly realized situation. So I’m experimenting a little bit.
I took digital pictures of my kitchen and family room last night and used them as a point of reference when drawing Tom and Cami. Later, I went into Adobe Illustrator and used the pen tool to create the shelves, cabinets and walls in the background. It didn’t really turn out the way I wanted to. Everything looks slightly skewed. Not as tidy as I hoped. I think it was a mistake to outline everything in black. The colors should look more natural, like its part of the bigger background piece. I ended up blurring it to try and create depth, then scaled back the colors because it was competing too much with the foreground.
Obviously all of this is a learning process, but I need to find a way to create more realistic backgrounds more efficiently. I know some of you are saying “Why don’t you try drawing them by hand, Tom.” And in the past, I have. But it’s often too time consuming and not as clean as I would like it to be.
I know some people have complimented me for the use of photos in the backgrounds, but that’s always felt like a cheat to me and lazy. Plus, it becomes inconsistent with other comics in the archive. Sometimes within the same comic!
I know other artists sometimes use 3D rendering programs to help them grasp the clean lines and perspectives of walls, buildings, windows
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