I was reading Diesel Sweeties, as I'm wont to do, and he brought up this Wired Article regarding sprite-based comics. Essentially, he said there should be a differentiation between a hand-drawn comic and a comic which relied on an external source of art. The below is my [slightly edited] e-mail to him. ...Don't fret--he asked for peoples' thoughts!
As I am a person behind (I don't dare say "creator" at this point) a derivative work comic, your thoughts on remixes re-triggered my own ponderings on the subject and there was a question of what's really original in any sort of endeavor. Is a singer who does not writer their own songs a less talented singer than one who might not have the vocal range of the former but does write their own? Is a lounge cover of a punk song (I've been listening to a lot of Richard Cheese lately) not original enough to cut the mustard?
Or, to put the question a little closer to home: is Sluggy Freelance a more "important" or more artistic comic than Nuklear Power/8-Bit Theater? When I pick up the latest rag from Marvel, DC or Image, it's a rarity that the credits list one person. There's a separation from the artist, writer, inker, colorist, etc. Each of these pieces is integral to the crafting of the comic. When a person sets out to do their own comic, separate from a team and backing interest--especially as a non-paying hobby outside of their work--then I think it's assumed certain "short cuts" will be taken so they can present their work: the part that's important them.
I've seen some amazingly beautiful hand-drawn comics on the web, but I've stopped reading them because the writing wasn't there. I stopped reading Sluggy Freelance for a year because, though the artwork was improving, the jokes weren't. Through all my comic reading, I've stuck with strips like 8-Bit Theater and Irregular Webcomic because they continually deliver what was promised: they make with the funny. Even though they aren't hand drawn, I recognize that it takes time and patience to muck about with photoshopped backgrounds and sprites (or, in IR's case photograph Lego). I also know that the backgrounds are the vehicle for what's truly original in their comic: the writing.
To go back to the singer question: who's a better singer? The one who is actually a better singer but doesn't write their own songs, or the one who writes lovely lyrics and tunes, but has a limited control of their own voice? Why, the former, of course. The question wasn't who's the better song-writer or artist.
Which is the better comic: the hand-drawn comic or the derived work? Depends on what you're looking for, I think. Personally, when it comes to comics, I lean towards whichever has the better writing (IMO, the real art of a comic); the art style is just a vehicle. ...Though I admit, I tend to stay away from the really ugly vehicles.
Art of any sort should be judged on the aesthetics of what it's trying to convey, not how it was created.
As I am a person behind (I don't dare say "creator" at this point) a derivative work comic, your thoughts on remixes re-triggered my own ponderings on the subject and there was a question of what's really original in any sort of endeavor. Is a singer who does not writer their own songs a less talented singer than one who might not have the vocal range of the former but does write their own? Is a lounge cover of a punk song (I've been listening to a lot of Richard Cheese lately) not original enough to cut the mustard?
Or, to put the question a little closer to home: is Sluggy Freelance a more "important" or more artistic comic than Nuklear Power/8-Bit Theater? When I pick up the latest rag from Marvel, DC or Image, it's a rarity that the credits list one person. There's a separation from the artist, writer, inker, colorist, etc. Each of these pieces is integral to the crafting of the comic. When a person sets out to do their own comic, separate from a team and backing interest--especially as a non-paying hobby outside of their work--then I think it's assumed certain "short cuts" will be taken so they can present their work: the part that's important them.
I've seen some amazingly beautiful hand-drawn comics on the web, but I've stopped reading them because the writing wasn't there. I stopped reading Sluggy Freelance for a year because, though the artwork was improving, the jokes weren't. Through all my comic reading, I've stuck with strips like 8-Bit Theater and Irregular Webcomic because they continually deliver what was promised: they make with the funny. Even though they aren't hand drawn, I recognize that it takes time and patience to muck about with photoshopped backgrounds and sprites (or, in IR's case photograph Lego). I also know that the backgrounds are the vehicle for what's truly original in their comic: the writing.
To go back to the singer question: who's a better singer? The one who is actually a better singer but doesn't write their own songs, or the one who writes lovely lyrics and tunes, but has a limited control of their own voice? Why, the former, of course. The question wasn't who's the better song-writer or artist.
Which is the better comic: the hand-drawn comic or the derived work? Depends on what you're looking for, I think. Personally, when it comes to comics, I lean towards whichever has the better writing (IMO, the real art of a comic); the art style is just a vehicle. ...Though I admit, I tend to stay away from the really ugly vehicles.
Art of any sort should be judged on the aesthetics of what it's trying to convey, not how it was created.
btw - all my work is in oils - love the texture side of the work - which seems to be extremely difficult to achieve with Acrylics (or maybe I was doing it wrong haha)
Cheers from downunder