Comic production and marketing

 Howdy welcome to the production of my comic whatever that shall be called. As a group we was tasked with coming together and coming up with reoccurring theme throughout our comics.   

We came up with the name bubble buddies 

First thing we had to is come up with a name for our group due to the pandemic we had already been part of a bubble group within our class so the name choice was instant the bubble buddies. After coming up with this we started to look at those connecting features we decided to come up with a character who would appear in everyone's comic under the alias of Odin and to have a butterfly appear at a crucial point in each others comics. Next we came together to start designing a logo. 

Then we had to come up with the connecting factor or story line we all had a few ideas we got together and came up with a little list of what we could add and connect. 

The beginning of my own comic 

Now we had the group idea set out and we all wanted to do our unique story I started to set moodboards. I personally wanted to do a sci fir cyberpunk type comic set in the future of a city with a few twists and turns. First that came to mind is some of the lovely people who would be in the universe of my comic sos I did a few mood boards of characters. 

With some of these moodboards I started to sketch out a few characters such a s two main characters. 

Group Instagram 

after a few days the group back together and created the bubble buddies comix Instagram an account where we would all be able to post cool updates from each f our comics as well as interact with the other groups and people interested in our ideas. 

A good idea that we went forward with was to all do a little introductory post from each member talking about themselves and showing odd their unique style. 

Panel time 

Throughout the project we had to show our current progress to a group of comic artists and explain the story ideas inspirations. Here was my small section I showed to the panellists. 

I spoke about a lot of my inspiration and what many series films and games inspire me. 

Here was a quick summary of the story I wanted to produce and do for my comic as well as the connections to the other group members comics. 

I showed some inspiration for some locational ideas in my story. I showed off my character designs and moodboards which are further up in this blog but when presenting I did manage to finish up a character who was going to be one of the leads in my story. 

This was ago one of my main characters fully coloured. 

The aftermath 

During the presentation I was quite secretive of my story and the plot twist. I was pulled up on this by the panel who said technically they are my investors the people who would fund my comic and get it out there so that was something I corrected by letting them the what story bits and stuff I was hiding. AS well they gave me some information on how I should do my sci fi cyberpunk comic as such as only show the big sprawling city only once as well as show one of the main characters straight to let the audience know the goal/target.  

Character development 

After the panel I continued to work on my characters more sheets references. 

 I came up with one of the main villains Hades one of the big heads who runs the branch in which the two main characters break into. 

Some more concepts exploring my Odin character for my comic. 

My second main character besides Ago was created her name is Kairu. 

I had finished Odin and given her a final design. 

Another panel 

the second panel was around the corner so it was time for a big update at the time I was quite behind but confident I could pull ahead. 

The aftermath 2 

After this presentation i was told i was behind and that script should have been done by now and without a script there was not really any advice the panel could give on the progression of my comic and all I knew is I needed to get the script written before continuing.  

The script 

Start introducing Fenrir inc and showing odin in a lab while been observed by general hades

Then introducing kaeru and ago and the contract 

Show them travelling to Fenrir inc by cyber train directly besides the odd workers the train is watched like a hawk by Fenrir troops dotted about the train

Flashback to ago and kaeru reading through discussing the details

The contract is to waltz into the mega corp building with two IDs of two cyber runner who are on a contract for Fenrir that will get them up some levels of the building without hassle enough to get to a control room where kaeru could interface with the system and find the location of project odin.

Arriving at the station they are met with a giant Fenrir sentry bot scanning passengers they are free to move along. Kaeru quietly jokes that ago crapped his pants ago hits kaeru lightly while informing that trying to get past that after job won’t be fun. Come on let’s get to this control room.

Cuts to a fancy looking office a large figure sat in a fancy chair behind an office looking out the window. What is it drifter the man states a man heavily modified states he is here I know it? The man responds you shall strike when the time is right yes. The modified man replies yes sir in stern voice.

Cuts to kaeru and ago in an elevator. Ago asks you sure the runner clearance will get us up to our access pointsofc kaeru responds I’m already in the system moved most of forces away from where we need to be. You scare me how fast and easy you get into places ago responds. The control room we need is Infront of the elevator there’s two guards be ready. The doors open to show just ago silenced pistol drawn he takes two shots taking down the two guards before they could react.

Come on let’s move. Ago and kaeru enter the control room. Kaeru goes up to the biggest console there is and places her hand over the console it starts glitch out and starts scrolling through files. U find it yet ago asks. Yeah but there’s another file attached something called project Ragnarök and it involves project Odin but here its stated as subject Odin meaning we aren’t here to destroy some server or delete a file this is an actual living being. That complicates it just a bit ago states then ask where it is. Kaeru turns luckily enough and presses a button and the wall behind the big pc starts to rise slowly.

The panel opens up to reveal the room previously shown in the first page of the story where odin was sat but she is in the water tank with wires attached all over with a breather mask on. What the ago says as kaeru says a girl how. Ago states the contract is over idc if the

They free odin she comes out of the status pod as this happens guards flood the room with weapons draw ago tries to. 

Tragedy strikes 

and this would be where my script of sorts would continue but it corrupted very close to the end of the comic development and I decided to just continue the comic without the script. 

Thumbnailing and changes

Due to the script loss and time restraints as well as my own ability I decided to change up what remains of the script on the fly while thumbnailing the comic and its future pages. 

 

With these thumbnails they where not all developed at once my method thumbnailing a few pages drawing them and posting them kept me switching out different ideas and different ways the story was going to go. 

The completed comic 

This is the fully finished comic I went with a black and white tone for the colours similar to manga I did enjoy using this style quite a lot but over this project I have personally seen a big improvement in my work and design compared  to previous projects  even thought corners had to be cut with this project it is because i managed to finally nail down a pace at i am happy drawing a page and making it look good with colour and shading and dialogue within the panels.  

Webtoons 

When I had the first pages done up fully with ink and shadow and dialogue I published them onto webtoons which was a very interesting experience having to upload a thumbnail and a description note if your comic will have violent scenes and put warnings on it . Here is my little banner as well as the description of what readers are getting themselves and even my little thank you post I have at the end of every chapter advertising my personal Instagram as well as the bubble buddies comix one.  

While uploading the pages at certain time i decided to take down stats at different dates and see what kind of numbers i was getting on my comic. 

Comic on webtoons notes

First ep uploaded on April 19^th at 10pm

After an hour had amassed about 12 views and one sub

First ep 20^th April at 1pm

Amassed about 3 sub and 28 views

First ep 28^th April at 3pm

5 subs and 48 views

Second chapter uploaded on 3^rd of may

Amassed to now have 6 subs and 70 views at 11pm

5^th may

Amassed about 85 views no sub change

May 16^th

3^rd chapter was uploaded 95 views and 7 subs

May 17^th

Amaseed 106 no new subs

May 18^th

4^th chapter uploaded

Amassed 138 and no new subs 

Overall looking at the stats and taking into account when you first publish a new series it seems to definitely be pushed into readers as a new series in a way of giving it a good head start if people enjoy the idea. I had 12 views then within an hour without advertising on my personal Instagram and the bubble buddies one. after a few days it gained some extra views especially after pushing it on social media. another pattern seen and it is kind of common sense the more frequent you upload the more views you get for a big period i left the first chapter without the second besides the initial interest there wasn't much more until a second one was posted in which more views came through even  some subscribes which was positive showing that even thought it was a handful of people they still wanted to see where my small journey was going. throughout may i started to push my comic into a few groups on discord with artist in to see if anyone was interested and this where a few extra numbers came in. 

Link to my webtoons 

https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/ragnarok-2117/list?title_no=633020