This week’s Boolean Squared comic strip was just posted over at site of The Springfield Republican newspaper. This week, the comic explores China, filtering and the dancing chicken video (hmmm).
You can also subscribe to the RSS feed for the comic that will be published every Monday morning. Just click here to gather the RSS feed address.
Peace (in funny bones),
Kevin
So, today, my webcomic — Boolean Squared — got published on the website of the big regional newspaper and my venture into the world of creating comics is official. The newpaper (The Springfield Republican) also printed a short story in its paper version about the launch of the comic, so we’ll see where things go and how they develop.
Click on this image to go to the article:
You can also subscribe to the RSS of the site where Boolean Squared will run each Monday with this RSS URL address: http://blog.masslive.com/nie/boolean_squared/atom.xml
I also set up a virtual storefront for Boolean Squared Swag through Cafe Press, just to see what might happen. (Check it out if you get a moment).
And check out the promo video I made with Animoto:
Peace (in frames),
Kevin
I just found out that the big regional newspaper will be running my comic — Boolean Squared — as a webcomic on its site. More info to come later on all that as I talk it through with them, but I am pretty excited to be on the path to becoming a published comic strip creator. Neat.
And I decided to keep the name, Boolean Squared, as the title of the comic. Thank to everyone who took my little poll (there was even the kind suggestion of renaming it The Adventures of Binary Boy, which is quite catchy, I admit). Here are the survey results:
(note: there were sixteen responses and the numbers here reflect percentages, not raw numbers. Not sure why that didn’t come out in my graph.)
And, some of you also suggested some ideas for my characters. Here are a few:
Thanks for the ideas. Some of them mirror my own and comics that I have already created (I have a year’s worth already done at this point).
See ya on the funny pages!
Peace (in frames),
Kevin
I am in the midst of reconfiguring my comic strip. There are a couple of reasons for this:
And so, I went into MS Paint and made my own version of my characters. I also have begun using ComicLife for PC to see if that is a workable platform. It’s not perfect and I need to tinker some more. I am having trouble, for example, getting two images into a single frame, which is strange.
But:
And
What do you think? I really would appreciate some feedback here, as I am moving into some unknown territory.
Of course, if the local newspaper shows an interest, things may change again. I’ll keep you posted.
Peace (in comics),
Kevin
I’ve been fully immersed in creating my new comic, Outerworld Web, and I thank everyone who has been giving me some feedback. It’s been mostly positive, which indicates to me that I am on the right track with my characters and my angle. Even my older son liked it, although he commented that he thought it could be funnier and that most comics have original art. Sure, kid.
On a whim, I wrote to the local newspaper and asked if they would be interested in an original comic strip from an area teacher (me) and I got a response back yesterday from the top editor, saying he was intrigued but would need to speak to the online editors. He also voiced concern that it might be difficult to keep a comic stip going over the long haul. I told him that I already have more than 20 of the Outerweb World comics done (it’s true), so we’ll see what happens.
As a writer, it has been interesting process. Three frames are barely enough space to get a character set up, a story moving and then the punch line that should come at the end. While I seem to have a lot of ideas, how to narrow and condense down into the structure of the comic strip genre has been a challenge — and quite enjoyable, actually. I think working with Six Word Stories and Day in a Sentence has been helpful, as those two activities force the writer to focus on the essentials.
At first, I thought that Mr. Teach would be a very central character, but he is not. Boolean and Urth are the centerpins of the comic, so far. I also thought that I would be Mr. Teach, and that is the case to some degree, but I am finding myself thinking more like Boolean and identifying with his urge to tinker and mess things up. I’m finding myself channeling parts of my personality through the characters in an interesting way. Mr. Teach allows me to introduce a concept, but Boolean allows me to poke holes in ideas and voice an off-kilter view of the world. I like that. Urth is Boolean’s friend, and literary foil, and his odd take on things helps spice up the story.
I am purposely narrowing down the cast of characters at this point, but I suspect that if I keep it up, I’ll have to bring in some blood to liven up the strip. I think I can do more with Boolean’s pet, Funk, but I haven’t figured it out yet.
Finally, I am liking the minimal nature of the comic art design, but I wonder if others think there is not enough going on. Since I am viewing the comic primarily as a writer, I am focusing in on what is being said, and not said. Art has never been “my thing” and I would love to find an artist who could do the artwork for the comic strip (know anybody? Let me know). I even put out a call on Classroom 2.0, but nobody responded to the post.
Anyway, here is another installment of Outerworld Web (and you can always go to my home site). This may be the last one until I figure out what might or might not happen with the newspaper, as I am not sure if they will republish comics that I have already put on the Web.
Peace (in three frames),
Kevin
It’s time for PhotoFriday (the collective Flickr photo sharing group started up by Bonnie) and I am sharing out two photos this week.
The first photo is related to my Slice of Life story the other day, as I captures a bear going through my trash:
The second one is another installment of my new comic series called Outerworld Web. (You can also catch up on the series at my new Google Sites home of the comic):
Peace (in pictures),
Kevin
As I mentioned yesterday, I am starting to write my own comic strip called Outerworld Web. This is the second installment of the comic:
(Head to the bigger version of the comic)
Thoughts, feedback, suggestions are all welcome.
Peace (in comics),
Kevin
I am beginning a foray into the world of comics, somewhat inspired by a friend in the National Writing Project who does create his own comic strip for his local newspaper. I am no artist, so I have turned to a site called StripGenerator, which I like for its relative simplicity and strangeness.
My comic is called Outerworld Web and it features a kid character named Boolean, who is a student. The stories will be based loosely on my own teaching experiences and stories that I have gathered from others here and there. A theme will be technology in the classroom, but that won’t be exclusive. I am also hoping to create a Google Site to collect all of my comics as they come to fruition.
As a writer, I am hoping this experience will allow me to create some lesson plans for both comic creation and comic publishing.
Here is my introductory comic:
(click here or on the comic to go to large view of the comic)
And the first installment of Outerworld Web:
(click here or on the comic to go to the larger view of the comic)
If you have stories or ideas that you want to share with my newly created comic mind, please let me know. Also, any feedback on the comic would be most appreciated, as I am in new terrain here.
Peace (in frames),
Kevin