JAVILAND

JAVILAND Episode 40: Solo episode with Javier Hernandez, new format, new music!

2010-09-26T17:03:00.000-07:00

JAVILAND turns 40!

To celebrate, we've got a brand-new spiffy opening musical intro (and outro). This episode is actually a solo episode, the first in the show's history! Just me and a whole lot of "Ah"s and "Um"s. Actually, for the first time ever I took some digital scissors to this episode and snipped and cut and nipped and tucked! Little bit of editing goes a long way.

Basically I used this episode to function both as a look back on how and why I chose to become a self-published cartoonist, and also a 'jumping on point' for new listeners. It's a look back on why I love publishing my own comics, and a look into the future of the show.

What I'll be doing for the upcoming shows will be to have one-on-one discussion with a creator, very similar to the way Episode #39 (Mike Kitchen) was done. I'll have a topic or two to use as starting points, then me and the guest will discuss our personal viewpoints and share our own experiences about it. Basically our content will continue to focus on comic book self-publishing, and also with any and all topics related to the creative process and finding ways to get our ideas out there.

Thanks to Jim Lujan for the help with learning about Garage Band and editing and upping my Tech game! Also thanks to Mark Rudolph and Jerzy Drozd of the Art & Story podcast for sending me the catchy tune that I'm now using as the JAVILAND theme song.

SPECIAL NOTE: Due to an error on my part, the original, unedited version of episode #40 went out last week. If you downloaded that one, please delete it! The new, edited version, with the musical intro/outro, and a more streamlined version of the podcast, has now been uploaded via Talkshoe.

If you downloaded the old one via iTunes (Time: 1:05:41, Release date: 9/17/10) , please delete it. To listen to the edited, 'official' version (EPISODE 40- JAVILAND 'Relaunch! 40th Ep Anniversay, new format!') please go to my TalkShoe page and download the episode there. And it's less than 57 minutes long! Also, if you haven't yet, please subscribe to us via iTunes so you can get every episode as they're released. You can subscribe to us from our TalkShoe page or go to your iTunes store, search JAVILAND, and subscribe from there.

Thanks to everyone whose followed the podcast, and to the numerous creative individuals who've called into the show to help me discuss the various topics. I really do enjoy talking with others about these topics, and my goal continues to be to provide some helpful, informative ideas, delivered in a casual, conversational manner.

JAVILAND Episode 39: Self-publishing with Ultraist Studios cartoonist Mike Kitchen

2010-09-13T10:55:00.000-07:00

For this JAVILAND we try something a little different. It's a one-on-one discussion with Mike Kitchen, the creator of SPY GUY. Mike publishes his comics through his imprint Ultraist Studios. I first heard of him through his brother, Blair, who creates his owncomic, THE POSSUM, through his own imprint Possum Press. (Over at my blog JAVZILLA, I reviewed the POSSUM three years ago.)

Mike and I start our discussion talking about the recent address given by writer Mark Waid concerning copyright and downloaded comics. From there we cover a range of topics about spreading one's work across they internet, how to capitalize on the idea of 'giving it away for free', taking full control of one's self-publishing career by literally becoming 'your own media', as well as the reasons to exhibit at comic book conventions.

Mike puts a lot of thought into the whole idea behind being a self-sufficient artist. Creating his stories, and getting those stories into people's hands, is driven by his desire to do things his own way, and working hard in accomplishing his goals.

One of my favorite things the Kitchen Bros. do is compile together some great little films of their various convention appearances. Here's PART 1 of the WONDERCON 2010 video. That's actually where I first got to finally meet Mike and Blair. There's historic footage of me at their tables, followed by Sergio Aragones drawing a picture for Blair.

During the interview Mike mentions briefly about the time he and Blair were flown in from Canada to Hollywood for their appearance in THE SUPERHERO MOVIE. There are some great pics at his blog showing some of the scenes they're in.

One last thing: I mention in the interview that a few years back on another comic book podcast I used to host, Blair Kitchen was one of my guests. Well, I dug around the internet and found that interview. Give it a listen after wards as well: BLAIR KITCHEN inteview.

To listen to Episode 39, use the player located on the right (click on VISIT MY CALL) or just click here to go to JAVILAND page at Talkshoe. And remember to subscribe to JAVILAND for free on iTunes so you can get every episode delivered to your music library!

JAVILAND Episode 38: Art shows for galleries and other venues

2010-08-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

Exhibiting artwork in galleries and other venues allows you to expose your work to different audiences beyond your comic book readership. Besides the exposure, you've also got the opportunity to sell the work as well as meet other artists and like-minded people that can lead to further opportunities. I've been involved in group shows, as well as solo shows, both as a participant and an organizer, and they've always been rewarding experiences for me on various levels.

Here's a photo that I mentioned on the show, so I'm sharing it here with you now:

Back in October 2004, I had a solo art show at the Froden Gallery in Los Angeles. We were in the process of putting together the EL MUERTO film and had just signed Wilmer Valderrama (THAT 70s SHOW) in the lead role. Wilmer came to the Opening Reception, with his date, Lindsay Lohan. It's the first time I met him, and his appearance at the event brought some extra buzz to the show. He even bought a couple of my original pieces. This photo was actually taken by our director, Brian Cox. Brian would shoot us again some 5 months later when I filmed my cameo scene in the movie with Wilmer.

On this episode we talk about the various issues related to displaying artwork in a gallery, particularly the commissions that galleries often ask for. We share our various experiences in appearing in art shows, and the different situations that come up. The exhibit is a two-way partnership, the artists and the host both have to work together to maximize the event, at least that's what we find to be the case. We discuss strategies to get the most bang for your buck, and we also discuss a few of the 'downsides' of art shows.

I'm joined, for the first time on JAVILAND, by Joseph 'Chogrin' Games, illustrator and President of the Autumn Society of Philadelphia. Joseph and his group will be exhibiting in The G3 Show at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles on September 3. Also joining us on this episode is web cartoonist Ryan Dow of LI'L BUDDHA fame. Ryan was recently in a group show called Lutefisk Sushi D in Minneapolis.

To listen to the Episode 38, use the player located on the right or just click here to go to JAVILAND page at Talkshoe. And remember to subscribe to JAVILAND for free on iTunes so you can get every episode delivered to your library!

JAVILAND Episode 37: Maximizing a convention appearance

2010-07-23T07:39:00.000-07:00

This new episode, in which we discuss strategies in maximizing your appearance at a comic book convention, was recorded as part of the JAVCON! What's the JAVCON? It's a fun little project I have running on my blog JAVZILLA from July 21-July 26. I'm running it concurrently with the San Diego Comic Con not because I'm actually trying to compete with them, but as a way of allowing myself to exhibit my work within the format of a 'virtual convention'. Now that's maximizing my San Diego Con experience by not even being there!

Joining me for this episode are cartoonists Tyler James (OVER, EPIC), Ryan Dow (FAILING BUDDHISM) and Ted Seko (BILLY COLE, THE SUPERMONSTERS). Tyler's artistic collaborator on EPIC, Matt Zolman, joined us via the chatroom.

One of the ideas that sparked this topic for me was Tyler's strategy of offering free sketchcards to his readers who'll be attending a convention he's appearing at. He asks them if they'd like a free card, then they show up to his table at the convention to pick it up, often leading to sales of his products. He tells us in the podcast that he once pre-sold $400 worth of commissions before even arriving at the show. If that's not maximizing your investment in a comic book convention, I don't know what is!

So if you want to exhibit your comics at conventions, take a listen and I think some of these various tips and anecdotes could help you make the most of your experience.

You can access the episode via the player on the right, or go to my JAVILAND page on TALKSHOE.

JAVILAND Episode 36: The Return!!

2010-05-24T13:04:00.000-07:00

Haven't done a new episode of JAVILAND for about 2 months, due mostly to catching up on lots of various things. But I thought it was time to get back in the podcast booth and bring back the JAVILAND!

This episode's talk focused on catching listeners up on projects and events I'm involved in, such as the Phoenix Comic Con and the upcoming GEEKS CON here in Whittier, CA.

Joining me on the call were two long-time JAVILAND participants, Ted Seko and Ryan Dow. Ted's been busy himself, releasing his latest cartoon. "OVER THE TOP AND UNDER THE PANTS", to much acclaim. Ryan Dow has released his first trade paperback collection of his entertaining and thought-provoking web comic INTROSPECTIVE COMICS. The book, FAILING BUDDHISM, comes with a intro by Tuscon wonderboy Eric M. Esquivel.

Picking a project involves various factors, and we discuss how we choose to work on a particular endeavor.

To listen to the Episode 36, use the player located on the right or just click here to go to my page at Talkshoe. Don't forget that you can subscribe to the JAVILAND podcast via iTunes on my Talkshoe page, so you can take these episodes with you on your morning jog to the donut shop!

Welcome back to JAVILAND, it's good to be back!

JAVILAND Episode 34: Talking about Mentors

2010-03-02T12:49:00.000-08:00

"Mentors: Do you have one and do you need one?" was the topic for this episode. I actually got the idea for this by a Twitter exchange between two artists, one wishing that he had one, and another responding that he was fortunate enough to have studied under a mentor.

I myself never had a formal mentor/apprentice relationship, but I have learned from others with more experience and knowledge than I had in a particular field. I'm joined by the following artists on the call: Krishna Sadasivam, Luis Escobar and Ryan Dow.

Luis speaks of his experience with a mentor, and the positive benefits he derived from the experience. Krishna is actually an instructor at the Art Institute of Tampa, and has a perspective from a teaching point of view, but also as an artist still striving to learn and grow. Ryan and I talk a bit about what type of mentorship a self-published cartoonist might benefit from.

Among the artist we mention on this blog are Raul Aguirre and self-publishing pioneer Dave Sim, creator of CEREBUS (whose weekly web cast, CEREBUS TV, has provided lots of useful advice to me personally).

To listen to the Episode 34, use the player located on the right or just click here to go to my page at Talkshoe. Don't forget that you can subscribe to the JAVILAND podcast via iTunes on my Talkshoe page, so you can take these episodes with you on your morning jog to the donut shop!

JAVILAND Episode 33: "Teaching the Art of Comics"

2010-02-08T22:14:00.000-08:00

We ended up recording this episode on Monday evening, as the Super Bowl and other events prevented us from recording on our usual Sunday night time slot.

"Teaching the Art of Comics" was our topic. My callers and I have all had experience in teaching comic book classes and workshops. We talk about how we structure our classes (course outlines), issues one confronts when teaching a room full of young students, and how the storytelling aspect of comics seems to be the primary thrust of our instruction as opposed to perfect drawing skills. We also share some tips on proposing a comics class to your local libraries or other interested organizations and businesses.

Joining me on the call for the first time on JAVILAND was Kiyoshi Nakazawa. I've known Kiyoshi over the years, often running into him at numerous conventions and events in the Southern California area. Kiyoshi is a multi-talented artist whose long-running zine, DRUNKEN MASTER, features coverage on local bands and people, comics created by Kiyoshi, and lots of his trademark wit, all told with a DIY, punk rock sensibility. His art has been displayed in galleries in Australia, Japan, New York, Portland and other states.

He's taught comic book classes at a local art store here in Los Angeles, BLUE ROOSTER ART SUPPLIES, and in fact has an upcoming 5-week class starting Feb/ 28th. Click here for info.

Joining us again on JAVILAND as well is Tyler James, creator of the web comics OVER and TEARS OF THE DRAGON. Tyler is currently teaching a comics class for younger students, and shares his recent experiences in the classroom. Tyler also writes a column called "Creating Comics:The Art & Craft" over at the COMICS RELATED website.

I myself will be conducting my seminar "DIY COMICS:The Secrets of Self-Publishing" at GEEKS Comics in Whittier. It's a free to attend, and it starts at 2pm, Saturday, Feb. 13. And at the seminar I'll be announcing about the upcoming comic classes I'll be teaching at GEEKS, too.

To listen to the Episode 33, use the player located on the right or just click here to go to my page at Talkshoe. Don't forget that you can subscribe to the JAVILAND podcast via iTunes on my Talkshoe page, so you can take these episodes with you on your morning jog to the donut shop!

These are some of the books about making comics that we mentioned during our discussion:

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Thanks to Kiyoshi and Tyler for joining me on this episode, and of course to all the people who listen to the show!

JAVILAND Episode 32: "Making Web Comics: The DOs and DONT'S"

2010-01-26T19:21:00.000-08:00

This episode we put our focus on web comics. Something I personally have had little experience in, aside from two of my comics that I've put on WebComics Nation. But I've been asked to do an episode on web comics, and I thought I had just as much to learn as any listening to the show, so I put together a pretty good panel of web cartoonists who shared lots of valuable info on the ins and outs, the do's and dont's of online comics!

Joining us on the call for the first time on JAVILAND were Jules Rivera of MARSH ROCKET and Jimmy Aquino of THE PALACE. (Jimmy, by the way, is also the host of the internet radio show A FISTFUL OF SOUNDTRACKS, one of my favorite radio shows to listen to when I'm drawing.)

Our other callers included: Tyler James, Ryan Dow, Krishna Sadasivam and Peter Palmiotti.

This may be the most callers I've had on one show at the same time. But the good thing is the experience they each brought as web comic creators really added a lot of valuable content to the show. Issues we talked about included:

-Having as much of your comic done before beginning to release it online
-Creating a reasonable schedule that allows you to maintain consistent quality in your work
-Maintaining a fixed schedule for the updating of your webcomic (same day every week, for example)

One interesting news item we heard on the show was from Ryan Dow. He had just won the BEST WEB COMIC for the 2009 SPACE Prize! Congratulations to Ryan. I've been reading his web comic for about a year or so, and it's always nice to read his personal, reflective comic. It really captures his voice.

To listen to the Episode 32, use the player located on the right or just click here to go to my page at Talkshoe.

Thanks to all in the chatroom, the callers, and of course the people who listen to the show!

JAVILAND Episode 30: The Christmas Show 2009

2009-12-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

The Holiday Season hits JAVILAND! Our special Christmas Show featured a fairly large amount of callers, as well as a look back at our year in art, and a look toward 2010. Also, this was the 30th episode of JAVILAND, which feels great to have arrived at.

This episode we talked about what we each received from 2009. This took the form of artistic inspiration, new printing opportunities, experiences in exhibiting at comic conventions, etc. The artists also talked about their plans for 2010, such as what comics they plan to produce and what strategies they're going to employ in their art and branding.

Among the many topics we discussed were INDY COMIC BOOK WEEK and KA-BLAM, a Print of Demand printer. We also talked about the back cover artwork I created for Colin Panetta's new DEAD MAN HOLIDAY issue number Minus One. Ryan Dow's Christmas comic, LI'L BUDDHAS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL was also mentioned, which I recommend you read by clicking the link!

Joining us on the call for the first time on JAVILAND were two cartoonists who maintain fairly productive schedules. Tyler James is the creator of several webcomics including the romantic comedy OVER and also teaches comics as well as writing a column for the COMIC RELATED website. Mary Bellamy is the creator of the comic book AH HECK and FAUX. And Mary is currently taking pre-orders for her brand new line of plush dolls based on some of her characters!

Our other callers into JAVILAND included: Ted Seko, Ryan Dow, Colin Panetta and Gregory Giordano.

In the chatroom we were joined by Luis Escobar and Matt Munn,MarkCalifornia and Cameron Callahan,
Gonzalexx, Matt Zolman and Calmplex

A pretty heafty episode, that's for sure! But I think with the rich diversity of the cartoonists this episode, you really get a feel for the passion and creativity these individuals possess. Thanks to all for participating in this episode, and for following the podcast. I hope you have a very merry Holiday Season this year. 2010 will no doubt bring us lots more comics and lots more talk!

Listen to the episode with the TalkShoe Player on the right, or go to our TalkShoe page and listen there. While you're over there, add JAVILAND to your iTunes feed and get every episode delivered automatically as they're posted!

JAVILAND Episode 29: Open Call topic night

2009-12-07T19:26:00.000-08:00

This episode didn't have a particular topic, but I instead decided to keep it open for anything we wanted to talk about. Of course, it still revolved around the actual topics of art and comics, but it was nice to have a kind of buffet-type conversation.

Among the things we discussed were Ted Seko's recent appearance at the Gardena Holiday Craft Fair, and how he, as a comic book artist/creator was able to create a new product (a SUPERMONSTERS COLORING BOOK) for that specific show. We also talked about Merchandising, and how we can take some of our iconic images and brand them onto other products in addition to our comics. I also shared my experience at the Ronald McDonald House event at the Warner Bros. Ranch, drawing for kids.

Among the cool things we recommended you check out were:

Kevin Cross' new MONKEY MOD trailer and
Jim Lujan's new animated movie DAY OF THE UNICORN!

Joining me on the Call were : Ted Seko and , Ryan Dow. In the chatroom we were joined by Peter Palmiotti and Wet Ink Studios,MarkCalifornia and Cameron Callahan,
Vince Bayless

Thanks to everyone who participated, and thanks to everyone who listens to the show. Your support is much appreciated!

Listen to the episode with the TalkShoe Player on the right, or go to our TalkShoe page and listen there. While you're over there, add JAVILAND to your iTunes feed and get every episode delivered automatically as they're posted!

JAVILAND Episode 28: What need does your Art fulfill in readers?

2009-11-23T10:40:00.000-08:00

Based on a topic brought up by another artist (Luis Escobar, a storyboard artist and newest member of the Cartoonistas), this episode gave us a lot of interesting things to reflect upon regarding how we promote our work to readers. And also it let us explore what we put into our stories.

The original questions posed by Luis was "What promise is your art making to readers, and what need do they want fulfilled by your art". From there we went off in several discussions regarding our commercial approaches and what's important to us in our storytelling.

Joining me on the Call were : Ted Seko, Jim Lujan, Luis Escobar and Gregory Giordano. In the chatroom we had: MarkCalifornia and Dungeon Warden

A nice bonus to this episode was that Greg Giordano drew this nice piece of art while on the call. It's a roundtable of characters created by everyone who participated on this episode! Check out his site for the full image!

Listen to the episode with the TalkShoe Player on the right, or go to our TalkShoe page and listen there. While you're over there, add Javiland to your iTunes feed and get every episode delivered automatically as they're posted! Thanks for participating, reading, and listening!

JAVILAND Episode 27: "How do you measure your success?"

2009-11-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

Money or fame or personal satisfaction? Which of these do you use to measure your success? On this episode, we discuss these and other measures of our own personal success.

Joining me on the Call were : Geo Brawn, Jim Lujan and Ryan Dow. The chatroom was populated by: Robin White, MarkCalifornia, Tracy Williams, Dungeon Warden, One Painter and Wet Ink Studios.

Listen to the episode with the TalkShoe Player on the right, or go to our TalkShoe page and listen there. While you're over there, add Javiland to your iTunes feed and get every episode delivered automatically as they're posted! Thanks for participating, reading, and listening!

JAVILAND Episode 26: Putting Your Inspiration to Work

2009-10-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

As artists, we often mention other artists or certain works that inspire us to create our own art. Sometimes we get inspiration from artists in other mediums, or folks who may not even be artists themselves.

On the episode we discuss who influences, and how we take that inspiration and apply it to our own work as creators and publishers.

Joining me on the Call were : Ted Seko, Jim Lujan Ryan Dow, Krishna Sadasivam and Gregory Giordano. The chatroom was populated by: Robin White, MarkCalifornia, Tim Fischer, Gonzalexx, Dungeon Warden, One Painter, Rene van Belzen and Cameron Callahan.

Listen to the episode with the TalkShoe Player on the right, or go to our TalkShoe page and listen there. While you're over there, add Javiland to your iTunes feed and get every episode delivered automatically as they're posted! Thanks for participating, reading, and listening!

JAVILAND Episode 25: The Secrets of Self-Publishing PT. 2

2009-09-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

This is Part 2 of the "DIY Comics: The Secrets of Self-Publishing" podcast. Pt. 1 can be found on Episode 24.

Here's what we discussed:

#3: CREATE THE STORIES YOU WANT TO TELL, NOT WHAT YOU THINK PEOPLE WANT TO READ: If you try to get ahead of some type of particular trend in comics, how long will that trend last? Is your heart behind that type of story? If you tell the exact story you want to tell, your own voice will shine through. And if people like the work you produce, they'll look at you for your unique ways of telling stories, regardless of whatever genre you tackle.

#4: DON'T CREATE IN A VACUUM: This one is, I believe, very particular to those of us who publish our own books. Even before you sit down and draw your comic, how is it going to be published? In print, or on the web? Your page format, and digital files, must be taken into account. Do you have money to print your book once it's ready? Can you build your own website, or can you afford to have someone build it for you? What are your goals? Lots of questions relating to marketing and distribution should be asked at this stage. We tackle a few on the podcast.

Joining me on the Call were : Ted Seko and Ryan Dow. The chatroom was populated by: Matt Nastos, MarkCalifornia, Tim Fischer, Wet Ink Studios, Dungeon Warden. TreComics

Ryan Dow shared this link with us: How To Be Creative, a manifesto by Hugh MacLeod on being creative. I found it very insightful and practial, and an entertaining read as well.

I've recently taught my first seminar of "DIY Comics: The Secrets of Self-Publishing" at a local comic shop, and in fact have been invited to the Portland Comic Book Show on November 15 to teach the workshop there as well. My hope is to be able to reach more people with this, as a way of inspiring them to make their own comics. I'm planning on creating a "DIY COMICS" book as well, filled with anecdotes, comics and the 'Secrets' on self-publishing.

Listen to the episode with the TalkShoe Player on the right, or go to our TalkShoe page and listen there. While you're over there, add Javiland to your iTunes feed and get every episode delivered automatically as they're posted! Thanks for paricipating, reading, and listening!

JAVILAND Episode 24: The Secrets of Self-Publishing PT. 1

2009-09-14T08:17:00.000-07:00

This episode turned out to be Part 1, as we had more material to cover which we'll discuss in Pt. 2, scheduled for Sunday, Sept 27, in Episode #25.

This episode is derived from a recent seminar I gave at GEEKS, our local friendly-neighborhood comics shop in Whittier, CA. Titled "D.I.Y. comics: The Secrets of Self-Publishing", the seminar consisted of me sharing with others my own personal mantra, (or manifesto, if you will!) of creating self-published comics.

Because we had lots of great discussion on the roundtable for this episode, we only really were able to discuss 'Secrets' #1 and #2. (I know these probably aren't really 'secrets', but part of establishing your own brand in comics is coming up with attention grabbing labels!). Come back for Episode 25 for Secrets #3 and #4.

Here's what we discussed:

#1: COMICS ARE YOUR CHOSEN VOICE OF EXPRESSION: This one probably sounds the most obvious, but it's meant to be a liberating declaration. We love the comics medium and so choose to use that as our vehicle of expression. Your artistic voice is your personal unique fingerprint you leave on the world (whether your voice is heard by a couple of hundred people or tens of thousands). And only you can speak in that voice. See what others have done in comics, but pursue it with your own innovations and style.

#2: SELF-PUBLISHING IS A MARATHON, NOT A 50 YRD DASH: You have to think long-term in regards to establishing your brand and audience. The assumption is that we have more limited resources (time and money) to devote to our work, so concentrate on fostering your own 'staying power'. Prepare for the barrage of upsets, setbacks, obstacles (many put there by ourselves!), but as long as you know that they will appear, you become better at handling them.

Joining me on the Call were a good cross-section of indie creators: Ted Seko, Ryan Dow, George Ward, Colin Panetta and Gregory C. Giordano. The chatroom was populated by: Krishna Sadasivam, Matt Munn, Matt Nastos, MarkCalifornia, Tim Fischer, Palooka Press, Wet Ink Studios, Dungeon Warden, Gonzalexx and Evan Quiring

Also on this episode, we announce the winners of the coloring contest I ran on JAVZILLA.COM!

Listen to the episode with the TalkShoe Player on the right, or go to our TalkShoe page and listen there. While you're over there, add Javiland to your iTunes feed and get every episode delivered automatically as they're posted!

JAVILAND Episode 21: Your approach to All-Ages comics

2009-07-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

This episode turned out to be another vigorous discussion! Our topic was 'All-Ages comics', and how we approach making comics that we feel would be appropriate for a wider audience. There's plenty of discussion on what exactly 'All-Ages' means, and how other comics, or movies, have achieved that wider audience, where there's something for 'everyone'. Also on the table was a discussion about the reasons one may choose to reach an All-Ages audience, and what the pitfalls for DIY/Indie comics could be.

Joining me on the Call were: Ted Seko, Ryan Dow, Argonsassistant, Dan Burke, Jim Lujan, Eric M. Esquivel and Dave Baker. The chatroom was populated by: SgrSickness, Gonzalexx, Dungeon Warden, MarkCalifornia, Tim Fischer, Jerzy Drozd, Steve Romo and believe it or not, a person named Satan!

Listen to the episode with the TalkShoe Player on the right, or go to our TalkShoe page and listen there. While you're over there, add Javiland to your iTunes feed and get every episode delivered automatically as they're posted!

JAVILAND Episode 11: Pursuing Artistic goals in a Lame Economy

2009-02-01T20:34:00.000-08:00

The idea for this show came from a personal experience I've had in the last two weeks, which I shared on my site JAVILAND. Basically this episodes topic dealt with finding other ways to make money besides just via self-publishing. And to be honest, self-publishing isn't exactly a way to make a living, although there are opportunities to make money at it under certain circumstances.

Joining me on the Call were: Ted Seko, Ryan Dow, Argonsassistant, Colin Panetta and briefly between Superbowl touch-downs, Jim Lujan. In the chatroom were a wide spectrum of artists and cartoonists: Nemu-Nemu, Matt Munn, Cartooning Pro, Dungeon Warden, kaiki, MarkCalifornia, Missiondeep and Mark Rudolph.

Some of the things we discussed that could generate some additional revenue included teaching comic book workshops, speaking at schools & libraries and performing Live Art (creating and selling artwork). Sometimes a bad thing, like getting layed-off from work, can potentially lead to other avenues, like teaching workshops. Basically focusing as much as you can on your art and skills you have that apply to cartooning/publishing.

We also talked about the recent news that Ka-Blam, a print-on-demand service, will now distribute directly to comic book shops via their new ComicsMonkey distribution arm. A potentially seismic shift due to Diamond Comics Distributors recent raising of their minimum thresholds that they'll carry smaller, less popular titles.

Listen to the episode with the TalkShoe Player on the right, or go to our TalkShoe page and listen there. While you're over there, add Javiland to your iTunes feed and get every episode delivered automatically as they're posted!

JAVILAND Episode 10: The importance of your Readers becoming Active Fans

2009-01-18T20:34:00.000-08:00

We all want readers, whether we make web comics or print comics. But to help us indie creators prosper and even live off our own work, perhaps the model of the "1,000 True Fans" should be looked at, or at least adapted to our individual endeavors. An 'Active Fan' supports all your work by helping promote it and purchasing new products you create.

There are a lot of things we can do to cultivate an active fan base, some being communicating online, meeting fans by exhibiting at conventions and art galleries. Basically just keeping in touch with your fans by more than just creating the work (which is the primary concern). Personable skills are obviously important in cultivating true fans, and some D.I.Y publishers will have to work at this. But the rewards are positive and really motivating (not to mention financially beneficial!)

Calling in on the show were cartoonists/podcasters Ted Seko, Jerzy Drozd and Krishna Sadasivam. Joining in the chatroom were argonsassistant, dungeonwarden, KipOneil, Mark California, Vertigo X and Mark Rudolph.

One thing I tried to do different starting with this podcast was to focus on staying on-topic! If you've listened to previous episodes, me and some of the other callers veer off on tangents that usually revolve around old 1970s Marvel comics or TV shows. While this stuff is obviously fun for some of us, I've realized that it could certainly turn off many listeners. I want folks to be able to listen to these podcasts and hear content useful to them in learning about self-publishing and creating comics.

So, my promise to the listeners, and readers of this blog, is to strive to keep the episodes focused on the topics at hand. And now I'm going to work on making these podcasts between an hour and 90 minutes in length!

JAVILAND Episode 9: Ideas!

2009-01-04T21:46:00.000-08:00

Our first show of 2009 was off to a great start. Our topic was "Ideas: How we get them and how do they shape our work" (or something like that!). I was curious to hear from other creators as to how they get their ideas. Ideas can be starting points for stories, leading to other ideas, or the idea can be so strong and complete that it provides a solid blueprint for the finished comic.

There is never a wrong or right answer for these topics (I feel), but what you get are insights into other artit's creative process. It's interesting to hear other people with similar procedures for creating ideas, even though their work is very different from your own.

Joining me on the call was regular caller Ted Seko, Mark Rudolph, Ryan Dow, and Kevin Cross.

We had some great input from our chat room participants. Apologies if I've neglected to mention someone! markCalifornia, Matt Munn, Dungeon Warden, Kevin Decker, Argonsassistant and Kaiki. Thanks to them for taking the time to participate.

You can listen to the episode with the Talkshoe player on the right, access it via the Talkshoe page. Once you're at the Talkshoe page, find the iTunes icon, click on it and get every episode delivered to your iTunes library as they're posted.

Hopefully the Javiland podcasts can provide some beneficial insights to you the listener, particularly if you're interested in storytelling via comics. I enjoy listening to several podcasts myself, as I always gleam inspiritional insights. The shows I follow, and strongly recommend are Jerzy Drozd & Mark Rudolph's ART & STORY podcasts, Kevin Cross's MINI COMICS DUMPTRUCK and the SEQUENTIAL ARTISTS PUB hosted by Krishna Sadasivam. I've only been listening to these show last year, but I have to say that I've been able to form some friendly ties with the hosts of those podcasts. They're all cartoonists in their own right, and while we all do very different work ,we have some common interests and approaches to our work.

JAVILAND Episode 8: 2008 Comic Book Christmas Show

2008-12-21T20:44:00.000-08:00

The 2008 JAVILAND Christmas podcast was a mix of creator roundtable discussion and geeky talk about toys! In other words, a perfect podcast! Listen to the episode with the player on the right, or access the JAVILAND page at TALKSHOW.COM.

The roundtable consisted of Mark Rudolph of CV Comics, Krishna Sadasivam of PC Weenies, Kevin Cross of Mini Comics Dumptruck, and regular caller Ted Seko of Xomix Comix! Joining us in the chatroom were markCalifornia, DungeonWarden and Kaiki. Thanks to the chatters!

We talked about our approaches to our art in the past year, and what we plan to do for 2009. Some of the discussion touched base on not being carried by Diamond Comics Distribution (and not letting that be an issue), remaining indestructible as an indie creator, and how we manage our time between creating our comics, podcasting and maintaining a web presence.

The show ended with a talk about our favorite Christmastime comics and toy memories! Lots of talk about The Six Million Dollar Man, Mego action figures, and how storytelling with action figures turned us all into comic creators!

This show wraps up JAVILAND for the year. But I'll be back on Sunday, January 4th for a new episode and a whole new year of JAVILAND. Thanks to everyone who listens to the show, I really do appreciate it, and I hope it gives value (entertainment or educational) to everyone. Thanks also to my fellow artists who call in, and special thanks to Ted "Don't-call-me-cohost" Seko for co-hosting every episode with me!

Episode 7 now available: PODCAST SUPER SUMMIT

2008-12-10T19:23:00.000-08:00

The PODCAST SUPER SUMMIT held on Sunday, Dec. 7 was quite the fun adventure. The episode is now available for your listening pleasure with the player on the right, or through my Talkshoe.Com page.

I want to thank my guest callers, and fellow podcasters/cartoonists, KEVIN CROSS, MARK RUDOLPH & JERZY DROZD, and KRISHNA SADASIVAM. Also joining us on the call has been my 'co-host/perennial caller on JAVILAND, TED SEKO! All these folks have inspired me with their own podcasts, and with the quality of craftsmanship they bring to their own comics work.

We actually went a full 2 hours! Topics ranged from how we see our role as hosts, to what we get out of podcasting. The five of us have never actually met as a group, but we're all fans of one another's podcasts. We get along surprisingly well, which speaks to the community aspect of these podcasts.

Among our guests in the chatroom were The Real Juny, LargoPredator, Mark California and Terran. Thanks to everyone who participated...and looking forward to the next Summit!

Podcast Super Summit starts tonight!

2008-12-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

Tonight's episode of JAVILAND will be hosting a Podcast Super Summit! I've invited the hosts of three other comics podcasts to come on JAVILAND and join in a roundtable discussion. These are podcasts that I've been listening to for the last several months, and I find the topics and conversations held there to be extremely enlightening and beneficial to my own approach to making comics. Each of the hosts of the shows are actually comics creators themselves, so they can approach the subjects with a keen understanding.

My guests tonight are:
JERZY DROZD & MARK RUDLOPH, hosts of ART & STORY: This podcast has almost 70 episodes under it's belt, and I've heard about 96% of them! Mark and Jerzy will discuss an aspect of making comics, such as Character Building or working outside one's comfort zone, and bounce the idea back and forth for the podcast. This show really gets down to the nuts and bolts of storytelling.

KRISHNA SADASIVAM, host of SEQUENTIAL ARTISTS'S PUB: Krishna's show offers a true roundtable discussion. He's a web cartoonist, and his the callers on his show are a mix of print and web cartoonists. There will be about two topics per episode, and Krishna keeps the show moving by asking everyone to share in the topic. This is a virtual version of hanging out with other cartoonists after a convention at the hotel bar talking shop!

KEVIN CROSS, host of MINI-COMICS DUMPTRUCK: Kevin started a Mini-Comics club where participating cartoonists agree to produce a mini-comic, and send finished copies to the other cartoonists in the group. I myself have joined the club, and in fact am in the middle of my mini-comic! Kevin's podcast is an ongoing discussion between the Dumptruckers on their process for creating their comics, as well as discussing specific topics such as getting your mini distributed to stores.

If you would like to participate in tonight's podcast, you can join the chatroom and interact by typing in questions or comments. JAVILAND is hosted on TalkShoe.com, and they have a great interface you can use. Just go to my page at TalkShoe, and either create a profile and register, or just click the Join As Guest button once the show starts.

Podcast will start at 6pm (PT)/ 9pm (ET). Otherwise you can download the episode later this evening via either my page at iTunes or with the TalkShoe Player located at the top right.

Thanks for listening!

JAVILAND Episode 6: Comic Book Convention Survival Guide

2008-11-23T20:36:00.000-08:00

This episode focused on comic book conventions: why exhibit?/How to find the right show for your comic/What to expect/etc.

I was joined on the show by regular caller Ted Seko, as well as Kevin Cross. Also joining us for the first time on the show was Krishna Sadasivam, which was a very welcome surprise. I pointed out the recent episode of the Art & Story podcast, Episode #65: The Big Detroit, as a great example of analyzing a weekend convention appearance. Art & Story is hosted by cartoonists Mark Rudolph and Jerzy Drozd.

I've been exhibiting at conventions myself for 10 years now, so I was glad to have a chance to share many of my experiences about the ups, and downs, of these shows. Krishna, whose been producing a succesful web comic for 10 years, hasn't exhibited at shows, so he had some good questions that helped drive the conversation.

My main mantra on doing comic shows is that they are (or should be looked at as) fun and exciting experiences. Of course they function as venues for one to network and promote, meet fans and make some money selling our products. But if you go in with the idea of making the event as positive an experience as possible, you will look at the results beyond just how much money you made.

Joining us in the chatroom were Steve Romo, Terran, Vertigo X, Tim Fischer and Frumph. You can listen to the episode using the Talkshow.Com player on the right (click on Past Episodes line) or go to JAVILAND page at Talkshoe.Com.

New television interview!

2008-11-21T13:36:00.000-08:00

Here's a cool segment that was filmed at the studio where I do my radio show, PLANET COMIC BOOK RADIO!

JAVILAND Episode 5: Building a Comic Imprint:XOMIX COMIX

2008-11-10T19:34:00.000-08:00

This episode turned out to be even better than I could hope for. Due to some scheduling conflicts, some of the usual callers couldn't make it. So me and regular JAVILAND caller Ted Seko were going to go 'solo'. But then Jerzy Drozd entered the chatroom to listen to the show and joined the call after I asked him to participate in the roundtable.

Jerzy is the co-host of the excellent ART & STORY podcast, in which he and Mark Rudolph discuss issues relating to the craft of storytelling and creating comic books. These guys really get down to many of the details in creating comics: character creation, approaches in drawing, getting over slumps in one's own work, etc. Can't recommend their show enough to other creators as well as aspiring cartoonists.

So once Jerzy joined the call, Ted and I felt we could have a third person in which to interact off of. We talked about the reasons Ted and I came up with the Xomix Comix imprint, as well as other comic imprints we've used as inspirations. (anyone out there remember ATLAS Comics?!)

Also discussed in the episode was 'collaborating with others' and how your vision fits with someone else's, and when it can make sense to join another artist on a joint publishing venture.

Many thanks to Ted for our years of collaborations, and to Jerzy Drozd for really giving some great insight and perspective to this episode.

JAVILAND Episode 4: Printing comics in the Age of Web Comics

2008-10-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

Episode 4 is now available, and you can access it with the Talkshoe player on the right by clicking the PreviousEpisodes link. Or here's the direct link to the JAVILAND page on Talkshoe.com ( once you access our Talkshoe page, you can subscribe to JAVILAND via our iTunes link, and get every episode delivered directly to your iTunes library). Joining me on this episode was regular caller, Ted Seko, as well as Jason Martin, Kevin Cross and joining us for the first time was Colin Panetta.

Basically we tackled the topic of printing comic books, even with the ever-growing feasability of uploading comics directly to the web. Printing obviously incurs costs you just wouldn't have by publishing online, but there are reasons, and options, to continue paying for printing a comic book.

Several of us shared our experiences using a POD (Print of Demand) service such as Ka-Blam. My own experience with my new comic book, El Muerto: Dead & Confused, was favorable overall, and I, as well as some of the other callers, cite them as a viable option. Other topics we covered while discussing actual websites was online advertising and selling ad space, as well as setting up an online storefront at Etsy.com.

JAVILAND Episode 3: Making Your Brand

2008-10-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

Episode 3, 'MAKING YOUR BRAND', is now available to listen to. You can use the player on the right to access the episode, or go to iTunes and subscribe to JAVILAND and get each new episode downloaded directly to your iTunes library.

The show was recorded live at 6pm this past Sunday. I'm very happy with the way the episode turned out. A sincere thanks to the artists who called in and shared their time and opinions. We basically looked at the idea of 'branding' from a variety of angles, such as why do we create a brand name, can we have multiple brands, what common threads are found in our various works, does one start off creating their brand or is it something that just naturally arises from the work?

Joining in on the calls were the following DIY cartoonist/publishers: Jason Martin of SuperReal Graphics, animator/cartoonist Jim Lujan, cartoonist Ted Seko, cartoonist Kevin Cross and cartoonist/podcaster Jerzy Drozd . One of the reasons we had a really great discussion is because all of us have varied experiences in self-publishing and creating our own brands. It's times like these that make me glad I take the time to do these JAVILAND podcasts! It's like sitting around with a bunch of artists after a convention over a couple of pizzas!

You can tune in to every episode live and participate in the chat room and ask questions or add comments to the discussion. Go to my page at TALK SHOE.COM and sign up!

JAVILAND Episode 2: Creating Comic Book Characters

2008-09-14T21:28:00.000-07:00

Just finished podcasting the new episode, and now it's up for your listening pleasure HERE.

The topic was 'Creating Comic Book Characters' and the question I posed was "Which comes first, creating the character or creating the story?". Joining me on the call were some familiar voices:
Jim Lujan, animator and my fellow Co-founder of the Cartoonistas,
Ted Seko, cartoonist and my fellow Co-publisher of our upcoming XOMIX COMIX imprint,
and Kevin Cross, cartoonist, podcaster and founder of the Mini Comics Dumptruck (which I'll be contributing a mini comic to).

All the artists had interesting approaches in creating characters and story. Also, I asked each caller what character really made an impression on them as kids, in terms of influencing them as artists. The answers were really revealing, so listen for that.

We were joined in the chatroom by The Real Juny, a long-time fan of my work. He had problems with the audio, but I want to thank him for logging in. Juny: The episode is now available!

I've enjoyed doing these two episodes, particularly for the round table discussion of key artistic choices we make as creators. Hopefully listeners of the podcast, especially people wanting to create their own comics, get something out of the episodes.

JAVILAND premiere podcast now available!!!

2008-08-31T21:23:00.000-07:00

The podcast is up! Yep, the 1st JAVILAND podcast was recorded live a few hours ago, and now it's up! (You can listen to the episode using the player at the left). I had a great time doing the show, and it was really fun to have several people interacting on the show, both in the chat room and on the phone. I can get real use to this! (Actually, I already host another radio show, PLANET COMIC BOOK RADIO, but that one is geared toward one-on-one interviews with creators, as opposed to the free-wheelin' JAVILAND!)

Anyways, the rundown of the show goes like this:
First 25 minutes or so I introduce myself, talking about my start 10 years ago as an independent, DIY comic creator. I update folks with my plans for the new EL MUERTO comic, and my upcoming DEMOLITION DOVE. Also talk about the EL MUERTO movie and PLANET COMIC BOOK RADIO.

After my intro, our first guest joins us via phone, TED SEKO. Ted and I have worked on several projects over the years, and his new character ZOMBIEMAN ZERO will be joining DEMOLITION DOVE in our upcoming imprint, XOMIX COMIX (see our trailer here). Also joining us are Xeric Award-winning cartoonist, JOSHUA KEMBLE, a talented and creative artist. I met Josh about a year ago down here in Los Angeles at WizardWorld, and I always meant to join his cartooning group for some Friday night drawing sessions. Since then he's moved up to Portland, but it's cool that he joined us tonight.

JIM LUJAN, animator and Co-founder with me of the CARTOONISTAS, called in as well, bringing with him his usual magnetic charm and nonchalant attitude! Jim also brought along a good friend of his, JUSTIN STEWART. Justin is a cartoonist from Kentucky, and he's a member of the Lexington Kentucky Comic Creators Group. I had never met Justin before, but he comes across as good comic book people. (Nice meeting you, Justin!). And joining us toward the end of the podcast was KEVIN CROSS, another recently-transplanted Portland cartoonist. Kevin does comics, plays in a band, and hosts his own podcast (of which I was fortunate to have been a guest on!). Kevin joined in late because he came from an interview he recorded on another podcast, ART & STORY! What a busy podcast superstar, that Kevin! (I interviewed him on a recent episode of PLANET COMIC BOOK RADIO.)

We pretty much had a nice, free-wheeling conversation, with our cartoonists chiming in with talk about the craft of making comics, selling books to comic shops, cartoonist groups and lots of other related topics. It was a really good mix of artists, I thought. We also had two other folks in the chatroom, Irmajoy7 and Terran. Thanks to all for participating, it was a really fun way to launch the podcast.

I certainly plan to do more shows. Will it be weekly? Well, I'm already doing the weekly interview show, but I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to talk an extra hour or so a week about comics! Stay tuned to this blog and my TALK SHOE.COM page for updates on the next episode. I've submitted the podcast to iTunes, so hopefully they'll include it in their podcast library. Thanks for reading...and listening!

Here comes JAVILAND!

2008-08-30T21:37:00.000-07:00

Sunday night at 6pm (PT) will be the live podcast for my new show, JAVILAND! This will podcast live through TALK SHOE.COM, and you can interact with the show in real time via the chat room.

For the premiere episode, (the First Issue Collector's Item, as we say in the comics biz!), I'll open the show with a little intro on who I am and how I got started making my own comics. But what I want to do with this podcast is talk about the process of creating comic books, particularly on the DIY, self-published level. I've been publishing for 10 years now, so I have more than enough stories to share about creating a comic book, drawing and writing my own stories, printing the books and then finding the audience for them. And I mean literally finding the audience by attending comic book conventions and other venues where you can sell your books, as well as yourself as an artist.

I've been concentrating more lately (or at least being more conscious of it) on establishing a brand name for myself as someone with a multi-faceted approach: an artist, a publisher, a podcaster, etc. Really though, I guess I'm someone who loves creating his own comics and sharing the love of the artform and medium with others. A comic book evangelist, ya might say!

I want the podcast to be a resource for other creators to share their experiences so that they, myself, and the listener can learn new and different approaches to making comics. And I also want anyone who is thinking of making their own comics to get some insight and inspiration on making their own comics.

I won't be conducting formal interviews on this podcast (that's what my weekly radio show, PLANET COMIC BOOK RADIO is for!), but I will have other cartoonists and creators call in and join the discussion. And of course the live chat room will allow others to comment on the topics or even ask questions directly.

I'll probably stick to the Sunday, 6pm schedule. Not sure at the moment if the show will be weekly though. That probably would depend on the level of participation we get. I hope to make it a lively show that provides beneficial information to folks interested in making their own comics. Each episode will be linked to here on the JAVILAND Blog, once it's been podcast, with show notes and relevant links