Hi guys.
So as you all know, I’ve been on a bit of a break to sort out some health worries and to refocus on this project among others. It’s brought me to think about this project as a whole and the future of the comic as a piece.
BW is terribly important to me. Probably a bit too much so. I find it hard to think of life without it. It encapsulates the core of my ideals in storytelling and even though I don’t necessarily believe it’s gonna take over the world any time soon, I do want it to stand strong as a representation of who I am and what I do.
I’ve been seriously considering how it does that in its current form however. Every time I consider this, there is a big elephant in my room that I’ve been struggling to either ignore, or be cool with. And that is the huge and striking difference between the quality of Part 1 and the rest.
Part 1 is a very different animal to the rest. I created it for my degree in 2009. It was the first time I had not only created a comic in full colour, but I actually taught myself to paint digitally via its creation. It represents a new way to make comics for me. Concentrating on atmosphere and feeling with an air of grandness I’d never ventured into previously. It changed the game for me. I’d originally planned to continue the comic in black and white inks in a very standard way, but due to the reaction I got, I decided to just continue as it was.
However, I started the second chapter just under 1 year after completing part one. I was already a different person at the time. I had learned far more in the way of painting, pacing and dialogue. I stumbled along for the first half of part 2 and made a balls of it but halfway along I hit a new stride. My work made a quantum leap in quality and my methods and philosophy in quality took on a new life. It caused me to look back on part 2 and decide that the first, somewhat shady looking, half of said chapter must be replaced to meet the standards of the rest of the comic. I did so, recieved pretty much no interest and more “Oh it was fine the way it was” comments, which I must say, hurt at the time. I then vowed never to redraw any part of the comic again lest I be faced with the same disappointment.
Time has passed, seasons change etc. etc. and I’m finding myself in the position I’d vowed never to let myself fall into.
Part 1. It needs an overhaul.
I’ll probably be met with disdain for doing this. I doubt anyone will be excited or even vaguely interested in my plans. ( I posted a question on tumblr and twitter to see what people thought and I got absolutely NO response, who needs friends eh? haha!) And it got me thinking even more.
No one cares. People might make passing statements that I shouldn’t do this and that, or as is the case, ignore me completely. I realised that if no one cares, why should I?
The fact is, I have no evidence that this comic is as important to anyone as it is to me. that my fears can just disappear into a sea of internet without even a passing comment shows me I need to take the decision fully into my own hands. I’m going to rewrite and redraw 100% of part 1.
I’m not going to change any of the fundamentals, the story will be the exact same, the same stuff happens. I’m just going to tell it better. Way WAY better. I want to close up a few of the plot holes that gape ever wider at me every update. I’m going to tell far more in a far more economical and effective way and I’m going to make it FUCKING GORGEOUS. And most of all, it will fit, and I will be happy with it.
When my luck changes and I’m not living hand to mouth, I’m going to print it, along with several future chapters into the most awesome book the world has ever known. And I’ll be proud to call it mine.
I can understand if there are going to be naysayers. I understand the “fine as it is” sentiment. But the fact that life is so hard for me right now shows I shouldnt be compromising myself by the past. The original part 1 was incredibly rushed. I was banging those pages out at lightning speed, working 15 hours a day. I had a very tight deadline and really didnt know myself. I didn’t feel then, and I don’t feel now that I properly had my say. So now, I’m going to have my say.
Thanks.
PS: I did this test for a bit of fun yesterday, will that convince people? XD
Zee old: 
And zee NEW!
I just started reading ‘Between Worlds’ about a week ago- read all the way up to the latest page in two sittings – and I really quite enjoyed it! I don’t follow you on tumblr (actually I didn’t know you had one. I should rectify this) but I’m sorry you didn’t get a response! So I will respond here~
I think it’s fantastic that you’re going back to redo the first part 8D I mean, I thought it was lovely in itself but you’re right, compared to the later parts there is an obvious jump. While this is totally okay in webcomic land I can understand why you would want to go back and change it! Especially since it will be in print eventually. So um, basically I just said in a rambly kinda way that what I think you’re about to undertake is really cool and brave since it will take a lot of time and some readers might get miffed by the lack of new updates. But screw those guys right? 8D;; hahah~ Oh! and the new version of that old page? Stunning <3
First off; I am actually glad you’re doing this for you and not just because you’re scared about satisfying new readers. That’s great BUT please don’t assume we don’t care because we never answered a quiz. I would of had I seen the poll which I definitly didn’t. Now I a huge sceptic about redraws. Personally I have enjoyed every moment of your development and change and I’m totally revelling in the story at the moment. I just wanna see where you, as you are now and as who you’ll become, take this story. As much as you can love and respect your own work, it can never define your life, as much as art critics would like you to believe it does. I can’t speak for everyone but personally I’m not interested in who you were, only where you’re going to go. But like I said, I am glad that this is your descision and not somethiNg you’ve been pressured into. And I do admit that new page is jaw droppingly beautiful
( by the way I’m sorry for all the typos and stumbling around the issue, typing this on a blackberry is bloody horrible)
It would be very difficult for anyone else to point it out so its for the best that you commit to refining your own vision. After all, it is YOUR vision, and if anybody should know it should be you. It came out a little clumpy in parts, but it came out regardless. Someone writing a novel at this point might tear it up and throw it on the fire, or use those parts to re-arrange the story in a better way. The first chapter may not be perfect but the only way to know that was to do it anyway. The progression is always from approximate to specific, but impossible to define without first creating fixed points to use for reference.
Congratulations on your victory!!!
This has always been a sensational story, so it can only get better.
While the old page worked, the new page has a grandeur that says so much more. The magnificence of that moment is clear.
Good luck with it! I’ve done redraw’s many times myself, so I wont say its a bad thing
Just wanted to point out though, twitter and tumblr are not exactly the best places to go when trying to get readership numbers or see how many people care about your comic. Any messages you put on both those sights are always very fleeting/gone within an hour or even a few minutes, depending on how many people are on. As such many viewers of both Tumblr and Twitter most likely didnt even realise you had put up a poll (I certainly didnt, but I only go on both those sights once or twice a day). You’re better off putting up questionnaires on DA where they stay in a message box ready and waiting ^_^ Good luck with the redraw anyway, if it all looks like the bottom image on this post, I’m sure it’ll be even more gorgeous then I remember it being before *_*
I’ve always felt this comic to be the most beautiful comic I’ve read. I can see from the above that this is position is about to be even more solidified. Best of luck and have faith that the “silent majority” is cheering you on even without words. <3
Personally I say go for it. Web comics are almost always poor, or at least unambitious, when it comes to the art, so I’ve always come back here knowing I’d find quality stuff, though maybe not new pages.
The way to keep a fanbase is to make updates regular, which I imagine is close to impossible with some of the art you’ve produced. So you’re stuck I’d imagine between quality and speed. And your own life in general. I personally always found the way you use light brought the images, even somewhat rushed looking ones, a quality you don’t see much of in comics, making any other problems seem mostly inconsequential. Having said that, that second image above is incredible.
Maybe keep the old pages up as part of an archive, for comparison and posterity’s sake, but best of luck. I’ll have to throw a few euro your way when I find a copy of part one in the shops.
Haha just wanted to drop a little line that
I also love this comic very much
I don’t comment usually, but I always make sure to visit this page now and then to see if any new pages have been added. So even if I and a lot of people might not voice it,
we love the story, and the way you tell it.
So goodluck on redoing part 1!
I hope more people find this story
As a cartoonist of many years all I can say is if you are any good, and you are, your art will always improve. We all look at older stuff and think that could have been better! That said, will the two examples you should redraw the older parts so that the whole looks the same, but also try to keep the look uniform from that point on, or you will be right back at this point in two chapters from now! Keep up your good work kid!