Ladies and gentlemen, the woman uses paints. Gouache painting, to be specific. The end product is amazing, I must say. However, seeing photos of the process of making the cover art simply blows my mind. The final cover art has been released to no one, as of yet.
And again, if you want some sneak peeks as to what we're working on, I recommend subscribing to our monthly newsletter. (Click HERE to go to the form.)
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As I was explaining earlier this week in my last post, I've been marveling at my need for an entirely new catalog of terminology in order to write out comic script for Mary.
On Facebook, I asked Jon Del Arroz and Chuck Dixon---yes, I'm talking about the famous up-and-coming comic artist as well as the famous comic writer for DC---about whether or not they had any experience in turning novels into comic books. The following conversation ensued (posted with permission):
Jack Mikkelson - Author Jon Del Arroz or Chuck Dixon, do you guys have any experience in turning novels into comic books? I'm basically re-writing the book! (Which is fine, of course.)
Chuck Dixon LOADS. My bestselling book is an adaption of The Hobbit. I've also adapted:
The Forgotten Man
Call of the Wild
Some of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time books.
Some other fantasy series I forget.
Clinton Cash
and I'm currently adapting John Ringo's zombie novels.
Jon Del Arroz Yep I did Richard Fox’s ember War. It’s more work than just writing a comic from scratch I find!
Jack Mikkelson - Author Wow. Makes me wonder what I've taken on. But I'll say this, I am enjoying this process. Jon, did you start off writing books/novels? Or did you jump straight into comics?
Jon Del Arroz I would say I started my first novel first but then I got bored and wrote a bunch of comics and went back into the novel after. So both ;)
Jack Mikkelson - Author I understand. Leaving a text medium for a visual medium is more gratifying, I find. You can easily see pictures. Text has to be poured through, requiring more work. More thankless than comics, I find.
Chuck Dixon My advice? Eye candy. Eye candy. Eye candy. And consider moving some of the action around so that it's better spaced through the story. There HAS to be something going on visually ALL the time.
Jack Mikkelson - Author Noted. Thanks! I'm thinking that areas that drag a bit with dialogue should be punctuated with later action. For example, after a short spate of dialogue, it skips into the future: "Meanwhile, 5 days later..."
Jack Mikkelson - Author I've purchased the graphic novel adaptation of The Hobbit. I'll be studying this closely soon. Thanks for your recommendations. I don't suppose they sell copies of the comic script, do they? (Probably not.) Oh, and one more question if I still have your attention. Do you find that graphic novels sell better and attract more attention than the regular print works do?
Chuck Dixon NO! If I've learned anything in all my time in comics is that the greater reading audience for fiction actively HATE comics. Prose has a MUCH larger potential audience. I mean, 1000 times greater. Comics have turned themselves into a boutique industry,
Jack Mikkelson - Author WOW. I thought that telling a story through the visual medium would be more accessible for wider audiences. This amazes me. Mr. Dixon, may I share this conversation we had today over on my blog later? I'm just amazed by this.
Chuck Dixon Sure!
I also got permission from Jon Del Arroz through Messenger to publish this shortly before I posted this blog post.
I was very surprised when I read Dixon telling me that fiction readers HATE comics. I've thought for a few years, now, that Bovodar's adventures would be best told through a visual medium. But the idea that fiction readers would disdain a comic form of the novel? I'd never considered that. Perhaps videogames or shorts from the story on YouTube would do even better with audiences? Who knows?
I can say one thing, though. This artwork that MacArthur is doing for this series is fantastic. She puts a lot of attention, heart, and soul into the effort, and the end result is quality work. It shows, it's impressive, and there will be more of it. We have so much for you all. It's a pleasure to tell this story for you guys.
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