Bear with me folks the changes are coming!  With the big show coming up (Wizard World in Austin) and the next year looming closer; it was time to address the changes that we are making in our production.  Yes we will still make comics.  It's what we do and why we do this.  But now we are expanding to include web comics.

I am woking to revamp the site a little to include the web comics.  These are free!  Currently I have Altered Reality by Terry Wagner; but I have more in the wings coming.

There will be Mercy the Ghost Girl by Dani Vanwinkle and Terry Wagner; and Tex by Robert (Red) Grote.

Also it looksl like Spandex Avenger will become a web comic also.

Next year looks to be an amazing year.  Next year will be the introduction of a new title "Shifters" written by Cheryl VosKamp and art by Kyle Clement.

Next year we will be more streamlined and not do as many shows but we are also putting a proposal together for the distributor so your local comic book shop can carry our titles.

 

Three quarters of the year are complete and we have three titles on the shelf.  We have two more shows to finish out the year.  So I am going to take time to reflect a little and share some of our first year. 

Overall the year has been a learning experience.  Dedication to the team and business has been my goal.  In doing so, I have let some things slip.  It is a big challenge starting a business.  It is a bigger challenge when you have to re-learn the industry.  I have made many mistakes this year.  And I am pretty damn sure I am going to make many more.  But in light of that I am learning and sharing with the team my experiences.

The Mistakes.

The first mistake I made was moving too fast.  I could have kicked back and produced one or two books a year.  But I set a schedule and intended and have kept most of the schedule.  Was it ambitious? Of course it was.  Was it the right thing to do?  That’s debatable.  At the time yes it was.

The next mistake was taking on many more conventions than I could support or could support us.  Some shows turned out nicely others slammed us hard.  It was surprising to see the ones that did and didn’t do it for us.  Because of this next year we will have a very limited convention schedule.

Another mistake was one that many publishers have, talent.  I assumed that there would be many more artists out there willing to work for me at a reasonable rate.  I understand the need to make a certain amount of money to survive.  But if you aren’t working guys, it isn’t my fault.  Among the surprises is how many artists would turn down cash for a percentage of a book that may or may not be released.  One of the primary tenants was that the artists get paid.  That has never changed.   If I were to have offered a percentage of each book to my creative team they would end up owing me money.  Yeah I would have a lot more money in my back pocket but in my eyes I would be cheating the team out of compensation for their hard work.

The final and probably the most damning mistake was quality.  I was recently reminded of this mistake by a comic book shop owner.  But in reality I cannot take this as a mistake.  I have spent the year learning the new tools of the trade and new methods to create the comics.  Along the way I released Fusion 1 and 2 as a single book.  Fusion was written and drawn over 15 years ago using old methods that lacked the polish provided by today’s technology.  Fusion was a launching pad, a beginning.  The following Demon Seed/Suicide Jacks was also done in the old style of comic books.  15 years ago these books were par with what marvel and DC were putting out on the shelf.  Today they look and feel dated.  But you know what, I don’t regret releasing them.  And I also used some of today’s techniques to improve them though not as much as they could have been.

What did we do right?

The compensation for the talent was the right thing.  This is a burden on the front end of the business.  I take a huge hit even before I have a product to sell.  This is the right way to do it and I will continue to support the development team.

Flexibility when the situation calls for it.  I cannot stress how this has saved us throughout the year.  Being small and open has really allowed us to shift focus on the fly.  A testament to this was Dallas Comic Con.  We reviewed our set up before the convention and made adjustments on the fly.  We have done this with production also and that will bear fruit at Fan Days in October and carry over into Wizard World in Austin.

Keep using tools to improve product and production.  We have only scratched the surface of the tools available at our disposal.  We are constantly learning new methods and techniques to make a more polished product.  I have to give kudos to the other artists who have shared some of their tricks with us.  I also have to give the team big thanks for sticking it out and learning how to do things differently.

We provided our services to help charity.  This is something I am proud of and will continue to do.

Keep networking with other talented people and businesses.

And finally, it’s all about the fans.  This is something I try to instill in all the team members.  It’s not about us; it’s not about getting some comic shop owner to carry our books; it’s all about the fans.  The team has taken this to heart and for that I am truly blessed.  I thank god everyday for giving me a dedicated and talented group of people to work with.

Where does that leave Mental Diversions?

I won’t lie to you we took a beating this year emotionally and physically.  There have been times when I questioned why I was doing this.  When that happens I look back to the tenants that created when I started this business.  I am dedicated to this 100%.  One of my favorite bands has a line in a song that says “if you fail, at least you tried.”  I would rather fail than never have tried at all.  In that I can see that we will succeed.  I began to see the success around May of this year and now the rest of the team is starting to see it also.  Sure there are stumbles and missteps but when in your life does everything go smoothly.  With that in mind the following list our direction for next year.

·         Next year we will have a limited convention schedule.

o   New Orleans, Dallas Comic Con and Wizard World Austin are definite

o   Chicago is a possibility but depends on funding.

o   Phoenix is a definite maybe.  This again depends on funding.

·         We will continue to produce on a quarterly basis.

o   Our production schedule will be stricter but I know the team will rise to it.

·         We will foster more online content. 

o   This includes Kindle and Nook sales.

o   We will also start providing a regular batch of web comics.

·         Doing it for the fans.

o   More public appearances.

o   More correspondence from the talent to the fans.

o   More freebies.  Everyone loves freebies.

I know this was a long read but I needed to write this not only for my own therapy but to mark a milestone.  Technically I have been at this one year.  The team is almost at the one year mark and January 1^st of 2012 marks the official one year in business for Mental Diversions.  A lot has been learned in the last year and I am looking forward to new learning experiences in the coming year.

Special Thanks to

Comic Book Shops

·         Empire Comics, League City, Texas

·         Nan’s Comics and Games, Houston, Texas

·         Third Planet, Houston, Texas

·         Titan Comics, Dallas, Texas

Conventions

·         Wizard World

·         Dallas Comic Con

·         Apollo Con

·         Strip Con

Artist and Creators

·         Walter Jimenez II

·         Michael Champion

·         Terry Parr

·         Kevin Steele

·         Halo Seraphim

·         David Doub

·         James O’Barr

·         Jonathan Caustrita

·         Joel Watson

·         Jason Chalker

·         Cal Slayton

·         Bernie Wrightston

·         Kerry Gammil

·         Kit Lively

The Core Team

·         Allen Adams III

·         Damon Jackson

·         Garrett Gainey

·         Cheryl Sandison VosKamp

 

 

 

Well we had fun at Strip Con web comics Expo. We met some new people, made some money and helped out the Scottish rite childrens hospital with some original artwork.

Sitting behind the table I got industrious.  I did up a Lion-o in the classic style.  I also did a Supergirl but you will have to go to my deviant art site to see that one.

 

Every time we do a convention I learn something new to take to the table.  This one was small and intimate.  The con was geared more towards authors than artists.  But overall the feel was laid back and comfortable.  It was a good time but the space was limited.  Also, they weren't geared for a full blown comic book studio.  I am pretty sure they were not expecting us.  We kind of blew them away in some respects.  But lessons learned and I do understand we were a handful to handle.  If I do Apollo Con next year the focus will be more on the written works coming up. 

The big problem with Mental Diversions is that creative freedom isn't stifled.  I always tell the team that there are no bad ideas, just ones we may not do right away.  I also tell them to never throw anything away.  It may become inspiration for another project down the road.  Back to our problem; since we are not limited we have a wide range of stories and art we are produce.  Though the major work is superhero based, we are not limited to that genre.  The upcoming 'Gods of Thunder' is strongly based in mythology and 'Artistic Side' is a Manga comic.  So we are truely non-conformist.

And you know what, I like that way.  Nobody should tell you that you can't do it.  And you should never limit yourself because you think you can't. 

I'm going to leave you with the cover of 'NASA Toons' that premiered at Apollo Con.  This will be available on Kindle this week.

Well Comicpalooza is done.  Can't say it was a successful show for the mental diversions team but you can't win all of them.  Comparing to Dallas, the Houston show was bad.  Sorry I was there last year scoping this out and they made vast improvements over last year.  And when I say vast I am talking lightyears.  In the same breath I can also say they screwed up a bunch also.  I guess I shouldn't hammer them too hard.  I was a little miffed because they dropped me from the database by accident.  So I spent valuable time chasing badges all week when I should have been prepping more.  The layout in the artist's alley and the dealer's area was a maze.  I think they are going to change that up next year.  Also the artists were too separated from the dealers.  I don't know how this was thought to be a good idea but to me its a symbiotic relationship and we should have been closer together.

Now about some of the things the convention people had no control over.  To the guy who kept sending his kid over to take our customer's hands and lead them over to your table across the way.  You suck.  Also had I known that was happening at the time I would have petitioned the convention staff to have you removed.

To another studio which shall remained unnamed...if you are going to pander to my team you better pay them very well as opposed to offering a percentage of a book you had not produced yet.  By the way, I will support all other studios but you are running a shady show. 

What did I do wrong?

Well our display could have been better.  I should have brought another table. And lastly, next time I will not have another studio's book on my table. 

Maurice I don't mind helping you out but when I can walk the floor and see that book at another table at the same show...you can take up half of theirs not half of mine.  Allen could barely put his stuff on the table.  Pretty much I am disappointed and displeased.  I sent you an email about the deadline on the project you are three months behind on.  If I am not on the top of your list to get work done then move on and go work for someone else. 

Overall the show was a bust for me.  But then I wasn't the only one suffering.  We can all blame this on the economy but that's just an excuse.  In truth what I lost in income I gained in experience.  A business is a dynamic thing.  If I fail to adapt to the market then shame on me.  But be aware Mental Diversions is here to stay. 

Well Dallas Comic Con is down and out of the way.  We met some tremendous fans!  Houston is this weekend and it really looks like its going to be a big blow out.  This is our home town show so this is going to be an amazing time.   Come check us out at Comicpalooza.  We have the prequel to Paradise Lost, DEMON SEED by Allen Adams III and Damon Jackson.  We also have the flip comic The Corpse and Spandex Avenger.  And also Fusion 1.2 by Terry Wagner!!!  I'll just leave you with a little Boba.

 

Well I'm sorry to say folks I don't have any anime cheese for you today.  But I did manage to find this amusing comic started by some of sheezyart community members called "evernight" it’s fairly new and it has a powerful start, you could say it has become something I will be watching as time progresses. I first was introduced to the online comic when someone suggested I read a comic called Drow Tales; and while this one has an entirely different flavor it is certainly a good read for anyone interested in the occult type comics.

I first discovered this comic when I was browsing sheezyart for tutorials; that reminds me I need to get my hands on more of them nifty brush pens, I’m kind of abusing the one my dad gave me to death playing with the effects and what not in my comic and a few fan comics. While I'm at it I might get a ‘how to draw modern weapons’ book preferably one revolving around guns since it was something I was never able to draw well. This can probably be led to the issues of my school not allowing us to draw guns, regardless if it was just the firearm.

But enough of my ramblings the comic can be found here

And if you want feel free to give the artists that worked hard on it some loving they have certainly labored for something fantastic in with the Prologue and as I said it’s a good start.

Well the Texas Comic Con is fast approaching.  I will be attending on Saturday and Sunday.  I may be weak on Sunday as I plan on hitting the Riverwalk Saturday night.  It's still up in the air what will happen Saturday night.  Either way I using the same game plan as the Dallas show; getting my name and website out there; building contacts; and having a good time.  Working in art and comics is truely a labor of love.   If you don't enjoy it you really shouldn't be doing it.  

Something interesting is going to happen this time though.  I am bringing a rookie into the mix.  Yep among the fanboys and geeks will be one that has only breifly experienced the comic industry.  She only knows about comics from watching movies and TV so go easy on her, she's a comic virgin. 

How about a space bonk!