Inspiration - Comics

First of two posts on inspiration -- this one for the 24 hour comic. Then a post on NaNoWriMo, and maybe another post on reconciling it all???? Well, one word at a time:

I just got, and read, the 2006 24 hour comic highlight book. This is a "highlights", in contrast to a "best of" collection. The intention is to show a nice cross-section of what is produced on 24 hour comics day. I found it pretty encouraging. Plenty of cool stuff in different styles; different levels of detail.

Of course part of the idea of 24 hour comics is to come in with no set agenda -- no pre-made plot or script. Nevertheless, from page 3 of the book, the familiar visages of Mayberry Melonpool and Ralph Zinobopp looked back at me. In other words, it's okay to come in with existing characters and situations.

Not that I necessarily have a stable of existing characters and situations to draw from these days. Maybe I'll do a post of all the sets of characters I've created over the years.

I have my drawing table set back up. I have sketch pads and pencils and art books setting out -- if I turn 180 degrees from my computer desk I'll be at my drawing desk.

And I have lots and lots of books of comic strips. Of course, superhero comics have also inspired me, but my drafting skills aren't at the level they would need to be for something that realistic. So, my comic strip heros, in terms of both writing and drawing....

Have to give a shout-out to the late, great Johnny Hart, who just passed away.

Jim Toomey, creator of the hilariously twisted Sherman's Lagoon (hey, anybody besides me think that Thornton was the real inspiration for the tropical polar bear on Lost?)

Frank Cho, amazing draftsman and author of the truly unique Liberty Meadows. Frank is the world champion at drawing women whose breasts are bigger than their heads.

Corey Pandolph, creator of the sublime Barkeater Lake. I recently purchased an original Barkeater Lake drawing.

Walt Kelly, who managed to sometimes fit a dozen or more jokes into a 4-panel strip. Walt was a master of dialogue right up there with Shakespeare and the Coen brothers, and also an incredible social satirist. And he draws the world's sexiest skunk.

Gary Trudeau, creator of characters that you come to know and love, characters who can exist for years and still be interesting, even though they don't have any super powers (well, maybe Zonker and Duke have some super powers...)

Well, that'll do for now. I have those books in front of me. When I get some time to spare (won't be real soon), I will start sketching. Watch this space for the results.

Preparing for whatever this is

I'm at a low point in my life.
Struggling at work to even do a mediocre job.
Realizing that I'm just not really nearly as good a person as I always thought of myself.

But I got this idea in my brain a couple months back, and I've decided to pursue it. I don't know what to call it, maybe the Creative Endurance Triathalon or something. Suggestions welcome.

I don't think anyone has done this before: Completed a Seven-Day Roguelike, a 24-hour comic, and a NaNoWriMo (one month novel). I'm going to try to do all 3 this year.

I plan to tie all of them together thematically. In fact, I'm considering this blog plus the game, comic and novel (assuming I succeed at all three) to constitute a single, multimedia work of art.

First up is the seven-day roguelike. This year's contest begins March 10th. I will be at somewhat of a disadvantage because I work full time and most of the rest of my time is owed to family, church and sleep.

I can't start writing code until March 10th, but I think I'm allowed to start thinking at any time.

The theme (and name) of my adventure game is The Seven Day Quest, a parallel of course to my own seven day quest.

Classic Rogue consisted of a single dungeon of 26 levels, a single quest to find a single magic item, the Amulet of Yendor. 7DayQuest will consist of seven, sevel-level quests. Each successful quest will result in finding a magic item, and that item will be necessary to succeed in the next day's quest.
I'm working on the backstory of the game.
I'm figuring that that will be the novel.

I need to make sure I don't get overambitious with the thoughts of the game, because I have to have it completely finished in one week of spare time, and I am starting from zero.

7DayQuest will be written completely in Javascript (and DHTML). To my knowledge, it will be the first Roguelike to be written that way.

Next step: Overall design, and an implementation plan with daily milestones.