NINJA NONSENSE

Update

2008-05-08T07:18:58Z

Hey everyone, I want to update you on a few things.

For the ETA on the next FALL comic, it is currently sort of unknown. It is going to be a few weeks till you see it. I have worked a bit on it, but my current priorities are jumbled up as of lately, due to real life stuff.

I am also currently re-learning Flash (The last time I really really worked with it was probably 2004). Every few years I need to update my web skills. I am taking my time also learning Actionscript 3.0, and reading a few books on other subjects related and unrelated to technical stuff.

I am currently working on an animated music video (using Flash) for my friend Steve Foster, famous for his Christmas Chickens. This video is not chicken related, but related to another type of bird. I'm doing it because it's really fun to be working on it, and I'm learning new skills that will help me out (and entertain you more) in the future.

Here is the first 2 seconds of animation:

You will see the final product within a month or two (or several), depending on when I finish it and when Steve wants to release it to the public.

Filler - Evolution of Maaya

2008-04-24T20:46:09Z

Still working on #30, lots of RL stuff hindering me lately. Hopefully I'll get it done this weekend.

In the meantime, I want to show you this collage of images of Maaya, from 2002 (when the idea of FALL was conceived) to 2008. It's interesting to see how the character design changed,stuck for awhile, and improved over time.

HO SNAP

2008-04-17T05:51:32Z

A student film I acted in, in 2004. Also in it are my friends Lee Noble, Mike Raybourne, and Jackie Gibbs. Written, edited and directed by my friend Johnson Lee, for Emerson College, shot in the Boston Common. Finally on YouTube.

Shot on 16 mm with a Bolex, a 8 min. short about BRETHREN. This was edited on a STEINBECK, that ancient machine you never thought still existed.

Fun times.

Art retrospective

2008-04-17T05:05:56Z

I just looked through my whole archive of artwork, and I have to say that I've improved leaps and bounds over the past several years.

It's funny to see my drawing style going from "fanboyish scraggles" to near "publishing quality" comicing. I feel really proud of myself on how I've grown in that aspect.

The only thing I did in the past that I'd like to do again is drawing in a more detailed, serious style. I used to be in the whole "complex is better" camp, but I went with the "simplicity school" as the years went by. Possibly someday in the future I will draw a different comic in an alternative style.

There is always still room to improve (like drawing more often), and I can't wait to see how much more I improve six years from now.

ThadBot

2008-04-16T16:16:52Z

In case you missed him, ThadBot is back from the ether and has made a new post.

I'm glad he's back, even though he still makes fun of me.

Bonus comic

2008-04-15T15:22:21Z

About the bonus comic that was supposed to be up this weekend, I decided not to do it.

Too much was going on this weekend, and I want to concentrate my time on comic #30. Also, I don't think the bonus comic was not as good as it could have been.

Look forward to #30 later this week. BTW, I will usually update towards the end of the week from now on.

FALL #29 - The Plot Spoiler

2008-04-12T07:08:27Z

Bonus comic upcoming this weekend, and the comic that continues #29 comes sometime next week!
FALL is back!

More about #29

2008-04-11T18:04:42Z

I also wanted to add, comic #29 will bend any expectation of me, or any idea of what you think my comics are about (at least I hope so).

And if you doubt it's release this weekend, I assure you that all what needs to be done is inking and coloring. Sketching has already been done. There are 8 pages in total, 5 are finished, and there are 3 pages left to ink and color. I am going to spend time finishing it tonight when I get home from work.

#29 is extremely fun to draw, and I really like how it shows that my drawing has improved so much over the course of a year. It also marks a return to and an evolution of what FALL is really about.

Expect it like a tasty brick to the face.

FALL #29 released soon

2008-04-11T04:32:13Z

Part 1 of the BIG COMIC, #29 will be released this weekend.

There will also be a bonus comic this weekend as well, for a friend of mine.

The next part after that should be released during mid-next week.

Look forward to it.

Facebook

2008-03-06T21:25:42Z

You can now become a fan of FALL on Facebook. Do it!

FALL #28 - Flowcharts are Fun

2008-03-05T04:08:16Z

Slightly Achewood inspired.

Still working on the "BIG" comic, which might pop up as #29 or #30. Hopefully I'll be updating more often from now on.

In case I don't update by next week, 3/9 marks FALL's one year anniversary! Look forward to more comics!

Comic surprise

2008-03-03T20:53:37Z

There will be a comic surprise for FALL coming soon (within a day or two, or sooner).

In other news, comic #28 will be moved to comic #29 or comic #30.

I know I haven't updated in a while, and I'm willing to make up for it. I'm sure you will like it.

Steamworld Cast Color

2008-02-26T05:03:26Z

Color version:

Again, Steamworld is still a concept. I won't be working on it for a while. FALL and Mechano Dino King are a higher priority!

Steamworld Cast B/W

2008-02-25T04:33:51Z

I've been practicing drawing in photoshop for inking instead of using manga studio:

I'll put a colored version up later.

~~~

Also I am sad that Persepolis did not win best animated picture for the 2007 Oscars. While I did enjoy Ratatouille, Persepolis was a more engaging movie for me. I also loved the drawing style.

Progress

2008-02-22T19:17:14Z

I've been drawing a bit more recently, and have been making some progress on comic #28. Another page has been done, which adds the total so far to 4 pages done. There should be 7-10 pages total when I'm finished with it.

There is a good chance I will get some more drawing done this weekend.

There are a lot of things I want to talk about for FALL, but I'll wait till I get closer to finishing the comic and the new website design.

Maaya, Steph, and Hanna colored

2008-02-17T23:24:28Z

Colored version of the inked drawing I did a while ago:

I've been making progress on the new website as well as new comics. Again, no ETA, but you will see them sometime.

Steamworld Sketches

2008-02-12T04:23:26Z

Testing out Sketchbook pro:

Maaya, Steph, and Hanna inked

2008-01-22T05:31:25Z

Here it is, the inked version:

Left to Right: Steph, Maaya, Hanna circa 2008

For comparison purposes, here are the same three drawn back in 2005, when I first thought of FALL:

Left to Right: Hanna, Maaya, Steph circa 2005

Maaya, Steph, and Hanna

2008-01-20T20:34:40Z

I'm working on a bunch of stuff, rotating through drawing the comic and designing the new website. Last night (and some of today) I sketched this out:

I'll start inking it and post up the finished pic soon.

Loosening drawing exercise

2008-01-17T03:52:00Z

Sometimes, before I draw, I do a "loosening up" exercise to get me to start drawing.

Sometimes, the results are unexpected. I must warn you, what you are going to see is very insane, possibly ugly, and could make you laugh. Hence I am linking this, rather than LJ cutting or posting.

Behold, this is one of those exercises. Frightening? Yes. Brilliant? Quite possibly.

Current Priority Chart

2008-01-16T22:32:13Z

Here are my current priorities, things that need to be done, from most important to least important:

1) FALL comic #28
2) FALL website redesign
3) Mechano Dino King (First few pages)
.
.
8) FALL comic #29+
.
.
10) Livin' in LA (Lower Allston) website
.
.
.
.
70) FALL graphic novel
.
.
.
.
100) STEAMWORLD (Formerly known as The Bounty)

I needed to post this so I can get my head straight on what needs to be done. So much to do!

Working on #28

2008-01-15T00:37:46Z

I am still working on FALL #28. I am not sure when it's going to come out, as I'm working on it pretty slowly. It'll be awesome though. Here is another frame for your viewing pleasure:

I really like how the drawing is all coming together. I guess this is the result of drawing often, and reading a lot of Osamu Tezuka and some Scott Pilgrim.

Comic #28 sample and Wallpaper

2008-01-02T00:34:09Z

A sample of comic #28:

Color Wallpaper Version:

I made some desktop wallpapers out of the color one! I have them in 1600x1200 and 1280x1024.

Still working on FALL

2008-01-01T21:10:45Z

I'm still working on the next FALL comic. It'll be done when it's done. I'm making sure it's perfect.

I have to say, that my drawing has become way better ever since I started FALL (in March 2007). It's crazy that this has happened in less than 30 comics.

FALL's Future

2007-12-26T19:41:57Z

During the weekend (or sometime after) there will be an update for FALL, but not like you expected.

I have been spending these past few weeks relaxing, drawing random things, and jotting down comic ideas I haven't revisited in a while.

It was within these couple of weeks I really sat down and thought about FALL's direction, and the future of FALL.

FALL will return to it's simpler and quirky roots (like the first 15 comics) and once in a while (when I have time), pull off a big stunt like comic #22.

This will allow FALL to be updated more frequently. Beginning next year (2008), I will be spending large chunks of my time and ambition working on another comic project (that I pushed aside for some time) that is guaranteed to make me famous and make you (the reader) very excited.

FALL just got too ambitious, too bloated, and is becoming more like a chore to me rather than something fun. The way I update and the online comic medium I'm working in cannot hold this type of long drawn out plot and be updated frequently at the same time.

This is why I reached this decision.

The next comic uses something which I call, "The Plot-Spoiler" device. There will be some revelations. It won't reveal everything in the plot, so don't worry about things being ruined. It will be used so I can return FALL to a format that can be updated very often (at least more often than I do now).