Progress

Things continue to move forward here at The Underground camp, and I have to admit that at times I find myself getting a little dizzy with the commotion! There are so many things going on right now, so many projects, venues, and plans being set in place. I'm also gearing up for October's Creative Development Team Meeting, and with all these projects going on, the theme this month is 'Progress'.
As you all know, I began work on The Underground many years ago befor taking a lengthly hiatus from the series. Progress was a problem back then, just as much as it is an incentive today. What I mean by that is this; When I was younger I approached the series with stars in my eyes, and nothing but a pencil in hand. The progress we were making then was sketchy and scattered, and daunting due to a lack of understanding, and goals on my own side. No matter what you are working on in life it is important to understand your goals and set 'benchmarks' appropriately. Sometimes we get discouraged because we haven't met our goals. This happens, I feel, because we haven't set appropriate benchmarks. It is these milestones that will mark our progress, and allow for us to celebrate our small successes in pursuit of the ultimate goal!
When we held our first CD team meeting, we set out a number of priorities and delegated some specific tasks. There was a point in the month when I really questioned whether or not we were really doing anything here. I can now look at all the work that's been done this month and say 'wow!'. We're really moving towards something here, and making some very important strides. As we fit into a groove (as any team must), we are working better together, and developing a very good routine with one another.
This blog is being updated more than ever, because I'm less stressed with the big picture. The facebook group is being tended to better than I had hoped, thanks to the efforts of my wonderful wife. The Dimestore site has a forum thread dedicated to the Underground, and it is being updated and maintained thanks to the combined efforts of myself and Chris Walker. Addy McVicker has made some great progress in prospecting a number of stores and venues to approach with regards to carrying the book. And Johnny Burns has made some real breakthroughs in the website effort!
The list goes on, as we become more and more effective at maintaining the Underground 'machine'! We're talking with outside parties about the future of the series, and that future is looking brighter everyday! Thank you all for your support. Thanks to the team for all of their hard work, it is appreciated more than I feel I can really relate in words. Onward and upward, we're looking for feedback now. The public voice needs to be heard, this will be a great indicator that the Underground DOES indeed have a following, not just Paul Reaume.
As a sidenote, I wrote an editorial for the Dimestore site which is posted as their 'KickStart' today. Take some time to read it. Check out the other areas of the Online Colony, and let your voice be heard.
http://www.dimestoreproductions.com

MySoti - gotbugs - 'Got Bugs? 1'- Tees

MySoti - gotbugs - 'Got Bugs? 1'- Tees

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T-Shirts and The Online Colony

So I posted a note on Facebook yesterday about this concept that I've had; The Underground Online Colony. The idea is that we organize a group of websites, each with its own purpose and following. Originally, I was thinking of this during the Small Press Idol competition, with hopes that there would be some content online at all times for fans to be involved in. This way, when the Dimestore site was down for polling, there would be somewhere else to go for updates and info. At the time, I was still doing much of the work for The Underground by myself, so the Online Colony was never actualized.
Now is the time of progress though, and we are moving forward. The biggest advantage of constructing the Creative Development team is that by working together we can accomplish more, and meet more of our own marketing requirements. We can achieve goals faster, and more efficiently than before, because we have fresh blood, new inspiration, and innovative ideas. That said, I'm proud to say that The Underground Online Colony is alive and well! For those of you who have yet to become involved here are the links to all cells of our colony.
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=37802346048
Dimestore Forum: http://www.dimestoreproductions.com/forum/topicview/misc/the_underground_comic.htm
The Bugs Blog: http://www.thebugsblogs.blogspot.com
MySoti: http://www.mysoti.com/mysoti/designer/gotbugs/

MySoti?? What is this MySoti, you ask? Well, as I was saying we are able to accomplish tasks that we've thought of, dreamed of, but have been too busy to tackle. T-shirts are one of those tasks. For a long time I've entertained the idea of producing a line of t-shirts based on The Underground, but I've had a hard time finding the best way to do it. Do I hire an outside company? Do I teach myself to silkscreen, and make them myself? Enter MySoti.
This is a great site which allows me the opportunity to offer shirts to my fans, as well as prints of my artwork! If you haven't had the chance to, check it out. When you're done, take the time to check out the other cells of the Online Colony, post on a forum, ask a question, make a suggestion. I WANT to hear from you, as do the other dedicated members of our Creative Development team. Thanks again to all our readers, and on my side a big thank you for the continued efforts of my team!

Are We Looking Over or Under The Horizon?

With hopes of maintaining the consistency of this Underground world, I've been spending added time designing the locations that the book carries us through. This has proven to be another challenge in the production of this bug-oriented series. As readers and artists, we are used to and accustomed to cityscapes, forests, and other 'human-scale' scenery. Obviously, insects live in our world, but still a world all their own.
One key step in making the scenery more realistic, and logical was brining the journey underground. Under the surface of the earth, pushing the limits of our perception we begin to find a world of new possibilities. Now I need to understand this world, and what it is made of.
And that calls for an Insect-O-Fact!
Insect-O-Fact #9: Soil Layers
The ground beneath us is composed of many layers of soil referred to as 'horizons'. Each horizon has its own distinct composition of soil, sand, clay and mineral deposits. By understanding these levels, we are given a clearer image, or reference point with which to design the various habitats of the subterranean insects.
Much of the activity in the underground takes place within the first two horizons.

1. Horizon 'O' (Humus): This is the top organic layer, made up of much leaf litter, and debris. many insects feed on decaying organic matter, they may be seen here scavenging. Veritably feeding on trash.
2. Horizon 'A' (Topsoil): Much root growth is exhibited here, and seeds are germinating. The humus is now mixed with mineral particles. The roots may prvide for ample living areas, and may offer dwellings for the higher members of insect colonies. Furthermore, the increase in mineral deposits would provide adequate sustenance for the various fungal gardens cultivated by the insects.
3. --6. Horizons 'E,B,C,R': As the horizons progress deeper and deeper beneath the surface of the earth. The surrounding land transforms from soil, to sand and silt, to clay, to bedrock eventually. It becomes gradually less and less habitable to the point that nothing can survive...or can it??

Random Ramblins

So work has not let up here for the Underground, and the Creative Development team. Most recently, we've created an Insect Specifications Sheet, to help with the creation and integration of new insects into the Underground. There's alot to consider when adding new elements to the back, as we try very hard to stay as close to actual fact as possible. When researching insects there are a number of basic categories to be considered...

1. Name & Size: Obviously we need to understand the insect's name, though at times we tweak it to make it sound more appealling. Size is always considered in millimetres, and this gives us a standard basis of comparison for all of our creations.
2. Food: What do these insects eat? For me, this gives an indication to the insect's character/personality. Is the insect a 'meat' eater? A hunter? Or a scavenger? These questions always need answers.
3. Habitat: Where do these insects live? This will usually indicate at which point in the story we can integrate the new species. Do they live in tree roots, among vegetables, or by stagnant water?
4. Traits: A pretty large and vague category, traits are meant to detail what points set these insects apart from others. What neat features or abilities do they exhibit? Sometimes this category helps with storylines, sometimes it helps with character design. Did you know that Snow Fleas have two eye 'clusters' with 16 eyes in each?
5. Alliances: Who do they get along with? Who are their natural predators. I think this is an obvious one, and can give a great insight to the inter-character relationships which are bound to exist.

After these points have been considered, I can really get to work on designing the new creature. That's where the real fun starts for me!

Blog N' Facts!

As the promoting craze has died down, I've recently had the opportunity to sit down and do what I do best...draw! More specifically, draw zombie bugs! What's that you say? Zombie bugs? I don't want to give too much away right now, especially as we're waiting for Issue #0 to get shipped out. But we're going to have some 'fun' with 'Cyrus' and some really disturbing flashbacks. Zombie bugs! What's better than bugs!?! Zombie bugs!
But Paul, what on earth is this zombie bug concept? Surely this is unheard of in the insect world.
This is untrue. There are a number of reports of 'zombie' insects in the real world. Which is a perfect segway into today's Insect-O-Fact!
Insect-O-Fact #8
Zombie Bugs: The living dead may not be as far-fetched an idea as would have previously been assumed, at least not in the world of insects. Cockroaches, for instance, can reportedly survive long after their head has been severed. This, ofcourse, is only the tip of the ice berg.
Phorid flies are reputed for laying their eggs in fire ants, after which the maggot hatches and feasts on the insides of its host. the ant is reduced to a wandering 'zombie'. The Jewel wasps attack cockroaches in a similar fashion.
Zombies are among us....

Insect-O-Fact #7b

Insect Queens; Queen Azulon
In the early designs of Queen Azulon, the ruler of the ants was represented as a normal sized member of the species. This is never the case. After an ant queen discards her wings, she resolves herself to being the race-mother, and does little more than spawn her colongy.
The Queen will grow in size until she is a glutonous mass, incapable of much movement at all. It becomes the task of the colony to tend to the queen, keeping her fed and moist.
With hopes of making The Underground more accurate, Queen Azulon was redesigned in this bulbous fashion. Today, Queen Azulon is represented as a morbidly obese ruler, just as she should be.

Insect-O-Fact #7

Insect Queens: Insect colonies are typically led by a queen. Their social organization is oft' referred to as 'eusociality', and is definitive of a few features.

1. Reproductive division of labour
2. Overlapping generations
3. Cooperative care of young

Organization under a queen makes sense when you consider that she is literally giving birth to the whole colony! It has been believed for many years that ants were bred for specific task, scientists have recently discovered that this is not the case. The individual ants are sophisticated enough to carry out a number of roles.

When I originally designed the Hive Embassy, it was to be ruled by an, Emperor Kor En Tul. Since revisiting the series, this character has become Empress Kor En Tul.

Building From Idol

Well it's September, and that means that the Small Press Idol competition has come to an end, so the big question is...how did we do? While we're still waiting for some final numbers/votes to trickle in, it would appear that Faction solidified their number position, leaving the Underground in a respectable second place. I must say that I am proud of how we did, adn how much I myself learned in the last six months. It was an experience unmatched by any other. What makes me even more proud is how we are responding to the results. And when I say 'we', I do mean 'we'.
As mentioned before, I've started up a Creative Development Team to help produce and promote The Underground. We held our first official meeting this September 1st with the SPI still fresh in our minds and our hearts. We spoke for a long while about what the contest has taught us adn where to go from here. While I don't want to give alot away right now, rest assured that The Underground is continuing to progress in a positive way, to due the continued efforts of a few people that you should be familiar with...
Giovanna Reaume: My beautiful wife. She is my partner in life and therefore any thing I strive for therein. My strength and guidance, she has done more than her share before the C.D. Team ever came to be. In the coming weeks you will see her work in the Facebook group, and through posts on the Dimestore site.
Chris Walker: A good friend of mine, Chris has already been helping me with teh story, starting with Issue #0. You'll be seeing Chris' name more often as he begins to help out with the Facebook group, the Dimestore posts, and other online projects yet to be announced.
Adriana McVicker: I've known Addy almost as long as I've known my wife, and neither one of us has gone crazy yet, that's got to count for something! Addy is stepping into the tedious task of promotions and P.R. for lack of a better explanation. She'll be spearheading the effort to find more stores and locations to carry The Underground.
John Burns: A.K.A. J-Bunny! A down-right great guy, Johnny has joined the team in an effort to further develop the story and grab the horns of a couple online projects that we have not announced yet. oooooOOOOooooo. Is the suspense killing you? Sorry.

I'm very excited about this team, and coming out of our first 'real' meeting I know I've made a great choice in the individuals chosen. So like I said, stay with us because there's alot more stuff about to happen and even if you don't have all the details yet...The Underground is about to get much more exciting!