The New Home of The Underground!

Howdy, howdy, howdy.
As mentioned last month we were re-evaluating our business stance, looking at our priorities, and trying to find the best ways to reach our desired readers. We've made the decision to produce The Underground as a webcomic, and we've put our nose to the grindstone to make this a reality. It's been a busy...an insanely busy month for all of us, on a personal level, and when it comes to the new site; www.twistedstudio.ca
By now many people have checked out the new site, and yesterday we posted the very first completed page from The Underground #2: Bad Seeds. While this is still a work in progress, I've got to say how happy I am with the project so far. We've decided to utilize Wordpress and Comicpress for producing the site, and it has allowed us the opportunity to put together a portal for our readers, unlike any other we've had before.
Now at one location you can read about your favourite characters, you can join in group discussions, check out key locations in The Underground, not to mention read the current releases! We've got plans for ordering previous issues, for incorporating the Sponsorship program in order to work towards printing the next book, and so much more. We are merely scratching the surface, and I couldn't be happier.
As I said, yesterday we posted the first page from Bad Seeds, and we saw the site take over 100 unique hits! And today, we are on track for the same total. Is it a sign of things to come? I sure hope and honestly believe so. The positive energy that the team has managed to capture, is bound to attract more and more positive energy, and The Underground will only continue to gain momentum! Next week we'll be posting preliminary sketches for page 2, along with more supporting content.
So check it out if you haven't already. And if you have checked it out let someone else know! Spread the word, join the infestation. And if you see Dave or Chris let them know what a phenomenal job they are doing with the site, with the content, and with their energy. Thanks guys.

Let's Get Viral

The last month or two has been very busy for The Underground crew. We've taken a few steps back and tried to pay closer attention to what we are actually doing. Both physically with the book, but also digitally I guess, with promotion. We've evaluated Twisted Studio, what it does...what it's meant to do. And we've looked into all other aspects of our current structure, and begun to ask some very tough questions. We've forced ourselves to give some tough, but honest and unbiased answers. This has been an exciting process because I can see that we've begun to handle ourselves more responsibly and realistically. Looking at veiwer traffic, listening for feedback, evaluating time spent. Twisted Studio has begun to take shape finally after more than a decade of fanboy dreaming, the studio is forming. As exciting as this is it has left a surprising question on our plate. What is to come of The Underground?
The Underground is my brainchild. There has been no project which I have been as passionate about, and Twisted Studio excluded, I doubt there will be another. The downside is the workload. It takes so much time, and indeed time-management to complete all of the artwork myself. Not to mention trying to work on promoting, finding printers, trying to build the studio, and so many other related projects. I've been wearing so many hats, I"m bordering on schizophrenia! Even so, I'm not ready to throw in the towel. Merely, re-evaluate our plan of execution.
Our goal is exposure for The Underground. And work load aside, when the costs of printing is considered for such a small run project, something just doesn't add up anymore. Right now at our current juncture we've decided that the best way to get the most exposure for The Underground, is to release it as a web comic! What does this mean for you? Well let me tell ya!
More new content! Free uploaded comic pages every two weeks! Supporting material released weekly! And an easy way to pass on The Underground to your friends and family. We will still work towards releasing the next and subsequent books in print, but for now, we're going to give our readers something to follow much much more often. And if that's the case...
...I call it a win.
Stay tuned. We're working hard to have our first page posted on a newly revamped website in two weeks! That's Monday, December 20th for anyone who's counting!
Thank you all for your continued support, of this beloved project.

The Filth of the Fly Federation

The completed concept for the Fly Federation, to be used in T... on Twitpic

So despite spilling coffee on the sketch, it is complete! Alot of thought actually went into this one, but it was really enjoyable. This is a part of a three or four panel page, this being the last panel. I was intrigued by this panel, and the opportunity to show what the culture here feels like, what the living conditions are, the filth, the grime. This ofcourse is only the beginning, we haven't even put the actual flies in there! So far, we're just looking at the backdrop.
It should be quite interesting to see how the residents live here, how they view their surroundings, eachother...
I think the flies will be a shifty bunch, just like the Skaven in Warhammer, or the Ferengi from Star Trek. Time will tell.

Next step. Midground drawn. on Twitpic

Next step. Midground drawn. on Twitpic
Here's the next step in the Fly Federation's design. With the midground complete, all that remains is the filth in the far background!

The Underground Web Album

The Fly Federation, scanned with the foreground blue-lined. on Twitpic

The Fly Federation, scanned with the foreground blue-lined. on Twitpic

Filthy Drawings!

One of the first images of the Fly Federation. My wife can&#0... on Twitpic

As mentioned before, this new instalment in The Underground series brings us to places unknown, new locales, new species, new dilemmas. Chris and I wanted to make sure that every location has it's own feel, and inspiration. To this end we would ensure that readers would get a distinct feeling for the place they are reading about. Perhaps at a glance they will be able to discern where the buggy heroes are travelling.
This sketch is very rough, and it's dark (as it's a photo of my sketch and not a scan), once the blue line is complete on the original, I'll upload a decent shot. But until then, and without further adieu, I present to you...
The Fly Federation.