Brother Zag
10-24-2007, 03:07 PM
This is purely anecdotal, but from my personal experience, it seems to be getting harder and harder to get indy books reviewed and noticed. Even indy reviewers appear to gravitate toward the major publishers because they want people to read their columns (a sort of trickle down effect). But I've also gone from indy friendly material to, well... super heroes. Sorta. Maybe this bears out what Grant was writing about this week.
My first comic book was all me and had an eye catching, indy friendly title: "Holy Shit: Or Pat Robertson Is The Anti-Christ!" Non fiction and tightly researched, the book garnered some great reviews across the comic internet sites. Steven Grant even gave me a pretty good review, though like most he did savage my somewhat primitive art on the book. Deservedly so, it was all hand drawn and lettered. I'm still proud of it, but I'm working on a cleaned up version that'll be easier to read, hopefully.
My next project told (is still telling) the story of the gods of old reappearing in the modern day, Panthea Obscura. I'm collaborating with Argentine artist Juan Carlos Quattordio to tell the story. The art is better than my first book, the lettering is pro quality. I think my writing's better. But it's been a bitch getting any attention or press. I sent the first issue of the book out to reviewers back in April, sent it to the same ones who liked "H.S." Troy Brownfield over at Newsarama was the only reviewer to give the book a shot, and he gave it a GREAT review, calling the title "one to watch". But nobody else did anything. Even Grant here has ignored it, but it may offend his background in classics, I don't know.
I've just sent out the second issue. We'll see if there's any response. Nothing so far. I didn't want to bother Grant again, or waste an issue, so he's off the hook this time. I sent one off to Troy B, and sent out Press Releases and sent individual emails to editors and reviewers inviting them to read a free download for their review. No love yet, but we'll see.
Just seems hard to get noticed if you're independently pushing a super-hero-y (SP?) book.
My first comic book was all me and had an eye catching, indy friendly title: "Holy Shit: Or Pat Robertson Is The Anti-Christ!" Non fiction and tightly researched, the book garnered some great reviews across the comic internet sites. Steven Grant even gave me a pretty good review, though like most he did savage my somewhat primitive art on the book. Deservedly so, it was all hand drawn and lettered. I'm still proud of it, but I'm working on a cleaned up version that'll be easier to read, hopefully.
My next project told (is still telling) the story of the gods of old reappearing in the modern day, Panthea Obscura. I'm collaborating with Argentine artist Juan Carlos Quattordio to tell the story. The art is better than my first book, the lettering is pro quality. I think my writing's better. But it's been a bitch getting any attention or press. I sent the first issue of the book out to reviewers back in April, sent it to the same ones who liked "H.S." Troy Brownfield over at Newsarama was the only reviewer to give the book a shot, and he gave it a GREAT review, calling the title "one to watch". But nobody else did anything. Even Grant here has ignored it, but it may offend his background in classics, I don't know.
I've just sent out the second issue. We'll see if there's any response. Nothing so far. I didn't want to bother Grant again, or waste an issue, so he's off the hook this time. I sent one off to Troy B, and sent out Press Releases and sent individual emails to editors and reviewers inviting them to read a free download for their review. No love yet, but we'll see.
Just seems hard to get noticed if you're independently pushing a super-hero-y (SP?) book.