Fell

[nygizzle]

I've became rather fond of Ferel City. I wanted to kinda complain though too, i don't like how his stories are so short. I can tell its building up with that Nixon Nun person, but still, I would like to see a longer storyline for the next one. I just really like the universe that has been created. It's one of the darkest things I've read but still seems almost possible.

Though is it even still in production? Wasn't the last one in April of 07?

[atomicturtle]

I was just asking that today at my LCS. Image doesn't have it slated for the next couple months. Last I read (several months ago), Ellis was just sitting on it and Templesmith was waiting for the next script.

But Templesmith is now in the middle of that Dead Space thing anyway, right?

[nygizzle]

Yeah, also he is working on this :"Welcome To Hoxford (creator & writer/artist, IDW Publishing, 2008)" got that from wiki. So maybe we wont be seeing detective Fell anytime soon. unfortunate.

[bebopeva88]

Templesmith works on it as he has time whenever Ellis gets a script in, which isn't often. The high panel count makes it rather difficult to write, and coupled with Ellis' many other projects and the loss of a bunch of stuff when his computer died, well, you have quite the wait between issues.

As for the supposed short stories, the page count is obviously shorter, being 16 pages of story, but there's usually as much content in those short stories than a typical comic. If you really take the time to appreciate a comic, an issue of Fell often takes longer to read than a typical 22 page comic.

Last issue was #9, BTW, with a inner cover date of January 2008.

[Black Vespa]

"The comic is an experiment by Ellis in order to create a more affordable comic by producing a lower page count than normal."

[Templesmith]

Heya guys, it's pretty much as bebopeva88 says really. He is wise and the knower of all things!

But Templesmith is now in the middle of that Dead Space thing anyway, right?

I finished Deadspace. Either way, it wasn't an issue with Fell.I think I was working on some Fell when I started out on Deadspace actually ( but I can't remember it was a ways back )

Yeah, also he is working on this :"Welcome To Hoxford (creator & writer/artist, IDW Publishing, 2008)" got that from wiki. So maybe we wont be seeing detective Fell anytime soon. unfortunate.

If there's no new Fell, it's not because I'm doing things like Hoxford or whatever project comes after it. Fell has always been the "second book" I work on as I do other things. I frequently work on more than one comic at a time. ( Yes, pencil/ink AND colour work as well as sometimes trying to write the damn stuff! )

There should be some more Fell eventually. I'll have some new pages done shortly with which to prod W for more script sometime soon.

But I couldn't tell you when another issue will be out unfortunately. Keep the faith!

[Black Vespa]

Thanks for the update, er....Mr. Templesmith.

[nygizzle]

alright, thats good news. I don't know what I'll read until then, but I'll make it.

[matt levin]

Whilst here, and waiting for more Detective Fell, let me make a quick recommendation for Templesmith's new Welcome to Hoxford. Clearly for those who found Wormwood, Gentleman Corpse tame, if enjoyable, Hoxford begins with some really despicable, disgustingly despicable murderers who are introduced to us, then shuttled off to Hoxford into the care of some...less than reassurring 'medical staff'. Good gooey stuff.

[nygizzle]

i'll have to try to find it.

[jboncha]

I picked up the first couple issues last year and just got the TPB.
I really like the stories and Detective Fell is a great character.
I cant wait for more.
I'm really liking Welcome To Hoxford & Wormwood too

[bebopeva88]

Heya guys, it's pretty much as bebopeva88 says really. He is wise and the knower of all things!


Heh, cheers. :cool:

Here's a brief little snippet for all those who don't get Ellis' Bad Signal emails regarding Fell from 9/3:

* Three hours' work last night produced exactly one page of FELL script. That book's going to see me into the grave, I swear. It'd be easier if I hadn't clearly peaked around issues 5 and 6, and therefore wasn't constantly trying to clear that bar.

So, yeah, writing Fell kind of kicks Warren's ass.

[the goddamn batman]

Also, Ben was finishing some pages of FELL today.

[nygizzle]

awesome then.

[Libaax]

Nice of Mr. Templesmith to explain whats going on with Fell.

Its a shame that its the best thing Ellis writes and its doesnt rate high enough for some reason to write it more than once a year....

Everytime i see a new Ellis comic from avatar i cringe and think forget about Fell for this year....

Shame its a great story with interesting characters and town.

I enjoy Templesmiths art alot i have to read his new comic and see if he has done more Criminal Macabre series than the first.

[the goddamn batman]

Its a shame that its the best thing Ellis writes and its doesnt rate high enough for some reason to write it more than once a year....

It's not an issue of "rating high enough". "It's a bastard to write", is what Ellis has said about it time and time again. He's always working on it.

Also, it is a book that pays on the back end. Most of Ellis' other work pays on the front end, so clearly there's a priority there. But the main problem is how hard he finds it to write the book.

[nygizzle]

why is it so hard for him? I mean, not trying to take away from it, but a broken city with the characters that he made shouldn't be that hard. I've been working on a little story of my own (prior to reading this) that is a bit similar but a little darker, and it been flowing decent for a while. Except characters, but once you establish them then it is pretty easy. Though I can see the nixon nun causing problems.... that goes two ways. (writing, and technically.)

[Templesmith]

Nice of Mr. Templesmith to explain whats going on with Fell.

Its a shame that its the best thing Ellis writes and its doesnt rate high enough for some reason to write it more than once a year....

Everytime i see a new Ellis comic from avatar i cringe and think forget about Fell for this year....

Shame its a great story with interesting characters and town.

I enjoy Templesmiths art alot i have to read his new comic and see if he has done more Criminal Macabre series than the first.

I did a one-shot ( called Love me Tenderloin I think ) after the initial Criminal Macabre but it's not a book I'll ever probably return to, just too many other things to work on! Honestly my art back then on CM was pretty bad IMHO. Always find it odd that some people dig my work on it!

[Pip]

wow, how cool that Ben Templesmith has come on here, one of my pretty much favorite artists working today (and with Wormwood, one of my favorite writers too, i love that book) which brings me to my question, are we ever going to see any Wormwood merchandise? i am dying to get my hands on a Wormwood statue, there was this guy on the statue forum site who made one from scratch painted it up and it was fantasic, here is the link

www.statueforum.com/showthread.php?t=65209&highlight=wormwood

any chance of something similar?

[Libaax]

I did a one-shot ( called Love me Tenderloin I think ) after the initial Criminal Macabre but it's not a book I'll ever probably return to, just too many other things to work on! Honestly my art back then on CM was pretty bad IMHO. Always find it odd that some people dig my work on it!

Sure the art in CM was bad compared to the one in Fell but i just love the style. Also the style fit the story so well just like Fell that i actually assumed you drew all other CM thinking they cant do that comic with that art. Arent looking forward to reading the other CM stories exactly now....

I specially how you draw monsters and that everyone has teeth that looked like cannibal's sharped teeth :smile:

Do you have a site i can check what other older comics you have done ?

[Pip]

Sure the art in CM was bad compared to the one in Fell but i just love the style. Also the style fit the story so well just like Fell that i actually assumed you drew all other CM thinking they cant do that comic with that art. Arent looking forward to reading the other CM stories exactly now....



Kelly Jones has done the last few CM mini series

[Libaax]

It's not an issue of "rating high enough". "It's a bastard to write", is what Ellis has said about it time and time again. He's always working on it.

Also, it is a book that pays on the back end. Most of Ellis' other work pays on the front end, so clearly there's a priority there. But the main problem is how hard he finds it to write the book.


Its not like Ellis is a writer who struggles to survive on his pay, his fame and the amount of comics he is writing....


If Fell is coming out once a year its better canceling it IMO. So he can focus on the comics thats before it on his priority.

Dont want to diss Ellis but its a shame that Fell is written by a writer that writes 10 comics at the same time....

It was monthly it could have been the coolest comic on the shelfs...

[suttercain]

To me Fell is one of those comics that I enjoy more because of the art than the writing. Not saying the writing is bad, far from it, but I think it could be written by others as long as the art remains the same. Just my opinion.

[the goddamn batman]

why is it so hard for him? I mean, not trying to take away from it, but a broken city with the characters that he made shouldn't be that hard. I've been working on a little story of my own (prior to reading this) that is a bit similar but a little darker, and it been flowing decent for a while. Except characters, but once you establish them then it is pretty easy. Though I can see the nixon nun causing problems.... that goes two ways. (writing, and technically.)

Nine panel grid pages are hard to write. 16 pages is pretty short. Writting a good, complete story in 16 pages all on the 9pp grid is no easy task.

Now, I don't know Ellis, so beyond that I can't say what's specifically so hard for him... or if there's anything else.

Its not like Ellis is a writer who struggles to survive on his pay, his fame and the amount of comics he is writing....

Which is why he can afford to do the book.

If Fell is coming out once a year its better canceling it IMO. So he can focus on the comics thats before it on his priority.

He is focused on the other books. FELL isn't taking away from anything else. The only thing cancellation would do is deprive us of FELL.

Dont want to diss Ellis but its a shame that Fell is written by a writer that writes 10 comics at the same time....


Whatever. He's got a kid to feed. He can write whatever he wants. I don't really think we'd see FELL that much more even if it was his only book.

I'm not in any hurry. I'll be here when it comes out.

[Libaax]

Whatever. He's got a kid to feed. He can write whatever he wants. I don't really think we'd see FELL that much more even if it was his only book.

I'm not in any hurry. I'll be here when it comes out.

I didnt say anything about the amount comic books he should write.


Unlike you i think Fell would be monthly if it was written by a writer that needed the comic to make his name and get his pay. There are 100s of comics like that.

Not many other authors can write as many comics as Ellis and do what he wants,when he wants.

[the goddamn batman]

Unlike you i think Fell would be monthly if it was written by a writer that needed the comic to make his name and get his pay. There are 100s of comics like that.

I don't know what the "unlike you" is about. I never stated other wise.

Point is, you're talking about magic fantasy land... and I'm willing to buy an issue when it comes out and not worry about it when it doesn't. I'm certainly not willing to begrudge the creators for not farting out crap month after month.

[the goddamn batman]

Oh, also worth mention, that i forgot, is Warren's computer took the big shit this year, and much work was lost.

He is, at current working on #10.

[sgt pepper]

I'm sure he's flattered that some of you like his work enough to want more, but the sense of entitlement among comics fans is bizarre and creepy. Ellis writes Fell. He created it. He doesn't owe you anything. He'll write more if he wants to and if he is able. It's not for you to decide if there should be more produced or not. It's created by artists, not machines. There're plenty of cookie cutter assembly line comics created by the big two--enjoy them if that's what you like.

[suttercain]

Oh, also worth mention, that i forgot, is Warren's computer took the big shit this year, and much work was lost.

He is, at current working on #10.

Tell him to get a external hard drive and to back shiznit izup.

[nygizzle]

I'm sure he's flattered that some of you like his work enough to want more, but the sense of entitlement among comics fans is bizarre and creepy. Ellis writes Fell. He created it. He doesn't owe you anything. He'll write more if he wants to and if he is able. It's not for you to decide if there should be more produced or not. It's created by artists, not machines. There're plenty of cookie cutter assembly line comics created by the big two--enjoy them if that's what you like.
haha, you sound like an angry mom. That is what happens with a fanbase. You give them something they like, they'll want more. You take too long to give it, then that sucks. In my mind... more should come out at once, if you wait to long, you get the phantom menace. ?

[Verminous]

haha, you sound like an angry mom. That is what happens with a fanbase. You give them something they like, they'll want more. You take too long to give it, then that sucks. In my mind... more should come out at once, if you wait to long, you get the phantom menace. ?


Oh dear!!!!

BTW Welcome to Hoxford is fantastic. Picked it up on a whim, read it, on the pull-list.

[Pip]

Oh dear!!!!

BTW Welcome to Hoxford is fantastic. Picked it up on a whim, read it, on the pull-list.

i'm looking forward to this, but as i don't collect monthlies anymore i have a bit of a wait

[the goddamn batman]

haha, you sound like an angry mom. That is what happens with a fanbase.

No, it's what happens specifically with comic fans. Not the wanting more, but the entitled demanding of things.

"Ellis should either do more now or just not do it because that's what I think."

Is that really what you think a normal response is like? Or should be? Do you think that's reasonable? I think it's ridiculous, personally. The idea that someone should do what I want... and, like, with complete disregard for the creative end of things I clearly know nothing about or factor in when making my ridiculous demands of people, because, I spent all of two fucking dollars on a comic book.

It's absured.

(I don't mean any personal offence to Libaxx, but, I just think the stance a lot of comic fans take is just crazy. I personally can't relate to the thought process.)

You give them something they like, they'll want more. You take too long to give it, then that sucks.

But that's not really the same thing as what he was saying.

In my mind... more should come out at once, if you wait to long, you get the phantom menace. ?

But it's not an issue of 'waiting' to do more. It's an issue of it taking time to write. It's an issue of doing the paying work and keeping the lights on. Feeding the family.

FELL is a $2 comic that Ellis splits 50/50 with Ben... that's not going to pay the bills by itself.

[Vintage Crime]

I read the trade paperback about two months ago and enjoyed it. If nothing else is released I'll still enjoy the trade paperback that I have. Both Warren and Ben are working on other things so fans of them can still follow their other work. But as for this comic if anything else is released I'll see it as a nice treat.

[nygizzle]

I guess it goes back to my idea that I don't think it should be that hard to write. Not saying it isn't HARD, but it being soooooo difficult. idk, i'm not demanding, whatever, if it comes out it comes out. But I do think it is a fanbase thing in general. Comic fans are a little bit... weirder, i'll say that (im an outsider) but this same crap happens with other mediums. I mostly liked it for its visuals (i'll be checkin out his other stuff soon) but i liked the idea of the comic more than the stories that they had (though they were pretty clever)

[the goddamn batman]

I guess it goes back to my idea that I don't think it should be that hard to write. Not saying it isn't HARD, but it being soooooo difficult.

I don't know how to respond to that. Ellis is a pretty talented and smart guy. He's also a professional writer, so, like, if he has trouble with the book, than... yeah, it's probably because it is hard to write. For, from what I can tell by the book, many reasons.

For one, the 9 panel grid? That's a hard page to write. It's done specifically, so he can't ditch that.

For two, fitting a complete story in a 16 page book... hence the dense 9 panel set up... that's no small task either. he's made comments about both of those being a total bear. And, yeah, I imagine it is.

In the end, I'm sure he could pump out lack luster issues of FELL, or two-three part story arcs more regularly, but that's not what FELL is about.

The book exists as it is for specific reasons. So it's got to stick to those reasons.

idk, i'm not demanding, whatever, if it comes out it comes out. But I do think it is a fanbase thing in general. Comic fans are a little bit... weirder, i'll say that (im an outsider) but this same crap happens with other mediums. I mostly liked it for its visuals (i'll be checkin out his other stuff soon) but i liked the idea of the comic more than the stories that they had (though they were pretty clever)

I think comic fans have a stronger sense of entitlement than most other fan bases.

[Libaax]

I dont demand anything, i just wish i could read Fell more often.

I would pay 4 dollars if it was monthly because i enjoyed the issues so far.

My problem isnt that it isnt monthly but that you dont know when it comes out. If it came out planned 2-3 times a year it would be fine.
I read manga GNs that comes out twice a year.

The only thing im annoyed with is that the "care" about the reader to do a cheaper format. That would have meant something to me only if it didnt take several years to realese 9 issues. Maybe if i enjoyed other current Ellis comics i wouldnt be so annoyed about the situation with Fell.


Also i agree with whoever said the art was better the writing. Writing so far isnt near as good as the art IMO.

I will try to care less about Fell and forget about Richard Fell and hope Templesmith does as good art in his other newer comics.....

[Libaax]

haha, you sound like an angry mom. That is what happens with a fanbase. You give them something they like, they'll want more. You take too long to give it, then that sucks. In my mind... more should come out at once, if you wait to long, you get the phantom menace. ?

Yeah i feel real sorry for the creators im so horrible that i want more :rolleyes:

[nygizzle]

thats not what that means to the least, its common sense. you okay?

[sgt pepper]

sdbvkldbvalkdbada

[Tremnar]

I don't know how to respond to that. Ellis is a pretty talented and smart guy. He's also a professional writer, so, like, if he has trouble with the book, than... yeah, it's probably because it is hard to write. For, from what I can tell by the book, many reasons.

For one, the 9 panel grid? That's a hard page to write. It's done specifically, so he can't ditch that.

For two, fitting a complete story in a 16 page book... hence the dense 9 panel set up... that's no small task either. he's made comments about both of those being a total bear. And, yeah, I imagine it is.

In the end, I'm sure he could pump out lack luster issues of FELL, or two-three part story arcs more regularly, but that's not what FELL is about.

The book exists as it is for specific reasons. So it's got to stick to those reasons.

I think comic fans have a stronger sense of entitlement than most other fan bases.

At this point I'm willing to bribe all involved to put out more issues. Do you all think a Case of redbull and a couple fifths of whiskey is about right for another script from Warren? What are templsmiths vices?

I'm a huge Fell fan, it's a shame that we haven't seen an issue in...how long has it been? Warren may not Owe us a damn thing, but can you blame people for wanting more of something they love?

-T-