OT: Advice about historical accuracy in comics

[pimpernel]

I hope nobody minds if i post this in here, but i trust the opinions of the folks here on the Hellboard, and i know some of you are writers and artists in your own right, so i wanted to ask some advice if i may.

I'm currently trying to write a comicbook to pitch to Fark Horse, set sort-of in the old west, and i'm wondering about historical accuracy.

My story is loosely based on a real location and real events. I don't really want to give anything away, but let's say the place is called Clearing, and that the event concerns the arrival of the first lawmen in the area, due to a set of specific circumstances. Now the story i have in mind ends very differently than the situation did in real life, veering off dramatically into the supernatural and setting the stage for a series of old west horror adventures.

Bearing all that in mind i'm not sure if i should just set the story in the real-life Clearing, or create a new fictional location?

Given that the people involved in the real events are a matter of public record (tho far from famous) would it seem disrespectful to write them out of history and replace them with my own characters? And can i justify setting my story in the real Clearing when my ending differs so dramatically from what actually happened there?

And if i do create a fictional location, should i just locate it roughly where the real Clearing is, and pretend that Clearing doesn't exist in my fictional universe?

Or do i acknowledge that the real Clearing exists, and create a fictional place elsewhere where similar events took place? My problem with this is that, at the time the story is set, this part of North America was mostly unsettled by europeans, which means i will probably have to create my fictional location somewhere where couldn't/wouldn't have existed historically.

It's such a headache.

If anyone has any ideas or comments i would be really grateful to hear them.

[PaddyN]

Sorry I don't have any suggestions other than if you're worried about it place it in the region that Clearing is in and rename the town.

It sounds like something I'd love to Read/Draw.

Good Luck!

[patrick r]

I would not worry at all about using real places and creating an alternate past/present/future and changing details. I cannot recall all of the stories/comics that I have read that have partially accurate information. I read Rex Mundi from Dark Horse and it has a great mix of historical places mixed with fiction. Baltimore did this also as have many stories.

Rex Mundi uses the following blurb on the publishing information page. "Names, characters, places and incidents featured in this publication either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events, institutions, or locals, without satiric intent, is coincidental."

You may need to alter that for your purposes.

[AbeSapien99]

Ugh, I have the same problem with all of my stuff, and it even kills my stories sometimes. :frown:

I've found the best thing to do is make a pseudo-realistic place. As in, base it heavily on a real location... and then change the name and make any unique alterations to fit your story. If you simply use a real place, there is going to be one person that points out inaccuracies, or at the very least you'll have that niggling thought in the back of your mind that you think someone will.

Regarding the conflict between the real Clearing and your Clearing: I'd say place it really close to the actual town, and then simply ignore the real one! Pretend it doesn't exist, or that it's just another of any dozens of surrounding townships. Steal Clearing's traits, but then leave the real thing in the dirt and run with your own. :)

Of course, if you base yours on the real town, you should probably give credit somewhere. Especially if you're using actual people: maybe change their names in your story, but certainly acknowledge that they are based on real people.

Sounds like a neat story. Cowboys and the paranormal are two of my fav things. :) I assume, though, that you're going to pitch it to Dark Horse? I thought at first that maybe "Fark Horse" was some sort of rip-off company, then I realized the name was too similar. :wink:

[mimschkin]

I'd say, you could make a ficticious place based off Clearing, but I don't think it would matter much if you had the real events and then veered off into fiction with your own ending. People have done it before, and it annoys some, but I guess it's just up to personal taste. There are really lots of stories that do this, and you can't please all, so just go with what you think is right.

[Ontarah]

I'd say that if you are worried you could make a fictitious setting and rename the characters, but even if you don't I wouldn't worry about it too much. I can think of tons of stories and comics that take real historic locations and people and alter them completely. (Take Rasputin in the Hellboy comics for example.) I can also think of westerns that take real locations and real people and alter their personality or their life. The Lonesome Dove Tetralogy does this a lot. People like Bigfoot Wallace and Charlie Goodnight really existed, but McMurtry still takes them and does what he wants with them. So long as you are being respectful to the people and places involved I'd say there isn't a problem. Though sometimes, you can get away with it even if you are blatantly besmirching someone's name. (Rasputin was a wierd and maybe even nasty guy in real life, but I seriously doubt he was a demon worshipping megolomaniac.) Pulling a Lovecraft and making up locations against a real backdrop works as well.

[hellboyone]

I try to use real places and people as much as possible but if any of that doesn't serve the story you're telling, then just change whatever you want. That's why "based on true events" is great. Texas Chainsaw Massacre was "based on true events" but it's not even a little bit specific to anything. It's just an amalgam of a bunch of real-life horror shows that have happened in the past.

[Kees_L]

Yeah, Hellboyone's post strikes me as good advice: Keeping it real may prove beneficial and nice as long as it doesn't clog the coolaid.
My biggest problem is realizing a defined beginning-middle-ending structure, preferably from as soon as the get-go.
Writing brainstormy or associatively or intuitively isn't anything bad, but when stuff isn't blatantly floating at the top of the brain, I believe one should not avoid devoting a little time on the bigger picture/structure. Don't go filling in smaller stuff when the ending or other big turning points aren't yet realized in some fashion. Much like laying out a puzzle, you know? Some pieces and some order may help you.
Would be my take, on writing in general.

[pimpernel]

Guys thanks for the oinions and advice!

I think i'll create a fictional version of the town and just ignore the real one in my story. It'll save me a bunch of other headaches down the line.

:biggrin: