brandon's 'the stereos: in the garage"

[Brandon Hanvey]

I'd like to see what you guys think of this cover idea I'm working on for my next graphic novel. The final will most likely have a blue background and B&W type and drawings.

http://thegeekout.com/images/tsitgcover.jpg

[howyadoin]

I'd like to see what you guys think of this cover idea I'm working on for my next graphic novel. The final will most likely have a blue background and B&W type and drawings.

http://thegeekout.com/images/tsitgcover.jpgI think it's great. I like seein' comic covers that actually show a bit of graphic design knowledge.

[Jaye]

I like it because it also looks like an album cover in shape and proportion. I also appreciate the two horizonal white lines, they work well. I hope they stay.

Thanks for posting this!

-13th

[Brandon Hanvey]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Here is a worked up version of the cover with color.

http://thegeekout.com/images/tsitgcovercolor.gif

[howyadoin]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Here is a worked up version of the cover with color.I like the fact that the individual drawings are still B&W. Makes 'em pop more.

[Jaye]

Perfect!


.

[Brandon Hanvey]

Thanks again for the feedback. I did a test print at work today and the cover came out pretty good. The blue is 100% cyan since I want a solid color. I just have to figure out the right LPI for my B&W drawings to get the halftone dots to look right.

[Dark Sun]

nice work man

[Roquefort Raider]

I love the look of those characters, Brandon. Like the Peanuts kids, they show a lot of individuality.

[Brandon Hanvey]

I've been thinking about changing "the stereos" to white type. I think it reads better off the blue a little better than the black type when it prints.


I'm surprised no one has said what album cover this is based on.

[MissKale]

I've been thinking about changing "the stereos" to white type. I think it reads better off the blue a little better than the black type when it prints.


I'm surprised no one has said what album cover this is based on.


If you change "the stereos" to white then you might want to make the border lines black. I don't know why, but I think that would look better if the lettering were all white there.

[Brandon Hanvey]

If you change "the stereos" to white then you might want to make the border lines black. I don't know why, but I think that would look better if the lettering were all white there.


I thought about that too, but the type gets a little bulky when I put an outline on it.

[MissKale]

I thought about that too, but the type gets a little bulky when I put an outline on it.


Wasn't what I was talking about actually

My two crude mockups

[Brandon Hanvey]

Wasn't what I was talking about actually

My two crude mockups

Insteresting idea. But the album I'm homaging has white lines. And the white lines tie into the squares to pop the drawings.

[howyadoin]

Thanks again for the feedback. I did a test print at work today and the cover came out pretty good. The blue is 100% cyan since I want a solid color. I just have to figure out the right LPI for my B&W drawings to get the halftone dots to look right.Are you lookin' for big halftone dots? Why not generate some in Photoshop, then?

[Brandon Hanvey]

Are you lookin' for big halftone dots? Why not generate some in Photoshop, then?

I color the drawings in grayscale mode and then flatten them to bitmapt with a halftone screen. I'm just looking for the right LPI for the Docutech that it will be printed on. Right on I'm going to for a 85 LPI which is the Docutech standard, but I may boost it up to 100 or so to try to get a smoother looking tones.

[Brandon Hanvey]

It took me six months, but I just finished drawing page sixty of "the stereos: in the garage." I'm done with the drawing of the pages. Now on to the lettering, editing and production.

So please excuse me while I do a little geeky dance of celebration.

[atoningunifex]

*plays geeeky dance of celebration music on the accordion*

Go you!

[Jaye]

Congratulations, Brandon. I enjoyed the first one, and look forward to this a lot!

[elheffe]

Congrats, Brandon! I look forward to seeing it!

[howyadoin]

Well done, man. Can't wait to see it.

[Brandon Hanvey]

Thanks guys. I hope to have it all done by the time I get married on February 12th.

[Brandon Hanvey]

I just finished the lettering. On to production and editing. Wahoo!

[Brandon Hanvey]

I finished putting all the pages into a press ready pdf. I'm going to print a couple test prints for editing.

P.S. check out this quick banner I put together. I may use it to promote the book.

[howyadoin]

check out this quick banner I put together. I may use it to promote the book.I love it.

[Deathstroke]

I like it...I'm not expert...but I like it.

[redryan]

dude that is one sweet looking cover, very beatleish

[Brandon Hanvey]

Thanks, guys. I'm proofreading/editing with help from my fiancee, Nicole.

dude that is one sweet looking cover, very beatleish

I hope so. I stole/homaged their "Hard Days Night" album cover.

[Brandon Hanvey]

And I'm done! All the last minute edits are made. I'll be sending the files off to the printing next week.

[Ayo]

I like the way its coming out so far.

[elheffe]

Hey Brandon - if you don't mind me asking - how many copies are you getting printed? And is it bound or saddle stitched? 1 color for the interior and 4 color for the cover?

[JadeDragon]

Man, that looks really super cool Brandon!

Very slick! I love your cartooning skills. I need to pick one of these up next SDCC.

Keep up the great work!~~~JadeDragon

[Brandon Hanvey]

Thanks guys.

As for your questions

Hey Brandon - if you don't mind me asking - how many copies are you getting printed? And is it bound or saddle stitched? 1 color for the interior and 4 color for the cover?

I'm getting 50 for APE through DreamWeaver Press (http://www.egoworks.com/dreamweaverpress/printing.html). They will be perfect bound. It will be B&W with gray tones interior art, and while they offer full color covers as part of their deal, I'm going with B&W drawings and 100% cyan for the background. I just like the way it looks.

Very slick! I love your cartooning skills. I need to pick one of these up next SDCC.

Thanks, JD. Unfortunitly I may not be able to make it to SDCC this year since I'm going to NY and MoCCA in June. But my friend will have a table there, and he says he will sell the book for me.

[Ronald Bryan]

I'll make sure to get one from him then. The Stereos rocked!

[elheffe]

I'm getting 50 for APE through DreamWeaver Press (http://www.egoworks.com/dreamweaverpress/printing.html). They will be perfect bound. It will be B&W with gray tones interior art, and while they offer full color covers as part of their deal, I'm going with B&W drawings and 100% cyan for the background. I just like the way it looks
Brandon, that looks like an excellent printer for small runs! Will you let us know if you were pleased with the printing?

[Pól Rua]

Just from a design perspective, I preferred it when 'The Stereos' was in black and 'In the garage' was in white.
Not only did it just look more album cover-y (Gasp in awe at my technical verbiage!), but it differentiated the name of the series/band with the title of the issue/album.
Other than that. Wurra wurra nice stuff.

[Brandon Hanvey]

Just from a design perspective, I preferred it when 'The Stereos' was in black and 'In the garage' was in white.
Not only did it just look more album cover-y (Gasp in awe at my technical verbiage!), but it differentiated the name of the series/band with the title of the issue/album.
Other than that. Wurra wurra nice stuff.

When I did test prints with the black type on the front, the "the stereos" did not pop as much as it did when it was white.

[the_coldest_sun]

lookin very cool.

[Brandon Hanvey]

Thanks, guys. In the coming weeks, I'll be posting the first 11 pages of the book on my website.

[Brandon Hanvey]

I posted the first eleven pages of "the stereos: in the garage" (http://www.thegeekout.com/comics/tsitg/stitgindex.htm) which was sent off to the printers earlier this week.

[elheffe]

I posted the first eleven pages of "the stereos: in the garage" (http://www.thegeekout.com/comics/tsitg/stitgindex.htm) which was sent off to the printers earlier this week.
That stuff is great Brandon! I can't wait to read all of it.

[Jaye]

Hey Brandon,

I was confused at first because it starts out so similar to Battle of the Bands. I'm glad you posted more than just those few pages, or I would have thought it was the same thing. The first panel is damn near identical except for her smile and the shape of the box. Oh, and her hair is longer. I'm guessing that is something you will keep consistent for all their adventures?

And then I was wondering why they are introducing themselves to each other in study hall when they already know each other from the previous issue. Is this their Secret Origin?

The art is great. I can see where you have improved from before, your lines seem stronger. Perhaps you are more comfortable with the tablet now. As always with your work, their personalities shine through facial expressions and stance.

Are we going to find out why the teacher got called away, or was that just a convenient thing to get him out of the room?

Sign me up for a copy, Brandon. Let me know when they are available.
Congratulations!

-Jaye

[Brandon Hanvey]

13th,
Thanks for the feedback.

The opening is a device I'm going to use for every stereos book. The sequences will change a little for every book, but I like the way it introduces the characters to readers.

Yes, this is a prequel to "the stereos: battle of the bands." It takes place in high school while "the stereos:bob" takes place a few years afterwards.

The art in this book looks 10 times better to me than the previous book. "the stereos:bob" was done all on paper with ink and scanned while "the stereos:itg" was done all with the Wacom on my Mac.

As for why the teacher got the call, it is just a convenient way to get him out of the room.

[Brandon Hanvey]

I got the proof back from the printer today. It looks nice. Good gray tones and solid blacks. They also use a nice 28 lb. stock for the inside pages. Now all I have to do is fax back an approval sheet and pay for the printing. I should have my 100 copies by the end of the month.

[Brandon Hanvey]

Check it out
http://photos6.flickr.com/5958565_dd38ce9d03.jpg

Plus this is something new I've been working on

http://www.thegeekout.com/images/halfgrid.gif

[Jaye]

Congratulations on the new book!

And that mystery grid is hot. Can't wait to see where you're going next.

Jaye

[Brandon Hanvey]

Congratulations on the new book!

And that mystery grid is hot. Can't wait to see where you're going next.

Jaye

That is just the proof copy. The final copies should be done by the end of the month.

The grid is for my next book. So far, it is still in the planning stage.


http://www.thegeekout.com/images/halfgrid2.gif
http://www.thegeekout.com/images/halfgrid3.gif
http://www.thegeekout.com/images/halfgrid4.gif

[howyadoin]

I got the proof back from the printer today. It looks nice. Good gray tones and solid blacks. They also use a nice 28 lb. stock for the inside pages. Now all I have to do is fax back an approval sheet and pay for the printing. I should have my 100 copies by the end of the month.How much will you be selling them for?

[Brandon Hanvey]

How much will you be selling them for?

I priced the book at $7 for 64 pages, but, of course, there will be a "CBR" price.

[howyadoin]

I priced the book at $7 for 64 pages, but, of course, there will be a "CBR" price.Either way, count me in. I'm lookin' forward to it for sure.

[Ayo]

I'm going to try to find you at MoCCA. I know it's a way's off but hey.

:)

[Brandon Hanvey]

I'm going to try to find you at MoCCA. I know it's a way's off but hey.

:)

I'll post my table number once I receive it.

[FIG]

Loved the preview, really cool stuff Brandon.

[Brandon Hanvey]

The copies of the book arrived yesterday. They turned out very nice.

http://thegeekout.com/images/booksphoto.jpg

[Ayo]

Coolness! Only...three months!