Hello all of you creative people!
For the last few years my brother and I have been producing small press comics under the umbrella of Massacre For Boys. We currently produce the classic war comic inspired 'Walking Wounded' and the classic British boys' comic inspired anthology 'Massacre For Boys'.
http://www.massacreforboys.co.uk/
http://massacreforboys.blogspot.com/
We would like to make the Massacre For Boys anthology a more regular comic but to do that we would need more contributors. Writters, Artists, colourists, letterers, the lot!
MFB presents strips can be about pretty much anything, we have had war strips, sci-fi strips, a football strip, Edwardian paranormal detectives, super hero strips, even a strip about an animal hat maker. Some funny some 'serious' but all with a classic UK comics flavour.
Would anyone hear be interested in contributing to something like that?
Aye. One offs or recurring?
Aye, count me in.
I can write, draw, colour, letter, edit ... the lot. I accept six-packs of Cadburys Fudge as payment.
I'm an artist and letterer can also do some colouring if needed.
filip
i'd be up for that!
Just been to the site and read 'The Glasshouse', which features the finest use of the exclamation 'Egad!' I've ever seen.
Would love to contribute a script or two...
I can draw, colour, letter and DANCE
But can u dance-fight, Foxy?
I'm up 4 doodles
& a dance-off
Chi
Quote from: El Chivo on 05 January, 2012, 04:46:40 PM
I'm up 4 doodles
My word, Chi - have you thought of cloning yourself?!
What a fantastic response, thanks everyone :D
Writers - when you're ready to submit scripts/ideas, please email them to Steve and I.
Artists/Colourists/Letterers - So we can get a flavour of what you're about please email us some samples.
Oh, and you can DM either of us to get the necessary email addresses.
@Engimatic Dr X - One offs might be the best idea, initially, but recurring would be ok too, provided it's no more than 4 parts maximum.
@Temponaut - thanks for your kind words re: The Glasshouse. It's my favourite MFB strip of all.... so far.
I'll send pages from my comic strip for THE DOGHOUSE fanzine later this month (upon its completion), which covers my scripting, b/w artwork and lettering.
I have a fine example of my line art (cover art for a SCREAM! fanzine) complented by some retro colouring ready to send. What e-mail address should I use, Steve?
Quote from: locustsofdeath! on 05 January, 2012, 05:26:17 PM
Quote from: El Chivo on 05 January, 2012, 04:46:40 PM
I'm up 4 doodles
My word, Chi - have you thought of cloning yourself?!
I may have to :)
Just pitching my hat into the ring & hoping any deadlines are way, way off
Chi
Send any exampels of your work to steve@massacreforboys.co.uk or/and chris@massacreforboys.co.uk
I am devising a new and inventive process for matching up creators even as we drink and type this.
I'm really happy with the response and I'm looking forward to working with you guys and publishing some cool and unexpected stuff!
Steven
Long deadlines assured!
We'll see how things develop, but there's going to be an absolute minimum of 6 months before we think about going to press...
I'd be up for contributing - what sort of page-lengths would you be looking at for scripts?
Would supervillains be welcome? I have this idea about a team of them who steal things from other villains.
@strontium_dog_90 Page length can vary, but I would say the ideal size for a classic UK anthology strip is 5-6 pages.
@Chris Fain Supervillains are fine, but please bear in mind this is a British-style title so Zenith/Marvelman/Captain Britain influences are more welcome than DC and Marvel.
I don't know how many of you writers are a fan of historical research, but it occurs to me that MFB could do with a story set in The Peninsular War http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peninsular_War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peninsular_War) MFB is a boys own action adventure comic with a modern slant so the field is wide open as far as characters and story go.
Although each issue has to be self contained there is nothing stopping you creating a hero who can be used more than once.
IK'd like to try my writing hand at something military. What is the ideal page count?
Also, anyone who knows me and wants to collaborate artistically let me know.
We are quite open with page counts. As a rule of thumb I would say that around 6 pages is a good length although we will run longer and shorter stories.
Is there any problem with strong language?
I have an idea for an ongoing serial much in the vein of old boys comic stuff, following a loner searching for something and as a result getting into scrapes in a different place each issue. Sort of Jack Reacher crossed with Rogue Trooper but in England.
Just want to know where to pitch it, as I'm re'reading The Boys at the moment and my language is getting a bit fruity as a result.
Also, after reading the horrendously sketchy brief above, who wants to art me up when I get the scripts underway?
you can be creative (mother licker from the mighty boosh is an excellent example of swearing without swearing) but I would avoid using swearwords or replacement swearwords, witch with the exception of Drok and Smeg and pim slider, have always been lame.) although we are aiming the comic at adults there shouldn't be anything in it that you wouldn't show a 13 year old.
Steven
Never mind all that - I wanna see a dance fight!
Quote from: Alski on 09 January, 2012, 09:20:38 AM
Also, anyone who knows me and wants to collaborate artistically let me know.
Quote from: Alski on 09 January, 2012, 01:40:40 PM
Also, after reading the horrendously sketchy brief above, who wants to art me up when I get the scripts underway?
Excitement over a new idea is also great, but why not let the editors of the magazine make a decision on such small matters as, you know, the artists they want involved... ::).
morning gents, just to let you know i've emailed you a script yesterday evening.
Before I get started, what is the format? A5 or A4?
MFB is printed in US comic format (we tend to use the comixpress size as they are our printers of choice) As Locus says it's probably best to hold off on canvassing for an artist just yet.
For a recurring character I think the best way to pitch for MFB is to come up with a concept in line with the concept of the comic and see if it's something we would be looking for (something like pitching an idea). Then a more detailed story synopsis' and character brake down where an artist could start to get involved. Then onto the next stage. For a one shot either a details synopsis or a full script
If an artist has an idea for a character then designs and concepts would be a good place to start. I'm sure there are plenty of writers who would want to work with an artist concept art as a spring board.
Steven
when are looking at getting this out?
FAO prospective writers, I enjoy drawing all kinds of strips for their variety. Historicals really appeal as I enjoy conducting research into the costumes, uniforms, architecture. I don't want to get bogged down with one story that will entails dozens of pages, rather enjoying darting from one genre to the next to keep my brain active. I'm reliable and fairly fast and should be able to meet reasonable deadlines.
Quote from: mrstu on 12 January, 2012, 09:05:54 PM
when are looking at getting this out?
Basically, when it's ready.
A preceding edition - Massacre For Boys Action Special - will be launching at Bristol in May.
Just wanted to say that we've had a fantastic response to this thread :)
Thank you to everyone that's submitted material. We've been greatly impressed with the level of talent on display and indeed when we've had to decline things it's been over-ridingly on grounds of suitability rather than quality.
Inevitably (given where we are) there have been a number of Future Shock-style scripts come in, and that's not really what we're looking for. I quite enjoy reading them - and they do serve to some degree as a calling card - but Future Shocks are not really Massacre For Boys.
I'm glad to say that there have been other script ideas offered to us that are really promising, as well as volunteering to help out by some great artists. The comic is taking shape now, but there's still plenty of opportunity to get involved.
Gads! I'd better get on my Makcim Tahk and redraft my script before you're all booked up!
Time to bump this.
We are still looking for more talented people to contribute and this forum is absolutely stuffed full of talented writers and artists! If you fancy writing or drawing a classic boys comic action/adventure/sports/sci-fi/fantasy/war/superhero (delete as appropriate) strip then tell us about it!
Issue 2 is coming together and there is plenty of room in issue 3.
Full Colour US format and so much more than just nostalgia!
*bump*
Work is continuing on Massacre For Boys Picture Library. It promises to surpass everything we've done before.
You may have seen the astonishingly astonishing cover by David Frankum:
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SjjRF9pEShE/UR8-D3KbvfI/AAAAAAAAANQ/UwEbuGrySJo/s620/Cover-Finished-+Colour.jpg)
Joining David we have a staggering array of UK comics talent, many of whom are regulars on this very forum. However, this being the small press, we do find ourselves an artist or two light.
So, if you are handy with a pencil and want to join the fun please drop me or Steve a line.
We especially want to hear from you if you are good at drawing emus ;)
After that exciting cliffhanger, I can now reveal we got our artists :)
Many thanks to our brave volunteers, formal announcements to come on the MFB blog.
Good looking wares there, fellas!