Chapter 7: The Other Witch pg 16
Vig Starmax on Feb. 21, 2013
Co-plot and script by Gunwallace.
I had an interesting discussion with a friend recently regarding comics, mainly American comics. He pitched me an idea for a series, about a man who is a forensic expert and fights crime at night as The Crime-Buster. He told me about his elaborate plan for the series, the characters, villains and his plans to publish it through a mainstream distributor. Before he could go any further, I had to stop him right there.
The thing is, I'm a bonafide superhero comic fan, have been since I was in my early teens. I devoured comics like crazy, no thanks to 90's speculator boom. I devoted countless sketchbooks full awesome rendering of superhero posing or kicking butt. Me and friends even made our own comics, had our own pretend comic companies and had crossovers. Even after the speculator bubble burst, i was still religiously buying comics (until my early twenties).
So, when it came time to create my own webcomic, i could have used all those cool superheroes from my old sketchbook, the grocery list of villains to fight with and supermodel hot ladies they were dating. But I choose to do Hocusha. Something totally out of my comfort zone.
A generic superhero series? No offense but Marvel & DC has a mega stake hold on all things superhero comics. Even smaller companies who publish superhero has no guaranteed success. Unless you have something new to say about the superhero ‘medium’, something out of the ordinary, something that they won't, don't or can't do and something unique, you are just wasting your time. So why not try something different. I'm not saying Hocusha is an original idea but at least it's not The Crime-Buster, saviour of Hexagon City. “LET'S FIGHT… EVILDOERS!!!” ZAP! KAPOW!
I know that superhero movies is the popular trend nowadays and it's cool to cash in on the craze but…seriously.
wildcard at 12:48PM, March 8, 2013
I hear you on superheroes; read plenty of comics centred around them, doubt I'd ever do my own unless it was a complete parody... Plus Hocusha's rage face is EPIC.
Banes at 8:25AM, March 6, 2013
Exploring different areas is a smart idea for an independent comic creator, agreed. I loved the Marvel characters and mythology as a young'n, and it's really something to see that stuff conquering the mainstream! And who knows what some innovator might do keep the superhero genre fresh! But the future, or at least somewhat less traveled territory is probably in other areas. Glad you came back!
Gunwallace at 12:30AM, March 6, 2013
Zatana, Dr Strange ... there's always been a few magical superheros, and when done right they were always my favourites. Hocusha reminds me of those wonderful stories, and has the potential to go way beyond them with the detail and depth that is behind the world Vig has created. Mxyzptlk.
crazy_goodfellow at 10:29PM, March 5, 2013
That is actually a great representation of the current super hero genre in comics. I mean, Marvel and DC got around 70+ years of stories and several thousand characters behind their backs: generic super hero stuff won't cut it if you don't work for the big two. It's great that people like you try and go into another genres, expanding what comics mean.
man in black at 6:01PM, March 5, 2013
great page
AzuJOD at 10:49PM, March 4, 2013
Such emotion!
SaveTheRejects at 4:23PM, March 4, 2013
Ohhhhhhh, Charminx messed with the bull, now here comes the horns.
fukujinzuke at 10:21AM, March 4, 2013
Awesome!
Hairballus at 6:50AM, March 4, 2013
This Is A GREAT COMICCCCC!!!!!!!!!!