Before we continue....
Amelius on June 12, 2007
My deepest apologies to all, but this seems to be needed. I want this off my chest and if I type it in my notes, the people who need to read it, WON'T. That, is abundantly clear. I have the next page in progress, expect that very soon. This isn't really filler, just a badly needed announcement that happens to be interrupting the story I want to tell. If people listen this time, I promise it won't happen again. Now, on to my rant.
That's right, read my notes before you put your foot in your mouth my friends. I've said it…COUNTLESS times. I mean come on, have I not been honest with you all? Was I not baring my very soul, this same time last year, over my heartbreak? I have nothing to hide from you, and why would I lie to you anyway, especially about this?
Do I have to post that truly embarrassing collage I did before DD crashed just to show you that picture of Hex's hair on another character that belonged to me, that I drew when I was 11?
I'm really frustrated that I am having this issue STILL! I mean, it's truly, really obvious that some people refuse to read these notes! I know it seems that these aren't important most of the time, but if I didn't feel that communicating with you was important for our relationship, I wouldn't write anything there at all. You're missing all the links I put up to other great comics (not to mention the crossover links, I have seen a lot of befuddled “why is this arc so weird?” comments, It's because you're missing the other half completely!) Part of the reason I'm doing these cameos is to not only thank people who have been there for me, but to show you there are other fantastic comics on this site, and you shouldn't miss out on them.
And you're missing answers to questions that I'm sure you will undoubtedly ask, and have asked I have an FAQ for that in the forum now too though) and most important of all, you're missing every instance I have typed out that I don't take being accused of style-copying as a compliment. Yes, I realize to some of you, being compared to a popular, successful comic is a compliment. But I've said it before: I'm trying to make a name for myself, not Jhonen. And please realize there are OTHER styles of art out there, other dark humored stories, other curly grins that were there before JTHM, Squee, Zim or any of his other works came to be known. He is not the progenitor of all things slightly resembling “goth”, nor did he invent dark humor, revenge, gore, even random humor (CTV is NOT a “random humor” comic anyway)
And look at what I drew here…his style is a major pain to draw! I could hardly keep it up! Why would I want to copy that? I'm NOT dissing his style, so don't get defensive. I didn't put it down last time either. I like his works but golly geez people would you listen to me for once? I can draw as many vague comparisons to Star Trek to CTV as I could to JTHM. And need I post all 300 or more Beck the Ferret pages, in their tattered horror, all done in the ‘90s, to show you that I didn’t need Jhonen's help to draw something violent and twisted involving a cute character?
And I'll repeat what I said in a recent rant too: Show me more than 2 curly-grins in all of JV's work and I'll eat my hat. Find some bloody curly capes there whilst you're at it too!
Really, I'm not trying to yell at anyone here. I just feel very hurt that some people can't take my word for something. Even when I explain myself, I get this “Maybe you were subconsciously influenced” nonsense. I believe that can happen yes, when you actually have SEEN the thing to be influenced by. But I didn't.
And I am obsessively cognizant of my art, sorry to say. I let the things I want to influence me do just that, and I am rather selective, honestly. If you ask me who influences me, I will tell you. If you say “this reminds me of Calvin and Hobbes” or “Chuck Jones” or “Dr. Suess” or what have you, I'll take that as a compliment, and it attests to your keen observation.
But “This looks like JTHM” only comes off as “JTHM is the only gothy comic I've ever read, therefore all gothy comics look the same to me” or that you love that comic so much, you're projecting that onto mine to find connections where there aren't any.
Sorry to pop your balloon, but he is not one of my influences.
He's a unique artist and I'll give him credit for doing good work, but he is just not one of the people I've found to make an impact on the way I draw or write my comic. I know other people who're sick of getting this treatment too.
To give you an idea, I'd just rather hear you say you think the comic stinks than accuse me of taking ideas from other people. At least I can be original and fail, instead of succeed at being someone else.
Just a word of advice for the future, some artists may well bite your head off if you say the same thing to them. While this does top my list of pet peeves, I hope you can see I'm not blowing up at you and yelling in anger. I'm just frustrated.
(And it's giving me Freudian nightmares so cut it out!)
kiwi bird at 6:18PM, June 14, 2007
hey did you ASK Calvin for that transmogrifier? HMM!? I think you stole it, you baad girl.
Shikiro at 5:54PM, June 14, 2007
Ames! XD wow... u must be REALLY busy when you script, draw, ink, color, write REALLLY long authors notes, respond to comments, and still manage to have a life 0_0 "bows down to the goddes of multitasking*
nerdsareinvading at 4:58PM, June 14, 2007
holy crap...i have completely read this comic in 2 days...it is very well done though, i am definately faving this...
Amelius at 3:47PM, June 14, 2007
@CrazyOldwizard: Aw, I had a splitting headache at the time! (and I was supposed to be doing other things...hehe) don't worry, you're post meant something to me too! I meant to tell you though, that long responses don't bother me in the least (I like them!) and you're never a bother! So don't think that, okay? Or you'll get E-hugged. ^_^ Awakened1: Actually, yes that is a big part of it unfortunately. I've been a fan all my life of violent cartoons and such, and it bothers me a bit too...
Clayton_n at 2:02PM, June 14, 2007
Wow, Amy is hot!
CrazyOldwizard at 2:01PM, June 14, 2007
funny 5 people didnt get a reaction and ofcourse iam one of them^^. ah well, cant win them all.
Awakened1 at 1:54PM, June 14, 2007
Hey, is comparisons to JTHM the reason why you moved away from so much of the random violence? Or maybe its just me.
yarev at 1:30PM, June 14, 2007
Your comic is funny. JTHM is...disturbing more than anything else.
Red Slayer at 11:17AM, June 14, 2007
I could swear i already postedin here... Nevermind, words of hope and wellbeing as usual.
Shikiro at 11:08AM, June 14, 2007
OMG wow... amy, u teh winz!! i cant believe you responded to everyone *.* WOW. but yeah. ur style is better, cuz it doesnt make my eyes bleed. that other guys does. buut though i understand how incredibly frustrating that would be, you cant let people get to you. after all, ur work DOES resemble his. in the sense that they both have ink. technically, i could say tha your style resembles Watsukis, since both rok, and both have rond lines :P feel ree to unload though. if youve been holding it in for a while, just tell us all about! we r a lovings audience. but seriously, even though everyone is influenced by art around them, i think is a mistake to compare peoples art, since its always uniquge. unless you are tracing. even if oyu are TRYING to make your art look like someone elses, it will always have a personal touch. sooo, that being said, just remember that you cant ev er be anything but unique in the way you draw. :D PS: We lovers you mmuchly ames!
Red Slayer at 11:05AM, June 14, 2007
Y'know? Sometimes is better to just sit back and smell the roses. Os stomp on them.
Red Slayer at 11:03AM, June 14, 2007
Y'know? Sometimes is better to just sit back and smell the roses. Os stomp on them.
Oriru at 10:44AM, June 14, 2007
It is true that I am lazy at reading stuff especially if they are not in to a comic format. XD But I wouldn't ever compare other comic to another. You typed out so much... My brain hurts. D:
Zane Solomon at 9:50AM, June 14, 2007
i know a good deal of goths try to hang out at the graveyards here. but they arent allowed anymore. the emo kids hang out at the gas stations(we have 2 abandoned gas stations).the emo kids have the newer abandoned gas station and the goths have the old 76 station.
Cheeko at 9:23AM, June 14, 2007
I get the same BS, only it's not with JTHM! I know how frustrating it is. People keep comparing my stuff to anime/manga or generally anything from Japan, or think it's the same thing. I've spent my ENTIRE LIFE developing MY OWN style and way of drawing, and to have it compared to something or someone else who I'VE NEVER HEARD OF or have NO INTEREST IN drives me absolutely insane. I have to shut up to keep from ranting some more.
Grater at 9:01AM, June 14, 2007
Amy cult members ^^
peron at 8:31AM, June 14, 2007
OMG! Did You just Reply to EVERYONE?? Thats awsome! You must have spent a long time on all those.
anonymous at 5:09AM, June 14, 2007
yea, any of youse buttheads who says anything about Amy will get *thumps chest* ME to deal with!! lol ;D
angelexperiment at 4:30AM, June 14, 2007
Just ignore them Amy. I'm glad you did this though, even if it has interrupted the story. You've found a wonderful, comical way to make people listen to you. I know it's a serious matter for you but I found this page funny. You know you haven't copied from it, WE, your loyal cult members...i mean fans, know you havne't, so isn't that all that matters? If anyone here is reading this who keeps harrassing Amy, BOG OFF! Get a life and stop insulting people. If you don't like this comment (FREAK!) then don't read or message in any way. Go away and leave Amy alone to entertain the decent people. Sorry for ranting, didn't know what to say but I kept getting more ideas, I apologise. Keep strong Amy! We're all here for you.
Amelius at 2:39AM, June 14, 2007
@Nikai Nockturne: Thatsa what I am a doin' ^_^ Otherwise I'd keep shuddering and ruining my line art, which I do when I'm upset over something. It felt good to get that all out! @Kilroy:Well put! And I did think of that, the drawing actually predating JTHM, but for me to claim he's copying me would be similarly pointless, as he lives almost completely on the other side of the US coast, so he wouldn't have seen my grade-school scribbles anyway. (or the pipe-cleaner version I made of the same character) @Uber Toadman: I wouldn't say better, just very different. I'd consider his comic more for a mature audience, I consider CTV a little more...well, lighthearted in some cases. Deraymou: I do like the support and all, I just didn't want this to turn into some sort of angry mob however. I want people to think for themselves on this, but I also want them to trust me. I feel that my very integrity was put into question on this issue, so I felt the need to defend myself once again. I like having support...but I don't want anyone to be a "yes ma'am" because they think that is what I want to hear. I have far too much respect for everyone here to think that they are doing that, however. I like the evidence to speak for itself I guess.^_^ Oh, you are ADD too? @Shaneronzio: Nooo! it looks like that one other comic! ^_^ @xxx NightWing: Let us all hope so! At any rate, I'll abstain from mentioning it from henceforth. No prob about the not rating, this page is kinda crappy anyway ^_^ I mighta done well to mention that too. TheTim: I'm working on a button for it, but I've been busy with like a million things lately T_T plus I'm kinda clueless with HTML. Booyah, the Grinch! I loved that character, see you know me pretty well don't ye ^_^ @Awakened1: I know, the poor horse...it's really stuff in the archives that I get this on,while that does sound like troll mentality, I honestly do think it's different people. I had this problem on the old Duck too, but not as bad as recent times. It's not that it's been all at once, but accumulative. I guess it was just that straw on the camel's back thing. Seriously, I still agonize over something that happened last year, as freshly as if had happened yesterday! (in fact, it might be the actual year anniversary that a former fan back-stabbed me!) @Sea Cow: mmm, I know what you mean but like I said, those old pages predate my JTHM knowledge. Wolfer was just being sarcastic, the actual reason I started this is buried in the archives...but I don't intend to victimize anyone over this, so I'm not linking it. Foxy: Actually, those are just her eyes shut in the Vasquez-smily-squinty-eyes way. They kinda remind me of boomerangs...anyway, that's one of those dead giveaways of Vasquez-inspiration, along with square...parts. Pupils, ears, tongues...they're all squared. There's a lot of geometric shapes in his art, while mine is decidely rounder and "meatier" if you will... @sylver: I can't give that away now, but I think the next page is some of my better inkwork in a while on a particular character! And, it's all in my head, I tried keeping notes before but I couldn't read my handwriting at all (and they were too vague!) I do a lot of scanning over my own work, and a lot of time fine-tuning storyarc ideas. I like to keep things open and spontaneous, too. Also, I still have a large backlog of old comics I keep in a big binder, that has the original pages of almost every comic that I posted on this site (the majority of CTV has an old twin, because I re-drew pages for online, and some were better than the updated versions!)and quite a few storyarcs that I haven't redrawn or have yet to use. I've got some of thes old ones that I didn't update on here in my forum, too.
Amelius at 2:03AM, June 14, 2007
@Top Hat: Now now, this isn't meant to make anyone feel bad...I just think they haven't seen a lot of the wonderful works that have inspired me instead of just JTHM(or Invader Zim). Nor have they met my Grandpa! @peron: nobody is criticizing me per se, just commenting in my archives on certain pages that I've taken great measures to explain (thanks to pre-crash comments before, too). The only one I'd call a criticism would be the fellow who asked when the comic stops being a JTHM ripoff and starts having a story...that, was uncalled for and unkind! John the guard: heh, thank you for the support, but don't get angry at them! I wouldn't say jealousy really, just misunderstandings. @Sea Cow: Aww, 'tis okay! No doom shall be brought upon you. I'm not like, super ticked or anything, and it wasn't you who got me on this topic either. It's waaay back in the archives. I won't link it though, I don't want people bearing down on them for an honest misunderstanding. @angel of music: If anyone give you trouble, send them to me and I'll straighten them out! Really, I think it's great to see another alp in a comic! Tony would love the company ^_^ Besides, I didn't come up with them, so it'd be silly for anyone to say you're copying me. I'm copying Teutonic folklorists after all ^_^ @emjee: another excellent point there! I'd like to think CTV's cast is a little more...well, to me at least, realistic. I got a lot of CTV from observing my friends and their relationships, but take all the fancifulness, CTV is a bit like life for me. @Jimeth: hehe, that's fine! we've been in the eternal party for ehhhver now...I'm kinda getting antsy for the next story arc, to be honest! @Zolah: I know, I do regret doing this, I had my reservations, but since I had the next page practically finished already (and a certain comment pushed me right over board) I decided to do this. I want it out there, where everyone who reads this can see it, so it will stop affecting my work. When I'm upset, I tremble, and it was messing my line art up. You don't sound mean at all Zolah, it is my deepest regret that my friends have to witness this awful deja-vu all over again. I tried to make it somewhat entertaining though...I just hate interrupting my story for this! I plan to scoot this down before the arc however, if I can. @Kioushan: Precisely! Well said, unless it's like blatant art theft, it's better to err on the side of caution. or else you get the author to do awful rants like this, and the people waiting for the story line will get angry at youse. ^_^ @Zane Solomon: you got it! They hang out at the gas station?
Amelius at 1:38AM, June 14, 2007
@nrbonner: So sorry I spelled your name wrong in the last post! *is ashamed* Razzy Jazz: thank you! Yes, I know how it can be with some folks addicted to a fandom...I saw some links someone put up in a forum somewhere, and it was only met with comments like "it's not as good as Zim!" or the like...Zim is a cartoon, not a comic! I don't eat a candybar and go "it's not as good as horseback riding" (huh, that doesn't seem as odd to me but still) it's like stuff by Vasquez can only be number one priority at all times for them, lest they fall out of the "biggest fan" category. It seems a little crazy to me...I'm not that hurt if someone's not CTV's biggest fan, I realize there's far better works out there. It's okay to be a casual fan of something! I'm a casual fan of Zim myself, so I'm not going to stack everything in my life to compare against it! @ man in black: That must be it! Haha, very good observation ^_^ (btw, your name makes me think of the Dark Tower books...probably because I'm just now reading them) Elleestmort: Aww, why'd ya have ta go an say that? I hope you're kidding... @Willowwanderer: Ah, I heard you mention that before! I wasn't aware it was that which they were accusing you of though. I love your art style! Someone said they didn't like my comic because it was "too Japanese". Hmm, some people *shakes head* Shiori Tsumi: 'tis a reasonably understandable mistake to make, I'd be crazy if I said they were so different people would be crazy to mistake them! There's just other antenna-hair characters out there too that I've noticed, and I'd welcome some comparison to them sooner than to JV ('cuz it would be something different at least). I'm really glad you trust me though! @Azaeziel: Ah, the claw dates back to the early days of CTV when I drew myself in more often! I represented my primary drawing hand as a demonic, sentient parasite-claw (kinda like Vampire Hunter D, with no face) because I have a mysterious pain in my wrist that has gone undetermined in the cause. It's not carpal tunnel, a cyst, a bone spur...results are always inconclusive, but dang does it ever hurt! (warm weather especially irritates it) @evil incarnate: Ah, good ol' Theodore Geisel opened my mind to a vast imagination, mythical beasts and whimsical nonsense... it's subtle, like most of my influences; but his visual style had a great impact on me. I loved how things could be cute but at the same time mildly frightening (at least to me they were!) *I'm still typing!*
Amelius at 1:16AM, June 14, 2007
@ Anonymous: Reeeeal classy there! Perhaps you have a respectful dissenting opinion? You're anonymous anyway, I'd like to hear it, unless you mean me some extreme disrespect all around. Dragonchan: Thank you for proving my point! JTHM is mostly about the revenge, the unpleasant people,insanity, murder the cussing (oh is there EVER cussing! Except you have me wrong there, there's no swear words in CTV) and a main character completely bereft of morals... Not a single character in CTV's cast is THAT horrible! Even crazy Zeno wasn't "off the wall insane OMG chihuahuas are watching me!" And revenge is a tale as old as time, folks. Vasquez isn't the first person to think about awful things happening to someone who was extremely rude to them. Argh I can't think of the movie but there have been a few where some guy fantasizes about beating up his boss...heck, even Scrubs does that kinda thing! Frost: Nah, it says "this is painful" because I had an awful time drawing this, also my wrist was throbbing something fierce (is now too) yeah, I got some interesting ones for Star Trek too. ^_^ @nbonner: But that is my point, any comic could have something in common with another! Again, there's no vulgarity in CTV, I don't swear in real life, and I won't dare type cussing either. I wouldn't show JTHM to my grandparents, but I share CTV with them, so I think there's a biiig difference between the 2 of us. I get what you're saying though and I agree with you, it's just that again, I can draw these similarities to stuff in the newspaper or the Marvel section just as easily. I do know it's the old comics that give them the idea (I might have done well to clarify by drawing my old style there too, but I'm too stuck on this current one I ended up with thanks to these very same people). It's just that the theme of "killing people" isn't a new or novel idea. And he's a vampire for goodness sakes, that's what they do! My theme is an innocent-looking killer, with dubious morals albeit, but he's not a complete nut either. Plus, the 2 comics you mention: Charby kills a pedophile, inspired by a drive-by I witnessed (some guy driving with his knees, guess where his hands were? Not on the wheel...) and Chicken Ripoff,it goes along with the character's personality (he likes chicken) so there's nothing out of the ordinary to draw comparison, except the fact that there was someone in an animal suit. Given, this is common for any advertising (my mom has a picture of a friend wearing a chicken suit at work, handing out candy to kids!) JV seems to have an affinity for putting his characters in those all the time. That one's a gimme, but not exactly darn-ing evidence.(yes I censored that!) Summing it up, you bring up some good point there. *more in a bit*
Amelius at 12:47AM, June 14, 2007
@Mannick Maniac: now now, no fighting, I agree with her on that sentiment. I just wish I COULD drop it so easily. I can see how the comic itself got popular though, don't get me wrong, I do like JV's stuff, but not to the point where I had this big revelation that I should start lifting ideas from him. To give you a time frame, I found out about JTHM around the time...oh, say, after 280 pages of the crayon & bic run (the storyline I was on was Zeno being tested with the scythe by Zerlocke, right before Mye got her bunny-curse) By then, random adventures were few and far in between. All my stuff that predates knowing about JTHM is all the stuff that gets the heaviest comparison. @telruya: True, it is a manga hybrid, but my earlier crap is what people are so on about. I think they'd never watched Ren & Stimpy before.(back before they screwed it all up, that is.) @ecchi kitty: Hehe, actually Charles Schulz has been a big figure in my life, so that accusation wouldn't be too far from the truth. And, I'd be unreasonable to not admit there's small similarities...as long as they aren't talking about proportions and writing, even my old semi-chibi stuff didn't look close to his. None of his short characters even have necks it looks like...but you're right, any comic could come under such scrutiny that a comparison could manifest. I've seen syndicated comics use the same exact jokes as me! I'm not flying off the handle accusing them of taking my ideas, however. A good example I can provide for similarities is a graphic novel I read recently, "rising Stars:Born in Fire, chapter 4 has a scene almost identical to the comic where Hexavier resurrects his kitten. The issue was printed before my comic was made, but that doesn't mean I saw it and copied it, it just means someone else had the same idea as me. Heck, browse around Deviant Art, and all your "original ideas" will get shot to pieces! T_T *to be continued again*
Amelius at 12:25AM, June 14, 2007
@Wolfer: Youse big silly ^_^ I admit, I was wonderinf if I'd get a comment like that! @ReaperEX and ImToHot: Wolfer noticed, it was just a bit of silliness to lighten up the mood methinks. Kali: My deepest apologies for upsetting you...I think it's getting old too, but this is getting to the point where it's affecting my work, so I needed to get it off my chest. i meant to do this long ago, actually to append it to the first page in fact, but those who said this won't go back there again, eh? I swear it, now that this is here, it won't be needed again. @Watlende: An excellent point, and that is precisely why I tried to handle it as bluntly yet deleicately as I could. I don't want anyone to feel horrible for saying these things, but I am quite miffed that they don't think I have a single original thought in my head! Heck, there was a CTV episode with vampire watermelons, just recently I found 2 other people with the same idea! It just confuses me why of all goth-ish comics that could be similar to mine, they choose one that's the least! *more to come after this*