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This is mainly one for the really hard-core readers who scroll all the way down on the main page, here. But since print was mentioned above (by me) I’ve been pondering it logistically. I wonder – is there a sweet spot for how long you’d be willing to read through for a single volume? The book is going to be twelve chapters, of various lengths, band so I could divide it in half, or into thirds, or into quarters (which was my original plan). The latter would put the page count at about 120 pages per book, the three-unit option would push it closer to 180, two-part option would be close to, or greater than, 320. This lays aside the question of extras, sketches, all those little data cards and tank specs, my own ridiculous musings in prose, and especially, the logistics of hardcover, softcover, print on demand versus regular print, and so on and so forth. So, like, why don’t YOU tell ME? What would you like to see? I’m thinking too hard here, and I have no idea what you may or may not want out of this, so why not give me your opinions?
So close. So very close now. And as I attempt to avoid freaking out in advance of the start of Season 2, I give you this piece of tomfoolery (matfoolery?) to tide you over until next week’s Fateful Day, when we gear up for another chapter of 6-Commando.
This week, I have a little bit of nitty-gritty to add to the mix, and it’s about RSS feeds. I can already imagine everyone’s eyes glazing over. But basically, there have been a lot of rumors floating about lately about Feedburner being on the chopping block over at Google, which owns the brand these days, and seems to have been making moves towards cutting the service off for some reason. I use Feedburner to run the stats on the RSS feed for this site, but unlike a lot of other users, I’m not dependent upon it, because it’s just picking up my site’s built-in RSS and redirecting it. So if Feedburner went away, I’d still have a feed, it would just revert to the original source address (which is http://www.viciousprint.com/6commando/?feed=rss2, I think). I’m not in a panic about it, but I know there are some people who like to get this comic delivered to them via RSS. To you, then, I say that I’m basically riding it out for the moment, and not dumping Feedburner (even though it’s been going wonky lately). If, however, your RSS feed is terminated unexpectedly, simply reset your subscription to the original RSS link and you should be back to normal. None of the content will be lost, since it’s all generated by my own RSS script, not by Feedburner.
Anyway, that’s all a lot of nonsense to me, but I wanted it to be out there, just in case. And to the rest of you, well… let me say, it was a grave temptation to start posting content this week, but I stuck it out, and now have about three or four weeks of “buffer” built up, which is comfortable. But man, this is going to be a wild couple of chapters. I hope you’re ready!
It’s getting really hard to find teasers that don’t give too much away, and after a certain point I have to show sketchwork instead of the actual page parts. But rest assured that things continue to progress!
This weekend I was traveling, though. Went to a wedding for two very good friends of mine from years back. They’re from Iran, as a matter of fact, followers of Baha’i and therefore a persecuted minority in that country. The groom’s father was kidnapped thirty years ago during the Islamic Revolution, and has never been heard from since; his uncle and several of his cousins and friends are currently prisoners of conscience in Iran. The bride’s parents were both prohibited from traveling to the United States for the wedding by the Iranian government. Both of them are practically persona non grata in their homeland. It was rather shocking, actually – religious liberty is the first and most essential of the protected rights of United States citizens, and one we’re most inclined to take for granted. The vast majority of the rest of the world doesn’t have that luxury, and I hadn’t truly understood the genuine extent of religious persecution in Iran or its effect upon my friends. And yet, the celebration was one of the happiest (and most raucous) events I’ve ever attended. And although I know they still love Iran and hope to return there someday, my personal hope is that they’ll be able to make a good and happy life in the United States, because we need good people like them here now more than ever. God bless both of you!
So, we’re still moving forward, here. October gets ever closer. Soon, folks, soon!
Very much still a work in progress, I am nevertheless moving forward at an acceptable pace with Chapter 4. That is to say, I finished the first page, which was a total blockbuster and took me positively forever. But I’ll just leave that for October. It’s done, leave it at that – and a month early. Or so.
Anyhow, I must apologize for being remiss in answering all the really kind posts and emails I got last week – I very quickly got snowed under at work and in comics-land, and I’m afraid I failed to keep up. But suffice it to say that public opinion, with about two vocal but very polite exceptions, has run very strongly in favor of the redirection of effort towards a quick launch of Season 2 and, although it means an effectively indefinite delay to printing the book, it means more good stuff every week, and that’s what I’m going for. I’m already feeling enthusiastic about the next chapter, and drawing it has been tough but very rewarding. I’m picking up the pace a bit, but I’ll say right now that, if necessary, I’ll reserve the right to go “irregular” on the schedule every once in a while to keep the quality at a standard I’m comfortable with. That’s my best compromise. I do promise however that I will be shooting for the weekly schedule, and at present, I feel very amply capable of it.
So anyhow. That’s my hedgey and á propos of nothing post for this week. Just to let you know that things are moving forward, and it’s all falling into place!
All the best, folks!
Well, folks, I’m in way over my head already, but Season 2 is being prepared even as we speak. And to keep you all interested, and a little bit teased, here’s a little bit to tantalize you.
I haven’t much to say this week, because not only to I have too much to do and nothing to announce in advance of the next season (nothing I haven’t said already, anyway), I also have an eye-splitting migraine headache. So I’m turning out the lights now and going to go try to sleep it off.
But you may rest assured that the next chapter is on the way! OH! And to everyone in the United States, happy Labor Day. Sit back, relax, and reflect on a job well done!
All the best!
