Oct 31 2008
Webcomic #21: Dancing in the Kitchen
I'm a former assistant editor with advice about how to write novels, comic books and graphic novels. Most of my content applies to fiction-writing in general, but I also provide articles specifically about superhero stories.
WEBCOMIC INDEX — FIRST COMIC — PREVIOUS COMIC — NEXT COMIC
WEBCOMIC INDEX — FIRST COMIC — PREVIOUS COMIC — NEXT COMIC
Poor thing! I’d be thinking of different ways to hurt him. Chainsaw, rocket launcher, killer squirrels…
I also feel a bit bad for Agent Black. Judging from the first frame, he appears to be having an epileptic seizure, or maybe like he’s shivering really hard.
B. Mac, I’m just curious to know- what age group is Superhero Nation aimed at?
That’s a great question and I should have a more consistent and articulate answer for it than I do.
In my cover letter, I will say that my comic book is aimed at guys aged ~18-25. Comic book publishers are comfortable working with that demographic and it makes sense for an office comedy where the main protagonist is a guy aged 24.
In actuality, I think that the audience situation is more complicated. Most of the people that have signed up on the mailing list are aged 14-17. Most of the people that have signed up are ladies. But I don’t feel comfortable listing either as part of the target audience, lest an editor say something like “umm, that makes no sense– why would a tween girl want to read an office comedy about a guy old enough to teach at her junior high school?”
I have some theories, but nothing I’d feel comfortable presenting to a publisher yet. The violence and language are pretty tame. There isn’t any cheesecake (softcore porn).
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My writing advice is targeted at readers around 16-25. I assume that my typical readers are early in their writing career, have not read many publishing industry blogs or guidebooks, and are more familiar with the expectations of English classrooms than the publishing industry. I try to avoid throwing around publishing buzzwords and acronyms (POV, MC, 1PN, etc).
PS: My knowledge about women can be summarized in these two songs: this (:36-:39) and this. Perhaps this is why I’ll never write a romance!
Thanks for the reply! ^_^ I was just curious. I think one of the reasons SN appeals to younger audiences is because, as you said, there isn’t much bad language, and the violence is comedic and light rather than hard and graphic. Plus, while it’s an office comedy, it’s a situation younger people can relate to as well. (No… no, not working for a mutant alligator.) Dealing with a difficult superior is a situation most people can sympathize with.