News & Updates Lora on 19 Nov 2009 11:30 pm
New Pages- 24 & 25!
I’m glad that everyone liked last week’s update! This week we have Pages 24 & 25- and next week will bring an end to Issue #8!
(I posted a 13-step color tutorial for this page over at The Dreamer Fan Flow! If you haven’t signed up yet, Mike added the Fan Flow to the sidebar with the other off-site links, so you’ll always know where to find it.)
I have several pieces of Dreamer News to highlight this week! First, the Web Cartoon Reader’s Choice Awards went on as planned last week after all, and I won the “Author Congeniality” award! Thanks so much for all the love and devotion, everyone. I really value all of you, and all the emails and encouragement you give me, and this just adds to the list of why I love my readers so much. :)
On the topic of the WCRCAs, I would also like to note that General Howe was voted the second most devious villain (Xylia’s Tychia is a worthy winner in that category!), Nathan Hale is apparently the second most lovable sidekick, Mike’s website is apparently the second best on the web (I’ll argue that one!) and I’m apparently the second best artist, lol. So thanks for all the runner-up love, too.
Onto serious news. If you haven’t heard about the Comic Creator’s Alliance yet, please read the previous blog post. Comic Creators are coming together to raise money and awareness for the problem of Human Trafficking in the world today. None of it is pretty, but ignoring it won’t go away. Right now we’re looking for creators to participate and people to spread the word! So please read my blog about it and check out the website. I think it’s a worthy cause.
And I’m really excited about the last bit of news– there will be some big changes for The Dreamer next issue. That’s right: I finally hired a colorist! Her name is Julie Wright, and she’s phenomenal! I met her at Mid-Ohio Con last month the guys from Studio Akumakaze introduced us and told me about the work she had done for them. For now, check out her DeviantART page here, and her official website here. And everyone give her a warm, Dreamer-family welcome!
What will the changes look like for The Dreamer? Not much, though I’m sure Julie will put her own twist on the colors. The biggest bit of news associated with this is that I’ll be taking a break after Issue #8 concludes next week and Issue #9 will start sometime in December. Not sure exactly when, but I’d rather break between issues for a few weeks, than keep missing updates like I did in this past issue.
You know me, I’ll be posting other goodies here for you to check out each week in the meantime, including a ‘get to know you’ interview with Julie!
On a final note, I’m taking commissions right now and have two spots left to fill. All the details are on my DeviantART journal, and you can shoot me an email if you want one of those slots.
All right, come back next Friday to see how we wrap things up! I’ve been working so hard on starting up the Comic Creator’s Alliance this week that I had nothing to update the voting incentive. So VOTE TWC this week just because you love me! And if not me, because you love Alan. Cause the poor chap looks like he needs some cheering up… (He wasn’t even voted second best protagonist like his friends…)
on 19 Nov 2009 at 11:52 pm 1.deb said …
Wheee. New pages. Again, it’s beautiful but I’m sure you know that. You’re really going all the way with your FanFlow. I WANT TO PAY 99 CENTS TOO! Haha. Can’t wait till I can register for a debit card.
Julie’s stuff look amazing (I checked out her sites), I’m sure she’ll do a great job. Can’t wait to see what they’ll look like on Dreamer pages since her style is so watercolour’y. :P
I think it’s a good idea for you to take breaks between issues. Kind of like a breather between exam papers. My major exam papers have about a 2 to 3 day interval break for the Science papers so it’s not too big a stress.
Congratulations on the runner up awards! Maybe next year The Dreamer will hit number one. Wouldn’t that be fun. Bea can finally make her acceptance speech. Haha.
Speaking of Bea, I’d love to see the look on her face if Ben magically appears out of no where. LOL
Ben: Bea! Who’s blondie over there?!
Alan: Beatrice, who is this man?! *death glares*
Bea: Huh? *hides hands behind back* Oh, uh, well, he’s… A FRIEND!
Ben: BUT YOU KISSED ME!
Alan: …
Bea: Yeah, well… oops.
on 20 Nov 2009 at 12:01 am 2.deb said …
I got too excited and forgot to comment on what I thought about Bea’s sudden ramble about Joseph’s kids. (Sorry) Looks like she’s been doing a lot of research… unless she said it without realising that she ‘remembers’ them. Alan on the other seems to feel like maybe a part of him dies when he kills those soldiers or he’s reminded of Joseph’s death again and again.
on 20 Nov 2009 at 12:09 am 3.Beatrice said …
Oh, Bea. I’m with deb — I can’t decide if she did the research, or if she actually thought she remembered them… exciting update this week, in its own way!
I voted for the Dreamer on all of them! D: Except for Tychia. Which was totally deserved. <3 And of course you’re the most congenial! You talk to everyone! X’3 It’s really, really pretty sweet.
on 20 Nov 2009 at 12:21 am 4.Elle said …
How many cousins of Alan’s are in this war? I had to go back and reread the beginning because I was getting a bit confused with all the Dr. Warrens we’ve been hearing about ^_^
on 20 Nov 2009 at 12:30 am 5.Caera said …
Bea’s remembering? Ohhh!!!! lol And yeah, I’m not surprised Nathan didn’t win best sidekick….BECAUSE HE’S TOO FREAKIN’ AWESOME TO EVEN BE CONSIDERED A SIDEKICK! lol
And I don’t care what anyone says, Mike, your site is the best!!!! If I had any money I’d hire you to help me make a website. :P
Oohhh I want a commish so bad, but my paycheck was sorry this past week…
on 20 Nov 2009 at 12:39 am 6.Catiris said …
I’m so excited for this last update! This is the first time Bea has remembered anything from her 1700’s past, right?
It makes me soooo eager to see what happens. I also love the night lighting and your amazing drawing skills in the two page spread. Holy moly I don’t know how you had the patience for that. I definitely saw that last update as a three page update, if not more!
on 20 Nov 2009 at 12:57 am 7.Brianna said …
O.M.G. Ahh!! Has this been the first time Bea has realized anything like this? OMG. I’m excited! haha
I love all the hidden moments between Bea and Alan, so lovely.
And definitely go and take that break Lora! You deserve it! Eat some turkey, maybe eat an apple pie or two :)
on 20 Nov 2009 at 1:54 am 8.Katie M said …
Awww, Alan. *pouts* <3 That’s a typical feeling in war, though, or so I’ve heard.
Now honestly, girl, I thought you were leading the plot-twists to a surprise attack by the British on Alan and Bea…but NO. lol. You’re adding remembrances! Hehe. That’s awesome. Can’t wait for next week.
Your colorist’s deviant page and portfolio look FANTASTIC! And I couldn’t help but notice she does a lot of historical work, which is of course, preferable in general, but for this comic especially. :D
Have a good week! And if you take Thanksgiving off, just be sure to draw some funny “Happy Thanksgiving” screenshot of a few of our favorite characters…that’d be pretty cool.
on 20 Nov 2009 at 2:24 am 9.Jamming said …
Lora looks like Webcomic Planet has absorbed the WCRCA at:
http://webcomicplanet.com/wcrca-2009/
on 20 Nov 2009 at 2:53 am 10.Christina said …
Wow! This series just keeps getting better and better! First off, kudos on Alan’s speech. I It actually got me teary eyed a little bit – which is damn impressive. Comics never do that to me!
And then to have Bea remember something! I wonder how that will affect things; will she start to remember more now? How will that affect her when she wakes back up? Heck, how will this chat with Alan affect her when she wakes back up? I suspect Ben’s about to be blown off again.
on 20 Nov 2009 at 4:17 am 11.Allison said …
I’m quite excited to find out how she’s “remembering” stuff all of a sudden.
…
The plot thickens…
on 20 Nov 2009 at 7:39 am 12.Gaby said …
I loved the up-dates this week. Poor Alan I want to hug him so badly. The drawings and expressions were lovely. Can NOT wait for more!
on 20 Nov 2009 at 8:04 am 13.Albone said …
Bea’s 1776 amnesia seems to be showing some cracks. I wonder if that will improve Alan’s mood or not, considering he seemed sort of relieved that she didn’t remember something that happened between them that wasn’t very cheery.
I used to try and figure this puzzle out, with Bea, but the more it goes on, the more I just want to sit back and enjoy the ride.
Poor Alan. The man is stressed! I’m happy that he knows the good sense between emo and brooding. XD But when the bullets start flying, he knows what to do.
And congratulations for the great showing in the WCRA Awards!
on 20 Nov 2009 at 8:33 am 14.rebecca said …
yOU SHOULD MAKE ops make history books like this.
How much fun would history class be if you could read comic books?
When i was in collage i took art history and learned much more than only dusty old people and dates. it gives something to link an ear with.
Yey keep up the good work.
on 20 Nov 2009 at 9:26 am 15.mason010 said …
ZOMG SHE’S REMEMBERING?!?! or is she????? i guess we will have to wait to find out! I hope she is, and not just cheating by google-ing his family name and such.
Lora and Mike!! ROCK ON with the WCRA Awards! 2nd is better then not placing. I voted “The Dreamer” all the way!!!!
on 20 Nov 2009 at 9:43 am 16.Rose said …
Okay. This is simply an awesome twist for the story to take!
on 20 Nov 2009 at 10:14 am 17.Trevor said …
Fantastic colors again. The news of a new colorist is very exciting. Checking out their website, it’s a rather different style from what you’ve been using so far.
The justification for killing is an interesting one to analyze in fiction. And it really helps define a character, how they react to death – either around them or by their own hand. Alan here is revealing a piece of himself that we haven’t seen before, and it seems to be disconcerting to Bea.
But ah, the return of some memories. How you tease us readers, so. ;)
on 20 Nov 2009 at 10:40 am 18.Chris C. said …
I’m a new reader to The Dreamer, I took the time a couple days to ago to sit and read through the entire archive and I must say this comic is nothing short of fantastic. Props are in order for Albone of Rival Angels fame (whom I believe I saw lurking about in other comment sections on here) for his bringing this comic to my attention.
It seems I have another reason to always look forward to Friday.
on 20 Nov 2009 at 11:22 am 19.Mari said …
Awesome update! I haven’t commented in a long time, but I’m reading every week and enjoying it tremendously.
For some reason, I don’t think Bea googled Alan’s family. I think after the shock of ‘Warren’s Death,’ she wouldn’t want to face having to read about Alan’s potential death a second time, and in Bea’s universe, if the 1776 she sees is real and not a fantasy, Alan probably would be on wikipedia as a relative of Joseph Warren at least if not for his own merits. (Does this make sense? What I mean is, either the 1776 Bea goes to is the *real* 1776 in her world – obviously not in ours since you so brilliantly invented Alan (or did you? ;-) – or the 1776 Bea goes to is not real, but only happening in her mind.) Bea, however, does, I think, assume that it is real and that, therefore, Alan and his death might well be on wikipedia. And I think that whether consciously or unconsciously, she’s been avoiding to check him out and find out he died in the War. To take this even further, she might just as well have found out that she herself was a historical figure … depending on what you have decided Bea’s fate and history are. Now that would be weird to read about I assume, but I don’t think Bea has thought it through so far.
As to how Bea knows about Betsy and Jose, my first guess was that Alan himself had mentioned them, but he seems so surprised that either he forgot he told her about them – or he wants to think her memory is coming back and doesn’t realise he told her. Else, Nathan might have mentioned them. Or, Bea’s memory of 1776, whatever her connection is, is indeed coming back. I don’t suppose you want to tell us right now, do you?
Sorry for this long rambling, but I had to theorise.
Yay for another issue almost finished!
on 20 Nov 2009 at 11:27 am 20.Jen aka Takada Saiko said …
Wow, that was amazing this week… Alan’s deepest thoughts, the fact that he could tell Bea, and the fact that she is remembering things!!! Brilliant!! *happy*
on 20 Nov 2009 at 12:48 pm 21.Seanan said …
YAYYYYYY Congratulations on the awards and runner-ups!!!! They were so well-deserved. Also, these pages are intense….. They look quite beautiful, and they set the mood well. I especially like that lighting-from-below from the water. <3
on 20 Nov 2009 at 12:55 pm 22.Lora said …
@Deb: Ben and Alan meeting could not end well. XD I like Bea’s “Ooops” though! ;)
@Beatrice: Thanks for the votes. :) And Tychia is a way better villain than General Howe. I was glad she won!
@Elle: There are two doctor Warrens, I know, confusing. One is Joseph Warren (dead) the other is John Warren (alive). The both start with ‘J’ which just makes it all worse. Joseph Warren (dead) was one of the ringleaders of the Revolution, one of the most influential men in starting the war, and Sam Adam’s closest friend and ally in the cause. John Warren (alive) was the youngest of the Warren boys, he studied medicine under his big brother, and after Joseph was killed at Bunker Hill, he joined the army as a surgeon. He’s the one Alan has been trying to track down so he can take a look at Bea. I hope that made things clearer, and not more confusing!!
@Caera: Nathan needs his own mini-series or something. ;)
@Catiris: The only other time Bea has remembered something was that brief flash in Issue #2 when she dozed off in Science Class.
@Katie: The hard thing about this story is that I can’t add any surprise British Attacks… at least, they’re not a surprise to the history freaks on this site. :) And about Julie, yes, when I saw all her WWII stuff it was instant love.
@Christina: the first comic I ever read made me cry. (http://www.thexaxis.com/indexes/uncannyxmen/303.htm) When I realized comics had that kind of power, I knew I had to make them! As for poor Ben, well, I hope Bea doesn’t blow him off. :( If she does, Yvette just needs to make a move before Shantel does. ;)
@Rebecca: I know some teachers who are using The Dreamer in the classroom–how cool is that? :D
@Mason: Thanks fo the votes! :)
@Chris C: Welcome!! Albone is a regular in the comments here, and more. He actually helps me color on a regular basis!
@Mari: No, nothing is going on between the scenes that the readers don’t know about. So… this scene isn’t meant to infer that a conversation about the Warren kids took place off camera. Bea seems to be remembering something all on her own, because, you’re right in all your reasons: she’s not googling Alan again anytime soon!
on 20 Nov 2009 at 1:23 pm 23.Angie said …
Woah! I wasn’t expecting memories! Well, I was, but not today, and it was so awesome that it happend I was still shocked!
I’m also hyperventilating at the thought of a Nathan mini-series. DO IT!
Actually… huh?
@ Julie – Welcome! :)
on 20 Nov 2009 at 3:35 pm 24.Amber said …
Hearty congratulations on both counts and a Hip Hip Huzzah from me!You deserved that award! I thought I would just say this: poor Bea, she seems to get her memory back but then forgets again. My symapthies to Alan too, it must have been hard on him to lose a friend like that. It makes me wonder how he is going to react when… (shuts mouth and does not say anymore.) Wait a minute, did someone mention a Nathan mini-series??? 0__0
on 20 Nov 2009 at 3:51 pm 25.Caera said …
Let’s see, when would I have time to make Nathan’s miniseries? *looks at schedule…*
Oh did you see the new journal in the NHFC on DeviantArt? I put it up a while ago. I’m surprised that no one’s commented on it but Jen and myself.
on 20 Nov 2009 at 4:56 pm 26.Donna said …
Woah! Very deep and inspiring pages. Keep up the good work! And, btw I’m glad you’re putting up tutorials of how your pages are done! :))
on 20 Nov 2009 at 6:11 pm 27.Erin said …
Congrats on the awards and runner-ups!! :D
I really love the lighting on these pages. And Alan’s talk… Personally, I’ve never talked to a soldier about their experiences in war, but we’ve discussed the sort of post-war effects on people in history classes and just in the past week we’ve talked about it very much so in my literature class since we’re reading The Sun Also Rises right now, and this just reminds me of all that…
As for Bea remembering Betsy and Jose… Oh my gosh!!! D8 Combine everything that happened this day, and I think she’ll be pretty distracted when she wakes up! =P
New colorist huh? Pretty cool! I checked out some of her work and they look amazing! I’m curious to see how her style will look with yours ^^ And what’s this? Hetalia and Phoenix Wright fan art?? … I like her already!! lol
Still spreading the word about your Comic Creator’s Alliance! This really is a great cause, and an often overlooked one, at that. Looks like you’ve almost met your 50 creators goal! :D
Yes, take a break!! You deserve a rest at least once in a while! And speaking of which, have a great weekend! ;)
on 21 Nov 2009 at 9:20 am 28.Rae said …
Ohh, Bea is remembering…or is she? This is exciting! I also enjoyed Alan’s little speech, although it was sad. I liked it though because it seems very realistic. I cannot know for certain since I don’t have any friends from the army, but I am sure even soldiers today go through something similar to what Alan is when they go out onto the battlefield and do what needs to be done.
Congrats on the runner-up spots :) Also, sad to hear there will be a break between issues, but I can’t blame you. Afterall, everyone deserves a break.
on 21 Nov 2009 at 6:53 pm 29.phr34kish said …
Hey, I know Julie. By association, but we’ve talked before. It’ll be interesting to see how her coloring meshes into your comic. Most of what I know of her art is more of a painted feel. Hopefully it’ll go well!
Looking forward to the results! :D
on 22 Nov 2009 at 3:26 am 30.deb said …
Oh wait! Does this mean all colours on the Dreamer from here on out will be by Julie only?
on 23 Nov 2009 at 8:54 am 31.Lora said …
@Caera: I have it bookmarked but I haven’t watched it yet. One day… when I have a spare moment I will!
@Erin, Phr34kish, Deb: re: Julie’s colors. Julie’s style is really different from mine, but when I saw her work I could instantly tell that she really understood color, and knew how to use it to tell a story. Which isn’t something I could say of other people’s work, even if their ’style’ was closer to mine. She’s working on trying to match the existing Dreamer style, and has done a couple tests already. It’s one of the reasons I wanted a break–so she had time to feel comfortable with the style we’re going to be working with before she had to meet a bunch of deadlines. When I got hired on at my last job, my boss said to me, “You know how to do draw–the rest I can teach you.” So I was looking for someone like that when I was searching for a colorist.
@Deb: No, it doesn’t mean she’ll be doing the colors forever, but she will for Issue #9. We’ll see after that, whether she wants to keep doing it, lol, and whether I can afford it.
on 24 Nov 2009 at 4:48 pm 32.Brent said …
Why oh why can’t this be real history? Sigh….
And I am so like whoa at her remembering people she doesn’t know. Guess this is an argument for not thinking before you speak, or maybe for hypno-therapy (hey, if she gets that in the 21st century and they ask what she remembers, I wonder if she’ll give 18th century memories….).
on 24 Nov 2009 at 5:13 pm 33.Rebecca said …
Are you doing a thanksgiving comic strip?
on 24 Nov 2009 at 7:53 pm 34.Lora said …
Sadly, no. :( I’m just trying to get the update done by tomorrow. You all could… reread the Thanksgiving Day short story! :)