Is this EPIC?

Okie · Post by **Okie** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 8:53 pm

On the guide, one of the options was Epic. What does this mean to other people?

I call Roughies an Epic Comic of Hobo Surrealism. My first storyline was 63 strips over 10.5 weeks. My second is turning out slightly longer.

I have several later storylines conceptualized, but no outlines. The next story, and more of the later ones will be very short, between 12-25 strips. As readers of Roughies may have guessed recently, the main characters are not limited to the modern day. I wanted to tell history without Time Travel or endless storytelling, so future storylines will feature "similar" characters throughout Oklahoma's colorful history. It should be very interesting. Especially coming up with brainwashed people throughout history, and ways a woman can dress like a cat.

Episode 1: On the Nature of Stuff Modern, introduction to the characters, Fay's origin is revealed.
Episode 2: Welcome to Heavener 11th Century, Oklahoma's controversial history comes to light.
Episode 3: Is Okie Okay? Modern, reveals Okie's origins
Episode 4: The Garbage From Whence You Came Modern, The Landfill gives birth to a monster...

Land-runs, outlaws, Plains tribes, fur-traders, , serial killers, shopping carts, Nazis, Miniature Golf, Mound-Builders, and much, much more.

The further storylines will explore more than 1,000 years of Oklahoma history (possibly 65 million years more), expressed through the actions of a squirrel, a girl in a cat suit, a brainwashed girl, and an opossum. (and piles of dirt filled with stuff). There will literally be a cast of thousands (more than 6,000 at the Battle of Fernandina alone), At least 10 languages, and a handful of gods... Roughies will deal heavily in the present, and even take at least one trip into the future. All animals will be animals found in Oklahoma. All foods will be foods found in Oklahoma. The rivers are Oklahoma rivers and the towns are Oklahoma towns. The Garbage is Oklahoma garbage!

Each of my episodes has been researched. Whether its eating Stroopwaffels and looking up Rembrandt self-portraits or learning all I could about the Arkansas Valley Caddoan Tradition and 11th Century Iceland, so that I could do my best to represent Wattle and Daub homes and the interior of a Norse Longhouse, if I didn't know what something looked like, I looked it up. If I wanted to use a Caddoan word, I learned how to pronounce it. Basically, any detail... I look it up. I look everything up and hope it shows in the strip. But I don't eat garbage, that I just have to imagine.

Terotrous · Post by **Terotrous** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 9:07 pm

I see epic as pertaining to drama comics that span many chapters with numerous characters and villians. I don't think it normally applies to "gag" or "comedic" comics.

Ly · Post by Ly » Wed Apr 21, 2004 9:16 pm

I agree with Terotrous. Epics, to me, are usually very dramatic and are somewhat of a rollercoaster ride (if that makes sense...) Plus, I don't think a comic can be epic if it's not fairly extensive in length and plot.

And that's a very nice plug you have, I like it.

Orion · Post by **Orion** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 9:38 pm

Typically epic comics/stories/books require that you start from the beggining, they have too much character building, plot lines, and other things to read without starting at the first.

Evil Jamie! · Post by **Evil Jamie!** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 10:57 pm

I'm epic.

Orion · Post by **Orion** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:02 pm

oh shush you. You're dead.

Joel Fagin · Post by **Joel Fagin** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:21 pm

Having read quite a few of the damned things, I will say only this...

Epics need a lot of comics up before they're plugged anywhere. Otherwise, the reader gets very little context or idea of what's going on. When lavish full colour pages are released once a week, the pace of the things at the beginning can be frustratingly slow. I'm sure it's a major turn-off for the average reader. At least gag strips give you a small reward for turning up every day (the gag).

Actually, I think they'd be better off released in issues. Imagine readin Spider-man at one page a week. You'd lose the thread real fast.

End of rant.

Definition? Pure stories, no gags and firmly within a known popular genre cliche (swords and sorcery, Star Warsey sci-fi, detective noir and so on).

- Joel Fagin

Mr Ekshin · Post by **Mr Ekshin** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:43 pm

Yes. It's EPIC. Should be promoted as such.

Sippan · Post by **Sippan** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 1:00 am

I always considered epic to be almost synonymous to "Unicorn Jelly".

Mr.Bob · Post by **Mr.Bob** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 2:11 am

As epic as your momma's ass.

LAGtheNoggin · Post by **LAGtheNoggin** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 3:32 am

- Last night!

Asarea · Post by **Asarea** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 4:18 am

Epic means a fluent storyline & character building and I don't see this in your your listing of episodes ... well, imagine Star Wars, all the films. They are epic.

PinDummy · Post by **PinDummy** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 4:32 am

According to encarta, an Epic also means "long series of events: a long series of events characterized by adventures or struggle".

Also, Brian calls his work "An Epic Comic", using "epic" as an adjective, giving it some or all of the Epic characterizations.

I don't see HOW Roughies cannot be called an epic comic.

Anasazi · Post by **Anasazi** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 8:55 am

I don't know . . . under that definition, anything that goes on for a long time with some thread of a plot is an "epic." Is Garfield epic? Well, it's got a lot of strips, but I'd be hard pressed to call it epic. I think if you're looking at comics, an epic needs to have some length, but also a far-reaching plot, involved themes, and a sense of a bigger universe out there.

Terotrous · Post by **Terotrous** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:00 am

Anasazi wrote:I don't know . . . under that definition, anything that goes on for a long time with some thread of a plot is an "epic." Is Garfield epic? Well, it's got a lot of strips, but I'd be hard pressed to call it epic. I think if you're looking at comics, an epic needs to have some length, but also a far-reaching plot, involved themes, and a sense of a bigger universe out there.

I think a key point is that there has to be some sort of consequence for virtually everything that happens in an epic. It's just the opposite of the "we're right back where we started" nature of say, The Simpsons. Epics build to stuff using complicated plot threads and events that happened a long time ago.

Okie · Post by **Okie** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:29 am

My grandiose plan... My comic will feature "manifestations" of the same characters throughout history. My inspiration for this is the Blackadder series where the same actors play very similar roles throughout the history of England.

In all time periods, the Opossum will be the anchor. He won't change. (Except Cretaceous/Pleistocene if I ever do those).

There will be a young woman who identifies herself with cats and dresses appropriately.

There will be a young woman who's identity is not wholly her own. She will have a mole and a cow-lick.

And there will be a Sciurid. What's a Sciurid? Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Mammalia, Order: Rodentia, Family: Sciuridae. Its from the Latin Word for Squirrel. Oklahoma has 13 kinds.

Most of the stories will take place in the modern period with the original 4 characters: Based in Green Country
An Eastern Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
A Girl in a Cat Suit
A Brainwashed Girl
An Opossum

11th Century: Based in Kiamichi Country
An Eastern Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger
A young Caddoan woman in a Mountain Lion Skin
The Caddoans' Adopted Daughter
An Opossum

I'm still writing up ideas for how to have Brainwashed and Cat people in history, but its surprisingly easy.

18th Century: Great Plains Country/Lake and Trail Country/Red Carpet Country
A Spotted Ground Squirrel Spermophilus spilosoma

19th Century (West): Red Carpet Country
A Rock Squirrel Spermophilus variegatus

19th Century (East): Green Country/Kiamichi Country
A Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Cynomys ludovicianus

1920's: Green Country
Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus

1940's: Frontier Country
A Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel Spermophilus tridecemlineatus

Tulsa 2025: Green Country
A Woodchuck Marmota monax

Ringling: Kiamichi Country
Southern Flying Squirrel. Glaucomys volans

Mr.Bob · Post by **Mr.Bob** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:40 am

Okie wrote:My grandiose plan... My comic will feature "manifestations" of the same characters throughout history. My inspiration for this is the Blackadder series where the same actors play very similar roles throughout the history of England.

*bows in reverence*

Blackadder was the greatest TV show ever!
I can't believe it came second place in the BBC "Britain's best Sitcom", giving way to Only Fools and horses!

K-Dawg · Post by **K-Dawg** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:41 am

Wow I can't wait until episode 3!

Mr.Bob · Post by **Mr.Bob** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:43 am

Will you kill them off after every generation???

Terotrous · Post by **Terotrous** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:55 am

Mr.Bob wrote:
Okie wrote:My grandiose plan... My comic will feature "manifestations" of the same characters throughout history. My inspiration for this is the Blackadder series where the same actors play very similar roles throughout the history of England.
*bows in reverence*

Blackadder was the greatest TV show ever!
I can't believe it came second place in the BBC "Britain's best Sitcom", giving way to Only Fools and horses!

Yes! Blackadder is the greatest!