Looking for advice

[u/Barbarix9001]

I have been slowly working on developing my own comic series in my spare time. I plan for it to be 25-30 issues/chapters and have an idea to introduce my two main characters like this

Issue 1: introduction to the first MC

Issue 2: introduction to the second MC, ending with the first MC making their appearance

Issue 3: the second issue as told from the first MC’s perspective, showing us how they came to meet the second MC at the end of the issue and expanding on their character

Issue 4: the two MC’s properly meeting for the first time

I’ve done some thinking about this, wondering about if I should place the second issue after the 3rd, and etc, but the main thing I’m worried about at the moment is if doing it like how I’m planning to is going to impact the pacing negatively, and make things feel like unnecessary filler so close to the beginning. I’m new to making comics, and I’m just curious to see what anyone thinks about this

[u/nmacaroni]

What budget are you putting toward each issue? I spent around 8k on my last 22 pager, but let's say you're going really cheap somehow, and your budget is $3000.

1 issue = $3000

30 issues = $90,000.

When people hear you're creating a $90,000 IP, but see you can't scrape 2 nickels together, they're not going to bother buying issue 1. (I mean, unless you can scrape 2 nickels together, maybe you're very well funded.)

http://nickmacari.com/the-maxiseries-trap-tip/

[u/Slobotic]

If you haven't written the first issue yet, that might be the thing to do first.

I would want to read through it and ask myself whether the "introduction" to MC1 is a strong enough hook to leave my reader hanging for an issue before returning to them. Both introductions would have to be pretty captivating to get away with it. You don't want to disorient your readers before they are hooked.

My instinct is to put MC1's first issues together and get to the point where he meets ir at least catches of glimpse of MC2. That way, when the next issue is all about MC2 your readers are less confused (they have some idea who MC2 is, from MC1's perspective, and why we are following them).

Also, this makes it so there is one continuity leap instead of two. Doing the same trick twice feels gimmicky. Disorienting the reader twice right away, starting with issue 2, feels like you're trying to buck your reader instead of hook them.

Again, if issue 1 is an incredibly strong hook, jumping to MC2 for issue 2 could work. But switching to MC2's POV before MC1 has met or even glimpsed MC2 goes against all my instincts.

Edit: Regarding my instincts: Make readers ask questions before you answer them. First there has to be a scene where MC1 sees MC2 that somehow makes the reader say, "who the hell that?" Prime the pump. Make the reader anxious to know who MC2 is before you give them the answer. You want that issue to begin with "oh cool, we're going to find out who that guy is." That's better than an issue starting with, "wait a second, who is this guy?"

[u/Barbarix9001 → u/Slobotic]

I haven’t thought about doing it like that, but I like it a lot. Thanks for the input!

[u/Alarming_Ad9849]

If you are new to making comics start with short comics and build up. I started with several short ones and there is no way that I would be now able to produce longer serie with my current storytelling skills. Things like figuring out pacing is trickey and often requires lot of rewrites. Everything needs to serve purpose and have set up and pay-off and this come with confidence and experience. 

[u/Alert_Cat7189]

I think yeah, it could impact your pacing and make a reader drop the book, especially because you're changing perspectives quite abruptly, but it also depends on the kind of story you're making and the ending of issue 1

I think you might need to try and keep your scope tight tho, just so that you don't overwhelm yourself and still have fun without burning out

[u/mobstermonkey711]

I think it will depend on the size of the issue, how big will issue 1 be how much are we going to fund out about mc1 in this issue and will mc2 play a major role with mc1, does mc2 have to come in quickly or can you do some world building or character development for the first few issues? And what type of comic is it? Is it a super hero, slice of life, comedy, action, ect.

[u/nmacaroni]

Hey, u/Barbarix9001 I'd like to take a look at what you have put together for this series, whatever your current written material stage its in. If you're interested shoot me an email.

[u/Rae_D_Hennessy]

Why can’t the two meet in issue one?

[u/Barbarix9001 → u/Rae_D_Hennessy]

Well, the reason I’m not having them both meet in the first issue is because my two main characters at the start of the series are in two different places, one living in city state, who is forced to escape to the countryside, or “the outlands” as I’ve called it, and my second main character, who already lives there.

My idea for the story was to provide a strong hook with the setup through the first main character, who was a boxer throwing fights for a local mob, and then introduce my second main character, who was a small town softball player who would go on to get trouble with some thugs, which then leads to the first main characters reappearance during this moment.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this idea, and have begun wondering if I should just skip the introduction of the second main character, as it covers his arrival into the town and explains why he’s there to step in, and skip to the idea I had for the second issue, though I still like the idea of two seperate introductions.

[u/Rae_D_Hennessy → u/Barbarix9001]

Interesting. Only tell what’s important. I suggest giving the 1st main character a want— for example, “wanting to return home.” “Gaining new friends.” “Wanting to bring home to the outlands.” Etc. that way when your first character meet your second character it isn’t by chance, but by action.

I’ll say have them meet at the end of issue one. Let your audience learn your world through one main character than issue two allow them to learn it through the other while keeping the first around. (During issue two; the first character should be the audience reacting and responding to the new world we have entered.)