Let’s Fund Some Indie Comics
Part Two!!
Some time ago, pinnedupink.com began trolling its social sites, and we were super excited about the amount of indie comic creators online. When we say indie, we don't mean IDW, Dark Horse, or 9 Valiant. What we mean is the self-starter, self-published creator, often publishing for free. So while the content is free, it isn’t free! The creators we follow, troll, and sometimes like their content but never join in on the crowdfunding, This isn’t a guilt trip, but in the era of free content, it is effortless to forget that some work went into that content.
We came across Metheena a few months back on Twitter. She went public with her crowdfunding campaign via Kickstarter, and we decided to show some support, after which we reached out to see if Metheena would drop us a line so we could get a bio and background. All art in this post is from her upcoming release, “Beckoning Of Aetherius: The Feminist Part 2. An Indie Comic.” Part Two!!
What Inspired Me to Create the Comic
I was inspired by life. It's weird to say but ever since I was 5, I really had a dislike for dishonesty and unfairness. I couldn't stand when people broke the rules, did a bad thing, and got away with it. I couldn't stand when authority figures like teachers, for instance, would let it happen, or even be hypocrites themselves.
When I grew up I saw that this same behavior existed in adults as well. In the workforce. In romantic relationships. In your families. In the Church (I'm not religious but I've seen this). In political groups that claim to be for good yet behave like their adversaries. At some point I even noticed it in the media, pushing dishonest views on the masses. This all inspired me to write this story because I want the audience to see what I see, and then ask themselves, is this right? Should people do better? Why the dishonest behavior? Why is it encouraged, and how do we become better people? A better society?
We follow the story of 4 characters. So far fans know of Methy and Sienna from Chapter 1. Methy will learn a serious truth about herself that as readers follow her journey, will have to question themselves and their own identity just as Methy because of what she experiences. From this experience, she must choose whether to be a hero, or not, and the world's future depends on it.
In her journey, she will be forced to deal with the question of what does it mean to be a good person? Sienna tries to help her on this journey, and she even has to question this for herself. Hopefully, readers will question this too about their own selves.
I want readers to feel a realistic positivity towards humanity when they finish the series and contribute to being a part of the goodness of the human experience. Maybe, all the bad things I've experienced growing up could have been avoided if people were just, nicer, and more sincere.
What Inspired Me to Create the Art
I'm a big fan of old master painters like Willian Bouguereau, Singer Sargent, as well as specific Anime & Manga like Battle Angel, Ranma 1/2, and Fist Of The North Star. Also, Disney styles such as Tarzan, Lilo & Stitch, and Pixar styles such as The Incredibles. A combination of these artforms I've pulled from to create my style.
More importantly, though, I'm mostly inspired by Steven Spielberg and his masterpiece movies such as Close Encounters, & Poltergeist (which I know he didn't fully direct but was deeply a part of). Also, other very important films of the ‘70s and 80's such as Star Trek the Motion Picture, 2001 Space Odyssey, & The Shining. Others as well later on like District 9, The Matrix, and The Virgin Suicides. Great movies like these have had a major impact on me. Just seeing the art of music, writing, acting, etc, all coming together incredibly well is like magic to me and deeply inspires me every time I draw or paint a mark, or write a word.
Music is also a source of inspiration for me. The wonderful guitars and sound themes of Pink Floyd. The epic melodies of Hans Zimmer. The great themes of old classical music from Mozart or Faure Requiem. Music is something I use every day to help excite my imagination from these great "Lords of Sound."
These forms of art allow me to think of interesting and fun ways to excite the audience with written and visual storytelling themes. If I could be a film director, I would, but comics is the best form for me to do something close to this.
