7 replies to this topic

[Steve Ekstrom]

Hello!

I'm starting 2012 off with a bang. I just started shopping my first of two creator-owned projects around to publishers this week. After speaking with Mark, he encouraged me to give a little 6 page sneak peek at my project, EL VIENTO, here on Millarworld to build up some recognition for the project. I'm working with two incredibly talented individuals on this project. We're really proud of what we've got here.

Here's my short pitch:

EL VIENTO is a 6-issue Pulp Sci-Fi Tragedy mini-series with the open-ended potential to become an ongoing series based on sales and continued consumer interest in the project. Primarily set in the Mediterrnean, EL VIENTO is Mad Max meets Don Quixote...with plenty of actual literary references to Miguel de Cervantes' masterpiece included!

Here's my mock trade dress/ cover for my first issue:



Here's the 6 page preview:













Thanks for taking the time to have a look. Feel free to share your thoughts about what you've seen here.

Edited by Steve Ekstrom, 11 January 2012 - 03:27 PM.

[James L. Sarandis]

Hello Steve,

Sorry it took so long to reply to your story. It looks pretty good but it was a bit difficult to read due to the image size. There is one thing that's bothering me though, and this is a fairly minor gripe. Now as far as I can tell from your story the US and Europe's standard of living began to drop arount 2041, America imploded in 2065, and China and India destroyed each other. Now what's bugging me is that it's been 18 years since the world basically collapsed and spain has a prototype solar powered hoverbike... How? I mean they had been reduced to a third world country 54 years ago and then 18 years ago everything went to hell. I mean unless China or India had a factory in Spain because the labor was cheaper and this bike was left sitting in the lab when everything went to hell that's the only way it makes sense to me...

[stuperrins]

that looks amazing, good work mate

[Steve Ekstrom]

Hello Steve,

Sorry it took so long to reply to your story. It looks pretty good but it was a bit difficult to read due to the image size. There is one thing that's bothering me though, and this is a fairly minor gripe. Now as far as I can tell from your story the US and Europe's standard of living began to drop arount 2041, America imploded in 2065, and China and India destroyed each other. Now what's bugging me is that it's been 18 years since the world basically collapsed and spain has a prototype solar powered hoverbike... How? I mean they had been reduced to a third world country 54 years ago and then 18 years ago everything went to hell. I mean unless China or India had a factory in Spain because the labor was cheaper and this bike was left sitting in the lab when everything went to hell that's the only way it makes sense to me...

Thanks so much for the feedback!

Well, one of the NUMBER ONE REASONS I have loved comic books since I was about 6 or 7 was due to the fact that I did not feel patronized by the voice of the story I was reading. If you came to an issue of X-Men in the middle of a continuing story...you were expected to pull your weight and allow the editorial direction to remind you of crucial plot points OR you could just forage forward "in medias res"...and that's a sensation I want the readers of my comics to feel.

I want them to know that I already know they're smart enough to do the math for the connectives that between the panels, so to speak. We already do this unconciously when we scan sequential art with our eyes...I think our brains can kind of suspend disbelief to allow for the notion that the erosion of the U.S. has already been an issue--today's current events will serve as back story seeds for the future that is EL VIENTO.

And Spain doesn't have the bike...this ship in the middle of the Atlantic that once belonged to the United Nations does. Technology is going to be a wildly magical thing in my future setting...because some areas of the world are apocalyptic wastelands and other areas are going to be a mite bit differnent. Even today, we're on the cusp of AMOLED technology with fiber thin phones and light projecting devices ACTUALLY being in our homes. I think my robot horse should get a little leniency. Besides...it's the THIRD version...so that means there are two other robot horses that have already walked the Earth.

I appreciate that you're asking these sorts of questions...but I think you kind of have to let the story exist and take a few steps before you start questioning the minor mechanics of exisiting props in the story.

To start...the focus should be on Borerro...Maximo Mateba...the importance of Ulises Borerro to David's development and what they encounter outside the lighthouse as David struggles with his severe head wound and the precarious visions he begins having.

that looks amazing, good work mate

Thank you so much. I've been working on EL VIENTO since 2009 with my artist, Antonio Brandao. We met through the Zuda contests we participated in during the mid months of that year. His work is like the Buscema Brothers ran a sexy art train on Tony Moore's style--I absolutely love it...and he just keeps getting better. My colorist, Jesse, is a godsend also...and a former student of Jose Villarrubia.

I'm really hoping to make a lasting first impression with this mini...and I hope it spins out into sequels.

[James L. Sarandis]

Well sounds to me like you can answer the hard questions, so you have my vote.

Edited by James L. Sarandis, 19 January 2012 - 02:59 PM.

[Arcadio Bolaños]

Great work! Based only in these 6 pages I'd say El Viento is a very promising miniseries.

[Steve Ekstrom]

Great work! Based only in these 6 pages I'd say El Viento is a very promising miniseries.

I appreciate that you took the time to check it out. I'm hoping that Image Comics is going to pick us up. I currently have 12 pages of #1 completed with 12 more pages being worked on by the artist. I have an outline to carry out at least 24 issues past the initial six.

I kind of feel like I'd prefer to release the project 6 issue bursts or chapters. Kind of how Dark Horse does Mike Mignola's BPRD projects.

The first arc is tentatively titled "The Phantom of La Mancha"

[Steve Ekstrom]

Mark was nice enough to give me a Re-Tweet yesterday and it bumped up the exposure quite a bit. I'd love to hear anymore feedback anyone has to offer...