Let me sneak in first and say that I'm loving ICONS already. The feel, the design, and the energy of the sneak peek along with the story rundown really evokes the excitement I had reading comics in the early and mid-'80s.

This is NOT to say that your stuff is dated in any way--I'm talking about the WOW factor that I used to have in my early days as a reader of comics.

It's good to feel that "zap" of energy again--we sometimes get a little jaded as long-time readers...so I'm looking forward to ICONS!!

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A regular comic book geek tries to break into the medium he's loved for 25 years...

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Thanks, Fred. That's really what the essence of ICONS is all about. That feeling of fun and wonder about comics that a lot of us older guys seem to have lost along the way. Not to say there aren't book like that on the shelf right now, though. I'm probably reading most of them...LOL. I just want to add my take on some of those classic ideals and also introduce my characters into the comic book superhero fold.

Who's the creative team on this? Or is this something you're planning on heading up all on your own?

Also, is this an ongoing, limited series (one-off mini or series of mini's), or a one-shot?

As always, looking forward to it!

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"It takes as long as it takes."

1) Whether or not this is a mini-series or a longrunning series, with all the chronology fanatics out in the comic book geek world, will you be using either comic book time/floating timelines [link] or a strict timeline?

2) Is it your basic superhero adventure switching in theme between humor and action? Or is it something completely random when it comes to general themes?

3) Which core age group is the series aimed at?

4) Will we be seeing character profiles to make readers more familliar with the characters? I love those! XD

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I protest mot FRA-lagen, så skall jag avsluta den här signaturen med terror...

1) Whether or not this is a mini-series or a long running series, with all the chronology fanatics out in the comic book geek world, will you be using either comic book time/floating timelines [link] or a strict timeline?
- I’ll be using a bit more of a stricter timeline than the ones Marvel and DC use. My characters are new to the public and don’t have any longstanding licenses to deal with.

2) Is it your basic superhero adventure switching in theme between humor and action? Or is it something completely random when it comes to general themes?
- I would say that there is definitely a strong theme that ICONS will attempt to convey during the course of the stories. It’s the question of what would the average person really do if they woke up with superpowers at random. If a battered wife woke up one morning from a night of being tortured by her abusive husband and could suddenly pick up her minivan with one hand, what do you think she’s going to do next? I know that’s one of the more serious incidents that will be addressed, but there will also be some funny ones as well. One of those funny things going on in the book is that two of the ICONS have had a relationship in the past, but when one of them starts to make some moves on another one of their teammates, it becomes painfully obvious that maybe the relationship wasn’t exactly over for the other party.

3) Which core age group is the series aimed at?
- I would say it firmly planted in the PG-13 range. So, I would go ahead and say ages 13-35 are my core demographic.

4) Will we be seeing character profiles to make readers more familliar with the characters? I love those! XD
- Yes. I’m thinking of either putting a few in the back of the first 3-4 issues, or in a ICONS Sourcebook kind of thing. Although, there is one up right now on my blog for Omega Girl. In that one, you can see that the city the story takes place in was originally New Haven, but I changed it to New Avalon because I forgot that New Haven is a real city and I wanted to use a fictional one.

1) Who’s the creative team on this? Or is this something you're planning on heading up all on your own?
- So far, it’s me writing and doing pencils and Jamie Snell doing inks (who has been kind enough to help me out on Earth Guard too, BTW!). I think I also nailed down a colorist. I just have to see how that works out.

2) Also, is this an ongoing, limited series (one-off mini or series of mini's), or a one-shot?
- This will be a series of 4-6 issue mini series’. I’m also looking to collect each arc and put it into a trade.

I’ll be using a bit more of a stricter timeline than the ones Marvel and DC use. My characters are new to the public and don’t have any longstanding licenses to deal with.
- So will it roughly reflect the present time (2009, 2010 if it's delayed) to a certain degree? With a fictional city to play around with, you can literary do anything without interfering in real-life events.

2) I would say that there is definitely a strong theme that ICONS will attempt to convey during the course of the stories. It’s the question of what would the average person really do if they woke up with superpowers at random. If a battered wife woke up one morning from a night of being tortured by her abusive husband and could suddenly pick up her minivan with one hand, what do you think she’s going to do next? I know that’s one of the more serious incidents that will be addressed, but there will also be some funny ones as well. One of those funny things going on in the book is that two of the ICONS have had a relationship in the past, but when one of them starts to make some moves on another one of their teammates, it becomes painfully obvious that maybe the relationship wasn’t exactly over for the other party.
3) I would say it firmly planted in the PG-13 range. So, I would go ahead and say ages 13-35 are my core demographic.
- Sounds like my kind of series. I'll DEFINATELY keep my eyes up. But I won't promise you that I'll be able to read it, my economic situation doesn't allow international exchange quite yet. XD

New Question:
5) If the mini-series series proves enough of a success for you to do another one, are there any sci-fi/fantasy/philosophical/other themes you would like to bring into your basic superhero story? Time travel, alternate universes, aliens, magic... Or dreaded CLONES!? (Kidding, kidding. A good writer knows how to put a creative spin on the old superhero fiction 'traditions'

Sorry for all the questions, but as an aspiring writer myself, I try to keep out of certain traps that the major companies seem to slip into from time. Unwise storyline decisions, not staying true to the creator's vision, retcons upon retcons and all that.

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I protest mot FRA-lagen, så skall jag avsluta den här signaturen med terror...

Cool beans all around, Ray... except that everytime an awesome artist starts writing, it makes me weep. Because I can't become a great artist while great artists can become great writers!

Looking forward to the initial mini

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"It takes as long as it takes."

I agree FR3D. I can't wait for ICONS to come out. Your style, the characters and storyline really reminds me of when I first started reading comics from the big two. Justice League and Claremont-era X-Men, specifically. There's so much energy there on the page and I can tell you're putting your all into this thing.

Also, why not send a submission to Image Comics?

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SKETCHY CHARACTERS STUDIO
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