So Your A Cartoonist - Manga

This is the first in a series I would like to call "So You're a Cartoonist?" which will deal with all of the typical questions or remarks I receive whenever I tell people that I draw cartoons for a living.

I can't tell you how annoyed I am when people make their comics reading right to left instead of the usual left to right. Unless you live in a country which reads that way 24/7 or you're selling your books in a country which reads that way, it's entirely unnecessary. Overall it's an extremely limiting method of making your stories and it alienates potential readers not familiar with reading in that unconventional way (and here's a hint: there's a LOT of people unfamiliar with reading backwards).

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Andrew
• Dobson
• Tom
• Preston
• TomPreston
• Comic
• Cartoon
• Manga
• Anime
• Comics
• Drawing
• Animation
• Japan
• Japanese
• American
• Reading

[kkaayynniinnee]

It's funny how this guy can't take any constructive criticism whatsoever.

[TomPreston6]

@kkaayynniinnee When I get some that's actually useful, I'll take it. Thus far I haven't gotten any.

[LinkSlayer64]

Honestly, this could be really stupid to ask, and open a whole 'nother can of worms, but I'll ask, What is your opinion then on manga that comes from Japan being published in right to left when it comes to America (or anywhere for that matter)? And what if they published Batman in left to right in Japan, does the same thing still apply? Is there an Asian version of you somewhere saying the same thing? Lastly, I like your comics, they are funny, and you're a great artist/cartoonist

[TomPreston6]

@LinkSlayer64 See, that makes sense... because that's how their culture reads, so it make sense to keep it that way. Since so many people are violently against "flipping" then I say Batman should be published in japan as left to right because that's how WE read. See how it works?

[superfox1080]

How do you do the fill? I noticed some sort of selection tool... I just got Photoshop but I'm not sure how to fill without the gradient of the ink lines staying white.

... for that matter, what do you do to ink your comics?

[TomPreston6]

@superfox1080 I scan my artwork in pure B/W lineart mode. This means that there's only 2 colors, black and white, without any of that grey gradient getting in the way. That allows me to use the fill bucket (located under the gradient tool) to fill in large areas with color. If you can't scan in lineart mode, you can always reduce your scans to pure B/W by using the "Threshold" option under the image menu.

[TomPreston6]

@AriLaiSuki I think that you're COMPLETELY missing the point. If you don't like the "American" card then fine. I'll throw out the ENGLAND card. Or the FRENCH card. Or the MEXICAN card. Because ALL THOSE CULTURES READ LEFT TO RIGHT. This isn't rocket science. This isn't something that needs to be nitpicked and dissected. It's simple logic. You make a story in a culture that reads a certain way, you should probably write the story the way your culture is taught to read it. Simple as that.

[RedHyuuga]

Isn't this soundtrack from FLCL? XD awesome vid by the way

[EDGGvideo]

I just have one doubt... which tools do you use to ink your drawings digitally? I really have a lot of problems whit that.

[beastyells]

Mr. Dobson is that the pillows i love that band! there so awesome

[TheRainbowgirl66]

wow...you make it look so good and so simple....BTW love ur work just got 1 of ur books! ^^

[mewmewlover474]

So how long does a comic strip like this usually take? And great work btw I love your comics. :D

[SixthDice]

Hi there, I actually love your cartoons and I definitely understand the jokes etc.. I would love to buy a comic of yours sometime. I come from Germany and Mangas much more popular than American Comics. Having many people around, who talk about Yaoi, right-to-left-reading and so on, I get annoyed to once in a while because many believe, it's the only acceptable modern art out there. It is always nice to see somebody that draws in a refreshing different and humorous way... Keep the work up. :)

[Lasergun45]

Honestly, when I was 9, I read the first "Kingom Hearts" because everyone said it was so cool. I thought it was crap that was lucidly strung together and made no sense.

5 years later, I realized I had read the f*cking thing backwards.

[Nelrith]

I know that this is going to sound silly, but I don't think I can read anything other than manga. For some crazy reason, my brain simply refuses to retain large amounts of information when I read passively (left to right). Reading from right to left is a more active way to read for me, being the opposite of what I learned growing up, and not only do I retain the story but I read it 100% faster. An isolated case, perhaps.

Meanwhile, Game of Thrones is collecting dust beside me.

[simpsonsfans1000]

@AriLaiSuki So..every artist who doesn't just put his art on dA is a sellout. That means every artist befor the lat 90's was a sellout. Wow...all art is made by sellouts except for the ones made by 14 year olds on SheezyArt.....tha's great for aspiring artists to know. Don't make money for doing what you love.

[Massacre6000]

Hey. I just wanted to say that you are amazing at illustration, and it seems cool that you have a degree in which I'm aiming for. You are inspirational to me, and I certainly hope you make more of your comics, because even when they're funny, they hold truth and a slice of reality. I like how you consider the world's point of view, and make fun of it, because to me, making fun of a world in which is foolish, stupid, and redundant is VERY funny. But yea. Keep it up, man! Love your art and work!