The Ask Jeph thread

[jeph]

What would you say to a thread (looked after by mods) where the readers of QC could post their questions of QC and stuff like that.
I liked the thread on Crtl+Alt+Del (it seems to have dissapeared now)
which also a answer thread so the answers were not swamped by the questions.
Just a thought really.

I think this is probably a good idea. Post questions you have here (check the FAQ first for the more common ones) and I will do my best to answer them.

OK GO

[cacahuate]

How would you describe yourself when you were a high school student? What'd you do? What kind of people did you hang out with?

[JasonF]

Do you see QC as a commentary on your personal life?

[honest abe]

What's it like trying to make a living doing this?

[Dirk Hopeless]

Wanna Make Out?

[Octillus]

What inspired Pintsize/the anthroPC in general?

[Rawr and Stuff]

Who are your biggest influences artistically? Is there anyone who's artwork you study or look at to learn from and such?

[jeph]

How would you describe yourself when you were a high school student? What'd you do? What kind of people did you hang out with?

I was the "weird artsy kid" at my absurdly-wealthy, pretentious all-male high school. Fortunately I was too big for the jocks to give me a hard time, and they all thought I carried knives in my backpack or something. I did a lot of art and music, pretty much like I do today. I was friends with all the weird nerdy dudes, several of whom I believe to be genuine geniuses.

Do you see QC as a commentary on your personal life?

Nope. QC has little or nothing to do with my personal life.

What's it like trying to make a living doing this?

Really really hard but also really really rewarding! I wouldn't be able to do it without Cristi- there is literally too much work for one man to do, and I am absolutely awful at business things, which she excels at.

Wanna Make Out?

Brush your teeth.

What inspired Pintsize/the anthroPC in general?

I was just drawing robots in my sketchbook one day and he appeared out of nowhere. The rest of the idea pretty much spontaneously generated itself in my mind.

Who are your biggest influences artistically? Is there anyone who's artwork you study or look at to learn from and such?

I don't know if I have any specific influences. I pick stuff up from all over the place- Aido, John Allison, Jeff Rowland, Kelly Patches, White Ninja...the list goes on and on and on. I periodically browse figure drawing books and websites for new ideas.

[Octillus]

White ninja artistically?


...


Seriously?

I mean I love White Ninja, but... wow.

[honest abe]

Do you have a name picked out for "OCD Girl" who lives upstairs?  You don't have to reveal it now, just reassure some of us that you do have a name for her.

[Somethingfake]

What type of games machine does marten have?
I saw in the *very* early ones that steve and pintsize were playng on one.

Do you like Radiohead or not?
Thier new album should be soon and I was wondering if you was thinking of getting it.

[Odin]

Is Marten going to get any in within the next two weeks?

[Somethingfake]

Do you hate people asking if martens going to get his end away?
One more thing, is it just me or does the fourms load *ass-slow*?

[rawrXskittles]

Can OCD girl be named Sarah?

[jeph]

White ninja artistically?


...


Seriously?

I mean I love White Ninja, but... wow.

White Ninja has the perfect art style for its brand of humor. I submit to you that those guys know exactly what they're doing.

Do you have a name picked out for "OCD Girl" who lives upstairs?  You don't have to reveal it now, just reassure some of us that you do have a name for her.

Aw, and spoil all the fun?

What type of games machine does marten have?
I saw in the *very* early ones that steve and pintsize were playng on one.

Do you like Radiohead or not?
Thier new album should be soon and I was wondering if you was thinking of getting it.

A Playstation, if I recall correctly. I like earlier Radiohead, but as I age I find myself more and more irked by Thom Yorke.

Is Marten going to get any in within the next two weeks?

Two weeks in real-world time, or in comic time?

Do you hate people asking if martens going to get his end away?
One more thing, is it just me or does the fourms load *ass-slow*?

Meh, not really. And yeah, they do. It's because the site uses an ungodly amount of bandwidth.

Can OCD girl be named Sarah?

Nope, sorry.

[Somethingfake]

whats irks you most about him?

Ever heard/watched something called red drawf?
If so, whats your thoughts on it?

[rawrXskittles]

Can the OCD girl be named Valentine? I like that name.

Also, do you like Deathcab for Cutie?

[Bearer]

what nationality does Martin hail from?  We all know Dora is Italian, and, well, I guess we don't know about Faye's Heritage either...  Well, yeah...  also, what company made pintsize?
=P
kinda obscure, but, whatever

[Dirk Hopeless]

What flavor Toothpaste do you prefer?

For when I brush my Teeth.

So we can make out.

[Switchblade]

okay... 0.o


Uhmm.... who do you think your greatest influences are when it comes to your writing style?

[nescience]

Where did my life go wrong?

[Iwan]

Long, obsessive and creepy but I'll ask anyway...
Things I've noticed
Marten mentioning Belgian monks who brew their own beer.
Somewhere lambic-ish beverage mentioned in a news post.
The OCD girl is called Hannelore...

So, how is it that you know more about Belgium then most non Belgian folks?

Also, why do the shopkeepers laugh at you in a guitar store when you play "Stairway to heaven" as try-out?

[Inlander]

So I have this friend, and sometimes when he's with a girl he just can't get . . . aroused, and he wants to know: is this normal?

[LiterSize]

How far along with the story are you in your head?  Were the backstories formed already when you started qc?






Edit:  \/ - thanks "not Jeph."

[Odin]

Two weeks real world time.

[ChaoticEvil]

Well there be any interesting Cameos from Pizza Girl in the near future?

Am I wearing my socks?

And what colour are the walls of the room in which you (most of the time) draw QC?

[ozphactor]

Also, do you like Deathcab for Cutie?

From the RL page:

I really can't stand Ben Gibbard. The singer of used-to-be-slowcore-but-now-they're-emo Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service, his mincing, oh-look-how-clever-I-am lyrics grate on my nerves like few other singers can manage.

Sounds like a no.

[rawrXskittles]

Well then, there I go. I don't really think they're emo cos... well whatever, this is not the music thingy.

Now, a question: Why do fools fall in love?

[Kid Modernist]

I think it's pretty lame to ask random questions here like that, this is supposed to be to ask Jeph questions, it seems like to me.

[Switchblade]

Agreed. Knock it off.

oh, and by way of a question: did the spartan lack of belongings that seems to afflict Faye and Marten (seriously, where are all the CDs and stuff they supposedly own?) arise out of a storyline need to reflect their lack of funds, or was it originally just plain laziness at not wanting to fill every frame with all their crap? Or an amalgam of both?

[Weird-Edsel]

Jeph, if I was a lawnmower, would you paint my house?

No, actually:

QC has a lot of plots going on now. I assume you let the "characters do the writing", but have you ever thought of a plot that you began to write but scrapped because you thought it wasn't that great? Lets call them the lost story-lines. I tend to do that sometimes. I end up starting over.

[Octillus]

Is it just me or has Raven changed tremendously?


Like I understand the reformed goth thing, but it just isn't even close. I can't picture goth raven flashing her boobies. And I don't remember her being that ditzy either.


Then again I think she was in 3 strips before she became a serious addition, so i dunno.

[Luke]

Jeph - are you familiar with the music group "Doves"?

[Manta Ray]

Empire or Jedi?

[Storm Rider]

WHY DO YOU SPELL YOUR NAME WITH THAT INSUFFERABLE 'PH'?!?

GEEZ

[rawrXskittles]

Switchblade & Kid Modernist: Okay.

Jeph: Have you ever considered writing a book? I'd so read it.

[Bearer]

Switchblade & Kid Modernist: Okay.

Jeph: Have you ever considered writing a book? I'd so read it.

I agree.  Either write a book, or make a compilation of QC in a beautiful high-rez Graphic Novel of sorts!  I'd totaly buy it.  btw, you should totaly make a Pizza Girl styled ladies shirt

[tommydski]

jeph - do they know it's christmas time at all?

[practicality]

If you couldn't be a webcartoonist, what would you want to be?

[Dirk Hopeless]

Agreed. Knock it off.

FUCK! Sorry SIR! Did not MEAN to try to have FUN on your INTERNET.

[rawrXskittles]

Jeph: Do you enjoy answering the silly questions as well as the serious questions?

[Somethingfake]

I read from time to time about a song called "Freebird" is it really as bad as you seem to make it out to be?

[jeph]

what nationality does Martin hail from?  We all know Dora is Italian, and, well, I guess we don't know about Faye's Heritage either...  Well, yeah...  also, what company made pintsize?
=P
kinda obscure, but, whatever

He's American.

Uhmm.... who do you think your greatest influences are when it comes to your writing style?

Chaucer and whoever wrote Beowulf.

Where did my life go wrong?

Those murders were a mistake.

Long, obsessive and creepy but I'll ask anyway...
Things I've noticed
Marten mentioning Belgian monks who brew their own beer.
Somewhere lambic-ish beverage mentioned in a news post.
The OCD girl is called Hannelore...

So, how is it that you know more about Belgium then most non Belgian folks?

Also, why do the shopkeepers laugh at you in a guitar store when you play "Stairway to heaven" as try-out?

I am an endless repository of random knowledge.

They're laughing because you're playing "Stairway to Heaven" in a guitar store.

So I have this friend, and sometimes when he's with a girl he just can't get . . . aroused, and he wants to know: is this normal?

Hurr.

How far along with the story are you in your head?  Were the backstories formed already when you started qc?

I'm months to years ahead in my mind. They weren't in my head when I started.

Well there be any interesting Cameos from Pizza Girl in the near future?

Am I wearing my socks?

And what colour are the walls of the room in which you (most of the time) draw QC?

Maybe, maybe, eggshell.

Why do fools fall in love?

They're fools.

Agreed. Knock it off.

oh, and by way of a question: did the spartan lack of belongings that seems to afflict Faye and Marten (seriously, where are all the CDs and stuff they supposedly own?) arise out of a storyline need to reflect their lack of funds, or was it originally just plain laziness at not wanting to fill every frame with all their crap? Or an amalgam of both?

Yes.

QC has a lot of plots going on now. I assume you let the "characters do the writing", but have you ever thought of a plot that you began to write but scrapped because you thought it wasn't that great? Lets call them the lost story-lines. I tend to do that sometimes. I end up starting over.

Yes.

Is it just me or has Raven changed tremendously?


Like I understand the reformed goth thing, but it just isn't even close. I can't picture goth raven flashing her boobies. And I don't remember her being that ditzy either.


Then again I think she was in 3 strips before she became a serious addition, so i dunno.

Her character changes the more I write her and figure out what I think she's like.

Jeph - are you familiar with the music group "Doves"?

Yeah, they're pretty mediocre.

Empire or Jedi?

Night Elf.

WHY DO YOU SPELL YOUR NAME WITH THAT INSUFFERABLE 'PH'?!?

GEEZ

Because I am somewhat pretentious probably.

Switchblade & Kid Modernist: Okay.

Jeph: Have you ever considered writing a book? I'd so read it.

I've done just enough writing in my life to realize that I don't particularly enjoy it and probably wouldn't be a good novelist.

If you couldn't be a webcartoonist, what would you want to be?

Independantly wealthy and idle.

Jeph: Do you enjoy answering the silly questions as well as the serious questions?

More than I enjoy people getting all up in each others' grills on the intertron.

I read from time to time about a song called "Freebird" is it really as bad as you seem to make it out to be?

Freebird isn't that bad, but yelling for it at concerts is retarded.

[La Creme]

1 question, 2 pleads:

1) Are you going to make what you think Marten's band music would sound like and post it and things? Cause that would be a pretty cool thing.

2) Please please please please please please make an "I <3 Suffering" shirt.

3) I think you would like The Sugarplastic. I am trying to spread their word. They have gone too long without recognition.
Give 'em a chance. 4 minutes of your time.

[rawrXskittles]

Have you ever heard of Honeywell (the band, not the company)?

[IronOxide]

As you have made the comic, do you find you progressively take longer to make a comic because of the improved artwork and writing, or it takes less time because of your experience?

[Laurie]

Opinion: Webcomics are the artistic movement over our time, comparable to the Romantics, the Beats, Hair Bands, and other groups of cool people who liked making cool things for others to see or read or hear, and are often high profile (in their community) friends/enemies.

Question: Do you agree, and how does it feel to be a part of that?

Also, do you think Boston is really that cool? Because lots of webcomic artists seem to hang out there.

And finally, in your general experience, how cool are the artists/writers of webcomics, when you encounter them personally? Of course, I'm curious from a fan perspective, because if I went up to Boston (or Maryland, or San Diego, or wherever it's cool to be) and ran across some webtoonists, I'd have a different experience than you would, because you are friends with some, and are definitely known by all. And if they don't know you it's because they're not known themselves, probably. Snotty prats. Anyway, are your kind cool with fans awkwardly introducing themselves in non-convention (or conventional) places?

[Stifled Dreams]

Boston is a nice, friendly city! Er, mostly. It has a distinctive flavor.

What is your favorite beverage?

[ForteBass]

Whatever happened to Velociraptor Boyfriend?

[jeph]

1 question, 2 pleads:

1) Are you going to make what you think Marten's band music would sound like and post it and things? Cause that would be a pretty cool thing.

2) Please please please please please please make an "I <3 Suffering" shirt.

3) I think you would like The Sugarplastic. I am trying to spread their word. They have gone too long without recognition.
Give 'em a chance. 4 minutes of your time.

1) Eventually, yes.

2) We'll see.

3) Maybe.

Have you ever heard of Honeywell (the band, not the company)?

Nope.

As you have made the comic, do you find you progressively take longer to make a comic because of the improved artwork and writing, or it takes less time because of your experience?

It pretty much balances out. The more comfortable I get with the current stage of my art, the more I feel the need to try new things. So as I get faster at some things, I'm teaching myself other new stuff, which takes time to do right, so it works out to pretty much the same over time. The one exception is coloring the strips, I've got a good system worked out now that saves me probably 2 hours per strip.

Opinion: Webcomics are the artistic movement over our time, comparable to the Romantics, the Beats, Hair Bands, and other groups of cool people who liked making cool things for others to see or read or hear, and are often high profile (in their community) friends/enemies.

I don't think we qualify as an "artistic movement" just yet. Right now we're a very loosely-affiliated bunch of people doing drawings and putting them on the interweb. To call it something more than that would be to dance with pretension, in my opinion. It's fun being a part of the "webcomics community" but it's not the main reason I do what I do.

Also, do you think Boston is really that cool? Because lots of webcomic artists seem to hang out there.

Boston's pretty okay, for a big city. I like Northampton better.

And finally, in your general experience, how cool are the artists/writers of webcomics, when you encounter them personally? Of course, I'm curious from a fan perspective, because if I went up to Boston (or Maryland, or San Diego, or wherever it's cool to be) and ran across some webtoonists, I'd have a different experience than you would, because you are friends with some, and are definitely known by all. And if they don't know you it's because they're not known themselves, probably. Snotty prats. Anyway, are your kind cool with fans awkwardly introducing themselves in non-convention (or conventional) places?

[/quote]

99% of the webcomic people I've met have been super-nice, fun people. There have been one or two assholes that I can remember meeting in person, but they seem to be the exception to the rule. Even people who act like dicks online tend to be nicer when you meet them in person. Personally, I love meeting fans, whether it's in a formal setting or not. Some random girl recognized me in Target the other day, it was fun meeting her and saying hello.

What is your favorite beverage?

Alcoholic: Woodford Reserve bourbon
Non-Alcoholic: good coffee

Whatever happened to Velociraptor Boyfriend?

He's still out there somewhere.