Practically jumps off the screen, don't it?!
I've noticed, reading thru all the independent comics at the local comics proprietor, that most of the indies - even the handful of self-published books they carry - are in full color. Some of it is tastefully applied color, some of it is over-rendered, but very few of the books on the shelves are in black and white. Usually it's the dull "coming of age" biographical story type comics. You know the ones - minimalist art, some quasi-profound story. "Blankets" or something like it. Artsy stuff that I have neither the talent for, nor the interest in producing.
Anyway - for what I'm doing, I think it makes more sense to do it in color. I prefer black and white - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Cerebus, The Tick, Flaming Carrot Comics - all black and white books that made a huge impression on me. I like the look of pure line with just a little shading. But at the same time, from a marketability standpoint... color rules the day.
So my plan is to finish up TG #4 in black and white (yeah, I said "finish up" - I have a couple folks helping me edit down into its final form), and then to color the whole thing. I think it'll make a more attractive package for prospective publishers and for my portfolio, and I think it'll have more luck finding an audience.
Thoughts from anybody reading this - color or black and white? Which do you prefer, as a reader? As a creator, is there a reason to do black and white instead of color beyond "it's faster" or "it's cheaper?" I'm doing every part of this myself so all I really have to worry about is dragging it out forever... Which is a legitimate concern. But I think the end results will be worth the wait.
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