[Xfire] Splatteox: Hello and welcome to the chat with the creator of PvP! He will now introduce himself and start answering your questions.
toonhound: Hello.
toonhound: Uh...so my name is Scott Kurtz and I'm the author and illustrator of PvP
toonhound: and I'm really excited to answer all of your questions.
toonhound: so let's get started.
toonhound: Question: How did you decide you wanted to make cartoons for a living?
Answer: Well, I've wanted to do this since I was in the fourth grade and my mother bought me the first Garfield book collection. That's when I knew I wanted to "grow up" to be a cartoonist. I had no idea that there was no real clear path to that goal back then. In high school and college, plenty of people discouraged me, since getting to be a cartoonist like this for a living is a real long shot. But I kept up and just waited for the right opportunity to come along...and for me that was the dor com boom. There were a lot of sites willing to pay you for content and didn't want any ownership. So I got lucky that way.
toonhound: Question: [WDT] HavenIndy: When will the next issue of "Truth, Justin and the American Way" be out?
Answer: Any week now. Our artists Giuseppe had a family ermegency...his kid got really sick. So he got behind. But we're putting the last issue out and the collection is being put together as well.
toonhound: Question: nrgu: How do you suggest young artists develop
skills today, and how did you first start out.
Answer: Draw every day, and learn from the people you admire. Don't be worried about copying their style AT FIRST. that's how you learn. Start mimicing to learn and then pick up and develop your own style along the way. You'll retain the best of what inspired you while forging your own style to inspire otherrs in the future.
toonhound: Question: KillerSam@CoDJumper.com: How much of your work do you draft out before hand?
Answer: Now that I'm using the wacom tablet, I do a lot more sketching. I just sketch out what I want to see in the strip, scan that in and do the art over the sketch on a seperate layer. All the dialouge is just a basic idea in my head. I don't do final scripting until I'm typing it into the word bubbles on the finished strip.
toonhound: Question: tails52: Question: Mr. Kurtz, what inspired you to take your series and turn it into a animation?
Answer: I can't think of one cartoonist who doesn't look towards the future and hope for animation. I've had people inquire about animating PvP for a couple years now. But nobody was willing to let me retain ownership and do it outside of Hollywood and that system. Until Blind Ferret came along.
toonhound: Question: jastiger: Question: I live in Des Moines and visit Mayhem Comics where you kinda started out at. Are there any special things you plan on doing here, or even revisiting the Des Moines area?
Answer: Ah, West Des Moines. I love that area. It's my home. It's where I grew up. So I'll always return. I have no immediate plans, but for sure you'll see me up in WDM and at Mayhem in the future.
toonhound: Question: Unicross: Do you feel more in control of your work with it being on the internet instead of print, or do you feel it is more at threat due to the availability of your work in a 'rule free' environment?
Answer: Hmm...that's a good question. Well, I do put PvP in print every month, and I don't feel restricted. But that's because Image doesn't really enforce any editorial control over my work. I think the web is where I'm the freeist. Whenever I have to put PvP in a major mainstream publication... I have to edit something.
toonhound: Question: Mr. Pulsar: Question: To any aspiring cartoonists out there, what would be your greatest piece of advice? What should we strive for the most?
Answer: Worry about the work first. Don't worry about websites or banners or tee shirts. Just make the strip or comic as good as possible. The other opportunities will form around quality work. Draw every day.
toonhound: Question: Bessel: What do you think if your greatest accomplishment while working on PvP?
Answer: WOW. That's hard to answer. I guess the greatest accomplishment is being self-employed. I know it may sound underwhelming, but being your own boss is awesome.
toonhound: Question: Kingslayer06: What gave you the idea of making comics about gaming?
Answer: The first website that wanted to run PvP was looking for comics centered around gaming. But I wanted to make it broader so I asked if it could be about the PEOPLE who like to play games. PvP's gaming-centric theme went away in about 1999-2000. I started making the subject matter more broad after that. The thing is...we all play games. My friends and I. But we do MORE than that. And I'm not as much a gamer as the Penny-Arcade guys or you guys. Remember, I'm really old...ha. I'm 36 in March. I don't get to play as much as you kiddos.
toonhound: Question: {1337.h337}Çĥűřŧĩş: How are your feelings about PvP for the next couple of years, you think it will last forever?
Answer: No, I don't think PvP will last forever. I worry about that all the time. I want to get PvP as big and successful as possible of course, but I'm always trying new things as well. That's why last year I published Justin and Captain Amazing as well. I have a lot of ideas...but PVP is the gem in my "empire" right now. But yeah, it could all go away tomorrow, right? I have to be mindfull of that always. my spelling sucks guys...so forgive me.
toonhound: Question: Unicross: Do you feel that webcomics as an industry have progressed into more than an internet subculture?
Answer: There is no webcomic industry. Look up industry in the dictionary. Webcomics are not there by a longshot. Right now Webcomics is a community...and a kind of bad one at that. I have friends with webcomics...and I focus on that. Whenever I try to involve myself in the "community" I'm met with less than friendly times.
toonhound: Question: HavenIndy: A friend of mine wanted me to ask this Question of Mr. Kurtz: "Aaron wants to know if you'll return his box of stuff for Christmas."
Answer: Oh my god. I can't believe I still haven't mailed that to him. I'm a horrible friend.
toonhound: Question: krellum: Have you ever taken inspiration for a comic from another webcomic?
Answer: Oh yeah, sure. The Penny-Arcade guys inspire the shit out of me. Those guys are so talented. Paul Southworth over at www.uglyhill.com inspires me too. So does Paul Taylor over at www.wapsisquare.com.
toonhound: oops.
toonhound: Ugly Hill and Wapsi Square
toonhound: Question: KillerSam@CoDJumper.com: Do you find "making it up as you go along" alows for a more fluid finished cartoon, or do you stick to a ridgid draft?
Answer: making it up as a go is much bettter.
toonhound: Question: nrgu: If you were stuck on a desert island, which character from PvP would you want to be with?
Answer: Well, I am Skull practically, so I'm stuck with him since I AM him. I guess Cole. He's the most level headed guy and could probably get us off the island the quickest.
toonhound: Question: Brent Sienna: In an early PvP Comic, you mention Brent's psychic powers as the Diablo II release date is pushed back (again). In the same comic, Brent predicts that Francis will "lose his virginity in the year 2008". Will Francis turn 18 in time for this prediction to come true?
Answer: I will try to make sure this prediction comes true and that Francis is "of age" when it does.
toonhound: Question: Artaxs: Do you still play WoW on Dark Iron with the Panda Attack Guild? The Penny Arcade guys don't play much anymore.
Answer: Lately, no. I've been really busy. But once Burning Crusade comes out it'll be hard for me to stay away.
toonhound: Question: Unicross: If there is one impression or feeling you hope people take away from you comic, what would you like it to be?
Answer: That they want to come back tomorrow. And maybe buy a tee shirt.
toonhound: Question: machallboyd: What is a suitable metaphor to describe being famous on the Internet?
Answer: Wait...which is a mataphor and which is a similie
toonhound: It's like being famous secretly
toonhound: Question: ÐarkFury: Question: What specific part of the creating process do you do? Thinking them up, or Drawing them?
Answer: Both
toonhound: Question: {1337.h337}Çĥűřŧĩş: Do you ever think that there will be a PvP Tv show?
Answer: Beyond what we're doing now? Maybe. I hope so.
toonhound: Question: CK: Question: What do you say to the people who call you a hypocrite for animating PvP after you attacked CAD for doing something similar?
Answer: I say that they are accurate. I am a hypocrite for bashing Tim because he went in this direction and then, a year later, I go the same route. But I think I would rather be a hypocrite than pass on the opportunity to do something like this. Henry Ford said (I think) that Failure is the opportunity to try again more intelligently. I'm paraphrasing...but look...if a guy can't change his mind, and let's pride keep him from doing what's best for himself and his work...that's kind of stupid. So I'm going to have to swallow my pride here. For the record, I still think that Tim could have done so much more with his opportunity and that I think the PvP series is going to be 100 times better than what I saw with the CAD series. This is a huge opportunity for Kris Straub too. This could be a chance for him to be on the ground floor of a new animation company. So if this one day leads to important things for us and for Kris...is it fair to tell him...I was wrong about this...but I can't change my mind or I'll look like a hypocrite?
toonhound: bah
toonhound: Question: The Contino: What's it like to do so many years of solo cartoon work only to partner up now? It does seem rather sudden.
Answer: Going solo is best for only certain projects. Doing an animated series is not a solo project. It's a collaborative effort. If I try to do this all myself it's going to suck. You want me working with other people on this, trust me. And Kris is hilarious. He's adding so much to this. It's better with Kris than it would have been if I had not done it.
toonhound: with him. Same for Justin. Aaron and Giuseppe are the real creative powerhouses behind that. It was an idea I had that they took and blew up into something remarkable.
toonhound: it's nice to have both experiences.
toonhound: Question: DarkGashX: What is the strangest thing you have you have done that has ever been included or related to in any of your comics?
Answer: I had to draw a sketch for a fan at a grocery store. Because the check out clerk recognized me. So I held up the line so I could draw Skull on the back of a reciept.
toonhound: Question: NobleArc: Question: Who is your favourite character to draw? Whether it is because it's the easiest, most detailed, etc.
Answer: I love drawing my dog Kirby. Because I can look at him in real life and be inspired by his face. He's a dog, I know, but he's very expressive.
toonhound: Question: HavenIndy: What made you decide to go with Blind Ferret Entertainment to create the PVP: Cartoon?
Answer: Several reasons:
1) They have the infastructure to do it
2) They are willing to pay for making it outside of the Hollywood system
3) They proved to me they could do it the way I wanted to do it.
toonhound: I guess that's three reasons.
toonhound: Question: thegreatunknown: if someone was interested in doing comics.. who would you suggest they send their ideas to? or who could help them follow their dreams the way you did....
Answer: Don't send them to anyone. Post them on the net and forge the strip in the fires of reader interaction and feedback.
toonhound: Question: Artaxs: The "Jade meets Xavier" story arc is my all-time favorite. Any chance that Brent and Jade will return to Vegas for this New Years?
Answer: I have other plans for them.
toonhound: Question: ruinedone: Have you been happy with the readership levels of the PvP comic from Image so far? Will the animation overshadow that for you, or do you hope to still continue strong?
Answer: I always wish that numbers were higher. I wish that across the board for all comics. But PvP does very very well for what it is. And I've gotten that book so lean and clean that it turns a profit every month. That's way more than anyone can ask for in comics these days so I don't complain
toonhound: Question: ÐarkFury: Kurtz, Do you think PvP will ever make it to the big screen or perhaps a video game?
Answer: I dunno. I don't think PvP would make a good movie or video game. Maybe someone can convince me otherwise.
toonhound: Question: Rixaxun: Question: If PvP was a pizza, what flavour would it be?
Answer: Canadian bacon and pinnapple.
toonhound: Question: Bessel: Would you say Francis is a modern day version of yourself as a teen? If so, in what way(s)?
Answer: No way. I was never as brash or confident as Francis as a teen. Francis is based off a friend of my brother's (at least him when he was about sixteen).
toonhound: Question: GB.Moonbiter: Question: Do you feel your life/comic has changed due to your recent success? IE: Eisner Award, Justin as a 2nd comic, Animation of PVP.
Answer: Has it changed? I guess in the sense that I worry less each year about this career choice and that means I get to enjoy it more. I'm the happiest now I've ever been. That's for sure.
toonhound: Question: Matt: IS there anything you need with you or around you to draw, or do you feel comfortable doing it anywhere?
Answer: I hate drawing away from my home environment. I want my stuff and my books and my music and my dog, etc.
toonhound: Question: KillerSam@CoDJumper.com: Are you genuinely enjoying your job now, or simply letting it "tick over" whilst reaping the rewards, you have been in the industry a while
Answer: No way. I enjoy the hell out of it. Every day is more exciting than the next man. Lot's of stuff is happening, right now especially. I love it. You never want to get too comfortable, right?
toonhound: Question: The Contino: Do you feel that webcomics are less a turf war than they once were? It seems like most of the old feuds have been glossed over. For instance, most of Tycho's vitriol seems focused at whole industries rather than, oh, other webcomics.
Answer: Because it's a retarded fight. You get to a certain level of success and graduate from that shit. And everytime you let someone drag you down into it again, it's nothing but heartache. I have no idea what's going on in webcomics anymore because..I can't. We just don't have the time or interest any more.
toonhound: Question: machallboyd: To follow the Contino's question, are there any members of the webcomics community you absolutely loathe?
Answer: I used to. yeah. But like I said, you graduate from that eventually. I don't hate anyone anymore in webcomics because I just don't have to deal with them everyday. It's not like these peopele are co-workers I can't avoid. There are people who I shake my head at still...but I just don't spend a lot of time on it. I get in trouble when I do because it's wasted time.
toonhound: Question: __!!'^ch0dDaHhh?!: Question: What types of programs do you use to create your work?
Answer: Photoshop mostly.
toonhound: Question: Kingslayer06: do you go to comiccon?
Answer: San Diego? Every year. 2007 is going to be huge for PvP guys. You gotta go and come by the booth. It's going to be insane this year. I'm a guest of honor at Comicon so we're going all out in 2007.
toonhound: Question: jastiger: Question: Do you feel that webcomics, and yours in particular, are a genre that is here to stay indefinately, or will rising costs and corporate interests destroy the individual webcomic artist(s)?
Answer: The internet is here to stay. Hopefully, Net Neutrality is here to stay. So that means that there will always be a place for people to get online and make a career for themselves. And build a readership and business. I don't see it going away.
toonhound: Question: Unicross: Do you think it is possible for webcomics to overtake traditional comics as the preferred media in the future, and if not, why not?
Answer: I dunno...there's something about holding a book. I don't think think internet will ever replace books. But I think internet will replace the business models by which we purchase and distribute those books.
toonhound: Question: TomWolf: When doing your work, what is the favourite source of caffeine?
Answer: Diet Coke.
toonhound: Question: HavenIndy: What is it like to work with the dreamy Aaron Williams? Also what does Kristofer Straub bring to the table for the Animated PVP?
Answer: Aaron and Kris are brilliant guys. Both of them are hilarious in vastly different ways and styles. When I chose Aaron for Justin it was because I knew his humor was the right fit. The same for Kris and the animation. Kris is co-writer and co-producer on the series. He writes with me, designs all the backgrounds, helps design the look of the show. etc.
toonhound: Question: Matt: If you don't draw for a long time for whatever reasons, do you feel empty inside?
Answer: Yeah. I get pretty nervous and anxious about it.
toonhound: Question: Bandit: Do you have any plans to branch out to other media, for your own sake or to keep up with the Jones'es(Penny Arcade)?
Answer: I could never and will never be able to keep up with them. I am happy to be their "little brother." Penny-Arcade is a shooting star guys. They are the yardstick we all are measured by. So be glad they're here because they pave the way to success for all of us.
toonhound: Question: DO you post every comic you make for pvp? or do you go through boards and editors and stuff like that?
Answer: It's all me. I run stuff by friends all the time though.
toonhound: Question: The Contino: I wasn't gonna bring it up, but now that it's on the table: Horde Paladins and Alliance Shamans... it was a hot button topic for awhile, do you have an opinion?
Answer: It's retarded. They're taking away what made us different from each other. I don't want pussy pallys on my faction and the alliance doesn't deserve shamans.
toonhound: Question: ~Kite~: Who was your favorite super hero growing up and who is your favorite hero now?
Answer: Superman and Superman
toonhound: Question: bonetower: Q. (paycheck aside) how do you stay intrested in your strips/charecters/storylines and do you have any advice to other webcomicers to help with the above?
Answer: Make your work about you and your life and your interest in the work will grow and change with your life. That way it's always changing and fresh and new, but it's still about you and what's in your heart.
toonhound: Question: TomWolf: Why did you think when you created Jade? Why would you create the perfect woman in a cartoon? To make gamers go mad?
Answer: I didn't create her. I married her and then translated her into a cartoon character.
toonhound: Question: nrgu: Will you be releasing more merchandise, id like to buy a PvP hat or hoodie
Answer: Working on it.
toonhound: Question: PyScH0.SirRoxen: How will the animated series be released to the public? A subscription, or free just as is the webcomic?
Answer: Subscription for the animated shorts. But all our production and making of stuff is free on the site like the webcomic.
toonhound: Question: moktook: Were is this comic based in? Branson?
Answer: Branson!!??? No it's based in Dallas I guess.
toonhound: Question: ·÷±‡± þø§§€$èÐ Ñiñjå ±‡±÷: have you ever been mobbed by a fan girl?
Answer: I wouldn't say mobbed, but there have been boobs shoved in my face.
toonhound: Question: machallboyd: Ok, serious question: Looking back on your previous rant, Success Can Kill Your Webcomic, do you think you were mostly accurate? Obviously the future is hard to predict, so where do we stand today?
Answer: That rant is no longer accurate because hosting doesn't cost as much as it used to. It used to be that if you got popular too fast, you could really screw yourself on hosting charges. It's just not that expensive anymore.
toonhound: Question: Kingslayer06: what breed is kirby?
Answer: Basset Hound. White and tan.
toonhound: Question: ~Kite~: What do you think of news paper comics? Do you believe they're on there way out?
Answer: I don't find them funny anymore. Maybe I outgrew them. I think they are there to keep the status quo and keep syndicates alive. I don't see any creative growth opportunities there.
toonhound: Question: AoHx]Fr0z3n-316-[CSR]DN: Is this the first time you have used xfire? What do you think of it?
Answer: I use it playing Wow. It's really nice. Slick little ap
toonhound: Question: ~Kite~: What's your favorite part of Comicon?
Answer: Feeling like I'm a part of something bigger than myself.
toonhound: Question: Artaxs: So, what was the "Eisner" Award all about anyway?
Answer: It's an industry award in comic books. Kind of like our Oscar.
toonhound: Question: NobleArc: Will your father be appearing in the animated series at all? If so, who would you want him to be voiced by?
Answer: I'm going to try to write him in and my dad will be providing his own voice.
toonhound: Question: jastiger: Question: Do you find it harder and more expensive to operate now than 5 years ago?
Answer: It was harder in the past. Things are a lot cheaper now and the net is more accepted and has more opportunities now. Look at youtube and google and DIGG. That wasn't there when I started. It's much cheaper and better now.
toonhound: Question: moktook: Have you ever tried to teach people how to draw?
Answer: Not really. I taught a class once back in college to kids and that was fun.
toonhound: Question: jastiger: Question: Do you feel that PVP should have an age requirement, or do you want to keep it open to all ages? What kind of demographic do you shoot for?
Answer: I would say it's PG 13. I like it there
toonhound: Question: GB.Moonbiter: Question: Are you going to post the strip for today? =P
Answer: As soon as this chat is over, I am.
toonhound: Question: Exigaen: question: mr. kurtz, how's the wacom working out for you?
Answer: It's awesome. I love it. I don't know why I resisted it so long.
toonhound: Question: ___!!'^ch0dDaHhh?!: Are you going to make CPL appearances?
Answer: I have no plans to.
toonhound: Question: nrgu: Do your friends often ask you for drawings?
Answer: They know better than that
toonhound: Question: moktook: If you were born with no hands would you draw with your toes?
Answer: That is such a horrible and sick question. No I would not be so heroic. I would probably sit around wishing I had arms.
toonhound: Question: [AoHx]Speedy: Nintendo of Microsoft?
Answer: Nintendo.
[Xfire] Splatteox: Ok, that concludes the chat. Thanks again to Scott!
toonhound: thanks to everyone
toonhound: it was fun
[Xfire] Splatteox: And now onto the prizes!
[Xfire] Splatteox: The following 5 lucky participants have won a copy of PvP at large signed by Scott Kurtz with a sketch inside:
[Xfire] Splatteox: 5. PyScH0.SirRoxen
[Xfire] Splatteox: 4. Unicross
[Xfire] Splatteox: 3. Matt
[Xfire] Splatteox: 2. TomWolf
[Xfire] Splatteox: 1. [WDT] HavenIndy
[Xfire] Splatteox: 5 PvP cast signed poster winners:
[Xfire] Splatteox: 5. NobleArc
[Xfire] Splatteox: 4. Bessel
[Xfire] Splatteox: 3. ÐarkFury
[Xfire] Splatteox: 2. The Contino
[Xfire] Splatteox: 1. ~Kite~
[Xfire] Splatteox: 2 winners of a subscription to PvP the Animated series:
[Xfire] Splatteox: 2. jastiger
[Xfire] Splatteox: 1. Moktook
[Xfire] Splatteox: And the winner of a piece of original art that was scanned in and made into an actual strip (signed):
[Xfire] Splatteox: nrgu
[Xfire] Splatteox: I will be PMing the winners so please do not log off yet.
