Speaking of technology, did you know that you can navigate through all the past ICECUBES comic strips on the website by simply using your arrow keys? Try it! Just tap the back arrow and watch last week's comic pop right up! If you think that's amazing, you're right and it's all in large part thanks to a guy named Philip Hofer, otherwise known as Frumph.
Back in the day when I decided to put ICECUBES online, I had no idea how to design a website. So I did my best to cobble together a botchy WordPress site. Little by little, through intensive research I finally came across ComicPress. ComicPress was a way to publish comics that could be read online in an intuitive, user friendly way. Setting it up wasn't easy especially since I wanted to customize my page. That's when I reached out to Comicpress's creator Frumph. Lo and behold he didn't hesitate to teach me all kinds of things about php, css and sundry variables that would allow ICECUBES to end up looking the way it does today. Over the months and years Frumph was always there to help with coding. Recently he helped me with a new comics project I am about to launch.
So I decided to thank him in this post and point out that he now has a Patreon account where you too can get help with your comic site.
(click to make image larger)
Here’s a quick look at how an ‘ICECUBES’ strip gets drawn.
1. Here the panel sizes have been determined and the loose ‘blocking’ sketches go in. Note that the drawings are very ‘gestural’ here, to get maximum movement and life into the drawings.
2. The text grid lines are drawn. Although I usually do this first, in this case I felt like putting the characters in place before the text because I had a good feel for what I wanted them to look like. Note: I had already done preliminary sketches before blocking out my characters.
3. The copy is written out and any spacing problems are worked out. The speech balloons are drawn and sometimes adjusted for a better read. Note: some details have been added to the drawings. For example Peckinpaw’s eyes in panel 3 have been moved up and his face is more round.
4. Now that I know where the text goes and the speech balloons fit I first do a preliminary erasing, then a redraw with bolder pencil lines. I use a 2B or 3B pencil to make the final pencil lines before I ink with a metal nib. I start my inking by doing the letters first. Note: before I ink I do another erase so that my pencil lines are very faint.
Check out the published comic here!
In this picture ICECUBES is definitely in good company! Although the comparison is clearly unfair… for them. 🙂
I just thought it was interesting to see how the first ICECUBES book was published compared to their first books.
Lucky you, unlike those other hard to find books,ICECUBES the comic strip Vol. 1 is still available! So why don’t you get your very own copy of the first ICECUBES book? Available exclusively on the Amazon Kindle. Just go to Amazon.com and type ICECUBES, or simply click here. You can also download it to your iPhone and PC!
Great news, the second book ICECUBES the comic strip Vol. 2 is coming out soon!
It’s a messy job, but somebody’s got to do it! In this photo you can see some of the pitfalls of dealing with real ink and unruly metal nibs while trying desperately to meet deadline! Big splotches and smears, nothing like it to make you just want to run for the woods!
Fortunately some easy Photoshoping was able to save the day… 🙂Click here for the published comic.
Wow, what a difference a week makes!
Last week I was all excited about being in the top 250 and this week ICECUBES didn’t make it to the next round. Oh well, Peckinpaw, Nooky, Freeze and Eggman tried their very best that’s for sure. I just need to do better next time! It sure was great to get all your support. We’re going to make sure you continue to get great strips right here at ICECUBES.
In the meantime, thanks soooo much for your awesome support! 🙂
Leroy Brown
2 thoughts on “ICECUBES the comic strip. #0291”
Mark Stokes
There’s a first time for everything!
Leroy Brown
Freeze is a typewriter noob! 🙂
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