Poll: My Idea For a Graphic Novel. Is it Shit or Pretty Good?

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nuba km

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Jun 7, 2010
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Funkiest Monkey said:
sounds good the only changes I would make would be that instead of the cat being telepathic that the guy can talk to cats telepathicly. I would make this change for two reasons
1) it would stop the cat from just finding someone more competent.
2) it could lead to some good jokes where he hears what some cats think.
but if I would have read what you said on the back of a comic I would get the first copy.
just asking where are you going to take this because one of 4 things can happen next
1) he thinks he's crazy at first (this can be followed with the next posts)
2) he becomes a super hero
3) he tries to life his life normally with his cat leading him into problems
4) he goes after X because he Y e.g. he goes after a better job because he wants money or he starts a job as a cat whisperer because he wants to help people.

Just trying to help.
 

Jumplion

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Mar 10, 2008
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Yeah, I will have to agree with some people here, it's not exactly a "HOLY CRAP, THIS WILL CHANGE THE WORLD!" idea (though I doubt you aimed it for that) but it's an...interesting one. The problem is that it uses a bit too many familiar tropes and cliches, from what I've read on the overview.

But kudos for getting the guts to present your idea, I have an idea myself but I've only told 2 people that I totally trust since I'm so paranoid that someone will steal it or something (thanks a lot, dad...).

Anyway, it's an interesting idea, but it could use some work. Is it supposed to be a drama? A comedy? A satire? Some introspective whatchyamacallit? Expand on the idea and it could be great, or a forgettable Scott Pilgrim wannabe (that's the vibe I get from it).
 

Jim-a-Lim

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Jan 10, 2009
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you have there a medium strength idea, the question I would ask is, where is the flavour to your main character? I am not interested in this guy...at all. seen it done it and i can literally reach behind me and pull 3 dvd's off the rack and one of them will have your average joe character.

- yes i know thats your point, having an everyday man most of us can be (or relatably become mentally)is a great way to get your audience involved. So taking an accessible character is essential but make sure he matters from the get go! whatever it is make sure you get us hooked on him (i dont even mean change him), just *get us wanting* to know about this character.

My advice? If an opening line doesnt get me in a story why should i bother reading the rest? how do I know the next sentence is going to be any different? why should i sit through another 47 lines of whatever to get into this thing? Hit us with something hard to open :)
 

SpaceSpork

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May 15, 2009
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I hate to tell ya, but I remember reading a book with a similar premise a few years back. It was pretty good, too, and called Time Cat. Here's the Wikipedia page. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Cat:_The_Remarkable_Journeys_of_Jason_and_Gareth]

Still, I'd read the graphic novel. Sounds funny.
 

TomOfTheCross

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Jun 23, 2009
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Right first off, ignore the guy who mentioned Guy Ritchie, you can make the comic have an English tone far far better than that.
Another thing, the bored underachiever has been done a lot. then again you can use this as a point of self-reference and intelligent parody (yes it does exsist).
Also lots of people talk to their pets, so he won't necesserily be caught out quickly with the wonder cat. Build on the relationship between the animal and it's master, but don't do the cliched route of the animal being in charge. Go for something a little different.
One last thing, if it smells of cheese, make cheese on toast!
 

Eekaida

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Jan 13, 2010
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The initial idea seems shallow. Why is he a slacker? Has he always been able to talk to cats? Why is he the way he is? What's the cat's personality? Why is the cat psychic? What does the oncoming evil have to do with the cat being psychic?

My advice, before you get started, sit down and write the plot chapter by chapter from beginning to end (this doesn't mean write the story - a brief overview of who does what, why and when just to get it strait in your head). Identify the main elements and where you want them to lie within the story. What kind of personality does each character have? How do they play off against each other? Where will it end.

I know this sounds like a hard slog, but your initial idea could be successful if you really tackle these kinds of elements. The devil's in the detail.

Good Luck
 

Umwerfer

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Nov 3, 2008
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I love the idea. avoid fillers, keep it compact. The best books, are those that didn't stray overly much from the main plot :p
keep that in mind, and you'll do fine
 

LogicNProportion

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Mar 16, 2009
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...Oddly enough, didn't you just describe Philip J Fry and Nibbler...?

...

*Looks at your avi*

<<

...

<<;

...
 

Chase Yojimbo

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Sep 1, 2009
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Funkiest Monkey said:
I'm just gonna do an overview. Okay, the idea goes like this:

The story is set in England, and the main protagonist is a guy in his early twenties. He works in a dead end retail job, where he's constantly harassed by customers. He is quite lazy and un-motivated, he's not that smart either. He hangs out with his best friend reguarly, and is into gaming and rock music.

One day, he decides to get a cat. Everything goes smoothly until a few strange occurrences happen around the apartment, and eventually, he starts to hear voices in his head. It turns out the cat is talking to him telepathically, because he is psychic (for reasons either of them don't know). The cat has gained a knowledge, but not an understanding, of human culture by reading every page on Wikipedia.

But as a dangerous threat looms, an unlikely hero and his kitten are thrust into an epic adventure. I have no idea who/what the threat is yet.

All the characters are based loosely on people I know, have met or know of. And I've done some concept art, but my scanner is broken (so I can't show you. but it is devoid of colour on the pages, much like a manga, but is read left-to-right. I'm a fairly decent artist, not amazing though). The genre is like, a blend of comedy, adventure and action. The shitty working title is: Psycat.

TL;DR: English nerdy, rocker dude gets cat that turns out to be psychic. Shit gets real as they go on a dangerous adventure. The crap as-of-now title of it is Psycat. It is an action/adventure/comedy graphic novel.

Anyway, I want to get to work on this as soon as possible! But first, I would like some opinions from you, Escapist. Good idea? Bad idea? Would you read this based on the concept?

EDIT: This is a very early concept, and lots of things are likely to change. Especially the generic protagonist.
It certainly is unique, and for some reason i was reminded of Douglas Adams when i was reading it.

You have to be unique here because people have dabbled with Psychic Pets and Animals before. But reading every page of wikipedia? i have to say that is certainly unique. the same goes for your 'threat', it has to be something that is dangerous but all around funny as hell, like fish in scuba suits that are getting revenge against the kitties, who are actually from another world themselves but naturally devolved while on earth except for the one kitty *for inconspicuous reasons is special in the kitty race*. *If you want that idea, go ahead, i have my own books anyways.*

that certainly sounds like something Douglas Adams would write... im serious, the man may have been a good writer but he certainly had a silly side.
 

Grey_Focks

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Jan 12, 2010
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Don't take offense, but that idea does NOT sound interesting to me, and I wouldn't read it.
 

Master_of_Oldskool

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Sep 5, 2008
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Well, with so few details to work with, I'd have to say that it could be good, but it has just as much potential to be shit.
 

mayney93

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this kinda reminds me of lazercat from doomsday arcade, i'd say go for it, i'd read it
 

William Dickbringer

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Feb 16, 2010
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still a little bit unsure about it I would have to read it myself to generate an opinion
btw I have a strange feeling that the cat is going to be the sarcastic sidekick
 

HigherTomorrow

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Jan 24, 2010
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Any concept, with enough work going into writing and illustrations, can be executed well.
I could write a novel about a man who fought crime with his dick and if it was written well it'd be a good concept.

Make the cat fight with its dick.
 

HigherTomorrow

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Jan 24, 2010
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Also, no lolcats. Maybe one lolcat joke, only to ironically point out that lolcats aren't funny, but other than that, NO lolcats.