Q&A May 2011

In the 3rd anniversary of Toxie's Universe/Scale Wars we have yet another round of Q&A's.

If you have a question just ask in any of the threads I post to promote, or you can pm me on those sites, or you can e-mail me at zedhatch@yahoo.com If you want to remain anonymous just say so, otherwise I will most likely use a screen name or first name and last initial (dependant on how I receive questions)

Questions are in bold, some of the questioners never got back to me on how they would like to be listed so for now I have some of them listed as "anonymous"

What are your tips on making an Action Figure dio story?-Soundwave129

The absolute most important thing no matter what you do, make sure it is something you will love.  I have seen people jump into this type of project with very high expectations that get shattered right off the bat.  If they are lucky they get one chapter done and never return.  This kind of stuff is a labor, there are shortcuts but in the ends it has to be a labor of love.  That is my biggest advice.

Second, take some time to get down some basics, word balloons, whatever kind of effects you want to do.  Just google whatever image program you use (Gimp, Photoshop, ect) and whatever you think you are wanting to do (Word balloons, explosions, ect) and the word "tutorial" and you will find lots of information on how to do this kind of stuff.  From the basics to much more complex stuff.  I have yet to have an idea I was not able to find a tutorial that would at least point me in the right direction, if nothing else.  But those basics help you understand whatever program you are using and where to find the basic stuff at with in the program.  Take the time to learn, it gets to fun very quickly.  

With image programs comes camera, lighting, posing.  Best thing to do is to do test shots, it helps you learn.  On camera make sure to have one with a macro feature, this tends to get the best shots of action figures (although you can work with a camera without it, it is more difficult).

Sets ect, there are tons of sites about how to do those, a good resource also is architectural models.  If you are really stuck there is always Cap at http://capolan.tripod.com/ who does commission work, but I have no clue how backed up he might be.  Other dioists will do commission work as well but I don't have first hand knowledge of them at this time so I cannot recommend anyone.  

Who is your favorite wrestler-Tomo.

Depends on if you mean of all time or current

Of all time, probably Hulk Hogan, while I am not a huge fan of what he has done in TNA lately. he is still the guy who dragged me into wresting and made me love it.  I routed for him over and over and enjoyed a vast majority of what he has done in wrestling.  Some others who deserve mention: Ric Flair, Randy Savage, Shawn Michaels, The Rock, The Road Warriors, Demolition (I know they were a rip-off of RW, but I still liked them), Jake "the Snake" Roberts, Mick Foley, Ricky Steamboat.

Current (meaning guys who have been active in the ring in the past two years) would have to be Edge, (NOTE: This question was asked just prior to his announcement of retiring) just one of the best performers I have seen in a long time.  Some other honorable mentions: Rob Van Dam, Sabu, Triple-H, Randy Orton, Sting.

So what DID you think of Rise of Cobra?-Billy B.

OK, I did see a lot of potential but ultimately it feel very flat.  There are a ton of reasons I think it did but the point is it is no where near what I expected for a GI Joe Movie.  I saw it in the theater, I never ran out to grab the DVD.  In simplest terms it was pretty bad.  Sorry to the Joe fans but I wasn't impressed.  I can get into why but I am sure that will cause a ruckus as it does every time I try to explain, especially on GI Joe Boards.  But I will add you can like GI Joe as I do and not like everything being put out with the GI Joe banner on it.  I like Star Wars too but I don't have any Star Wars toilet paper.  

I did like some of the figures though, Heavy Duty was great as was Karmakura to name a few.   

So wait, you are in school, so are you in your 20's?-Billy B.

No I am what you call a non-traditional student, I actually will be turning 40 this year, but thankfully I should have my bachelor's before that.  It's not been easy believe me, but very rewarding.   

So you made some bad guys good, but you never explained Jason?-Anonymous

It's kind of hard to do that when he doesn't talk.  I have done a couple of jokes in which he says a few things but honestly I plan to keep him silent overall.  I have been struggling with how to explain him though.  The essence is he just hates Freddy that much.  

What do you think of Troops of Doom/Ages 25 and up/Yak's pub?-Various

Generally, I enjoy them a great deal.  They are all fun and funny.  I enjoy each for different reasons though.  Still I always try to throw a bit of support to them when I can.  I know how hard it is putting all this stuff together so the least I can do is say "Hey, if you like me, look over here at this."  

Noticed a lot more "topical" jokes of late, is that a change you are going to keep doing?-Ben S.

That kind of relates to the "Where do your ideas come from" question in the last Q&A.  At essence I see things in the world just begging for ridicule and I try to go there.  I was avoiding it for a while because of timeliness and fear it would be out of order with what was actually going on.  But recently I figured out a way around that so there you go.  

If you could see any Marvel Character brought out in the Marvel Universe line that hasn't already got a figure who would it be and why?-Brian O.

I like that Question, and one figure would seriously send me into fits at this point, Deathlok.  I Friggin' LOVE Deathlok.  I first saw him in the Project Pegasus Storyline in Marvel-Two-in-One (with Thing and Quasar of all people) and I just loved the whole character.  I am actually one of the few people I know who loved the 90's series (in which Deathlok was inhabited by a pacifist, I thought it was a very cool contrast loaded with character potential that was never realized).    Beyond that I would love to see a Guardians of the Galaxy (original from the future) line, never happen but Surfer with the gauntlets would be a cool figure I think.  Plus Yondu might finally get credit for his influence on Avatar LOL.  

Why do you hate Rebecca Black?  She's 13, of course her lyrics won't be that great?-Steve J.

I don't hate anyone (OK maybe my ex-wife, but she has a special place in my fiery pit of rage.  OK I just joking there), I hate that friggin song she sings and honestly I think it richly deserving or ridicule.  Also the "13" excuse isn't totally applicable since the song was written for her.  Even still that creepy guy in the car rapping (you know the one that sees the school bus and wants to scream) is grounds enough to poke at that song until doomsday.  

So what is the ultimate end of this webcomic thing?-Marty W.

None, that I have ever planned anyway.  Seriously I am planning on going with this until the ideas run out (in other words not anytime soon).

What do you think makes a good webcomic in your opinion?-RangerBeachead

I suppose I could answer that with a crack-ton of explanations, but the major factor is there has to be a point.  Now that point could be anything, including total randomness ;-) which works fine.  My major pet peeve with webcomics is those that are in it purely for the money (and there are a ton of those in all genres, which is kind of funny in itself when you think about it cause the fact is there is no money for something like this).  

But when there is heart in it you can tell, even if the comic isn't that great.  I admire the ones that have heart and soul and someone at the wheel trying to go somewhere, even if they are not 100% sure where that is.  There is an intangible element in what I am talking about and even comics I don't enjoy on a taste level have that to some degree.  It is very noticeable when it isn't there though and I admit I do see that all the time.  

A last minute entry but I loved my response LOL.  

Hey, man, is that Antron's arm I see in the corner of this picture on the very first page?-Aaron

Here is the picture in question, just below Ki-Adi's hand there.

Good eye, I have looked at that pic 1000 times and never noticed him.

I think when I shot that I had a bunch of figs out and was deciding what to use, I had no clue what I was to do with him yet. 

In story explanation, it's his twin brother Nortna who is an alcoholic.  LOL

So that's it for this session of Q&A's, If you have a question just contact me and you probably will see it here next month, until then: Insert catch phrase here!