Comics, Paper and Promise
--At Newgate Mansion--
After spending this week juggling between the school and game company, and then browsing through the scripts brought by Uncle Robert, Edward felt a bit exhausted.
From the scripts, the comedy script 'Up in Smoke' seems a bit promising.
And musical comedy script 'Grease' is also good but it seems to be in production and also has distribution contract with paramount.
These two scripts seem to promising.
Evening, after Uncle Robert came home and refreshed himself, I went to him and pointed at the scripts 'Grease' and 'Up in the Smoke'.
Uncle Robert looked at the titles and said "Okay kid. I will look into it." and asked me to sit in front of him.
Then said "Kid, about that paper issue I have bought of the 'Simpson Paper Company' branch in California. They have those paper technologies and they gave me their techniques with that branch."
Edward asked "Uncle, that Simpson company is huge so, why did they sell their branch?"
"Kid, that company is having difficulties and they only sold off that branch company." replied Uncle Robert.
"Uncle, I don't get it. Explain it to me. Pleaseeee!" Edward asked with a puppy face.
"That company is now facing intense… uhm... big competition with others locally and internationally. Besides, the branch in California is facing environmental problems and workers issue. So, the main company decided to leave the mess and sold it to me." After saying this, Uncle looked at me and said more before I ask him…
"I know what you wanted to ask. The California branch will be starting the work after summer. In the meantime, the company will be rebranded under Newgate publishing house and will work on producing the paper for it. It will also deal with all internal problems. Ok Kid, did you get it."
"And also take care of those sea turtles properly. Because the maid said that you are engrossing too much into the work to take care of their needs. A man should keep his promise. You promised to look after them but now… sleep soon" went to his room after reminding my promise.
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Edward Newgate POV
Sigh! I forgot about them. Its been two weeks since they were here. I was looking after them in the first week but after Uncle gave me script, I forgot to take care of their needs.
I was so into thinking about my future plans and neglected about my promises. I may be in kid's body but I am mentally an adult. Others will think that kids will forget after getting bored with old ones and look for new things.
But this gave a reality check that I was not enjoying this life and always thinking about money. I wanted to live happily in this new life. After getting to know Uncle Rob, I wanted to look after him I when I grow up. I wanted to keep my promises. I wanted to get strong and smart to look after my empire that I always thinking to build.
Now I will always my promises and look after my people but now starting with pets.
With that convection I went to the hall where the turtles are kept. I saw them sleeping in the aquarium.
After looking at them and seeing all was fine, I went to my room.
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Next day
After remembering the last night's conversation with Uncle Robert, it renewed my will to enjoy this new life by not neglecting the important people and things.
With this, after coming from the school, I went to check the turtles and spend some time taking their needs. I also played with them.
After playing, I went to my room and started a rough draft of my new comic 'Pakkins Land'.
Keeping the plot simple and concise, I drew the key characters in it.
Paul: Protagonist, a courageous and gentle boy;
Mr. Brambles: Protagonist's Mentor and Protector, a wise and gentle bear;
Gus: Protagonist's Companion, a mischievous and loyal jackal;
Tikvah: Protagonist's Companion, a brave and agile flying squirrel;
Aryah: Rightful king of Pakkins Land, a noble and majestic loin;
The Evil King: Main Villain, a cruel and power-hungry ruler.
This comic plot is simple but it will show Courage and self-discovery; Friendship and Loyalty; and finally, Good vs Evil like most comics.
Like that, every day after school I will spend some time with turtles and draw general plot.
The original has three volumes with 'Paul's Adventure', 'Quest for Kings' and 'Forgotten Dreams'. Along with side stories and bonus chapter.
With each volume having 5-6 issues and each issue generally containing 20-22 pages. Within those 20-22 pages at least 10 pages will be given to advertisements.
Even now, each issue has 10-12 pages of advertisements in them.
Now, considering this, I started to think about adding more volumes to the original. I can keep the original volume and add more lore to the story. Because its theme is magical adventure.
I can add more arcs and extend it to 6 volumes. I can also add side stories and bonus chapters. I can even add some festival specials in them.
Thinking of it, I decided to write my ideas and wrote a more comprehensive timeline for the story.
Now Marvel and DC comics timeline is messy and chaotic. The readers often feel disconnected with the next issues. With linear timeline, I can make the readers involved more into the story and plot.
It will also help in maintaining the plot and continuation of the story properly. This can attract more audience to my story and also make them recommend it to others.
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A month later
It has been more than a month after I started drawing the comic. In the week days, I spent time participating with the game company and also visiting the IL&M special effects company.
Uncle Robert also made an investment in 'Up in Smoke' and 'Grease' films.
Both of the films are Paramount's, especially 'Up in Smoke' with an investment of $1 million and 'Grease' was a co-production with Paramount pictures and Stigwood productions of budget $5 million.
Uncle Robert invested $1 million in 'Up in Smoke' holding 40% rights to its sequels, North America box office and merchandise profits. He also invested another $1.7 million in 'Grease' and got 25% North America box office.
He tried to get more rights in securing sequels and merchandise, but Stigwood production and Paramount are optimistic about the film. They only allowed Uncle Robert to invest because of sharing the burden with Stigwood Production.
The production of these films is going smoothly after injection of money and set to be released during September and June.
Now Uncle Robert have four films to be released for 1978. With 'Tron' in April; 'Grease' in June; 'Up in Smoke' in September and 'Alien' in October.
GALAXY Games also decided to release 'Tetris' in February; 'Tron' in late March; 'Pac-Man' in June.
The 'Tetris' game was released a week ago, it was another successful game for GALALXY Games.
It took a week and became hit now. The orders are kept coming.
Uncle Robert decided to have the Gremlin team to lead 'Indiana Jones' game development.
After working on the 'Pakkins Land' comic for a month, I have completed a volume consisting of 6 issues, a total of 108 pages.
It was difficult doing all the panelling, dialogue box, inking, etc myself. Every day at least 4-5 pages are done. Some time I have to redo some pages again to make sure they are consistent with the next page. I had to ensure continuity with out affects the reader's immersion.
Because of me knowing the plot and overall story, I was able to draw the whole issues without getting stuck.
With this volume done, I can ask my Uncle to release the issue bi-weekly and release a whole volume afterwards.
Before that, I made sure to collect the data of the over printed issues and their effects. Because I was afraid of getting hit during the comic bubble burst.
The publishers have started printing more and more issues and selling them in the newsstands and stores. These spectacular-driven sales combined with unsold issues to create a massive oversupply of comics, the collector's market was affected and the readers started to buy less and less.
Because of the speculation, I wanted to published no more than 100 thousand issues and only after that will be more prints if there are more readers. Even then I will increase them over another 100 thousand to a total of 200 thousand per comic issue. This will increase the value of the issue and help me sell more volumes.
But there will no limit to the volumes. Because all the issues will be in them, the readers and fans will buy them and recommend to others.
I decided to slow down the drawing of the remaining issues like making 2 pages for a day.
Since the production of the Bristol and Glossy papers starts in summer, I spent my leisure time more concisely with pets, Uncle and drawing.
I then spent some time to make some drafts for new games 'Frogger', 'Doodle Jump', 'Load Runner' and 'Monster Truck' in the following month.
It was now mid-March, the propaganda for the film 'Tron' was started from the beginning of March, along with the 'Tron' game release.
I have seen the film with the Uncle during the internal screening. The film has put nearly $13 million on special effects. They used IL&M special effects studio to make the overall special effects.
The moment the Protagonist went into the game, the chases and the throwing of the discs during fight scenes are the best (according to this current era compared to the future).
I too felt the film was good than the original one in the past. Because I have simplified the plot and remade the vehicles and suits a bit similar to the ones in the 'Tron: Legacy' (2010).
I want to improve their suits and vehicles like how MCU Iron Man has improved his tech. so I decided to wait for the right time to bring those works.
As I was thinking, Uncle Robert came home. I went to my room and put the drafts in respected folders. Then I brought them to him after dinner.
I said "Uncle, I have some ideas for the new games and put them in these folders. Please check and see, if they are good." and handed him those four folders.
He browsed through the different games and we both discussed. Then we corrected the ones and marked them.
Then Uncle said "I will bring these to the GALAXY Games members after they have been copyrighted. Also, kid! You have done a good job now. You have been taking care of the turtles and also managing your time properly by spending with me and with others along with your secret little projects like these. Good Job… Now sleep early. Go… go." and shooed me away.
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