Invader Scurk probes into the matter...

[Invader Scurk]

Invader Scurk, an Irken soldier secretly banished from his own empire, has set up base on Earth (or at least he will by the time Halloween rolls around). In order to not be taken by surprise, he has been scanning over the Earth and all her inhabitants, and has been attracted to this strange castle, which is radiating strange energies of a previously unknown wavelength, prompting further investigation.

I'll retain control of my character throughout the crossover event, but I have an idea about it. Scurk will inevitably encounter other comic characters roaming throughout the castle, and will have encounters which will last one or two pages. If anyone wants to join in, we could do this. I draw the pages where our characters meet and post them in my comic, and you draw the same pages from your character's point of view and post them in your comic.

I would, however, appreciate it if someone would be willing to lend me their comic character for the duration of the cross over event, who will accompany Scurk as he explores the castle.

I would like to have people post some information about the characters they would like to be featured by other comic artists.

If you want me to use your character, I'd need something like a name, what kind of personality they have and what world they live in, and a front, back, and side view of them. In my mind, the point of a crossover is not to have your character featured in image, then have the host artist do whatever he/she wants. It's to have them portray your character as they appear in your own comic. I'll draw up an example based on my characters in a few days.

[KAMics]

I'll retain control of my character throughout the crossover event

LOL!

You have no idea of how these train wrecks work, don't you?

KAM (scarred survivor of 3 of these things)

[fesworks]

Sounds like you have a very specific idea of what you want, but it also sounds like you'll be doing your own thing, instead of an actual crossover.... sounds somewhat similar to Salt the Holly, though none of it was cannon to anyone technically.

... which, of course, is not a problem.

I've actually done what you suggest, before... where both people draw the same page.... It can work.

I'll retain control of my character throughout the crossover event.

Well, it won't stop people from having cameos if they want.

[Invader Scurk]

Well, okay, maybe I did go charging off. Can someone who does know these shebangs a little bit better lay it out for me? I get the basic idea, but how do you coordinate all the storylines if everyone isn't doing the same thing?

[fesworks]

Well, I'll explain my experience.

When I did "Jenny Everywhere and the Crossing Over Worlds", I did what it sounds like you are proposing. ... However, with me, there was a serious lack of ADVANCED PLANNING... so it was harder and harder to coordinate updates and such... but still, with planning it should work out, if that is what you are going for.

However, I have also done crossovers where two (or more) artists will all have the same script to go by (more or less) and then trade-off, or switch, or alternate the pages...

... This is achieved in updates by either linking directly to each other's comic updates in succession... or by actually placing each other's comic pages on their own comic sites as actual updates. (Which you can see in my comic here, Where PSI and Blade of Toshubi (and later, even The KAMics) were alternating strips.

Personally, I prefer the last example the best.

However, you also run the risk of having strips that don't match your own, personal layout. I, personally didn't have a problem with it because it's not something I'm planning to print, and at the most, I just needed to shrink down Toshubi's pages to fit my site's layout.

Also, it's by far the easiest method.

Of course, the thing to work on is advanced planning and script writing and agreements. Generally, I will say to try to write the scripts out in ways that makes certain strips more heavy on one comic, than the other... and then have that same comic be who draws it... they way the artists are going to be more drawing their own characters more often, and they'll have an easier time of cranking out strips more tuned to what they normally do.



Sounds complicated I know, but there is plenty of time to plan, and if you really just plan for short crossover meetings, it should not be as difficult as it sounds. Should be quite easy.

Of course, the even easier method is to go the cameo-crossover route where there may not be DIRECT crossovers with others, but rather you use cameos to reference or coincide with events that are playing out in other comics during this time.


I can explain in a few more example is you'd like.

[Hogan]

Greetings Scurk, and a belated welcome to the Caper!
Too few Aliens have been spotted to a Caper before now, glad to see that the calls for appearances now are being heard from beyond the stratossphere!

With regard to coordination, then the best thing you can do is to have an idea what YOU want to do, then read up on whatever people are planning out loud, calculating how their plans will match up with yours, then seeing how much interaction you can do with them.
As a rule of a thumb, the more interaction you get, ih. direct crossovers where the two different comics both work on the same story, where you have to shift from comic to comic in order to get the full story, the more work you have cut for you!

Some chooses to play with their plots without crossing over, adding parts from other particpating comics in the background, creating the grand mass illusion that everything is taking place at the same time and about the same place...

Best advice: Coordinate, coordinate, coordinate... either through posts on this forum or through PM's and mails if there's somebody you end up working closer with... and do share all your plans with your fellow capers... the more you write, the more there are for others to work with!

[Invader Scurk]

Thank you for the advice; both of you. This gives me a much better idea of what to expect. I've read a few crossovers in my day but never participated in one. So I guess that means that the purpose of this thread now to ask if anyone wants to work with me! We can start up conversation via email or whatever, but I need to find someone who wants to work together.

As I said in the first post, this is my basic idea for a crossover. Invader Scurk, an Irken soldier secretly banished from his own empire, has set up base on Earth (or at least he will by the time Halloween rolls around). In order to not be taken by surprise, he has been scanning over the Earth and all her inhabitants, and has been attracted to this strange castle, which is radiating strange energies of a previously unknown wavelength, prompting further investigation.

It's a fairly broad framework, and really only explains my character's motivations and not any following events. So among whoever wants to cooperate, we can work out all the finer details.

I definitely wouldn't mind having some veteran crossover comic artists to work with.

[Kallisti]

I have experience drawing Irkens. Just sayin'.

[Invader Scurk]

I've been seeing a lot of people showing interest in the crossover, talking about what characters they want to bring, but I still need someone to work with (unless we plan to do some big group cross over which would be almost impossible).

[J-gonk]

Hey, what's up dude? I was wondering if you'd be interested in a little crossover action during the caper? No one seems to really want to play with a robot DJ and a stoner panda... Do you mind if my characters run into your character when they reach the castle? I was planning on having Mantooth show up as the DJ for the festivities at the castle, so if you wanted to throw that in some background part of your comic that's cool, but if not that's cool too.
I was suppose to receive my invitation this past Wednesday, but my internet has been down. It's back up and I'll bee finishing up last week's comic and uploading it tomorrow night. This week's comic is when I'm planning on reaching the castle...

http://mantoothsoundsystem.comicgenesis.com

[Xade]

ilike totally forgot to mention that IS and I are doing a crossover, silly me, that is once I can get around to doing this week's update, it will probably be a double or triple update to catch up. My main laptop is down and im stuck with a dinly little granny they call the compaq m300. I hate it but ive been tweaking it already to squeeze every last byte of speed out of it.

However Im sure we can cameo or do a tiny crossover somewhere. basically this is your chance to hobnob with other characters and get some exposure from other comics

[Invader Scurk]

Hey, what's up dude? I was wondering if you'd be interested in a little crossover action during the caper? No one seems to really want to play with a robot DJ and a stoner panda... Do you mind if my characters run into your character when they reach the castle? I was planning on having Mantooth show up as the DJ for the festivities at the castle, so if you wanted to throw that in some background part of your comic that's cool, but if not that's cool too.
I was suppose to receive my invitation this past Wednesday, but my internet has been down. It's back up and I'll bee finishing up last week's comic and uploading it tomorrow night. This week's comic is when I'm planning on reaching the castle...

http://mantoothsoundsystem.comicgenesis.com

J-gonk, I'd be happy to do a mini crossover with you. I know that you want to get into the game as far as the crossover goes, but please keep in mind that a lot of the action goes on behind the scenes, via PM's. So while these threads on the forum may be running slow, most people are very active! I don't have anything planned for when Invader Scurk first arrives at the castle, and having some distinct characters from other comics would be a great way to make the castle look like it's filled with various parties. Send me a PM with anything you might had in mind, and we can work from there.

ilike totally forgot to mention that IS and I are doing a crossover, silly me, that is once I can get around to doing this week's update, it will probably be a double or triple update to catch up. My main laptop is down and im stuck with a dinly little granny they call the compaq m300. I hate it but ive been tweaking it already to squeeze every last byte of speed out of it.

However Im sure we can cameo or do a tiny crossover somewhere. basically this is your chance to hobnob with other characters and get some exposure from other comics

Get off my lawn/outta my thread whippersnapper! J-gonk posted in my thread, which obviously he likes me better than you.

[RazorD9]

Hey. Am alate coming and just finished reading through the Invader Scurk Archives, and am new to the whole crossover thing as well. Have my characters wondering around the castle with nothing specific in mind other then meeting the different party goers. So if you like, can work something out from a quick cameo to an actual crossover with silly results.

[Invader Scurk]

Hey. Am alate coming and just finished reading through the Invader Scurk Archives, and am new to the whole crossover thing as well. Have my characters wondering around the castle with nothing specific in mind other then meeting the different party goers. So if you like, can work something out from a quick cameo to an actual crossover with silly results.

It'd be great to use your characters to fill out the environment of the castle! Can you link me to your comic, or provide some pictures of the characters you want participating?

[RazorD9]

Here you go, and hope this helps you out, and looking forward to Scurks assessment of the situation.

[Xade]

Get off my lawn/outta my thread whippersnapper! J-gonk posted in my thread, which obviously he likes me better than you. [/color]

oh byte me I think Bobby is prepping the brick hauler again, cause ive been so delayed, despite having my laptop back that it isnt funny. of course, i do have a very good excuse in the form of my Dad being in the hospital

[Invader Scurk]

RazorD9. I recognize Cedrick. You're doing a crossover with mantooth as well aren't you? Pretty cool.