73 replies to this topic

[bwrosas]

Spoiler

The general points I try to leave out for people often get eclipsed by larger journal entries, so I'm going to start putting that first.

Are you REALLY Ian Flynn? The comic guy?
Yes I am. You can check out my website and my body of work at www.BumbleKing.com

Awesome! I love your art in the comics!
That's flattering - but I don't do the art. I'm the writer. I compose the manuscripts the art team uses to produce the book. I've done concept art, though. Some you can find here on dA, some you can find in the graphic novel collections. I'm a decent doodler, but I leave the REAL art to the skilled professionals.

Read my fan-fic! Look at my fan-art! Use my fan-concept!
No, nope, nuh-uh. This would open me up to allegations of intellectual theft. There's a lot of really creative fans out there, and they produce a lot of cool stuff. What if I accidentally re-used someone else's idea down the road? Some folks would be flattered, others would be enraged I "stole" from them. For my protection - and to protect the fandom - I limit any fan-material to fan-art of official characters.

I want to talk to you!
I wish I could keep in touch with everyone, but I really don't have the time. Your best bet is to voice your thoughts on my forum - www.BumbleKing.com/forum. Comments and notes through dA will be read, but I don't know when, and I don't know if I'll reply. I can only keep up so many avenues of correspondence, y'know?

So... why are you on dA then?
Mostly to keep up with old friends, some artists I like, and to share some concept art from time to rare time.

I love the comics! I share them with my friends on dA!
The enthusiasm is appreciated, but you're breaking the law. People have to buy the books to get the content. That money becomes profit for Archie and ensures they keep producing the book and I keep my job. Putting up scans for free loses Archie money. And there's the whole illegal angle. So if you've got full scans up, I'd appreciate you taking them down. (Not like I can do anything about it, but still...)

I HATE you.
Sorry to hear that. Say what you will, but keep it civil. If you decide to be vulgar and/or profane, I'm hiding your comment. It'll stay there - you'll know I'll have read it - but I won't force other people to endure your foul language.

And now the moment you've been waiting for...

Sally! WHY?!
I can't really comment on it much right now since it's only a rough teaser image and part of a larger game plan. But suffice it to say: Sally (and the SatAM cast) are old, out-dated, niche characters. If they're to survive, they need to mesh with the way the Sonic franchise looks today. There's a lot of rumors flying around (some hilarious, some baffling) so stop to ask where's the source of someone's rumor is. If "they heard" it's bunkus. If "Ian said!" they better have a link.

Just keep these things in mind:
- does she still have her auburn hair? Yes.
- does she still have a vest? Yes.
- does she still have boots? Yes.
- is she still a brown chipmunk? Yes.

Pants aren't going ruin her character. She'd be a pretty shallow, terrible character if that were true.

You're just trying to kill SatAM forever you hateful SEGA-lover!
No. If I wanted to kill that aspect of the franchise, it'd be dead. I could've wiped it out at "Genesis." I could have Dr. Eggman nuke them all in one panel and never speak of it again. These characters have survived solely thanks to the Archie books, I'm a fan of them, and I'd like to preserve them for as long as I can - however I can.

Then why all the random game tie-ins? Why interrupt it with the crossover?
You know I have no control over that, right? I just write the stories. I have a lot of creative freedom, but these properties don't belong to me. When SEGA or Capcom says "Do this story for us, and do it now" that's what happens. That's just the nature of the business. I'm not the big decision maker - I'm just part of the process.

Can't you just tell them "No, not right now?"
Sure we could. And then we'd all be fired and the comics would be canceled. I much prefer to have fun side-stories and awesome crossovers instead, don't you?

I will say, That I don't agree with the "Old, Niche Part" part

[RedAuthar]

I don't either.

[Uncle Ben]

Agreed

i dont like it either

[Uncle Ben]

now is directed towards the fanbase whole or just a certain group

[Captain Sorzo]

Unless he flat out received a mandate to update the designs of Sally and the other SatAM characters, I don't buy it. They've co-existed just fine with the Sega characters for nearly twenty years, the majority of which didn't feature them in other forms of media. It would make more sense if a redesign occurred when Sonic Adventure was released, as the aesthetic of the franchise as a whole was overhauled then. But now? The art style of the games has remained consistent for years, and the design of the SatAM cast was clearly not so pressing an issue that it demanded change.

Moreover, if Sal's so "niche", why the kark has Flynn been writing her as the most prominent female in the comic for the entirety of his run? Why does she regularly generate such a degree of controversy and debate?

This just comes across as a pathetic attempt to homogenize the art of the comic, to quash any semblance of aesthetic variety to the cast until everyone resembles the cookie-cutter trash being churned out these days by the talentless hacks at Sega. I hate the modern game continuity, and it's frustrating to see it overtake the comic even further.

[Gojira007]

Moreover, if Sal's so "niche", why the kark has Flynn been writing her as the most prominent female in the comic for the entirety of his run? Why does she regularly generate such a degree of controversy and debate?

He actually answers that in this very Q and A: he likes her. He likes ALL the SatAM characters. I have my problems with this design too, but I also don't doubt Flynn is entirely sincere when he says that this is his way of making sure Sally stays part of the Comic for years to come.

I don't like hearing it either, but "old and niche" is also not an entirely unfair way to describe SatAM. Uncle Ben himself observed earlier today how few members are still active around here, after all, and likewise things over at SMS are relatively quiet. The thing to remember is that it's not meant to be derogatory; it's just a simple observation of the facts as Flynn sees them. And for all the supposed controversey Sally drums up, it's barely a single drop in the pool of the greater world outside the section of Sonic Fandom specifically interested in the Comic. It may seem like a big deal to those of us in that corner of the Fandom, but to just about everyone else, it may as well not exist.

Mind you, I share skepticism at the idea that Sally needed the Re-Design to fit in with the rest of SEGA's world. She's been fitting in just fine for years now, and I've never been able to see her design and look as at all out of place in the overall visual aesthetic of the Comic. Even as I'm willing to acknowledge Flynn's simply trying to do what he sees as best for the character, I confess myself doubtful as to its actual necessity. Likewise, I think it's disappointing Flynn kind of ignores the fact that the new design folds Sally into the same annoying double-standard the series has used about how it designs its characters; boys get to walk around all but completely naked, girls have to cover up their shameful bodies. It's a problem I've had with the Fandom and the franchise for ages now, and Sally being the outlier against it was always a pleasant part of her. So no, the clothing doesn't "ruin" her, but it's still a shame to lose that.

[Speedy_25]

If you look at it this way, it's good that he's making sure the SATAM cast stays in the comic. Sure some of the characters are getting a redesign, but as long as we can recognize them for who they are, then why all the fuss over the new looks. I have no problem with Sally's new look. As long as we know it's Sally, then that's fine by me

[Captain Sorzo]

I probably should've held off on posting that until I'd given myself more time to compose myself. Midterms have made me a tad crankier than usual lately.

I get that Flynn's doing what he thinks will help the character in the long-run, I just don't see the reasoning behind it. Within the context of the comic, the SatAM gang has never been niche. Sal and the others may be insignificant outside of a fairly small demographic, but the section of the fandom specifically interested in the comic, the group that already has an opinion on Sal one way or the other, is the bulk of the audience that's even relevant.

Even if most of the comic's sales come from kids that simply see something with Sonic or another game character on the cover, do they really care what Sal looks like? I imagine they're buying Sonic because it's Sonic and simply want to see their favorite characters from the games, as well as a few one-liners and action scenes.

As long as those are present, Flynn can get away with writing stories that he enjoys, that are targeted more toward the long-term fanbase and feature things like lengthy arcs, politics, and non-game characters. This is the audience that cares about designs...but it's also the audience that is already familiar with Sal. The pro-Sega camp that reads the comic and hates her already isn't going to be appeased by a more game-like design. Fans of the character are largely either going to be neutral toward or against the change.

Who exactly is he trying to appeal to here?

[saber16]

I thought they looked Sega like enough already, why is is a must to change it now? So the designs are outdated, huh? While their at it, why not update Sonic, Amy, Tails, Knuckles and all the sega sonic characters? This is just.... pointless. If they want to throw them through the sega sonic cookie cutter, that's their choice, but what about all the spin off characters? So are all the alternate universe characters changing to? What about snively, is he outdated as well? Should he get a pointless redesign no one asked for, too? I mean... If they just want to make a Sega exclusive world, why not just get rid of the Satam cast and do just that?

Oh yeah, that's right. They did that with the Sonic X comic, only lasted 40 issues.


This just reminds me of how they tied in Sonic and Robotnik's new designs 10 years ago, it was stupid and pointless then and it's no different here.

[RedMenace]

But, Saber! It just makes sense! Chaos energy + Hedgehog = Green-eyed hedgehog. ...Not to mention a bunch of alternate super forms, never to be seen again.

And while I much prefer Sonic's and Robotnik's appearances prior to the redesign, I can understand that it probably had to be done (Sega's orders and whatnot). But if Sally's redesign is Flynn's own decision, I'm still failing to see a valid point in it.

[Uncle Ben]

me too

[PuffinGrandeur]

I thought they looked Sega like enough already, why is is a must to change it now? So the designs are outdated, huh? While their at it, why not update Sonic, Amy, Tails, Knuckles and all the sega sonic characters? This is just.... pointless. If they want to throw them through the sega sonic cookie cutter, that's their choice, but what about all the spin off characters? So are all the alternate universe characters changing to? What about snively, is he outdated as well? Should he get a pointless redesign no one asked for, too?

Every single one of these characters has gotten updated and redesigned at some point.

[Gremlin 24]

I thought they looked Sega like enough already, why is is a must to change it now? So the designs are outdated, huh? While their at it, why not update Sonic, Amy, Tails, Knuckles and all the sega sonic characters? This is just.... pointless. If they want to throw them through the sega sonic cookie cutter, that's their choice, but what about all the spin off characters? So are all the alternate universe characters changing to? What about snively, is he outdated as well? Should he get a pointless redesign no one asked for, too?

Every single one of these characters has gotten updated and redesigned at some point.

yeah, so why is this any different? and it may be my own fault but all i see of flynn's message is a Black Bar, is there another way i can see it?

[PuffinGrandeur]

Click the spoilers "Show" button.

[Gojira007]

Click the spoilers "Show" button.

I think whoever did the spoiler tag goofed somehow, or else it may be certain computers not taking kindly to it, but I couldn't get the Spoiler box to work either; I had to quote the original post to see the full message for myself.

[Robthe1st]

I click the show buttom, but it didn't appears to me. Or maybe with my screwing computer.

Can it be show in a different pic?

[DCC]

Agreed

i dont like it either

I can understand Sonic Sat a.m. fans would see the terms "old, niche" being used to describe Sally and other Sonic Sat a.m. characters as insulting; like they don't matter. To Sonic Sat a.m. fans they are really important.

[Uncle Ben]

Yes. something is telling me he is lying about some of this

[Prime]

Archie is Archie at the end of the day though, it's not SatAM. Sure the SatAM characters are in there, but they have developed and changed enough to the point where they aren't like their SatAM counterparts anymore.

He does have a point with the needing to update the characters. Look, we can all stand here and not agree with what Ian has said, but the bottom line is these characters have changed throughout the years. Both in personality and/or in appearance. It might be a slight little change, or a big one, but they have changed and will continue to do so. Change is vital to pretty much any franchise these days in order to keep it going. Like he said, if he hated them, he could of easily killed them off the moment he became the writer for the book. Flynn has been writing the book for what? 6 years now and he gave Sally a purpose again after that godawful idea the last writers did with her that started in #134.

You may not like what he is doing, but the guy is telling a story and if that means a beloved character has gotta go through a change, then so be it.

[RedAuthar]

Part of the Flack Ian gets is what should be aimed at the higher ups. It was probably the higher ups that decided that she would need a redesign and he just wrote it into the story. Again he is the writer not the guy in charge.