The Comic That is Impossible to Finish
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- Опубліковано 21 кві 2022
- In today's video we are looking at the history of Strangehaven, an independently produced horror/mystery comic by writer and artist Gary Spencer Millidge, and talking about what makes it important and why it should be remembered as a classic.
Order Strangehaven:
www.millidge.com/product/stra...
Patreon:
/ praiseofshadows
Twitter:
/ praise_shadows
Email:
inpraiseofshadows1@gmail.com
Thank you so much for watching. - Розваги
Hey everyone, sorry for the wait on this one. This was a very important video for me to get right and I wanted to take my time with it, and I really hope that you enjoy it. Thanks again for everything, and I hope you've been doing well and seek out Strangehaven. I've got a shorter video I'm currently working on that should be out here in a few weeks, then after that I believe is going to be my project on Alan Wake. I'll see you next time.
I'll be here to comment eggs on the next one, don't worry bud. ^.^
Please take as much time as you need, your videos are always worth the wait!
Quality over quantity
It seems almost fitting that the video took a long time to get right - given the subject matter ☺️
I was certainly interested enough to buy the Volumes from the Website, and something I kept note in my mind was how great the backgrounds were in this video.
Very Good 👍.
Those time-skips with monthly images are the most nostalgic thing I've seen in a while. Distilled and concentrated to the polycrystallic.
I absolutely loved the editing in this video, made me feel very nostalgic.
I've been lucky enough to meet Gary a few times over the past few years, he's a lovely man and I'm glad this video exists to shine some light on his work.
This reminds me of that Russian couple who've been working on their stop-motion movie for decades. As someone who has been creating various musical Gesamtkunstwerk entirely on my own with no commercial viability, it's nice to see that some folks can make these things work at least to the point they can keep going for so long. It can be seen as quite a tragic tale, but the perseverance of the individuals involved is to me why the phrase "cult" is often used for the following. It takes a certain kind of person, as my grandma says, and Gary's infinitely more talented than I am. I can barely draw stickmen, and even after decades I can barely play my guitar.
The channel Atrocity Guide has made a great video about them.
Nice self promotion bro
What is this word: Gesamtkunstwerk? I can't tell if it's German or if you really fucked up trying type.
@@muhklungky6855 Definately a native phrase. Probably German like you said.
I guess you are talking about Petrov Aleksander and his son. Each of their work is a pure masterpiece.
It took me 10 years to complete the first and only volume of Serious Engineering, afterwards I suffered a two year breakdown that I'm just now crawling out of. Comics is not an easy artform by any means, and painfully overlooked.
It's especially insulting how many people see comics and animation as inherently more disposable. They require immense work.
That’s rough. I hope you are doing better now.
I feel the pain in my own way also. I created what felt like a passion project back in 2017-18 of the 2017 Women's March on DC. Hundreds of illustrations of the weekend went into a graphic novel. It is quietly waiting for me to figure out how to share it. ua-cam.com/video/CzQLVPYYOZI/v-deo.html
@@chavesa5 Critics and writers value comics the average person doesn't. For animation its the opposite unless its from Ghibli or Pixar, critics aren't very nice to animation.
Interesting can I see where I can get the volume?
2:26 Second-hand books bought on impulse for a dollar often make for the best reads. It’s how I discovered my favourite novel.
Absolutely yes. I'd say the happiest hours of my life were spent in second-hand bookstores.
You can’t write that and not give us the title of the novel!
@@jordanhedington2421 The Crying of Lot 49, by Thomas Pynchon.
@@Edo_Marinus great author. Loved inherent vice
Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Grishham.Anything by Joesph Conrad. The James Jones war books. Peter Matthiessen's At Play In The Fields of the Lord. Street of Crocodiles by Bruno Schulz.
Characters getting older was untentionally the coolest thing back when I was reading it, like it's the reverse of the comics where everyone are perpetually young and Magneto from x-men is still a young lookin' holocoust victim in 2020s
As someone who's been working on a fantasy series for 15 years and wrestled with some of these feelings Gary had, I'm willing to guess Gary will likely really appreciate your video when he learns of it. Getting work reviewed is the best feeling, particularly when said reviews are in depth and thorough. No piece of art is perfect and I think addressing flaws as well as points of strength make the most rewarding reviews to read
This channel is so dang good. Can’t imagine how long this vid took to make. So much research and well thought out points. I love how every video on your channel seems to be something you are passionate about. It really shines through.
Share it in a place where people enjoy these things, that could help
Hi, TenHun!
TEN!
I know this is probably a small point but the static images you use behind the year/month frames to show pop culture moments really help to show the passage of time, it’s a really cool way to do things 🙏🏻
This is one of the most engrossing youtube videos I've ever watched in my life (and I've watched a lot). Started out watching it laying down on my bed, and about 20 minutes in I got up, sat on my chair and was glued to the screen, chain-smoking, on the edge of my seat. You are immensely talented, thank you for that, and for making me aware of this amazing series, which I can't wait to read!
gotta be the most stressful use of "Single Ladies" I've ever seen
huh?
Put your hands up 🙌
Yoooooo
Damn, Gary deserves an incredible amount of respect for his endeavour and the sheer force of will it took to bring to life. I can't wait to get my hands on Strangehaven and experience it myself.
Too bad the comic is no loner self-published… Well, at the very least, a Strangehaven that no longer self-published is better that no Strangehaven at all.
Yep. This is how I get through my work from home job I don't particularly enjoy, today. Thank you. Your ability to sink me into a topic provides an exceptional amount of relief from the mundane.
omg same lol
I bought the box set of the first 3 volumes, and followed him on twitter. The story sounds intensely interesting, but on top of that genuine love and dedication to a craft through so many hardships has to be supported. To be appreciated. It'd be criminal to let it go under the radar. Thank you for making this video about it, and for all the work you do with your craft
Channels like this one are what make UA-cam great…new Shadows video equals fantastic evening viewing ☺️
Great afternoon viewing here in the States as well :p
Hey, I just wanted to thank you for uploading because you’re my favorite youtuber atm and I’ve been waiting for a video from you for weeks. Thanks for delivering me a two hour video that I will probably watch three times!
Usually I’m mixed with Praise of Shadow’s take on the comic book scene, especially with his Batman video.
But videos like these, exploring obscure horror or disrupting media not many people heard of and telling his passion for it will forever be his greatest strength.
I personally think his horror comics video was some of his best work, and I enjoyed his perspective on Tom King as a flawed Batman writer (though I like Tom King overall).
@@cthulhutheendless1587
Not saying the videos were bad, they were good. But they came off as a bit elitism to me, as if he believes there should be one universal iteration of the Dark Knight, and hating the Bat Family because it goes against his subjective view on Batman.
With such a vast history of Great Batman stories that are never exclusive to genre of horror, I can’t help but disagree immensely with this idea.
@@thefvguy5648 Had a similar issue when watching that video. Don't get me wrong, I love hearing his takes on comics, but that one didn't sit right with me. Glad I'm not alone in the feeling.
His batman video kicks ass fym
@@friezastan
I explained my points above. It’s a good video, but a lot of stuff I disagree with personally.
There's something quietly devastating about how this story weaves in with the last 6 years. The montages only reinforced how much de-realization has become a real problem because up until 2016 everything felt "right" with where and when it happened. Everything after both happened "yesterday" and "years ago".
Gary is probably one of the few people that felt time passing at a more realistic pace with the amount of pressure put on him to finish the comic, and with the delays exacerbating things. I'm gonna buy his comic with the hope he realizes how much people appreciate his work and respect him as a person for sticking with it.
I'm only about a quarter of the way through but listening to how my man did so much to get his dream done makes me realize I should be doing more to accomplish my dream, outside of already working and going to college.
I’m such a huge fan of Strangehaven, so many haven’t heard of it... this is a wonderful chance to tell many others of the weird, touching, sad world of Strangehaven
This is a wonderful video, thank you for bringing attention to a comic and artist who sorely deserve it. I just turned 25 this year, and it's difficult to imagine working on anything for a quarter century. You managed to capture the feeling of the irresistible tug to create contrasted with the realities that we live in
Great comics take the time needed. RIP Kentaro Miura
bad example, he drove himself insane
@@venomtang how did he drive himself insane u can’t just say that, extrapolate on that
@@gobblegobble5567 sure, yes, I have good account from explanations from people he worked with and around him, I forget which site sorry, but basically they said by the end of his career he would obsess over small details on the large size of paper that would barely even show on the final print version, which he should basically be already aware of, to the point where they felt like he's basically lost his mind.
end of the day, that smells like a depression to me, where basically even if it doesn't make sense it keeps you focused and temporarily distracted from having to examine and deal with your own life or issues. To my knowledge he wasn't married and probably both unhappy and soul crushed under the pressure of his fandom and legacy. A rock and a hard place
@@venomtang 🤣🤣🤣
@@c4nnske what's funny, the ugly truth?
This video hits too close to home. I’ve been developing an idea for the last few years that I’ve been trying to write and draw out. Initially, I wanted to make it a series of animated shorts, but I realized just how hard that would actually be, so I decided to turn it into a comic instead. I have no way of getting a company to pick it up, being a no name artist and having no other stories under my belt, so the only way I’ve thought about getting it out there is through self-distribution. Just doing all the writing and drawing by myself is a hassle, but it’s worth it, as it’s challenged me creatively. One can only respect Gary Spencer Millidge for what he did, just putting himself out there like that, and doing everything by himself. As always, awesome video Zane. Keep up the good work.
I'm in a similar boat. Been writing comic stories for 4-5 years now, and none of them have gone anywhere beyond the initial 10-11 page pitches, despite me finishing nearly 20 issues of scripts for the first concept and the 4 entire issues for a 5-issue concept. Being a "nobody" who doesn't have the largest income monthly with my day job (I live outside the US, in a Balkan country), paying artists, letterers, editors, etc. is nearly impossible. I am trying my best to make these with a good friend of mine, but it's slow and grueling. I do the lettering, writing, and sometimes SFX, while he does all the art. I respect anyone who dedicates themselves to this artform, this craft, because it's definitely difficult.
I wish you all the best. Don't give up!
@@christopherwallace8304 Thank you. Good luck as well.
10-11 years back, when i was about 20 i worked as a bartender. At that point of my life i was fresh out of school where i studied fashion. i just loved my work at the bar but i wanted to do something more knowing i have a creative side. Wanted to animate the last few comic books from The Pirates of The Dark water series (one of my fav animated shows back when i was kid) so there is a end to the animation. When i realised how much work this is for li'll old me, i turned my focus to making a comic book inspired by Misfits song "From Hell They Came"
20-something artist with drinking problem that works in a dive bar to pay her bills, but when she is drunk and start drawing everything she draws comes to live. Most things are inspired by the 50s horror movies so shenanigans ensue when she and her co-worker (will they won't they) and few of their regulars try to eradicate the monsters she have created as the first step is to go sober so nothing more can come out of the pages.
i have only few characters ready when i dropped the project for it was looking impossible for one person. The sad part is that years later i spoke to a guy i knew back than and reminiscing over our work at that place where we first meat, i told him about the comic and he asked me why i didn't ask for his help.
So guys, DON'T give up! Ask for help and make your dreams come true!
This video absolutely oozes style, Zane! You have such wonderful talent for telling stories about the creative and personal lives of prolific artists that I feel truly grateful for. I know it’s taken an incredible amount of hard work and perseverance to develop your skills as a storyteller, and knowing your journey in that way gives me tremendous respect for you and your craft. I’m so glad that you’re on this platform making this content.
I've said it twice and I'll say it again: This truly is one of the best videos you've ever made, and I will most definitely start reading Strangehaven before the year is over!
having come from a place where webcomics last for years and I grew up with fandom as passion projects I desperately need to tell this man what we keep telling writers when they update one time a year apologizing for the long wait or that they had to get a job: It's fine!! Take a nap!! Prioritize your health!!! oh my god we will be here, but please take care of yourself
This type of video, it’s subject and the delivery is exactly why I love UA-cam and it’s extraordinary creators.
Someone should do a cut of just the timeline transition portions bc I feel like they perfectly captured the era
The strangehaven art style in Meanwhile reminds me a lot of Waking Life or A Scanner Darkly where it was filmed and then animated over. Very similar feeling.
That's called rotoscope animation
YES I was thinking the exact same thing!
It's created the same way I think, essentially just tracing over an actual photo.
It's definitely an art form in itself and a lot trickier to get right then it seems on the surface, and certainly has its own aesthetic style even compared to freehand photorealistic illustration
The ending of this is a good companion piece to Super Eye patch Wolf's Berserk retrospective and specifically the final scene of the last Berserk issue before the delays and how much it said about the creator's real life and what he'd decided his priorities were.
Seeing the years go by with the highlights of every month made me existential. How things that felt like last week were 10 years ago. Time is cruel.
Just finished watching this vid and I'm just going to buy these comics I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO READ THEM ❤️
I'm really thankful for this video, it shows how bittersweet is life, especially while following dreams... Now I'm in the time of my life when I have to decide what path to take, how far I can persuade my dreams while living good, peaceful and happy as far as I can. And it's frustrating deciding what to give up on. Hearing Millidge's story is calming and uplifting in some way. Maybe I'm just happy I'm in a better place, chilling in bed, in warm home not worrying about money (at least for now). But maybe seeing how far he's committed to finish he's beloved work makes me feel stronger in a way about my own possibilities. It's just hard to tell.
Incredible video. Gary himself told me about this as I went to do a re-read of Strangehaven after the latest Meanwhile got sent through only to find I had lent out my copies of the TBP's and had no idea who it was. Went to buy some new copies but they were all sold out. Gary said it was because of this brilliant and meticulous video. Luckily Gary found a few copies which I jumped on. Fantastic video and a fantastic series. Supper excited if the TV show ever happens.
Today at work I thought about this channel and that you have a tendency to present things I really want to see. Then I thought that wouldn't it be nice it there would be a new release soon. And here it is, later the same day. Fantastic!
Thinking about the sheer amount of time covered in this video is staggering and a bit of a melancholic experience, especially when the month by month montages began covering time that i’ve actually lived through as opposed to having not yet been born.
Anyway, this was a brilliant video (as always), about something that I had never truly heard of before, and I look forward to getting my hands on Strangehaven when I can.
The fact that you put Paul Thomas Andersons “The Master.” As one of the highlights of 2012 makes me like you even more. Probably my favorite movie ever.
Got sold on this comic like 10 mins in. So glad you mentioned it was available to buy on his website, the second I heard that I ordered the tpb bundle.
Very much looking forward to reading it.
1:54:53 I've been playing elden ring all day and when stephen king's name popped in with that red stripe my stupid ass automatically assumed it was a health bar
I’m so happy to click on the link to millidge’s shop and see that EVERYTHING is sold out.
You are constantly introducing me to weird, beautiful, wonderful things. Next paycheck, I'm buying all 3 volumes of Strangehaven directly from Millard. Thank you.
Did you end up buying them?
One of my first online friends has a comic they've been drawing since they were a teenager called the Wasteland and they even sent me a hard copy version of one of their first issues when we used to do mail-pen-pal packages. Later, I followed them on Patreon to see where it goes. Good art is obviously a labor of love and it makes me happy to watch my friends' art grow over time.
Is it any good?
@@Vivivofi I think so. It's pretty genre savvy and does a lot of unusual and original things.
@@NanaShaCrash anyway I can read the first volume ?
In Praise Of Shadows really does videos on pieces of media I've never heard of before and make me check it out for myself, I watched this around lunchtime, it is now 5 in the morning, I've read everything so far and I'm looking forward to the future episodes of Strangehaven, I'm enchanted, one of the greatest thing I have ever read and I wouldn't know about it without this video! Also an awesome song at the end of the video, so my day was filled with wonderful discoveries, thank you, man, this was a hell of an experience, lots of love, keep up the good work, looking forward to whatever's next for you, I'm sure I'll love it!
What a fun, slightly stress inducing video with overall levity. Love it.
Great video and I'm gonna check out the comic for sure! But as a big Alan Wake fan, I'm very interested in your side of the story regarding the game. There is probably more to it, but video games are a very different medium and the development of AW was pretty rough. The concept of the game changed a lot during 2005-2010. And the story is overall more focused on Alan as a character, rather than the town and the weirdness. But I'm gonna hold off on more until there is maybe a video coming from your side :) But saying "it's bad" kinda caught my off-guard at the beginning xD
Oh yeah I’m going to take all of that into consideration in my review, a lot of the script is done and a lot of the video is similar to this one where it talks about the realities of the production and how that influenced the final product and how I hope the sequel does some different things with that world. It’s a very interesting game, but I think there’s a lot of design flaws that more or less come from its troubled production. I’m excited to work on that video soon though. Also thanks! I appreciate it.
@@InPraiseofShadows Sounds good! Yeah, just different opinions probably, so I'm looking forward to the video! And the game has its flaws, that is true. I played Control first and then took a deep dive into other Remedy titles. And I have some things on my list for the second game as well.
@@InPraiseofShadows 8:04 This is kind of comparing apples to oranges.
I don't think 99.9% of any work would understand a reason to include scene of "Janitor takes agonizingly long to clean the floor with a broom" Would you like to play a game where there is that kind of cut-scene to establish normalcy in the setting? Most people would as "why did they include this boring scene?"
I REALLY hope you keep making videos. I love this channel. Been listening to your stuff over and over again while drawing. I'm working on a comic book right now. This story was especially meaningful to me. Take care. In a world of content creators you are an artist.
This is one of my favorite channels
I always get excited when you upload, I know I’m in for a good time and for an hour or so I’ll almost forget I’m at work.
34:32 - it's nice to hear that Molchat Doma have grown in popularity so much internationally that they're used as bgm in UA-cam videos
Wow! I remember having read about this comic way back in an issue of Wizard. Thank you so much for showcasing it.
Fantastic video essay as always. Thank you so much for your time and effort on these.
I can only try to imagine the burden GSM has been carrying for so long. Stories about creative people struggling for years to put their vision out there, uncompromised, are encouraging, but also sad and painful in a way.
Man, what a tale. What a video.
Fantastic video as always. I love the images chosen for each month and the beautiful landscapes shown during sections. Fascinating video as always. I really hope there is a finished 4th volume at which point I will purchase the entire series.
This one hits close to home man, especially as someone who left her job to pursue art studies full time and is having doubts after a year of it.
You did great on this, thank you, and I'm so happy to have found your channel
I don't follow comics or even horror tbh. You have helped me want to enjoy those things. So thank you for that. It's crazy how hard he worked
Great video. Content and editing were first rate. I particularly appreciate how you managed to show the artwork and give an overview without spoiling the work for anyone (like myself) who is new to it.
Strangehaven bundle just ordered. Really looking forward to reading it. Many thanks!
I remember reading about this comic in Wizard Magazine in the late 90s, and I also recalled having seen a video about it, and I was going crazy checking on all of my comics-oriented subscribed channels and just couldn't find it, though they had taken the video down, and today I came across this again.
Keep up the great work
Man, what a treasure you are. Each video is a beautiful piece of art i keep returning time and time again. A big thank you from Argentina.
I gotta say, I love how you take a topic I have never heard about, have no interest in, and make an engaging two hour video on. Kudos 😊
You knocked it out of the park, as usual! You’re doing some truly excellent work.
Glad you introduced me to this comic. It seems right up my alley.
I really love your video essays! I can really see how much thought and effort you put into your videos and it's so awesome!!!!
Damn, this is really inspiring. I consider myself a comic artist, I don't know that I'll be successful at it but there's a passion that burns in my chest, that compels me forward to be better and better. I have a story in my head that I've been thinking about for years.
I started watching your channel because of videos on media that I liked, and now I will happily sit through your movie length documentaries on topics that I never heard of before, because I know that you're going to make them fascinating and informative. I really love the way you used to music to anchor the time-line. It was engaging to remember what was happening in my own life at the same time as the events of the creation of Strange Haven, which i had never heard of until started watching this video. I'm genuinely interested in reading it now.
Total aside from the actual topic being explored here, but I absolutely love your editing decision to include stills from various pieces of history/pop culture to denote the passage of time (alongside the music, of course). Really helps to emphasise the cultural shifts that have accompanied this series' ongoing existence. Remarkable video, as always.
I just wanted to tell you that I love all your videos, I know you work hard on them. Thank you so much for gifting this content to us. ♥️
I love the editing on this video, the choices for the music, las transiciones, los hermosos y variados en temáticas backgrounds, even the fonts! Thank you for using your platform to share such rich and captivating topics
No matter what the topic is, I will always click as quick as I can & enjoy every minute of your work, so thank you so much for helping me get thru each day... 💜✌🐼
I just want to say that I have really enjoyed your content since I discovered your channel during the pandemic, al la The Nightmare Artist video. But I wanted to thank you for this video personally. I have been working on a horror novel about an unfortunate salvage crew that get an enormous bid to scrap an ominous abandoned building in a Centralia-esque town for over 3 years now, and I barely have a complete chapter to present to anyone. I do, however, have a ton of notes, references, scribbles on post it’s and loose, random papers all together in a notebook though. Sometimes I feel like I’m never going to finish it. But hearing you talk about empathy for artists and their craft gave me a more positive perspective on completing a passion project. It doesn’t matter if it takes me 10 years to make, 20 even. I’m happy if it’s just a finished file on my computer, ready to be printed. Because I realized I’m not making this for someone else, or for money (but that would be nice.) I realized I’m making it for myself. So for that, I thank you.
Please keep making more videos. They are excellent.
Good luck with your novel! I’m currently working on one myself so I know how difficult that process can be. I hope it goes well and you complete it down the road, and thank you for your kind words they mean a lot to me.
I have only read the first 2 books. Came across them an age ago in university, when I got into Sandman and comics. I always felt it had potential, it left me wanting more, but it drifted from my consciousness with the passing of time. Excellent video and it urges me to read the rest.
Yeah, I wish Gary would realse a digital copy of all comics so people could read it online paid for legally.
I like the clever pop song choices.
i feel like i have a lot of thoughts about all this, but what mainly comes to my mind is that as an artist, the thing i find most valuable, beyond social media likes or sometimes pay .. (well, it depends) is when someone expresses a genuine interest and care for something i made. it is the same feeling as when someone takes the time to ask you how you are doing. or when someone makes you something to eat. or someone stroking your hair. it sounds weird, i know. but the thought that something i made somehow connected with someone else on some level, that something i made is meaningful to them, that is the feeling i make art for. i dont know about berserk though entirely. since it has been said that miura had been living much more healthily in his last few years, but i suppose this much work and isolation leaves a lasting impact. and through all the pain and tiredness, somehow even i myself think, to make something that people care so deeply about that it becomes part of their life.. its a true magic in this world. i am not kentaro miura, my work ethic isnt nearly at his level. but in a simple way, if our work kills us, is it our choice? if we do it for the gratification of knowing how much people enjoy and care about it? the worst feeling is not to be hated, but to be forgotten , at least to me. but a human in the end is always more valuable than a book. im sure some people around kentaro miura and others like him curse this type of work, understandably. if i could have had one more year with my mother, if they could have had one more year with their friend, or son, or father, who cares if a story is not being finished..? i guess the ones who grieve most at their unfinished work are the artists themselves.
I gotta say man, you're a master of your craft. The month montages were amazing and really drove home how much time had passed in between updates.
Don't understand how you have so little views, personally I can't get enough of your videos. They're extremely well researched and always interesting. Also love the obscurity of a lot of the art you report on. Really appreciate your work and hope you continue for a good while.
This was absolutely brilliant man, it felt so good to listen to you and see the authors reaction 🙌🏾 these are moments when I love the internet
It feels that this is the story of Captain Ahab all over again.
I appreciate his desire for Independence, it's a shame that his skill as an artist was suppressed by the extra work that was needed to publish.
This video and the comments below it are making me cry, in a good way. Thank you Mr. Shadows.
Damn, This is probably my favourite video from you. I like to draw when I'm not working and wanted to do a webcomic in the past years but got crushed with the reality of doing this project, my amateur skills, juggling work, personal life and responsability. This video really inspired me to restart this project, even if I don't finish it or isn't popular.
I think this is my favourite video of yours (and there's many contenders). I think the decision to explore the life of the man behind the art and mention very little of the art itself was the right one. I bought the three-book set about halfway through the video mostly because the brief synopsis and bits of panels you shared intrigued me and I wanted to read it, but also because I think Strangehaven holds a special place in the comic book landscape and Millidge's personal story of putting everything he had into his magnum opus is incredibly powerful. I, like you, want to share Millidge's stories-Strangehaven and the creation of it-with any and everyone I can. I love all of your videos, but it's ones like these that make me really happy to have found your channel, you are my favourite content creator on the platform and I really hope Millidge watches this.
Great video Zane. I had never heard of this comic, or its creator. But ordered the 3 first volumes as soon as the video was over! It’s frustrating how things like this can go so overlooked for so long. But also encouraging how someonen can shed a light on it, like you just did.
These videos are top notch. I love the brief reflections to what was happening year by year to add context to the time passed.
This whole video really resonates with me, as a freelance artist who runs a little shop online. I feel like the amount of different roles you need to play as a small, one person art business, you really don’t get a ton of time actually painting and drawing. Love your deep dives into such interesting topics.
injesting this video has brigthened my day thank you in praise of shadows as well as the man and his work who inspired this heartfelt video.
This video is wonderful. On a technical level, your editing was fantastic, and I love the way you depicted the passage of time, unlike what I usually see on the platform.
Notcto mention how interesting the subject matter is, I can't wait to get my hands on the books now
I remember Strangehaven in the 90’s but I didn’t know how it all turned out.
Bless Gary. He’s a sweet soul.
And thanks for profiling his life and art.
Thank you for describing the ridiculous blissful agony it is to be a cartoonist.
It basically describes my experience as well but it’s been a little different for me as a mermaid.
Like I was probably the only cartoonist
maybe ever that was also a runway model in my 20’s in NYC ha ha!
Also working for 30 years, and my title Meat Cake is on Fantagraphics.
So many shifts and compromises to just keep going through the decades.
Seems like the eternal issue for us is making a sustainable income from the comics themselves so you don’t have to do all these other things that take time away from the project.
But then at the same time its not healthy to not have a life / work balance to socialize with people.
Never bored or lonely while alone.
In fact always a feeling of urgency and holding back panic about the story not being told or seen.
Driven by the muse and life means nothing without the completion of the legacy.
Constant Compulsion to see it through to completion and resentment of the constant everything to attend to outside of the creation of the story.
As of now all platforms in which to buy my books virtually (Except my Etsy shop)
are stealing my work and money.
So I’m considering getting a 3rd job again to acquire some savings ear marked for hiring a lawyer so the fake Amazon acct in my name (and all others) can finally be connected to my bank acct and the villain parasites who stole my life’s work will stop.
My heart goes out to Gary.
Who knows why someone like JK Rowling gets such a big break and Gary has to get by, but he will be justified and compensated what he’s worth.
And thank you for your description on magic, spot on.
Intellectual properties can be more valuable than actual land property.
However they are acquired by the inexpensive alchemy of ink meeting paper and “drawing” down from the ether, the drawing on the page.
Then publishing the story so others can share the same dream vision.
Sometimes I think cartoonist’s lives are blessed and unique and magic, and other times this seems like a level of hell and we are way worse off than normal people with normal aspirations and goals.
For example the descriptions of Gary’s dogs being his companions but also taking away time from his work and being distractions
is exactly why I never had kids or pets.
Having to draw constantly filled the void of everything to the point where sometimes you look up and are like, “Where is everyone and everything?”
Was this weird story worth it?
Do I regret my entire life?
Did I actually have a choice to do anything else anyway?
Also I can’t imagine what everyone out there is doing with all that time I’ve spent drawing.
During the lockdown when everyone was freaking out , literally everything was exactly the same for me.
Working from home, running an online publishing biz, didn’t skip a beat.
I was like, welcome to my world bitches.
I didn’t know it was such torture until I saw you all complaining.
I love your video about Tales from the Crypt too and it heavily influenced me as a kid.
You are so well spoken, thoughtful, and researched.
In Praise of Shadows , you are an angel and thank you for this video.
Completely obsessed with your pics for each Month. This is a wild trip on many levels
They made me feel old as fuck
This reminds me of the guy who wrote Ceberus the Aardvark, who did something similar (with an artist assistant) for over 40 years.
At a severe, apparent detriment to his mental health in the process
Your best video yet. Amazing work, thank you!
Millidge’s blog post about this video was so amazing to read, he seems like such an awesome guy
Another excellent video. You're knocking it out of the park. This video resonated very much with me. I just ordered the TPB bunlde from Gary's online shop.
Man, I love this « travel through time » structure, it kicks me right in the feel !
Incredibly beautiful video. Thank you.
This is one of the most beautiful videos I’ve ever watched on this platform. It reminds me of the documentary on the band Black Star that was so brilliant and under-appreciated during their time.
Just dropping here to say I am a big fan of your content and was really looking forward for your next upload! Cheers !
@In Praise Of Shadows, This is one of the best long form Videos on UA-cam. I had no idea this comic even existed, and here's the thing: I skipped the spoiler section, I know nothing about what actual happens in this comic, and I just watched a two-hour video on it, and that’s great! Because the end of this video, the defence of an artist’s right to create for themselves, at their own pace, was timely and needful and something that should be said more often, and without the hour and a half build up, that message wouldn’t have hit the same way. Thank you for saying this. I guess I’m off to order Strangehaven from the website, then. Please, continue to put to videos like this, they are clearly labours of love that you work so hard on: even just the way you showed the passage of time in this video, month by month, was creative and fun and must have taken so long to put together and involved jumping though so many hoops to avoid copywrite strikes, and I can’t imagine any other youtuber doing it, and yet it made me want to watch every second of what was essentially the gap between you talking, and it little touches of quality like that that sets you apart from every other creator on this platform I can think of. Keep up the great work.
Pure inspiration! Thanks for your content!
There have been so many webcomics I've followed that have slowed to a crawl before being cancelled entirely. This video was legit anxiety enducing to listen to.
A comic like Strangehaven deserves a video like this. Incredible work Zane! Your videos are the best that this platform can offer. I'll try to buy Strangehaven, it surely seems like it deserves to be bought.
Holy crap this was such a great video, thank you for putting this together man, I'm definitely going to pick this up.
This video was absolutely remarkable! I'll definetely keep an eye on Strangehaven from now on.
What a fascinating comic! and the deep look at the history of this work makes me want to go out and read every issue.
Making comics and art are very difficult undertakings for certain kinds of people, especially when doing it all solo. I fully admire anyone who can accomplish almost anything in those directions even if when the work is not my taste. I started a comic over a decade ago, and I have completed 8 pages only, it feels unlikely to ever be completed, even as a single issue or graphic novel. Gary has achieved far more than I have, and I intend to buy his book soon now.