(Continued from Part 2)
Zook started life as a novel (read the first chapter here) I adapted to a graphic novel format. What follows is my adaptation of the first chapter of my Zook novel (click to enlarge, and leaf through it in a pop-up viewer).
THE WIND-UP, and the PITCH!
When I had that first chapter, a good plan for the story and an executive summary, I put together a pitch doc and sent it out to the usual suspects, agents and publishers. Although they liked it, it was rejected by everyone who saw it.
I had reached the end of a seven year development process and felt like I was at a dead end. I shelved Zook until I could figure out what to do with it later, and I turned my attention to another long-term story of mine, Moon Town.
So… what’s next for Zook?
I’m not sure. I have some story stuff to smooth out, mainly. Chief among them, what makes Zook different from any other version of the Hero’s Journey? In short, what’s the hook?
Honestly, I don’t know what will become of Zook. Digging through these old materials reminds me how much I liked the characters and the setting. Unfortunately, I am also reminded that the Hero’s Journey that forms the backbone of the story – as grand a tradition as that structure may be – is just not all that original. If I want this story to go anywhere, I will need to be more innovative than that, or what’s the point? This much is certain – you haven’t seen the end of Zook just yet.
I still love this a lot, man. I think it looks fantastic.
Just discovered this blog, what an awesome graphics on that comic
Very nice. Beautiful graphics and good story. Do you have brother? The banter fits so well the brotherly thing. I do have a bro. It would work for best friend too. But it feels like brothers to me.
Thanks, everyone. Uther- yeah, I have a brother. The deal with these two is that they are not brothers, but they may as well be. That relationship forms the backbone of the story.
Glad you like it. This one has always been more important to me than Moon Town, though it’s hard to figure out what to do about that.
Sounds like it could be a very interesting story indeed. I think the tendency to knock the Hero’s Journey is mostly because of people who learned enough about it to be dangerous.
It’s a well known archetype because so many stories follow it to one degree or another, naturally. There’s still a lot of room there for a great yarn.
All I can say is I still believe in the story. As you said, maybe it needs to be reimagined a bit. But I look forward to what you come up with!
I know you dig Zook, Tom. It’s you I was thinking about when I said “…although my friends will argue with me on this…” I like it, too. But it needs its flaws smoothed over.
Eric – thank you for the note! You are right as rain – the Hero’s Journey takes a lot of knocks. Part of it is because it’s misunderstood. Part of it is because it is overused. Every Tolkien-inspired hack from here to Mordor feels like they have a fresh take on There and Back Again when really it’s not so much of a fresh take as a re-take. Where it breaks down for me is an accurate picture of what constitutes a “fresh take”, and there lies the rub.
I’ve never seen this. The backgrounds are paintings alone. Beautiful!
Thanks, Bunny! I really need to do something with this.
Lovely. The Hero’s Journey is one of the wellsprings of storytelling; you just need more confidence in your particular variation. That you still want to work on it speaks well for your drive. Work at other projects and day-to-day life; eventually more sparks will be struck.