Yep, Ferquently asked questions about mcDuffies. Even better, I didn't make them up myself ;)
Feel free to ask new ones.
Q: Where are the McDuffies stories geographically based? America, Europe?
A: I tried to avoid any geographical reference, that way it was saved from inconsistencies in educational or employment system, or any similar inconsistency that coulda be made. It could be any average country save that author transposed names of characters into Anglo-American names. But I guess it will most likely be European country. Actually, it has most in common with Serbia but not accurately either.
Q: What are your influences, artistically, location and storywise?
A: Uh, well, I got lots of influences... My favourite printed-comic-artists are Hugo Pratt, Enki Bilal, Jean-Claude Mezieres, Regis Loisel, Bill Watterson, some other major influences are Jean Giraud Moebius, Frank Miller, Andre Franquin. The use of b/w contrast I learned mostly from Pratt and Mezierres, and page composition from Moebius.
From webcomics, that would be Maritza Camposs, John Allison, Pete Abrams...
But I practically learned a lot from every comic I read – from bad ones, I learned what’s to be avoided.
Also, my influences come from painting (Paul Klee), film (Andrei Tarkovsky), literature (Italo Calvino, Julio Cortasar, Jorge Luis Borges, Thom Moorhouse, Danil Harms and many others.
The major influence for creating “mcDuffies” was “CRFH!!!” by Maritza Camposs, people tell me that it’s not as visible as I claim it to be.
Q: Why did you start McDuffies?
A: There are not many opportunities to publish comics where I live,specially not regulary. Also, I always wanted to tell a long, epic story such some series can be. comicgenesis gave me opportunity to do both.
Q: How did you learn to draw? Have you taken lessons?
A: I was taking lessons in 4th grade of high school, but only for about half a year. Those classes formed my ethics when it comes to comics, but not so much drawing style or technique. So basically, I’m self-taught.
This was a very long process (and is still not finished) lasting since I grapped a pencil for the first time in my life. Which was about twenty years ago. I oughta learn something in such long time.
Q: Are any of your characters based on yourself or people you know?
A: I think they’re all more or less based on me: all main characters share some characteristics with me. None of them was entirely or visually based on me or any of my friends, however.
There is one character entirely based on real person though, but it’s a negative character and I hesitate to give that information in public.
Q: McDonalds or Burger King?
In Serbia there’s only McDonalds, so... Burger King!
A: :-) But honestly, I like fast food, even if I know the ways of making it. It’s like a bad addiction that I try to keep under control. If there was Burger King around too, I think I would visit both equally, if nothing then for a change.
Q: Have you created any projects before starting McDuffies?
A: Yep, many of them: unfinished series, short stories, etc. I started a few after starting mcDuffies, too.
Q: What are your aims concerning McDuffies and its future (syndication, print, full-time job etc?)?
A: I don’t think mcDuffies conceptually has a chance for syndication. Also, due to variable format, it’s not suitable for print. I’ll just try to keep it available online, free, eventually finish it when I’m left out of ideas, maybe earn some money meanwhile, if possible.
Q: How long does an average comic take?
I can make a mcDuffies comic from script to finished comic in half-an-hour to a full hour, depending on a size. This is thanks to the fact that I do it in b/w, draw fast, sometimes slack, and don’t look back on finished pages. This system actually allows me to update 4 times a week.
Q: What the heck is a sheathfish?
A: You got me there, I don’t even remember anymore. I definitely found it in some dictionary I had handy back then and it was supposed to mean simply a particular kind of fish, so if it doesn’t actually mean anything, it’s not my fault (or al least a half of it).
Q: Is there a character you identify with alot, like almost an alter-ego?
A: Well, I tend to identify with main character in every storyline... Generally it’s supposed to be Gordon since he’s mostly similar to me, but I identify with him the least. He actually gets on my nerves sometimes.
Q: Does mcDuffies have a combo menu and supersizing?
A: Yes.
Q: When will the FAQ be ready?
A: It’s already ready, YarpsDat.
mcDuffies is hosted on comicgenesis, a free webhosting and site automation service for webcomics. All material is property of Srdjan Achimovich, I heard he usualy incourages you to copy it for your personal use.