Unfortunate bloody mistakes

 Soon I'll have a new one in my hands. Disgusted.

Soon

 

BD

 The so called "next book" is most likely not going to be a single book but a series of 48 pg albums (4 or 5) in the manner of franco-belgian BD.  At this stage it's a lot more fragmented than Läskimooses. No way to tell how it'll turn out in the end. 

Supposedly

 Läskimooses has supposedly been printed. And how did it turn out? I'll know in 2 weeks. 

In the beginning of September two specials coming out: Marsin mesimailla (a6 16 pages) and Avaruusvelho (a6 24 pages).

End of September I will finally start with an entirely new book. I think I found an excellent mcguffin for this one, but then again too soon to say. Planning to change my drawing style somewhat 

Life after Läskimooses

 Some months now since I concluded the story. The last 50 pgs coming out in the book edition. Not sure though how "finished" it really is. If everything goes as planned there's going to be a 24 pg A6 small booklet Space Wizard #1 by September, maybe later, we'll see, that is going to bring some new info to the story. But for now I'm enjoying life after Läskimooses. 

Been working on a small collection of short stories that'll come out in French sometime next year probably. Getting ready to start my next "bigger" book in the Fall, finally having the chance to do the interviews I was planning for last spring. At the same time I have three smaller books I would like to conclude and put out, but we'll see. The thing that really bothers me is Suomaan kansan muinaisusko that I started few years back and finished 45 pages altogether. There are maybe 100 more planned. In perfect world I would like to conclude that story. It was meant to be part of the Läskimooses main book, but since it was dropped from the newspaper that was serializing it that didn't happen. Now I have a rather cool plan for a COMIC BOOK, but how, when... Guess I will have to wait how things turn out. How they turn out for Läskimooses and how they turn out for all those other projects. Then I'll know. 

Läskimooses book will come out 26th of August. French and English editions are in the works.

Things things things

 There are a multitude of things undecided in the book/s, the covers for one. Although I think everything will work out in the end, there is a lot of stress in the air at this particular moment. But I've read the book and I think there are some real nice spots here and there. 

Looks

 Looks like the collection of short stories will be close to 200 pages. Depends a bit on how many of the I have stories I will actually use. It's a small book, something like A6. Totally new there will be 3 or 4. Plan is to get it done by the end of August, but we will see. 

Book version

 https://www.asemakustannus.com/kauppa/tuote/tohtori-matti-hagelberg-laskimooses/

These

 I have these 4 or 5 projects I'd like to do & no funding so haha

Have and have not

 So, Läskimooses book edition is proceeding. Should be out in September.

Meanwhile: the NEXT big book about to start. I have collected literature and resources. I have a plot, big parts of it at least. I have characters, some with more detail some with less. I have the setting, at least the outlines of it. I have the name and I think I have the format. I don't have any idea of how many pages, but am hoping below 500. 

Turns

 Turns out the things I thought needed correction didn't need it. I've now gone through 46 issues and tomorrow I will have finished the work. Yes, finished finished. Läskimooses is. 

But for the book version there are a few(mostly) typographical things I have to do. But I will not be able to do every single one of those things since the lay out hasn't started yet,  I can do most of them, though. Seems like next week there's NOTHING. I'm tempted to add some little bit of a story somewhere. I do have couple of scripts...

If

 If anything goes as planned:

January: finish Läskimooses

February: lay-out and all that

March: one illustration job

April: 14th Day extended 

May: 14th day continues

June-July: B.E.M.böle concluded

August: NEW book starts!

September: Kekkonen2 and new book continues

etc

Sick

 Or perhaps. I have 4 serious pages left of the notes. Maybe will finish those before Christmas. Then 2 pages that are like very much extra. Then the "backcover". I might skip that one. Ok, those remain. 

Issue 54 at the printer and what is hilarious or sick (depends depends) is that I've made plans for 2 extra pages for that one. Don't know whether I'll do those, but I have the plans. Maybe I will maybe I won't. 

I really really want to be over and done with this baby. Trust me!

Regrets

 Apart from regretting I didn't manage to draw/write better I regret I didn't manage to get the spin-off series' going. Except for Tappavat kädet, which ofcourse was bloody brilliant. 

Undone

 List of things undone that might stay that way:

1. Beard

2. Ready-made. A found porn short story

3. Clubmaster final chapter

4. Their son going to war

5. The truth about Agner Mang

As

 As it is I'm waiting for the last issue to come from the printer and after Christmas it will. Filling in the gaps. I have 28 pages lined up for the extras and some 10 still to do. There is a chance that the book will not come in Finnish, but it will come out in French probably also English. However, for me it will be over over by that. It happened. You might've caught a glimpse. The book is a recording of the actual thing. So there.

Blög

 Started this blog in order to tell how the project was going. Now it's almost gone and so is the blog. Issue 54 just about ready for the printer and the "notes" proceeding (23 pgs done). And my mind is working with the next book. 

Plan 4 next book

 Bit like Läskimooses but less shitty

Issue 55

 Issue 55, the secret issue, the notes, proceeding, proceeding. 20 pgs done, 16 to go. Will continue next week with my new lens. Yeah, but the old one served me well for almost 58 yrs. Adios!

Work

 

Vacation

 Working on the secret issue, the notes, issue 55, whatever you like to call it. Should be a bit over 32 pages with some surprises and some light funny stuff. After finishing the exhausting issue 54 this one feels like vacation. Now rules can be bent as much as I want, no need to stick to any previous strategy. Still the same characters and (looks like) the same overall technique (marker on scraperboard). But some storytelling ways might take a somewhat different route. All and all it feels more relaxed.

Without the pandemic I might also take same time off, seeing friends, going to bookstores, restaurants, opers, but since things stand as they do I mostly continue the way I've done for most of 2020. All classes are remote and they will stay remote for most of 2021 too. Daily ride to the studio will be done with a bike as has been the case since February. Some day the pandemic will be over, though. Maybe then some celebration.

Ain't over yet

 But not long to go. Main book is now finished with issue 54 drawn. The additions and corrections will take til January/February. It's the end stretch no matter how you look at it.

One

 One panel short of finishing the 54 issue run. There is still the "secret" issue but I don't know if it's even going to be an issue or just 40 pages extra in the book version. So.

Took 9 years. Approximately 150 pages a year. Pretty ok, but could've been faster too, I guess. 

Next week I'll cut  the "secret" issue pages and will probably start with the ones that then feel most pleasant. A soft landing from Läskimooses. And must not forget editing, whatever that means, some additional pages to improve the overall rhythm, some grammar corrections... Estimating that it'll be over in February, maybe March. 

But the "secret" issue feels different. Most of the stories only one or two pages. Longest would be 10 or maybe bit more. Easy to change and skip between them. Feels less like work than 53 and 54. Feels, yes. 

Then 2021 spring and some new direction. Unless someone wants Suomaan kansan muinaisusko in some place. That would mean getting back to Läskimooses related stuff.

Things

 4 pages left of the main thing, preparing to start on the "notes". It feels more peculiar than I imagined. Spent 9 years with this one. A door is about to close, although the work continues. January 2021 pretty much all should be done. And how did it turn out? You tell me. Drawing style definitely changed as was meant to. Oh well...

Closer

 Moving closer to the end of the "final" issue. 6 pages to go. And the cover. And the backcover. When these are done I will move towards the additions. Planning to take as many liberties as needed with those. Lots of stuff I can do with only text. Other kind of stuff too. Aim is to keep the additions in 32 pages and FINISH before Christmas. We'll see how that goes. Editing will take place January 2021. Shouldn't take too long. But at this precise moment everything feels to be in standstill.

Notebooks from way back

 

Patience

 Takes patience to bring this to an end. Some progress with issue 52. Will start corrections of 53 pretty soon. 54 moving along, close to 20 pgs done, which would mean I'm half way through. Would also really like to start with the corrections (minor) and the secret issue. But one thing at the the . Classes start in September and by then 52 and 53 should be ready 4 the printer and 54 just about drawn. 

Truth

 

Been

 Been writing the final version of a longer monologue for the final issue (final ha ha, remember the extra issue 55). Actually quite enjoyable, creating images in writing. Might in many ways prefer it to drawing. The monologue takes us from Pori, Finland to Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. And a sordid story it is. At this point it's 15 pages growing into maybe close to 30 pgs. Finally we learn the roots of Kalevi's complex relationship to apes. Nuff said

20

 Around 20 pgs left of issue LAST.

Soundtrack

 Occasionally I think of a soundtrack for some of my works. At some point I was thinking Shonen Knife. At some other point I was thinking Vier Letzte Lieder by Strauss. Something between those 2?

If you have suggestions of a possible Läskimooses soundtrack, share it here or somewhere else.

I wrote

 I wrote a text for the ending of Läskimooses.

Need

I need 2 work harder.

Patience

Sort of loosing patience with this baby.

In sight

The end of Läskimooses is in sight. I still dread the few corrections I feel I need to do, but in 6 months it it should all be behind me. I already started gatherig information for my next book. Book or books. Playing around with some ideas. And then ofcourse there's Suomaa. But I've sort of promised myself that I will only do it for some magazine in order to keep it interesting AND to make some money. 6 months. I think that is pretty accurate. And the book version coming out fall 2021 if everything goes ok.

Hopeful

Managed to begin issue 54 for real. Some 8 pages finished so far. Once more feeling like this thing can be concluded. Every time time when I start a new issue there's this feeling that it can't be done. Takes two or three days to get back to the rhythm. And now I will take a couple of weeks off. The issue starts with a long monologue by Kalevi. Looks like it might be 25 pgs, maybe a bit less. This will mean that the issue will be 48 pages. Maybe a bit less, we'll see. Won't quite be able to finish it in August since there's also other stuff I need to do. But end of September should be possible. See you then.

Much

Nothing much has been going on. First draft for the script of issue 54 has been written but second/third still need to be done before I can get started. It has been SLOW! Meanwhile, I don't have any clue of who is visiting this blog. Someone occasionally is, I think. At least some bots from places like Romania and UK. Are these friendly bots? It's hard to say.

Pieces

I didn't invent the pieces, I just put them together. I'm not different from any reader.

4 real

Have been trying something. If everything goes good issue 52 will be in color. Actually a bit excited about this! The plan was there  for a long time and things have been leading to it. Making the colors is a bit messy. As you might have guessed I'm not doing them in any sensible way but well... The color separation will be done by hand. And that's not all. Trying something I haven't done before. Interesing to see how this'll play out.

One

One issue to go. Not counting the extras

Still and sort of

Still looking for a spot for Suomaan kansan muinaisusko. Haven't really offered it to so many places, only two, but the problem is I sort of can't think of any that would be possible. Twice a month would be ideal, even once, same size as before or bigger. Yes, well if any (Finnish) paper comes to mind, let me know.

In a week

Issue 53 should be finished in a week. This means I have something like 30 pages left to draw of the actual book. Yes, really. Since the "notes" (more like additions) shouldn't be more more 50 pgs, I'm looking at October/November to have it all over snd done with. But the book version... With the pandemy and all I wouldn't wait for it before June 2021. But you never know. The French and English editions come when they come if they come. Pretty sure that there are no problems with the French edition but with the English edition, might take some time.

Closing

Issue 53 is very close to being done. Unlike issue 52 this hasn't been especially FUN to do. It's an issue which tie some loose ends and it's more about things I HAVE to do than things I WANT to do. This really has been a thing with Läskimooses: many things have happened just because I wanted to do them, many of them probably not entirely necessary for the BIG story. But maybe that is the big story? Yes, probably.
It has taken nine years to finish. Still, I would say, 60 to 80 pages need to be drawn. That includes the "notes". All should be done by Christmas.
And I already miss the world. Would very much like to continue the Suomaa strip, maybe in larger size, BUT that's a newspaper strip and doesn't look too much that any paper would like to run it. Have to look into it later this year. Some great untold stories there.

One

Now that there's ten pages and one whole issue undone I can tell you a bit more of the secret extra issue that I  have been calling the "notes". More like notes it's additions. Stuff that could've been in the thiginal run but for whatever reason wasn't. I will start to work on these 30 to 50 pages in September. The longest fragment is over 8 pgs and it reveals something extra of the adventures of Ohto Äijönpoika. Others are shorter.

I haven't any solid idea of  how these will be published. What I do know is that I will make the the material as if it was issue 55. With a cover and backcover and all. But will it be published as one, maybe not.

Now and then

So now we're here. But actually issue 52 is drawn and 53 halfway through. Really. Means that I will be starting on issue 54 (the last) in June. The "notes" will be 30 to 50 pages and no idea yet on how they will be published. We will check this out in the fall. What started in 2012 will end in 2020. For me at least. I do have the sequal started, which is the Suomaa strips, but those I would like to publish first in a newspaper and since there's no newspaper interested... Ee'll see. But Läskimooses (Fatso in English) will be out as a book in 2021. Probably will be pretty soon translated to French and maybe in English (have a contract). Then it's really over.

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Totally

Totally had it with the virus. Please, go away. Work hasn't gone too well due to lack of routines. Next week it will get better. Issue 53 is scripted and page 1 just about done. It's going to be between 26 to 32 pages. Calculated that I need 5 weeks for this one. Went through my archives searching for photos for the remaining backcovers. I have more more potential pictures than I have issues. Issue 53 is called a Tale Told by an Idiot and issue 54 is called Thendis. And that's it. The unofficial issue 55 maybe doesn't have a name. It's the notes so maybe I call it Notes.

Strange

Feeling sort of strange with only 2 issues remaining of this silly little book. Again today going  to cycle to the studio and get to work. This is the third week of not using the public transports. Work has proceeded. Yesterday I finished issue 52 and got started with the cover of 53. This issue is quite dialogue heavy and requires lot of writing before any chance of drawing anything. I would much prefer to move on to the "notes" with more liberties and fun directions and variety. These two issues remaining: for me there is not many surprises. Just plain work. Some interesting things to draw beginning of 53 and end of 54, but otherwise it's somewhat boring stuff ahead. Probably quite entertaining for the reader, though. Oh well. I dread the editong part that looms ahead in October this year. There are so many things I don't really like or would prefer to be nicer or whatever. Couple of spots with bad writing that I don't know what to do about. The drawing I'm not going to correct much.

Many things

Collecting stuff and ideas for the "next" book. Might not be exactly the text but still. Lots of things collected already and quite enough of material to make another 1000 page book. Not something I'm looking forward to. But there are other "ideas". Like what will I do with the Suomaa strip. Would like to publish it as a strip (sunday page) but not too many choices there. Not in Finland at least. And then the "notes" to Läskimooses. Those babies shouldn't take more than 5 months to do, but still. Still. Many things.

Plot

Although I don't think plot is all that important for a comic, I have been looking for one for my next book. Now it seemms I have it. Plot number one. I also need a secondary plot and that is still under consideration. Anyways good to be at this spot.