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.

Details

Let's not go into details, but I have 3 issues lined up for scanning. Also means that only 3 issues remain. Started on 52. Soon soin.

In theory

In theory I could start a Suomaan Kansan Muinaisusko comic book that would come out once a year or twice
BUT I would need 1500 subscribers.

Absolutely

I have absolutely notbing to do with my so called "work". Just leave me out of it. I've already given my last interview. Forget me.

Don't know

Don't know yet much about my next book. Have some clues, though. The main character (if there is one) is female, maybe. There's a good likelihood that her name is Riittamaari Malva, a name that has been mentioned before in my comics. The action might take place in an art school. I really would prefer not to make this one 1000 pages, but it might go there. For now there's little sign of a plot. I will do some interviews to build up the world. Supposedly the story takes place in the 80's. Don't remember much of the 80's. For one I will try to define what makes a bad teacher. Not evil but bad. We'll see how this will play out.

Moment

I'm probably at the moment where I always wanted to be.

Tired

Too many things, too many people. After 3 day workshop the usual Angouleme turmoil, talking and talking. After tomorrow I will just stay quiet for the rest of the year.

Angouleme

Pieces

In the plane to France and on the train to Angouleme pieces of my next book start to fall in place.

Maybe

Well well 5 pages or so done of issue 51. Proceeding nicely. Next week will be spent in France. Meeting new students and some that I already know. Maybe I should some photos here maybe then.

Angouleme

Heading to France next Sunday. There's a workshop at EESI and I'm participating running it with Benoit Preteseille. Later the festival starts. It's a chance to meet friends I haven't seen in a long time. Also it's exhausting. Especially if one has some things that one feels one needs to do and seldom manages to do. This year there's nothing. That is also tiresome. Not really looking forward to that festival part. Travelling makes me uneasy. Prefer to get back home and continuräe the book.

Sort of

I sort of know what my next book is about, what kind of things I want to include and write about. But so far what I have are ideas for some loose scenes here and there, some philosophy of time and some talk of UFOs. This wasn't meant to be 1000 pgs, but the way it's going...

Shitty

Next I will do something that isn't shitty. Or then again maybe something that is shittier than shitty.

Läskimooses

Basically it's done you know. Started issue 51 cataract or no cataract. At this stage I really couldn't care less of any possible feedback. The next book is in a really nice stage. All set for the actual start. Can't wait. 4 issues and the notes remain of Läskimooses and I'm fine with that. It WAS interesting but not so much anymore. It will be concluded, don't worry, but don't expect ME to talk about it or explain what it was about.

Don't subscribe

Yes, now it's too late. You didn't get it. Don't feel bad, it wasn't made for everyone. Have a nice 2020.

Issues

For whatever reason issue 49 felt hard to do. Issue 50 now much easier and fun. Listening to Zappa for the second week and not at all bored. Yesterday at home I listened to Francesco Zappa for a couple of times and isn't it just great!

Final

Finished the (4 now) final Suomaa strip. Previously I estimated that there'd be 150 pages left of the story. Probably. Might be for the better that the strip ends. Some material coming up that might insult someone. Will I then conclude the story some day? Too early to say. There are other projects that I probably feel more drawn into. Time will tell, I guess.