Book 3 is keeping me awake. Everything is taking too much time. The book is not even coming out until November, I think. This particular project has been the most difficult I've ever started. The almost complete lack of interest doesn't help either.
Book 4 I have 25 pages done, but should I even try to finish. For what reason?
Teaching comics since 1998. A bit longer actually, but at the Aalto university since that year. I don't know if I've done good, but I've done something. I've seen how things have gone harder for students, pressures piling up, less chances to evolve.
I had planned I could continue for six more years, but will it happen?
Ateneum3 still needs some work, not much but some. This is only possible after I see some samples of the colors, so while waiting I have one pictureless short story I can work on. But wait, this means I'm pretty close to finalizing the 3rd short story collection, and 2nd hasn't even come out yet!
Two people have read Ateneum3 and according to them this third book is better than first and second. Now all I have to do is not to ruin anything with the color design. Stressful
Doing coloring, which pretty much means all else is done. Well, not quite not quite, almost, though. Hoping to get the book out by end of October. Nuff said
What am I doing
-thinking about the colors for Ateneum3
-waiting for the second proofs for A3
-writing/lettering third short story collection, coming out who knows when
-thinking of the stuff that need to be done for the second short story collection coming out 2027
-thinking about the stuff I (myself) need to do for the English edition of Läskimooses coming out next year (probably)
-thinking of the other projects that are basically done but unscanned or otherwise in the middle of the process
-other stuff
Been proofreading Ateneum3, making some corrections. This book is, I think, quite different from the two previous ones. Hard to say anything of the over all quality. There are places that I think function just fine, then others I still need to work on. Lost faith in this project so many times that I stopped counting. Basically I'm just pushing through.
If I manage etc the book will come out in October. No promises on book 4.
I've probably done my share of teaching. Promised myself 7 more years, but will it happen? Is it good for anyone? There are moments when I feel that it is for a purpose.
One thing remaining to do of Sirkusprinsessa book. Also covers and title pages. I'd say I'll manage to do the one thing tomorrow, although not necessarily. Next stage is scanning, lay out. Monday I will maybe start the third collection of short stories, or at least cut the pages. Third one should be totally pictureless, that is the plan. Plans do change, so we'll see, we'll see unless we go blind.
Started to finalize a book called Sirkusprinsessa. Should be out sometime next year. Otherwise struggling to find funding for all the other books.
Sirkusprinsessa maybe coming out next year. Around 200 pages, short stories, Asema.
Times are...
Don't know, but started to feel that it is a bit too hard getting a book out. Ateneum3 is being scanned and cleaned, but still I'm lacking funding. One year to go to conclude the series or sort of conclude. After that need to figure out some new way of working. Maybe.
Things moving slow. I have 17 finished pages for Ateneum4, aim to have 24 before summer. All and all the whole book should be done year from now. Book 5 is in plans but not absolutely necessary.
Meanwhile I have 4 other books ready and waiting for funding, one very small book that I plan go do during the summer and third book of almost pictureless short stories.
But things are in a bit of a standstill.
The English translation of Läskimooses is done, Lola Rogers did an excellent job. Plans to publish exist but no timeline.
The Matti Hagelberg interview: 'The secret to my humor is that I don’t have a sense of humor' - The Comics Journal https://share.google/BSaBJyIpkhqGK53d6
Going to make some additions to Ateneum3, going to continue Ateneum4. Four needs writing, don't have any finished scripts, needs to be done. Three will probably be 72 pages although it was supposed to be 64. At this moment I prefer to draw, so I will. Will draw the back cover and will draw an additional page.
Glanced through Ateneum3, many thing seemed to function quite good, some spots might require SOLUTIONS, or maybe not. When there's a lay-out I'll be wiser. This book will be quite quite different from book 2, as book 2 was different from book 1.
Am I more confident with this than I was with 2? I don't know. The book was done during a really stressful period of my life and the reviews of book 2 were short, few, and not so sweet. So, we'll see, we'll see...
Well, there's really no way A2 could win so called SF award. Easy enough to figure it out. LÄskimooses could've, SR could've, A1 or 4 just barely could've/could. Two reasons I wouldnt mind seeing some my book win: a. I like the cash b. Would be interesting to see whether I really would not accept the price, which has been my general FEEL all these years. Well, we'll never know, will we?
Theoretically I should be able to do 2, even 3 pages in a week. But with classes and everything else going on one page in a week is realistic. Maybe when the book gets going, but it hasn't. I would prefer to be a bit faster, but apparently not. Thursday I got slowed down with the text, today I just ended up struggling with a doomed panel. Monday I will be able to continue.
Some mistakes were made, but got the first page of Ateneum4 started. If very lucky, I will finish it today.
A3 is now drawn, except for some minor detail. Lacking funds to get it scanned etc, not that I'm too excited of that prospect. Spent the day speculating mostly what I really should be doing in January. Starting A4 feels like a rather stupid idea.
Cant quite remember when I started to teach comics, but at the university in 1998. Safe to say that I've been doing it for 30 years, probably longer and mostly adults. I have had the good fortune to teach a wonderful group of people, no idea how many, many.
All this will fade.
One third of the book proof read. Pages done last spring are filled with holes, undecided texts, also lettered with another pen (due to difficulties in getting my trusted edding 1880)... on the bright side, it's interesting to arrange the material into a meaningful order.
I should really stop this useless blog, but oh well... new plan is I start a very small comic book series in -27. Print run maybe 20 copies. As soon as I'm done with Ateneum. Maybe 50 issues, something like that. Start really modest and ugly, maybe also keep it like that.
Would prefer not to think about teaching, would prefer not to write about teaching
I think I've figured out most of the storylines in Ateneum. Now I need to figure out what I will actually reveal to the readers. Maybe best would be to end the series in book three
Less than 10 pgs left to do of Ateneum3. After that still shitload of things to do. Classes soon to be over. Problem with motivation on all fronts. Pretty much abandoned the idea of writing on teaching comics, better forgotten. Ateneum I will eventually conclude, but again one of the things that mean nothing. Started considering to continue on the short stories, maybe that is a direction.
Next year I could bring out 6 books, but for that I would need 18000 euros. Not quite likely then.
Ateneum 3 might be doable. Maybe.
I was thinking I really should write about teaching comics. Then I was thinking I really shouldn't write about teachinc comics. Then I was thinking I really should write about teaching comics, and it would maybe be important. Then I was thinking I really shouldn't write about teaching comics no matter what. Then I was thinking I really should. Then I was thinking I really shouldn't. Then I was thinking, if I won't write about teaching comics it will be forever forgotten. Then I was thinking: good. Then I was thinking maybe I should write about teaching comics. Then I was thinking maybe I shouldn't write about teaching comics... etc
Well, for a month now I have felt good with this series. Finally. Looks like I have 19 pages left to do of book three. Might be 64 pages or might be 72, will know in February. This book will be very much Juri Näppas special.
Will not participate in any dimwit discussions on any of the so called "rules". Fuck the rules, every rule.
Tarvitsetko apua sarjakuvateoksesi valmiiksi saattamiseen? Olen tehnyt kustannustoimituksellista työtä 20 vuotta ja auttanut lukuisien teosten valmiiksi saattamisessa. Ole yhteydessä mattihagelberg(at)gmail.com
Vajoava Ateneum 3: going to be 64 pgs, 15 pgs left to do, out in the Fall 2026 if I get funding
Sirkusprinsessa, done, out when I get funding
Mämmikoura, done, out when I get funding
Nakupelle, out when I get funding
Läskimooses English edition, being translated
Kekkonen, corrected edition, out when I get funding
B.E.M böle, out when I get funding
Säätytön murhenäytelmä, half way through, will get back to this maybe summer 2026, maybe later
Vajoava Ateneum 4 and 5, depends on how things move on and if I get funding. Part four I should be drawing 2026, maybe out in 2027 maybe not
Suomaan kansan muinaisusko, some scripts and synopsis, maybe some day...
Been lucky in many ways. But even so, I would need 500€ extra each month for the next couple of years to make the ends meet. Eternal struggle, that's what it is. Choices are limited especially since I try to keep all my projects going. Maybe something will come up somehow.
