Invent

 I have to re-invent myself for the next book.

Teaching

 I teach a lot. Well I do some teaching. This semester I have 5 classes going. Thing is I actually enjoy it and maybe I have some talent. Hard to tell. Anyways, would I do it if it wasn't for the money? I guess I would drop some of the classes, but which one? Open university classes might be the most rewarding. The group can be really heterogenetic, ages from 19 to 70. There also it seems people get a lot of enjoyment from learning, and it shows. These classes are in the evenings but the students arrive brimming with energy. 

Then there are the Comics Centre classes, many people there that I know from way back. These people are often extremely dedicated and serious about their work and I'm happy if I can help. This class is more about group, not so much about my opinions, I'm there to encourage people to share their thoughts. 

Recently I was told that the works of my students can somehow be recognized. I'm not sure if this is a good thing. It is true that I value certain things in a story and emphatise things like structure and maybe this shows in the works of my students. But I trust they will outgrow it 

Doing

 Classes classes classes! Feels there's nothing but. 

But meanwhile: I have lettered 5 new Suomaa strips and upon doing so, reached a point in the story where it takes an abrupt turn. Basically this could be the end of book one, if I'd decide to do a book (there are alternative plans). But who'd publish? 

The week also had this truly magical moment when I was GIVEN a vision of the true nature of comics. This will become a 2 page story for another book. There are however unresolved issues with this one and that's why I can't start for real, not yet.

And then: got an idea for a 24 page book, haha 

So it goes

Use

 But what's the use?

Thing

 This is the thing. I concluded three books during the 8 months of 2021. Now I probably should start to work towards their publication. I have little or no interest. Instead I'm getting started with 2 new books. And this is really the THING. Both need adjusting and writing before I can dream of drawing anything.  And I would like to draw. So should I start a book that I can like... Draw. Or what? 

Book launch

 Today at 14 I will start signing in Helsinki, Porthaninkatu 9. Launch at 17.

Looky looky

 

In a week

 Book will launch September 11th. I'm setting up to start on 2 new projects. One that I need to study for and one that I can start drawing almost immediately. I got an order for 6 portraits and should be able to finish those in two days. After that I will clean up the studio, look up the scripts for the other project, cut some pieces of scraper board to the right size and get going.

Unable

 Unable to look at the book. Think it turned out good, as good as possible. But I struggle with the urge to redraw everything. Need to move on, unable to move on. Book launch in a week, then the feedback. Much to take in. Started it 2011 October, do the math. Ha, it's over.

Out now

 

Filling in

 Filling in the gaps.

The year has been pretty much about finishing some unfinished stuff. Läskimooses for one ofcourse, but not only. After concluding the "final" additions to the big book, I moved along to a collection of short stories (7 vuotta tii petissä), after that one I finished a short story left out of Läskimooses (Avaruusvelho #1), after that a very short thing  started in 2004 (Kekkonen²), after that moved along to the thing I pushed aside when starting Läskimooses (Maaseudun tulevaisuus). And that's where I am at the moment. Maaseudun tulevaisuus wasn't missing anything else than some texts and those I have been doing. Should be done by tomorrow. As for B.E.M. series, this is how it looks like:

( if everything goes, you know, as planned, haha)

#23, Avaruusvelho #1

#24, 7 vuotta tii petissä

#25, Kekkonen²

#26, Maaseudun tulevaisuus

#27, B.E.M.böle

#28, Nakupelle

#29, Näkymätön

#30, Suomaan kansan muinaisusko

Stick around and you'll find out. #23 is already in production, #24 will be out in French at least, #25 I will publish myself, rest of these, who knows.

Excelsior!

Waitingwaitingwaiting

 Says it all. On wednesday chances are I might finally see the whole book. Today is not wednesday.

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.