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Post by Pete on Aug 23, 2008 0:06:27 GMT
This is the thread where you can post any particular questions to Nigel Kitching about the comic, insider views, inspirations, etc.
Nigel has graciously agreed to answer any questions, so have at it!
I'll jump straight for the gonads here; Nigel, you've said that you've always had a close relationship with Rich Elson, Nigel Dobbyn, as well as most others at Fleetway, but was there anyone you didn't get on with in particular? Any shelved stories that were outright refused?
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Tom
Ex-Hume
Hume-who-used-to-think-he-was-in-charge
Posts: 3,786
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Post by Tom on Aug 23, 2008 1:06:50 GMT
When are you coming back to comics!!!!
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Post by Baxter on Aug 23, 2008 5:51:10 GMT
What were you smoking when you dreamt up the "Sonic creates Robotnik" twist? And more importantly, where can I purchase it?
I always admired your ability to take seemingly insignificant aspects of previous stories - the loose wire in Kintobor's lab, the Sentinel etc. - and later weave them into crucial pieces of the ongoing narrative. Were any of these planned in advance, or was it purely a case of reading through past strips and highlighting elements that could be expanded on, or work well in future material?
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Post by Balls on Aug 23, 2008 8:58:09 GMT
I'll jump straight for the gonads here; Nigel, you've said that you've always had a close relationship with Rich Elson, Nigel Dobbyn, as well as most others at Fleetway, but was there anyone you didn't get on with in particular? Any shelved stories that were outright refused? 
Anyways, my question. What did you have more fun with; Sonic etc. or Decap Attack? |
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Post by WinterFlames on Aug 23, 2008 9:09:24 GMT
fix'd
I'd be quite interested in hearing any ideas you may have had about the geography of Mobius, so question would be, did you ever set an exact size on the Floating Island in your mind, or did you leave it open ended to allow for more Zones to be incorporated at later dates, did you do much world building for the Floating Island and Mobius or individual zones themselves, fitting them in when required?
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Post by The Shad on Aug 23, 2008 10:13:36 GMT
Was there any one particular story you really wanted to do, but for whatever reason (editorial interference, etc) didn't? Prior to cancellation, at least.
Also, what was your favourite story/story arc?
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Post by Nigel Kitching on Aug 23, 2008 11:07:59 GMT
This is the thread where you can post any particular questions to Nigel Kitching about the comic, insider views, inspirations, etc. Nigel has graciously agreed to answer any questions, so have at it! I'll jump straight for the gonads here; Nigel, you've said that you've always had a close relationship with Rich Elson, Nigel Dobbyn, as well as most others at Fleetway, but was there anyone you didn't get on with in particular? Any shelved stories that were outright refused? Okay, I don't want to leave these questions building up so I'm going to deal with them all now. This means the answers may be on the brief side. However have no problem with anyone coming back to the same question in the future asking for more information or clarity. First question: This may not be a great answer but I'm not going to personalise any of the difficulties I've had with anyone during my time at STC. I can't see any good reason at all for dredging up this kind of stuff. I'll happily talk about particular examples of difficulties I experienced but not in the sense of singling out anybody who I had a problem with specifically. It's not like that there was anybody in particular I had a problem with in any case. I had a problem with some of the things that happened and I prefer to think of it like that. |
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Post by Nigel Kitching on Aug 23, 2008 11:09:11 GMT
When are you coming back to comics!!!! Nigel Dobbyn and I have submitted a strip to a publisher but we have not heard back yet. If anything comes of it I'll be sure to let you know. |
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Post by Nigel Kitching on Aug 23, 2008 11:12:26 GMT
What were you smoking when you dreamt up the "Sonic creates Robotnik" twist? And more importantly, where can I purchase it?I always admired your ability to take seemingly insignificant aspects of previous stories - the loose wire in Kintobor's lab, the Sentinel etc. - and later weave them into crucial pieces of the ongoing narrative. Were any of these planned in advance, or was it purely a case of reading through past strips and highlighting elements that could be expanded on, or work well in future material? I do remember that when I wrote that Sentinel story way back in the beginning I did think that it had the possibility to be expanded upon in the future. But I would say that overall I didn't plan ahead in this way really - I would look back at what had gone before an build on that. |
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Post by Nigel Kitching on Aug 23, 2008 11:16:03 GMT
I'll jump straight for the gonads here; Nigel, you've said that you've always had a close relationship with Rich Elson, Nigel Dobbyn, as well as most others at Fleetway, but was there anyone you didn't get on with in particular? Any shelved stories that were outright refused?
Anyways, my question. What did you have more fun with; Sonic etc. or Decap Attack?I enjoyed them both. I never really thought in terms of which was the most fun. I laughed a lot working with Rich on the Decap Attack scripts so I suppose I was having quite a bit of fun in a way you can never have working alone. |
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Post by Nigel Kitching on Aug 23, 2008 11:20:02 GMT
fix'd I'd be quite interested in hearing any ideas you may have had about the geography of Mobius, so question would be, did you ever set an exact size on the Floating Island in your mind, or did you leave it open ended to allow for more Zones to be incorporated at later dates, did you do much world building for the Floating Island and Mobius or individual zones themselves, fitting them in when required? I didn't go about 'world building' in the way you suggest - this sounds more of a fan activity. My job was to create stories with action and drama and the environments were just part of the process. I had vague ideas about hidden areas on the Floating Islands (for example) but I would only have developed these thoughts as I was creating a story. |
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Post by Nigel Kitching on Aug 23, 2008 11:25:30 GMT
Was there any one particular story you really wanted to do, but for whatever reason (editorial interference, etc) didn't? Prior to cancellation, at least. Also, what was your favourite story/story arc? The thing that comes to mind was that I wanted to develop the Drakon world and I created these 'houses' - different aspects of the culture - I actually forget what each house was called now. I was quite keen to come up with some internal tensions and bring Sonic into it. But it was too adventitious and I was just never given a long enough run on the strip to make it work. Favourite stories? Well I like Running Wild and I liked my final 10 part run. I'd really have to go back and remind myself what I did though - it's been a long tie since I've really looked back at this stuff and some of it's a bit of a blur. |
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Post by Super Sonic on Aug 23, 2008 12:03:17 GMT
My question for Nigel:
How are you?
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Post by Charles on Aug 23, 2008 12:17:36 GMT
Your last Nameless Zone story had the Enchanter Kings agreeing to pledge allegiance to the Goblins and be a de facto protectorate rather than risk war: what was the inspiration behind that, and where did you plan to go with this? (The story ended telling us Morain would be back in 1999...)
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Post by The Shad on Aug 23, 2008 12:40:45 GMT
Two more questions, then I'm done till I think of more.
Number 1: What were your main influences in writing the strips?
Number 2: I heard somewhere (think it was mailing list) that you came up with the idea of echidna criminals being bust out by Zachary. Was the original idea just a Knuckles-centric story, or would it have been a bit bigger, crossing over to Sonic and such?
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Post by Nigel Kitching on Aug 23, 2008 13:34:22 GMT
My question for Nigel: How are you? What are you implying? |
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Post by Nigel Kitching on Aug 23, 2008 13:41:43 GMT
Your last Nameless Zone story had the Enchanter Kings agreeing to pledge allegiance to the Goblins and be a de facto protectorate rather than risk war: what was the inspiration behind that, and where did you plan to go with this? (The story ended telling us Morain would be back in 1999...) Well I just got to thinking how relationships between hostile nations aren't always so simplistic as conqueror and conquered. Maybe it would be more interesting to have a story with a political solution being used. I'm not sure what I planned specifically but I know I wanted to do a story dealing with a relatively complex question along the lines of showing a society that was prosperous and basically a good place to live but there is this elite (Goblins) who are also there and everyone knows about the capitation. Do you rebel against your oppressors when life is good with them in charge? |
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Post by Nigel Kitching on Aug 23, 2008 13:46:10 GMT
Two more questions, then I'm done till I think of more. Number 1: What were your main influences in writing the strips? Number 2: I heard somewhere (think it was mailing list) that you came up with the idea of echidna criminals being bust out by Zachary. Was the original idea just a Knuckles-centric story, or would it have been a bit bigger, crossing over to Sonic and such? 1. This is hard to say. I grew up reading Marvel Comics so that influence is in there somewhere I imagine. But I really don't think I write anything like Lee or Kirby. If you mean stuff I ripped off (in terms of ideas) then there is a lot of Jack Kirby's ideas in there, or ideas inspired by Kirby anyway. One day maybe I should give you a list of writing that I like. I love Damon Runyon and there are a couple of charters influenced by his writing. |
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Tom
Ex-Hume
Hume-who-used-to-think-he-was-in-charge
Posts: 3,786
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Post by Tom on Aug 23, 2008 14:06:27 GMT
When are you coming back to comics!!!! Nigel Dobbyn and I have submitted a strip to a publisher but we have not heard back yet. If anything comes of it I'll be sure to let you know. get him to paint it!!!!! |
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Post by Robert Frazer on Aug 23, 2008 20:26:51 GMT
Was there an office culture at STC? Did you all commute to and work together in "STC Towers", or did the contributors all work from home and correspond, with the only office figure being the editor collating everything together?
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Post by madhair60 on Aug 23, 2008 21:41:11 GMT
Here's my question: Any background on Road Maniax comic? They stole your Data Strip. Also, the Streets of Rage artist did a story in it. Road Maniax was brilliant, wasn't it? Remember Abcess? Fantastic.
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Post by Moo on Aug 23, 2008 21:42:29 GMT
Question:
Who was responsible for the free gifts? Did someone have a job of suggesting what they would be or something?
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Post by Super Sonic on Aug 23, 2008 22:18:35 GMT
I'm not implying anything; I'm just asking you how you are.  |
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Post by Balls on Aug 23, 2008 23:04:10 GMT
This question's rubbish, but I'm desperate to know anyway:
Was it scripted that Porker's trotters would become hands, or did Elson just decided to do it? Because there was a period when Elson drew him with hands and Casanovas drew him with trotters and it bugged me more than it should.
Christ, I'm a nerd...
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Post by Mark on Aug 23, 2008 23:45:08 GMT
Good day Nigel, my question is:
What sort of qualifications did people look for when you went into the comics business?
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