Zipper: PSP Digital Comic Blog

Zipper Renewed! New Illustrator Onboard

2007-03-02T03:59:00.000-08:00

When ja'il had to leave the project, to say I was disappointed was an understatement. But it was nothing compared to the heartbreak I felt about having the project slip into no-man's land. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see my dreams of getting this project out the door. And while it still isn't, and counting my chickens, as they say, is a dangerous thing, at least we are once again back on track.

The new artist is 'Fura', a sauve Colombian from the hip city of Bogata. If you are worried about the quality of the work, worry not, for if you have been reading this journal, you have already seen his work. Check out the HARA KIRI images below. That is Fura's work. I would say this project is in excellent hands.

As I write this, Fura is busy reading over the script and revamping designs. Will be just a wee bit before we have anything to show you all, but all good things in good time.

Before I close, I would like to thank everyone for being patient, and remind all of you lucky readers who qualified for the free issues, will STILL get them. The only thing that has changed is the artist, not my promises.

Until later,
Made in DNA

Auditioning Serious Illustrator for Manga/Comic (pls read below)

2006-12-27T02:44:00.000-08:00

Auditioning Serious Illustrator for Manga/Comic (pls read below)
Originally uploaded by Made in DNA.

I am currently seeking an illustrator to work on a comic/manga project that my current illustrator has to take leave from. Am not looking for artists to copy the current work, but rather, take the (finished) script, and the current designs/work, and begin fresh, giving the manga a new life. Interested parties should contact me via site mail. I will ask for samples of ORIGINAL artwork (no fan fic work please) and give a contact address. I am open to questions, and I will be fully open about the project. Strong English language skills a must, though applicants need not be native speakers. Thanks so much for your time and interest. Happy holidays to those of you who celebrate them. Made in DNA

Hara Kiri Manga/Comic

2006-12-18T17:15:00.000-08:00

Hara Kiri (Alternate 02) Dressed for Success
Originally uploaded by Made in DNA.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it my proud duty to announce to you that a second manga/comic is going into production next year (early 2007): HARA KIRI (tentative title). Scripted by myself and illustrated by the fantastic "Z Fura" (more on him later).

A manga set in a future, alternate reality Japan (Greater Nippon) where the Shogun and the Emperor rule two separate, yet friendly, states (similar to two Koreas). The heroine is Hara Kiri, a young bounty hunter, whose job it is to track the criminal elements of New Edo.

A combo of samurai chambara (sword play) and high-tech. No release date is set yet.

For those of you wondering what happened to ZIPPER... I wish I could say more. It seems to be in a limbo state. Frankly, I feel I am going to have to make some very hard decisions about it. I AM NOT cancelling this project!!! NO NO NO NO. I will not allow this to happen. Zipper is something I have spent the good part of more than a year on now, including writing the script and coaching the illustrator. So, I *REFUSE* to give up on it.

Hara Kiri (Alternate 02) Dressed for Success

2006-12-16T01:06:00.000-08:00

Hara Kiri (Alternate 02) Dressed for Success
Originally uploaded by Made in DNA.

Rendition of the heroine of my upcoming novel HARA KIRI by the fantastic Colombian artist zfura

Published @ Lulu

2006-10-14T05:21:00.000-07:00

I have published two works; a comic/script combo about a body-for-hire (ZIPPER: BOUNTY) and a short story collection featuring news stories from the future (NOT NECESSARILY THE FUTURE). Both of them may be purchased at Lulu.com. At $1.00 and $2.00 respectably, they are priced to go! PayPal accepted, immediate download!

http://www.lulu.com/dnafiction

Not Necessarily the Future
Not Necessarily the Future is a collection of five humorous short stories featuring news from the future. Tune into the future of news: from A.I. robots to zombies. Also features 4 superb illustrations from horror comic author/illustrators Jerem Morrow.

Zipper: Bounty
Zipper is an "AnyBody" -- more specifically a body for hire -- who, together with her A.I. dragonfly companion, will take on any job for any one. Set 700 years into the future where humans have excelled at the sciences, taking them to the stars as well as allowing them to manipulate their world in a variety of mediums. This is an original short 6-page comic in rough ink, and the working script from which it was illustrated.

Live and Learn

2006-10-02T18:17:00.000-07:00

It's been far too long since I've posted anything here, and I apologize to those of you following. It was my intention from the beginning to keep this site active right up until the manga was published, and then slow down slightly. To be honest, it was my intention that the manga be published mid-summer, but that date has come and gone, and the manga is still not finished.

For many of you, it might seem as if the site and indeed the project have been abandoned. This could not be further from the truth. The project is still on and currently being illustrated. That said though, I must own up not only to you all, but myself, that I cannot put down a date for publication.

I do not put any blame on delays on anyone at all. I simply think that there is so much going on in the lives of myself and ja'il that it is hard to always keep a schedule. Moreover, Ja'il is in Jakarta and I'm in Japan. So we have to meet online when we have the time. Such is life in the very global world that we have created for ourselves with the Internet. It's bright, beautiful, and a complete miracle that we were even able to get together, however, it has its innate problems. C'est la vie. Live and learn.

The real point is, to get the comic out. If it takes a little more time doing it, then that's the way it is. So instead of fretting over it all, I prefer to chill and let things fall into place as they do.

Thank you all for your support and patience (especially all of you who are entitled to free copies ;) ).

All my best,
Made in DNA

Many Apologies

2006-10-01T03:48:00.000-07:00

Many apologies to everyone who has been so patiently awaiting the comic. We have been working hard on it, but can only go so fast.

However long it takes, this project WILL be finished and published, along, hopefully with companion comics. Currently I am in negotiations with another artist about producing a second comic. Which of the two publishes first is not a problem as, for the most part, Zipper will not be a linear storyline.

One comic will equal one complete story. All the stories will be standalone. This keeps all options open for me as the creator of the comic, and gives a freer hand to illustrators.

In the meantime, I will post the background information on the world as promised.

Best regards,
Made in DNA

PS Many thanks to Edgar H for giving us a shout out. You've just won yourself a free copy of the comic when it's finally published! Congrats!

"Zipper: By All Means" Character Montage

2006-10-01T03:35:00.000-07:00

"Zipper: By All Means" Character Montage
Originally uploaded by Made in DNA.

A montage of the main characters from ZIPPER: BY ANY MEANS.

Zipper Wallpaper, T-shirts, and Stickers Coming

2006-06-22T22:34:00.000-07:00

True to my word, there are more Zipper goodies on the way. I have wanted to produce more goods sooner and mete them out over time, but it's been a matter finding artists to help out.

While I would prefer ja'il to do it all, he is MEGA busy with the comic and a full time job as it is. So I have decided to relieve him of a few of his duties (though I am by no means replacing him), so he can breathe a little easier.

So within the next few weeks, you can expect to see some great Zipper goodies hit the site.

Thank you all for your support!
Made in DNA

Small Setback

2006-06-11T22:40:00.000-07:00

ARRRRRRGH!

It seems that ja'il's monitor bit the dust about a week and a half ago. Obviously this means he can't use his computer, but he still continues to illustrate the Zipper comic by hand. I don't see this as being a problem really, and if this is the worst thing that happens to the project, then I thank our stars, because I nearly had a cow when I heard of the earthquake (in Indonesia where ja'il lives). Fortunately, he and all his friends and all Zipper material were safe.

ja'il says not to worry about the monitor situation though; he will pick up a new one by his next paycheck. WHEW! If you all could keep your fingers crossed though, we'd appreciate it. ;)

PSP-native Comics

2006-05-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

In email the other week, a new acquaintance inquired if I had coined the term "PSP-native" after I had used it in mail with him. I was a little shocked as I didn't really know the answer. I sat and thought about it awhile (the complete week or so since being asked actually), and wasn't sure if I had picked up the term somewhere, or if I had just started using it. In the mail I sent to the acquaintance originally, I was trying simply trying to explain to him what Zipper the comic was, and "PSP-native (comic)" was the term I used.

He started me thinking; had I coined a new term out of necessity, or had I picked it up elsewhere? Surely if I had picked it up, it would have been from a limited number of sources, seeing as there is only three native projects out there to begin with (NYC2123, the Metal Gear Solid comic, and this one). So it is with no surprise to myself, that the NYC2123 blog comes to mind. I frequent it and, in fact, am a (very small) contributor to the project having supplied the kanji seen in issue two. But I can't seem to find any trace of the words. Perhaps Chad, writer/creator of NYC2123 -- whom I know lurks this blog when he's not scarfing natto -- can help me out.

So what exactly does "PSP-native comic" mean? Quite simply: comics that are specifically created for the PSP that are "PSP-native". That is, comics that measure 480 x 272 pixels (the native screen size of the PSP).

To me, as I think most people would agree, the term "PSP (digital) comic" is an over-term, that is, it describes all the various kinds of comics for the PSP; both those created specifically for the PSP and those created for other mediums first and then "resized" (or even not) to fit the PSP.

Most comics out there so far (what few of them there are) fit the resized category. Resized comics often lose quite a bit in the translation in my opinion. That is why Zipper is PSP-native. Resized comics are nice, but PSP-native comics help create (recreate?) the medium of comics in general. They shout-out to would be artists and comic writers, and offer enjoyment anytime, anyplace you take your PSP. There's real potential in this. It just needs to be tapped.

Just my two yen,
Made in DNA

Zipper: Bounty (Page 03) Sneak Peek

2006-05-15T20:11:00.000-07:00

Zipper: Bounty (Page 03) Sneak Peek
Originally uploaded by Made in DNA.

This is a special sneak peek at page three of a six-page manga that is to be printed this July in Bottle Rocket Magazine, an anthology of comics, prose and more. To read the whole thing, you will have to purchase the comic. (Info coming soon.)

This image is a low-res version, resized version of the one that will go to the printer. Note too the copyright and URL info, which will NOT appear in the printed version.

Check the image below it to see how the antagonist character "evolved".

Feel free to download this image and share it with your friends AS LONG AS IT STAYS COMPLETELY INTACT (as-is).

© 2006 Made in DNA & ja'il

ZIPPER: Bounty Special Sneak Preview

2006-05-14T04:46:00.000-07:00

The 15th of this month marks the deadline for the first Zipper comic to finished. ZIPPER: Bounty is due to be published this summer in the indies comic book anthology Bottle Rocket Magazine.

ja'il and I are both very excited! To celebrate, we have decided to publish (in part) the comic in this blog. We want all our loyal readers to be able to be able to slake their thirst for a manga we have been hyping on very little. For some visiting the site perhaps, it might seem that Zipper could very well be vapor-print (all hype and no show). We want everyone to know, this is not the case. We are ready to blow your socks off!

Since the comic itself is only a six-page work in total (remember, this is just a short project, not the full Zipper manga due out for the PSP, which is much longer, it is likely we will only print one page. Can't give too much away.

Also, purchasing information will also be available. I believe it is being printed in the U.S. so international shipping rates may apply to those of you overseas. More on that later though.

Thanks again, to everyone for their support! As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait.

Moving Ahead: Of Stickers, Images and Wallpaper

2006-05-07T00:09:00.000-07:00

Whoa! Things certainly are moving ahead from us here at the Zipper virtual "offices"; I received an offer today from a company that makes image-stickers for handheld devices and other products. They want to produce Zipper image-stickers! I'm very excited and optimistic about this. One step at a time though, nothing has been finalized, therefore I'm not going to give out names, but rest assured, there will be site cross promotion and links when the time is right. I think it's a great opportunity, as it will generate interest in Zipper for those who are interested in comics, and those who are just interested in a cool image-sticker for their handheld device. Win-win situation.

Also on the table, a cool image from ja'il, Zipper's designer and illustrator, of "Damitri", one of his older images that he wants to use as a prototype for the "bad guy" in the ZIPPER: Bounty (formerly known as THE SHORT PROJECT) for Bottle Rocket Magazine. So a little omake for everyone paying attention. Once this is finished, I am hoping to get ja'il to produce a few more PSP wallpaper images for everyone. Completely free of course!

More ZIPPER images at Flickr

Two Zipper Comics This Year!

2006-04-13T00:11:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a hell of a month, and it's turning into a hell of a year as it look like this year ZIPPER will see itself published TWICE!!! Once digitally, one in paper.

Bottle Rocket Magazine, an independently published comic/fiction anthology, has given the go ahead for a Zipper 6-page short story to be published in July! While not "full-length", it's is a complete, and completely original story; something in the realm of a full-on action quickie!

Currently known only as "THE SHORT PROJECT" (definitely need a better name...), neither ja'il nor I had planned on producing another Zipper comic this year, but when the opportunity rose to actually publish in paper form, we jumped! We are hoping this will open a lot of possibilities for both fans and us, as we really believe in the comic.

More details about where to purchase Bottle Rocket Magazine when the details become available. And as the copies will be directly available from the publisher himself, it is likely that it will be easier for everyone to put their hands on.

Zipper Characters & Storyline (Basic)

2006-03-14T22:15:00.000-08:00

In order to facilitate a better understanding of just what Zipper is (readers certainly have come a long way on faith alone, and we thank you for that), this post is a basic overview of the storyline, Zipper the character, and the world overview. I don't want to get to far into details as this will spoil some of the surprises.

ZIPPER: THE CHARACTER
Going by the moniker "Zipper", the heroine of the story is an "Anybody" -- a soul-for-hire, so to speak -- a profession with a dubious reputation at best. So named for the highly unusual adornments set into her body, Zipper is an expert in a variety of fields that allow her to perform rather dangerous jobs for any number of clients, including, but not limited to intelligence, weapons handling, intrusion/counter-intrusion measures, assasination, acting/performance, subtrafuge, and more. She is not perfect, she is just well-studied.

Her companion in the series is an A.I. robot in the shape of a dragonfly, named Zephyr. Zephyr is an ARC MkII (Autonomous Remote Consciousness, Mark II) type A.I. Unbeknownst to most, its name is a reference to the world first computer bug found in the Mark II Aiken Automatic relay Calculator at Harvard, even though it's not a Moth (the bug in said computer). Slightly larger than its real-world counterpart, Zephyr is an expert at hacking, retrieval, finding, analysis, and much more. It can connect directly to the back of Zipper's neck to repower, as well as dock to almost any computer in the greater "commonwealth" of nations.

ZIPPER: THE PSP DIGITAL MANGA
Zipper, the manga, is meant to be a series of one-shot (stand-alone) stories of Zipper and different jobs she takes. Readers will get one complete story at one time, so there are no "next" issues to wait for. Moreover, the stories do not have to be read in any particular order as they are all stand-alones.

Through the series the readers will learn more of Zipper and the society she lives in. The first story is entitled BY ANY MEANS and relates a job in which she is hired to find a man who has absconded with a small fortune in credits from his former and very upset employer. Second and third stories are already in the primary development writing stages.

More on Zipper's world and environments soon.

ZIPPER PSP Digital Comic Wallpaper

2006-03-01T07:19:00.000-08:00

ZIPPER PSP Digital Comic Wallpaper
Originally uploaded by Made in DNA.

The first unofficially-official wallpaper for ZIPPER. Download freely and upload to your PSP, but please do not distribute on your website without proper permission. Thank you.

©2006 Made in DNA / ja'il

Special thanks to zero_butterfly for her help.

Rough Sketch Work for Zipper (a PSP Digital Comic)

2006-03-01T07:18:00.000-08:00

Rough Sketch Work for Zipper (a PSP Digital Comic)
Originally uploaded by Made in DNA.

More rough sketch work by ja'il for ZIPPER.

©2006, Made in DNA / ja'il

Zipper Manga Sneakpeek Thumbnails

2006-02-07T19:09:00.000-08:00

Lay your squinties on these! Sneekpeek thumbnails of the manga in rough sketch form!

Contains some adult material. May not be work-safe.

© 2006

Zipper Update

2006-01-30T19:40:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone. I realize it's been a while since you have heard from the creative team of ZIPPER. Thus, lest you think we have abandoned the comic, I am writing in today to let you all know that the comic is alive, well, and screaming to be let loose upon the masses!

That said, I cannot tell you how far along we are, but that jai' el is pumping out pages like mad! He's a busy man, but we keep in regular contact via email and the occasional IM chat. As he lives in Indonesia and I in Japan, you can imagine that it's a little on the rough side to contact each other. I am not sure about Internet connections in Indonesia, but I gather, from short exchanges about it, that it's not exactly the most stable or cheapest.

So while you all sit back and wait, I would like to hear from you all. What would you like to see on this page? I realize this is not an easy question to answer, but as I am a very customer-orientated kind of guy, I would like to know what you all are thinking, not only about the images that you have seen, but of the site. What would make it more interesting to you all?

Thanks for your time and attention.

Made in DNA

Happy 2006!

2006-01-09T17:58:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! 2006 is the year we plan to launch ZIPPER! Seems like spring is such a long way off, but before you realize it, launch day will be here, and the world'll be enjoying the comic (yes, we have THAT much confidence in it).

With all that firmly in mind, Jei el and I would like to personally thank you for sticking with this blog and the project until the time we can get it into your hot little hands. It's no small effort on the part of readers to stick with a project until full fruition, and we promise for those of you here, you will NOT be disappointed. We have been working hard on all aspects of this project. News doesn't seem to flow your way often, but everything in all due time.

That said, Jei el (remember to check his site regularly for superb non-Zipper work as well) has cooked up a beautiful color illustration of Zipper. We hope you will enjoy it! At 535 x 974 pixels, it's suitable for desktop wallpaper.

Zipper Manga Contest Winners!

2005-12-25T04:28:00.000-08:00

Yes folks, that title does say winners, as in multiple persons. I had a really tough time deciding which was the best name. There were far too many.

So I have decided to go with a three winners, and a fourth "winner" of a Christmas winner! All four will get free copies of the Zipper manga upon its debut!

The Winners:

ZephyrWest for the name: "Zephyr"
PodThulhu for the A.I. robot type: "ARC MkII, (Autonomous Remote Consciousness, Mark II)" in reference to the Harvard computer which caught the first "bug".
haibl as a runner-up for the name: "Gromozeka"
elijah as the Christmas present winner!

Congratulations to you all!!!

Contest Outcome?

2005-12-15T06:07:00.000-08:00

I'm sure that many of you are eager to find out who won the contest. To be honest, I am having a hard time choosing. There are a lot of great entries, and I am pouring over a "final" list. While this means that it is taking slightly longer to make a final decision, I know that there will be some very happy people out there in the end, because I have decided to go with MULTIPLE winners. How? Well, I leave that until announcement day, which I promise, is just around the corner. Another week at the most.

So if everyone will be just a little more indulgant, I'd greatly appreciate it. f(^^;

LiveJournal Syndication Feed

2005-12-14T16:03:00.000-08:00

For you LiveJournal users out there who would like to keep track of this blog through your friends section, go to the rss Feeds section to the right and click on "LiveJournal rss feed". This will allow you to read updates to this site automatically. (Thanks ZenMondo!)

Enjoy!

Manga Contest Final

2005-12-01T21:50:00.000-08:00

Well, I must say, I am extremely pleased with the sheer number of participants and names that were sent in. Now comes the really hard part... picking the winner. There are definitely a few I am extremely partial to, and honestly, I'm not sure I can pick just one.

As my wife and I have plans this weekend, I won't be announcing the winner until Monday the 5th. And since I am an open-minded kinda guy, I'm going to allow anyone who wants to, to submit names during that time. Even those who have already submitted once, may submit again. Once I have chosen though, I won't change or extend. I'm open-minded, but not a fool. The last thing I want to do is to tick someone off. ;) I'm a man of my word.

That said, I wish you all a great weekend, and the best of luck on the contest!

All my best,
Made in DNA

Zipper Contest: A Word

2005-12-01T05:08:00.000-08:00

I just thought I would let everyone know... as pleased with the entries I have received, the name you offer up does not have to be an acronym. Frankly, I was expecting more names like "Bob" or "Frank". (Thank Buddha you all have more imagination than that!) =) But there's no need to "force" a set of letters to work for the little "guy". =) Just go with what you enjoy the most (as some of you have). Though, admittedly, names with meanings (foreign words, dead/living language names, etc) are very cool. Though, I will play no favorites until it's time to make the final decision!

Zipper Contest (UPDATED)

2005-11-30T22:12:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, here (finally) are the rough sketches I promised. Two of Zipper herself, and two of her A.I. companion (yeah, the dragonfly).

Since I am currently unhappy with the name I have given the A.I., I have decided to hold a contest! Yes, it's the

NAME ZIPPER'S A.I. ROBOT COMPANION CONTEST

The Rules: Name the A.I. dragonfly-robot in a COMMENT to THIS post. (Only one entry per person please.)

The Deadline: November 30th

The Prize: A FREE COPY of the first ZIPPER comic to be distributed upon release day (tentatively scheduled for Spring 2006).

World Background Info: (This information to all be reposted later in more detailed descriptions, but is posted here to help people with the contest.)

Set 700 years into the future, mankind has colonized Sol-space with a variety of colonies ranging from the size of continents to large mansions (family units).
The largest of these colonies houses billion of souls, among them, A.I.s, digihumans, cyborgs, and modified humans of all types. The largest colonies are self-supporting, with smaller colonies being semi- or fully- dependant.
The larger colonies are large, disc-like structures that have anti-gravity tech, orbit Sol-system planets such as Jupiter and Saturn, and have Earth-like atmospheres. For all intents and purposes, they look like Earth, housing a variety of envrions such as wooded areas, urban areas, farmland, etc.
Colonies in general are a mix of high and low technology, time periods ("classic" eras to ultramodern), and cultures.
Space travel is common, yet there is no "lightspeed" or "hyperdrive" tech
Non-human ("alien") contact has not been made, nor has there been proof of non-human intelligent life on Sol-based planets.
Most humans speak a variety of languages with no dominant language taking precedence.
Earth is still the cradle of mankind, however, it is not viewed as necessarily being "home". While governments of the colonies are cooperative, there is no central government. Laws are basically the same, but do vary. Smaller colonies often ally themselves with larger colonies or groups of other small colonies to avoid "pirate activity".
Research and exploration are large fields, open to anyone who is willing to take the risks.
Anti-gravity/hover tech is common, as is holographic and wireless among others.
Total human population currently in the Sol-system hovers between 20 and 30 billion.

A.I. Background Info: Since a couple of you have asked, I am going to provide a little background information on the dragonfly.

True-A.I. robot (passes old and new Turing tests).
Completely independent.
Can connect via his tail to a shunt to the back of Zipper's neck.
Can connect to cyberspace via wireless internal modem, and can connect Zipper as well, when he (I envision it is male, but it doesn't matter) is connected to her. Can connect to and operate most computer terminals.
Can speak and think for itself, can auto-translate nearly 200 languages/dialects.
Can recharge via Zipper's connector via a bio-converter in her colon. Zipper must have eaten with in several hours for this to be effective, or be in the process of eating.
Has limited programming skills.
While indeed unique, A.I. robots are slightly common for those who can afford them. This particular A.I. robot model is high-end and rare. A.I. robots can be housed in various shells.

So take a good look at the illustration below and give it some thought.

PS Please be sure to login when commenting as I am not able to track down anonymous commenters, or at the very least, leave a spiderbot-proof address using AT, DOT, etc. Thank you.

Zipper Frappr! Map

2005-11-14T03:12:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's pretty obvious I have been messing around with the blog over the last few weeks, trying to tweak it here and there, trying to bring in more readers via different venues. Too bad I'm not always successful. The webring graphic is a bitch. Gonna have to mail someone on that. Pretty bogus to have this huge ass, lame banner going.

Until then, you folks can have some fun with the new FRAPPR! map I created. Show your support and check out who else is reading.

Enjoy!

Zipper Frappr! Map

Free PSP Image Sequencing Software (from Dayender site)

2005-11-13T18:08:00.000-08:00

[republished with permission]

More on image sequencing and solving possible problems. Again, many thanks go out to the Allen brothers, who have spent a lot of time researching this via VERY RELIABLE sources.

We've written a couple of posts (here and here) about the problems associated with properly ordering images for comics and other sequential image-based content on the PSP. A brief summary of these problems can be found below, but the upshot is that I decided to stop complaining and write some software to help solve the problem. Behold: PSPImageSequencer. If you are one of the three people on the planet creating comics for the PSP, this might just save you a lot of time and frustration (it saved us some of both on Issue 3 of NYC2123). I'm not really a programmer by trade, but this is very simple stuff. It's open source (GPL) and all that, but since it's written in VB.NET I guess most hackers will think I'm lame. Sorry. Click to read full post.

Limited Edition PSP Zipper Decals

2005-11-09T20:45:00.000-08:00

I have just worked a deal with one of the PSP decal companies to create a limited-edition Zipper PSP decal which will be given away with the first few purchases of the manga on launch day!

More information just before launch.

More Concept Sketches

2005-11-09T06:53:00.000-08:00

Jei has been hard at work (now that his computer is up and running again -- poor dude, it was down for three weeks!) and has produced more concept sketches of Zipper.

Have a peek.

ZIPPER Feed

2005-11-06T20:47:00.000-08:00

ZIPPER RSS feed added thanks to FeedBurner!

Zipper-Blog Reader Cluster Map

2005-10-25T21:52:00.000-07:00

Welcome.

Over 135 Pages Total

2005-10-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Whew! It's done! The initial draft of ZIPPER is ready for continuity check and editing. Checking the revision history, it has taken about 3 weeks total to go from rough outline to finished first draft. It's a proud moment.

So far, the manga is just over 135 pages, but that might change slightly after I get the second draft ready. The second draft will be sent to Ja'il to illustrate in just a few more weeks; I'm hoping two at the outside.

In the meantime, I'm thinking it might be time for a contest, the details of which will be posted soon. The winner will receive a free copy of ZIPPER.

Also, keep an eye out for character sketches and more.

110 Pages

2005-10-21T05:33:00.000-07:00

ZIPPER tops 110 pages! This being the case, I am expecting it to hit around 130 pages now. Far more than I anticipated originally. This makes me extremely happy. As I have hit the climax in the storyline, I don't anticipate it will be much longer before the manga can go to the illustrator.

Comics/Manga On Other Media Players

2005-10-18T18:13:00.000-07:00

This question was posted to the comic_creators community at LiveJournal. I thought it was completely relavant in the face of the new wave of technology that is changing the way we read comics/manga. (Though I'm not so sure I answered the question to my own satisfaction... so I restate it below.)

LJ user deni_zen: I think it's cool you're creating comics just for the PSP. I wonder if the same formatting could be used for palms or pocket pc? -- (Published with permission.)

That's a great question. I wish I had a great answer. The truth is I don't know. I don't have either of those media players. With the advent of newer technology such as hand-held gaming machines like the DS, pocket computers like the Pocket PC, and media players like the iPhoto, our world expands in a variety of ways. While each of these machines has their own advantages over the others, they also each have limitations. I believe it is up to the individuals using the machines they prefer to explore these boundries.

When the PSP first came out, there was a lot of hype about comics being ported. Unfortunately, it was just that... hype. At the time of this writing, we are approaching a year after its debut, and there is still only one comic that has been created specifically for the PSP (to my knowledge) -- NYC2123: Dayender. Though I am sure that there is a ton of work in progress that will appear within the next year. Putting together a project like this doesn't happen overnight. It takes time.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, there are other comics out there formatting older work for the PSP, but formatting for is not the same as creating for. Creating for implies that there is conscious forethought to making the media work natively with the machine, while formatting for is recreating work to fit. With formatting for, the possiblity that you would lose something -- more than likely quality -- grows.

Which brings me to my answer for the above question. To take the PSP format and to format it for the PC Pocket, the iPhoto, or any other media player/machine would mean loss of quality. Thus I think it is important to start out with work that is meant for the machine of choice. There are other problems that might occur as well, such as the image sequencing/archiving "problem" that the PSP occasionally has (which I have not personally encountered and seems to be rare, but not to be overlooked), and the software that other machines use. As I personally do not own any of these other products, I have not researched the possibilty of doing work or porting work for or to them.

If there is an individual out there who is currently creating an iPhoto comic or a PC Pocket manga, I welcome them at this site. I encourage them to comment in the blog and link up with this site so that information as a whole can be dissiminated to the masses.

Image Sequencing and Archived Files for the PSP

2005-10-18T00:23:00.000-07:00

While the ZIPPER project is not yet ready for archiving, I felt it was important to relate these two articles for future reference.

Chad and Paco Allen pioneered the PSP graphic novel and have therefore are learning tons about not only the genre, but about the media, and the media player itself through a trial-by-fire affair. Therefore they definitely should be applauded and recognized for their unending efforts to bring readers the best reading experience possible.

With their permission, I reprint a portion of their image sequencing and archiving experiences. Thanks Chad and Paco!

Issues with Image Sequencing on the PSP -- "We've had a couple people (two exactly -- one on issue #1 and #2 each) email us about issues they've experienced with the images not appearing in the correct sequence when they are copied over to their PSP. I've had this same issue with a couple PSP formatted magazines myself. I can't find any official documentation on how the PSP sequences images, but it has been the leading theory that it is based on the date the files are created/last modified (and that's exactly how we publish the images: saving them out one-at-a-time in the sequence they are intended to be viewed)." Click to read full post.

AND

More on PSP Image Sequencing -- "Here are some things we've learned recently by talking to folks at Sony (thanks, guys!) and through a fair bit of experimentation. This is probably only of interest to you if you are creating re-mixed or translated versions of NYC2123, or if you are creating your own sequence-based content for the PSP." Click to read full post.

75 Pages

2005-10-16T22:42:00.000-07:00

ZIPPER surpassed 75 pages today and is steadily working its way toward a 100. Would be nice if it made it that far. Who knows. More than likely it will surpass even that. I don't have a set number of pages that I'd like to do. That's the beauty of working with the PSP, I don't have any page limitations to worry about. I can simply go with what works. I could make a manga/comic as big or as little as I wanted to.

Also, last week I received initial rough character sketches of Zipper and her sidekick, A.I. companion Zepplin. I'm extrememly pleased with the initial ideas. I am going to write up critiques for them later today to send off to Ja'il for minor changes I'd like to see. Overall though, his style is perfect for this project. I'm extremely happy to be working with him.

Closing In On A Beginning

2005-10-10T17:20:00.000-07:00

Took off to Osaka with my wife to spend a three-day weekend. Decided to give the ZIPPER script a rest so that I could come back to it fresh this morning. I was pleasantly surprised to find there are only 6 more written pages to convert. I figure that will be about another 30 to 40 pages of comic, give or take. And I am under the impression this comic will run between 70 to 90 pages.

After the script is finished, I'll start on writing up character descriptions for Jei el so he can work on character sketches. Once I give the okay to those, he can start illustrating. It's exciting to see this project start to take wing. There's still a lot to do, but it only makes it that much more fun.

Character Concept Model: Zipper

2005-10-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of Miwako Ichikawa. Have been since I first saw her in ANOTHER HEAVEN. As a former fashion model, she's lithe and tall and sexy as all hell. I wouldn't call her 'beautiful' per se, but she is definitely attractive.

When I started the rough draft of ZIPPER flashes of an Ichikawa-like Zipper filled my head, so I thought perhaps a design based on her would be perfect. (Strange really; I haven't seen ANOTHER HEAVEN in probably a year or so.) I don't want Zipper to look like Ms. Ichikawa, but I would like to see them sharing a few characteristics, like those incredibly gorgeous full lips, long legs, and tall, lithe body.

I'm sure we'll be able to share a few sketch concepts within the next few weeks when Jei el has the time to work on her. Until then, a few screen shots from ANOTHER HEAVEN.

All rights reserved; Another Heaven Film Partners, George Iida and all respective owners.

Related: NYC2123 PSP Comic

2005-10-04T22:13:00.000-07:00

An article about NYC2123. If you haven't checked it out yet, do so, this is fantastic work. As it is free (though the creators do ask that you consider a donation -- completely worth it!), you can't go wrong. Easy to download, install and enjoy.

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2005/10/emw291273.htm

Jei el Link

2005-10-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

Check out the Links section, and note Jei el's site. Jei el is the artist on this project. He's a fantastic illustrator with mad skills! He is helping me realize this project. I'm extremely happy to have him onboard. The link will take you to his Deviant Art site.

The other link (Moped Ronin) is to my own site.

-- Made in DNA

Why The PSP?

2005-10-03T23:58:00.000-07:00

Why is it that ZIPPER is being created specifically for the PlayStation Portable? Fair question. There are plenty of mediums out there (PDF, CBR, etc.), and it is quite possible that upon launch, they will be addressed. For now though, ZIPPER is PSP-specific.

I myself, own a PSP and became excited about the possibilites the PSP opened up. Though, at first, to be honest, I was skeptical about reading manga/comics on such a device. I don't have the best of eyesight, so small print tends to, literally, all but put me right on top of the media. My fears of this were confirmed by content providers such as GO MANGA*, whose offerings, while certainly has great appeal to a number of readers with its "Shonen Jump" style work, were only digitized versions of manga they have already published.

The work simply is not formatted for the PSP. That is to say, it is formatted for printed, full-page viewing. The PSP on the other hand, works more on the panel-level, which is approximately a third of the size of a traditional comic book page. When you try to mash whole pages into panel-sized screen format (the PSP's screen is only 480 x 272 pixels), you get work that is unreadable. Readers are forced to cursor around a single page to get the full effect of the work. Moreover, readers must flip their PSP vertically to enjoy single-page illustrations; something I found personally annoying.

When I discovered NYC2123: DAYENDER by the Allen brothers, my perceptions changed. Here was work created specifcially for the PSP, and it was spot on. It didn't keep me flipping my PSP, it didn't make me zoom or cursor across the page to read it, and it utilized a considerably smaller space (than a full-page of a traditional comic page) in a very, very effective way.

The Allen brothers inspired me to work on ZIPPER, showing me that it could without having to follow the rules of a traditional comic if I had an effective imagination. In fact, the rules of traditional comic writing had to be broken, or rather re-invented to fit the new format. In truth, the PSP has its limitations, namely the panel-level based style that I mentioned earlier. It is not possible to do those really huge full-page illustrations that can strike at the heart of a reader, creating a strong, lasting impression. But everything has pros and cons, it's a matter of managing them to work for you. Something that I hope ZIPPER will be able to effectively accomplish. As with all new medias, only time will tell.

-- Made in DNA

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* - I however applaud GO MANGA for bringing manga titles to the PSP. I certainly do not think ill of them as a company at all.

Copyright

2005-10-03T23:43:00.000-07:00

I think it should go without saying, but I guess it has to be since there are those in this world who prefer to live off the work of others, that all material in this blog is © 2005 Made in DNA.

Mature Content/Subject Matter

2005-10-03T23:30:00.000-07:00

ZIPPER is set in an adult world. That is to say that it contains mature content and subject matter. While it will not be "pornographic" in nature, it does contain content that is best suited for an audience that can absorb and understand the work.

I realize this may cut the number of potential sales, but ZIPPER is not about sales, it is about storytelling. I grew up on great pulp graphic magazine HEAVY METAL, and have always felt that it held mature content in the highest regard. There may have been times it was overt, shocking, or even outrageous, but never was it "raunchy". (At least in my opinion.) Therefore, while there will be no adult content in this blog, I am proud to say that in the tradition of great magazines like HM, ZIPPER will not pull punches. However, nor will it be over the top in regards to sexual content. Whatever nudity, language, or adult situations there may be, they are the product of reality in the world of the manga itself.

-- Made in DNA

Welcome to the Zipper PSP Manga Blog

2005-10-03T22:58:00.000-07:00

Welcome! My name is Made in DNA. I am the writer/creator of the ZIPPER manga for the PlayStation Portable.

The manga has not yet been published. I am currently working on the script, and the artist, a talented Indonesian gentleman, is currently working on character sketches.

This is a working blog; it's function currently is to not only promote the manga for its eventual publication, but to create and embellish the manga via posts about the world of ZIPPER in general, giving the reader a larger overview of the manga itself which is not always possible to do in the limited* comic form.

While I don't want to seem copycat-ish, it seems that more and more comics are being promoted via blogs these days (Brian Wood's DMZ and Chad & Paco Allen's NYC2123: DAYENDER being perfect examples). I believe it's because the more independent and outspoken artists, want to connect directly with their audiences, sharing in not only the world of their comic, but of the world in general. Storytelling is not a isolated medium wherein the storyteller plucks totally new ideas out of his or her own brain, but rather old ideas that have been mangled and perverted so that they represent something exciting and interesting to the audience.

It is my hope that you will enjoy ZIPPER. While posts might not be extremely frequent, feel free to come back often, as I hope to have some goodies up here eventually. And to comment or critique. Yes, critiquing is allowed. However criticizing is not. Critiques will be considered and possibly replied to. Criticizing comments will simply be deleted without comment.

Until later.

-- Made in DNA

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* - limited, compared to traditional prose ficition, of which I am also an author of.