10 Questions With Lawrence Goodman - Writer Of Gray Cells
10 Questions with Lawrence Goodman - creator of Gray Cells, coming soon to Kickstarter.
Gray Cells is a dark tale that plays into the fears that we have in the modern world. A distrust of authority, competing versions of reality and losing the sense of what is true and what is a lie.
Who are you and what are you working on right now? (2 questions in 1, I know!)Who are you and what are you working on right now? (2 questions in 1, I know!)
I’m Lawrence Goodman, a writer from the UK, and I’m about to release a neo-noir supernatural thriller, Gray Cells. It’s a mix of X-Men’s Shadow King and David Fincher’s Se7en. We’ve just launched our site which has more information on the book and we’ll be doing a few giveaways here: https://inked-dreams.com/gray-cells-graphic-novel/
2. What drew you to digital comics?
Excellent pun! For me it was the accessibility. The ability to get hold of what you want to read, the second that you want to read it. I still love the physical books, so if it’s a great story, I’ll often end up with a physical version too.
3. Webcomics or digital comics?
I like webcomics for humour, like xkcd, Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, or Cyanide and Happiness. I think digital comics is better for books. It’s like the difference between a strip and a book. If you want something quick, highly shareable and relatable, webcomic. For longer form story-telling, it’s digital comics.
4. What do you think works with digital comics?
The ability to guide a reader the way you want them to experience a book. It makes it a lot more accessible to new readers or people unfamiliar with comics. Being guided to the next panel, the next speech bubble, the next image, can bridge the gap more easily.
8 year old Josh Glass is snatched from his home in the night by a deadly predator with unnatural powers. What begins as journalist Lina Santos’ first big story, descends into a trial by fire as she delves deeper into the city’s dark underbelly to discover the truth.
Corrupt institutions, an apathetic police force and an uncaring system stand in her way as she fights her way closer to a monster only the children seem aware of. Can she save Josh and the others before it’s too late?
5. Can digital comics replace print comics?
Not for me. I love how they have gotten better over the years, and I do read most of my comics as digital comics, but I prefer having a physical copy. The guided view feature which takes you through the panels makes reading easier but you lose some of the interplay the panels have when you can see them as one whole piece. I think there will always be a place for both.
6. How can print comics work with digital comics?
Comic creators could offer a tailored format for the different versions. Print can allow interplay between the panels/pages and offer a more macro experience. Digital can give greater detail and hyper focus. Putting thought into the strengths and weaknesses of both then developing an altered version in each format that plays into them would be special.
7. What don’t you like about digital comics?
They can still be a bit clunky zooming in and out to the spot you want to read. Zoomed out, you can appreciate the art, zoomed in you can read the text. I always seem to be stuck in a compromise where I can’t quite do either as well as I’d like, or I miss some clever transition because I didn’t realise how one panel played off another.
8. What digital comics/webcomics do you read?
I’ll read anything. I like gritty and grounded stuff like and I like fun stuff too. Last thing I read was J Gonzo’s La Mano Del Destino.
9. Where do you see digital comics going from here?
I feel like they are going to break away more from the standard grid layout format and grow into something unique to them.
10. Who do you think we should look out for in digital comics?
Netflix or Amazon taking over the space and using it as a place to workshop their show ideas.
Some excellent answers there and look out for Gray Cells coming soon to Kickstarter - details will be coming!