The Bean 207
The Bean 207
‹‹ First ‹ Prev Next › Last ››
Chapter: ,
Characters: ,
Location: , ,

I have been in a few discussions of late about B/W comics and are they dead? It has been an interesting conversation, especially since I have been fighting with all sorts of directions on where I need to take things.

I have really appreciated the encouragement and the eye opener that b/w comics are not dead. I know that it is a hard sell these days, yet I have found many people still enjoy the pen/ink medium. So I will push ever forward and continue my grand adventure forward with the bean.

Thanks for reading-

trav

29 Comments

Jathaan » 29 Nov 2013 » Reply

I know I'm terribly late to this conversation, but I'm a new reader that has gotten hooked on your marvelous adventure, and I wanted to say thank you! 🙂 B/W comics are far from dead; in fact, I'd say some of the best comics ever made are and have been monochrome. Art Spiegelman's "Maus" is the definitive printed example, along with "Bone" and so many others; for webcomics, there's "Lackadaisy" (http://lackadaisy.foxprints.com/index.php), Ursula Vernon's "Digger" (http://diggercomic.com), Evan Dahm's "Order of Tales" (http://www.rice-boy.com/order/), "The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage" (http://sydneypadua.com/2dgoggles/stories/), and "The Abominable Charles Christopher" (http://abominable.cc) – among many, many others.

In fact, I think most of my favorite webcomics are monochrome. There are some really amazing colored stories out there, but they are the exceptions, not the rule – and they usually don't update on nearly the frequency that the good b/w comics do. I check Dresden Codak for an update once every three or four months or so, because Aaron paints these enormous pages that take forever. (The current story arc started back in mid-2010, and is only 28 pages long so far. Worth it, but still…)

Anyrate, wanted to say The Bean has become one of my favorite comics, and I've spent far too much time on it today, obsessively clicking "next" 🙂 I love your art, and the story has tantalizing bits and pieces of a larger world that we haven't been shown yet, and I can't wait to see what happens next. Thank you for creating this!

Ruthie » 5 Dec 2012 » Reply

One thing that really draws me into this comic and story is how warm you have managed to make a Black & White comic. I love colorful pictures, and I can inagine what this would look like in color, but I especially like emotional colors of each character in this. Whenever Tia appears, I think of warm golden sparks. Cheerful characters are some of my favorites 🙂

    Trav the bean » 7 Feb 2013 » Reply

    i am glad you can feel the color without even seeing it. Gives me hope

Emma » 21 May 2011 » Reply

Order of Tales is another fantastic B/W webcomic. Its companion comics are in colour, and they're really good, too. I personally like both.

Elihion » 16 Feb 2011 » Reply

Bean, Digger, Supermassive Black Hole A*… All B/W. All superb story-telling.
All with ardent fans. (including myself). I won’t labour the point.

Regards,

Eli.

ChrisJ » 16 Feb 2011 » Reply

I agree with Matt. Anyone who says that B/W comics are dead is not taking Bone into account.

Golux » 16 Feb 2011 » Reply

Got a good story to tell? Then B&W isn't dead. I actually enjoy the ones where the artist keeps the majority in B&W so they can move the story along and then have occasional color show pieces. Your artistry and technique are really good in this medium. Thank you for keeping it up.

    Trav the bean » 24 Feb 2011 » Reply

    Maybe I will add color every now and then or drop the covers in between….
    and thank you for the kind words

LilFluff » 16 Feb 2011 » Reply

I’d say B&W comics are still alive. Publisher interest I can’t comment on, but the comics themselves… And I agree with Hornet’s comment. That the comic is active, has interesting characters and plot, those come way before considerations of color or drawing style, at least to me as a reader. And man, now that Matt has mentioned it, I can’t not think of Bone. Both of an example of how good B&W can be, and that you’re hitting it for me as well.

    Trav the bean » 24 Feb 2011 » Reply

    I glad that it is working- this has given me alot of encouragement … so we shall keep things as they are:)

Sky » 16 Feb 2011 » Reply

Color just helps to better understand whats going on and better bring out the emotions in the comic~! But you can still tell a story without it- and thats why I keep reading! :3

    Trav the bean » 24 Feb 2011 » Reply

    I Agree with you sky- one day we there will be color- yet i want you to keep reading right now, so I will continue to keep it b/w

    Trav the bean » 24 Feb 2011 » Reply

    I will then keep telling the story for you:)

kate » 16 Feb 2011 » Reply

hehe, your comic style is excellent and its a constant inspiration, the b/w is fantastic, it what makes it so original.

Hornet » 16 Feb 2011 » Reply

I prefere comics that keep updating so I have no problems with B&W.

Glennnn » 16 Feb 2011 » Reply

B/W has the basics that can either be improved upon or remain excellent just as it is. If you wanted to experiment, sepia-tones and grays might augment or emphasize.
To switch over to full color would completely change everything, maybe even your style, so PLEASE DON'T DO IT !!!

    Trav the bean » 24 Feb 2011 » Reply

    one day i will color it – but not now- I like you comment about being improved upon. you are right.

      Glennnn » 1 Apr 2011 » Reply

      For instance, a single shade of gray can completely define the foreground from the background. The work you do is so detailed, but the fg & bg are not so clearly marked. Just as in the forest a line of shade can separate the foreground, midground and background. Instead of the white fill, use gray. Or instead of the dark outline, use gray. From what I understand, creating a sense of depth is one of the greater challenges. It is only natural that objects become dimmer, with less contrast as they recede into the distance.

Matt » 16 Feb 2011 » Reply

One of my favorite comic stories ever is the Bone series by Jeff Smith. The collection I have is b/w and is one of my favorite reads. The more I read The Bean, the more I compare it in my head to the Bone series. It's epic, with moments of levity; the characters are well-written and engaging, and the artwork serves to propel the story along with extreme attention paid to background detail.

    Trav the bean » 24 Feb 2011 » Reply

    I am encouraged in fact this whole dialogue has really helped me out.

ArtieTech » 16 Feb 2011 » Reply

Black and white is alive and well, just as long as the story is compelling! I have great artwork be out to waste, whether B/W or color, with bad storytelling. If a comic is written badly i can not enjoy the work!
You sir, do not have this problem your art and story compete with each other to make the bean of the most enjoyable comics out there!

Ankur » 16 Feb 2011 » Reply

I read a lot of manga and all of it is mostly in b&w. I don't think B&W is dead. However I think you can add lot more the fight/action sequences you had. Please take a look at hajime no ippo. You illustrations of the forest is just superb and unparalleled to whatever I have seen.

    Trav the bean » 24 Feb 2011 » Reply

    I will take a look.

    as for action/fight…. just wait…. things are about to boil over…..

Have your say!

Have your say!

Message

Name *

Email *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.