Tales From The Harbor Vol. 1

[HHComics]

I know it's only been one day but here's the thread for comments and reviews of the book. Lots of excellent stories; well worth the price of admission.
So I guess I should start.

My favourite story is "Funny Action Romance". I can't read it at any time without laughing out loud and I've read the thing many times. If only "professional" storytelling was so smooth.

A huge tip of the hat goes to Bob Prodor for both his stories but especially "La Calavera" for continuing the tale started in "Comic Talks"! Continunity, I love it!

[RiESC]

First off, i just want to say that i didn't really notice the formatting problems Jay mentioned. Well, i did see them, but i didn't feel they were that big of a deal. Maybe i'm too forgiving...

Anyways, as to the content - i really liked it. I thought all of it was excellent.
Some random thoughts: Brent's vampire story was pretty cool, as was Tara's. Andrew's "Data" monologue was awesome. James & Fiona's piece was spectacular, as were Bob's. Sadly, a couple of Brad's pages in his 9ine story were virtually unreadable (to me at least) but it was presented in such a way that i was able to understand the story from the remaining pages.
umm.. yeah, that's just off the top of my head, i'll try to be more coherent later.

[Brian Guay]

First off, I'm just stoked to have my work in "Tales", I'm not overly sure what I want to do for two, but I'll think of something!

Some of my fav moments were, the ending to Bob's Lone Justice story. The "old" and "new" death chart of David's. Willie Nelson going crazy, my covers in Honor Thy Mother, but my fav moment yet is Sarah's StickBurglar! I'm chuckling even as I type this out.

And Daniel, that's still one kick ass wave!!

Bri

[Pith]

Anyways, as to the content - i really liked it. I thought all of it was excellent.
Some random thoughts: Brent's vampire story was pretty cool, as was Tara's.

Yay! Someone likes my story (Unless, of course, there's another Tara. I don't have my copy yet, so I don't know.)

From the sounds of it, Vol. 1 is great, so I'll be happy to have some good, fun reading before I have to launch back into wanky literature next term.

[BaggedAndBored]

First off, i just want to say that i didn't really notice the formatting problems Jay mentioned. Well, i did see them, but i didn't feel they were that big of a deal. Maybe i'm too forgiving...

Well I did and I wasn't pleased about it.

A great deal of time goes into laying out these books. As a matter of fact, I have more than 35 hours invested in designing and laying out Tales From the Harbor Volume 1.

The page numbering and top bar were meticulously designed to line up. It is not uncommon for it to be slightly misaligned when printed as it is, after all, a mechanical operation, but it should not be noticeable to the casual eye.

To be out of line by an eighth of an inch is unacceptable when you are paying good money to produce a good quality book.

What pisses me off the most is that the reader won't look at it and say, oh look the printer did not calibrate the cutting machine to trim the pages properly. They will look at the book and say, look at that Happy Harbor didn't line the pages up correctly.

I take pride in my work and NEVER purposely do something half assed - more especially if my name is on the work.

Alright, rant is over and I apologize for reviewing the printer rather than the printed.

So I'll add a comment although I'm only early into the book.

I loved the Lone Justice story on many levels, but one thing that kept nagging me was the fact that Lone Justice wore his hat into a Royal Canadian Legion and nobody yelled at him to take it off.

Was this because he was a former hero, and thus afforded special treatment, or is it because the writer has never worn a hat into a Royal Canadian Legion and been yelled at to take it off?

[RiESC]

Like i said, i'm probably too forgiving.
Likely it's a bad habit i picked up while working as the layout/production editor at the Gateway. After so many late nights trying to corral the section editors (much like herding cats - nigh impossible!) i just learned to ignore imperfections in the finished product. i'd just try to do my best to get the paper out in a decent shape. Same thing holds with my ashcan comics - but at least i have a little more control there. i
Don't get me wrong, i fully understand why you & Jay are displeased with the printing errors - that is not something a professional company should've let slip by. i get pissed off when the print shop photocopiers screw things up when i'm doing my small press runs, but i just shrug my shoulders and let it slide. It's just part of my personality, i guess.

And maybe i'm wrong, but i don't think most people would blame the layout crew for errors like those in the book. At least for me (before i got into the "biz"), i always figured it was the printer's fault when stuff was wonky in the comics i collected.

[altered_id]

Printing errors be damned. I'm really enjoying the Tales that I've read.

[Brian Guay]

Just finished reading, La Calavera in "The Tea Party". Nice begining of a story, here. Loved the shot of La Calavera having a tea party, with the little girl

Kinda creepy!

Bri

[BaggedAndBored]

Like i said, i'm probably too forgiving.

No, I think I'm just getting crustier in my aging years.

I tell you, printing gaffs aside, it is a hell of a compilation.

[stockdog]

I think this book is freakin' awesome!

some highlights for me so far
-everything about "the Adventures of Stickman & Stickbob"
-I really liked James story and Fiona's art was spot on
-"the Legend of the Dragonslayer" and "the Afterlife of Bob" were hilarious
-Brian's cover and last page were deadly

Haven't got through much yet but I will. Can't wait for the next one.

Daniel

[BaggedAndBored]

Haven't got through much yet but I will. Can't wait for the next one.

Hey read my script first eh!

[Bob Prodor]

Was this because he was a former hero, and thus afforded special treatment, or is it because the writer has never worn a hat into a Royal Canadian Legion and been yelled at to take it off?[/quote]

Never worn a hat into a Legion, and because he's Lone Justice.

[BaggedAndBored]

It was a great story. I loved it and if Lone justice ever enters a Legion I'm in and someone says "HAT, HAT, Hat," I'll jump to his defence and say, "Hey man, that's Lone Justice.

[BaggedAndBored]

Having finished the book now, i have to say that there wasn't anything in it i disliked.

When I'm laying it out, I don't read any of it so a couple pieces kind of made me wince. The bird piece and the Stickman Bob story.

However, both were excellent.

Stickman Bob was funny and charming and extremely impressive coming fromt he mind and pen of a ten-year-old. The bird one was entertaining and educational blending art and prose.

I also think Jay did a great job structuring the book, which made the thing flow well.

[BaggedAndBored]

Here is my pitch for the cover of volume two.