NYCC’10: Scott Kurtz and his Webcomics Bootcamp
Written by: Gary M. Kenny, CC2K Comics Editor
The New York Comic Con is just a few weeks away. With so much already planned how could the NYCC’10 get any better? Well, it just has. Webcomic pioneers Scott Kurtz and Brad Guigar want you to join their first annual Webcomics Bootcamp! CC2K is here with Player Vs. Player creator Scott Kurtz and he is going to turn you into a better webcomic creator.
Hey Scott, thanks again for the interview. I’m a huge fan of PVP and I am super excited to hear that you’ll be joining us again in New York for the NYCC. Now, you and Brad are doing something special this time: the 1st annual Webcomics Bootcamp. What can you tell us about this seminar that’s different then the webcomics panels you normally have?
Unlike a panel where we’re on stage addressing an audience, answering questions as broadly as possible, we’re going to be sitting with cartoonists and talking to them directly about their work in particular. We’re taking the time to go over everyone’s work and address the issues we see with it and try to answer any questions they have. Depending on how many people sign up, we may or may not give a quick lecture before we dive in.
That sounds amazing. It’s pretty cool to have a respected comic artist help out us aspiring novices. So many people are going to sign up for this, how big and long do you think this bootcamp will be?
That all depends on how many people sign up for it. But if interest was high we might cap it at a certain point so we can make sure we get to everyone. But Brad and I have already decided the seminar will last as long as it needs to last, even if that means we go over the time we have a room on the con floor and have to move somewhere else to continue. We’re already scoping out a spill-over location in the odd chance that happens.
A spill-over, that’s nuts. This sounds so huge and I never would have guessed I’d have an experience such as this at a comic convention. With you critiquing the work of various artists, how much time do you think you’ll be able to spend with each student?
I want to make sure everyone feels they got as much of us as possible. So honestly, I’m not really planning on spending much time at the booth on Sunday. I would rather everyone feel they got their money’s worth. I would like each student to feel like they left with new ideas on how to improve their work and their webcomic.
Right on. Scott, this sounds really cool. How did you and Brad come up with it?
Lance and Mark, who work at Reed on the NYCC are good guys and they’ve been talking about us being more involved at their shows. Making the shows special, and they dig webcomics. They get it. And they kind of see webcomics as the new 80’s black and white independent movement. So they want to support that influx of new talent. Which I think is smart. And so we kind of offered some ideas to them of what we’d like to try. And Brad and I have been wanting to do something like this for a while now. And suddenly here was an opportunity. Hopefully the first of many.
I don’t think you have to hope, this is a great idea and I bet it’s going to have a huge turn out. And Scott, since I’ve got you here I have to ask a PVP question: Was LOLbat always planned to be the alter ego of Butler?
The idea for LOLbat came on the day I did the first strip. I was brainstorming out loud with my brother and he said “Do something about Batman.” We had been arguing about whether or not Batman Begins is a good movie (I say no). So I said, I’m just kind of sick of the Batman mythos. It’s been done so much. Then I said “They should do a movie where Alfred has been Batman the whole time. and he’s been pinning it on Wayne. Everyone assumes it’s Wayne, but no it was Alfred.” and they I said “What if all superheros are actually the butler. Iron Man is Jarvis. Wong is actually the Sorcerer Supreme. It’s the perfect cover.” and then I created my superhero which was LOLbat. We made him up on the spot. Meme-based hero. And I said “LOLbat is Butler.” and we laughed. And I just assumed that I would never make a point of it. But that’s why his head is shaped the way it is. To match the shape of Butler’s head. and then one day I thought. Maybe if I did tell people “Hey, LOLbat is Butler, people will like him more. Because then he’s tied into PvP continuity.” And as silly as it sounds, that actually made a difference with a lot of LOLbat haters. He turned a real corner with that reveal. But yeah, the idea that LOLBAT was Butler came before I even made up his alter ego.
Scott thanks again for taking the time and telling us about this wonderful event. We are super excited to see you at NYCC and pumped for Bootcamp!
To learn more about Scott Kurtz and if you would like to read a high quality comic visit PVPONLINE and Webcomics.com
The Webcomics Bootcamp seminar will be held on Sunday, Oct 10 2010 during the final day of the NEW YORK COMIC CON ’10. The cost for the bootcamp is $50 unless you’re a webcomics.com member, and then it’s $30. To sign up for the bootcamp, please visit the link here.