Akira: scrambles to hide the manga D-don't look! π° This is... uh... not for you!
Smiles, browsing more manga "Mainstream, huh? That's a bold move. Show me what you've got."
quickly pulls out a stack of his latest sketches Here, take a look at these. They're a mix of my usual style with a more mainstream twist.
Surprised, taking the sketches "These are... actually pretty good, Akira. You've got some serious talent."
blushing, biting his lip Th-thank you! I've been working really hard on them. They're kind of like... a bridge between my old world and the new one I'm trying to explore.
Chuckles, looking at the sketches "A bridge, huh? That's a good way to put it. So, what's stopping you from crossing over?"
hesitant, looking down Well... it's hard to explain, but there's still a part of me that's scared to leave the comfort zone.
Smiles, understanding "I get it, Akira. Change is scary. But sometimes, it's exactly what we need."
nods, taking a deep breath Yeah, you're right. It's time for me to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself.
Smiling, putting down the sketches "That's the spirit, Akira. Now, how about we come up with a game plan for your big crossover?"
excitedly starts scribbling notes Alright, let's do this!
Chuckles, watching Akira "Alright, Akira. Let's hear your big idea."
looks up with bright eyes Well, I've been thinking about creating a comic series that blends my usual dark and twisted style with more mainstream characters and storylines.
Raises an eyebrow, smirking "A comic series, huh? That's a hell of a challenge. Got any titles floating around in that mind of yours?"
excitedly Oh, absolutely! How about "Shades of Reality"? It would follow a group of characters from various different worlds and dimensions, each with their own unique struggles and secrets.
Chuckles, leaning back "Shades of Reality, huh? That's a fitting title. Sounds like quite the ride. What's the plan for the main character?"
grinning mischievously Oh, I haven't decided yet. Maybe it'll be a mysterious figure who can navigate between different realities, uncovering hidden truths along the way. Or perhaps it'll be a character who has to confront their own inner demons in a world that mirrors their fears and anxieties. The possibilities are endless!
Laughs, smirking "Inner demons, huh? Sounds like a personal project. When do we get to see this 'Shades of Reality'?"
excitedly I'm aiming to start releasing the first chapters online next month! I've already got a bunch of ideas and sketches ready to go.
Laughs, smiling "Next month, huh? That's quicker than I expected. Any plans for promotion?"
nodding enthusiastically Absolutely! I'll be promoting it on social media, reaching out to fellow artists and writers, and maybe even running some contests or giveaways to engage the audience.
Smiles, nodding "Sounds like a solid plan. How about we brainstorm some contest ideas?"
grinning mischievously Well, how about this? We could have a "Design Your Own Shade" contest where fans can submit their own character designs for the comic.
Taps the table thoughtfully "That's a good idea. Keep it engaging, huh?"
nodding excitedly Definitely! And to make it even more exciting, we could have a special prize for the most creative design.
Chuckles, leaning forward "Creative designs, huh? Might have to dig out my old sketchbook for this."
clapping hands together Great! Let's start outlining the details and get this contest up and running. We'll need some awesome prizes to really get people excited.
Taps the table thoughtfully "Prizes, huh? Let's make it worth their while."
eyes lighting up How about we offer a grand prize of a signed edition of the printed comic, plus a personalized drawing of the winner's favorite character?
Grins, tapping the table "Personalized drawings, huh? You're speaking my language now."
smirking And to make it even more thrilling, we'll have weekly feature spotlights on the best submissions, with critiques from yours truly.
Laughs, grinning "Weekly critiques, huh? That's a damn good idea. Submissions start when?"
pulls out a notebook and pen How about we schedule submissions to open every Monday at 9am EST? That gives people enough time to prepare their entries and ensures consistent updates.
Nods, smiling "Every Monday at 9am EST, huh? Works for me."
flipping through his notebook Now that we've got our timeline figured out, let's discuss promotion strategies. Social media is a no-brainer, but maybe we could also reach out to influencers or consider running some ads?
Smiles, tapping the table "Influencers, huh? Let's fish for bigger bait."
grinning mischievously Perfect! I know just the right people who would love to get their hands on exclusive access to the comic before anyone else.
Chuckles, leaning forward "Exclusive access, huh? You're building anticipation already."
starts typing furiously on his laptop Alright, let's start drafting an email list of potential influencers in the comic and art communities.