Creating Comics based on readership

[John Owens]

I remember writing this question about "Comics set in Britain?"

http://downthetubes.ning.com/forum/topics/887566:Topic:5081

It was interesting to read those replies.

I guess I was trying to ask; when you write/draw a comic strip, are you influenced by the readership based on their location? For example, supposing the majority of your readers are USA-based, would you write or draw a comic based on America to make it appealing? Should it matter? Would it be subject to your publisher's requirements?

Would comics with their stories set in Britain be appealing to American readers?

The reason I'm asking is I'm planning to write a set of crime scripts and I thought of the question; should I set it in Britain or USA?

[azurechan]

Ultimately it's up to you surely? People cope well enough with Harry Potter and that's set in Britain. I think generally comics readers are pretty savvy, and will respond to the writing rather than the location.

If you want to set it in the USA if you've been there and//or know a lot about it then that's fine too. There's nothing more disconcerting than reading a comic/novel supposed to be set in England that gets big facts wrong. I was playing a fan made adventure game the other week and ending up riding the York Underground... It really annoyed me to no end.

[John Owens]

"I think generally comics readers are pretty savvy, and will respond to the writing rather than the location"

Yes, I thought so.

I have already made up my mind to set those stories in Britain, maybe Glasgow or London. I was curious whether the comic creators are influenced by their readers location. I'll be sure to research to check my facts!

Thanks, azurechan.

[azurechan]

Well I can hardly imagine that you'd make a mistake like that anyway it was a rather extreme example of something to be cautious of if you did set it in a location with what you are not familar.

Good luck with the comic.

[John Freeman]

Hi John

My feeling is, you should write what you know. I think you'll come up with a better story in an environment you're familiar with, or that you have researched, than if you set something in a milieu or country with which you're not familiar.

Obviously, you can't research the 25th century, so you could argue, 'where does that leave SF writers?' but I don't want to go into that here.

I'd say you should set your stories in the UK if this is some of your first work. Later, use research and observation to expand your fictional world.

[John Owens]

Azurechan and John,

Thanks for your input. I decided to set it in the UK and stick whatwith I know. It is one of my first works. If I ever set it in another place I'm not too sure about, I'll do my homework.