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View Full Version : A dilemma about a comic I want to make



H Birchgrove
2011-09-19, 05:18 PM
This will posted both at www.giantitp.com and at www.deviantart.com (in my journal).

I have an idea for a stick-figure Heroic Fantasy web-comic which I should be able to make on the computer. Problem is that the style would be similar to Rich Burlew's The Order of The Stick (OoTS), and while you can post "fan-comics" (which aren't fan fiction but still drawn similarly to his style) at his own message boards, you need to follow certain rules.

The ideas for my "fan-comic" has developed in such a way that I would break some of those rules if I published it at www.giantitp.com, and taking away those aspects from the comic would make me unable to continue the stories I've thought of. If you think I'm beating around the bush, then here's the blunt facts:
The comic would be partially about sex and various forms of sexual relationships, including homo- and bisexuality, open relationships, polygamy and polyfidelity etc. It wouldn't be pornography, or at least I would try to avoid it becoming such.

I suppose I could publish it at deviantart.com, but I want to know if the moderators at www.giantitp.com - if possible, Rich Burlew himself - is okay with that, especially since I want to credit Rich Burlew and OoTS as an inspiration.

Icewalker
2011-09-19, 05:37 PM
I am not a mod, wait for a response from a mod.

But, that said, my guess would be that if your comic has that sort of content, you shouldn't post it on the forums. I would guess it would be okay to note OOTS as an inspiration, and he doesn't have any copyright on stick figure art, so you don't need to be worried there as long as you aren't taking his characters or his world.

leakingpen
2011-09-19, 05:43 PM
i would say not to call it a fan comic, although surely give a nod for style. Honestly, its a common enough style, he may have some serious refinements to stick figure, and made some of his own tropes, but he doesn't OWN the style. Also, you can post it in the actual webcomics list, rather than fan comics.

Dr.Epic
2011-09-20, 01:18 PM
I am not a mod, wait for a response from a mod.

But, that said, my guess would be that if your comic has that sort of content, you shouldn't post it on the forums. I would guess it would be okay to note OOTS as an inspiration, and he doesn't have any copyright on stick figure art, so you don't need to be worried there as long as you aren't taking his characters or his world.

Yeah, what he said. The playground is really more PG-13. You could probably get away with hinting at that kind of stuff (as I've seen done in OotS), but full on bring that type of thing up is no good.

As for style, you could always modify it. Although stick figures are simplistic, there is variety to them. Even with a lack of artistic talent, it shouldn't be that difficult to create your own brand of stick figures.

Roland St. Jude
2011-09-23, 08:05 PM
Sheriff of Moddingham: I would say, don't publish it here. If you even think it pushes the envelope, don't put a bunch of time and energy into posting something here that's going to get people in trouble discussing it and possibly be taken down.

As long as you're drawing your own characters and not tracing, copying, using Rich's characters, locations, stories, etc., you should be fine. No one can own the rights to the general idea of a stick figure comic. But if you're worried about legal issues, err on the side of caution or seek legal advice.

But if you want Rich's approval to credit him as an inspiration, which you probably don't need technically speaking, just ask him via PM. I guess if it were me, I'd err on the side of not associating his name with anything he's prohibited here, just out of respect for the man.