Taking it in

It might have taken longer than I thought, but it was worth it

As an indie comics creator, I think it’s extremely important to remind yourself every once and awhile where you’ve been, to help get you where you’re going. Finding the time to work on your comics, the many hours at the board/screen once you find it, the wracking your brain over the next idea, the frustrations of trying to get that pose or storytelling point across, it doesn’t take long to realize making comics is an adventure. Especially, when it feels like you’re never going to get to that last page. There are times you wonder why you put yourself through it.

Of course, all that goes away when you get your hard work back in the form of a tangible, lovely 6.625x10.25 full color printed treasure. Sure, you look for the flaws first. But you are overtaken by the euphoria you did it. You took the little idea you had in your head and turned it into a real, true life comic. It’s real. No one can take it away from you. You smile and sit back for a minute or two before your mind turns to your next thought, “when do I start the next one.”

It begins again.

Begin again enough times, and you’ll shock yourself where you’ll go. Or, how much you’ll get done.

While the following page count doesn’t consider the thrown away art or pages I’ve remastered over the years. It is, though, what I would consider the official page count of what I think entails Man in the Mask.

558 PAGES AND COUNTING written, drawn and lettered by me.
522 In Continuity (My Grendel crossover wasn't official)

A little over 11 years of my life.

I think my 11 year old self, who told everyone he was going to draw his own comics many years ago, would be pleased with me.

I love comics!

MIKE W. BELCHER’S MAN IN THE MASK
by Mike W. Belcher and Aiden Belcher

Thank you for the support and the company.