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A Top Web Comics interview with me...
12 years ago
General
Recently, my old friend Les, asked to interview me for the Top Web Comics site. If you'd like to see or comment on the original post here you go: http://articles.topwebcomics.com/?p=10339
but, i'll also post it here in full. Also, for those interested "More" Changes volume 5 is now available for sale on my lulu store! http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/alphawave
and now, onto the interview!
This week on Web Comic Wednesday we’re taking a look at an adults only book, so please, only 18 years old or older readers in this topic. As you know, Top Web Comics does feature a variety of comics rated from anyone to adults only. Changes deals mainly with a transgender character and the emotional turmoil they endure. It’s written and drawn by Jim Felker, a dedicated web comic artist who has been telling dramatic stories for many years.
I met Jim many years ago at a comic book store. He’d recently begun selling copies of his collected Forbidden Love comic in the store and I’d picked up a copy earlier. From that, I enjoyed Jim’s writing. Since then we’ve been good friends and he’s been busy with Changes for a long time now. I’ve never read the comic myself, but thankfully Jim had some time for an interview.
Les: Hi Jim! I’ve known you for quite a few years and in the past your comics have been quite dramatic and full of serious issues. Changes is your latest production that you’ve been at for quite some time. Can you give us a brief overview of the basic plot?
Jim: Well, Changes isn’t exactly “new” nor my latest creation, it is my most popular (not counting Steampunk Palin) It’s been running for 8+ years now. And as with any story characters have changed as the story has gone on. That’s what it’s all about. Changes. It started as the tale of a man, a submissive man, becoming a woman in the world of BDSM and how she found her way and met the ones she’d come to love and call “family” even though she had no real past or family of her/his own after being used and abused by someone he thought he could trust and being saved by the one that changed everything for him.
After his transition into a woman the story was supposed to end but, fan outcry made me continue the series following how the couple raised their son and how their “family” new and old changed around them.
Almost 8+ years and nearly 600 pages later i’m still telling their stories. Both light hearted and dark.
You can’t have the good without the bad as the old saying goes…
Les: Obviously this sounds like a dramatic story with some very serious topics to be dealing with. I know from your past works such as Forbidden Love, the love story between an anthro cat and dog, you do take subjects to heart. What more can you tell us about the main star of Changes? What is their name?
Jim: Technically, as the series has gone on there is no “main star” character but, the one that started it all and was the major focal point was Jamie/Sarah. We follow his emotional and sometimes heartbreaking battle to find his true self. He starts out quite timid but, overtime breaks out of his shell as his transition progresses and he becomes Sarah through the story and he’s re-united with his family and creates one of his own with the woman, the Mistress he/She loves. Transitioning is never easy, along the way she has emotional overloads and doubts but, must face them. Now, years later Sarah is a very proud character. Proud of her son, proud of who and what she is and proud to be in the family she helped to create.
Les: I’m aware that you also have also created More Changes. Is this the continuation into Jamie/Sarah’s family and such you mentioned earlier, or a new storyline? Also, where would you recommend readers start with your series? I’m aware that you’re on deviantART. Do you have the comic shared elsewhere as well?
Jim: “More” Changes is a direct continuation taking place a few years after the ending of Changes. I’ve also recently started Changes Remastered which is a full color prequel / happening concurrent story to Changes of how Jamie & Jessica came together but also focuses more on the transition aspect than the original comic. If people would like to read Changes they have a few options first with my Drunk Duck addy: http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Changes
Then of course my Deviant art: http://jimsupreme.deviantart.com/
Finally my online store is where people can pick up TPB versions of the stories in print or digital(among many other great books) : http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/alphawave
Les: Excellent. Thanks for that Jim. So what has been your favorite part of creating Changes? Did you expect such a fan following when you began?
Jim: The best part? The fan response. I’ve gained a dedicated following over the years and love hearing from them. I always enjoy a nice comment heck, even criticisms are welcomed whether it be about the story line maybe getting too dark or about my art. I’ll never say I’m a great artist or anything. I just happen to love doing it and I learn along the way. But, then, there are those that message me and tell me how much the comic has helped them in a personal way and I am always humbled by that. To know, that out there, somewhere you’ve helped another human being solve an issue they may not have had the courage to do so on their own is always something that makes my heart soar. Anytime I get a message like that I do what I can to help though, sadly there are those times as well that I can’t and it saddens me greatly. I hope that when people read the series they connect with the strong characters and grow alongside them just as I do. There’s nothing one can’t accomplish if you’re willing to fight for it. I’m just glad i’m able to connect with such a diverse fan base.
Les: It definitely does make a difference that you have been able to create something you enjoy, as well as helping and inspiring people in the real world. That’s beautiful Jim. I’m glad to see you’ve been able to make the world of Changes such a big place. Your dedication as a web comic artist is as commendable as your cause. Lastly, do you have any advice you’d give to other web comic artists out there? How do you stay inspired? Did it help to find a topic that had such a serious tone to it, or is it something else that keeps you on your schedule?
Jim: The best advice I can give is this. don’t do it for the money. Do it for doing it. Do it for loving what you do and seeing what others love about it. Let it grow from there. Never let it be about lining your pockets. Let it be about what you love doing.
How I generally stay inspired is listening to music be it Weird Al, Gorillaz, and especially, Pink Floyd / David Gilmour… The stories each song tells always makes me feel an urge to create. Some are dark, some tragic, some inspiring but, all music has it if you just listen.
As for what keeps me on schedule, I have a schedule now? oh, right! I do! just hook the tea to my veins!
Les: Very good advice Jim. I agree there too. Hehe, oh very much so about the tea. I know you’re quite fond of that when working.
Jim: The story of Changes is close to my heart as the main Character is really just a version of myself , something I look forward to one day being but, cannot for now due to varying reasons. the story is something that before I started posting it had never seen done before. a true to life depiction of someone trying to transition in a BDSM lifestyle setting
Les: It’s always good to write straight from the heart, and I appreciate you sharing that with us Jim. I do wish you all the best as well in your life, and with your comic.
Thank you for your time and definitely, good luck with Changes!
but, i'll also post it here in full. Also, for those interested "More" Changes volume 5 is now available for sale on my lulu store! http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/alphawave
and now, onto the interview!
This week on Web Comic Wednesday we’re taking a look at an adults only book, so please, only 18 years old or older readers in this topic. As you know, Top Web Comics does feature a variety of comics rated from anyone to adults only. Changes deals mainly with a transgender character and the emotional turmoil they endure. It’s written and drawn by Jim Felker, a dedicated web comic artist who has been telling dramatic stories for many years.
I met Jim many years ago at a comic book store. He’d recently begun selling copies of his collected Forbidden Love comic in the store and I’d picked up a copy earlier. From that, I enjoyed Jim’s writing. Since then we’ve been good friends and he’s been busy with Changes for a long time now. I’ve never read the comic myself, but thankfully Jim had some time for an interview.
Les: Hi Jim! I’ve known you for quite a few years and in the past your comics have been quite dramatic and full of serious issues. Changes is your latest production that you’ve been at for quite some time. Can you give us a brief overview of the basic plot?
Jim: Well, Changes isn’t exactly “new” nor my latest creation, it is my most popular (not counting Steampunk Palin) It’s been running for 8+ years now. And as with any story characters have changed as the story has gone on. That’s what it’s all about. Changes. It started as the tale of a man, a submissive man, becoming a woman in the world of BDSM and how she found her way and met the ones she’d come to love and call “family” even though she had no real past or family of her/his own after being used and abused by someone he thought he could trust and being saved by the one that changed everything for him.
After his transition into a woman the story was supposed to end but, fan outcry made me continue the series following how the couple raised their son and how their “family” new and old changed around them.
Almost 8+ years and nearly 600 pages later i’m still telling their stories. Both light hearted and dark.
You can’t have the good without the bad as the old saying goes…
Les: Obviously this sounds like a dramatic story with some very serious topics to be dealing with. I know from your past works such as Forbidden Love, the love story between an anthro cat and dog, you do take subjects to heart. What more can you tell us about the main star of Changes? What is their name?
Jim: Technically, as the series has gone on there is no “main star” character but, the one that started it all and was the major focal point was Jamie/Sarah. We follow his emotional and sometimes heartbreaking battle to find his true self. He starts out quite timid but, overtime breaks out of his shell as his transition progresses and he becomes Sarah through the story and he’s re-united with his family and creates one of his own with the woman, the Mistress he/She loves. Transitioning is never easy, along the way she has emotional overloads and doubts but, must face them. Now, years later Sarah is a very proud character. Proud of her son, proud of who and what she is and proud to be in the family she helped to create.
Les: I’m aware that you also have also created More Changes. Is this the continuation into Jamie/Sarah’s family and such you mentioned earlier, or a new storyline? Also, where would you recommend readers start with your series? I’m aware that you’re on deviantART. Do you have the comic shared elsewhere as well?
Jim: “More” Changes is a direct continuation taking place a few years after the ending of Changes. I’ve also recently started Changes Remastered which is a full color prequel / happening concurrent story to Changes of how Jamie & Jessica came together but also focuses more on the transition aspect than the original comic. If people would like to read Changes they have a few options first with my Drunk Duck addy: http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Changes
Then of course my Deviant art: http://jimsupreme.deviantart.com/
Finally my online store is where people can pick up TPB versions of the stories in print or digital(among many other great books) : http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/alphawave
Les: Excellent. Thanks for that Jim. So what has been your favorite part of creating Changes? Did you expect such a fan following when you began?
Jim: The best part? The fan response. I’ve gained a dedicated following over the years and love hearing from them. I always enjoy a nice comment heck, even criticisms are welcomed whether it be about the story line maybe getting too dark or about my art. I’ll never say I’m a great artist or anything. I just happen to love doing it and I learn along the way. But, then, there are those that message me and tell me how much the comic has helped them in a personal way and I am always humbled by that. To know, that out there, somewhere you’ve helped another human being solve an issue they may not have had the courage to do so on their own is always something that makes my heart soar. Anytime I get a message like that I do what I can to help though, sadly there are those times as well that I can’t and it saddens me greatly. I hope that when people read the series they connect with the strong characters and grow alongside them just as I do. There’s nothing one can’t accomplish if you’re willing to fight for it. I’m just glad i’m able to connect with such a diverse fan base.
Les: It definitely does make a difference that you have been able to create something you enjoy, as well as helping and inspiring people in the real world. That’s beautiful Jim. I’m glad to see you’ve been able to make the world of Changes such a big place. Your dedication as a web comic artist is as commendable as your cause. Lastly, do you have any advice you’d give to other web comic artists out there? How do you stay inspired? Did it help to find a topic that had such a serious tone to it, or is it something else that keeps you on your schedule?
Jim: The best advice I can give is this. don’t do it for the money. Do it for doing it. Do it for loving what you do and seeing what others love about it. Let it grow from there. Never let it be about lining your pockets. Let it be about what you love doing.
How I generally stay inspired is listening to music be it Weird Al, Gorillaz, and especially, Pink Floyd / David Gilmour… The stories each song tells always makes me feel an urge to create. Some are dark, some tragic, some inspiring but, all music has it if you just listen.
As for what keeps me on schedule, I have a schedule now? oh, right! I do! just hook the tea to my veins!
Les: Very good advice Jim. I agree there too. Hehe, oh very much so about the tea. I know you’re quite fond of that when working.
Jim: The story of Changes is close to my heart as the main Character is really just a version of myself , something I look forward to one day being but, cannot for now due to varying reasons. the story is something that before I started posting it had never seen done before. a true to life depiction of someone trying to transition in a BDSM lifestyle setting
Les: It’s always good to write straight from the heart, and I appreciate you sharing that with us Jim. I do wish you all the best as well in your life, and with your comic.
Thank you for your time and definitely, good luck with Changes!
