Book Size Comparisons and Chapter Three Pencils (Patreon)

I've been thinking about what PRACTICAL DEFENCE AGAINST PIRACY will be like as a book-book, so I got out some of my Delilah Dirk editions to see what their sizes would tell me. What is most appealing? Is bigger necessarily better?

At the start of PRACTICAL DEFENCE, I felt that if I was going to invest my time and energy in another multi-year-long comic project that I wanted the printed book-object to be perfectly satisfying. No compromises. But what does "perfectly satisfying" mean?

I interviewed four books to find the answer.

^ Each of these books contain the same story: DELILAH DIRK AND THE TURKISH LIEUTENANT (or "DD1"). They are, from left to right, largest to smallest:
(1) Tome 2 (of 2) of the first French edition. It actually contains only Chapters Three and Four, but I included it because look how big it is.
(2) The second French edition. Here, they printed it smaller, but included all four chapters in one book.
(3) The Secret Edition. I printed this up in 2011 to take to San Diego Comic Con to say "look! Publishers! You could be publishing this book!" I used the "Lulu.com" print-on-demand service. There are only two copies of this "edition."
(4) The First Second edition (FYI, "First Second" Is the name of the publisher, which I mention because it's been known to cause confusion). Published in 2013, it contains everything that (2) and (3) do, but in the "Signature First Second Size."

^ The difference between the largest and smallest editions. The first French edition was printed hardcover at the traditional bande-desinee size. Compare with the First Second "Signature" size.

^ The difference between the largest edition and the "Secret" edition. That French edition feels really big here! The Secret Edition was printed at the usual size of a comic-industry trade paperback (TPB), if I recall correctly.

^ The second French edition was printed at essentially the same size as my TPB Secret Edition, but as a book-object has a very different feel.

^ The actual page size is the same, and the page count is the same, but you can see how the thickness of the paper and the hard cover affect the substance of the book-object.

^ An interior from the Secret Edition. The print quality is inferior to all other editions because of the on-demand digital printing technology; sometimes the inky parts have a "raised" quality to them. The colours are nice and poppy, though.

Holding these books in my hand, one thing surprised me: despite assuming bigger is in fact better, I do not prefer the big bande-desinee format. I like to read in bed, and find it too cumbersome.

I ended up really liking the trade paperback size. The pages were large enough that I felt immersed in the artwork, but still small enough that the reading experience was friction-free.

Now, I'm not sure how I feel about the smaller French hardcover. On one hand, it is a much more handsome book-object, no argument. But on the other, I might have slightly preferred the reading experience of the paperback? Still, the idea of a hardcover is so appealing, and I might just like the Secret Edition for nostalgic reasons.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

More than once, a reader has asked for a large-format version of one or more of the Delilah Dirk books, but I wonder whether that does in fact have a broad-enough appeal to be worth pursuing. 

On the other hand, I've also heard that some people appreciate the ease of reading and storage offered by the First Second Signature Size editions. And certainly it would be wildly arrogant of me to assume that every reader wants a marble-carved plinth of PRACTICAL DEFENCE taking up a corner of their living room. Certainly I am being very picky these days about new books I invite into my space.

There is one impression that seems universal: the type of people who like reading this type of comic like to do it on paper, preferably all at once. Is this you? It's definitely me, so maybe this is just personal bias.

Let me know where you stand! Big? Small! Confirm? Deny! I'm fascinated to hear your thoughts.

HOW TO MAKE IT REAL

First Second is not likely to publish a larger-format version of the Delilah Dirk books, and probably not PRACTICAL DEFENCE, either. Unless, of course, the books become wildly popular. Like, "cultural phenomenon" popular.

To turn PRACTICAL DEFENCE into its ideal book-object, the most likely avenue will be Kickstarter. The way I've typically seen it unfold, if more people back the campaign, then the fancier the book-object becomes. I can see myself setting up the campaign to deliver softcover TPB-sized editions, adding "cloth binding" and "hardcover" as stretch goals. Additionally, a crowdfunding campaign might offer opportunities like ensuring the book is printed domestically, perhaps by someone like Hemlock who has a strong ecological ethos and the practices to back it up. Or perhaps I could collaborate with someone like Beehive Books, who make extremely beautiful book-objects.

It is still early days, but it's fun to dream, and (as mentioned way back at the start of this project) I want PRACTICAL DEFENCE to add up to a book-object that does justice not only to the pencil miles that have gone into it, but to the enthusiasm and generosity that you, Dear Reader, have given.

If you have any thoughts on this topic, please do not hesitate to share them.

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CHAPTER THREE PENCILS

As in the past, I apologize for the quality of these photos, but I "pencil" my pages using Col-Erase blue pencil, which—by design—does not photograph well. Still, I like sharing the drawings in progress. The rough stage is the best. Every drawing has so much potential now, before it all gets locked down by the ink. :)

^ This is actually half of a two-page spread I'm adding to Chapter Two. We see a flashback to the vibrancy and energy of Archipoli's Sea Festival. Story-wise, this contrasts with the glum quality of the town's current situation, but I was feeling like in its current state, Archipoli was looking sleepy, but still pretty and picturesque, and so feeling not as oppressed as I wanted. This colourful spread will illustrate the full potential offered by a healthy Archipoli. Plus, it's funny and it connects Alexandra's family more securely to the town, i.e. you don't just have to take my word for it. Plus plus, I want it in there in case it's useful as potential foreshadowing for a happy conclusion.

^ Sports! Illustrating that the midshipman (who is sulking on the sidelines) is separate from the rest of the Cordelia's officers. This will come into play (so to speak) later.

^ Gardening! Half of a two-page spread. Alexandra has pushed her mother away, and this spread shows us what it's doing to mom. I want to see this because 1) it's a somber complement to the previous (hopefully funny) sequence, 2) it's pretty and it's nice to spend time in the garden, 3) it shows Mom doing something kind for Alexandra, even though they're in conflict; i.e., she does care (in case it was in doubt), and 4) it puts more weight behind her reactions and behaviour in the coming pages.

And so I continue! By the time you're reading this I should be a quarter of the way through pencilling Chapter Three, with the goal of finishing before Christlemas.

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Take care of yourself and be lovely to everyone,

TC