INDIE COMIC TRACKER -- IT'S COOL SAYS DOCTOR WHO
For those of you who've been following my weekly independent comic book interviews, I would like you to know that my mate Marcelo has helped syndicate them within his brand new website. It's one cracking site, and I've even found some time to sit down and have a chat with him about it. Here. Check this out. Cause I'm sure you'd be happy with what Marcelo has got to say.
1) What are your own origins, Marcelo? Plus what path did you take in life prior to getting where you are today? Originally I'm from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I came to the states (United States, that is) when I was a wee lad (why do I sound Scottish all of a sudden?). Just 8 years old.
How old am I now? I’m old enough to remember watching the first season (yes, first season) of Saturday Night Live with Chevy Chase, Dan Akroyd, and John Belushi, live on TV! So, as you can tell, I’ve been here in the states for most of my life and I really consider myself more American than Argentinian, but I do speak, read, and write Spanish fluently.
I’m a non-conformist by nature, and realize that I don’t like working for other people. I don’t mind following rules at first, but ultimately (and always) I end up breaking them and making my own path. So I created multiple ventures in the past, such as: My Internet Desktop, Pixel Heads Network, and Filmmaking Webinars. I tried going back to work for others in between each of them, but I always ended up quitting and starting the next thing. Some would probably call me a PITA (my wife, my family, my friends, my co-workers), but I like to think of myself as a “non-conformist”.
I think it’s cooler.
How old am I now? I’m old enough to remember watching the first season (yes, first season) of Saturday Night Live with Chevy Chase, Dan Akroyd, and John Belushi, live on TV! So, as you can tell, I’ve been here in the states for most of my life and I really consider myself more American than Argentinian, but I do speak, read, and write Spanish fluently.
I’m a non-conformist by nature, and realize that I don’t like working for other people. I don’t mind following rules at first, but ultimately (and always) I end up breaking them and making my own path. So I created multiple ventures in the past, such as: My Internet Desktop, Pixel Heads Network, and Filmmaking Webinars. I tried going back to work for others in between each of them, but I always ended up quitting and starting the next thing. Some would probably call me a PITA (my wife, my family, my friends, my co-workers), but I like to think of myself as a “non-conformist”.
I think it’s cooler.
2) How did ‘Indie Comics Tracker’ come about? It’s ‘secret origin’ so to speak. It’s an interesting story which I will try to keep short. Here it goes. I started watching The Walking Dead TV show. I got hooked. Season 3 ended. I was like a drug addict. I needed my fix. I bought the Walking Dead comic book. I got hooked even more! I then realized comic books are really cool. Keeping in mind I never read a single comic book until The Walking Dead. I bought more comics to read. Y: The Last Man. Awesome. Revival. Great. My library of comics started growing and there was no real web site that let me track them the way I wanted to. Being a project manager and web developer by trade, I decided to create my own -- Ka-Bam! -- IndieComicsTracker.com was born! I then kept reading more comics, now focusing on the indie scene, which I think is totally cool . Then I decided to write my own comic with another writer and an illustrator!
Yeah! Crazy, I know. But I might as well try it! If you would have told me 2 years ago I would be doing this, I would have thought you were on drugs.
3) Has your site had any sort of acknowledgment in the press or related media? You mean besides my mom? Not yet because I just launched it last month. So I’m expecting the Wall Street Journal, The LA Times, and CNN, to contact me very soon… OR NOT. But I am getting great feedback from the users of my site, which is really what’s important for me. Plus I love supporting indie comic artists.
4) What song would you say best represents your site and why? 'Like A Virgin' by Madonna, because it all feels so new...
Yeah! Crazy, I know. But I might as well try it! If you would have told me 2 years ago I would be doing this, I would have thought you were on drugs.
3) Has your site had any sort of acknowledgment in the press or related media? You mean besides my mom? Not yet because I just launched it last month. So I’m expecting the Wall Street Journal, The LA Times, and CNN, to contact me very soon… OR NOT. But I am getting great feedback from the users of my site, which is really what’s important for me. Plus I love supporting indie comic artists.
4) What song would you say best represents your site and why? 'Like A Virgin' by Madonna, because it all feels so new...
5) If you could get a celebrity – either living or dead – to promote your wares, who would you choose, and why would you want to choose this particular person? Matt Smith, the 11th Doctor, because I’d love to hear him to say “IndieComicsTracker.com is cool”.
6) What have you learnt about yourself through this endeavour? And were their any unforeseen obstacles you had to contend with along the way? That I truly love comics. That I truly love working with indie artists (comic artists, filmmakers, graphic designers, developers, etc.) Because these are the people that don’t follow the norm. They do it their own way and that is super cool!
Whenever starting a new venture there are always many obstacles, many I knew about, like people telling me it’s a dumb idea or not to do it because it will never work. But one thing that surprised me and I had no idea this is how it worked when I first got in, is the control Diamond has over the distribution of comics in this industry. It seems almost like a monopoly. But with digital, I think that will change.
7) During your time in this field, what is the one thing that has kept you in good stead? Sticking with it, even when everyone tells me that I'm wrong or that it will never work. Attitude is the only thing I think that has helped me succeed in all my ventures. I definitely don’t have the smarts or the looks, so yeah, the 'can do attitude' it is!
6) What have you learnt about yourself through this endeavour? And were their any unforeseen obstacles you had to contend with along the way? That I truly love comics. That I truly love working with indie artists (comic artists, filmmakers, graphic designers, developers, etc.) Because these are the people that don’t follow the norm. They do it their own way and that is super cool!
Whenever starting a new venture there are always many obstacles, many I knew about, like people telling me it’s a dumb idea or not to do it because it will never work. But one thing that surprised me and I had no idea this is how it worked when I first got in, is the control Diamond has over the distribution of comics in this industry. It seems almost like a monopoly. But with digital, I think that will change.
7) During your time in this field, what is the one thing that has kept you in good stead? Sticking with it, even when everyone tells me that I'm wrong or that it will never work. Attitude is the only thing I think that has helped me succeed in all my ventures. I definitely don’t have the smarts or the looks, so yeah, the 'can do attitude' it is!
8) If ‘ICT’ had a motto, what would it be? "Yes we can!". Wait a minute! Wasn't that used by someone already? Ok, then let’s stick with “Read a comic today, be a better person tomorrow!”. I’m not good at mottos. Sorry.
Hey! No problem, Marcelo. I'm crap with mottos too. Yet that's not to say my readers shouldn't head on over to Indie Comics Tracker today. So go on. Click-click! And while you are at it, don't forget to follow this site on facebook and twitter.
Hey! No problem, Marcelo. I'm crap with mottos too. Yet that's not to say my readers shouldn't head on over to Indie Comics Tracker today. So go on. Click-click! And while you are at it, don't forget to follow this site on facebook and twitter.
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