PAGE 9: MY COMIC BOOK SERIES



I started my comic book series, back in 1994. The idea came to me while I was watching Season 2 of Power Rangers. It didn't really come to me, one day I just started drawing, and thought, go with it. I've been drawing my comics since then. Infact I didn't exactly had a solid name to call my team, but if I was to look back, I'd say stick with "Starfighters". Currently, I'm working on my 6th Season of the series, but with many badly ruined back copies of past seasons (mainly Season 1 and 2), I guess one would say I'm on my 4th Season, which either way is a big accomplishment. Normally, my year long seasons would consist of, atleast 12 issues from September to August (the following year). But last year that all kinda bombed out when I fell really behind big time, so I have decided each season will be 13 issues, since that's the avergae number of issues I make in a 12 month span (don't ask).

The name "Starfighters" came from, believe it or not, something I made up. The story is like this: "After the great defeat of Bowser Koopa, a new threat came down to the Mushroom Kingdom, that threat is known as Smithy, and his evil forces. Because of this, 7 powerful stars were sent through out the world, in different locations. Geno, the mighty guardian of the Star Road, which is a branch of the Star Kingdom, instructed the mighty team, to search for these stars, which will give them new powers to defeat Smithy. 6 stars were found, with 1 remaining, which is in Smithy's posession, but soon that was found as well. With the help of many friends, and powerful giant robots, will the 7 mighty fighters be able to stop Smithy?"

I had to think of some name to suit the team perfectly, and the name "Starfighters" just kept sticking out. So that's what I decided to call them, and therefore calling my series "The Adventure Of The Starfighters". Some people who look at this name, thinks it came from Star Wars, or some sci-fi series, which I can see how they make that mistake, but I assure you, my comic book series is not, by any means, in relation to anything else. Some people who I talk to, and discover I'm a Sailor Moon fan, thinks that my name is in relation to Sailor Star Fighter, which isn't true either. Actually I didn't know there was a Sailor Star Fighter, until a year later (I was heavy into the dubs at first). My Starfighters is my creation (sort of), I just like the name ^_^.

What really inspired my decision to make this, well, like I said, I started this while watching Power Rangers. At first my comic was just a spin off of Power Rangers, which I can openly admit to. For a small project, I made a second series, based on Luigi alone, but that lasted half a season. Then I started watching a series called Big Bad Beetleborgs, which gave the idea of a third series to make, but that lasted only 2 Seasons. Even though that series lasted a short time, the characters and story has merged over to my Starfighters series, but that team only makes very little appearances to help the Starfighters when they can. The story follows the same storyline that is in the game Super Mario RPG (for the Super Nintendo), mainly because I love that game, and the story line was just perfect. But then I kept the story and twisted it around some. For a time, I wanted to try to keep as close to the story as possible, but soon after I realized, that won't be easy, so I just did what I could to keep it going. The Starfighters powers were each harnessed into one set of powers for each fighter, which that idea came from watching Sailor Moon. They have a new robot to help them fight, which is where Power Rangers come from. There are other elements that I used in my comics, which is why this won't ever be published for any reasons. This comic is for my pure entertainment, and that of my friends or anyone who is interested in it.

Sometimes, I get heavy into my work, and actually get too carried away. I put down things I've experienced or seen, that I think would look good on paper. I'm gay, and I actually made one of the (male) Starfighters unexpectedly fall for another guy who was instantly attracted to him. This comic is not intended to steer towards the gay community, fact is, there is more straight couples than anything. This gay couple is and will be, the only one in the series. I will be bringing in other interesting plot twists to make it much more modern to today's lifestyles. There isn't any killing in this comic, well except some flashback scenes from Season 3, where some people were killed by a major bad guy. Aside from that, there won't be any killing (except destroying monsters of course). Sure there will be talk about being killed but that's it. I try to mix in a variety of different issues into the comics, to bring an interesting flare to it. But sometimes I get in over my head about it.

To make a comic book series can be hard and fun at the same time. I mean, you got to think up a continuous plot that you can get to keep going, that can stretch throughout the series, as well as a single issue plot for that issue. Plus the dialouge and fight scenes (in my case), and how will it all be done. But the rewarding part is, when you get your thoughts flow together and you know what you're doing, work with it and keep going. I admit to having writer's block to the fullest. That and being unmotivated is why Season 3 was complicated to do towards the end. I'm hoping that Season 4 and 5 will be much different. Never give up, if this is something you want to do for fun, go with it. When I draw, I don't do it for perfection, I do it for fun and entertainment, however I am told when I do draw for perfection, that I am quite good at it (it just comes natural ^_^).

Although I am currently working on Season 4, This is an Episode Guide, with future titles, up to Season 5:

Season 1 (1998-1999)
Season 2 (1999-2000)
Season 3 (2000-2002)
Season 4 (2002-2003)
Season 5 (2003-2004)
Season 6 (2004-2005)