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Category: News


Sketching Out Specimen13 in Sound and Pictures

Filed Under: News, S13 Music, Visuals by denis — Leave a comment
April 30, 2013

You know what they say about Fast, Cheap and Great? That you can only pick two. You’ve guessed it, as independents, we don’t have any money and since we want to create something great, it won’t be as fast as we’d hope.

The plan was to take on another comic book series, but I’ve come to the conclusion that, although it would make my finances better, it would probably stop the S13 project dead in its tracks. “Qui ne risque rien, n’a rien” as we say in french. As an aside, when I tried to find an english equivalent to this saying (and saw that it’s “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”. D’oh, I knew that), I stumbled upon that quote:

“The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.”
Leo F. Buscaglia

Sounds good, although it doesn’t prevent many sleepless nights. In short, the plan is to try to pace ourselves in our risk taking.

So let’s talk about what going on right now. On the music front, we’re in the midst of discussions with Markus Reuter and Adrian Benavides. The plans are taking shape for another round of recordings and it looks like July is the time where the stars will align themselves. We’ll get a nice studio tan again this summer.

As for the visuals, they are also being created at a slow pace, but it’s on purpose. This project is strange and unusual and the result must reflect that. To that end, I must start from scratch and not rely on old tricks. Not easy.

Here are a few sketches. More will follow, but in the meantime, see the IMAGES page for more of the work-in-progress that is the S13 graphic novel.

 

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Specimen13 – S13 Graphic Novel layout research © Denis Rodier

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Specimen13 – S13 Graphic Novel layout research © Denis Rodier

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Specimen13 – S13 Graphic Novel character design © Denis Rodier

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Specimen13 – S13 Graphic Novel layout research © Denis Rodier

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Specimen13 – S13 Graphic Novel character design © Denis Rodier

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Specimen13 – S13 Graphic Novel character design © Denis Rodier

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Specimen13 in Full Metal Jacket

Filed Under: News, Visuals by denis — Leave a comment
February 26, 2013

Now, Specimen13 really starts the year with a bang.

After so many eventful weeks and some nice reviews of the Echosystem EP (HERE’s one in german), it’s now time to tell you about the first Specimen13 Metal Box. It has been available for a little while now, but we never got around talking about it in this blog.

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Metal Box, numbered from 1-50

The Echosystem Special Edition Metal Box package features:

- Signed (by both Mart & Denis) copy of the ECHOSYSTEM CD in a special Metal Box
- A signed, limited edition mini print of an illustration by Denis done exclusively for this release
- A newly designed insert with new artwork
- A special download code for an exclusive demo track not found on the CD
- All this limited to 50 numbered copies 

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Metal Box Prototype

It can be ordered exclusively from the Specimen13 shop where you’ll find more details about this very limited offer.

IN OTHER NEWS

As I have said in an earlier post, I’m hard at work on the Specimen13 graphic novel; the scenario taking most of my time these days. That’s the reason you don’t see that many sketches and drawings on this blog so far (HERE are a few). The final look has yet to be defined and not many sketches are worthy of being posted in my opinion.

Here’s one anyway.

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S13 Comics Sketch

On another front, I’m having discussions with people about ways to make a video adaptation. That’s one reason why properly defining the style is so important; it has to stay coherent and its different adaptations have to be produced at reasonable cost. We are independents after all (i.e., funds are close to non-existent!).

Our independence from labels is what makes it possible to offer special releases such as the Metal Box, but it also explains why the pace is so slow. Not having the staff from a label to help us promote the CD and set up different deals for merchandize, web and distribution means we have to put the time and effort ourselves. Everything has to be put together from the ground up.

It also means we can’t rely on advance funds that would help us put together a release simultaneously spread on different media fronts. My regular comic book work is financing the whole of the S13 project, but I have to focus on things piecemeal. If eventually one aspect of the project becomes profitable (one can dream), we hope to have it pull the rest along with it. Like a caterpillar walking.

We hope you’ll stick around.

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Specimen13 in 2013

Filed Under: News, S13 Friends, S13 Music, Site News, Video, Visuals by denis — Leave a comment
February 11, 2013

S13 in 2013. Call it a numerology woo thing, but I like the sound of it.

Barely stepping into the new year and already, the pace is picking up. Our music has been broadcast quite a few times, most notably on german radio station AFK Max which reviewed a pre-release of the CD and gave it 12/15; it was also featured in the Progopolis Best of 2012 episode of the podcast and Prog-Sphere is including our track Icarus in their Progstravaganza 12 compilation.

The CD is now being offered in many, many outlets. Even Trey Gunn’s own 7d Media Digital Store added it to its catalogue (funny, my artwork is featured on three other releases in there).

But what’s next, might you ask?

Here’s an overview of the project with a few hints about what we are planning for the future.

In short, we are already working on the music to follow up Echosystem and the only problem might be to choose what track NOT to use.

On the visual side, I just finished my comics series L’Apogée des Dragons for Delcourt / Soleil Editions and I’m getting ready to start on the Specimen13 graphic novel project (you can see some artwork here). Of course, the rest of S13 still needs money to run, so I’ll need to take on another series (I’ve yet to settle on the three possible projects being offered), but at least the Specimen13 graphic novel will definitely see the light of day. We’re looking into a couple of exciting avenues for its publication; besides the obvious paper / hard copy edition, we’re thinking of doing a serialization on the web. People will be able to see the story unfold right here as it’s being created.

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L’Apogee des Dragons – Book 2

We also want to animate the artwork into videos where the music and art will mesh together, giving the full experience. The way S13 is supposed to be.

These are exciting times for us as the project is gathering momentum. We sincerely hope you’ll be there with us.

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