I've been writing both novels and comics for some time now. I am in love with both mediums. A novel, or at least a good one, sucks you right into it's world. When I read the Dresden Files I can almost picture myself staring down Red Court vampires for instance. A comic can tell the same story, only both visually and with text. I love dynamic action scenes, cheesy sound effects (woo woo woo) (KaBLAM) and in really well drawn series the raw emotion on the characters faces.

So when I start a new project I am all ways grappelling with this question: "Would this make a better comic than it would a novel?" "Would this make a better novel than it would a comic?"

For one thing recognition in comics comes much easier than it does writing novels imo. Wizard Magazine is dedicated to comic books, and even underground series that show promise (30 Days of Night) are featured and stronglly recommended. Comic creatures, depending on their publisher, retain all rights to their work and a healthy chunk of the profits. Comic books spawn major motion pictures, action figures, t shirts and whole host of merchandise.

But there is just something about the power of a good novel at the same time.

So, with my current project I'm debating a switch in medium, and I can't decide. Although one major draw back is my lack of artistic ability which means I have to depend on some one else for most of the work.

What I really hate is when I find something I thought of was also thought of by some one else, and published. 

I'm presentlly working on a science fiction novel and I LOVE sci fi movies, books, games ect. Only now I'm affraid to watch any of it for fear of being influenced. Do you guys have that fear?

Like I think if I watch City on the Edge of Forever from Start Trek TOS something will some how bleed over into my work. Not even any thing overt, but something.

It's kind of an issue of them not turning over an established character to an unknown writer unfortunantlly. Maybe the rules for ultimate are different since they're non continuitty. I dunno.

Like a movie script, but a little more structured. There are some wierd rules I won't go into atm cause it's 745 in the morning, I'm still up and I can't remember em. The best resource I've seen for this was "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Graphic Novels" or something along those lines. Great sample scripts with a clear explanation of the rules, ways to demonstrate page lay out ect.

And as far as I know it's pretty hard to break into comics like that as an unknown. The best route seems to be publish something else in comic form. Any thing really, that will get you noticed. Failling that hound Marvel editors at conventions with a good portfolio.

What's the voice of your narrator like? Is he an every man/ smart ass like Harry or more stoic and serious. For instance if you want to describe being placed in a hammer lock (wang chung in martail arts? i dunno) you could say something like "He did that damn wrestler move where he made my wrist touch my shoulder blade. Looks like it hurts on tv right? Guess what it does. And silly me I didn't know the counter for it."

I dunno that's just what popped into my head. Feel free to steal it or completelly disregard it.

One could be a neat freak and the other could be a slob. That's good for some irritation.

Didn't Baal eat children? Meh probablly doesn't have the right ring to it.

Something like Abdisur, or Barradus  maybe?