Finding success in a comics market packed to the brim with new voices and talents can be tough. When the Comixology Submit program launched, many thought that could be their platform to reach the masses. As with anything, some rise above others. With the release of the “Submit Bestsellers List“, it was made known that while Gail Simone was #1 with “Leaving Megalopolis”, there were plenty of indie creators working their way onto the list. One such creator is Quinton Miles, who, along with artist Andres Quezada, managed to land his book “Template: The Complete First Season” at #19 on the list.
With that announcement fresh, Quinton has wasted no time in furthering “Template” and his own brand of comics, with a “Template” one-shot releasing today to bridge the gap between Seasons 1 and 2. “Template” is unique in being a Guided View Native comic, much like Thrillbent comics. Even without the name recognition and probably less resources, Quinton and the rest at QAM Comics are making Guided View comics every bit as slick and good as the big boys, but doing it their way.
Read on as we chat with Quinton about “Template: After Vega”, the Submit Bestsellers list, working in Guided View, and much more. Be sure to give “Template” a look on Comixology, with the first issue even being free.
You released the first volume of “Template” piece by piece through Comixology Submit, eventually collecting it all in a trade. After some time away, you’re releasing a sort of epilogue piece to the first volume, “Template: After Vega”. Tell us a little more about that.
Quinton Miles: No “sort of” about it. This is an epilogue issue that takes place immediately after the events of “Template” #8. The working title for most of the production was “Template #8.5”, but “After Vega” sounded cooler to me so I made the switch. That’s pretty much how I come up with stuff in general, too.
I also wanted to do a “one-off” issue of the series without Beta, the series protagonist, to see if it would work much like how the first season is done without Ina Britt (the human Oversight agent Beta is based off of). I think it came out pretty well, as the issue features all of the series’s supporting characters, as well as some new ones.
“Template: The Complete First Season” was recently included in the Comixology Submit Bestsellers List, landing at #19 on the list. What do you think contributes to that success?
QM: I wish there as a specific reason for it that I could attribute. But in general, I think folks like what Andres, Nathan, MaGnUs and I put out there. This was the book we wanted to do, exactly how we wanted to do it, and Comixology Submit gave us the platform to put it out there for the world to see. I’ll always be appreciative of that. Their motto is “Find Your Audience” and that’s exactly what’s been happening for us the last two years to great effect.
Most don’t know it, but this was also our second year making the best-sellers list. Comixology’s SXSW promotion last year was for 2013’s top Submit titles. Template #1 landed at #6 there after being on sale three months and it was even in the Top 100 for a little bit. So the fact that the collection was able to make the list the next year on its own was awesome for us since it meant a whole new group of people were finding out about the book.
One thing that I’ve always loved about “Template” is how you and your fellow creators on the book, none of you a “name” talent, are doing guided view comics every bit as good or better as they’re doing at Thrillbent or similar ventures with more resources. What about the format initially appealed to you?
QM: The fact that there weren’t (and still aren’t) a lot of people doing books in Guided View Native gave us an immediate opportunity to stand out among the vast amount of Submit titles. So when Comixology contacted us about doing the book that way, I was initially looking at it from a pure competitive standpoint.
Continued belowAs I’ve gone on to do more books in the format, though, I definitely think it compliments my writing style fairly well which helps a lot. The first season of Template was retrofitted for GVN, but people who have read my other books have seen us taking advantage of the format more and more as we get used to it. Expect that to continue.
With “After Vega”, you’re digging in a little more to the loose threads left after the first season of “Template”. What can readers of the first season of “Template” look forward to? And do you think those who previously haven’t read it can jump into it?
QM: “After Vega” was made specifically for the folks who read the first season , so it’s definitely not the best place for new readers to start. If you have read the first season, expect answers to some of the questions you may have had, closure for certain characters, and a glimpse of what’s to come!
With “After Vega” acting as a bridge between Season 1 and Season 2 of “Template”, what can you tell readers about Season 2?
QM: Not too much at the moment, other than I’m still ironing out the plot and am excited as hell about it. Early in Season 1, Beta says “Everything I do is a test”, and this will hopefully be a bigger, better extension of that. At its core, this series has always been about her personal growth and development as a soldier. The Season 2 story does both and raises the stakes for everybody.
You talk about not many people embracing the guided view native format for digital comics. Why do you think that might be? What do you think some advantages of the format are?
QM: I think it mainly boils down to personal preference (aka the “I need to feel the paper in my hands!” argument) and/or having an eye towards print. Whether that’s going after a publisher, self-publishing through Kickstarter, etc. No one side’s right or wrong and it’s always great to give readers the option.
Me, personally? As far as digital comics go, I think GVN’s the absolute best way to tell a story in the format due to being able to pace it however you want. I have no idea whether my stuff will see mass print one day through a publisher, but I’m doing a disservice to the people buying it now if I’m not doing all I can to cater to them. I can’t, and don’t factor in the hopes of a publisher maybe/possibly checking it out and wanting to do something with it one day.
I’ve made this comparison before, but print and digital are like multiplatform game consoles to me. If a company makes a game for PS3 and PS4, most are inclined to get it on PS3 since they probably already have it and are used to it. It’s a slightly weaker version, but it’s still the same game. If you make it just for PS4 , take advantage of what that platform has to offer and tell folks it’s never coming to PS3, hopefully they recognize the improvements enough to want to get a PS4. This answer is brought to you by PlayStation (TM): Greatness Awaits! (TM)
But seriously, that’s my mindset as far as my QAM Comics go. If we educate people that we’re a digitial first imprint and we design our books that way, hopefully they’ll want to get that version first. If a print version comes along one day, great, but it definitely won’t be the same. And it’ll probably cost more.
With “Template” on the bestsellers list and another couple books already published, what’s next for you and QAM Comics?
Other than “Template”, my next big QAM Comics project for 2015 is “The Round” with artist Davide Pandozy. The series is a modern fantasy book inspired by stuff like “Kings” and “Zero Dark Thirty” and centers on an elite Camelot task force that only answers to King Arthur. We released a zero issue for that last July and the reception was great, so we’re doing the full story. It’s looking to be a good year!
