Comic Book Release – “Derailed” Webcomic is in Print!
The comic book release of Derailed is finally here! I put many years and much heart into the making of Derailed. When I started reading comics as a teenager, I longed for the day when I could produce my own. I devoted countless time learning to draw, researching how comics are made, and working on improving my comic making skills. Derailed is my dream project, and I am so grateful to be able to make it. I have been waiting so long for this comic book release, and it is a surreal experience for me now that the book launch day is finally here.
I want to give a huge thank you to anybody who likes, shares, or even just reads the comic. Also, I want to say thanks for taking the time to follow the story, learn about the characters, and support my work.
Additionally, a big thank you Stephen McCranie. His comic, Space Boy, is my absolute favorite. I have been reading the weekly episode updates for almost six years now. Ever since it began, it inspired me to strive to become a comic artist as well.
About the Comic
Derailed is a combination of multiple genres. It contains a bit of comedy, adventure, romance, and mystery. The morals guiding the story are perseverance, self worth, family, and compassion.
The comic’s setting is the tiny, mountainous, wintery Seagate Village. Temperatures above freezing don’t exist in Seagate Village. But the main character, Toby, can’t leave until he builds a railroad connecting it to the outside world. The people in Seagate Village are not too friendly, nor is the weather.
The comic is a one-person project all created by me (Gabriella Balagna). I am the author, illustrator, publisher, etc. It began releasing online January 1st, 2020. A new page was released each week, so readers could get constant updates of the story.
The print edition of this comic makes a great gift for Christmas, birthdays, and other holidays. The story appeals to a wide audience, including preteens, teenagers, young adults, and seniors. The story revolves around a tragical event and has a couple perilous scenes, so it may not be the best fit for very young viewers.
Read the comic online or watch the trailer below to get a feel for the story.
Sample Pages from the Comic Book Release
Here is a scene from Derailed where the main character, Toby, is wanting to find out more about why the old train bridge collapsed in Seagate Village. However, none of the villagers are eager to help him out.
The Book Format
The book is a paperback with a glossy cover image that wraps around the binding. It contains 68 full color comic pages. The dimensions are 6.25 x 10 inches. This is a perfect size so that the text is good for reading, the book is comfortable to hold, and the comic panels are nice and big to enjoy.
Derailed is not part of a series, nor is it sold in multiple volumes. This means you get the full story, from start to finish, in the paperback book.
The Printer for the Comic Book Release
Derailed is self published online and also via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). The service prints the books on demand, or as people purchase copies. This means there is no need to order a huge print run all at once. Additionally, KDP ships the books straight from the factory to the customer, so authors do not have to ship the books themselves.
This service is great for small creators doing a comic book release because there is no huge upfront costs or having to ship orders all the time. However, most of the book costs go to printing, shipping, and Amazon royalties. Thus, authors can only generate a small profit.
How the Comic Was Made
The production of Derailed involves multiple stages:
The idea stage: developing the idea for the story, creating the idea for the man versus nature plot, deciding the protagonist will fight against the brutal conditions of a wintery village.
The scripting stage: rewriting the script, adding the train and architect aspects to the story, editing the script, beta-reading.
The concept art stage: creating character designs, drawing model sheets, developing concept art, drawing background designs, world-building.
The drawing stage: lettering, thumb-nailing, sketching, inking, color-flatting, shading, all mainly using an iPad Pro and the Procreate app.
The publishing stage: backing up files, uploading to multiple sites, setting up print files, publishing through Amazon, setting up the comic book release.
Will the Comic Still Be Online?
Derailed will continue to be on available to read online. No worries if you do not want to buy the book. You can still help support the comic by liking, commenting, and sharing about it online.
However, there is nothing like holding a physical book in your hand. Additionally, buying a hard copy of the comic helps support my future art projects, as I make a small royalty from book sales.
What Comes After the Comic Book Release?
I will continue honing my art skills and sharing drawings online. Also, I will work on learning how to make even better comics for you.
Going forward, I will continue working on my blog, which provides advice on comics and drawing in general. Making a comic is a huge learning experience, and I now have a huge wealth of information in my head about making comics. It is so hard to find good advice online about how to make a comic. That is why I will continue sharing everything I learn about making comics on this site.
If you want to be the first to hear about any new art projects I am taking on, you can join my blog mailing list.
How to Order/Read the Comic
To buy a physical copy of Derailed, check my store or click the button below. I am super thankful for any purchases of the comic, as it will help support my future art projects. I hope you thoroughly enjoy reading about Toby’s adventure in Seagate Village.
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