Welcome to the FAQ-section of GCJ.
Here you will quickly be able to find the answer to any question you may have about GCJ, and if you are still at a loss, don't hesitate to contact your friendly administrator ... he's just waiting to hear from you! :-)
What is a comicjam?
Basically a comicjam is a comic done by multiple artists, often without a script to work from. One artist does the first page, and then another artist continues on page two, doing his (or hers) best job to make a coherent story. Then a third and fourth and a fifth artist takes over, and it continues untill a natual ending has been drawn.
What is globalcomicjam.com?
Global ComicJam (GCJ) is an entire site dedicated to online multiartist web-comic-jams!
The comicjams are open for artists from all over the world - we invite and encurage everyone
to participate in the continuum of the comics on this site, and help it grow bigger and stronger.
Is there a deadline?
YES!!! And a very strick on too!!! When it's your turn to jam, you will recieve an automated message from GCJ, telling you that now it's your turn. At the moment that message is sent out, you have 10 days to complete your page, and upload it to the site. If you fail to do so, we have to move on without you - we have learned from bitter experience that this is the only way to do it. If you internet connection or scanner fails ... though luck, we have to keep the ship going. And remember you can always sign up for a new page!
So... I can do whatever I want to...?
Well... no, you can not do whatever you like. There are some strick rules that has to be followed to ensure that the jams don't blow up in our faces, and end up being utterly rediculous. The main rules, unless stated otherwise by the creater, are as follows:
1: Don't jump in time.
2: Don't jump in space/dimensions.
3: The first panel on a new page, has to be a direct continuation of the previous page.
4: Don't "drop a bomb". You can only hint at "a bomb". If you DO drop a bomb, it HAS to have been hinted at on a previous page.
5: Whatever you do, make sure you do your best at continuing faithfully from the previous pages.
If you don't follow these simple rules, your page WILL be discualified! So pay attention to them, otherwise all your hard work will have been for nothing! The administrators of GCJ have the right to turn down pages from anyone who don't follow the rules. If you are uncertain about the rules, and what you can and can't do, just drop the administartors a line, and we'll reply asap. Or better yet, visit the forum!
I wanna do a page!
Excellent! If you are a veteran of GCJ you'll already know how to do this: Go to the story you'd like to contribute to, and hit the "SIGN UP NOW"-button ...
If you are new to GCJ, you will first have to prove your worth. Don't worry - it'll be fun, and you'll be thrown right into all the cool stuff imediately. We have a "ChaosJam" here, which is the only comicjam you don't have to sign up for, to participate in. The main principal of a ChaosJam, is that you can take any page created for it, and make your own continuation of it. What you have to do to "prove your worth" as a comicjammer, is simply to make a page for the ChaosJam! Read more about the ChaosJam below.
Can I start a comicjam on your site?
You sure can. We have initiate a program called MyJam, which is your very own comicjam on GCJ. You can get one in one of two ways; either you earn it, by having contributed to other jams with at least 15 pages, or you buy one for 15$. A part from the MyJams we regualy hold different kinds of contest, like the yearly create-a-jam, where anyone can enter, and we vote for the best.
Do you have a script I should work from?
No - most of our comicjams are totally without a script. It's up to you to figure out what happens. But we actually DO have some comicjams that have a script, we have cleverly called those ScriptJams. ;-) If you are uncertain which is which, ask.
Do I have to do it in black and white or color?
Unless otherwise is stated by the creater of the jam, you can make it any way you like.
Can I turn in a penciled page?
No, the page HAS to be inked, or another method of finish. Penciled pages looks
sketchy and unfinished!!! -Absolutly no pencil!
I did a page... how do you want it?
When you have finished your page, you have to upload it to the site yourself. Don't worry - it's real simple. Just click the "upload picture" in the menubox on your right side of the screen. Then a guide will follow you through. The image you upload must be at least 650 pixel wide - jpg or gif is up to you, just try to keep the size below 150 kb.
The special comicjams we play around with on GCJ:
What's that thing called "ChaosJam"?
The "ChaosJam" is a totally open comicjam where YOU decide exactly
what page you would like to do. You can pick any of the online pages in the
storyline and continue that one. This way the story will expand in a tree-like
fasion, with a single starting point, and the possibility of an infinate number
of endings. In this jam you don't even have to sign up ... you just do the page
you like, and send it over! The ChasoJam is also the stratingpoint for new wannabe comicjammers, where thay have to "prove their worth" by making a page here, before being allowed to sign up for the other jams.
What's that thing called "MicroJam"?
The "MicroJam" is a small and fastpaced comicjam, where each artist
signes up to do a single panel at a time - and when you only have to do a single
panel, you only only get 3 days to complete the task!
What's that thing called "BackJam"?
The "BackJam" is a special way of doing a comic, where you start from
the back, and work yourself towards the beginning of the story! So the first
page to be drawn is actually the last page of the comic to be read, the one that ends with
"The End" - and the last page drawn is actually the very first one to be read! Confused? No need - it simply means we do it backwards.
What's that thing called "DeathMatch"?
The "deathmatch" is an opportunity for two artists to work together
to create their own comicjam. The same rules as above apply here
... only difference is that noone can join in. It's just for the two. Romantic,
huh? :)
What's that thing called "ScriptJam"?
The "ScriptJam" is a little different from the other jams, in where
here you actually have a prewritten script to work from. A writer has written
a comicscript, usually for 10 comicpages, and then a different artist does each
page - ie 10 pages = 10 artists!
Send us a message >>here<<, and I'll reply asap!