Trying out cover ideas

Post by **rickgriffin** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:25 am

For Housepets! Are Naked All The Time which is still a tentative title, I sketched out some ideas for the cover. Some of these are PROBABLY too naughty (all of them)

mariomarc · Post by **mariomarc** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:27 am

the first one is kind of interesting
the second is quite clever and funny
and i'm not sure if i no whats happening in the third one

valerio · Post by **valerio** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:30 am

the first picture is OK for a cover, IMO.
The Second...yes, a tad naughty for a PG rated book.
The Third...I'd keep it for a second choice.

But all of them are soooooo funny and Innocent!

*saves money for book*

Post by **Sleet** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:30 am

The second one just seems a bit inappropriate (even if it isn't), particularly if you aren't familiar with the joke. I love the third one, but it seems a bit too busy if you ask me. That leaves the first one as my vote for which would make the best cover of the three.

Mariomarc, Peanut took a picture of Grape being given a bath and she is not exactly happy about it.

Teh Brawler wrote:Way to ninja me Sleet

Just one of my many ninja powers. Another is quoting from the future.

Teh Brawler · Post by **Teh Brawler** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:31 am

mariomarc wrote:the first one is kind of interesting
the second is quite clever and funny
and i'm not sure if i no whats happening in the third one

Peanut is getting whacked for taking a picture of Grape as she's getting a bath :3

I personally like the first out of the three, though I think you should come up with some more.

Way to ninja me Sleet

Typhon · Post by **Typhon** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:32 am

Lol, the first one is awesome :3

mariomarc · Post by **mariomarc** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:35 am

oh so that's what was going on

i think they are all pretty good IMO.

Post by **Sleet** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:44 am

Wait a minute. If we were to hypothetically see this as a standalone book and not an anthology for already-fans, wouldn't the first cover give away the fact that Grape's a girl, which wasn't known at the start?

valerio · Post by **valerio** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:45 am

OK, let's go poll on this!

Post by **rickgriffin** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:47 am

Sleet wrote:Wait a minute. If we were to hypothetically see this as a standalone book and not an anthology for already-fans, wouldn't the first cover give away the fact that Grape's a girl, which wasn't known at the start?

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... valSpoiler

Post by **Sleet** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:49 am

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... sOwnPetard

Teh Brawler · Post by **Teh Brawler** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:50 am

rickgriffin wrote:
Sleet wrote:Wait a minute. If we were to hypothetically see this as a standalone book and not an anthology for already-fans, wouldn't the first cover give away the fact that Grape's a girl, which wasn't known at the start?
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... valSpoiler

Though this is all just tentative, right? Besides, there's no real reason to not think Grape is a girl, so that cover wouldn't be a huge disappointment.

Teh Brawler · Post by **Teh Brawler** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:53 am

Sleet wrote:http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... sOwnPetard

I fail to see the application here. ._.

Post by **Sleet** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:55 am

Teh Brawler wrote:
Sleet wrote:http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... sOwnPetard
I fail to see the application here. ._.

I had a question that was easily explained with a TV Tropes link.

I had a question that was easily explained with a TV Tropes link.

Teh Brawler · Post by **Teh Brawler** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:58 am

Sleet wrote:
Teh Brawler wrote:
Sleet wrote:http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... sOwnPetard
I fail to see the application here. ._.
I had a question that was easily explained with a TV Tropes link.

I had a question that was easily explained with a TV Tropes link.

dot dot dotnope not following your train of thought.

Post by **Sleet** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:01 am

I'm usually the one who is throwing trope mastery around and then my own comment was invalidated by that very website.

Teh Brawler · Post by **Teh Brawler** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:01 am

Sleet wrote:I'm usually the one who is throwing trope mastery around and then my own comment was invalidated by that very website.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Right, carry on then.

ctcmjh · Post by **ctcmjh** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:22 am

I honestly love the first one the best! But the second and third ones tie in a very close second. I also like the title for the book. As soon as the book becomes available, I'm ordering a copy!

ChewyChewy · Post by **ChewyChewy** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:28 am

What? I wear my towels the way Grape does, and I'm a guy. (Well, not the head towel, I never wear one of those.) I like that first one the most but it's a spoiler.

The second one is probably the best, although I don't really like the "blurriness"....

Sinder · Post by **Sinder** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:39 am

Of these choices, Towels <3 are the best. Here's why:

1. This is a fairly worksafe cover, which will make it more attractive to publishers and to any store that wants to carry it. Pets also don't usually wear towels, which makes it funny.
2. The "collars" gag is both more risque and comes into play rather late in the strip--so late, in fact, that it's not actually part of the first year (Housepets begins June 2; collar gag and "only now do I feel naked" doesn't happen until June 15 of the next year, meaning that it might not actually make it into the book), so this would be kind of an awkward choice.
3. Pillo fight seems like a very busy cover, plus it doesn't make a whole lot of sense within the context of the comic; since they're forever naked anyway, what would Grape even care if Peanut snapped a picture of her bathing? Especially when they go to the pool together?

valerio · Post by **valerio** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:43 am

THIS.

Post by **rickgriffin** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:47 am

Third one doesn't quite mesh with the title as it has to do with Grape being embarrassed on the level of bath more than the level of naked. Yes they go to the pool together but I sort of think that Grape prefers to lay on those plastic lounge chairs and nap.

GameCobra · Post by **GameCobra** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:52 am

I think your first choice is indeed your best option too from a cover point's view. Giving the idea of Pets wearing towels would give the readers i say more of a brain-turning question than anything when they pick up a book called "Housepets".

On a personal note, I honestly would go with option three moreso on the back of the book, if that's possible. That actually seems much more appropriate from the way i looked at if you were to add a description on the back and contain the silliness of a normal pet bath (cats!). Just in between the pillow scene and the actual picture >.>

Tiggy · Post by **Tiggy** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 3:23 am

Loved the first one ^_^

Shyanne · Post by **Shyanne** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 5:31 am

I vote for the second one. The other two are a smidgen too naughty for a PG comic. Sexual Innuendo!

XD

FlintTheSquirrel · Post by **FlintTheSquirrel** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 6:21 am

Shyanne wrote:I vote for the second one. The other two are a smidgen too naughty for a PG comic. Sexual Innuendo! XD

Ironically, I think near everyone else thinks otherwise, at least with the censorship effect on the neck it hints toward it.
Anyways, I am also going to pick the first.

Aquablast · Post by **Aquablast** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 6:26 am

I like all three of them! But... I am not very comfortable with having nakedness as the theme/cover of your first book.

I know cartoon characters are usually naked anyway, those covers shouldn't offend anyone. However, I still think nakedness can trigger naughty/bad thoughts and can potentially cause the new reader to question it's content. Considering how overprotective some parents are, this could turn them away as well.

Besides all three of them are inside jokes, the new readers probably won't get it. Unless they are good at deducting things. It is a disadvantage if the readers don't know your comic is funny, or if the readers think that this comic is about inside jokes.

Basically you are selling the book with only:
- The cuteness of the character (they are really adorable though!)
- The curiosity/imagination of the reader

With a potential downside that could turn some readers away.

I personally think you should try a more common theme/cover with a joke most people can get.

In that way you will be selling the book with:
- The cuteness of the character
- The potential curiosity/imagination of the reader (it may or may not make the reader curious)
- A funny joke that even a new reader can get
- The potential friendliness of the cover (it may or may not have a friendly feeling)

Without anything that could turn potential readers away.

Besides, to me Housepets is about the colorful and cute characters, as well as funny jokes and stuff that happens in daily life. I think there must be something that can represent comic even better.

But if you absolutely have to use this theme, then I say I agree with GameCobra's idea. I find the third picture to be a good back cover. Since I think the third picture works well as an explanation of what Housepets is about, that should give the reader an idea about the comic.

sliceofdog · Post by **sliceofdog** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 7:39 am

FlintTheSquirrel wrote:
Shyanne wrote:I vote for the second one. The other two are a smidgen too naughty for a PG comic. Sexual Innuendo! XD
Ironically, I think near everyone else thinks otherwise, at least with the censorship effect on the neck it hints toward it.
Anyways, I am also going to pick the first.

I'm amazed at how many people think the second is too risqué. Personally the first and third are the ones that I think are more un-PG.

The second, as it is now (That is to say, with the censorship blur), is imo the funniest, least offensive and in-keeping with the comic's general tone. The other two are ok, but the second is the one that would attract my attention the most if I saw it in a shop.

EchoFireant · Post by **EchoFireant** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:00 am

1st cover looks cute. And pets using towels to take a bath? Awesome!

Andrea · Post by **Andrea** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:09 am

IMHO all the 3 of them are very good, but if I have to choose I choose the First! I think the censoring blur is too much an innuendo

Kazuo1G · Post by **Kazuo1G** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:12 am

The first I like. I can imagine Grape saying "You know, we don't need to wear these towels like this."
The second, nice joke, but I agree with it being a little too naughty.
The third one was too hard to make out at first.

So, the only one I like best is the first one.

Post by **Sleet** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:14 am

Another note about the third one is that it doesn't show Grape as what she usually looks like. It seems like it would make a better back cover or something, as someone here said.

KEVON · Post by **KEVON** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 10:12 am

Well if the final title is going to be what it is now, then the 2nd one (with mosaic) will be perfect! I am also a fan of the towels....

Two_Twig · Post by **Two_Twig** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:04 am

As much I love all of them (although Peanut seems a little too happy in the second one) I have to agree with the majority that the first one seems like the better choice.

Kyderra · Post by **Kyderra** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:23 am

Agreeing with most comments.
The first one seems the best choice to me

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:07 pm

I love all of them, they're awesome, but the first one is the best IMO.

Foxstar · Post by **Foxstar** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:43 pm

The first.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:54 pm

Mrs. Sandwich is still bathing Grape? How can that be, she's old enough to take a bath herself... I think...

FlintTheSquirrel · Post by **FlintTheSquirrel** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:56 pm

Ok, well I feel like being a bit more specific this time in my reason for the first. For the first, they looked more natural and like themselves.
In the second, peanut looks a bit over enthusiastic and it looks a lot like the "Lol Face". The censorship was also a bit suggestive.
The third, I do not see as being suggestive like most others say it is. It looks more like a embarrassing photo. My only problem with it was that the blush effect on Grape in the picture made it look like she had a beard.

valerio · Post by **valerio** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:57 pm

Perhaps Grape still likes the physical contact, like a regular pet does, and what better occasion than bath day for a good, loving rubbing?

Of these, the best for a first year book cover? (select as many as you like)