Trying out cover ideas

Discuss the comic here

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

Towels <3
46
46%
Neck Nakers!
24
24%
Nakers without the mosaic
14
14%
PILLO ATTACK
17
17%
 
Total votes: 101

User avatar
rickgriffin
Site Admin
Posts: 1907
Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:36 pm
Location: Greetings from beautiful Place!
Contact:

Trying out cover ideas

Post by rickgriffin »

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)

Image
Image
Image
I'm sure the cold hand of science will be able to overcome his magical powers
mariomarc
Posts: 1725
Joined: Sat Sep 04, 2010 8:18 pm
Location: Ponyville
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by mariomarc »

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
User avatar
valerio
Posts: 19330
Joined: Mon May 25, 2009 6:53 am
Location: Italy
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by valerio »

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! :D :D :D :D
*saves money for book*
Image
User avatar
Sleet
Bringing Foxy Back
Posts: 17291
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 am
Location: Nephelokokkygia
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Sleet »

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.
Last edited by Sleet on Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:32 am, edited 2 times in total.
Image
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Friendly banter? Feel free to click the "PM" button below!
User avatar
Teh Brawler
Posts: 5133
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 1:26 pm
Location: Someplace with Internet access
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Teh Brawler »

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
DOH HO HO WELL THEN
User avatar
Typhon
Posts: 1008
Joined: Sat May 08, 2010 1:16 am
Location: In my house. Reading housepets. And organic chemistry.

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Typhon »

Lol, the first one is awesome :3
mariomarc
Posts: 1725
Joined: Sat Sep 04, 2010 8:18 pm
Location: Ponyville
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by mariomarc »

oh so that's what was going on

i think they are all pretty good IMO.
User avatar
Sleet
Bringing Foxy Back
Posts: 17291
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 am
Location: Nephelokokkygia
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Sleet »

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?
Image
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Friendly banter? Feel free to click the "PM" button below!
User avatar
valerio
Posts: 19330
Joined: Mon May 25, 2009 6:53 am
Location: Italy
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by valerio »

OK, let's go poll on this! :D
Image
User avatar
rickgriffin
Site Admin
Posts: 1907
Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:36 pm
Location: Greetings from beautiful Place!
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by rickgriffin »

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
I'm sure the cold hand of science will be able to overcome his magical powers
User avatar
Sleet
Bringing Foxy Back
Posts: 17291
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 am
Location: Nephelokokkygia
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Sleet »

Image
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Friendly banter? Feel free to click the "PM" button below!
User avatar
Teh Brawler
Posts: 5133
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 1:26 pm
Location: Someplace with Internet access
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Teh Brawler »

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.
DOH HO HO WELL THEN
User avatar
Teh Brawler
Posts: 5133
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 1:26 pm
Location: Someplace with Internet access
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Teh Brawler »

I fail to see the application here. ._.
DOH HO HO WELL THEN
User avatar
Sleet
Bringing Foxy Back
Posts: 17291
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 am
Location: Nephelokokkygia
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Sleet »

Teh Brawler wrote:
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.
Image
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Friendly banter? Feel free to click the "PM" button below!
User avatar
Teh Brawler
Posts: 5133
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 1:26 pm
Location: Someplace with Internet access
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Teh Brawler »

Sleet wrote:
Teh Brawler wrote:
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.
DOH HO HO WELL THEN
User avatar
Sleet
Bringing Foxy Back
Posts: 17291
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 am
Location: Nephelokokkygia
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Sleet »

I'm usually the one who is throwing trope mastery around and then my own comment was invalidated by that very website.
Image
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Friendly banter? Feel free to click the "PM" button below!
User avatar
Teh Brawler
Posts: 5133
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 1:26 pm
Location: Someplace with Internet access
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Teh Brawler »

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.
DOH HO HO WELL THEN
ctcmjh

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by ctcmjh »

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!
User avatar
ChewyChewy
Posts: 5460
Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2010 3:23 pm

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by ChewyChewy »

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. :P The second one is probably the best, although I don't really like the "blurriness"....
Image
PF chars

"We have to do this take again! HAL, do it with a LOT less emotion!"
"I'm sorry Stan, I'm afraid I can't do that."
--Phoenix

pair-o-dimes dot blogspot dot com
User avatar
Sinder
Posts: 1737
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:48 pm
Location: The Internet
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Sinder »

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?
ImageImage
ImageImage
User avatar
valerio
Posts: 19330
Joined: Mon May 25, 2009 6:53 am
Location: Italy
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by valerio »

THIS.
Image
User avatar
rickgriffin
Site Admin
Posts: 1907
Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:36 pm
Location: Greetings from beautiful Place!
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by rickgriffin »

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.
I'm sure the cold hand of science will be able to overcome his magical powers
User avatar
GameCobra
Posts: 7243
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:27 am
Location: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by GameCobra »

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 >.>
3 words - Liquid Metal Fur
Image
User avatar
Tiggy
Posts: 3916
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 2:38 am
Location: Sweeeden :3

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Tiggy »

Loved the first one ^_^
Jason Mraz wrote: My goal is to show everyone that they, too, can do what they love to do.
Daggy wrote: Look a shadowpriest, what a cutie.... POW
User avatar
Shyanne
Posts: 719
Joined: Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:48 pm
Location: Western New York
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Shyanne »

I vote for the second one. The other two are a smidgen too naughty for a PG comic. Sexual Innuendo! :o XD
Image
Image
User avatar
FlintTheSquirrel
Posts: 2374
Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 6:30 pm
Location: Sweden/North Carolina

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by FlintTheSquirrel »

Shyanne wrote:I vote for the second one. The other two are a smidgen too naughty for a PG comic. Sexual Innuendo! :o 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.
User avatar
Aquablast
Posts: 1998
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 7:08 am
Location: Somewhere in this universe

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Aquablast »

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.
User avatar
sliceofdog
Posts: 283
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:46 pm
Location: The Merry Land of Tea and Crumpets

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by sliceofdog »

FlintTheSquirrel wrote:
Shyanne wrote:I vote for the second one. The other two are a smidgen too naughty for a PG comic. Sexual Innuendo! :o 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.
Image
Image
User avatar
EchoFireant
Posts: 495
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2009 8:08 am
Location: Classified

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by EchoFireant »

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

Pet Friendly, Marshall : S-7 P-7 E-7 C-4 I-5 A-7 L-5
Pet Friendly, Natalia : S-4 P-7 E-5 C-9 I-7 A-5 L-5
User avatar
Andrea
Posts: 385
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2010 1:12 am
Location: Italy

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Andrea »

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 :D
Image
"In nomine Libertatis vincula aedificamus; in nomine Veritatis mendacia efferimus." -Michele Salvemini aka CapaRezza
"Let there be light! That was, uhm... God. I was quoting God."
User avatar
Kazuo1G
Posts: 48
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 1:19 pm
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Kazuo1G »

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.
User avatar
Sleet
Bringing Foxy Back
Posts: 17291
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 am
Location: Nephelokokkygia
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Sleet »

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.
Image
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Friendly banter? Feel free to click the "PM" button below!
User avatar
KEVON
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2010 2:07 pm

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by KEVON »

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....
User avatar
Two_Twig
Posts: 640
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 2:45 pm
Location: 50 paces *points* thataway

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Two_Twig »

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.
Hold still ~I'M PAINTING THE WORLD
----
My Devious account...
SIP. When is the next update coming? When you least expect it
User avatar
Kyderra
Posts: 2725
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:31 am
Location: The Netherlands

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Kyderra »

Agreeing with most comments.
The first one seems the best choice to me
"Why would you ever want to connect the dots?"
User avatar
Alex
Posts: 3792
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:41 pm
Location: End of Time
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Alex »

I love all of them, they're awesome, but the first one is the best IMO.
Richarson Valley
Edward S4 P8 E6 C8 I9 A3 L5
Shanks S7 P5 E6 C7 I4 A6 L7


Image
User avatar
Foxstar
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU
Posts: 1689
Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:00 am
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Foxstar »

The first.
User avatar
Alex
Posts: 3792
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:41 pm
Location: End of Time
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by Alex »

Mrs. Sandwich is still bathing Grape? How can that be, she's old enough to take a bath herself... I think...
Richarson Valley
Edward S4 P8 E6 C8 I9 A3 L5
Shanks S7 P5 E6 C7 I4 A6 L7


Image
User avatar
FlintTheSquirrel
Posts: 2374
Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 6:30 pm
Location: Sweden/North Carolina

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by FlintTheSquirrel »

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.
User avatar
valerio
Posts: 19330
Joined: Mon May 25, 2009 6:53 am
Location: Italy
Contact:

Re: Trying out cover ideas

Post by valerio »

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