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Knock-Down Drag-Out

Paul Milligan & Aaron Hall

Knock Down Drag Out (Fill In) Knock Down Drag Out is a weekly conversation between Paul Milligan and Aaron Hall. The only problem this time around is that… there is no conversation. Due to forces totally outside of your control, such as this insanely crappy week, we just weren’t able to get it done. We had two chances; the first one just went nowhere. I was coming off a mega bad day at work and just wasn’t in the right mind set. The second attempt was spent more on Stumblebum and Twilight business and then it was too late for Knock Down Drag Out. But fear not young crusaders, the regular version of KDDO will be back next week, stronger than ever and thirsting for your blood. But what about this week, you ask? Well, Paul is out of action for the rest of this week and this weekend. First, he’s locking himself away to finish up our Twilight project for Free Comic Book Day. Secondly, he’ll be participating in 24 Hour Comic Book Day. Seeing as I can’t draw and my 24 hour comic book would be the most visually offensive thing ever created, I volunteered to write a fill in for this week’s Knock Down Drag Out. In the interest of staying on topic, I thought I’d give you all a look inside the collaboration process between Paul and myself and my general stance on working with someone else to create a story. So straighten your tie, buckle your safety belt, write your living will, and pour that out of date milk down the drain, because here we go. Collaboration. Not only is it a hard word to spell, it’s a hard thing to pull off successfully. Those who know us can tell you, Paul and I are very different people. We scarcely like the same comics, we have totally different taste in art, we like different movies, our music tastes only overlap about half the time, basically we totally hate each other. I’m just kidding about that last part, but the fact is I’m still amazed that we’re able to create together. You’d think we’d have totally different ideas as to comics we wanted to create and how to create them. In my mind that’s one of the things that helps us however. By taking our differing visions and meeting somewhere in the middle, we’ve been able to create some great and unique stories. None of that would be possible however, without being able to communicate. Communication. Hands down the most important part of collaborating with someone. When Paul and I began working together on Twilight a few years back, I was a pretty pitiful communicator. I just enjoyed being involved, and a lot of the times simply didn’t speak up. As time has passed I’ve learned that the only way to truly collaborate and get your opinion out there is to just speak up. It’s not always pretty and it’s not always fun, but it’s what has to be done. Stumblebum Studios as you know it probably wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t evolved and learned to speak up. I had a nasty habit of keeping things inside until they bothered me so much that I would blow up, shaking things up for the rest of the guys and taking some of the fun out of the creative process. It’s a truth that can help you in every aspect of your life; be honest with people. Tell them what’s truly on your mind; tell them what’s truly in your heart. By doing this I’ve not only found that I’m able to work better with others, but I’m able to be a better friend to them as well. Marriage. Not that I really need to fuel any gay rumors (seeing as Paul and I are both single and haven’t been in a relationship for a while), but collaborating with others is really a marriage. It’s give and take, it’s fighting and making up, but more than anything, it’s working towards a bigger goal. A goal that’s bigger than each of you and more important than ego and more important than who did what. You have to truly have the idea’s best intentions at heart. It has to be all about telling the best possible story. By focusing on that you can get past any of the pitfalls of collaboration and make something great. I can honestly say that after a lot of tries and a few missteps, Paul and I did that. I truly can’t wait for Twilight to be finished so we can share it with all of you out there. I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed creating it. And I hope you like it, because you can be damn sure there’s more on the way. So there you go. I didn’t initially plan to take it that deep, but hey, you get what you get. Thanks for stopping by and be sure and check this spot next week for the return of the regular Knock Down Drag Out. For now, this is Aaron Hall, and I’m all in with Jack/Seven off suit.