Sunday, April 15, 2012

Reman Mythology Archives


"I don't want to spoil people from the upcoming (indefinitely in-progress and never published) novel."
"I don't want to disappoint new readers with a story that doesn't end."
"The drawings are so outdated."
"I don't really draw comics anymore."
"I just want to start from scratch."

I had a million reasons to take Reman Mythology down from the web. Scratch that: I had a million excuses. The biggest one that I never stated: "I want to pretend it never existed."

It seems a strange thing to say, but after finishing Sorcerers & Secretaries, I was ashamed of pretty much everything I did in comics. I told people I hated Sorcerers & Secretaries, that I thought both that and Reman were silly and stupid. I had so much guilt for leaving the "comics church," as I called it, and pursue my dream of being a writer. Comics was my friends, my family, my hobby, my career. It was my life. I felt like I was abandoning so much work and faith by switching gears that I wanted to pretend I never did any comics for a while, and my shame in my comics was a way to divert the guilt I felt for leaving.

Five years later and I'm still trying to figure out novel writing. I'm on the search for new representation with an agent, and still perfecting the novelization of Rema to the best of my abilities. Having to search for an agent means having to write uncomfortable things like query letters and plot summaries. It means I have to talk proudly of my work as a comic artist, guilty for leaving comics or not, and it made me realize how silly I've been in not taking more pride in the work of my past. I may not draw comics anymore, but it doesn't mean I never drew them and I never learned anything from them. Regardless of how many years it will take me to find a new agent or get published again, the process of putting my manuscript out there has been invaluable.

When I look at my comics it feels like they were drawn by a different person, but they weren't. It was still me. Younger, more ambitious, and less patient, maybe, but still me. I should stop pretending it wasn't.

Long story short, you can re-read Reman Mythology again if the fancy strikes you. The archives are back up on their old url, http://www.felaxx.com/RM.

29 comments:

  1. I'm so glad that these are back up, they were so inspiring to me when I was first learning how to draw and discovering my own interest in storytelling. I am glad you've moved past the shame of your old work--it's part of what made you who you are today, and even the silliest things can inspire others! I can't wait to read Rema in print, keep putting it out there! :)

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  2. Seconding Rhea, these comic pages are such an important part of my personal growth as an artist. I'll always be grateful you made and shared them with us. (I talked about Rema and other comics here- http://www.laurbits.com/updates/webcomics-by-female-creators)

    Thanks so much for sharing them once more, Amy!

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  3. Thanks Rhea and Laura! It's important to share work and draw inspiration from each other. Thank you for all the support over the years! I'll never be ashamed again. ;)

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  4. I'm glad :) I enjoyed reading Sorcerers & Secretaries, but I loved Reman Mythology - that's how I found your work, many years ago. I still think it's amazingly beautiful, conceptually and visually. I look forward to reading the book, whenever it becomes reality :)

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  5. Thank you for putting Reman Mythology back up. I discovered a young talented kid named Amy Ganter through Reman Mythology and have been following you and your stuff ever since. I look forward to your novel on the Reman Mythology story. So what can we do to help you write faster? I hate long waits... :)

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  6. Sweet! I have fond memories reading Reman Myth. RM also inspired my sister's art and stories. ;)

    I'm happy to see this returned to the Internet. :D

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  7. Thank you for posting RM back up online. Me and my sister were very much inspired by your works, and your stuff was an influence in my decision to pursue art as a career. Thank you and best of luck to all your work.

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  8. Thank you so much for putting the archives back up! I *love* this series and have been a follower since the very beginning. Your art always was so beautiful to me, and RM still inspires me to improve my art and writing so I can one day do this myself (whether comic or novel.)

    I was sad that you stopped drawing the comics, but it made me so happy that you were going to continue the story in novel form (I literally drove my friends nuts with my flailing.) I was drawn into the story of RM in a way that so many other comics failed to do, because Rema and the people you've created *felt* real to me. I can't wait to see where you've taken this wonderful world to in the novel.

    Good luck from a long time fan!

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  9. I read Reman a long time ago, and it was one of those webcomics that made me so inspired to draw my own webcomics. I really loved it as I read it, thank you so much for putting it back so I can be inspired once again.

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  10. It's so nostalgic to see Rema again, I'm so happy you put it back up. It's like coming home to old friends, Phillip, Paeter, Raed,and Tabetha. I remember now, I originally found it by buying AmeriManga vol 4 [I was an ardent fan of Megatokyo at the time, so I bought it for the chapter of Warmth.] The first thing I read after Warmth was Rema, not only because I liked the art, but because my name is Kim too. :3
    And immediately I was sucked in, I absolutely had to know what happened next. I read all the archives in one sitting. Just the kind of story I like best, thrilling fantasy full of mystery with a sprinkling of romance, but always exploration.
    I memorized your name then and there. Everytime I saw it come up here or there, a spark of excitement grew.
    Thank you so much for putting it back up m(_ _)m I missed it a lot.

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  11. I loved Ramen Mythology.
    Over the years I've dug around a few times to see if it still can be read somewhere. Glad I decided to dig around again, and only two weeks after you've put it back up. Awesome.
    Good luck.

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  12. Amy, thank you SO much for putting Reman Mythology back up. I've missed it terribly, and every 6 months or so I find myself checking back on your blog (since I'm afraid I've been too busy to follow it regularly) to see what updates there have been. I absolutely love your work up to date, and your story telling through art has always drawn me deeper into your worlds. Good luck with the search, and your fans will always be there to encourage and eat up the next story you toss out there for us. :)

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  13. Oh man I was just thinking about how much I'd like to read Reman Mythology again. I come here and here it is!

    Thank you and good luck with the novel or anything else you do

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  14. Hi Amy - so so so happy to see Reman Mythology back up! Whatever form you decide, please please keep weaving your stories - they're all so good. And I'll be in line when your next project comes out.

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  15. Thank you for restoring the archives!! RM was one of the first webcomics I've ever read. I've always loved the idea behind it. I feel sad you won't be drawing comics anymore. Your style suits your stories well. Anyway, I look forward to your future stories, Amy. All the best to you!

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  16. I cannot thank you enough for putting these back up.

    When I moved across the country in 2009 I felt depressed and that I had no one, so I looked up RM to reread, to keep me company and raise my spirits.

    This was literally a week after you decided to take RM down. I was so desperate I dont remember if I actually sent you and email asking if I could have them.

    I laugh about it now. It was silly of me.

    But seriously, the comic was so beautiful, inspiring, and addicting. If I had given up on it by now, do you think I wouldve ran across this post?

    You have now taken away my weekend. But thank you.

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    1. KnottyKnitter -- Thank you so much for telling me your story. It's an honor that RM stuck with you through the years! I don't remember if I ever received your email, but I got a lot of emails at the time in a similar vein. I felt really guilty about taking the story down... but I'm glad to have the comic back online to share with you and the rest of the readers. The story, world, and characters are and always have been very special to me, and I often go to it when I'm feeling down myself, so it's gratifying to know that others feel the same way and I'm not crazy! Thank you. :)

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  17. Everyone, your comments truly touch and inspire me. Thank you so much for taking the time to say a word or two here, it means the world to me. I can't wait to share the rest of the story with you all! Much love to everyone... :)

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  18. With books, you know how you go back and re-read your favorite stories, scenes, chapters, etc. over again, every six months, every few years. Reman Mythology was like that for me. When you decided to take it down (understandable, given your reasons) I was sad I couldn't read it again, but at least I got to re-read it a few times before it was gone. I kept tabs on your work and checked in on your blog every few months for info on how the book was coming. I'm glad to now seen Reman Mythology is back. While it may be different than my memories of the comic, I look forward to the book.

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  19. Hi!! Im so happy to know that you are working on Reman Mithology again. I read your comic years ago. I felt in love with only seing the first page!! Your Comic plays such an important part of my life. I remember all your characters names..even if you took those pages down I still remember!! Reman Mithology has a place in my heart and thank you so much for uploading it!!! please never me ashame of what you did...special people with special gift are capable of doing that...and you have that special gift!! dont let it go....
    if something you created made someone else even smile, then thats why you reached the meaning of being an artists!!!

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  20. I'm so glad i can read reman again.
    I first read this comic when I was was about 16 and to see it again at the age of 23 is just so satisfying!

    I adored the story and the art work and i really can thank you enough for bringing it back.
    I've spoke about it in such length to my mates but now i'll be able to show them this brilliantly crafted story so that we can look forward to what will happen next!

    I know it sounds silly but it does give me such glee.

    Vharri

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  22. I've been thinking about Reman Mythology a LOT lately, so you can imagine how loudly I squeed when I saw the archives were back up. Damn, I've missed this story.

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  23. My story starts with Amerimanga and Warmth also, but I can't tell you how inspired I was by your art, your story telling, and all the little stories (of the Gods) within the story. It's just amazing, and I have long lost the physical copies of your comics, so I am very grateful that you have put the archives back up <3 Thank you so much for your art, in whatever form it chooses to take! Even if Rema never made it to a finished form, I am just grateful for the much needed inspiration in my teens, and the inspiration the comic archives draw up now. Thank you for being you! I just can't thank you enough :D

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  24. Dear Amy,

    Tonight, I came across an unfinished fan art I was working on in 2009, and it reminded me of all the time spent loving the fantasy of your world and loving the comic, and inspiring me to pursue comics myself. I still have your signed poster in my room and think fondly of you. After looking up the comic online tonight, I had no idea you had taken it down for so long (talk about good timing)! Now seeing that you are working on the novel makes me very happy. I will definitely be keeping an ear open for the word of it coming out on the shelves. And I might just have to make another fan art piece for such a lovely story. ;) Thank you for inspiring me and enriching my life with fantasy, beauty and romance.

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    1. Hi Samantha! I remember you! It's nice to see you still drawing, and I'm so happy you remember my comic. Support from people like you kept me going all these years, I am so grateful. I'm posting the novel version online now in the hopes that Rema can serve as a creative sanctuary, much as it did so many years ago. Best of luck to you and thanks for remembering me~ :)

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  25. You put this back up and started posting your chapters in a month where I was returning to my creative roots with many tears -- for too many years I neglected myself as an artist to the point where I wasn't sure I could even claim the title, even though I was sure that I was nothing else if not an artist.

    In the midst of this, I remembered being inspired by you and really wanted to see what work you'd been doing, since I remembered you took the comic down and had been working on the book I've been so happily anticipating. It gave me a lot of joy, and some courage, to see you putting up your novel and to have the chance to reread the comic. It makes me feel like I'm doing something right.

    I've reread it twice over the past week, and probably will do so again. Hours well spent.

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