tos; good and handy comics txo!?
A few years ago, an interesting comic book called TOS, filled to the brim with elegant readable content, made its way into the world of comics. You could come across the work of many of the big guns and lots of other artists gave their first tentative steps there. This fanzine that looks like a magazine will shortly see issue number eight on the shelves and we decided to talk to the man who makes all of this possible, Juanjo El Rapido. You lot started off with the publishers Sins Sentido with the help of Injuve (The Spanish Sports and Youth Federation). When, how and who started the adventure that is Tos Publishers? Have you managed to get really pissed off at money?
Back in Barcelona in May, 2000, Raul Garcia from Ediciones B publishers, Nacho Casanova and myself were really into the idea of getting something together amongst ourselves. We convinced Jesus Moreno from Sins Sentido Publishers to get involved and we asked Jorge Diez at Injuve to give us a hand out with the first two issues. The end result was the publication of issue number 1 in May, 2002. As far as making money from a fanzine is concerned, there are two options: you either lose it or break even. Nothing else. No-one gets involved in a fanzine to make money.
What was the reaction to the appearance of Tos by readers and artists alike? I hardly think that there are artist out there reeling in the money off your backs... Was it difficult to get material for the zine or were people falling over themselves to get stuff published?
Both upcoming and experienced artists have nearly always been great when it comes to collaboration. They do what they can. Get rich? Nobody sees any greenbacks round here. Remember, this is a fanzine.
What do you need to publish Tos?
You need will and talent to publish Tos, you need space in the mag. The best thing you can do is glance at any off the issues and you�ll find a certain resemblance between your mag and ours. All you need to do is add a wee drop of fanzine spirit and you�re away. You�ll find the likes of Max or Santiago Sequeiros nestling between unknown artists and authors.
In the beginning you worked with Sins Sentido Publishers and then moved onto work with Astiberri. You went from two to one at the helm of the fanzine. Other than that what has changed?
The number of copies for each issue basically (1,000 to 15,000) and the number of pages increased from 80 to 96. Apart from that and Nacho leaving the mag, the vibe is still the same, nothing much has changed. Our thing is to publish good readable stories. What we did before all of this (Como vacas mirando al tren and Idiota y diminuto) was a lot more experimental. Tos is more understandable to the majority of people out there.
NSLM, Dos Veces, Breve, Buen Provecho... and Tos, some stay and some move on, some come back, some disappear again, there�s lots of movement out there... How do you see things?
Apart from NSLM, the ones that are being revived, the ones that are still being published (a miracle, is it not?)... we can�t really be too hopeful. Buen Provecho is the only mag we lost in 2003, but we�re sure they�ll be back. The best thing for us to do would be for us all to turn into magazines, and that way the artist could get paid what they deserve. Unfortunately, that�s just not possible at the moment.
The publication of issue number eight sees the end of the second period at the zine. See you some day? See you soon? See you now? What will enable us to keep on reading TOS?
Right now, it�s down Astiberri�s generosity and the sales of TOS, and as long as the artists don�t get browned off with the whole thing. There�ll be another four issues and a few changes. As you know, we kinda move in four-issue cycles, so we�ll struggle through to 2005. As long as the readers don�t abandon us. Buy the mag! Go ahead and buy the mag!
Back in Barcelona in May, 2000, Raul Garcia from Ediciones B publishers, Nacho Casanova and myself were really into the idea of getting something together amongst ourselves. We convinced Jesus Moreno from Sins Sentido Publishers to get involved and we asked Jorge Diez at Injuve to give us a hand out with the first two issues. The end result was the publication of issue number 1 in May, 2002. As far as making money from a fanzine is concerned, there are two options: you either lose it or break even. Nothing else. No-one gets involved in a fanzine to make money.
What was the reaction to the appearance of Tos by readers and artists alike? I hardly think that there are artist out there reeling in the money off your backs... Was it difficult to get material for the zine or were people falling over themselves to get stuff published?
Both upcoming and experienced artists have nearly always been great when it comes to collaboration. They do what they can. Get rich? Nobody sees any greenbacks round here. Remember, this is a fanzine.
What do you need to publish Tos?
You need will and talent to publish Tos, you need space in the mag. The best thing you can do is glance at any off the issues and you�ll find a certain resemblance between your mag and ours. All you need to do is add a wee drop of fanzine spirit and you�re away. You�ll find the likes of Max or Santiago Sequeiros nestling between unknown artists and authors.
In the beginning you worked with Sins Sentido Publishers and then moved onto work with Astiberri. You went from two to one at the helm of the fanzine. Other than that what has changed?
The number of copies for each issue basically (1,000 to 15,000) and the number of pages increased from 80 to 96. Apart from that and Nacho leaving the mag, the vibe is still the same, nothing much has changed. Our thing is to publish good readable stories. What we did before all of this (Como vacas mirando al tren and Idiota y diminuto) was a lot more experimental. Tos is more understandable to the majority of people out there.
NSLM, Dos Veces, Breve, Buen Provecho... and Tos, some stay and some move on, some come back, some disappear again, there�s lots of movement out there... How do you see things?
Apart from NSLM, the ones that are being revived, the ones that are still being published (a miracle, is it not?)... we can�t really be too hopeful. Buen Provecho is the only mag we lost in 2003, but we�re sure they�ll be back. The best thing for us to do would be for us all to turn into magazines, and that way the artist could get paid what they deserve. Unfortunately, that�s just not possible at the moment.
The publication of issue number eight sees the end of the second period at the zine. See you some day? See you soon? See you now? What will enable us to keep on reading TOS?
Right now, it�s down Astiberri�s generosity and the sales of TOS, and as long as the artists don�t get browned off with the whole thing. There�ll be another four issues and a few changes. As you know, we kinda move in four-issue cycles, so we�ll struggle through to 2005. As long as the readers don�t abandon us. Buy the mag! Go ahead and buy the mag!
