Recently, I joined the Jump Comic Contest. I spent around 2 and half months working on my entries. Plural, because I had initially planned to enter the contest with a different comic. Long story short, I got burnt out working on the first one so I gave it up. I only had a little more than 2 weeks left to come up with a new entry. Luckily, I had a new idea right away so I immediately began working on it.

I dedicated a good chunk of my time to the comic. I'd work on it either before going to sleep or immediately after waking up. At some weekends, I'd even spend the whole day drawing. Whenever I wasn't drawing, I'm thinking of how I would finalize the dialogue. It was a good time, all things considered.

I wanted to work in it more, but I knew that it has to be finished. After submitting the comic, all I had to do was wait. And read other entries. I think a lot of them were great. Especially the ones who ended up winning. And while I don't usually compare myself to other artists, I felt like I had to in this particular circumstance. Mostly to lower my expectations so I don't feel bummed out after knowing the results. I knew my chances of winning were very slim since I entered a comic with a format that isn't particularly well regarded, amplified even more by the fact that my entry never even got frontpaged. To be honest, it probably doesn't even deserve it.

Anyways, now that the results are out, what do I make of this whole experience? First of all, I'm not a stranger when it comes to not winning so not winning doesn't bother me much, if at all. Another realization of mine is that maybe I'm not working hard enough. I already know that I'm not that talented since I couldn't do what truly talented artists can at my age, or even younger. Or maybe it's not that I'm not working hard enough. Maybe I'm just slow. I don't really know, only time and hindsight would tell.

What's next for me, then? I don't know. Maybe I could make a new chapter. Maybe I could start a new series altogether. Maybe I could make a game. Lots of maybe's but not one of them is quitting art, that's for sure.

With all of that being said, thanks to all of the judges, thank you Tom Fulp for letting me post more than 10 images, congratulations to all of the winners, and great job to everyone who joined and finished their comic. And to those who read my comic, I hope I didn't waste your time.

This was a fun event, and I'm happy to be a part of it.