<obsessive nerdy comics tool rant>
So I caught the manga bug this past year and have now reached a tool dilemma because of it. Let me explain…
Part of my new approach to my work was trying out “traditional” cartooning materials, many of which I’d dabbled with over the years (especially in high school) in an attempt to come closer to my original love of the medium somehow hoping to fuel my creative process and make me a happy, productive comics making machine like I was many, many years ago.
It worked, too. Months of struggling with real ink, brushes and nibs later I’m completely happy and overwhelmingly enthused with the materials and process I’ve come to for producing my comics. It’s a special kind of love and it’s been YEARS since I’ve felt this way, really.
_
I’ve especially fallen in love with a certain japanese nib called the G nib (or G-pen). Particularly the nib made by a company called Zebra. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find anyone that sells them online or nearby. This is a dilemma. I’m not quite sure how I got the first one I had, I’ve since been stuck using the Deleter G nibs which are made by Nikko. They’re alright, but the Zebra is the Excalibur of nibs and I really, really want to get some more. I’m pretty sure I tried the Tachikawa G nib and wasn’t too thrilled with them, but I may be mistaken.
If anyone out there knows how to get a hold of some Zebra G nibs (you’ll know the difference because the Zebra has an embossed “G” on it rather than an etched one) you would be my friend forever.
</end obsessive nerdy comics tool rant>
This coming Tuesday marks the beginning of the straight black and white version of Year of the Rat II: The Place Between Seconds. I’m now using Manga Studio to finish the pages and doing all the ink work by hand (lettering, borders, some hatching… like ropehatching!!, etc.) I’m really excited about the work and have begun putting it together in book form for a release sometime after the current story ends February 2010. The book should be available for next convention season for sure probably debuting at MoCCA 2010.
Deleter does distro on the zebra nibs and sometimes Nico nibs. Maxon distributes Tachakowa and Nico.
Here you go for g-nibs
http://bluelinepro.com/Merchant5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=BL&Category_Code=deac
http://www.wetpaintart.com/thumbnail.asp?cid=90
http://www.akadot.com/categories.php?cPath=31_14_67_77
(I am going to try the new IC nibs soon. )
Hey Ben! Actually the Deleter G’s I ordered from Akadot were Nikkos, wetpaintart doesn’t list them as on sale anymore and the bluelinepro (i suspect) are just Nikkos as well. I ordered the I.C. G’s from Akadot, but they’re on back order and I suspect they are actually Zebra G’s (they have the embossed G on them like the Zebras… which makes me think they are in fact Zebras). Hence the post.
Did I get that Zebra G I had from you or Bryan? I just can’t remember. Penina has a couple she said she’d pass me to tide me over. Also, is your guy in Burlington planning on carrying the Zebra G’s?
Also, where the heck did you get that fancy tone cutter. I’m thinking of diving into the hand cut tones soonish and want to order one!
Hope all is well with you settling back into life in Burlingtown.
You got the Zebra from bryan. It’s odd that the akadot ones were nikko’s as Deleter is listed as the only zebra distro. Then again, ordering from akadot may be why they are not zebras. I am curious as weather Zebra(the manufacturer) may have switched to IC from Deleter. IC is really kicking ass over in japan right now. From what I have seen they are a newer company. (Zebra nibs are weirdly elusive…Their availability has always been a bit shaky.)
The guy here in Burlington carries tachakowa and nikko for now. I will be working on getting him to carry more. Tachakowa’s are the stiffest, followed by zebra and then nikko. I use Tachakowa my self.
I got the tone cutter came from my guy here in Burlington, as well as my hand tones. This summer is supposed to be when the big change over occurs and he starts carrying that kind of stuff regularly. I would also order the IC tone eraser from akadot.
This from wetpaintart.com:
wonder if Zebra is gonna stop making nibs? guess i’ll just need to stop whining and use the nikkos (which seem to die a bit quicker than the zebras…. boo….)
I’m holding out that Akadot will bring it with the “I.C.” nibs. I bet ya dollars to donuts they’re actually Zebras.
also, bryan sez he ordered the zebra g from akadot and i remember it was in a deleter package
I do think that IC is the new distro for Zebra. I went to the japanese website, and they look like it though the pictures lack detail.(I need to brush up on my japanese.) I really want to try the zebra maru nibs. I can only hope that some day someone over here starts carrying B3 manga paper. At that point, I will forever switch paper. I fount it once on an Australian art site, but the price was ridiculous. The effect of being the only ones carrying it I guess.
Jetpens.com has them in stock 10 for $12.
Nevermind, scratch that. I misread the description.