#phantomarine

My Experience:

Most of my personal bad experience at Hiveworks was the result of head editor Isabelle Melançon, who is the creator of the massively popular webcomics Namesake and Crow Time. Isa's cumulative internet audience is enormous, and many of us have been wary of saying anything for fear of backlash. I know her work has touched hundreds of thousands, but please take this as you will.

Phantomarine was one of the last comics to join Hiveworks by submission in 2021. Hiveworks creators are interviewed prior to acceptance, and I was told that I could ask for a critique during that interview. I was immediately given one without asking.

Isa said that she had discovered my work the year prior, but she hadn't liked it, so she had specifically not invited me to Hiveworks as she does many others. Someone else at the company liked it, though, and wanted me to join. But not her. Not the head editor. She had other harsh criticisms for the story and characters as well - some of which, in hindsight, made it clear that she had not actually read much of my work at all. But it didn't matter to me at the time. I left the interview in tears.

I was given a chance to 'redeem' myself by making a new prologue for the comic, to "make it less confusing and bad." Which, to be fair, DID make the comic a bit better in the end. But it was clear that I was never wanted in the first place, and that made me feel like an ugly weed in the walled garden. I would never really belong.

To my joy, people flocked to Phantomarine pretty quickly after I was accepted - the 'webring' aspect of Hiveworks still served as a great connecting point for so many incredible comics, and new readers found me through those links. I found an audience that has only grown since. For that much, I am very grateful to Hiveworks.

Over the years it became clear that there were other creators who were also told that their work was inferior from the start. And the belittling didn't really stop for us, even after that first interview. Isa had a habit of going to DMs to neg people who were celebrating milestones - I was no different. No one could shine if they were constantly in her shadow.

Her influence extended to various technical troubles as well. Anyone who ever saw me complain about someone at Hiveworks who gave me lots of conflicting direction on my first book's cover, that was also Isa. Sadly I wasn't alone in this. Several Hiveworks creators got confusing design advice that contradicted itself over and over, leading to some cover illustrations that we weren't very proud of. But she would always be proud of them, because that was 'her' work.

Some advice I received from her:

1) Don't feature the characters on the cover on their own, you have to show them in action in the world

2) Don't show them in action, because the comic is not an action comic

3) Don't show the world because people don't read the comic for the world, they read it for the characters

4) A cover featuring a single character is usually a romance comic

5) Don't feature your characters on the cover at all, because no one knows who they are

Which is all clearly bonkers when lumped together. It was impossible to make a cover that pleased her, unless it was done exactly from her own ideas.

Out of all my concepts for that Volume One cover, maybe it's no wonder that she chose the one where my main character, Phaedra, was the smallest. I could never shake the feeling that making her small was the whole point. I'm still happy with the cover but yeah. Stuff I think about.

It was always just so mind-numbing to hear both: "Do what I do because it's best," and "Don't do what I do, it's not right for your comic." The only kind of comic that was acceptable was one made by her. The rest of us were going to be lesser by default. It was universal.

Troubles outside Hiveworks include Valor 3, a long-unfulfilled Kickstarter anthology that has several Hiveworks’ creators work in it. Take a look at the comments page. Why was something like this left to rot, but her own work was allowed to flourish? If you backed this Kickstarter, maybe ask for your money back. It's been nearly 7 years.

The excuse, as you might see in various places, was always her health - always always her health. And we always wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, because we’re all struggling with something. Life gets in the way, and sometimes comics have to take a backseat.

But the financial debt kept piling up, and the time kept passing. And nothing ever seemed to get in the way of the crow comics. There was always time and energy for tons and tons of crow comics.

I want to say how much I looked up to Isa when I first came across her on Twitter. Every time she liked or interacted with my work was a huge boost to my day. I know others have felt this too. She made herself into a daunting presence in the webcomic community. That illusion faded so quickly for me.

Conclusion

I ultimately left Hiveworks after seeing the full extent of financial turmoil (to the tune of $340,000 in debt) but because of Isa, I never really felt like I was part of Hiveworks to begin with. A sad number of people feel the same. We jumped ship when the ship became unsalvageable, but much emotional damage had already been done.

Please check out others' testimonies here and on Bluesky, and you'll see far worse stories than mine. Whatever you take from all of this, take this: please, PLEASE do not ever work professionally with Isa or Hiveworks CEO Xellette Velamist. I have had to hold my tongue for five years, and I will not do it anymore. The damage they've caused extends far beyond Hiveworks. Please don't let it spread further.

Listen and beware. And thank you.

Cheth (official link with character info)

Domains: The soul, death, water

Madoka Kaname (wiki1, wiki2, wiki3)

Domains: The Law of Cycles, Patron Goddess of Witches and Magical girls, Symbol of Hope in the Face of Despair; Creator God

Propaganda:

Propaganda for Mystery [Beanie Babies]:

"The poem found on their tag: "My size and shape a secret so old Generations of tales greatly told Any ripples or shadows you see Just think aloud that it could be me!""

Propaganda for Jeff [Phantomarine]: