Making Comics

This episode we discuss the relaunch of a comic company (3:50), the design stage for a comic cover being done in advance of interiors (6:30), getting a professional consultation on work (20:30), and faces and re-drawing them if necessary for a master edition (26:20) before catching up on holiday purchases (35:00).

After a long convention weekend, Scott and Keith unwind by taste testing some chips and delivering quality ASMR (7:45), then recap the show discussing elevator pitches (14:45) and sales desperation / understanding the long game (18:20) before this week's topic: planning ahead at multiple story levels (30:30) 

Starting a new tradition, it's our Year End episode! Scott, Keith and guest Gary Hodges share their comic of the year, artist of the year, writer of the year, our favorite TV shows, movies, songs, albums and beers of 2021. Close out the year with us!

Scott and Keith welcome guest Gary Hodges back to the podcast for the first of two special year-end episodes! The crew talks page goals (5:20), sound effects lettering (15:45) and the value of a writing retreat, however brief (25:15) before a lengthy holiday discussion (33:10) where we share our favorite and least favorite bits of holiday pop culture, holiday songs we like and dislike, personal ho...

Scott and Keith review Comic Con Special Edition (5:30), changing the lettering process to allow for better feedback (12:25), adding a kick to writing by changing your process (16:50), and making extra art for your book (24:35) before this week's topic: a loose discussion on trademark and copyright (36:30).

Scott and Keith discuss the completion of a novel draft (6:00), completing inks for a comic (10:40), knocking out a short novella using the Novel November model (16:20) and staying productive (25:10) before this week's topic: setting the scene (38:30). 

Scott and Keith discuss the 'more' - additional panels and art for the 2nd Shift Kickstarter - being done to fill out the comic (6:30), research on dialect and speech mannerisms versus accent (10:45), a Procreate tip for high-quality panels  (19:45), preparation for back-to-back comic conventions and leveraging multiple vendors (31:00), and wise words from a cinematic classic that turns into...

The longest Making Comics to date! Scott and Keith welcome Gary Hodges (D vs M 1975, D vs M 1997) and discuss last-minute preparations around the Three Protectors ashcan (9:00), Scott's Kickstarter launch (18:05) and preparation and layouts for a new issue of D vs M (23:00) before this week's main topic: character (36:15). Bonus discussions start at 1:09:30 and the nonsense level ratchets higher (...

After wrapping up Drawtober (5:00), Scott and Keith discuss adapting a prologue into a full story (7:00), hunting for cover artists (15:15) and a workshop on the spot on a Kickstarter design (26:10) before this week's main topic: fighting your inner perfectionist (37:30). Keith shares a story  at 45:40. Note: Keith butchers 'NaNoWriMo' (calling it 'NaWriNoMo') around the 14 minute mark but we...

This week, Scott and Keith discuss a work being "too quiet" or not (3:10), preparing for the next kickstarter and future issue numbering (13:00) and a tangent on manga (22:15) before this week's main topic: homage vs plagiarism (34:30).

Scott and Keith discuss the best time of day to mail Kickstarter packages (4:15), selling at the San Diego Metal Swap Meet (11:30), burning up the drawtober buffer (16:10), and goal-setting as a motivational device for writing goals (19:40) before this week's main topic: setting and world-building (36:15).

Scott and Keith discuss working on multiple projects (1:30), artist and writer communication throughout the process (9:50) and quick updates on conventions and Kickstarters (19:50) before this week's main topic: talking heads pages (27:00). Also, resources for finding a colorist (42:30).

Scott and Keith welcome Keithan Jones (founder and owner of KID comics, creator of San Diego's Black Comix Day) and discuss beginnings at comic conventions (4:30), storytelling and illustration styles (19:40), artist and writer relationships (47:30) and writing multiple stories (59:20).

Scott and Keith discuss the results of a scene rewrite (3:40), working through the Drawtober comic (8:05), big thinking around a story and how 'real' you choose to be (16:50), lettering and onomatopoeia (27:30) before this week's main topic: PDF preparation and final edits (34:00). Comic nerd stuff starts at 49 minutes.

Scott and Keith talk Drawtober preparation (3:10), how a mistake ended up improving a story (9:00), a commission update (13:15), and an example where putting time in - no matter how much a grind it felt like - yielded results (16:30) before this week's topic: comic book covers (22:45). Comic recommendations follows at 46:00! Links to the indie books we mention (you can find the third-party books w...

This week, Scott and Keith discuss re-branding and the materials that go with it (5:30), a change in plans for Drawtober (11:55) and planning for a future artist change (19:00) before this week's topic: lettering (27:40). Stay around the 'Grail main event' (45:40)!

Scott and Keith discuss getting the final bits of product in for their Kickstarters (1:45), Rose City Comic Con (13:50), brainstorming future comic projects including drawtober (23:50) and reworking prose to get it ready to turn into a comic (27:30) before this week's topic: inking and coloring (31:20). 

Scott and Keith discuss starting new issues and new story arcs (5:15), preparing for conventions (16:30) and reviewing pages from the colorist (22:45) before they discuss the penciling (30:15) and thumbnailing (43:05) stage of comics.

This week, Scott and Keith discuss issues in flatted pages (4:15), brainstorming a new giant monster (9:20), commission work (18:40), upcoming convention schedules (24:45) making structural changes to your story (27:45) and new inspirations for a comic (35:00) before the two discuss the idea stage and scripting for comics (39:35).

Scott and Keith recap their new comic book day event at SoCal Comics, covering setup (3:00), reading the crowd and adjusting your table inventory (14:10), developing a product portfolio (21:30) and the mentality behind working your table (27:30) before sharing tips to stay productive every day (36:50).

This week, Scott and Keith discuss a dramatic change in a single scene's construction (2:30), getting through creative blocks by working (15:50), rewriting scenes on the fly in a pass of your story (22:15), bonus content for single issues of a comic (29:45) and redesigning a web site (34:00) before the week's main topic: books and tutorials on craft (38:20).

This week, Scott and Keith discuss master edition strategy (2:30), incorporating feedback from different sources (12:30), a redux of last week's conversation on inspiration (17:10), taking feedback and applying changes to create a final draft (20:50), that project that just hangs over your head (30:15) and a strategizing session that turns into an inventory conversation (32:30) before discussing f...

This week, Scott and Keith discuss last-minute Kickstarter chaos and the need for standardization (3:05), payment structures for commissions (11:45) and the pending culmination of a long project (16:40) before a lengthy discussion on sources inspiration, both conventional and unconventional (23:20).

With Keith live on the road this episode, the two discuss last-minute PDF fixes (5:30), cover work and warmup sketches (8:15), ridiculous mutant powers (15:30), giving feedback (21:20), non-comic convention opportunities (25:30) and finding the fun in boring pages (32:40).

Scott and Keith discuss a detailed cover (1:10), checking your splash pages within a PDF and allowing time for final revisions (3:30), making toys (16:15), ways to get your indie book out in the world (23:10) and finally Keith's trip to Philadelphia (44:00), covering comics and the idea of collecting themes in your comics.