Making Comics

This week, we discuss getting art back for a novel (4:15), ordering signage and prepping commissions prior to San Diego Comic Con (10:15), replacing placeholders with details, and the work that goes into those details (16:30), Selling at San Diego Comic Con (22:00), and thinking your way through an 8-page comic story (32:45) before we talk more about both the creator and fan experience at SDCC (41...

This week, we discuss San Diego Comic Con Prep (3:00), fusing the rawness of an original idea with the story it's blossomed into (18:00), restarting a commission (29:30), getting un-stuck on a story (38:15), and getting work done, whether it's flats or pencils (48:30).

This week, we talk about modifying your sales pitch on the fly (3:00), a productive art week (18:30), rewriting a synopsis so it matches the flow of a story (23:40), how everything you do informs future work (31:00), finding the right place in your comic to put key information (38:15), and coordinating shipments to arrive in time for Comic Con (41:30).

This week, we discuss asking a colorist to match an existing style on a comic (2:30), finding a way to get work done (13:40) before we get to this week's topic - challenges in scripting action (25:50), dusting off an old commission to finish it (36:00), hooking into things from a first draft and expanding them (40:00), and getting inspired to write a scene (46:15).

This week, we talk about writing as you letter (4:25), getting cover art back (19:45), how fun marvel method can be when it works (24:25), getting the most out of your pages (41:35), and anthologies (48:50).

This week, we talk about busy pages (5:00), scripting in pencil as part of the marvel method (16:10), finding alternate printers by necessity (26:50), finding your story (45:30), finishing your contribution to a project (54:40), and getting a cover in record time (1:00:00).

This week, we talk about working on a particular challenge on a new page (3:00), using a newly familiar writing environment to write a high-levle Marvel method script (9:50), following up with a nonresponsive vendor (18:00), reminding yourself to harness that "early creation period" energy when you knew less and experimented more (22:25), collaborating on cover art (33:15), and our deepe...

This week, we sit down with long-time friend of the podcast Gary Hodges and review the first two days of Phoenix Fan Fusion (4:45), discuss writing and editing a comic script (14:50), the different styles of soliciting feedback from test readers (20:20), thinking about booths and tabling as a fan (32:30), selling at shows and maximizing the show experience at your table (36:40), the benefits of wr...

This week, we welcome Daniel Hillyard ( Plastic: Death and Dolls, Vinyl, Plush, How I Became a Shoplifter, Narcos ) and talk about removing exact references from comic scripts (5:00), working around a non-responsive vendor (12:30), the creation stages of a comic (20:00), separating books by visual themes (26:00), Daniel's start in the comics business (39:00), the first time he considered comic...

This week, we talk about the big thinking aspect of writing (5:00), internalizing the desire to vary pages and layouts (13:50), getting finished pages back from the artist sooner than you realize (27:30), and changing elements of your booth design and show prep (30:20) before we revisit the state of the industry with viewer feedback (39:00).

This week, we discuss getting in your work when you can (3:20), a new audio project (10:30), recognizing spots of other people's influence when it creeps into your work (19:00), getting a lot of art back and revisiting a prior editor's note (30:20), staying up to date on your inventory (39:20), and gorging on culture for a project (47:00).

This week, we talk about a wild surge of activity on a new comic (4:15) and designing a banner (18:25) avoiding the stodgy bullshit (21:30), and this week's topic: when to offload work (30:00), before we review Free Comic Book Day events (39:00).

This week, we welcome Rory Smith (Illumination Studios, Mighty Hunters of Mythria) to the podcast to talk about the act of creation, drawing techniques, and much more!

This week, we talk about how much toning and grayscaling can add in the hands of an expert (3:30), today's main topic - making sure you've done your best on every panel (9:00), those moments of serendipity when you get script notes back (23:20), a backlog of commissioned covers (29:40), and the difference between an idea and a story (38:00).

This week, we talk about varying up your distance when it comes to panels (5:00), getting a reminder of your limitations and your strengths (10:00), aligning on payment terms with clients (21:30), and when communication gets warped (35:40) before we discuss the state of the industry (40:00).

This week, we talk about an influx of commission work and the importance of being flexible (3:20), getting clarification from an artist on page art (13:45), fixing printing errors (20:00), controlling the small costs (26:50), prepping a project for a quick turnaround (31:20), and getting struck by inspiration (44:10) before we get to this week's topic: innovation (53:00).

This week, we talk about the close of a Kickstarter campaign (4:10), changing the art style halfway through an issue (18:40), and restocking your books (27:00) before we get to this week's main topic: a recap of Wondercon (31:30).

This week, we discuss getting back art with a change in color (3:30), getting comic work in when the business side commands attention (12:00), reviewing pages from a copy editor (20:15), and ordering limited-edition books (30:20) before this week's topic: immersive environments (40:30).

This week, we talk about approvals from other creators on a collaborative project (2:30), rewriting a story from memory (9:15) working on a cover for potential use (21:40), getting interior art and cover art back (26:00), and returning to traditional methods (29:30) before we get to this week's topic: adapting your prose story into comics (37:00).

This week, we welcome creator Scott Serkland ( Young and the Dead , Make Your Own Comics series, The Artcasters) to the podcast and talk about working on a special project (3:55), sticking or not sticking to genre convention (7:30), recreating authentic old collectibles (22:00), client projects and how comics are viewed (28:45), and self-publishing (37:00) before this week's main topic: invent...

This week, we talk about including or not including dialogue on your Kickstarter sample art pages (2:50), finishing a first draft (10:30), strategizing around commissioned covers (19:30), giving your artist too much information (27:40), fitting comics into a changed schedule (37:15), convention prepping (41:40), and getting notes back on a script (46:20) before this week's topic: undertelling...

This week, we talk about acknowledging and avoiding convention in the first draft of a story (7:30), writing the first draft of word balloons in a Marvel Method-process comic (19:20), the need to sometimes be on-the-nose (30:15), scheduling work for future covers (39:15), the importance of clear art direction (47:20) before this week's topic: Other people's (comic) properties (54:00).

This week, we talk about thumbnails for a new comic (4:30), incorporating editor notes into a near-finished work (9:35), finding cover artists (17:30), distributing art pieces evenly in a novel (23:20), working on rough pencils (31:40), and understanding the ups and downs of the freehand writing process (34:20) before we get to this week's topic: listener goals and questions (45:00).

This week, we discuss being productive writing a first draft in a journal (5:30), creating pages of art for a special story (17:15), channeling inspiration when you don't expect it (24:45), giving feedback and giving it the proper weight (28:30), and the value of a journal (49:50).

This week, we talk about work on a detailed cover (2:45), returning to productive writing (12:30), a surprise new project (19:00), getting toned art pages back (25:45), and the promise of a new idea (30:40) before we get to this week's topic: the nuances of character (39:00).