Making Comics

This week, we catch up on business, convention schedule planning and cover art (4:20), prepping a script for lettering (14:00), balancing commissions and your work (19:55), and knowing the right things to cut in your story (24:00) before this week's main topic: dialogue (31:10).

This week, we recap Emerald City Comic Con (3:00) and discuss the current business landscape of comic cons and how to pack for a show, building a network of people you like working with (22:25), finding real-life examples of what you want to draw (34:00), and remembering to take time to relax (35:40) and learn more about your craft (39:30) before this week's topic: anatomy, and artists that push a...

This week, we discuss making additions to a comic when the mood strikes (3:20), reviewing thumbnail layouts for a comic (13:00), trying different page layouts (27:00), putting extra effort into separator pages and covers (36:10), and backing up creator correspondence (45:00) before this week's main topic: aligning feedback with your vision and what happens when feedback doesn't align (47:30).

This week, we discuss slipcase production (8:20), putting your personal stamp on lettering (11:30), the natural evolution of your style (21:30), being productive in unusual situations (30:50), videos/podcasts we loved that will improve your craft level drawing (33:00) and writing (38:15),  before this week's main topic: building your characters (54:40).

This week, Scott (back from San Diego Comic Con) and Keith (back from a Scotland trip) recap our weeks and discuss journaling (3:55), getting creative with your vendors to get product on time (14:25), how inhabiting a place can bring a story together (25:00), mishaps in hiring an inker (31:05), changing comic artists at full speed (47:40), and the crowd at SDCC (57:55). 

This week, we discuss finishing a short-deadline cover (3:30), taking stock of your projects (16:15), choosing the right ending for your story (23:30), the value of doing as much 'extra' art as possible (32:05), and large-picture story thinking (40:30).  SPOILER WARNING for Thor Love and Thunder at 53:10, that ends at 55:15.

This week, we discuss working ahead to ramp down on a vacation (5:25), work on a one-page comic (8:10), reworking a comic so an issue ends on a good note (17:20), working on a panel until it works and quick production turnarounds (20:10), and packaging conversations (27:00) before this week's topic: part two of ten guidelines for drawing a comic book page (34:35). 

This week, we discuss late-stage edits for both a comic and a novel (4:20), editing the lettering (and art) in a book (15:30), and graphic design and Kickstarter design (21:45) before this week's topic: part one of ten guidelines for drawing a comic book page (26:50).

This week, we discuss how being under the weather can create a different kind of productivity (10:25), putting the finishing touches on a comic script (21:00), making sure the most visually interesting things are on the page (26:05), delivering work for clients (32:30), and accepting those days where you need to power down (34:30) before this week's topic (41:40): what's your comic about?

This week, Scott and Keith welcome Tim Radecki (Super-bud, Grave Brigade). We discuss the continuation of zipatones (5:45), image choices for a one-page strip (11:00), and working on writing projects in various stages and balancing time between them (13:20) before we discuss comic writing versus writing for other media and how sometimes you learn as you go (35:15), and working through writer's blo...

This week, we discuss the right amount of Kickstarter promotion and the right art to use (5:40), modifying writing goals (18:45), and balancing page word with client work (25:50) before we discuss basic visual concepts (34:55) and how knowing them can help you break them.

This week, we discuss a frantic day of Kickstarter prep (4:50), a recap of Monsterpalooza (11:30), a flurry of comic work and commissions (21:00), the return of an inner perfectionist (27:20), and finishing a cover (32:00) before the main topic: the three components of comic writing (35:20). 

This week, we discuss final-stage prep for both of our Kickstarters (9:25), and some additional Phoenix Fan Fusion recap (23:50) before we discuss balancing time (36:40) and being the right kind of original (43:35).

This week, we welcome (artist) Gary Hodges back to the show! We begin with a Phoenix Fan Fusion first two days' recap (3:00), then discuss progress on the 'page per week' goal of D versus M and different ways to attack that goal (11:45), getting back up to speed on zipatones and cel shading (18:05), and finishing up a comic cover (20:50) before this week's topic: a discussion on the page-drawing p...

Scott and Keith discuss script notes and how they led to revision (7:35), going from inception to completion on a cover in the same day (12:45), novel edits and grammar corrections (19:55), securing an alternate cover artist (29:00), and alternate covers for upcoming Kickstarters for both of us (35:10) before this week's topic: the hardest part of making comics, part five (41:40). We discuss proof...

This week we discuss an update on the panels per day goals for Wanderers and how working ahead can pave the way for enjoying life, both in art and lettering (2:45), stocking up product for upcoming conventions (19:00), the value of having writer friends to bounce things off with a bonus conversation about time travel (27:00) before we get to part four of the hardest part of making comics (38:05)....

Scott and Keith recap Free Comic Book Day at SoCal Comics (1:30), getting lettering technique down (24:00), making progress toward completing art for an issue (34:05), an upcoming project we're collaborating on (36:00), and etiquette on talking to creators at shows or through Kickstarters (39:00) before the hardest part of making comics, part three (42:25). We tackle production time versus consump...

This week we discuss San Diego Comic Fest (6:35), reviewing an upcoming script (17:30), releasing single issues versus waiting for a trade (22:35), status on the 'productivity competition' (29:30) and author brain versus lead character brain (32:10) before we continue with part two of the hardest part of making comics (37:45).

It's an all-bullsh*t episode! If you like the end of our episodes where we talk comic collecting and everything else, this episode is for you! With Keith building up a surplus, Scott obliged with some time to empty out the tank. Hang out with us for an hour of bonus time!

Scott and Keith welcome writer Aubrey Sitterson (No One Left to Fight, Beef Bros) and discuss finishing up a scene and a print respectively (6:30) and final tasks as a project nears completion (11:15) before we discuss (among other things) pitching books to publishers (29:40) and what drew Aubrey to fight comics (51:10). 

This week we discuss strategizing prints for 2022 shows (4:40), going back to a former hometown and how a relaxing moment can generate story ideas (8:10), how putting time in over the years creates a faster process (14:20) and getting work done in an uncomfortable environment (24:10) before this week's topic: what creators think is the hardest part of making comics (30:35), including building a fa...

This week we begin with a recap of WonderCon, then discuss single issues versus trades (4:40), continuing 'one page a day' and improving your craft by doing (26:30), mentoring future comic creators (34:55), and working on art as gifts (40:30) before this week's main topic: branding (46:05).

This week we discuss progress drawing a panel a day (4:25), a decision on the primary cover artist for one of our books (16:00), getting creative with commissions (21:40), writing copy for an upcoming ashcan that dips into comic process (23:40) before this week's main topic: balance of both art and writing (30:00).

This episode, we discuss getting notes back for your comic script (4:55), making characters fully inhabited (17:45) and catching up on commissions (20:15) before we get to this week's topic: a mailbag (25:00) covering page rates, goals for a first-time Kickstarter, and great works of the comic medium that gain understanding of craft.

This week, we discuss productive days we had with both art (5:40) and writing (10:40), getting a burst of inspiration for a variant cover (14:55) and finding out if your work is ready (30:30) before a conversation on editing leads to a conversation on over-polishing and how energy versus polish differs based on the art form (38:25).