Looking forward to 2011

Jonah Weiland of Comic Book Resources asked me to write up my take on what I'm looking forward to in 2011. And this is by no means a complete list (most of this is just the first few months of the year), but I thought I'd just share my note with you good folks...

There's a lot to look forward to, Jonah. I think we're seeing a lot of really great things coming from the indy publishers and creators. I'm reading more non-superhero comics than ever before. It's not that the superhero stuff is bad, it's actually been quite good for the last several years. It's been enjoying a renaissance lately, and I think the other creators in the industry are responding in kind now. This is going to be a huge year for some folks. So here's my list:

More LOCKE & KEY comics! Simply the most horrifying and intelligent book on the market today (that I've read, I don't read them all, I'll admit). Writer Joe Hill seems to be the big draw to get people to pick up the book, but I'd be lying if I didn't say Gabriel Rodriguez's art isn't equally captivating. You just can't put this book down.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to the G.I. JOE event COBRA CIVIL WAR that launches with a new #0 issue in April. That's going to blow JOE fans away.

I'm very curious to see what newish writers Nick Spencer, Jim McCann, Nathan Edmondson are doing.

From Nick, more MORNING GLORIES, but I also want to see his INFINITE VACATION and I'd love to see more books like his FORGETLESS which seems a little more over-looked. Personal note, Nick is a Comics Experience alum, and we're all thrilled with his success!

Edmondson shows great promise with his diverse books like OLYMPUS, THE LIGHT, and now WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? which looks just fantastic.

I'm looking forward to more HALCYON by Marc Guggenheim. I think this is a really refreshing take on super heroes.

STUFF OF LEGEND by Mike Raicht, Brian Smith and Charles Paul Wilson III. It is kind of a TOY STORY for adults. Really great stuff.

Also, 2011 needs is going to kick some butt with top artists doing great work.

I want more KICK-ASS from Romita!

I'm really looking forward to the ICON book about Jim Lee's art of DC and WIldstorm. I think that's going to be great.

Let's not forget that we're going to get more great books from The Library of American Comics with more DICK TRACY volumes and more BLOOM COUNTY.

We need more PARKER from Darwyn Cooke, of course.

I can't wait to get my hands on BATMAN: EUROPA. I've known about this project for years. And now it's almost here!

Travis Charest's WEAPONS OF THE METABARONS book is finally coming out here in the states. That's coming outin January.

And I'm pretty stoked to read more of the talented Kirkman and Bendis dudes. Both THE WALKING DEAD and SCARLET have been excellent.

Anyway, just my two cents...

Andy

John Romita Jr. Could critique your art!

I'm thrilled to announce here on the blog that master storyteller, comics artist work horse and fan favorite JOHN ROMITA JR. (currently penciling AVENGERS and co-creator of KICK-ASS) is going to do a guest critique of a Workshop artist at the Comics Experience Creators Workshop.

Workshop artists are going to be posting their artwork all January long with all posts due on by January 22nd to be considered to win the critique! As many of you probably know, Romita has the record for drawing the most issues of Spider-Man of anyone else in history. When it comes to making comics, there's simply no one with more work under his or her belt.

Romita has been a huge supporter of comics as a whole and of both myself and Comics Experience for years. The day I learned the most about comics storytelling in my life was the day John came into the Marvel offices to meet with me and a young artist I had just hired to work on a book. The young artist was new--still learning--clearly had the raw talent but still had some growing to do.

So I asked Romita to come in and give the young fellow some tips. Well, a couple of hours in a conference room with together (and talent manager Chris Allo) were so freaking enlightening that I walked in an assistant editor and walked out feeling like a senior editor (promotion pending, of course!). John covered all kinds of storytelling building blocks, tips, tricks, and short cuts. He talked about how he set up his art table in his studio--and it just went on and on.

His advice was so complete, so freely given, and so encouraging that I felt like I could have drawn the next big book at Marvel. (I now blame John officially for my current attempt to draw my own comic...). In short, this is a tremendous opportunity for any comic artist--new or seasoned pro--to get a quantum leap ahead.

And this isn't a one-time deal at the workshop! Every month, we've got artist challenges that we post to help build and improve artists' skills. We discuss industry topics and give out insider information to help build careers and network. And we always have a guest pro like Romita give a critique once a month!

If you're an artist and serious about improving your work quickly and having a great time doing it, I encourage you to join the Workshop and give it a go. I think you'll like what you fine. Jump in, start posting work and critiquing scripts as well as artwork, and watch how quickly your storytelling skills improve. And it's fun, too!

I can't wait to see the feedback that John gives to the winner at the end of January. And of course, members will have access to the message board where all guest critiques get posted! So hurry up and join now!

Okay, that's it from me for now. I'm too excited not to blog about this!

Andy

Comic Book Budgeting

Had our workshop meeting tonight. I went over how to budget a single issue comic, a mini-series, and a trade paperback. We covered creative costs, advertising, shipping and printing, and all major costs associated with producing a comic book and how to calculate out what some one is likely to make.

We covered how to accurately (as much as anyone can, anyway) estimate sales of a comic throughout a series. And we calculated the profit on trade paperbacks.

And the more I talked and plugged numbers into this lovely spreadsheet, two things happened: It became increasingly obvious that making money while making comics is darn near IMPOSSIBLE. But the other thing that happened, was that every person in that workshop started to feel more driven and more empowered. And more ENCOURAGED to pursue his or her dream of making comics.

And here's why, I think. Prior to tonight's meeting (and you should join us, we meet every month online to discuss these kinds of things), the budget was a real mystery. How much do you pay Diamond to place an ad? How much of a discount do retailers actually get (meaning, how much do I actually make per unit sold)? and so on.

Simply gaining the knowledge--having the insight--you could see that the obstacles before our heroes became clear. And with that clarity, that meant they could start to plan around them. The group was able to look at the problem--seeing the problem as a bunch of solvable puzzles instead of one lump puzzle made of nonsense. It's now real to them. And in that reality, it is made up of component parts. Each part is manageable on its own. And that means that the problem as a whole--is ultimately solvable.

Okay, now I feel like I'm talking in riddles, but the gist is this. The creators in the Comics Experience Creators Workshop got one heck of an advantage now that most creators don't. They're armed to know what they're in for, and their clever enough to make it work.

And the best part is they have each other to help out--to check their calculations--to make sure their estimate of how many units they think they can sell is honest. Together, these creators are going to make great comics, and make money. I'm confident of that now.

If making comics is in your blood, I recommend you join our workshop. Signing up now will allow you to still access tonight's session as a recording and we'd love to meet you on the exclusive message boards and start reviewing your work!

Check out the Workshop and sign up today!

Andy

My Own Book: Step 2

Christmas was awesome at my house this year. New bike with training wheels for Cale. He is taking to it very easily. And roller skates, too. Those are a little tougher it seems, but pretty funny to watch him flail about!

Me? I've already started diving into Ken Bruns's BASEBALL documentaries. I'm two innings in and so far, I'm not disappointed! But really, we're just waiting for baby #2 to arrive in January. So, that's the big thing on the horizon for us.

Oh, right, and what did I do with that time off? Well, I started working on that project I mentioned a week or so ago. So, I started with the initial idea. I expanded on it by fleshing out my characters a bit. Working out their relationships and how they evolved through their lives in a way that was dramatic and made sense.

Then I plopped them into a situation that forces them to work out their differences, or at least confront them. And I'm really torn over the ending. I don't know that it would be possible to have a clearly upbeat ending, but it could have a real downer. I wrote a couple different quick takes, all of which made sense from character perspectives.

Since the work is about something thematically that I feel a strong attachment for, I decided to look at my theme more closely. I developed it a little bit and that helped me figure out how these characters would resolve the situation.

So, like I teach in my classes, I started with an idea, fleshed out the characters and the plot simultaneously and then started moving into the full on plot. Which, is where I still am tonight. It'll probably take me at least another week to get the plot into real shape so that I can start going to script.

Meanwhile, since I'm stupidly going to draw the thing myself, I've started going over different artistic approaches I might take and I think something's starting to gel in my mind. Whether or not I'll be able to even remotely be able to get what's in my head out onto paper is a whole other issue entirely).

Anyway, thought I'd give the quick update on that!

Also, I thought I'd mention that new courses are listed on the website starting up again in March! Great courses with proven track records. If you want to make comics, click on through and sign up for a class today!

Andy

Christmas and Comics!

Why aren't there more Christmas comics? I went to the store today and DC Comics put out a Green Lantern Christmas special. Did I miss the rest? Do comics people hate Christmas? Or is it that it just feels like Christmas every Wednesday when we go to the shop for a new stack of awesome?

Who can say for sure? What I do know is that the comics community is very awesome. And, unfortunately, it's also very small. The industry stands on the shoulders of freelance artists who have genius-level brains and creativity, but don't always have the gift of clairvoyance. Some plans don't pan out and some retirements don't either. Or an illness can clean a man's savings out.

That's what HERO INITIATIVE is for. The homepage describes the initiative this way:

"The Hero Initiative creates a financial safety net for comic creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenueback into paying work. Since inception, the Hero Initiative has been fortunate enough to benefit over 40 creators and their families with over $400,000 worth of much-needed aid, fueled by your contributions! It's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment."

I think in this time of giving, it's worth also considering "giving back." I grew up reading comics from the guys currently needing help. They've given to me with their hard work and their passion and helped fuel my own hard work and passio

n. If you get a chance, and you've got a spare $20 or $50 or $100 or $1000, take a trip over to the Hero Initiative and become a hero yourself.

And of course, Happy Holidays to everyone.

Andy

Working with Others

Seems like I spend more time giving advice to writers than to artists in comics. So, here's something for both. Working with others. You see, for most of us (despite my last blog saying I'm going to do everything myself...), comics is a collaborative process. That means we have to work with others. Here are a couple of things to watch out for:

1. As a writer, you may know what the shot or scene looks like in your head. Getting a layout or final page that is different than you imagined is very common. And it's not necessarily a bad thing. As long as the story is getting told effectively, let the artist do his or her thing.

2. Your script may not contain all the information you need on every panel description. If you can, read the script through twice before you start putting pencil to the page. Make notes on your script. If you see something on page 5 that affects page 3, note it on the script on page 3 so you're sure to include it. As the artist, the bulk of the responsibility of the story actually getting told falls on your shoulders.

3. Color and lettering notes in the script often get missed or ignored. Be patient with this, or if you can, email the whole team separately to make sure they get followed. As the writer (on creator-owned work in particular) your work and involvement does not end when you hand over a script. Be proactive, without being annoying to your creative team. Offer help.

4. If there is a disagreement between creators, if you've got an editor, this is a great time for him to step up and settle (or even better, prevent) arguments. A key role for the editor is to prevent the creators from getting agitated at one another. If you don't have an editor, remember this, don't email angry. Getting angry doesn't do anyone any good and blurs whatever the issue at hand is. Calm down, then write a tactful email.

Remember, this is a partnership of storytelling. Treating everyone on the creative team with respect, and considering all of their ideas, is always a good thing. As the writer or the artist, you probably have a clear vision, but that doesn't mean that others aren't talented or invested. In fact, the more they're considered and appreciated and their ideas are incorporated, the more "into the project" they become. And that's a great thing for everyone involved and the reader, too!

So there you go! If you're working with others, a lot of problems can and probably will come up. Keep these things in mind as you continue to work through them and you probably WILL work through them. Many a good project have met an end by creators arguing. And that stinks for everyone.

Happy holidays, everyone.

Andy

The Undertaking

I'm not going to lie--this probably won't happen. But, two nights ago I wrote a one page treatment for a story that I intend to write (no big deal there), pencil (yikes), ink (this will be messy), color (I can do this, I can do this), and letter (Thank you, Dave!).

My intention is this: a full story that's mine 100%. I got a great taste of working on something personal to myself and something that I own with "FIVE DAYS TO DIE" and I absolutely loved feeling like it was mine (because it is--with Chee, of course).

Also, if I'm teaching all these things (or offering classes on them), the least I can do is give it all a try personally, right? I don't want to seem disingenuous, after all. I'll give periodic updates on the blog of how progress goes. As I'll be doing this completely in my spare time (what spare time?), I imagine that this will take me the better part of two years for a single issue. But hey, I can play

the long game!

Right now, I'll be work shopping my premise and outline into shape and then crafting the script. The story revolves around baseball, so I've got a bit of research to do before I dive in

to it fully, but that's research I should enjoy since I like baseball.

But I've also got to start looking into things like:

• What pencils and brushes or pens am I comfortable using?
• What's the best kind of paper for me to use? 3 ply, 4, 2? I've got a lot of experimenting to do.
• What ink should I use? Should I experiment with a wash effect?
• I'll probably need to get an artist table to do this.
• I'll definitely need a scanner, and I will be making copies of all my pencils for when Iinevitably ruin them with my horrendous inking.
• I need to start building a color palette in Photoshop for coloring work.
• And I need to pick a font or fonts and start building caption boxes and such.

So many questions, so much to do. But I've found a story that I think will

be a lot of fun to work on. And I grew up talking baseball with my dad, so even though this isn't based on my childhood, it's still got a personal nature to me, so I want to take care.

Should I finish the project myself and think it's really worthy of publication, I may have to hire someone else to pencil and ink it for publication, but that's okay, and frankly, that's not the point. I've wanted to do this for a long time, and there's not time like the present (or so I'm told).

Anyone interested in making comics should consider a Comics Experience course or the Creators Workshop.

So, wish me luck. I'm going to need it.

Andy

How to budget your comic book

I love making comics. As an editor, a writer, and hopefully one day, as an artist. I love everything about the creative process about making comics. I love to create characters and create superheroes, and I love to draw comics. But you know what I don't love? Budgeting a comic...

And you know what? I don't know anyone who does like to budget a comic. In a publishing house, the process of budgeting a comic is called the P&L Process. P&L stands for Profit & Loss. So, the idea is simple, do a search for similar or comparable projects and see what they roughly sold and then look at yours so you can get a pretty good guess.

There are a lot of factors that go into how well a book is going to sell. Just as an example, the exact same project published by Marvel is going to sell higher than if it were sold under, say, the Dark Horse banner. That's just the way of the world, folks. But there are tons of other factors to consider: creators, concept, characters, marketing opportunities, price, etc.

Once you've got an idea of what it's going to sell, then you need to figure out how you're going to make money on the project, and that's not always that easy. First issues sell better than second issues, and second issues sell better than third issues, and so on. So, you need to factor in the right kind of sales decline (I hate that term).

You add up your creative costs, of course. What are you paying people for producing the pages of your comics. Your advertising and listing costs if you've got those. Your printing costs (and that can be tricky, too).

You mix it all up and you come up with a number at the end of your oh-so-awesome-spreadsheet. If that number has a minus sign in front of it, it's time to look at what you can adjust. If you're in the black, you ask how you can make it even more profitable.

Now, that's just the basic overview. If you want the opportunity to ask questions, see one of these sheets in operation, and go in depth in how to do all this, then you've got yourself a cool opportunity coming up in just under two weeks. I'll be hosting the live and online session of the Comics Experience Creators Workshop in which I'll be spending the better part of two hours going over exactly this.

It'll be a great opportunity to get learn how to make comics, and not just make comics, but make profitable comics.

So, hop on over to the Workshop page and sign on up! Not only will you get to participate in this workshop, but you'll have opportunities to really grow as a creator--writer or artist or colorist--participate in monthly challenges, compete for critiques on your art and writing by professional comics creators, and much, much more.

Here's a link to read more! I hope to see you there!

Andy

John Layman and Rob Guillory join the book club!

Sorry for my so lame lack of posts lately, but I kind of have to talk about this. Hot off their Eisner win for best series, John Layman and Rob Guillory joined our book club last night to discuss their ongoing series called CHEW.

Now this is no ordinary comic. It's about a cannibalistic detective... sort of. It's about a woman so gifted with her writing skills, that when she writes about food, the reader can actually taste what she's talking about. It's about aliens in space doing weird things. It's about a bird flu epidemic that made the FDA the most powerful government agency on Earth.

And can you believe, no one wanted to publish it?

Layman and Guillory have certainly proved their detractors wrong with the huge and home-grown success of CHEW. And it's because it's a project they believed in--even when no one else did.

And that's a lot of what they talked to the Comics Experience Creators Workshop about in last night's book club meeting. Sure, we talked about all the clever stuff in the book, like how being vomited on was used as an ultimate declaration of love, but we also talked with John and Rob about how they got started, why they pursued this book in particular, and why, oh why, did John agree to join us when he was headed to New York the next day for signings (knowing all along he would be in big trouble with Mrs. Layman).

These two creators managed to be both informative and inspirational with our workshop members and we're happy they came.

If you're interested in the Workshop and book club (now combined into the workshop together for one price), check it out. Our next guest speaker is going to be Jason Aaron and we'll be discussing his book SCALPED. And before that, we're going to discuss Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting's CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER, and SCOTT PILGRIM.

If you love comics or are interested in creating them--or both, I hope you'll consider joining us soon. This is too good to pass up!

And in case it wasn't clear, we all want to thank John and Rob for stopping by!

Andy

Eagel Award Winner!

Wow, that's cool to write! As it turns out, my book "The Insider's Guide to Creating Comics and Graphic Novels" just won the Eagle Award for "Favorite Book About Comics." My book was up against some pretty great competition, so I honestly didn't think I had a chance of winning it, but I'll take it! It's really awesome to have a book like this recognized. It has been the most difficult undertaking in my career in comics and this seems like a cool way to find out that it's had an impact. Thanks to everyone who supported the book and me throughout the years.

And I'm not knocking the award itself, but what makes me feel even better is getting notes directly from people who have read the book. Who were inspired by the book, who used the book, who learned from it. That's the really great thing. I got this note just the other day:

"I owe my entrance into Zuda to Andy's book. It was my bible when I wrote that script. It is, literally, the most complete book on the topic of making comics." That was written by Janine Frederick, who is also a Comics Experience alum. And every time I go to a convention, someone mentions this book and how it helped them in some way. That is a really amazing thing to hear, and while it's not why I teach, it's a really inspiring bit of feedback to receive.

If you're into comics and want to check the book out, you can find it here on Amazon or contact me directly, and I can autograph it and send it to you (but it's full price plus shipping if I do it...).

Thanks again to everyone who has supported me and Comics Experience and, of course, to the Eagle Awards. I'd like to think you chose wisely...

Andy

Comics and Movies

So why don't big hit movies make more sales in comics? Or why is it that when folks see an X-MEN movie and then go to a comic shop that they don't instantly share my obsession with the medium? Or at least with the characters?

Well, Marvel Entertainment main-stay Ben Morse, the former Wizard reporter, has written an article on just such a topic. I recommend you check it out. He says a lot of great things here at The Faster Times which boil down to, "Most folks just don't know what comics to pick up" and he suggests some good ones.

Read his article, and then circle back here for a minute for my two cents...

Beyond not knowing the specific trade paperback to read, there is also a problem of market saturation of titles--and I am far from innocent on this, myself. I publish three or four G.I. JOE titles per month. And the same for TRANSFORMERS, so when a fan of the movie, or cartoon, or toy walks into a shop and wants to see where the story lives on a month-in-and-month-out basis, how are they supposed to know which comic to pick up?

Look at WOLVERINE or even SPIDER-MAN or BATMAN, they've all got seven or more comics every month. How does a novice or new reader have any idea which one to buy? I'm starting to consider literally putting a bar across the top that reads: "New to TRANSFORMERS comics? BUY THIS ONE!" or some such thing. It's not a bad idea, honestly. It'd help retailers just as much as it would prospective fans.

Title saturation has become more talked about lately. Especially with Marvel and DC Comics announcing their drop in retail prices. We're asking a smaller and smaller audience to spend more and more money. Is it possible that the shrinking comics market is due to comics publishers pushing too hard on its most loyal customers?

Would it be better for the comics market--and most importantly to potential new readers--if there was just one Marvel continuity? If there was just one Wolverine comic, or one Batman comic? Maybe it would come out weekly or perhaps every issue would be double-sized? I don't know--anyway you slice it it means revenue goes down for the publisher, which in turn means revenue goes down for retailers... and most retailers can't afford to lose much more revenue. It's a catch-22 for sure. But anyway, at least Ben answered the awesome question, "Now that my friends have seen THE DARK KNIGHT, here's what they should read!"

Thanks, Ben!

Andy

Andy Earns Haller Award at NYCC!

In a stunning surprise and honor, I was given a Haller Award at the New York Comic Con this year. The Haller Awards are given out by the Comics Artist Guild to a select few and I'm amazed to be counted among them, especially in this category.

I'm not exactly known for my "indy" credentials widely. In fact, it's hard to get "indy cred" once you've worked for Marvel Comics and on major licensed books like X-Men and Transformers. But, since I founded Comics Experience in 2007, I've been working steadily with indy creators. To say that I was shocked to receive an award for "Outstanding Contribution to the Comics Industry" is putting it mildly.

Fortunately, Comics Experience alumnus Joe Sergi (Creator of "Sky Girl") was there to give me the award and do a presentation which you can watch here. Sadly, I wasn't able to be at the presentation as I had to get on a plane to make it back in time for another Comics Experience Class!

So, again, I'd like to thank The Comics Artist Guild, the fans, and everyone who has taken the leap into a Comics Experience course or the Creators Workshop for their time, faith, and support.

Andy

What's Coming Up This Month!

Thought some folks might want a report on what's been going on lately:

Our first two months of Comics Experience Creators Workshop are coming to a close and we've been steadily growing, which is awesome. We've had two live sessions where scripts were critiqued by me and we've had general discussions about breaking into comics and the changes the industry is undergoing right now--from Wildstorm closing, to layoffs, to new opportunities.

But what's really exciting is that each month one writer gets his work reviewed by a working comics writer. JD Oliva was the lucky recipient of a script review from PETER DAVID (Hulk, X-Factor, Supergirl, etc.) and now Don McMillan is having his script reviewed by JASON AARON (Scalped, Wolverine, Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine). Who will be the lucky winner next month?! Could be you!

We also had both CHRISTOS GAGE and CHRIS SAMNEE join us for our book club review of AREA 10, their Vertigo Crime Noir graphic novel that was just awesome. And in just two weeks we'll be looking at and dissecting JOE HILL and GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ's LOCKE & KEY: WELCOME TO LOVE CRAFT. Great pick for Halloween month!

The book club has also started a movie night. They started last month with DAREDEVIL--a fun night of... analysis... was had by all. And just this week they reviewed MANHUNTER by MICHAEL MANN.

We're a few weeks into ROBERT ATKINS's (Amazing Spider-Man, G.I. Joe) INTRODUCTION TO COMIC BOOK ART class, which has just been phenomenal. KLAUS JANSON (Daredevil, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns) will be stopping by Monday night to give portfolio reviews to the class--how cool is that?!

We began our LETTERING AND PRODUCTION class with DAVE SHARPE (Marvel, DC Comics, and every other publisher ever). And of course CHRIS SOTOMAYOR is currently wrapping up the INTRODUCTION TO COMIC BOOK COLORING class for his third time in a row!

There's a ton going on here at Comics Experience! So if you've ever thought about joining us, do it now! Get in while the getting's good! Lot's of fun! Tons to learn! And in a supportive, encouraging, and professional environment!

Andy

Education Explosion!

So, I know I've been lacking with the blog lately, and I apologize, but it's because Comics Experience is doing more than it ever has before. We just wrapped up another sold-out Intro to Comics Writing class and we're doing the Intro to Comic Book Art class and starting up Lettering and Production this Wednesday (you can still sign up!).

I thought this wouldn't be too tough to do all of this all at one time. Boy, was I wrong. And the creators workshop is in full swing as is the book club. We recently had Christos N. Gage and Chris Samnee come to the book club and talk about AREA 10, their excellent Vertigo book. And Peter David just reviewed a script for the Creators Workshop.

Pulling this all together is work, as it turns out. It's fun for me, but the idea is to make sure that anyone who joins the creators workshop, never has a reason to leave it. And that the group as a whole function to support one another.

It's been an eye-opening experience for me, so far, and an extremely rewarding one, seeing the scripts come in, seeing people tackle the artist and writers challenges and networking with one another.

Unfortunately, that means I haven't had time to blog as much lately. I'm trying to change that this week. Trying to hit three blogs this week (let's see if I can make that happen...).

But my point is, I've been really impressed and inspired by the talented people in both the classes and the workshop. And one day, if you want to make comics, I hope you'll join us.

Andy

Classes Under Way!

Intro to Comics Art and Intro to Comics Coloring started this week and they are both well-attended and off to great starts.

This is a very exciting time to be a part of Comics Experience. We've got more classes and more students (or clients, if you prefer) than ever before. I've been enjoying being a part of the classes and look forward to them immensely.

And now, with the Comics Creators Workshop now, there's a way to keep the learning going and the helpful critiques continuing indefinitely.

And some new initiatives are in the works that could be mind blowing. I think we've got a wave of great stuff happening right now with the enthusiastic and knowledgeable instructors and the new programs.

I've been reading a lot of scripts and looking at a lot of art and it's just been great. The growth and style these guys have is tremendous and only one week in I can already see the classes starting to gel. It's great.

If you've ever considered a course, obviously, I'm going to recommend them. But to my credit, I've not yet had a dissatisfied student. This is a lot of fun and very informative.

And worth just saying thank you to everyone who has supported Comics Experience so far. Thanks for everything.

Andy

REVIEWS ARE IN AND THEY'RE GOOD!

Holy awesome! Many a review went up about 5 DAYS TO DIE #1 last week and they're all really great! Check them out! And if you haven't yet (if you read this blog regularly, you should already have read it!), then check out issues 1 and 2 a your store this week!

Check out these awesome reviews to convince you...

Broken Frontier
Newsarama (scroll down a bit)
iFanboy
Indie Pulp
Kitty's Pryde
Ascension Comics
Exploring the Multiverse

And I have to say, I'm extraordinarily flattered by all of this.

Andy

Intro to Art and Intro to Coloring start next week!

Wow. Today was amazing. My creator-owned book came out today. And I'm amazed with the reviews and feedback so far. People seem to really like it, which is awesome. But more on that later. Tonight, I want to talk about my real passion and that's teaching these courses and helping new comics creators express themselves! Let's talk about the classes we're offering right now.

INTRODUCTION TO COMIC BOOK ART is taught by myself and Robert Atkins. Robert's been teaching and drawing comics for years and he's not only a top-notch storyteller, respected professional, and popular artist, he's also one of the most generous people I know. I can't wait to start this class with him on MONDAY! Don't miss out, folks. This is a real opportunity for you to learn how to do comics for real and in just six short weeks. Totally worth it. Sign up for it now.

Also starting next week, is Chris Sotomayor's INTRODUCTION TO COMIC BOOK COLORING class which has just gotten a huge response from the people who have taken it. I was amazed that people with little to zero Photoshop skill could jump in and have good, quality, professional colored pages by the end. I mean, really, really, amazed. When he and I designed the class a year ago, I just didn't think that was likely. I didn't think it would happen. But man, he proved me wrong.

Much like Robert, Soto as he's known, is also extremely generous (with a mildly more potty-mouth, I'll admit) but a totally awesome guy and also respected within the industry. He's helped many a working colorist get their start already, and he loves to see artists succeed and do what they love. This class starts next Thursday and is totally worth it as well.

Coming soon, we've got the LETTERING AND PRODUCTION class which, as a writer, is a pays-for-itself course. Letter your own books and do the production work on them, and you will save yourself tons of cash! True for artists, obviously as well.

This one is taught by Dave Sharpe, who has lettered for every publisher under the sun. Also a great guy, hard working, honest, and genuinely happy to help and work in comics. LETTERING AND PRODUCTION starts at the end of September. And you can sign up now for it as well.

The next INTRODUCTION TO WRITING course starts the first week of November.






INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL AND TRADITIONAL INKING also starts the first week of November. It's taught by myself and Jonathan Glapion. Jonathan, like the others on this list is honest, hard working, and is set up and ready to go. In the last few years, Jonathan has really been leading the charge legitimizing digital inking as a valid artistic expression. His digital inks are just as good as anyone's traditional inks--including his own!

This is a real bonus for artists who want to ink themselves and get that extra cash in pocket or for anyone who wants to learn to communicate with inkers in a real and engaging way. I can't stress enough how cool this class is going to be. I'm really looking forward to it myself!

So if you're looking for a place to learn the craft of making comics, Comics Experience is it. These guys are all bound by the same rules I started on myself--it has to be a class I would want to take, it has to be filled with information and technique, it has to teach a methodology to getting the work done while still allowing the students to express themselves artistically. And most of all, it has to be an honest and encouraging environment.

So jump on in to a Comics Experience course and get your comics career started today!

Andy

5 DAYS TO DIE - Out This Week!

Here we are, the week of 5 DAYS TO DIE #1. The book is weekly, so don't miss this one, folks! I've poured my heart and soul into it, so I sure hope it doesn't suck!

The first review I've seen for it is here. And it got a 5 out of 5! So that's pretty sweet.

I don't really know what to say, but I thought this might be an interesting time to talk about what this feels like. I've been working in comics as an editor since early 2002, and as a writer since 2007. 5 DAYS TO DIE is my first creator-owned comic.

And unlike anything I've worked on before, this is terrifying. For one thing, it just feels like it's you, not a piece of work, but YOU that people are reading. So when it gets read, they are reading YOU. There's no big company to hide behind. This is what I did. This is what Chee, the amazing artist and co-creator did with ME. So if people don't like it, it's going to feel like they don't like ME--me as a member of the human race or something.

Also, I've conned a publisher (IDW Publishing) into thinking this will do well for them. And I work for them. I've pitched two other comics to them before and they love me so much, they said no to both (which, to be honest, is something I really respect and am glad they wouldn't greenlight something just because I work there). But if 5 DAYS TO DIE didn't perform or is poorly received, I don't have Hasbro to hind behind. Again, this is me, so if it goes poorly, I have to answer to them--personally. I can just feel Darth Vader's force crushing my windpipe now (not that anyone at IDW is like Darth Vader, but occasionally there is mysterious heavy breathing in the office, which totally creeps me out).

But I think ultimately, I'm terrified because it's not just that it feels like it's me on the line, to some extent it is. I wrote earlier about my relationship with my son Cale and how this comic is in some way a part of that. A part of my guilt over some of those feelings during his first year with us. And I've even put some of that in issue #1 itself. And the absolute most terrifying thought to me is that 5 DAYS TO DIE means something personal to me. It's about my son and me and how we are together. And if it comes off hammy, or over-the-top, or insincere, or overly sentimental and causing groans from the readership, then it is my expression of something very personal that people are laughing at.

I think it's probably like that dream I've always heard about (but never had) where someone is being laughed at by all their classmates only to realize in the dream that the person is standing there naked. I think this is what that would feel like, only I fear that it would just be a mighty cold day, to boot.

So, that all being said, there it is. There I am, all on the line in 22 pages in your comic shop this Wednesday. And on Wednesday night, I'll announce something pretty cool here on this blog that has to do with 5 DAYS TO DIE and a special offer.

Hope you all pick up the book on Wednesday and let me know what you think. As horrified as I am at hearing or reading your thoughts, I can't resist wanting to know anyway!

Andy

Technology and comics

I am writing this from my new iPad. FOrgive the typos as ia get used to this device. Wow, that looks terrible, and yet it is a perfect metaphor for what Im thinking about right now. Technology doesn't by its own nature improve or degrade comics. There are some eventualities. Or maybe even pitfalls if we want to call them that.

The truth is, technology usually does one or more of four things: it makes a current device smaller, taking up less physical space. This iPad does that quite nicely. Heck, this keyboard is smaller and even though it's driving me nuts, it's an improvement to lugging my laptop around--I think.

Secondly, new technologies will make accomplishing a goal faster or easier. That one is pretty self explanatory. If you know anything about how comics are produced, you know that something link Photoshop made coloring comics a ton faster. And a lot easier.

Third, new technology should improve accuracy. Again, Photoshop makes for a good example when applied to coloring

The last thing new tech tends to do is make something cheeper. Some form of production of the comic becomes less expensive--in some cases, simply making a process faster, makes it cheeper. We've seen this with lettering when it went digital. There are fewer letterers in the business now abut they're probably earning about what they would had digital lettering not developed. And those who didn't want to convert to digital find themselves almost completely out of work.

I'm not passing a moral judgement here. I'm just gating the facts as I see them. .

And now here I am in 2010 and buying an iPad becAuse I'm worried of getting left behind. Comics Experience depends on the best technology to keep course personal. And this month vie been working with both rob Anderson and John barber to make the technology even better

Were launching our writers workshop on August 1st and the artists workshop on September 1st. And to do that, we've create members only forums. Added a lot of stuff to do them to make the groups interactive, personal, easy to use and a lot of fun--never lose sight of the fun of comics!

And I don't love learning how to use the latest technology and I'm personally still pretty far behind the curve, but I'm determined to get there. Or else I'll be left behind as a comics professional and a teacher. So, for the betterment of my editorial duties, my business, and the comics industry, I'm embracing the changes coming to comics.

And I think in the case of Comics Experience, it's making for a better, more personal, more complete experience.

I'll probably post up about digital comics soon, but maybe after I learn how to type on this darn thing!

Check out the website for details on the ongoing writers and artists workshops. They're truly amazing.

Andy

Post Con Advice

So I'm exhausted from the Con. So is everyone else, but try to find the time to do these things:

1. Drop an email to the contacts you made. Remind them who you are and what you talked about. Put your contact information in the email.

2. Ask if you can talk with them further and if this is the best way to contact them.

3. You might also ask if there is someone else they recommend that you speak with.

4. Research the people that you met--what they work on, what their specific roll is, etc.

5. Relax. Give them time to respond. If you haven't heard back in 10 days, give another touch out.

6. Make a list of things that you did that worked at the show.

7. Make a list of things that didn't work for you at the show.

8. Make a list of what you can do next time to make more of the show while you're there.

9. Organize all of your new contacts in a place and way that you can get them easily. If using contacts on a computer, put notes in the contacts so you know who they are, when you met, and why you're entering them into your contact list--you will forget all of these things :)

10. If you're a writer who linked up with a writer or an artist, take it easy. It's exciting that you may work with someone, but it's a lot like dating. Take your time and make sure that this is the right person for your project. They'll be doing the same.

Those are my quick post-con thoughts. They're probably not much as my brain is completely fried.

Hope it helps a bit though.

Andy

Con advice from my Twitter feed

Okay, so the title ain't snappy, but I've been Tweeting a lot of information on breaking in for writers and artists lately. This was all tweeted quickly and off the cuff, but it's a good example of the kinds of things you can get from following us. You can follow me on twitter as @ComicExperience.

Here's some tidbits I threw together today! Please check 'em out and explore the site. Sign up for the newsletter as we're announcing a few new programs right after San Diego Comic-Con. Thanks for stopping by.


General Advice for creators:

Keep a small notebook with you. Write down what you talk about with folks so when you reach out after the con you can remind them who you are.

Know your terminology. Understand how printing works. Bleed area, trim, trapping--all that stuff.

@mercwithataco asked how to get work to editors at Marvel and DC without going to a con: Your own website is good. A blog. I don't like Deviant Art, but some people do. But really, you want to make a connection with an editor at Marvel or DC. That's really helpful there. And get some work published first elsewhere.

A comic that is NOT owned by a company but by the creators themselves. RT @mercwithataco: @ComicExperience wats a creator-owned project?

Get your editor on your side. A lot of people tend to want to fight with an editor. Don't. We're there to help you tell your story.

At shows in particular, editors can be gruff. It's not you, I promise. But even on day 1 of a show, we can get exhausted pretty quickly. If you get that vibe from one of us, don't take it personally and don't hold it against him or her. And try back later.

You can always start with comics. If you've done research, you can find out what he worked on. RT @AyeQue: @ComicExperience talk about what?

Have a business card ready. And if you've got decent conversation with an editor or publisher, ask for their contact info before you go.

If you've got evidence of a professional manner (hitting deadlines, quality work, printed material) have that ready.

And while I'm spewing all of this out: remember all these rules, but THIS ONE ABOVE ALL: Relax. We all have comics in common.



For Writers:

When talking with editors, try to have a normal conversation. Remember, we're there to talk with you. We want to meet new creators.

If the conversation goes off topic, LET IT. I'm going to talk comics with a million dudes, but you may be the only one I talk baseball with.

The con is not a great place to pitch a story unless you already know the editor or publisher. What you want, is a good conversation and the OK for a follow up call or email later on. So be sure to ask if that's okay and for their contact info.

Know whom you're talking with. If you're talking to Marvel, they don't want your creator-owned project. If you're talking with IDW we don't do a lot of superhero stuff. Know not just the publisher, but also the individual you're talking to.

How do I get that information on the individual? Easy! Ask them. Most folks are happy to talk about what they do. And then you'll know.

More writer advice: You don't have to be "clever" when you're talking to me. Just be clever in your writing.

If you have a written pitch, do NOT force it onto everyone. Have it ready if you get the genuine sense someone is interested. You'll know.

Do research, if you're a writer. Some writers love it, some hate it. If you hate it, doesn't mean it's not important you don't need to know every single issue of a character's long publishing history, but know the basics and know some current stuff.

If writing a pitch for your own creation, give the premise, the story, the characters in it. And by story, I mean, include an ending. The most annoying pitches I got while at Marvel were for Spider-Man Unlimited in which people would end it with "Does Spidey get out alive?" It’s like this: I'm the editor. Working for the company that owns Spider-Man. Yes, he's going to get out alive. I'm sure of it. More importantly, how can I properly evaluate your pitch without seeing how the beginning and middle wrap up? It's impossible and creates extra steps to get to "go."



For Pencilers:
Some tips for artists: your portfolio doesn't have to be huge. It can be short, in fact. One cover and three sequential pages can nail it.

If you're getting a portfolio review, be open to feedback. The days of getting jobs at the con are almost gone. Make a good impression.

If you're not an inker, don't ink your work. Good inking is hard to spot. But bad inking takes the pencils down with it. Same for color.

Don't be nervous. As an artist you have two huge advantages over writers: 1) We need more of you. and 2) I can like your work instantly.

If you have the time and the forethought, prepare different samples for different kinds of publishers.



For Inkers:

RT @Jeff_Mccomsey: @ComicExperience what about folks who ink their own work. I'm looking to ink my own pencils. What should I know?

@Jeff_Mccomsey Have your script that you draw from with you. Keep copies of your pencils. You may not be in a position to judge your own inks. So you want to allow for the option of just penciling or just inking. Why limit yourself?

If you excel at one you'll get your chance to do the other. And I can always recommend a good penciling or inking class ;)



For Colorists:

Depends. Colorists have to be versatile. RT @jameslfreelance: @ComicExperience how many piece should a colorist have in his/her portfolio

@jameslfreelance I'd recommend anything that looks really good and is the kind of work you like. No use getting yourself jobs you don't want.

@jameslfreelance But also remember only to show your absolute best work. Bring the inks you worked from so we can see the before & after.

@jameslfreelance I'll get a good sense of what a colorist can do in as few as three samples. I rarely reverse my opinion after three pages.

One more for colorists, feel free to show your colors on an iPad or laptop. Color projected can be much more vibrant than color reflected.



For Letterers:

Hand lettering is all but dead now. But (didn't see the but coming, did you) the greatest letterers learned their craft by hand lettering. I'm not saying you need to know how to do it, because you don't. But you need to study it. Understand what makes good lettering.

You're in a visual medium and a lot of the "visual" on the page is made up of your work as a letterer.

You've got to know how to flow balloons properly across a page, not just for reading order (which is key) but also to lead the eye into the story properly.

You've got to understand how to work WITH the art. You're going to impact the final product in a huge way, so you've got to think about each page as a composition of art. You've also got to figure out how to change your style to fit appropriate projects.

If going to the show for lettering work, do the research. It's not going to do you a lot of good to go to a place that does lettering in house.

Also, have a packet of lettering samples showing your versatility in styles as well as demonstrating you know how lettering works as a visual component.



For Editors:
Editors is interesting. Few publishers go to cons looking for editors, but... RT @JoshuaLazarus: @ComicExperience Editors! :-)

Most editors are way over-worked. I'd go in looking for creative solutions. You probably won't get hired as assistant or full editor quickly. But you might start looking for ways you can help out with a publisher.

Talk to folks there and see what they really need. If you've got something you can offer that they need, that might work.

If you're in school and can do an internship in editorial, that's great. That's one way I got into editing.


For Publishers:
That's a great one. RT (retweet) @ChicoFiesta425: @ComicExperience tips for people who wanna start their own little company one day.

@ChicoFiesta425 I'm not a publisher, but I've worked for some. And one thing IDW did that was really smart was start by doing something else first. They did creative service jobs before tackling full on publishing (which has a lot of business problems up front).

Publishers have to deal with things like setting print runs, which is really hard to do. Setting an appropriate budget for a project without prior experience is nigh impossible. So the best advice is to do tons and tons of research. Talk to different printers.

I'd look into Haven, not just immediately go with Diamond. I'd work with creators who can meet deadlines so that you can hopefully keep your cash flow coming in. SOme companies go under because they can't get their money back when freelancers take too long. There are too many potential pitfalls to count.

That all said, I can tell you that few things outside of being a husband or father are as rewarding as running your own business and Comics Experience is a small business by any standard, but it's mine. When it succeeds, I succeed (and I don't just mean financially).

Agreed. RT @JD_Oliva: Running your own bus is great. There's something rewarding about being able to pay your bills & doing it YOUR way.

Also agreed. I freelanced for a while. That's tough.RT @JD_Oliva: On the flipside, when it's your only source of income and you fail...eek!


Closing:
Thanks for reading. I hope this is helpful. Swing by for one of our upcoming workshops or courses. And again, sign up for our newsletter (we don't send it often) and follow us on Twitter!

Thanks and good luck at the shows!

Andy

How to Work a Convention

Decided now is a good time to re-run this blog before San Diego Comic Con. Some good tips on Convention going! This was originally posted about six months ago, just FYI. Get ready and good luck!

Andy

As a former editor at Marvel Comics and a current editor at IDW Publishing, the question I get asked the most is how do writers and artists break into comics. Good question and the truth is there is no one right way. No one proven way to always break into comics.

But there are certainly strategies. I’ll be posting tips on the topic periodically on the blog and now seems like a good time to start. We had our last night of class for the online writing group tonight and it was awesome. We spent most of the night talking about exactly this topic. So, if you find this useful, you can thank the latest Intro to Comics Writing class for asking it.

CONVENTIONS!

When going to a convention to meet creators and publishers and/or have your work evaluated, do yourself a huge favor and do research before you go. Almost every convention has a map of the floor plan so you can know where the people and companies you want to meet with are located. Print it out. Mark a planned path. And mark a path for each day.

Don’t get too ambitious. You probably won’t be able to see everyone, especially at a larger convention. But mark your path. This will help you maximize your time on the floor so you’re not walking back and forward between places all day long. It also means you won’t in the thick of it all forget that there was a publisher or creator you wanted to meet and you just never saw them or him or her. It means you have a strategy.

Also review the lists of creators and publishers attending. If you’re interested in getting work at a publisher, look them up on the Internet and find out what kind of things they publish. If it looks at all interesting to you or you think what you write or illustrate might fit in their publishing plans, go get some of their books and get familiar with the work. It allows you to speak intelligently about their products so you can help ease any conversation you may have.

Conventions are a great place to network and make contacts and talk business—but little is more frustrating than meandering around aimlessly only to find out the people you really wanted to see were 10 feet away and you had no idea…

Hope this helps.

Andy

Introduction to Coloring - Enrollment open!

The first class old out fast, and this one is already on its way to do the same. Unlike our recent announcements about the new lettering and inking courses, we've already done a coloring class. And Chris Sotomayor, colorist of AVENGERS, SUPREME POWER, BATMAN and countless other great comics, is back for more!

Chris's reputation withing the industry is unparalleled. He's helped start the careers of dozens of colorists already! The most recent additions to that list are a few Comics Experience Coloring Course alumni.

I took the course when Chris first taught it and he's amazing. Absolutely astounding. But let's hear from him. I asked him a few questions recently and here's what he had to say:

Andy Schmidt: Soto, so why come back and do the coloring class a second time?

Chris Sotomayor: There's actually a lot of different reasons for this, but I'll limit it to just a couple of the main points.

Firstly, when I was coming up in the comic business, there was no real internet, like there is now. All the internet was, was text and crappy porn. Nowadays, it's a great resource, and you can find information on anything. One of the snags though, is that most of it is peer to peer information. So the information you're getting may not totally be 100% accurate, and is at least suspect to people's opinions (meaning that some people may not think painting is important to learning photoshop, so they pass that information by). What this class allows, is for me to teach people the right way from the ground up. I'm teaching this class as an art class, that uses PhotoShop as the tool of creativity, so you get the proper foundation, and not just learn how to use the lasso tool.

Secondly, I love "cutting edge" stuff. I like to be in on things on the ground floor I love trying new things. This class is all of those things. This is different from those tutorial DVDs (or to a much lesser extent, books) which provide you with one image to color, and show you how to color that particular image. With this class, it's fully interactive, and done in real time. I teach techniques and approaches that work on everything. And best of all, you can get answers to your questions right there. Have you tried asking one of those DVDs a question? It ain't easy to get an answer.

Andy Schmidt: How were you able to deal with the different levels of familiarity with Photoshop from the original class? I mean, how were you able to catch the real beginners up without boring the folks who already had experience coloring?

Chris Sotomayor: When we designed this course, it was very important to start from the bottom, under the assumption that no one knows anything, but still make it interesting for those that may already be familiar with some of the more basic aspects. An important part of that is building in certain "wow" moments so that everyone can can something new in every class session. I think there's probably the most information (and the most important information) on the second day of class. That seems to be the one where everything starts to make sense and I hear the most "oohs" & "ahhs". That's seems to be a defining class and sets the tone of what everyone will be learning.

Andy Schmidt: Does someone have to know Photoshop to take the class?

Chris Sotomayor: Absolutely not. We really start this from the very ground up. All you have to know is how to start up PhotoShop. I'll take you through every part of the tools and what they do, and what you'd use them for right from day one. And remember, if you're still not clear on it, you can ask questions and get real answers. My goal is that at the end of each class, everyone walks away with complete understanding of what they just learned. And the home work assignments are designed to reenforce what you learn in class, so you have a working understanding of how these things are applied in the actual work. "No student left behind".

Andy Schmidt: Ultimately, is coloring about know Photoshop? What is it YOU look for first when evaluating someone's digital coloring skill?

Chris Sotomayor: Knowing PhotoShop is great (heck, knowing anything is great), but is nowhere near the beginning or end of anything. Anyone can learn PhotoShop. There's plenty of classes and books on that. What I teach is an art class. That's the real emphasis. Creating art using PhotoShop. You have to have the foundation and sensibilities to be able to apply the different principals of painting and art. Using PhotoShop as an extension of that is what separates this course from other books, DVDs, and online tutorials.

Andy Schmidt: Anything else you'd like to add about the course or about coloring in general?

Chris Sotomayor: Aside from the things that I mentioned, there's a few other really important aspects of this course. Part of taking this course, is that you will have a packet of hi resolution black & white artwork to use for the homework assignments. Artwork from all of the big publishers. Marvel, DC, Image, & IDW. All with an amazing range of material to color. All of which you will use to build your portfolio, step by step.

Also, all the classes are recorded so that the students can review them at their leisure, in case they discover there's something they didn't quite understand the first time it was discussed. So, although I teach the class once a week, you can continue taking each class as many times as you want, whenever you want (Recordings are available from a streaming website during the six weeks of the course for class members --AS).

And there's one other thing that I really enjoy, that was really something we didn't plan on. As I taught this class the first time, I noticed that there was an interesting peer tutoring dynamic that the students developed on their own during the time between classes. Everyone seemed very open to discussing ideas and approaches, and even gathering questions. This was something that I hadn't counted on, and something that I thought added a new and very interesting level to the course. I honestly don't think you can get this kind of experience from anything out there today.

Andy Schmidt: As always, thanks for joining the Comics Experience. We're glad to have you on board and look forward to seeing what your new students can do!

Check out the courses page for details on the class!

Hope to see you there!

Andy

San Diego ComicCon Panels!

Hey, folks,
Comics Experience has got FOUR great panels for people interested in working in comics. Take a look at the schedule and descriptions below. Dates, times, and room numbers all included. Don't be the late!

Thursday, July 22

5:30-6:30 -- Creating The New Mythology -- Room 30CDE

Join top comic creators Peter David (Incredible Hulk, X-Factor) and Marc Guggenheim (Wolverine, Resurrection) as they reveal the ins and outs of working within creative teams—and how those relationships lead to the creation of today’s modern myths and what it means to be working in mythology! Presented by Comics Experience’s Andy Schmidt (X-Men, Annihilation).

Friday, July 23

4:00-5:00pm -- Breaking into Comics -- Room 30CDE

A bold first step into breaking into comics starts here. Top comics creators Mike Costa (G.I. Joe: Cobra, The Authority: Jack Hawksmoor, Transformers) and Reilly Brown (Cable & Deadpool, The Incredible Hercules) discuss the ins and outs of the comic industry—specifically, what it takes to break in and how it’s done! Solid and sound advice on what it takes and how to get started! Don’t miss it! Presented by Comics Experience’s Andy Schmidt (X-Men, Annihilation, G.I. Joe).

Saturday, July 24

4:00-5:00 -- Writing for Comics -- Room 30CDE

Join top comic writers Brian Michael Bendis (New Avengers, Powers, Secret Invasion), Marc Guggenheim (Wolverine, Resurrection), and Peter David (Incredible Hulk, X-Factor) for a discussion and instructive tips on the art of writing for comics. Writers and editors speak about the process of writing and how the game is played. Want to know how stories come about and learn how to do it yourself—this is the place to start! Presented by Comics Experience’s Andy Schmidt (X-Men, Annihilation).

Saturday, July 24

5:00-6:00 -- Building your Art Portfolio -- Room 30CDE

The most useful panel you’ll ever attend as an artist. Join comics super-stars Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon, Amazing Spider-Man), CB Cebulski (Marvel Talent Scout and Manager), Scott Dunbier (Special Projects Editor for IDW Publishing), and Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night, Welcome to Hoxford, Choker) and let’s cut through everything else and get right to getting you work! How to prepare your portfolio: What to include, where to get good scripts to draw from, what NOT to include, a

nd how to handle a portfolio review in a professional manner (in other words, how to turn a negative into a positive!).

We're hoping you'll come out and join us for all the panels! Talk us up and have a great time--that's what San Diego ComicCon is all about. Good luck, and we hope to see you there!