Don't Miss our 5 Panels at San Diego Comic-Con International 2012!

Just a reminder that we'll be doing FIVE panels this week at San Diego Comic-Con 2012 (July 12-15)!

Comics Experience founder, Andy Schmidt will be moderating all five panels, featuring special guests such as writer Joshua Fialkov (I, Vampire, Last of the Greats, Echo), writer Peter David (X-Factor, Incredible Hulk), artist David Marquez (Ultimate Spider-Man), artist Brian Haberlin (Spawn, Anomaly), ComiXology co-founder John Roberts and Comic-Rocket.com founder Tim Shields


Check out the schedule and full description of each panel below.

Breaking In and Staying In
Thursday, July 12, 2012
6:00-7:00pm in Room 11AB
So you want to make comics? This panel is your first step toward actually doing it! Former Marvel and IDW editor and Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt (X-Men, Annihilation, G.I. Joe, 5 Days to Die) discusses in detail the ins and outs of the comic industry -- specifically, what it takes to break into comics and how it's done. This is the panel that no writer or artist dare miss. Hosted by Comics Experience.

Digital Art, Part 1
Friday, July 13, 2012
4:00-5:00pm in Room 11AB
Digital artist pros David Marquez (Ultimate Spider-Man) and Brian Haberlin (Spawn, Anomaly) join former Marvel and IDW editor and Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt (X-Men, G.I. Joe) for the first of two in-depth panels on how to create digital comics and how to use the medium to its full effect. In part 1, they take a deep dive into creating comics using digital tools and media as well as making effective storytelling decisions in a digital medium. This is a panel no artist can miss. Part 2 is at 7:00pm.

Digital Art, Part 2
Friday, July 13, 2012
7:00-8:00pm in Room 11AB
David Marquez (Ultimate Spider-Man) and Comic-Rocket.com founder Tim Shields join former Marvel and IDW editor and Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt (X-Men, G.I. Joe) and ComiXology co-founder John Roberts for this final panel on how to create digital comics and how to use the medium to its full effect. In part 2, they discuss the future of comics and how digitally generated art can craft comics specifically for digital devices and how that differs from print. In other words, they illuminate how to get the most out of creating digital comics. Hosted by Comics Experience.

Writing for Comics, Part 1
Saturday, July 14, 2012
4:00-5:00pm in Room 11AB
Josh Fialkov (I, Vampire, Last of the Greats, Echo), Peter David (X-Factor, Incredible Hulk), and former Marvel and IDW editor and comics writer Andy Schmidt (X-Men, G.I. Joe, 5 Days to Die) present an honest and informative discussion on the art of writing for comics. Topics include process, enhancing creativity, and keeping your work honest. Want to write comics? This is the place to start! Hosted by Comics Experience. This is part 1 of a 2-part panel that continues tonight at 7:00pm.

Writing for Comics, Part 2
Saturday, July 14, 2012
7:00-8:00pm in Room 11AB
Josh Fialkov (I, Vampire, Last of the Greats, Echo) and former Marvel and IDW editor and comics writer Andy Schmidt (X-Men, G.I. Joe, 5 Days to Die) present an honest and informative discussion on the art of writing for comics. Take a more advanced look into how to craft your stories and get your idea from a notion to the printed page! Hosted by Comics Experience.

We hope to see you there!

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If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

Comics Experience Panels at San Diego Comic-Con 2012

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 (July 12-15) is only about one week away, and if you're interested in making comics or breaking into the industry, then mark your calendar for FIVE Comics Experience panels focused on writing for comics, digital art, and breaking (and staying) "in!"

Comics Experience founder, Andy Schmidt will be moderating all five panels, featuring special guests such as writer Joshua Fialkov (I, Vampire, Last of the Greats, Echo), writer Peter David (X-Factor, Incredible Hulk), artist David Marquez (Ultimate Spider-Man), artist Brian Haberlin (Spawn, Anomaly), ComiXology co-founder John Roberts and Comic-Rocket.com founder Tim Shields

Check out the schedule and full description of each panel below.

Breaking In and Staying In
Thursday, July 12, 2012
6:00-7:00pm in Room 11AB
So you want to make comics? This panel is your first step toward actually doing it! Former Marvel and IDW editor and Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt (X-Men, Annihilation, G.I. Joe, 5 Days to Die) discusses in detail the ins and outs of the comic industry -- specifically, what it takes to break into comics and how it's done. This is the panel that no writer or artist dare miss. Hosted by Comics Experience.

Digital Art, Part 1
Friday, July 13, 2012
4:00-5:00pm in Room 11AB
Digital artist pros David Marquez (Ultimate Spider-Man) and Brian Haberlin (Spawn, Anomaly) join former Marvel and IDW editor and Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt (X-Men, G.I. Joe) for the first of two in-depth panels on how to create digital comics and how to use the medium to its full effect. In part 1, they take a deep dive into creating comics using digital tools and media as well as making effective storytelling decisions in a digital medium. This is a panel no artist can miss. Part 2 is at 7:00pm.

Digital Art, Part 2
Friday, July 13, 2012
7:00-8:00pm in Room 11AB
David Marquez (Ultimate Spider-Man) and Comic-Rocket.com founder Tim Shields join former Marvel and IDW editor and Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt (X-Men, G.I. Joe) and ComiXology co-founder John Roberts for this final panel on how to create digital comics and how to use the medium to its full effect. In part 2, they discuss the future of comics and how digitally generated art can craft comics specifically for digital devices and how that differs from print. In other words, they illuminate how to get the most out of creating digital comics. Hosted by Comics Experience.

Writing for Comics, Part 1
Saturday, July 14, 2012
4:00-5:00pm in Room 11AB
Josh Fialkov (I, Vampire, Last of the Greats, Echo), Peter David (X-Factor, Incredible Hulk), and former Marvel and IDW editor and comics writer Andy Schmidt (X-Men, G.I. Joe, 5 Days to Die) present an honest and informative discussion on the art of writing for comics. Topics include process, enhancing creativity, and keeping your work honest. Want to write comics? This is the place to start! Hosted by Comics Experience. This is part 1 of a 2-part panel that continues tonight at 7:00pm.

Writing for Comics, Part 2
Saturday, July 14, 2012
7:00-8:00pm in Room 11AB
Josh Fialkov (I, Vampire, Last of the Greats, Echo) and former Marvel and IDW editor and comics writer Andy Schmidt (X-Men, G.I. Joe, 5 Days to Die) present an honest and informative discussion on the art of writing for comics. Take a more advanced look into how to craft your stories and get your idea from a notion to the printed page! Hosted by Comics Experience.

We hope to see you there!

---

If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

WORKSHOP GUESTS: Lemire & Fialkov Discuss Early Works, Lessons Learned

In the last two Creators Workshop Book Club sessions, special guests Jeff Lemire (writer/artist on Sweet Tooth) and Joshua Hale Fialkov (writer on Echoes) discussed their early days self-publishing, and the lessons they learned before breaking in to the comics industry.

Jeff Lemire noted that before he began publishing, he spent seven years drawing comics on a daily basis. Lemire said this work will “never see the light of day,” but it taught him a great deal about the craft, and allowed him to become a more confident, self-assured artist.

“It was just me finding my voice and learning my craft,” Lemire said. I think I’m kind of my worst critic, so until I felt I had something that was good enough to be published and put out there, I just waited, and waited.”

Eventually, Lemire released Lost Dogs, with the help of a Xeric grant. With that book, he said, he had a storytelling breakthrough, and began to develop a consistent voice and visual style.

As a result of this long wait, Lemire said, when he did start to release work, it was noticed more quickly, and people took him more seriously. Now, several years later, he is the writer/artist of Sweet Tooth, and the writer of DC titles Animal Man and Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE. His heavily-anticipated graphic novel The Underwater Welder is set to come out next year from Top Shelf.

Despite his successful path, Lemire said he would not necessarily advise other artists and writers to wait as long as he did.

“You can kind of psych yourself out of ever putting anything out, if you just keep waiting for something to be good enough,” Lemire said. “So, maybe somewhere in between. I would definitely advise people to make use of the Internet. Even when I was doing it ten years ago, it wasn’t as accessible as it is now.”

Another recent book club guest, Joshua Hale Fialkov, made effective use of the Internet in his early days as a comics writer. Fialkov said that he initially had trouble finding an artist, so he started a webcomic called Poorly Drawn Animals, which he wrote and drew himself.

Poorly Drawn Animals was a gag strip, with three panels, often using a static image with only the dialogue and captions changed.

“I would say that 80 percent of what I’ve learned about comics I learned from doing a three-panel gag strip,” Fialkov said. “You learn how to tell stories in the most basic way, which is, set-up, a complication and then a payoff. At the end of the day, that’s what stories are. Doing that for long enough really drilled into my head how to tell a story.”

Fialkov also recommended that writers and artists should work to get their comics made.

“The only way to get better is making comics,” Fialkov said. “And making comics is not writing comics.”

Rather, he said, once you see the physical product, you start to learn what works and what doesn’t, and how to move forward with your craft.

Since his Poorly Drawn Animals days, Fialkov has gone on to write Elk’s Run, Tumor and Echoes, and is currently writing I, Vampire for DC Comics, along with Last of the Greats, a creator-owned ongoing from Image Comics. In January, he begins a run on Doctor Who for IDW Publishing.

The next book club, on Tuesday, November 15, will feature writer Jim Zubkavich discussing Volume 1 of his Image title, Skullkickers (read more about that upcoming session right here.)

Creators Workshop Book Club sessions take place every month, featuring guest writers and artists discussing the craft and art of comics, as well as the business side of things. Additional live Workshop sessions take place every month, giving members real-world knowledge that will help them succeed in their comics career.

There’s still plenty of time to sign up before next month’s sessions. We hope to see you there.

-- Posted by Paul Allor

WORKSHOP GUEST: Joshua Fialkov on Echoes!

The next Comics Experience Creators Workshop live, online session will feature a guest appearance by Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated writer, Joshua Fialkov!

This will be a Book Club session, hosted by Paul Allor, and we'll be having an in-depth discussion of Joshua's graphic novel, Echoes.

The session will take place Wednesday, October 19, from 9-11 p.m. ET.

Joshua will also be providing a written guest critique on one script for a lucky member of the Creator's Workshop.

Josh is the creator (or co-creator) of several graphic novels, including the Harvey nominated Elk’s Run, the Harvey and Eisner nominated Tumor and the Harvey nominated Echoes.

He has written Alibi and Cyblade for Top Cow, Superman/Batman for DC Comics, Rampaging Wolverine for Marvel, and Friday the 13th for Wildstorm. He’s writing the DC relaunch of I, Vampire, as well as debuting the new Marvel character The Monkey King. This fall sees the launch of The Last of the Greats from Image Comics with artist Brent Peeples.

Echoes is a disturbing story of murder and mystery wrapped in questions of sanity. Brian Cohn was learning to deal with the schizophrenia inherited from his father. Supportive wife, new baby on the way, drugs to control the voices. But, when on his father's deathbed he learns that he also inherited the trophies of his father's career as a serial killer, will his madness send him further down into the crawlspace of his father's mind?

Echoes was the premiere title from Minotaur Press, an imprint of Top Cow.

The Comics Experience Creators Workshop sessions take place every month, and give members real-world knowledge that will help them succeed in their comics career.

It's not too late to join us before Joshua Fialkov's session, but if you miss it, a recording of the entire discussion will be available to Workshop members for a few weeks.

If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

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Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook