CE Alum brings the smash-mouth urban fantasy in "Gargoyle By Moonlight"

Gargoyle By Moonlight #1, a supernatural adventure, is now available from Moonrise Comics in print and across several digital formats.

And like a growing list of books out there, this comic comes with a Comics Experience tie-in and beginning.

The monster-punching mini graphic novel is the story of Gary Doyle, who after being afflicted with a curse that turns him into a fearsome stone gargoyle every night, finds himself trying to figure out whether he’s a hero or the monster the world sees him as. When a demon begins annihilating his city, Doyle has to decide whether to go full-on monster or step up and save humanity.

You can preview it online right now via a new video trailer or by watching below!

Gargoyle By Moonlight, which was written by CE alum Timothy Bach, began its life in the Creators Workshop.

Brian Atkins (brother of CE art instructor Robert Atkins) is the man behind the dazzling pencil work, while the trailer was put together by CE alum and Workshop member Rich Douek.

A 36-page full-color one-shot (with more stories planned), Gargoyle By Moonlight is available in print ($4.99, available at Indyplanet.com) and digitally at several outlets, including Graphicly, Apple’s iTunes, and Amazon’s Kindle Store ($1.99).

For more information, visit Moonrisecomics.com.

Congrats to Tim on the release of his new book!

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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
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iFanboy's "Making Comics" Podcast with Andy Schmidt, Episode #23 posted!

Episode #23 of the iFanboy's Making Comics with Andy Schmidt podcast has been released!

Take note! The Make Comics Podcast is moving to its own feed, which you can subscribe to in iTunes, or here manually.

In this episode, iFanboy host Josh Flanagan and former Marvel and IDW Editor (and Comics Experience founder) Andy Schmidt discuss the topic of "Making Digital Comics."

As explained over on iFanboy:

"Josh and Andy touch on the basic idea of creators using digital to break in to the industry, but it depends a lot on what your goals are as a creator.... If you’ve been wondering where to start with making your comics available digitally, this is where you can start."

Check out this new episode, plus all of the previous ones on iTunes, or follow the links right here:

Listen to Episode #23, "Make Digital Comics"

Listen to Episode #22, "Be the Letterer"

Listen to Episode #21, "Question: From Editor to Writer"

Listen to Episode #20, "Page Turns"

Listen to Episode #19, "Where Should I Live?"

Listen to Episode #18, "Comic Book Coloring with Chris Sotomayor"

Listen to Episode #17, "Art Portfolio with Robert Atkins"

Listen to Episode #16, "Conventions and Critique"

Listen to Episode #15, "Pitching"

Listen to Episode #14, "Making Time for Making Comics"

Listen to Episode #13, "Story"

Listen to Episode #12, "Marketing"

Listen to Episode #11, "Artist Portfolio"

Listen to Episode #10, "Inspiration"

Listen to Episode #9, "Online Networking"

Listen to Episode #8, "Building A Page"

Listen to Episode #7, "Professionialism"

Listen to Episode #6, "The Comic Book Script"

Listen to Episode #5, "Convention Networking"

Listen to Episode #4, "Good Feedback"

Listen to Episode #3, "Long Stories or Short Stories?"

Listen to Episode #2, "Finding Collaborators"

Listen to Episode #1, "Start Writing"

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color 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

COMMUNITY NEWS: CE Art Alum George Zapata's "The 36" and Other Comics!

Artist George Zapata was one of Comics Experience's early art students, from back in the days when Andy Schmidt was teaching the courses in New York City.

George recently let us know that he's been busy making comics, including the third issue of the series The 36, written by Kristopher White with colors by Micki Zurcher. As George described the project:

The story is based on Jewish mythology about the world having 36 chosen people. The main character is Noam and he holds the staff of Moses and is the protector of the 36. When a mythical mud monster, known as a golem, goes on a murder spree across the country, it’s up to Noam and his brother to stop it.

The 36 was successfully funded in a $10,000+ Kickstarter campaign back in August of 2011, and the first three issues are currently available on Graphicly right here, with two more issues on the way!

Prior to that, George worked on a comic book called Rockstar Scientists written by Kenny Jeffery. That story follows El, the world's most famous star, on an Earth where scientists rather than musicians command the adoration of millions with wealth to match. Rockstar Scientists is available on Graphicly as well right here.

George has also done design work for King Features on their DailyINK digital applications, and even collaborated with Comics Experience writing alum Monika Smyczek on the story Soiled Doves which appeared in The December Project Comics Experience anthology!

Like many Comics Experience graduates, George has stayed busy making comics! And we look forward to seeing much more from him. Congratulations, George!

You can keep up with George on his website at http://gzapata.net/.

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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 Staff on Digital, Creativity, Courses, and Community

Comics Experience staffers have been out and about lately, discussing everything from digital comics to how to revive your creativity. Here's some highlights and links!

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On the Revive Your Creativity blog, Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt, as well as staff members Rob Anderson and Paul Allor, explained how they try to "stay creative on a consistent basis."

Andy offered several thoughts including seeking inspiration from outside of comics, and experimenting with new approaches in your writing you've never done before. Rob discussed the importance of relaxing your mind, while Paul seeks inspiration in art (among other places) and uses structure to drive himself forward even when he's not in the mood.

The article features tips from 12 writers in all. You can read it right here:

Keeping the Creative Juices Flowing

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Book Club Manager Paul Allor was recently interviewed on the Graphicly blog and he discussed Comics Experience, his anthology Clockwork Volume 1 available on Graphicly and the merits of creators trying their hand at short comic scripts.

Check out that interview here:

Interview: ‘Clockwork’ Writer Paul Allor and the Art of the Short Comic

Paul also did an interesting guest column over on Graphicly, analyzing the benefits of digital comics for creators.

As Paul put it, "Print comics can be a cruel mistress, especially for a self-published creator," whereas with digital, "...the needs of your story [can] dictate format and length."

Paul offers several tips for comic creators considering entering the digital realm.

Read the full article here:

Guest Commentary: Paul Allor on Embracing the Freedom of Digital Comics

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General Manager Rob Anderson was recently interviewed on the Comic Book Fury podcast.

Rob first discussed his upcoming book, Rex, Zombie Killer, but then went on to have a fairly in-depth conversation with host Tim Robinson on Comics Experience courses and the Creators Workshop community.

Rob pointed out that not only was the Rex, Zombie Killer story started in a Comics Experience course, and then subsequently workshopped in the Creators Workshop, but every member of the creative team had some connection to Comics Experience as well.

Check out the podcast interview here:

CBF Interviews #2 : Rob Anderson on Rex, Zombie Killer and Comics Experience

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color 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

COMMUNITY NEWS: Douek on Graphicly, Sergi on Comics Law, and Groah talks DoubleFeature!

We're had LOTS of news this week from the Comics Experience community, and we wanted to share three more items as we enter the weekend!

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Comics Experience alum and Creators Workshop member, Rich Douek's comic book Gutter Magic has been released on Graphicly.

The Gutter Magic one-shot tells a tale of sword, sorcery and sixguns in three interconnected tales of an alternate history where a magic-fueled World War II drove the world to the brink of apocalypse.

The book features art by Craig S. Yeung, Jason Baroody, and JC Grande, along with colors by Paul Little and lettering by Creators Workshop member E.T. Dollman!

Purchase a digital copy of Gutter Magic for only 99 cents on Graphicly:

Gutter Magic One-Shot on Graphicly!

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Comics Experience alum and Creators Workshop member, Joe Sergi, also happens to be a Legal Eagle, and in the past has appeared on various podcasts and shows discussing law cases related to comics.

So, it's no big surprise that Joe recently appeared on the Comic Geek Speak podcast to chat about two cases very much in the news -- the Robert Kirkman/Tony Moore contract dispute over The Walking Dead, and the Marvel Comics/Gary Friedrich suit related to Ghost Rider.

To hear a discussion of the issues from the perspective of an attorney (who also happens to be a comic book creator) check out:

Comic Geek Speak: Episode 1191 (February 15, 2012)
Legal Brief Edition with Joe Sergi

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We've previously talked about Creators Workshop member Joey Groah's podcast, In Production. In each episode, Joey has "conversations with people making things," whether it's origin story, process, workflow, or the overall business of being creative.

And in Episode 19, Joey had an in-depth chat about DoubleFeature Comics with Four Star Studios members Sean Dove, Josh Emmons, Mike Norton, and Tim Seeley. You can hear about how these guys got together and began putting out digital comics by top creators for 99 cents.

Episode 19: DoubleFeature Comics with Four Star Studios

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color 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

COMMUNITY NEWS: Paul Allor's Clockwork Anthology (& Scripts) on Graphicly!

Comics Experience alum and Book Club Manager Paul Allor has released his comic book anthology Clockwork, Vol. 1 on Graphicly.

And, for a limited time, you can read all twelve stories, totaling 60 pages of storytelling, for only 99 cents!

Graphicly digital comics can be read on your desktop, mobile phone, tablet, and the web.

Of special note for those interested in making comics, this digital version also contains the original scripts for all twelve stories as a Graphicly exclusive.

Paul is known on the Creators Workshop for his clean, concise scripts, and this is a great opportunity for writers to view the completed artwork along with the original scripts!

The book contains artwork by Comics Experience art alums and workshop members Ken Frederick and Carl Peterson, alongside well-known artists including JM Ken Niimura (I Kill Giants), Brett Weldele (Surrogates) and Nikki Cook (Memoir).

Space-faring gorilla pirates, heart-broken robots, a beautiful gunfighter, and even a man on death row are among the cross-genre characters featured in Clockwork, Vol. 1.

Check it out on Graphicly right here!

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color 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