Comics Are Great!: Recent Episodes
Jerzy Drozd
To make good comics and graphic novels, all you have to do is draw really well and write pretty well, then mix them together, right? Then why is it so challenging to make comics that connect with audiences? How do you describe that unnameable quality that makes certain art and stories arresting?
After a long hiatus the Comics Are Great podcast returns to address these questions with guest Mark Siegel, Editorial Director at First Second Books, author of the graphic novel Sailor Twain, and writer of the 5 Worlds graphic novel series. Mark helps us explore how comics storytelling is unique from other art forms, and describes what he calls the storyteller’s “handwriting.”
Mark will appear at this year’s Ann Arbor Comic Arts Festival at the Ann Arbor District Library, and the A2 Inkubate unconference on the campus of the University of Michigan, June 15-17. You can get copies of his books signed and participate in some terrific free comics workshops led by him.
Links mentioned in this episode:
- 5 Worlds Book 1: The Sand Warrior
- Listen to My Art episode 2 with Mark Siegel
- Sailor Twain
- First Second Books
- Three Shadows
- Gunas
- Science Comics: Rockets
This episode was recorded at the Ann Arbor District Library.
Audio hosting provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing.
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Talking about composition, context, and color on CAG!
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=e96lFpKwTS4
Photographers got it easy, right? All they have to do to tell their stories is point their magic box at their subject and hit click. Cartoonists, on the other hand, have to create the reality of their work from scratch. Surely photographers have zero insights to offer cartoonists.
Of course we know that’s a bunch of troll talk. So this time I’ll be joined by photographer and designer Peter Baker. Together we’ll talk about how cartoonists might benefit from looking at how photographers tell stories through their medium.
Links mentioned in this episode (thanks to Eric Klooster for collecting the links!):
- Medium Format Photography
- Large Format Photography
- Peter Baker on Instagram
- Detroit Ruin Porn
- Neal Adams
- Peter’s Welding School shoot for Bloomberg
- Jackie Chan
- Hasselblad cameras
- Canon 5D
- Boulder and Fleet: Adventurers for Hire
Book Recommendations:
- From Here to There: Alec Soth’s America
- Wizzywig
- Letter 44
- The Infinity Gauntlet
- JLA/Avengers
Live streams at Comicsaregreat.tv and on Google+!
This episode was recorded live at the Ann Arbor District Library.
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Support the show and get a PDF comic!
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El Deafo! Hilda and the Midnight Giant! Roz Chast, and more!
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvY3-YoKV5k
We’re continuing our tradition of closing out the year with Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier of The Comics Bakery. Join us for a rapid round of book talks on some of our favorite comics, which you can use as your last-minute holiday gift guide!
And check out the book talks we did last year!
Links mentioned in this episode (thanks to Eric Klooster for collecting the links!):
- AADL Art Tools
- Dec 17 is the last day to get Raina’s books signed for Christmas
- Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas
- A Cosmic Christmas
- The ALF Christmas Special may be the root of all holiday depression
Book Recommendations:
- Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir
- Ms. Marvel Volume 1: No Normal
- Worse Things Happen at Sea
- Andre the Giant: Life and Legend
- Strong Female Protagonist Book One
- Edward Scissorhands Comic*
- The Sandman: Overture #1
- Dirty Diamonds Anthology
- Pencil Pup Minicomics
- Kill My Mother: A Graphic Novel
- Broodhollow
- Hilda and the Midnight Giant
- Nothing is Forgotten, a collection of short stories
- Sing No Evil
- The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story
- Baby’s in Black: Astrid Kirchherr, Stuart Sutcliffe, and the Beatles
- Beyond the Canopy
- Dinosaurs in Space
- El Deafo
- Julia’s House for Lost Creatures
- The Zoo Box
- Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant?
- The Art of the Simon and Kirby Studio
- Capture Creatures
- Sisters
- The Warren Commission Report: A Graphic Investigation into the Kennedy Assassination
- Star Wars Ewoks: Shadows of Endor
- The Shadow Hero
Live streams every other Wednesday at Comicsaregreat.tv and on Google+!
Audio hosting provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing.
This episode was recorded live at the Ann Arbor District Library.
Jerzy on Google+
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Support the show and get a PDF comic!
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Talking about the special communicative power of the cartoon on Comics Are Great!
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8PsQi99nok
Anthropomorphic comics characters have enjoyed a wide appeal almost since the invention of the comic. Who doesn’t love Snoopy? Characters like Garfield have inspired an entire generation of professional cartoonists. Even the critically-acclaimed Maus featured talking animal characters.
So what is it about “animals doing people things” that’s so compelling? Why are we so willing to invest in a character whose design is so defiantly absurd and unrealistic?
I’m joined by John Green , co-creator of the Teen Boat! graphic novels and creator of the upcoming Hippopotamister, published by First Second Books. Together we unlock the secret powers held within “funny animal characters.”
We’re also joined by Anne Drozd of the Ann Arbor District Library for another round of book recommendations!
Links mentioned in this episode (thanks to Eric Klooster for collecting the links!):
- The OTHER John Green
- Teen Boat!
- Superhero Tropes
- Dave Roman
- Turbo Teen
- Jax Epoch and the Quicken Forbidden
- An exclusive preview of Hippopotamister
- John’s post on why animals make great protagonists
- The new Lightsabers
- Justice League: Comfort and Joy
- Watership Down (film)
- Maus
- Real-Life Simpsons
- Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham
- The AADL “Unusual Stuff” section
Book Recommendations:
- Ariol
- The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil
- nemu*nemu
- Missile Mouse
- The Incredible Change-Bots
- PIX: One Weirdest Weekend
Live streams every other Wednesday at Comicsaregreat.tv and on Google+!
Audio hosting provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing.
This episode was recorded live at the Ann Arbor District Library.
Jerzy on Google+
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Support the show and get a PDF comic!
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Broxo! Ewoks! Shakespeare! Banjo music, and more!
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuLb6XdoQzs
It’s time to unbox the age-old question of Talent vs. Effort on Comics Are Great!
How does your comics work change when you shift your focus from “expressing yourself” to “putting in the effort?” Are these terms mutually exclusive, or does the focus oscillate between those poles throughout the project? If so, how do you know when it’s time to change your focus?
I’m joined by Zack Giallongo, cartoonist behind Broxo, Star Wars: Ewoks: Shadows of Endor, and the Stratford Zoo Midnight Review series. Together we explore how a career in cartooning is equal parts creative expression and herculean effort, and how one finds balance between the two.
Links mentioned in this episode (thanks to Eric Klooster for collecting the links!):
- UMass Dartmouth
- Flow State
- Acerbic
- Disney’s “9 Old Men”
- UHF
- Calvin and Hobbes
- Noelle Stevenson
- Montage
- The Dunning Krueger Effect
- Children of the Corn
- Jim Henson
- Friday the 13th: Jason Takes Manhattan
- Lumberjanes
- Charles in Charge, Again
Live streams every other Wednesday at Comicsaregreat.tv and on Google+!
Audio hosting provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing.
This episode was recorded live at the Ann Arbor District Library.
Jerzy on Google+
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Support the show and get a PDF comic!
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Challenged Comics! Censorship! Dave Carter, and more!
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5TpS-rpSnI
Join us for a discussion on Banned Books Week with David Carter, Librarian at the University of Michigan’s Comics and Video Game Archive. Together we explore censorship in comics and ways we can better advocate for our medium.
Links mentioned in this episode (thanks to Eric Klooster for collecting the links!):
- Paste magazine’s top 10 banned comics
- The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
- The CBLDF’s list of 22 Challenged Comics
Live streams every other Wednesday at Comicsaregreat.tv and on Google+!
Audio hosting provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing.
This episode was recorded live at the Ann Arbor District Library.
Jerzy on Google+
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Support the show and get a PDF comic!
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Gregg Schigiel! Laura Given! Erin Helmrich! Finding new audiences for your work, and more!
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAAzJsOrAys
It’s the 100th episode of the Comics Are Great show, recorded live before a studio audience at the 2014 Kids Read Comics Celebration!
I’m joined by guest co-host Gregg Schigiel of the Stuff Said Show, librarian Laura Given, and librarian Erin Helmrich. Together we discuss the growing importance of libraries in the world of comics, and how cartoonists can better connect with libraries to promote the medium.
We also spend a bit of time talking about Gregg’s new comic, PIX: ONE WEIRDEST WEEKEND, which is available for pre-order in Previews now! Item #DEC141546
Links mentioned:
- The Nerdy Book Club
- John Schu
- Zita the Spacegirl
- Dave Roman
- Kids Read Comics
- Chris Giarrusso
- Challengers Comics
Live streams every other Wednesday at Comicsaregreat.tv and on Google+!
Audio hosting provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing.
Jerzy on Google+
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Talking about walking the line between eerie and cute on CAG!
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNhieWXymL4
In this special unscheduled episode of the Comics Are Great! show I’ll be joined by Eric Orchard, cartoonist behind Maddy Kettle: The Adventure of the Thimblewitch, published by Top Shelf. Maddy Kettle is a plucky young girl who faces witches, vampire bats, and spider goblins, yet never loses hope or refuses help when asked. She is assisted by friendly ballon-riding bears, banjo-playing raccoons, and vampire bats. So is this a creepy story or a light-hearted adventure? Maybe it can be both, thanks to the special affordances that only comics can offer!
Join us for a discussion on how comics is the perfect medium to blend opposite elements together and produce something new.
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Edward Gorey
- Maurice Sendak
- Eric Orchard’s inspiration Tumblr
- Fox and Duck, Eric’s new webcomic
- The Warren Commission Report: A Graphic Investigation Into the Kennedy Assassination
Live streams every other Wednesday at Comicsaregreat.tv and on Google+!
Audio hosting provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing.
Jerzy on Google+
Find us on Google+
Support the show and get a PDF comic!
Subscribe through iTunes
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Talking about the role of fandom on CAG!
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-of8-cBDmHc
Whatever your stance on cosplay, one can’t deny that it’s an active arena in fan participation with media. Is it simply a distracting branch that interferes with the “pure” transactions between fans and creators? Or is it a means for fans to enrich their participation with the creations themselves? When fandoms form around a creation, how should a creator respond?
This time I’m joined by Rachel Ashley-Lovelace for a discussion on the culture of fandoms and cosplay and how they might coexist with the creative forces that inform them.
AADL Production Librarian Anne Drozd also drops by for another round of book recommendations!
Links mentioned in this episode (thanks to Eric Klooster for collecting the links!):
- Cosplay
- Indiana Jones
- Star Trek Costumes from ANOVOS
- Macross Frontier
- Tenth Doctor
- Agent Dana Scully
- Gallifrey One Convention
- Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony
- Prancercise
- Furry Fandom
- Walmart Wolverine
- Small Press Expo
- Power Con
- Homestuck
- San Diego Comic Con
- New York Comic Con
- Avatar The Last Puppet Bender
- Dragoncon
- Masters Of The Universe Power Tour
- Worbla
- Glimmer
- The Idiot’s Lantern (Dr. Who episode)
- Ebay UK
- The King of Kong
- Rachel Lovelace on Facebook
- Two Geeks Talking
- Feelax
Comics and Book Recommendations:
- Vader’s Little Princess
- You’re All Just Jealous of My Jetpack: Cartoons
- Starbunny Inc.
- Hello Kitty Hello 40
Live streams every other Wednesday at Comicsaregreat.tv and on Google+!
Audio hosting provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing.
This episode was recorded live at the Ann Arbor District Library.
Jerzy on Google+
Find us on Google+
Support the show and get a PDF comic!
Subscribe through iTunes
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Comics Are Great! returns with a battle between kid and adult authors!
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2BmkddnAWE
We grown-up cartoonists think we know what kids are and aren’t picking up on in our work. After all, we were kids once! But memory can be fickle testimony, so in the next Comics Are Great! I’ll be joined by 12-year-old cartoonist Connor to talk about what he perceives to be the anatomy of a good story for kids.
I’ll also be joined by Gregg Schigiel, creator of PIX: One Weirdest Weekend, artist on Spongebob Comics, and host of the Stuff Said podcast.
If you haven’t seen Gregg and Connor in action, they led some events at the 2014 Kids Read Comics festival in Ann Arbor, MI. You can see their banter during the Kids Comics Award show held that weekend here.
Links mentioned in this episode (thanks to Eric Klooster for collecting the links!):
- Stuff Said Show
- Detroit Fanfare
- Kids Read Comics Convention
- Road Food
- Eater
- Judge Doom from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
- Back To The Future
- Johnny Carson
- Mannix
- Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader
- Swag
- Our Gang (The Little Rascals)
- Norman Bates
- Weird Al
- The Dick Van Dyke Show
- UltraGirl
- Homestuck
- When I Was Your Age Lyrics
Comics and Book Recommendations:
- This One Summer
- Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy
- Sisters
- The Warren Commission Report: A Graphic Investigation into the Kennedy Assassination
- Meanwhile
Live streams every other Wednesday at Comicsaregreat.tv and on Google+!
Audio hosting provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing. This episode was recorded live at the Ann Arbor District Library.Jerzy on Google+
Find us on Google+
Support the show and get a PDF comic!
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Muppets Most Wanted, Perils of Retreading, and more! It’s another special audio-only “therapy session” of Comics Are Great! I’m joined by Dave Roman for a discussion on Muppets Most Wanted. Together we explore how this film scratched many of the itches we were left with after The Muppets movie, how revisiting a franchise almost demands […]
Talking about independent publishing on the Comics Are Great! show! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpX5d1IRI2Y This time I’m joined by Jamie Gambell, writer of The Hero Code, for a discussion on the various channels available to us when publishing our comics independently. With so many options like Kickstarter, Comixology, IndyPlanet, Patreon, and publishing on the web, how do you […]
Talking about getting out from behind the desk and reaching out to new fans on the Comics Are Great! show! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2bTGpTg1FU We all know that making the work is only half of the battle facing an author or cartoonist these days. Once the work is done you have to market the work, and for many […]
Talking about everyone’s favorite Dark Knight on CAG 97! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_f7EasqzHo You may have heard that 2014 is the 75th anniversary of the first appearance of Batman. So for this episode of the Comics Are Great! show we had a roundtable discussion on why the Caped Crusader remains such an enduring character. I’m joined by Dean Trippe, author […]
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=940vG8Mr7DI Talking about independent animation, working with what you got, and keeping on! In CAG 92 I talked with Ben Hatke about the importance of giving our heroes a reason to quit. Why? Because it’s so, so satisfying to see them not quit when all evidence suggests that quitting is the sensible solution. Why is […]
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UcBl3mDthw Find a publisher, POD, Webcomic, or all three? Figuring out your comic’s destiny! Whether your hope to get your comic published in the Direct Market or by one of the major book publishers, or self-publish through a Kickstarter or print-on-demand service like Ka-Blam, or publish directly to the web (as either a webcomic or […]
Talking about what cartoonists can learn from filmmakers on Comics Are Great! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olua0Ls4JiU Comics and film share a lot of DNA, though their strengths and weaknesses greatly differ. In the end they’re trying to do the same thing–convey ideas and explore narratives visually. So what might cartoonists learn about their own craft by studying the […]
Talking Doctor Who, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Masters of the Universe with Kevin Coppa of The Puppetbenders! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSiN_GupCSs What’s the appeal of action heroes who use violence as a last resort? I’m joined by Kevin Coppa of The Puppetbenders for a discussion on how our hearts can sometimes be captured by an action hero […]
The ultimate comics gift guide on this episode of Comics Are Great! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOx_Erz4ZzM The final CAG of 2013! I’m joined by Dave Roman, Raina Telgemeier, and Sharon Iverson for a list of our favorite comics and graphic novels of 2013 and which ones would make a great gift for that loved one who doesn’t consider […]
Talking about how to get your work seen on the Comics Are Great! show! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7lHY0oQBBU There are more ways than ever to share our work with our intended audience. Some solutions are as simple as pushing a button, while others may require a little bit of technical know-how. But how do you find the hosting/publishing/social […]
Zita the Spacegirl! Superman! Writing heroes, and more! I’m joined by Ben Hatke, author of the Zita the Spacegirl graphic novels, for a talk on writing Really, Really Good Guys (and Gals). Together we discuss the appeal of a character who has an inner sense of what is right, the perils of writing ultra-powerful characters, […]
Broxo! Star Wars! Zack Giallongo, and more! Most of us love to talk about our influences. They’re often the reason we decided to get into this cartooning game. We’re influenced by things that evoke a strong emotional reaction in us. But how does our approach to our work change when we search out and broaden […]
Video games in libraries, what cartoonists can learn from video games, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_LCraRNerA We’ve all heard the dig: a book starts with a map, and many readers immediately tune out. But there are plenty of stories about the excitement gamers felt when opening up the big Zelda or Metroid map in Nintendo Power Magazine. […]
Horror! Thrillers! Bera the One Headed Troll, Nightmare Pro Wrestling, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVPDe3H9B8A How do you make a horror story in a static medium like comics? What are the tricks to building dread and suspense? And how does visual style contribute to creating images that are unsettling or frightening? I’m joined by cartoonists Jon David […]
Missile Mouse! Orc Wars! Jake Parker, Kohl Glass, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=amzYhWwofgA There is so much to learn and master in making comics. Drawing, design, composition, pacing, color, and sound all stand ready to bewilder us as we try to communicate our ideas and stories. And while intense work and study in our medium is often […]
Elsewhere Chronicles! Bande dessinée! Famous Shoes! Nicolas Bannister, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNTULuIxG-M What are the secrets to designing a world that your readers will believe in? How do you compose panels that communicate tone, tension, blocking, and character? If the “camera” in comics can be anywhere, how do you navigate the nearly infinite choices to create moments that […]
Working for money vs. working on spec, Ryan Estrada, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV9YJUh8VsA Is there anything wrong with agreeing to do some work for free? After all, it might catch on with the Internet, and you can cash in later. And this is the webcomics model, after all! You put out consistent and professional-quality work for […]
Character Design! Delilah Dirk! Tony Cliff, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFqQv8saTKA Comics may be a static medium, but the best cartoonist create an illusion of movement so convincing we’ll often forget that we, the readers, are creating the movement in our minds. How do they do they pull off this trick? And what’s the “secret” to writing […]
Crowdfunding! Kickstarter! Self-Publishing! Getting the Word Out! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJquIvm1rwg Hooray! Thanks to services Kickstarter and Indiegogo, we finally have a mechanism to fund our dream project! But is it as easy as just asking your friends or audience to support your thing? It sounds like a lot of work. And how do you avoid annoying everyone […]
Copyright! Public Domain! Fair Use, and More! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu31d8Jx5KI What is the benefit of working with public domain characters and stories? Is it just fun to play in “someone’s sandbox,” or is there a larger cultural benefit to authors building on and expanding the works of those who came before? What might happen if more creative […]
Superheroes! Batman! Superman! Dean Trippe! Dan Mishkin, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJwfPCQK3eQ Over the past years we’ve seen more and more summer blockbusters featuring superhero characters and stories. Are they just fashionable again, or is there something to these kinds of stories that connects us to them? What characterizes an effective superhero story? I’m grateful to be […]
Pacific Rim! Jaegers! Kaiju! Dave Roman! and Spoilers! I’m joined by Dave Roman for a talk on how the author’s analytic eye affects his or her enjoyment of media. What happens when you can’t stop picking at story when reading a book or watching a film? Besides making you insufferable at parties, are there any […]
Designing characters with appeal, G-Man, writing from life, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MRbB5tkYs0 It’s hard enough to learn how to draw, but things get even dicier when we start talking about what it takes to create appeal. Fortunately I’m joined by Chris Giarrusso of the eminently appealing G-Man series and Dave Carter of the University of Michigan […]
Chris Houghton! Shane Houghton! Tony Cliff! And more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlGWrGYj7co How do you design awesome action sequences? What’s the secret to writing scenes that make the audience roar with laughter? I know I couldn’t answer these questions on my own, so I’m grateful to be joined by the perfect roundtable for the job: Tony Cliff, author […]
He-Man! Zeus! Posedion! Olympians rule! George O’Connor, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W7VJZ5PW1s What better medium than comics to capture the majesty and mayhem of Greek Mythology? Especially in the hands of celebrated cartoonist George O’Connor, creator of The Olympians series from First Second books. Together we talk about kid logic, how an author must get to the heart […]
Editing, writing, graphic novels, First Second Books, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=R10AAaL7zKc I’m excited to talk with Calista Brill, Senior Editor at First Second Books, about the entire process of developing and publishing a graphic novel. What does a good pitch look like? What qualities are editors looking for in a graphic novel proposal? Once the book […]
Mini-Comics, Sumo, Tumblr Comics, Thien Pham, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-5uYdsO0jI This time we discover that Sumo wrestling can be a metaphor for the creative life thanks to the work of Thien Pham, author of Sumo from First Second Books. Together we explore how the philosophy of “every moment is the moment of truth” applies to just […]
Finding your venue, loving parody, Broodhollow, Kris Straub, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvrE75Cv5kQ Stick to your knitting. Specialize. Find your niche. Operate in your wheelhouse. And a zillion other clichés that get thrown around. It’s been accepted as common wisdom that one should find the one thing they have some talent in and pursue that to the […]
Finances, Poorcraft, Polterguys, Mini-Comics, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNn3bKSHu8Q The hard fact of it is, few people make a ton of money at this comics jazz. And while we’ve talked about creating various streams of income in past shows, we’ve yet to talk about how to get more out of less of our financial resources! We’re joined […]
Spongebob, work-for-hire, the importance of comics podcasting, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSR9RzdRqfg We’re thrilled to have Gregg Schigiel, the artist behind many of the ever-present images of Spongebob Squarepants in comics and on products, for a talk on working on a beloved children’s character. Is it all fame and candy-eating, or is there a certain work ethic […]
Author visits, marketing your book, Mal and Chad, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3LX1AXR1cs Whether you’re self-publishing or working with a publisher, a cold hard reality we cartoonists face is getting the word out about your book. This time I’m joined by author Stephen McCranie for a discussion on how he used a special promotion on his site […]
Drama! Smile! Baby-Sitters Club! Raina Telgemeier! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO0bjO1XETI We close out the 2012 broadcast schedule with a special event! I’m joined by guest co-host Cassie, who helps me interview Raina Telgemeier about her latest graphic novel Drama. Together we talk about how Drama is a “spiritual sequel” to Smile, how an author might use their own […]
Sherlock Holmes, Rick Leonardi, Brandon Perlow, Paul Mendoza, and more! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=P89-0ftkE2s This time we talk with the team behind the new Watson and Holmes comic about iterating on public domain stories, new publishing strategies, and how a cartoonist might think about “acting” through their characters. And we’re joined once again by Sharon Iverson of the […]
Writing horror with Jon David Guerra, Paul Storrie, and Dave Carter. //www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OifG9ih9pk It’s a Halloween-themed episode with a talk on what characterizes a scary story, and we’ve got a full roundtable of people well-suited for the job! I’m joined by Jon David Guerra, Paul Storrie, and Dave Carter, who help to draw the line between […]
World building! Backstory! Writing! With Dave Roman, Brandon Dayton, and Paul Storrie. //www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIB_QGw57GQ What’s the difference between story and backsory? It’s a tricky question, so I was lucky to assemble a rather impressive roundtable of comics people to help sort this one out. Brandon Dayton, Dave Roman, and Paul Storrie all return to the show […]
Publishing, Pitching, First Second Books! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_CBtrV8wGk Some of us have come face-to-face with the grim reality of getting our work published. It’s not quite as glamorous and easy as the fantasy we might have constructed as a kid. But Gina Gagliano of First Second Books stops by the show to lend a bunch of great […]
Chad Sell, Sally Carson, and the Small Press Expo! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMZclwsMJuA I’m back from the Small Press Expo and ready to share some of the exciting things that happened while I was there. I’m joined by two other SPX 2012 exhibitors, Chad Sell and Sally Carson. Together we talk about the unique tone the convention has, […]
It’s the never-before-seen-on-the-Internet live CAG show recorded at the Ann Arbor District Library during Kids Read Comics 2012! //www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRL770fuwcE I’m joined by a live studio audience and a panel of excellent guests of KRC including: Dave Roman Raina Telgemeier Rob Stenzinger Joe Foo Sharon Iverson We start out with some reflections and stories from KRC […]
Topics: Writing, sketching, and finding your voice as an author. //www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Qh8IZt3sU As counter-intuitive as it may seem, illustration is only one small part of the overall effort in making comics. What really defines what a graphic novelist, cartoonist, or comics artist does happens at the thumbnail level. It’s there that you decide on the panel […]
Topics: The Legend of Korra, cartoons, writing, storytelling //www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdAyA4TqGoE Spoiler alert! If you haven’t finished watching the first season of The Legend of Korra, you might want to do so before enjoying this episode. But even if you’re not a Korra fan, there’s some fun storytelling talk and analysis on this edition of CAG, as […]
Topics: Find new audiences through libraries, publishing, and self-promotion //www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUkNhqhUc8M Many of us agree that web publishing is a terrific way to build an audience for your comic, graphic novel, or comic strip. It’s an easy, low-risk way for audiences to try before they buy. And the same is true for getting your books into […]
Guest: Ryan Estrada Topics: Photoshop, Art Automation, ProcessMaking comics takes a lot of time. We all understand this. But Ryan Estrada shows us that it doesn’t have to take as much time as we think it does! This time we’re treated to what is essentially an online workshop in automating much of the comics process […]
Whether or not one should make any special considerations when writing for kids is a topic that goes round and round on the twitters. Is it better to shield young people from the difficulties and terrors of adulthood, or should we be preparing kids for this? Are there advantages to both? It’s a philosophical episode […]
This time we’re joined by Eric Orchard for a talk about his new kids’ horror comic Marrowbones. What are the special parameters one must consider when making a scary story for kids? How do you walk that line in a visual medium like comics? Also, a contest! For the folks who tuned in during the […]
It’s a spirited talk about the future of comics publishing and storytelling opportunities available in digital comics this time, as I’m joined by comics legend Mark Waid. Using his new project Thrillbent as a starting point, we explore how digital publishing and web culture are challenging us to re-think 20th Century ideas of publishing and […]
Digital comics in libraries. Comics textbooks in schools. Has the utopian future finally arrived? I’m joined this week by Eli Neiburger of the Ann Arbor District Library and Josh Elder of Reading With Pictures for a talk on the future of digital delivery and licensing in regards to comics. Josh’s new venture, the iVerse Media […]
It’s another audio-only episode featuring the return of Nick Abadzis, author of Laika, and the upcoming collection Hugo Tate from Blank Slate Books. Nick sits down with me to talk about Hugo and the project’s evolution, and throughout our discussion we use it as a metaphor for an artist’s evolution. How do you find the […]
It’s an eclectic mix of talents and opinions this time as I’m joined by Kevin Coppa, Faith Erin Hicks, and Paul Storrie for a talk about the new Avatar: The Legend of Korra cartoon series! We share our reactions to the first two episodes, compare them to the original series, discuss some of the many […]
It’s some fun talk about the effusive joy one finds in a life committed to art and getting others excited about art, as we’re joined by Mark Kistler, legendary host of the PBS series The Secret City Adventures and The Imagination Station. We talk about Mark’s career in teaching kids how to draw and his […]
It’s an hour of talk about the wonderful and unique format known as mini-comics, as I’m joined by Dave Carter of the University of Michigan Art, Architecutre & Engineering Library, and U-M student Meggie Ramm for a wrap-up of Mini-Comics Day 2012! Together we discuss why the mini-comics format is a great entry point for […]
For the sort-of anniversary show, I was lucky enough to be joined the old roundtable (plus one) for a follow-up discussion to CAG 48! So, to quote Kermit the Frog, it really makes me happy to introduce to you: From L to R: Dave Roman, Kasey Van Hise, Brandon Dayton, and Tony Cliff Together we […]
This time I’m joined by cartoonist and children’s book illustrator Dan Santat for a discussion on the fear of failure most of us artists face at various times during our careers. Does the fear of failure drive us to do better? Does it prevent us from enjoying where we are? Or worse yet, can it […]
Is writing adventure fiction for girls really all that different than writing for other audiences? If so, can such a story be characterized? Tough questions, so this time I went to the best sources for answers! We’re joined by Dan Mishkin, co-creator of the legendary comics series Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld and Blue Devil (and co-organizer […]
We’re joined by a very special guest on this episode to help us find a new angle to come at the topic of writing characters! Neil Kaplan (Digimon, Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Power Rangers) joins us for a discussion on writing characters from the standpoint of a voice actor. How do you find that unique […]
This episode is packed to the gills as I’m joined by a full house of great people who are all eager to talk about comics! First up is a discussion on drawing digitally in Manga Studio with Stephen McCranie, who leads a demonstration of how he draws his comics in the program while Paul Storrie […]
Making comics is a time-consuming and challenging endeavor, especially when you try to balance your personal life, paying gigs, and passion projects. I’m joined by Skottie Young and Katie Cook for a discussion on the lifestyle of a working cartoonist and strategies to stay on top of one’s career, finding time for personal projects, all […]
We’re back with a new “season” of Comics Are Great! recorded live out of the Ann Arbor District Library Netcast Studio! And to kick it off, we’re starting with a discussion of the wild and varied landscape of comics by talking about some of our favorite books. Whatever your tastes, there’s a comic out there […]
It’s a special unscheduled Comics Are Great! discussion with Ryan Estrada, who just happened to be in town during the winter break. He sat down with me for a talk on the various kinds of drama that pop up in comics circles and together we explore why it is that we’re sometimes so eager to […]
As we close out the 2011 season of shows, I’m thrilled to have Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier on to talk about their recent experience at the Quai des Bulles Saint Malo Comics Festival. While watching some video and slideshows from their trip, Raina shares her reflections on how tabling at a French comics festival […]
After a failed attempt at some digital painting, I enlisted the help of Brandon Dayton, celebrated cartoonist behind Green Monk and concept designer for EA Games, for a discussion and demonstration on how to paint with pixels. Lots of great material in the video this time as Brandon shares some terrific tips and tricks! We’re […]
WARNING: If you wish to avoid spoilers or opinions on The Muppets movie, I suggest that you save this episode until after you’ve seen the film. In this special audio-only episode of Comics Are Great! I’m joined by Dave Roman for a talk about the new Muppets film. We discuss some of the unique storytelling […]
This week we’re joined by Paul Storrie and Tony Cliff for a talk on doing your research when making a comic placed in a specific place or time–that is, when Paul and I aren’t too busy gushing over Tony’s Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant. We start off with some talk on creating a premise […]
This week we address the time-honored topic of ideas and how a storyteller turns them into something useful. If ideas are a dime a dozen, then how do you know a good one from a bad one? If execution is everything, how do you execute? We’re joined by Norwegian cartoonist Kim Holm and local artist Jono […]
We’ve got two super cartoonists in the studio this week for a discussion on digital vs analog tools, with a demonstration on how to draw with what might be the program that perplexes the most cartoonists–Adobe Illustrator! And who better to demo than Jannie Ho, children’s book illustrator and comics artist, widely known for her […]
If you’ve ever wondered about “analog” inking techniques and tools, this is the episode for you! I’m joined this week by Michigan cartoonists Joe Foo and Mike Roll for a talk on why and how they use the brush to ink their comics. You might want to watch the video of this week’s episode, as […]
It’s a discussion on the positive power of fantasy stories on this week’s Comics Are Great! podcast, as I’m joined by Joamette Gil and Brian Denham for a discussion on their new comic, Exile. Gil and Denham’s story features a transgender protagonist who faces cosmic challenges while also dealing with her own gender identity. But […]
It’s a bit of a silly episode with a special surprise topic at the end. I’m joined by Paul Storrie, Alice Hunt, and Tracy Williams for a discussion on the physical hazards of making comics, the Captain America movie, My Little Pony, and finally some talk on writing. Thankfully Eli Neiburger joins us at the […]
In this Comics Are Great “Special,” we have a panel discussion with some local teen cartoonists at the Ann Arbor District Library Mallets Creek Branch. Snow, Olivia, Natalia, and Caleb are all people under the age of 18 who have demonstrated a deep enthusiasm for telling stories through our medium, and they take some time […]
It’s a discussion devoted to using the art of comics to celebrate history and science on this week’s Comics Are Great! But what might be the best part of the episode is how the discussion turns to a general talk about why comics are such an effective medium regardless of topic. I’m joined this week […]
If you believe, as I do, that libraries are the new front lines in broadening the audience for comics, then this episode is for you. This week I talk with Sharon Iverson, Teen Librarian at the Ann Arbor District Library, about a variety of hot topics surrounding comics in libraries, including: Getting your self-published comics […]
It’s all about character design this time, featuring the return of Jake Parker and Gale Williams! With Tyler James’ 30 Characters Challenge right around the corner, it’s time to think a little about what specific concerns face a cartoonist when making up their fictional people. Jake brings a stellar presentation to explain how a basic […]
How do you engage with your audience? How do you manage your social media interactions to drive interest in your comics? Is it as simple as “just be interesting”? If so, what does “interesting” even mean? Fortunately I’m joined by the super savvy Eli Neiburger of the Ann Arbor District Library for a discussion on […]
It’s a discussion on walking the line when making comics for young people, as I’m joined by Mark Mariano. We talk about the difference between thrilling and shocking an audience, the value in being explicit with your story’s messages, and developing an inner barometer to measure whether your story moments are appropriate for kids. We’re […]
It’s hard enough to make a comic, but now we have to learn all of these new digital publishing models, too? Thank goodness I’m joined this week by Rob Stenzinger, a cartoonist and user interface designer, who helps me navigate through a discussion on the various content management systems available and the kinds of thinking […]
It’s all about organizing and executing public events to plant a flag for your community to gather around this week, as I’m joined by Onezumi Harstein and James Harknell of the upcoming Intervention! Together we talk about some of the pitfalls to be aware of when creating a public event, tips on ways to do […]
This week we’re joined by Scott Yoshinaga and Audra Furuichi, creators of one of the most sincere comics on the Internet, nemu*nemu. We talk about the evolution of the series from a vertical strip to a more free-form full-color series, how introducing new characters and diverse plot lines keeps the series fresh for the creators […]
This one goes out to any young or beginning cartoonists who are wondering what to expect as they enter the world of promoting their work and making a living at this comics stuff! We’re joined by Christopher Hastings, artist/writer of Dr. McNinja and writer of the new Fear Itself: Deadpool mini-series, who shares some terrific thoughts […]
As someone once said about comics, “it’s all limitations”, and this week I’m joined by two terrific cartoonists for a discussion on working within limitations and experimenting to find new forms of expression in comics. As it turns out, these experiments also serve to jump-start one’s creativity, regardless of which form or genre in which […]
It’s an episode packed with great discussion on breaking down a story into comics form with guests Jake Parker and Dave Roman! We each share our own approach to writing visually: Starting with a world, characters, or a theme, and what our respective processes are to getting to the final story. This one might be best […]
It’s a jam-packed episode where we tackle the topics of fandom in the 21st century, the role of “shipping” in storytelling, what it’s like to win an Eisner award, and perhaps most importantly, the new Avatar: The Legend of Korra series! First we’re joined by Raina Telgemeier, who stops by for a little to share […]
It’s a lighter look at storytelling as I’m joined by Dave Roman for a friendly debate over which is better–the Harry Potter series, or The Chronicles of Narnia? Throughout the discussion we cover the merits of each property’s storytelling, the difference between writing fantasy and mythology, and the problems with dating your material. We’re joined […]
It’s a talk about the past and future of comics with Karl Altstaetter! Karl and I start out by talking about comics in the 90s, his work on the Samurai anthology then about his work on the MTV Geek webcomics project and his own contribution, Me2! We then talk a bit about the future of comics […]
I’m happy to have Paul Storrie return, along with Krishna Sadasivam, for some laughs and bickering! This time we talk about JK Rowling’s Pottermore project and what it means for independent publishing. We then spiral out to discuss how the relationship between author and audience has been changing in the Internet age, and whether that’s […]
Facebook, Twitter, and now Google+ are the easy solution to finding success as a cartoonist, right? Just post about your stuff and the audience will come (with money)! We all know it’s not that simple, and I’m grateful to have two super-smart cartoonists on the show to navigate through the confusing labyrinth of choices and […]
It’s a high-energy discussion about writing comics this week with guests Dr. Alice Hunt and Paul Storrie. Together we talk about whether or not gender still matters in the comics industry, what we mean when we say “breaking in” to comics, and how there’s no one path to success in the creative arts. Special appearance […]
It’s a discussion on teaching comics this week on Comics Are Great, with special guests Rob Stenzinger and Tom Hart! What’s the big deal with comics education? Why not just pursue a traditional art degree? Does a formal education in comics make a difference in a career? We tackle these topics, as well as some […]
It’s the first episode of the new Comics Are Great! recorded at the Ann Arbor District Library! The show is now recorded live on Wednesdays at 12:30 pm Eastern Time and broadcasted live on Ustream! Join us for our live discussions where you can participate and ask questions of the guests via a live chat […]
Disclaimer on this one: Due to the topic of this discussion, some salty language made it into this episode. It is, as they say, NSFW, and those who are sensitive to coarse language should use discretion before listening. The roundtable returns for a discussion inspired by some blog posts made recently by John Sanford of […]
Whatever its intent, the recent news about Diamond Distribution’s attempt at digital distribution has stirred up a lot of talk about the future of Local Comics Stores (LCS). Digital delivery of comics through services like The Illustrated Section or Comixology has certainly disrupted the business of selling and distributing physical comic books, but does this […]
It’s the return to the roundtable discussion as we try to weigh the pros and cons between canonical storytelling and story franchises that undergo multiple reboots and iterations! What are the perils of working in a strict continuity? Does rebooting your story run risk of alienating readers? When does pleasing your readers cross the line […]
It’s some more visual storytelling talk, this time with Simpsons storyboard artist and cartoonist Luis Escobar! We spend a little bit of time at the top discussing his work on a recent controversial Simpsons couch gag, followed by an attempt to find a proper name to what people have been calling “motion comics”. It’s a […]
This time it’s a one-on-one conversation between me and Ryan Estrada, the cartoonist who is taking on the brobdingnagian challenge of animating a feature-length film in one month! As we discuss the project and the perils it presents to Ryan, we wind up investigating some topics that apply to any cartooning endeavor, such as: Story […]
If we agree to the conceit that most of us want more people to read comics, the next question is: How do we recommend works to people who don’t normally read comics? Do we base our recommendations on the genres that the person is interested in, do we try to get them to read something […]
Hot on the heels of last episode’s celebration of American Comics, this time we’re paying tribute to the wonderful world of comics from Japan, otherwise known as Manga! I’m joined by one of my favorite roundtables of cartoonists: Brandon Dayton is the cartoonist behind the comic Green Monk and contributor to the Feature Creeps process […]
This time it’s a celebration of the bombastic storytelling found in American comics storytelling with Norwegian cartoonist Kim Holm. Given the popularity and influence of Manga over the last decade, and considering the terrific outpouring of new indie comics artists who are breaking all kinds of new ground in comics, it’s easy to overlook the […]
On October 30, 2010 I sat in on the Kids Read Comics panel at Detroit Fanfare. The panelists and I discussed a wide range of topics surrounding the mission of KRC, including the specific concerns facing all ages cartoonists and writers, the importance of cartoonist leadership in comics advocacy, creative marketing, and breaking the stereotypes […]
Whether you’re an extroverted or an introverted creator, I think this discussion has something to offer you. This time I talk with Kim Holm about audience engagement and expressing emotions in comics storytelling. We begin with some talk about the possibilities for interaction and collaborative storytelling provided by webcomics models, using Kim’s excellent Space Monkey […]
This time we take a trip to the murky waters of definitions in writing and storytelling. To complicate matters we take on a term first coined in fanfiction: the Mary Sue character. Though opinions differ on which characters stand as good examples of a Mary Sue (or Gary Stu, read the Wikipedia article), most agree […]
This time I have the pleasure of talking visual storytelling with two guys who are way smarter than me. Dave Roman is the creator behind Astronaut Elementary, Agnes Quill, Jax Epoch and the Quicken Forbidden, Zuko’s Story, Comics Bakery, and more. Brandon Dayton is the artist behind Green Monk and the newly launched Feature Creeps […]
It’s the first episode of the Comics Are Great! podcast, a new show where I’ll be discussing with various people who make comics just why comics are so great. There’s no one better to start the new series with than Dan Mishkin, not only because he’s the inspiration of this site’s name, but because he’s […]