Making Comics by Keith Foster and Scott Lost

05.13.2024

Episode 182: The Comic Process (with Rory Smith)

This week, we welcome Rory Smith (Illumination Studios, Mighty Hunters of Mythria) to the podcast to talk about the act of creation, drawing techniques, and much more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/makingcomics/support

05.06.2024

Episode 181: No Lazy Panels

This week, we talk about how much toning and grayscaling can add in the hands of an expert (3:30), today's main topic - making sure you've done your best on every panel (9:00), those moments of serendipity when you get...

04.29.2024

Episode 180: The Industry

This week, we talk about varying up your distance when it comes to panels (5:00), getting a reminder of your limitations and your strengths (10:00), aligning on payment terms with clients (21:30), and when communication gets warped (35:40) before we...

04.22.2024

Episode 179: Innovation

This week, we talk about an influx of commission work and the importance of being flexible (3:20), getting clarification from an artist on page art (13:45), fixing printing errors (20:00), controlling the small costs (26:50), prepping a project for a...

04.15.2024

Episode 178: Wondercon Recap

This week, we talk about the close of a Kickstarter campaign (4:10), changing the art style halfway through an issue (18:40), and restocking your books (27:00) before we get to this week's main topic: a recap of Wondercon (31:30). --- Support...

04.08.2024

Episode 177: Creating Immersive Environments

This week, we discuss getting back art with a change in color (3:30), getting comic work in when the business side commands attention (12:00), reviewing pages from a copy editor (20:15), and ordering limited-edition books (30:20) before this week's topic:...

04.01.2024

Episode 176: Adapting Prose into Comics

This week, we talk about approvals from other creators on a collaborative project (2:30), rewriting a story from memory (9:15) working on a cover for potential use (21:40), getting interior art and cover art back (26:00), and returning to traditional...

03.25.2024

Episode 175: Creating Beyond Comics with Scott Serkland

This week, we welcome creator Scott Serkland (Young and the Dead, Make Your Own Comics series, The Artcasters) to the podcast and talk about working on a special project (3:55), sticking or not sticking to genre convention (7:30), recreating authentic...

03.18.2024

Episode 174: Undertelling

This week, we talk about including or not including dialogue on your Kickstarter sample art pages (2:50), finishing a first draft (10:30), strategizing around commissioned covers (19:30), giving your artist too much information (27:40), fitting comics into a changed schedule...

03.11.2024

Episode 173: Other People's Properties

This week, we talk about acknowledging and avoiding convention in the first draft of a story (7:30), writing the first draft of word balloons in a Marvel Method-process comic (19:20), the need to sometimes be on-the-nose (30:15), scheduling work for...

03.04.2024

Episode 172: Listener Mail

This week, we talk about thumbnails for a new comic (4:30), incorporating editor notes into a near-finished work (9:35), finding cover artists (17:30), distributing art pieces evenly in a novel (23:20), working on rough pencils (31:40), and understanding the ups...

02.26.2024

Episode 171: Giving Feedback

This week, we discuss being productive writing a first draft in a journal (5:30), creating pages of art for a special story (17:15), channeling inspiration when you don't expect it (24:45), giving feedback and giving it the proper weight (28:30),...

02.19.2024

Episode 170: Nuances of Character

This week, we talk about work on a detailed cover (2:45), returning to productive writing (12:30), a surprise new project (19:00), getting toned art pages back (25:45), and the promise of a new idea (30:40) before we get to this...

02.12.2024

Episode 169: Comic Book Hacks

This week, we talk about finishing two covers in a week (5:40), a different release of a new comic (11:30), coordinating work on variant covers (15:50), how a snippet from a video created a path forward for a story (21:00),...

02.05.2024

Episode 168: The Trappings of Genre

This week, we talk about daily focused reading (7:20), finishing the first draft of a short comic (14:15), and getting feedback on a story (29:30) before we get to this week's episode: the trappings of genre (42:00). --- Support this...

01.29.2024

Episode 167: Doug Wagner on Writing Comics

This week, we talk about finding a path to finishing the first draft of a story (3:00) and moving on from an artist (12:45), then welcome Doug Wagner (Plastic, Vinyl, Plush, Klik Klik Boom, Beware the Eye of Odin) to...

01.22.2024

Episode 166: Leveling Up

This week, we discuss the best attitude to have for giving and receiving feedback (4:30), understanding who holds the ultimate veto on your work (16:30), how down time can make you more productive (22:15), thinking your way through new characters...

01.15.2024

Episode 165: 2024 Goals

This week, we talk about a comic book within a story (4:40), dialing into craft elements that make a style distinctive (13:30), reworking your dialogue to the balloons and the available panel space (24:10), and hitting a stalemate on work...

01.08.2024

Episode 164: Change the Style

This week, we recap our Making Comics creative retreat and discuss working your way through a comic script (12:45), working on art using a new style (24:30), denouements (36:00), post-workshops edits (44:45), and much more. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/makingcomics/support

12.29.2023

Episode 163: Year-End Favorites

It's the year-end episode! creator Gary Hodges joins us to discuss our favorite comic (6:15), favorite artist (24:00), and others including movie of the year (54:30), game of the year (1:17:00), and many more. NOTE: This is an early-release episode for...

12.21.2023

Episode 162: The Holiday Episode!

It's the holiday episode! Dinosaurs vs Marsbots creator Gary Hodges joins us to get in spirit for the season. We review the "nice" - our best creative achievements (13:15), "naughty" - our biggest creative learning (36:05), revisit our personal holiday...

12.18.2023

Episode 161: Strengthening Your Dialogue

This week, we talk about the initial work on a script (3:20), LA Comic Con (9:30), streamlining reward delivery on Kickstarter (25:10), a business summit (33:15), pencils for a new comic (39:30), and having the courage to cut (48:00) before...

12.11.2023

Episode 160: Back Matter and Being Resourceful

This episode, we talk about the right amount of information to give in a mystery (3:00), creating back matter for a comic (11:00), the release schedule that follows the creative schedule (20:40), a comic book in-store (27:45), hitting a rhythm...

12.06.2023

Episode 156: A Speed vs Quality Question

This week, we discuss an in-store appearance (3:15), finishing inks for a comic and moving on the flatting and notes for the colorist (11:20), revisiting a project once thought complete (19:00) and hitting on a surprise revelation, thinking through a...

12.04.2023

Episode 159: Writer's Block

This week, we discuss font size and the right amount of dialogue to put on pages and panels (7:25), understanding the genre and potential audience of your story (23:20), checking in on a comic script (30:45), making a first-draft outline...

11.27.2023

Episode 158: Making your art Cinematic

This week, we talk about incorporating new pages into a novel (6:00),working your way through a Kickstarter (10:45), writing a page outline for a single issue (17:30), lettering in a similar, but slightly different way (26:05), and a dose of...

11.20.2023

Episode 157: Death and Taxes and Comics

This week, we talk about the pre-work for Kickstarters (4:00), editing your way through a late draft of a book (13:30), creating a new logo (19:10), working out the high-level structure of a new ending (26:35), receiving original cover art...

11.06.2023

Episode 155: Knowing When you're Done

This week, we review feedback on a comic script (2:30), working your way through a Kickstarter and making choices on promotion (9:00), staying on your page goals (16:45), and a Metal Swap Meet recap (27:00) before we get to this...

10.30.2023

Episode 154: Taking your story where you want it to go

This week, we talk about preparing for and launching a Kickstarter (11:50), approaching the end of a comic and larger arc continuity (18:00), taking chances on format (31:00), sending your story off to readers (36:50), getting a cover back from...

10.23.2023

Episode 153: Pitching to Publishers

This week, we discuss maintaining your page goals (4:10), ensuring the individual story scripts of a larger arc mesh well (9:55), soliciting opinions from your trusted creator network (17:40), preparing to write the final issue of a comic series (27:30),...

10.16.2023

Episode 152: Planning for Your Story's Success

This week we discuss finishing a comic script in non-traditional work spaces (3:45), maintaining the three pages per week pace (12:20), setting up your Kickstarter for success (16:50), finishing a parody cover (21:00), and revisiting a story that's been on...

10.09.2023

Episode 151: Bringing your Story Forward

This week, we talk about sustaining your higher level of productivity (4:40), working on a comic script in whatever way you can (12:30), bringing the best part of your story forward (19:10), choosing the right page layout (31:00), and shelving...

10.02.2023

Episode 150: Creating Complex Characters

This week, Scott and Keith recap tabling at a horror convention (5:15) and discuss finding your pitch (10:00), sticking to your production goals for art (26:10), incorporating notes into your work and story pacing (33:00), and drawing pencil pages (41:00)...

09.25.2023

Episode 149: Story time versus Elapsed time

This week, Scott and Keith discuss what might be a higher permanent level of productivity (3:50), how your past scrapped ideas can become your next good idea (14:00), how AI is now your competition and how knowing what it can...

09.18.2023

Episode 148: How to Approach Action in Your Comics

This week, Scott and Keith discuss pruning your activities when necessary (4:30), hitting a higher level of productivity with your art (11:15), getting a calibration on submissions (24:30), working withyour arists / colorists on changes and feedback to artists (35:45),...

09.11.2023

Episode 147: Where Research Ends and Story Begins

This week, Scott and Keith talk about thumbnail pre-work for a month-long panel gauntlet and good goals versus bad goals (7:05), working on a side gig that relates to your creative work (15:15), finding the inspiration for potential work (24:15),...

09.04.2023

Episode 146: Pop Culture References in your book

This week, we talk about capturing the essence of your story with your cover (4:10), asking your colorist for corrections where needed (11:20), getting the first wave of cover ideas back on your book and realizing what's good within those...

08.28.2023

Episode 145: New characters and Script notes

This week, Scott and Keith talk about receiving the original art for a commissioned comic cover (4:20), using a place with less distractions to your advantage (11:50), hacking out the details and your choices in naming a new character (22:40),...

08.21.2023

Episode 144: Chimpanzee Science Fiction at the Carnival

This week, we talk about switching up the way you work and violating a 'rule' with intention (7:30), finishing a comic (13:40), thinking through the future of selling your comics and trade paperbacks (18:45), and using a future opportunity to...

08.14.2023

Episode 143: Handling Rejection

This week, Scott and Keith talk about getting close to the end of a comic (3:30), trying out a tip to work through creative block (11:20), getting original art back from one of your covers (17:45), taking a break in...

08.07.2023

Episode 142: San Diego Comic Con recap

This week, we sit down post- San Diego Comic Con to discuss re-dedication to your daily / monthly word count (5:00), channeling productive energy from working the table at SDCC (10:30), how the warmup sentence exercise has morphed into something...

07.31.2023

Episode 141: Re-evaluating your Creative Goals

This week, we sit down on the verge of SDCC and talk about adjusting your productivity goals around your schedule (3:55), selling at an in-store event (6:00), staying warm with sketches and commissions (14:40) and writing warm-ups (18:50), and doing...

07.24.2023

Episode 140: Removing (Creative) limitations

This week, we talk about completing a comic script (5:00), hitting your daily drawing goal (9:10), getting interior art back from a new artist (14:45) and a cover artist (17:10), getting fan feedback on a comic (20:40), doing commission work...

07.17.2023

Episode 139: Copyright

This week, we talk about doing work (but not finishing) panels so they can be finished later (5:30), writing with the energy of a new project (9:00), working on pre-show commissions for SDCC (14:00), doing big thinking past the current...

07.10.2023

Episode 138: Indie Comics Workshop

This episode, we recap our in-store at Comic Book Hideout in Fullerton CA (4:00), then discuss how details are their own easter egg (17:10), jumping straight from your basic skeleton to writing a comic script (24:50), and shipping out Kickstarter...

07.03.2023

Episode 137: Extending a story

This week, Scott and Keith discuss making changes with your artist (4:25), the right way visually start a story (12:10), understanding change deadlines (21:45), getting product reinforcements in for Kickstarters and upcoming shows (25:40), and doing deep story-within-a-story work (29:30)...

06.26.2023

Episode 136: Advancing your Craft (with Dave Law)

This episode, we welcome artist Dave Law (Space Odditorium, Wolf Punks) and discuss bringing real-life elements into your comic for authenticity (6:00), attacking different scenes in different ways in a comic script (11:05), ensuring dialogue corresponds to panel size and...

06.19.2023

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