Making Comics

It's the enormous 100th episode! We welcome Gary Hodges to discuss drawing pages that involve a lot of detail (5:30), trying a new method for a backup story in a comic (11:05), and progressing through the middle of Drawtober (25:35) before Gary runs us through a series of questions on the comic process and the first 100 episodes, including the accountability involved in a podcast (35:30), the master through-line in our work (1:02:30), the best way to learn how to make a comic (1:14:30), and what the podcast has taught us over one hundred episodes (1:41:30).

This week we recap a guest appearance on a show (6:30), different ways to approach your work when it's not flowing or feels off (8:55), preparing thumbnails for an intense Drawtober (18:30), top-level thinking around a comic involving scene versus summary (23:40), scheduling backward from a goal date (30:20), and completing commissions ahead of schedule to open up your schedule (42:30) before this week's main topic: backgrounds (44:15).

This episode, we discuss the Amazing Las Vegas convention (4:40), the work it sometimes takes to finish complex pages (8:10), the attendance difference for top creators (12:30), a nice lesson from a popular show (25:30), and consolidating unnecessary dialogue and story (29:15) before this week's main topic: striking first and striking hard... when it comes to making your comic (34:15).

This week, we talk about work on a detailed double-page spread and its ensuing complex page (6:00), lettering (and editing while you edit) and assembling the visuals for a comic (11:20), planning out an upcoming work schedule (24:45) and how research can pay off when you least expect it (29:00), before this week's main topic: dynamic poses (39:30).

This episode, we discuss the final major hurdle in a writing project (3:55) and using the SLAC method and picking the coolest page to get your energy back on a project (12:50) before this week's main topic: submitting your comic proposal to publishers (32:00).

At 51 minutes, we discuss AI art and an experiment we had with AI generators. If you want to see this art and get a visual to the discussion, go to my website: https://www.keithrfoster.com/blog-posts/ai-art-as-discussed-on-making-comics-ep-96

This week, we discuss tackling an issue of drawing when you can choose what you want to do (4:00), a show that reinforced proper storytelling (10:00), resetting yourself with a good adage to make comics by (15:40), and lettering your own writing and editing on the fly (20:45) before this week's main topic: writing tips from comic "prose" from an old Wizard article (28:15).

This week, we catch up on business, convention schedule planning and cover art (4:20), prepping a script for lettering (14:00), balancing commissions and your work (19:55), and knowing the right things to cut in your story (24:00) before this week's main topic: dialogue (31:10).

This week, we recap Emerald City Comic Con (3:00) and discuss the current business landscape of comic cons and how to pack for a show, building a network of people you like working with (22:25), finding real-life examples of what you want to draw (34:00), and remembering to take time to relax (35:40) and learn more about your craft (39:30) before this week's topic: anatomy, and artists that push anatomy in their drawing (44:40).

This week, we discuss making additions to a comic when the mood strikes (3:20), reviewing thumbnail layouts for a comic (13:00), trying different page layouts (27:00), putting extra effort into separator pages and covers (36:10), and backing up creator correspondence (45:00) before this week's main topic: aligning feedback with your vision and what happens when feedback doesn't align (47:30).

This week, we discuss slipcase production (8:20), putting your personal stamp on lettering (11:30), the natural evolution of your style (21:30), being productive in unusual situations (30:50), videos/podcasts we loved that will improve your craft level drawing (33:00) and writing (38:15),  before this week's main topic: building your characters (54:40).