Comics Are Great! 79 – The Final Superhero Discussion with Dan Mishkin and Dean Trippe

Mon, 11/04/2013 - 9:17am by dubaym

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 joined by two of the best sources on the topic for a walk around this idea. Dan Mishkin is the co-creator of Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld and Blue Devil (with writing credits on stories about Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and more) as well as one of the founders of the annual Kids Read Comics Celebration. Dean Trippe is the creator of Butterfly, co-founder of Project: Rooftop, co-host of The Last Cast, and owner of the most Batman-filled Tumblr you’ve ever seen. Together we have the definitive discussion on the hows and whys of superhero stories.

We’re joined at the end by Erin Helmrich of the Ann Arbor District Library for another round of comics recommendations!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Comics Are Great! 78 – Cartoon Appeal with Chris Giarrusso

Mon, 11/04/2013 - 9:08am by dubaym

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 comics and video game Library. Together we discuss how using kid logic, exploring character choices, and trusting your voice are essential elements to creating a story with appeal.

We’ve also got another round of book recommendations with Sharon Iverson of the Ann Arbor District Library!

Links mentioned in this episode (thanks to Eric Klooster for collecting them!):

Comics Are Great! 77 – Action and Comedy with Tony Cliff and the Houghton Brothers!

Mon, 11/04/2013 - 8:58am by dubaym

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 of the soon-to-be-released Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant, and Chris and Shane Houghton of Bongo’s Simpsons Comics, Adventure Time comics, and Reed Gunther! Together we explore why understanding character is so crucial to comedy, and why understanding movement is so crucial to action.

We’ve also got another round of book recommendations with Erin Helmrich of the Ann Arbor District Library!

Links mentioned in this episode (thanks to Eric Klooster for collecting them!):

Comics Are Great! 76 – Bringing the Gods to Life with George O’Connor

Mon, 11/04/2013 - 8:55am by dubaym

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 of their characters, and how the poetry of a visual medium like comics can be utilized to express larger-than-life (yet true-to-life) ideas.

Links mentioned in this episode (thanks to Eric Klooster for collecting them!):

Comics Are Great! 75 – Editing Graphic Novels with Calista Brill

Mon, 11/04/2013 - 8:48am by dubaym

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 is acquired, what happens then? How does the editor/author partnership work?

It’s a really fun and instructive conversation with one of the people responsible for the terrific changes happening in the comics publishing landscape.

We’re also joined by Sharon Iverson of the Ann Arbor District Library for another round of book talks!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Comics Are Great! 74 – Every Moment is the Moment of Truth with Thien Pham

Mon, 11/04/2013 - 8:35am by dubaym

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 diving in and making comics, and how a methodology might distract one from the task at hand or drain some of the life out of one’s work.

We also get a scoop on Thien’s new webcomic, Please, Don’t Give Up!

We’re joined at the end by Erin Helmrich of the Ann Arbor District Library for another round of book recommendations.

Links mentioned in this episode (thanks to Eric Klooster for collecting them!):

Comic Artists Forum with Cartoonist Jesse Hughes

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 3:20pm by K.C.

Sunday November 3, 2013: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: 4th Floor Meeting Room

This event is intended for adults and teens (grade 6 and up).

CosmiCat creator Jesse Hughes will talk about developing expressive facial expressions and body language.

Join the Forum to get fresh ideas for your next comics or graphic novel creation. Drawing supplies are provided, so drop in to draw, learn, and network with other cartoonists.

A Sweeeeet Werewolf Romance

Sat, 10/19/2013 - 8:53am by K.C.

For those of you who love October for its end of the month holiday here is a little comedic horror story available as an online graphic novel to tickle your bones by artist and storyteller extraordinaire Ryan Estrada. David, a young professional, is out late barhopping with his work buddies in Royal Oak when he encounters Julia, a young woman, crouched and half naked in a nearby alley. She’s barefoot and bleeding and seems to be in a daze. David gallantly offers her his jacket and insists on driving her to the emergency room. Little does either know it but this is the start of a friendship that will bloom into romance. When David proclaims his undying love, Julia reveals she’s a werewolf. Though Julia tries to convince him to forget about her, David knows he’s met the love of his life, the woman with whom he wants to spend the rest of his days. There’s just that little problem of the full moon each month!

Read The Kind free online or name your own price and download your own copy with lots of extras. Did I mention it was originally planned as an animated work?

Comic Artists Forum with Artist Justin Castaneda

Wed, 09/25/2013 - 4:24pm by K.C.

Sunday October 6, 2013: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: 4th Floor Meeting Room

This event is intended for adults and teens (grade 6 and up).

Learn about visual storytelling and writing from life with artist Justin Castaneda. He has developed the When I Was Little children's book series and evolved it into more than just books.

Join the Forum to get fresh ideas for your graphic novel or next comics creation. Drawing supplies are provided, so drop in to draw, learn, and network with other cartoonists.

My Dog: The Paradox

Sun, 09/22/2013 - 8:05pm by K.C.

Having come out of a “doggy” summer, I picked up My Dog and enjoyed a good laugh. Creator Matthew Inman’s many years of observing his dogs, in particular Rambo to whom the book is dedicated, helped to serve as the inspiration for this ode to man’s best friend. He explores such questions as how is it that dogs are absolutely fearless in the face of trucks, animals four times their size, and thoroughly love to roll in horse droppings yet are unable to cope with a hair blow dryer and can’t make eye contact with cats?

Based on one of Inman’s online comics posted at The Oatmeal man’s best friend is simply yet colorfully portrayed in this little book not to be missed.