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Submitted by dubaym on Tue, 12/04/2012 - 4:30pm

Comics Are Great! 63 – The KRC LIVE Show!

It’s the never-before-seen-on-the-Internet live CAG show recorded at the Ann Arbor District Library during Kids Read Comics 2012!

I’m joined by a live studio audience and a panel of excellent guests of KRC including:

We start out with some reflections and stories from KRC 2012 as it was happening, then take on some questions from the audience.

Links mentioned (affiliate links):

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CAG63HQ.mp4 303.4 MB
CAG63AUDIO.mp3 59.2 MB
Submitted by dubaym on Tue, 12/04/2012 - 4:24pm

Comics Are Great! 62 – Writing Visually with Dan Santat

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 sizes, compositions, moment choices, character acting, and pacing of your story. A lot of visual writing happens when you’re thumbnailing! We’re lucky to be joined by Dan Santat this week, who offers some of his process and thinking that happens during this trying part of the comics-making procedure.

Erin Helmrich of the Ann Arbor District Library shows up later to share some more book recommendations and comics events happening in the Southeast Michigan area.

And we announce a CAG contest! You can enter to be a guest on an upcoming episode by participating in the #dramaday event happening September 1 and running through September 8. Details on Raina Telgemeier’s website.

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

Comics and Book Recommendations (affiliate links):

Upcoming Comics Events in Southeast Michigan:

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Attachment Size
CAG62HQ.mp4 310.5 MB
CAG62AUDIO.mp3 61.4 MB
Submitted by dubaym on Tue, 12/04/2012 - 4:00pm

Comics Are Great! 61 – Talking Korra, Pt 2 with Gene Yang and Kevin Coppa

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 I’m joined by Gene Yang (Prime Baby, The Eternal Smile, Level Up, American Born Chinese and more) and Kevin Coppa of the Puppetbenders YouTube series. Together we evaluate how the first season of Korra turned out, focusing on the great character writing, terrific world development, and some of the problems that can arise when you try to fit too much into too little a package.

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

And if you haven’t yet, check out our first discussion on this series held right after the launch of the season.

Links mentioned in this episode (thanks to Tom Smith and Kevin Coppa for collecting them!):

Comics and book recommendations (affiliate links):

Upcoming Comics Events at AADL:

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Attachment Size
CAG61HQ.mp4 326.2 MB
CAG61AUDIO.mp3 64.5 MB
Submitted by dubaym on Mon, 12/03/2012 - 1:08pm

Comics Are Great! 60 – Getting Your Comics into Libraries with Erin Helmrich

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 libraries! But how does one do it? Do you just walk in and toss your book across the information desk? And even once your book is in the library’s collection, how can you take steps to let the library’s patrons know that it’s there?

We’re joined by Erin Helmrich, Teen Librarian and Comics Selector for the Ann Arbor District Library, who drops a ton of great advice for cartoonists who hope to get their work into library collections.

And as usual, we close with some great comics recommendations!

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

Comics and Book Recommendations:

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Attachment Size
CAG60HQ.mp4 321 MB
CAG60AUDIO.mp3 63.6 MB
Submitted by dubaym on Mon, 12/03/2012 - 1:05pm

Comics Are Great! 59 – Speed Comicking

Making 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 to speed things along and maximize our time behind the desk. You might want to watch the video for this one to see how Ryan uses the Photoshop Actions Palette, Layer Groups, and the Mac program Automator in order to get lots more work done.

We’re joined later by Erin Helmrich of the Ann Arbor District Library for another great round of book recommendations!

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

Comics and Book Recommendations:

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Attachment Size
CAG59HQ.mp4 336 MB
CAG59AUDIO.mp3 66.5 MB
Submitted by dubaym on Mon, 12/03/2012 - 1:01pm

Comics Are Great! 58 – Writing for Kids

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 with a packed house of panelists as we’re joined by Dave Carter, Paul Storrie, Sharon Iverson, and Brandon Dayton. Brandon helps frame the discussion by presenting two popular models in kids’ storytelling: the Disney Model and the Pixar Model. Pinocchio gets his wish, while Buzz Lightyear learns to reconcile with a disappointing truth. Together we evaluate the differences between these models and what their strengths and weaknesses are, with plenty of interaction in the chat client!

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

Comics and Book Recommendations:

Upcoming Events and Appearances:

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Attachment Size
CAG58HQ.mp4 327.3 MB
CAG58AUDIO.mp3 64.8 MB
Submitted by dubaym on Mon, 12/03/2012 - 12:59pm

Comics Are Great! 57 – Eric Orchard and Scary Comics for Kids

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 live stream at http://comicsaregreat.tv we gave away a free advance copy of Raina Telgemeier’s new book Drama (available for preorder now).

We’re once again joined by Sharon Iverson of the Ann Arbor District Library for some more book recommendations.

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

Comics and Book Recommendations:

Upcoming Events and Appearances:

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Attachment Size
CAG57HQ.mp4 318.6 MB
CAG57AUDIO.mp3 63.1 MB
Submitted by dubaym on Mon, 12/03/2012 - 12:55pm

Comics Are Great! 56 – Mark Waid

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 distribution. We also have Paul Storrie in studio to help us explore how digital publishing presents some unique storytelling opportunities in comics without discarding what makes comics, well, comics. We’re joined at the end by Eli Neiburger of the Ann Arbor District Library for some thoughts on monetizing a digital comic as well as some great comics recommendations!

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

Comics and Book Recommendations:

Upcoming Events and Appearances:

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Attachment Size
CAG56HQ.mp4 339.2 MB
CAG56AUDIO.mp3 67.2 MB
Submitted by dubaym on Mon, 12/03/2012 - 12:51pm

Comics Are Great! 55 – Who Needs Flying Cars?

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 Comics+ Library Editions promises some new ways to think about how digital comics can find their audiences. Given that libraries account for nearly 40% of youth graphic novel sales, we talk about the leverage that they currently have and how comics makers might think of libraries as distribution points for their work. We close with some more thoughts on how the Internet “exposes the posers” and brings us up against the real challenge, to just make something awesome. But what does that even mean? It’s a fun talk about futurism with two intensely smart people.

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

Comics and Book Recommendations:

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Attachment Size
CAG55HQ.mp4 331.6 MB
CAG55AUDIO.mp3 80.3 MB
Submitted by dubaym on Mon, 12/03/2012 - 12:50pm

Comics Are Great! 54 – Hugo Tate and Evolution (Audio Only)

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 proper distance between you and your story so that you might refine it with brutal honesty? What are the payoffs of sticking with it and “muscling through” the tough parts? Does it ever get any easier to create? It’s a fun discussion full of terrific insights from a great storyteller.

Links mentioned in this episode:

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Attachment Size
CAG54AUDIO.mp3 44.3 MB
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Katie Cook

Featured Artist

Katie Cook

Cartoonist Katie Cook has worked on properties for DC, Marvel, Star Wars, Heroes, Lord of the Rings, and more. Check out her free webcomic Gronk, a story about a monster who was too cute to live up to her occupation, and has since moved in with a freelance jingle writer. Appeared on Comics Are Great! 45

Website: http://katiecandraw.com
Webcomic: http://gronkcomic.com

Featured Events

Film & Discussion: Room 237

AADL screens documentary Room 237 on Thurs., June 6 from 6-8:30 PM at the Downtown AADL. Professor Geoffrey Cocks, expert featured in documentary, will answer audience questions after the screening. This film focuses on the theories of hidden symbols in the movie The Shining.