The Comics Experience Blog

Intro Courses on Comic Book Writing, Art and Coloring – Limited Seats!

Posted on by Nicole Boose

comicsexperience-logoEnrollment is now open for our next slate of Intro courses!

Introductory courses on Comic Book Writing, Art and Coloring are starting just around the corner – and they’re always quick to sell out! Our courses are considered one of the best ways in the business to learn the fundamentals of making comics. We offer well-crafted, carefully-researched curricula filled with practical, creative, and professional advice to help you identify and reach your goals as a creator.

Our instructors are working professionals with a proven aptitude for teaching, and they offer individualized attention geared toward addressing every student’s unique skills and needs.

Because of our personalized, student-centered approach, we cap each course at a strictly-limited number of seats, so don’t wait to guarantee your spot!

Register today for your chance to develop your craft, increase your skills, and achieve your goals as a comics creator! View details below, or visit our Courses page for a complete listing of these and ALL Comics Experience courses!

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Introduction to Comic Book Coloring | Starts June 1
Taught by prolific colorist Chris Sotomayor, Intro to Coloring emphasizes coloring comics with Photoshop and how to use color as a storytelling device. Details here.

Introduction to Comic Book Art | Starts June 10
Artist Robert Atkins guides students through lessons on visual storytelling, professional standards, and building your portfolio and career. Details here.

Introduction to Comic Book Writing | Starts July 15
Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt teaches students how to tell compelling stories using the language of comics! Details here.

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you’ll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Nicole Boose
nicole@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter

Drones #1 Now On Sale From CE and IDW Publishing!

Posted on by Nicole Boose

Drones CoverThe premiere issue of Drones is now available at comic stores everywhere!

Drones is the second comic series to launch from our publishing partnership with IDW. (The first, Creature Cops: Special Varmint Unit, is in stores now, with a collected edition debuting in June 2015.)

Written by CE alum Chris Lewis, with pencils by Bruno Oliveira, color by Cabral, and lettering by CE community member E.T. Dollman, Drones is a 5-issue limited series that tells the story of two Predator drone operators and their exploits at a terrorism-themed hotel in Las Vegas. The first issue features a regular cover and a variant subscription cover by Bruno Oliveira, both shown here!

Writer Si Spurrier (2000 AD, X-Force) calls Drones “absolutely #!%@$% mental in the best possible way. Drones is one of those books where – if you can just surrender yourself to the insanity and go with the flow – it all comes together very rewardingly.”

Drones01-cvrA-d2e79Drones writer Chris Lewis has been a member of the CE community for over three years, as both a student and a Creators Workshop member. His writing credits include Mixmancer on ComiXology, the December Project anthology, and Grayhaven Comics’ The Gathering. Drones is Chris’ first published miniseries.

Commenting on the Drones creative process, Chris says,

“Drones is Comics Experience through and through. This book was conceived, written, revised, and brought to life with the help of the many talented creators involved in the forum. Without CE there would be no Drones. So now you know who to blame.”

Check out Drones #1 in stores now, and please join us in congratulating the creative team!

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you’ll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Nicole Boose
nicole@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter

“Creature Cops” Collection and “Drones” #3 Solicited in Diamond PREVIEWS!

Posted on by Nicole Boose

Two CE publications are solicited in the April 2015 Diamond PREVIEWS catalog!

CreatureCopsTPBThe Creature Cops: Special Varmint Unit trade paperback collection is featured in the PREVIEWS print edition on page 190, and on the website here. The collection will be in stores Wednesday, June 17, and can be pre-ordered from retailers now!

Creature Cops: Special Varmint Unit is about a team of investigators dealing with gene-spliced animals. The 3-issue series by CE alum Rob Anderson is the first title to be published through the Comics Experience/IDW publishing partnership, and saw monthly release from January through March 2015.

The Creature Cops creative team also includes penciler Fernando Melek, inker Novo Malgapo, and colorist Juan Romera. Letterer/designer E.T. Dollman and editor Paul Allor are also members of the CE community!

Creature Cops has enjoyed positive reviews in its monthly format, and we’re excited to see it collected in print! The collection will feature 104 pages of material for $17.99 – including special bonus content not printed in the limited series! One special feature is Rob Anderson’s original 5-page story, written after taking CE’s Intro to Comic Book Writing course in 2009. Plus, the collection introduces a new cover penciled by Leandro Panganiban, inked by Steve Bird, and colored by CE alum Coleen Allen.

Drones03 coverAlso featured in the April PREVIEWS catalog: Drones #3!

Drones is a 5-issue limited series premiering April 2015 – the latest launch in our publishing program. Drones tells the story of two Predator drone operators visiting a terrorism-themed hotel in Las Vegas. The story is by CE alum and Workshop member Chris Lewis, with art by Bruno Oliveira, color by Cabral, and letters by E.T. Dollman.

The Drones solicitation is available in the print edition of April PREVIEWS, or online here!

To pre-order either of these comics, please visit your local comic shop. Diamond order codes are APR150488 for Creature Cops, and APR150486 for Drones #3.

Thanks for your support, and congratulations to our creative teams!

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you’ll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Nicole Boose
nicole@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter

Episode #91 of the Comics Experience “Make Comics” Podcast Posted!

Posted on by Nicole Boose

CE_podcast_logoA new episode of the Comics Experience Make Comics podcast has been posted! Each episode provides ~15 minutes of advice on all aspects of creating comics and breaking in to the industry.

Join Comics Experience founder and former Marvel and IDW Editor Andy Schmidt and his co-host Joey Groah as they discuss making comics!

Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes! Or check out the latest episode below or on our Podcast page!

Episode #91, “Ryan Browne Kickstarts Your Comic”
Ryan Browne (God Hates Astronauts, Blast Furnace) kickstarts your fans, your financing, and your career. Ryan is doing a one-day seminar with Comics Experience May 9th. Details at the course page.

List of All Episodes

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you’ll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Nicole Boose
nicole@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter

Comics Experience at C2E2, April 24-26!

Posted on by Nicole Boose

c2e2-logoComics Experience will be at Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), April 24-26, 2015!

CE founder and instructor Andy Schmidt will conduct four panels at this year’s show. Check out the list below for details, and mark your calendars — we hope to see you there!

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Comic Art Storytelling
Fri. April 24| 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM | Room S405b
The greatest comic book minds of our time divulge the greatest secrets of all time. Join our featured Panelists – Robert Atkins (Amazing Spider-Man) and Reilly Brown (Deadpool, Lobo) for the top tips for telling a clear and great story in comics. These insights are not to be missed. How can any Comic Artist – or Fan – afford to miss this Panel? Presented by Comics Experience’s Andy Schmidt.

How to Write for Video Games
Fri. April 24| 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Room S402
Join video game Writers and Media Producers C.B. Cebulski (Marvel: Ultimate Alliance) and Andy Schmidt (Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark) for an insider’s look at what skills VGs demand! Get a peek inside the writing process and how it interacts with the game design!

Closing the Deal: Everything You Need to Know About Publishing Contracts
Fri. April 24| 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM | Room S405b
Your project is going to make millions of dollars – but you have sign this CONTRACT first – yikes! Join Andy Schmidt (Comics Experience, Marvel, IDW Publishing), Joe Sergi, Attorney at Law and Author of The Law for Comic Book Creators for an in-depth look at comics contracts!

Breaking Into Comics and Staying In!
Sat. April 25| 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Room S405a
With the shifting landscape of the comics industry, this is your INVALUABLE guide to breaking into the comics industry. Join Comics Experience Publisher Andy Schmidt, Dark Horse Comics Executive Editor Scott Allie, Writers Kyle Higgins and Paul Allor, Artist Robert Atkins and Marvel VP C.B. Cebulski for the best Panel on breaking in ever!

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you’ll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Nicole Boose
nicole@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter

One-Day Seminar on Kickstarting Your Comic with Ryan Browne, Creator of “God Hates Astronauts”!

Posted on by Nicole Boose

RyanBrowneOn Saturday, May 9, 2015, Comics Experience will team up with writer and artist Ryan Browne for a one-day seminar on Kickstarting your comic!

Ryan has successfully Kickstarted his creator-owned titles God Hates Astronauts and Blast Furnace, both of which he wrote, drew, colored, and lettered himself. After building a following with both titles as webcomics, Ryan conducted Kickstarter campaigns to publish them as print collections. God Hates Astronauts is now an ongoing Image Comics series, which Ryan writes and draws every month!

BF_CoverColoredRyan’s experience makes him THE authority on Kickstarting comics, and the perfect instructor to lead you through a dynamic seminar – one that will be filled with valuable advice and real-world tips on making the most of your comic’s Kickstarter campaign!

This one-day event is perfect for anyone thinking of crowdfunding a comic project – no matter what stage it’s in. Whether your project is already complete or your ideas are just forming now, this seminar will provide valuable information that you can put to use right away.

Kickstarter: Building Your Fans, Financing, and Career will meet live, online, on Saturday, May 9. Ryan will lead the event, with CE founder and instructor Andy Schmidt joining as co-host. The seminar will include lectures, demonstrations, and a question-and-answer session where you’ll be able to interact with your hosts and fellow attendees!

GHA_02_01_FinalThis is a one-time opportunity to gain valuable tips, insights, and inspiration from an acclaimed creator who has done it himself with great success!

Don’t miss it – head on over to our course page for details, and to register for this unique seminar today!

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you’ll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Nicole Boose
nicole@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter