So Like how do you make a comic?

[Eros]

Yea pretty much what my post title asked, ive been reading comics since i was 6 [im 18 now] and im still not completly sure what goes into the process of makeing an issue of a comic.

-Besides writing and planning the issue ofcourse, what other major aspects is the comic writer evolved in?

- Besides drawing the issue, does the artist make any other major decisions?

-What exactly does the editor for the comic do in simple terms?

- The colorist works along with the writer right?

- Why are alot of comics[in all companies] delayed or late these days?

- How is each page planned out, and is their a long term plannig stage before an actual writing?

- why hire an atist only to draw the cover? why not just get the artist who draws the issue to do it?

- Why are most comics only 32 pages, it would be better IMo if they were like 40 pages

-Is being reduced to a bi-monthly a sign of disinterest from the comic publisher?

 

[The_Mystery]

Yea pretty much what my post title asked, ive been reading comics since i was 6 [im 18 now] and im still not completly sure what goes into the process of makeing an issue of a comic.

-Besides writing and planning the issue ofcourse, what other major aspects is the comic writer evolved in? Depends. The writer basically has to create the world the story lives in. It also helps to have a couple of story arcs or the entire story arc, along with a couple of fully written issues done as well.

- Besides drawing the issue, does the artist make any other major decisions? Depends. If the writer is very strict, then he doesn't make any decisions, but if it's a more "loose" writer, the artist can determine the tempo of the story, character designs, emotions, etc...

-What exactly does the editor for the comic do in simple terms? He's basically a continuity cop, an artist critique and makes sure everything is professional and timely.

- The colorist works along with the writer right? Sometimes, but for the best end result, yes, I would have your colorist work closely with the writer and artist.

- Why are alot of comics[in all companies] delayed or late these days? Basically, if any part of the "creative line" falls behind or there is a mistake. Mostly, it's due to poor planning or the project isn't fully complete.

- How is each page planned out, and is their a long term plannig stage before an actual writing? Depends. It's up to your creative thought process. Some writers create the entire story, others write from issue to issue.

- why hire an atist only to draw the cover? why not just get the artist who draws the issue to do it? Sales. A big name artist on your cover can draw people who wouldn't normally read your book.

- Why are most comics only 32 pages, it would be better IMo if they were like 40 pages Then do a 40 pg book. Just know that you can do a 40 pg book every month or 2 months. The more pages, the more work.

-Is being reduced to a bi-monthly a sign of disinterest from the comic publisher? Not really, it just shows how fast you can work. If you really want a monthly book out, but only work fast enough for a bi-monthly, then do at least 4 or 5 issues before your first one hits the stands. That way you have at least 5 months to do another 2-3 issues. It prevents delays and allows you the maximum amount of time to do good work.

I hope I was of some help.

 

[Roughneck]

-Besides writing and planning the issue ofcourse, what other major aspects is the comic writer evolved in?

Depends. The writer basically has to create the world the story lives in. It also helps to have a couple of story arcs or the entire story arc, along with a couple of fully written issues done as well.

Also the writer has imput on character designs (Especially if said writer created them) and get's to look over art and see if there is anything they would like to change (Though being specific in your writing can prevent these changes as I imagin many changes can piss an artist off)

- Besides drawing the issue, does the artist make any other major decisions?

Depends. If the writer is very strict, then he doesn't make any decisions, but if it's a more "loose" writer, the artist can determine the tempo of the story, character designs, emotions, etc...

Exactly, in the old days Stan Lee would just tell the artist the basic story then the artist would draw it then Stan would put in the words and such, they were a huge part of the story process, like Mystery Said it depends, they can be a large part or they can just draw what they are told.

-What exactly does the editor for the comic do in simple terms?

He's basically a continuity cop, an artist critique and makes sure everything is professional and timely.

And they have to approve stories, if a writer has a great story that kills Wolverine and Captain America, the editor won't approve it cause they wont kill them, say you want to kill maggot, the editor still has to approve it, but they likely will (Well he's already dead so they might call you on it)

- The colorist works along with the writer right?

Sometimes, but for the best end result, yes, I would have your colorist work closely with the writer and artist.

Yep.

- Why are alot of comics[in all companies] delayed or late these days?

Basically, if any part of the "creative line" falls behind or there is a mistake. Mostly, it's due to poor planning or the project isn't fully complete.

A Lot of folks blame the artist, but it isn't always *cough*Kevin Smith*cough*

- How is each page planned out, and is their a long term plannig stage before an actual writing?

Depends. It's up to your creative thought process. Some writers create the entire story, others write from issue to issue.

Again he is correct, with me I sadly leave little up to the artist and I have the larger spreads in my mind when the story is concieved, as much as I plan in advance I am open to suggestion and I have been known to chance due to the artists persuasion. Anyway yeah it depends.

- why hire an atist only to draw the cover? why not just get the artist who draws the issue to do it?

Sales. A big name artist on your cover can draw people who wouldn't normally read your book.

That and Time, mainly that, but sometimes and artist can't keep up and a cover is too much...in some cases there are extrmemly talented artists who are not as strong with sequencial art and are more suited to pin ups so they stick to covers

- Why are most comics only 32 pages, it would be better IMo if they were like 40 pages

Then do a 40 pg book. Just know that you can do a 40 pg book every month or 2 months. The more pages, the more work.

Yep, 40 pages is a lot to do in a month, some folks can't do 22 in two months

-Is being reduced to a bi-monthly a sign of disinterest from the comic publisher?

Not really, it just shows how fast you can work. If you really want a monthly book out, but only work fast enough for a bi-monthly, then do at least 4 or 5 issues before your first one hits the stands. That way you have at least 5 months to do another 2-3 issues. It prevents delays and allows you the maximum amount of time to do good work.

Yep, Always work ahead, I think that Marvel shoul;d do this as well, dont release issue 1 of a mini unless 2-4 are ready to go as well....****ing Kevin Smith.

 

[The_Mystery]

Yeah, with the comic that I'm creating now, I'm trying to have at least 3 issues in the bag before I go showing it around to comic companies. I want them to know that if they decide to take a chance with me it won't be a gamble at least in the solicitation category. I work a full time job so it takes me a little more time to finish an issue. Especially because I'm doing every facet of work from the Writing to the lettering. If I wasn't such a control freak I would get some help

 

[Roughneck]

Really? If I could draw I would love to do it all myself....I Just can't draw at all....everything else I do.

 

[Elijya]

If you would like to know more, pick up a copy of this:

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idio...ef=sr_1_3/102-4713216-1512150?ie=UTF8&s=books

 

[Elijya]

Yep, Always work ahead, I think that Marvel shoul;d do this as well, dont release issue 1 of a mini unless 2-4 are ready to go as well....****ing Kevin Smith.

Obligatory John Byrne reference

 

[Kevin]

You're not aroound much, anymore, Eli.(at least I don't see you around much, and I'm here ALL the time... I need a life.)

 

[Roughneck]

Obligatory John Byrne reference

Acording to a list on Wikipedia he's Canadian, but he's actually from England.

 

[The_Mystery]

Really? If I could draw I would love to do it all myself....I Just can't draw at all....everything else I do.

Well, to tell you the truth, I started out as only an writer and penciller, but I kinda self-taught myself everything else.

 

[Roughneck]

I am pretty much just a writer, the letterin is easy now with the programs and stuff....

I've trie art, I've tried to draw a lot, I have put lots of time into trying and I just can't, I wish to god I could, but I generally find great artists to work with.

 

[04nbod]

its practice roughneck- a load of crap will come out and has to before your gems emerge

 

[WOLVERINE25TH]

My art was never gonna improve so I just focused on the writin'. But boy, if my art could get as good as my tales It'd make self-publishin' a whole lot easier fer me.

 

[The_Mystery]

I don't use any programs because I can't find any there aren't so expensive. I hand lettter everything. To make things easier for me, my inking is very sparse. This also allows me to finish issues faster. I use photoshop and coloring for most of the depth.

 

[explode7]

You talk really big wise guy. Lets see you post some scans of your work. Well?

 

[The_Mystery]

How do you post tiff's or jpegs. I can't seem to paste them on my response.

 

[The_Mystery]

Dammit, I can't put an attachment on my response!!!

 

[The_Mystery]

Here are a couple of pages from the second issue of my comic "The Dark Path" I'm not putting the first issue on because I'm redrawing some pages to really make it my best work. Tell me what you guys think.

P.S. They're not in any particular order.

 

[Dangerous]

Looks really good^ dig the style.

Re: this thread topic, do y know what I am more interested in?

The actual printing process,- how it works, how manny issues are printed every week, where Marvels printing machines are located, how old are they?, how manny are there?

...most of all I would love to see some photos or videos of them.
So I can see where all my comics came from.

 

[The_Mystery]

Looks really good^ dig the style.

Re: this thread topic, do y know what I am more interested in?

The actual printing process,- how it works, how manny issues are printed every week, where Marvels printing machines are located, how old are they?, how manny are there?

...most of all I would love to see some photos or videos of them.
So I can see where all my comics came from.

Thanks. I appreciate the opinion. I don't know much about the printing process. I've been told about it, but I can't really remember much. You should try finding about the names of the printer companies that most comic book companies use and ask them. I did and they can be very helpful.

 

[The_Mystery]

bump

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

Why is there a letterer in a comic?Ive seen credit to them in older comics,but not so much now.Why is that?Is there a difference between a coloror and a Inkist?yes,i know my sources are outdated.

How much money does it take to publish a comic?Can anyone do it,or a big coperation like Marvel has to be involved.

 

[Kevin]

^ I would love to know the answers to that. I'll add: With Letterers, can't they just do that by computer? Or do they already?

 

[The_Mystery]

Why is there a letterer in a comic?Ive seen credit to them in older comics,but not so much now.The letterer is the one to put the words in the comic. They used to be done by hand, but now computers are taking over more. They still have to give credit where credit is due.Why is that?Is there a difference between a coloror and a Inkist? The colorist colors the book. The do add alot of depth. The inker embellishes and adds depth and shadow. yes,i know my sources are outdated.

How much money does it take to publish a comic?Can anyone do it,or a big coperation like Marvel has to be involved.It depends on how many people are involved and how many issues you decide to print. You have to pay anyone who works with you(unless you work out another arrangment), you need supplies and sometimes alot computer programs such as photoshop and some people are not using 3-D programs. Then you have to pay a printer to print your books. For like, 2,000 books, it will probably be around $2-3,000. Doing a B&W books is alot cheaper than a color book.

Hope that answers your questions.

 

[Elijya]

yeah, it all depends on how nice you want the book to look. Let's say you do all the creative work yourself (penciling, inking, lettering), and you want it physicly printed. Well, how nice do you want it to look? Well, if you want it to look like your average Marvel comics, with nice colors and glossy paper, shiny colors, sharp lines, etc., you'll need to go to a high end printing company who will require a minimum number of copies in order to even take the job. That minimum is at least several thousand, and that'll cost you several thousand dollars.

On the otehr hand, there are local artist who sell their comics at my local comic stores, and they make a few dozen copies of their comics, and print them on a photocopier

you can find a happy medium probably if you discuss it with the local Kinkos, who will be more suited to printing a decent looking run of a few hundred copies, coallating and assembling them. There may be professional printers who will offer you more options. I'm not overly familiar with them, but you could always try emailing several small companies or independent artists, people who take their fan made books to conventions and the like, and ask what they did. The manager of your local comic store may also have some suggestions.

When you get to a level where your work is much better looking, if you can assemble a graphic novel, you may be able to make a deal with a small independent publisher like Top Shelf, and you can just hand them the pages and they'll take care of the publishing for you.

As mentioned above, color adds more to the cost at any level of printing, that's why so many independent books are black and white. Many books opt for black and white interiors, but splurge for color for the covers since that will help drawer readers in.