Want To Create Comics? Help Yourself And A Local Comic Shop

EDITOR'S NOTE: Have you been wanting to explore the fantastic world of creating comics? Writing, drawing, inking, coloring, lettering?  COMICS EXPERIENCE is an online teaching resource that offers one-shot courses from $4 to $40 and continuing programs for those that want to pursue this further. Maybe you've got some spare time now, so why not seize the opportunity? While you're making a purchase, use the Retailer Relief links. Eighty percent of your purchase will be donated to the local comic shop that you select. So far, MAROON HORNET COMICS AND COLLECTIBLES in Oxford PA is the only local comic shop in the trig-state area (Southeastern PA, DE and Northern MD) signed up for this program. Let your local comic shop know about it. In the meantime, if you're ready to purchase right away, then select MAROON HORNET.

Comics Experience  Takes You on the  Path to Publication! Hear directly from Comics Experience members on how we were with them every step of the way. Check out our Case Study Page as creators discuss specific moments when CE helped them get to the next level in their comics career, whether they were new to comics or seasoned creators.

In this week's Case Study, we talked with up-and-coming writer (and Creators Workshop & CE course alumnus) Kenny Porter about his successful Kickstarter for Barnstormers!

Upcoming Courses

New Master Seminar:  The Art of Writing for the Reboot  with Jonathan Hickman!

Join us Saturday, May 9th, for a one-time only exclusive event with Jonathan Hickman! You'll spend roughly 5 hours with New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Hickman (X-Men, Avengers, Fantastic Four, East of West) along with Comics Experience Founder Andy Schmidt for an intimate discussion of what goes into the re-making of a universe!

The Art of Writing for the Reboot Master Seminar will cover not only the process behind Hickman’s recent reboot of Marvel’s X-Man franchise (the hugely popular new series House of X, Powers of X and Dawn of X) but in addition offers tips and techniques for rebooting any fictional universe.

INTRODUCTION TO LETTERING COMICS

Join Erica Schultz (Vampirella, Dejah Thoris, Red Sonja) to learn how to make the magic happen in her upcoming Introduction to Lettering Comics course! The class begins Monday, May 11th, and runs six weeks.  This is Erica’s second time teaching the well-received class, which will require students to letter their own eight-page comic! She will also teach the class how to resize pages properly for production and how to output a print-ready PDF file.

“I enjoy showing...that lettering is not only a skill, but an art form,” Erica says. “Good lettering can elevate a mediocre book, and bad lettering can sink it. The world is better with good comics out there!”

INTRODUCTION TO WRITING COMICS

Join acclaimed comics writers/editors Andy Schmidt and Paul Allor for their upcoming Introduction to Writing Comics course! The class begins Wednesday, May 13th, and runs six weeks. Learn how to craft a comic book story, create great characters, the in’s and out’s of the industry and tips for breaking in—all from two of the industry’s leading professionals.

INTRODUCTION TO FIGURE DRAWING  & ANATOMY

Join professional comics artist Phillip Sevy and hone your skills in Introduction to Figure Drawing & Anatomy! The class begins Tuesday, May 12th, and runs six weeks. Jump into this in-depth study in drawing and constructing the human form and learn how to render phenomenal human images without the aid of photographic reference!

New Make Comics Podcasts!

Catch up on the latest episodes, hosted by Joey Groah and our podcast team! Each episode provides 15 minutes or more on all aspects of creating comics and breaking in to the industry.

Episode 196: Retailer Relief Program Andy talks about the Retailer Relief Program, a way for comics readers to help their comics shops while getting videos, audio files, PDFs, and more, featuring creators and educators discussing the craft and life of comics.

Episode 195: Convention Cancellations and Creator Impact with Phillip Sevy Artist and writer Phillip Sevy joins Andy and Joey to talk about the cancellation of ECCC and other cons, how no current conventions is impacting artists, retailer impact, and more.

Episode 194: Getting and Using Feedback with Michael Roslen Getting feedback from friends, peers, and editors can be essential to any comic creation, helping with rewrites, plots and story clarifications, art changes, and more. Writer Michael Roslen (REMNANT) shares his experience getting and using feedback.

It sure has been a busy month! Here's what else the Comics Experience community has been up to!

ANNOUNCING  COMICS EXPERIENCE'S RETAILER RELIEF PROGRAM!

Comics Experience, the premiere online school for comics creators, is excited to announce its “Retailer Relief” program, allowing comics customers to purchase original content generated by some of the industry's top comics creators and educators! Lately, brick-and-mortar comic book retailers have really taken a hit. We’re partnering up with ComicsPro and retailers nationwide to help them stay afloat during these challenging times! Check out the details for how you can give your store direct revenue, while learning how to make comics! 80% of all purchases from this effort go directly to the store of your choice. Your local store not participating? Send them to our Retailer Relief Landing Page for more details on the program and the link to sign-up!  All brick-and-mortar comics retailers are invited to participate in the program, which will empower customers to support their local comic shops and gain exclusive content. All without leaving the house! Comics Experience has led the way for online comic book education for over a decade with a commitment to high quality content. Our long list of alumni work with every publisher in North America and many in Europe; including several creators currently under exclusive contracts at Marvel and DC Comics.

“As soon as I realized how quickly store fronts would be closing, I immediately tasked our whole team with developing an online and educational component that could directly benefit retailers--the backbone of the industry that’s been so good to me,” said Andy Schmidt, President/Founder of Comics Experience and former Marvel Comics and IDW Publishing editor. “We’re all hurting, but my feeling is we can do some good for retailers, their customers and without exploiting the same products they’ll be selling when their doors reopen.” Schmidt continued, “We’ve developed literally hundreds of comics education videos over the years. Though this wasn’t ever the intended purpose, they can do some good to help budding creators and retailers alike. It just seems like the right thing to do. But you won’t see every video up there on week 1. This program will release new content every week.”

Our hope is that we can bring our expertise to the retailers’ customers without digging into their regular business. We’re not trying to sell items that they normally sell; we’re offering up items to give them a boost. We will be releasing new content every Wednesday for as long as this crisis lasts.  Comics Experience thanks our retailers for their devotion to the industry, our creator community for any help they can offer and our fans for supporting an industry we all love.

Comics creators start here! Wherever you are on the path to making comics, we can help! Learn more about our courses, Creators Workshop, mentoring, publishing program, and other offerings. We strive to foster a culture of learning, opportunity, and respect for all members of the comics community.

For more information about Comics Experience, visit: www.ComicsExperience.com