The Art of Comic Book Writing (Book Review)
The mainstream comic book industry has become notoriously difficult to break into, especially for unknown writers and artists. However, thanks to social media and crowdfunding sites, it's become possible for indie creators and small publishers to bring quality comics to the attention of readers all over the world.
A growing number of comics enthusiasts are simply fed up with the endless reboots and the ideologically-driven content on offer from the Big Two (DC & Marvel). This is an audience starving for fresh voices and original stories!
Almost every superhero fan has daydreamed about writing their own comic book. I’m one of them—my younger brother and I used to draw and write our own superhero stories when we were kids! But if you're serious about creating comics, the first question that probably comes to mind is, “Where on earth do I even start?”
Wonder no longer! Today, I’m going to spotlight a fantastic book full of great advice and helpful resources for comics writers of all skill levels—The Art of Comic Book Writing.
Mark Kneece is the cofounder of the sequential art department at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). He’s also an accomplished writer of comics and graphic novels. So, whether you’re a beginning writer learning the ropes or a more experienced wordsmith honing your skills, you can be certain that you’re in capable hands.
The Art of Comic Book Writing is one of those rare textbooks that is both comprehensive and an enjoyable read! In a conversational and accessible style, Kneece walks his readers/students through the entire process of writing a comic: from idea generation, to using a logline to build up a plot synopsis, to formatting a script, to pitching to publishers. Helpful visual aids (like sample scripts and page layouts) can be found throughout.
Each section is largely self-contained, allowing readers to skip around in the book at their leisure. Indeed, most chapters can be read in one sitting. Some topics of note include:
Outlining and formatting a script. (This section helped me immensely.)
Worldbuilding.
Working with an artist.
Crafting dialogue.
Character dynamics.
Story pacing.
If you’re looking for a go-to resource for learning the ins and outs of writing a comic book, I highly recommend that you get your hands on a copy of The Art of Comic Book Writing. When I finally get my own big idea for a comic script out of my head and onto paper, this is the book I want at my side as a reference.
I hope you enjoyed this brief review—I plan to post many more book reviews this year. Thank you for reading and subscribing to Pageturning. Until next time, “the Road goes ever on . . .”