IMPACT had another great year at the San Diego Comic-Con last week. Many authors did book signings at our booth, and it was great to spend time with them: Scape Martinez (GRAFF); Chris Ryall and Scott Tipton (Comic Books 101); Randy Martinez (Creature Features); Harry Hamernik (Face Off and Cartoonimals); Brian and Kristy Miller (Hi-Fi Color for Comics); Peter David (Writing for Comics and Graphic Novels with Peter David, Revised); and Andy Schmidt (The Insider’s Guide to Creating Comics).

Many authors also had their own tables or booths, such as Stephanie Pui-Mun Law (Dreamscapes), and many participated in our IMPACT University panel on How to Write and Draw Comics and Graphic Novels along with Comics Buyer’s Guide editor Maggie Thompson.

As Editorial Director of IMPACT, for me, the con was filled with scouting authors, promoting IMPACT, noting trends and absorbing as much as I can about the entertainment and comics industries (despite its name, this convention is not just about comics—it’s popular entertainment of all sorts). There were lots of panels, including many how-to art sessions, and it was great to see what’s coming up from the plethora of creators and publishers represented in all of the popular styles IMPACT covers. Lots of new ideas and contacts I’m excited to follow up on—a great time!

Pam Wissman, Editorial Director

IMPACT Books

ArtistsNetwork.tv

North Light Books

Going to San Diego for this year’s Comic-Con? You’re not alone. Once again the show is sold out. But for those of you lucky enough to score some tickets, make sure you swing by the IMPACT Books booth to see what your favorite IMPACT authors are up to. Here’s our entire schedule of events, so you won’t miss a thing:

Thursday, 7/23

11:00 a.m.

Harry Hamernik, author of Face Off and Cartoonimals

1:00 p.m.

Chris Ryall and Scott Tipton, authors of Comics 101

2:00 p.m.

Randy Martinez, author of Creature Features

Friday, 7/24

11:00 a.m.

Andy Schmidt, author of the Insider’s Guide to Creating Comics and Graphic Novels

12:00 p.m.

Kristy and Brian Miller, authors of Hi-Fi Color for Comics

1:00 p.m.

Peter David, author of Writing for Comics and Graphic Novels

3:00 p.m., Room 30CDE

IMPACT University: How to Write and Draw Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga and Fantasy!

Saturday, 7/25

11:00 a.m.

Scape Martinez, author of Graff

1:00 p.m.

Peter David, author of Writing for Comics and Graphic Novels

2:00 p.m.

Kristy and Brian Miller, authors of Hi-Fi Color for Comics

3:00 p.m.

Harry Hamernik, author of Face Off and Cartoonimals

3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Portfolio Review Area

Pam Wissman, IMPACT Book’s Editorial Director, Portfolio Reviews

Check out this article excerpt from the 2008 edition of Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. IMPACT event coordinator, Greg Hatfield, asks super-star comics and graphic novel writer Peter David about his experiences as a writer. Find out what he has to say below.

A: Sure it’s fair. Many fans wring their hands and decry changes in characters and characterization as if this is something remotely new. People think what makes a character iconic is that he never changes, and that’s just not right. What makes a character iconic is that he is extremely malleable. No matter what you do to them, no matter how much you man change their look, background or environment, they are still recognizable that same character. Tarzan remains Tarzan whether he’s an English lord with Jane by his side or a confused New York resident with Jane now a police detective (although the TV version kinda sucked for entirely different reasons).

Q: Do writers have a responsibility to their readers to keep their characters constant?

A: Change is constant in comics. Change is good. If iconic characters couldn’t survive change, they wouldn’t be iconic.

Q: What’s better, creating a new character or working on an established one?

A: They both have advantages. The nice thing about a new character—presuming it’s creator-owned like Fallen Angel—is that you’re in total control of everything that’s going on. It’s a blank slat that you have total license to write on. An established character naturally has tighter rules. . . but it also presents a greater challenge to a writer in terms of finding new and different ways to keep the character interesting for changing audiences.

Q: What’s the one thing every writer should know?

A: Don’t take rejection personally. It’s not a commentary on you as a person. Keep your own self-esteem separate from your work. It helps to have a huge ego.

And that they should buy my book Writing for Comics [and Graphic Novels] with Peter David, published by IMPACT Books, so they can stop asking me for advice all the time.

Sign up for IMPACT University’s Pro Comics and Art Workshop and get more advice on the art of writing for comics and graphic novels, straight from Peter himself!

Newsarama.com posted a review of Comic Books 101: The History, Methods, and Madness by Chris Ryall and Scott Tipton today. Check it out here. The review lists Chris and Scott’s web site as comicbooks101.com, but their web site actually is comics101.com. Check them out here.

Writing for Comics & Graphic Novels with Peter David and The Insider’s Guide to Creating Comics and Graphic Novels by Andy Schmidt also get a nod of approval in the review.

Comic Books 101 will be available June 5. You can preorder it here on Amazon.

So the name of Peter David’s website is: Peter David, Writer of Stuff. I was over there poking around the other day and noticed he’s made some updates–including a bibliography section. There, you discover the real meaning of “writer of stuff” is, in fact–writer of  bazillion comics, novels, screenplays, articles, nonfiction books, etc.

I guess that’s too long for a website name though.

Writing for Comics and Graphic Novels With Peter David, revised edition, is coming out this summer.  I think that title’s a little long, too (though I was in on the choosing of it). The thing about Peter’s writing books, though, is that you really could use them to write just about anything. So maybe we should just call the next one: How to Write and Publish a TON of Everything, etc. with Peter David.

What do you think?

Happy Spring–Mona

The Insider’s Guide to Comics and Graphic Novels hit bookshelves and internet shops everywhere last month, so I figure we’re due for a little insight into the author who so deftly shares his experiences and gathers expert advice from comics greats such as Neal Adams, John Byrne, David Finch, Klaus Janson, Karl Kesel and John Romita Jr.

Andy Schmidt edited comics for five years at Marvel Entertainment, where he started under Tom Brevoort in the “Marvel Heroes” line of books. There, he lent his talents to everything from The Fantastic Four to the Avengers, to Civil War. He spent a few years assistant editing, and began full editor duties in 2002 on Captain Marvel and Spider-Girl. He developed Madrox and later X-Factor with writer Peter David and artist Pablo Raimondi. He also spearheaded the 25-part, galaxy spanning, space saga called Annihilation with a wealth of writers and artists.

His favorite projects to date have been Secret War, Madrox, Alias, Civil War, New Avengers, Young Avengers, Ms. Marvel, Annihilation, The Pulse, Defenders, Union Jack, X-Factor and X-Men.

He is now Senior Editor at IDW, the owner and operator of Comics Experience, an education-based business dedicated to helping comic book writer and artist hopefuls fulfill their dreams, and a freelance comic editor and writer who has written for several publishers including Marvel Comics, Th3rd World Studios, Markosia and Boom! Studios.

Stay tuned for IMPACT’s Q+A with Andy!

Cheers,

Mona

Comics blogger Johanna Draper Carlson recently reviewed Writing for Comics with Peter David, calling it “the most entertaining craft how-to book I’ve read.” We couldn’t agree with her more. You can read the entire delightful review on Carlson’s web site, comicsworthreading.com, or you can just click here.

Don’t forget to submit your questions to Peter David for the upcoming revised edition of Writing for Comics. Submit your questions about the craft of comic writing to padguy@aol.com or P.O. Box 239, Bayport, NY, 11705. If your question is  used, you’ll be credited by name and receive a free copy of the book (so include your mailing address with your question).

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