Making Comics - A Full Resource List
A list of resources from the Making Comics Substack
Hey Comics People,
It’s been a few months since we’ve taken inventory over here at Making Comics HQ. This past week, I took a look under the rug / at the analytics and noted which issues of Making Comics have been most useful for folks. Turns out, some links to older Making Comics posts (which I shared in a recent issue) got a lot of play. This made me realize that it might be helpful to compile ALL of the more utilized ‘making comics’ resources into one issue…
This IS that issue by the way. Was that not obvious?! Simply scroll down and click on any of the bolded making comics subjects / links to dive into any or all. I hope you’ll find some value in what you find within.
But first, a word from our sponsor: The Love of Comics - Indie Books on the Stands Right now
Books discussed:
Is Ted OK? - Written, illustrated, colored and lettered by Dave Chisholm
Knight City - by Matt Kindt and David Lapham
If Destruction Be Our Lot - by Matthew + Mark Elijah Rosenberg and Andy Macdonald
The Search for Sound - Written, illustrated, colored and lettered by Dave Chisholm
And now, back to this week’s issue of Making Comics!
You can find the full list of Making Comics posts below. I’ve gone back and edited a few of these older issues. Why? Because my own Making Comics adventures, including interactions and lessons from some of you fine comics people, have enriched my own understanding of past subjects. Also, I’ve prioritized getting these out on a weekly schedule over excessive editing in some cases… There was room for improvements.
I felt kind of like George Lucas must have while ‘improving’ on my past output, while making the original versions completely unavailable. But unlike some shoe-horned CGI, I do tend to think that the exercise of writing these posts has helped me develop a richer perspective. But I’ll let you be the judge.
As always, words are 100% my own, with zero generative assistance. Insane that it even feels necessary to state such a fact, but I want that made crystal.
So here are a FEW of the more helpful Making Comics issues, many of them new and improved. Click on any of the following subject headlines to go directly to each Making Comics post:
COLORISTS - STORYTELLING VIA COLOR IN COMICS (LINK)
AKA - How to better appreciate the work of comic book colorists.
Relevant News Item: I’ve been lucky to begin working with colorist LAUTARO FTULI on my latest comics project, THREE PLANES. The first issue of this tale is coming together not just quickly, but beautifully. Lautaro’s color work is a key to the game.
Three Planes co-creator David Omar Lopez and I both knew that color would play a central role in our storytelling, and Lautaro has been more than up for the job. He’s adding new dimensions to Three Planes with each new page. Stay tuned, as you can EXPECT to see more of his stellar work in this space soon.
Apologies for pushing the KS here (which you can follow ahead of launch), but I’m eager to take some time AWAY from promotion before we actually launch this thing later this summer. For now, I just want to reiterate how much I appreciate those who have already followed THREE PLANES, and a big ol’ virtual high five to those who have helped us in spreading the early word as we complete the book. Y’all rock.
WRITING A COMIC BOOK SCRIPT (LINK)
They are weird. Here’s a helpful resource (with examples!)
I really dig the examples of comics scripts shared within this post. These examples came from prominent comics writers, which I found and compile into this post. These examples were all freely shared by writers, and the post includes direct links. But having them all in one place would have been tremendously helpful for me, and the act of compiling and reviewing them was enlightening.
ART OF THE COMIC BOOK COVER (LINK)
AKA - The art of making a killer first impression.
I credit / blame Jim Lee’s X-Men covers for this crippling / beloved addiction.
This post is a great place for considering what brings new readers into a comic, starting right at the cover.
MAKING COMICS 1.0 - FROM LAYOUTS TO THE COMPLETED PAGE (LINK)
Here’s your step by step, in broad strokes (puns always intended).
Process junkies have a LOT to keep them fed in this post, including some rather unexpected (and hugely helpful) tips.
THE POWER OF INK AND PAPER - APPRECIATION FOR BLACK AND WHITE COMICS (LINK)
AKA - A discussion re: the simple fact that the most-read comics on earth are black and white.
There is lots of consideration for the popularity of manga and other modern black and white comics in the post. Ink on paper is a hell of a drug… clearly.
LETTERING - Absurdly under appreciated.
Read this one to better understand and respect the crucial role of great lettering in comics.
Dive into this one and see more brilliant work by letterer Pat Brosseau and more.
I think this post makes a PARTICULARLY great case for better appreciating the craft of lettering in comics.
WORDS vs PICTURES - How to make them teammates rather than adversaries (LINK)
Ever STOPPED reading a comic because you couldn’t be bothered to read all the words stamped over otherwise appealing imagery? Or vice versa?
Check out this post and let’s discuss the art of marrying words and pictures seamlessly. Kinda the key to the ‘making comics’ game, honestly.
FINDING YOUR OWN ‘MAKING COMICS’ CREW - The weird wild roads that bring friends and teams together (LINK)
In this post I share some personal stories about collaborating, including with the incredible Don Cardenas, with whom I created my first ‘full-length’ comic: Packs of the Lowcountry.
More recently, I shared a booth at C2E2 with one of my favorite comics people, Jon Westhoff. Finding such awesome and helpful friends in the world of making comics can be tricky, but there are some crucial commonalities among comics creators worth considering (shared here).
COMPLETING PROJECTS AND AVOIDING ‘THE MAGNUM OPUS COMPLEX’ (LINK)
Consider this post as motivation to create forward momentum on a comics project, as well as an effort to illuminate a (shockingly?) common problem which prevents countless would-be comics from ever being completed.
WILD WES was my ‘one that got away’.
Not getting to finish this tale was especially painful given just how much I enjoyed working with Nate Walkington. Alas…
HOW TO PITCH A COMIC SERIES (LINK)
This post offers a fairly detailed step-by-step for pitching your comic to would-be publishers. Note: this comes from one comics person (me) who snuck out some success in this regard. But also, vitally, some common ‘best practices’ / advice from those who have done it a whole heck of a lot.
Here’s one pitch (of mine) shared from within this post:
I think this post re: pitching could be particularly helpful, as it’s a subject that I know stalls a lot of us out. Let me know if you agree!
HOW TO MAKE TONS OF MONEY MAKING COMICS (LINK)
Buckle up. Because in this post I share literally EVERYTHING I can about this most-important subject…
And finally, more recently…
WRITING A COMIC - STEP ONE (LINK)
Start here if you’re writing a comic, or might want to…
And yes, I recognize the irony of this post being so near the bottom. But its recent stuff, and maybe the most likely for anyone reading this to have seen already.
KEY QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN MAKING A COMIC (LINK)
When making comics, there are a number of questions to answer for yourself. Take a look…
And finally, some self promotion…
THREE PLANES is a tale conceived from the ground up as a tale absolutely best told via comics.
It’s about being caught between worlds as the planes on either side of you begin to fracture… How can you put things back together when you can’t even see the full picture?
HAVE YOU FOLLOWED THE KICKSTARTER FOR THREE PLANES YET??
I’m going to go off the grid for a bit on promoting THREE PLANES as David, Lautaro and I, ya know, MAKE the rest of the comic.
But if you didn’t know, we’re on track to complete this first issue in summer 2026. So, at the time of this writing, the wait won’t be too long at all. In THIS comics persons’ opinion, right now is the PERFECT time to begin your own journey into the THREE PLANES. Go on. Hit that button.
Any ol’ way, I hope to see you out there—
