Making Comics and The Great Reach
Introduction: Part 1 (of 2)
Welcome to the first issue of Making Comics!
Think of this substack as weekly spot for insights into comics-making, and a resource for collaboration and support. My name is John Dudley and I’m a comics writer with a lot to learn, as well as a few things I can confidently teach… mostly using examples from my own mistakes.
As a means to introduce myself and my own beginnings in comics, allow me to share a short comic made by myself and artist Timothy O’Briant in 2013. This was one of the first comics I ever completed, a short 8-page zine called ‘The Great Reach’. Our audience? Nobody but ourselves, honestly…. until now.
A full digital copy of the 8 page comic is directly below this cover (click here for the FREE comic, or click on either image to dive in and read the full story at your leisure):
The Great Reach (Click hear to read)
What’d you think? Amateur comics writer on display? A fitting beginning to get some balls rolling? How lucky was I to get to work with Timothy, who actually knew what he was doing?!
This book is not for sale anywhere. Too few have had a chance to experience Tim’s work on this project. So I’m exited to be sharing it here, even though it’s a shame you can’t actually get your hands on the printed book. Heck, Tim even hand-stitched this zine. The few copies I own are among my most treasured possessions.
I still maintain that the sci-fi concept we drive towards in The Great Reach is interesting. But the writing side of the finished product is also an example of a comics writer who was new to the craft and making some rookie mistakes. I’ll get into examples for what I mean, and the kind of ‘rookie’ giveaways I could point to in future posts.
Tim’s work though? Exceptional. Take note in his ‘flowing’ visual motifs. Notice how he drifts your eyes from panel to panel as we follow a character who is truly swimming through some serious business himself.
This is just one ultra-specific example of the limitless storytelling doors that can be opened via the comics storytelling medium. I’m chomping at the bit to dive all the way into such considerations. In fact, I’ve already written the next few posts, so I can confidently answer a questions like…
What can you expect from this blog in the weeks to come?
One important note I want to lead with here: I will be using absolutely zero AI in the creation of these posts. The words and flow of conversation here are entirely my own. Nor will this blog feature comics which utilize AI tools in their creation. Human-generated creation will be our focus in this space.
The craft of making comics is a shockingly vast subject. So we’re going to break it down brick by brick starting next week, following this introduction. In the weeks to come, I’ll be inviting some fellow comics creators along for the ride as we dive into the craft and uncover what it takes to create all varieties of comics. More than this, if you are a comics-creator yourself, I look forward to hearing from and supporting YOU in your own comics-creation journey.
I’m lucky to be based in Chicago, home to a huge and vibrant comics scene, as such, many of the collaborators you can expect to see in this space come from within the Chicago indie comics community. But I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with other creators all over the world, so you won’t ONLY be hearing from folks who refuse to put ketchup on their hotdogs. Case in point, artist Timothy Obriant, whose work is featured in this issue of Making Comics, is based out of North Carolina.
A new issue of Making Comics will release once a week, usually on Fridays. Each issue will center around topics such as: the process of making comics, collaborating with artists, exploring genre, finding your creative voice(s) and all of the storytelling / world building that can fit into the endless multiverse of comics. To sweeten the pot, the first few weekly updates will even include free comics, including a few from guest creators (and eventually, I hope, some completed comics created by folks reading this right now, maybe even YOU!).
Completed works are the end result and a reminder to keep your eyes on the prize. The biggest trick for completing comics couldn’t be more straight forward. As such, it’s also the only trick I’m going to share in this first post. Heck, this command is gonna be a broken record ringing in your head if you stick with us the next few weeks:
Finish what you start.
Got it? If nothing else, I hope the Making Comics can be a means to keep you moving forward, and working through those bite sized pieces that will amount to a fully served meal.
I’m excited to share as much as I can offer, and to learn with you all along the way. As such, this will need to become a collaborative discussion. My own experience is limited. But the door’s wide open for all perspectives and insights, so please do share those questions or feedback. I hope you you’ll find some value in joining in on this discussion, perhaps even YOU, dear reader. Which brings us to…
Who, exactly, do I hope joins you on this journey?
This blog is for fans of comics, those who make comics, and also for ANYONE who wants to learn about making comics, regardless of whether or not they’ve ever made one or even intend to get hands on. This a place for inspiration, creation and building appreciation for the craft. If you have anyone in your life who has expressed an interest in making comics, please consider sending ‘em to this blog.
I’ll try to make this a kid-friendly space as well. Though some of the comics shared will veer into PG-13 territory, I’ll be careful to forewarn that fact.
My primary goal with these posts is to share love for comics as a medium and the great stew of processes within… and sure, there’s a secondary goal in the pot as well: the opportunity to share my own work along the way. Sue me!*
Okay, some of you may have gotten this far and still don’t even REALLY know who this voice is that’s found its way into your head. I want to learn more about you, and why YOU create comics. So rather than waiting a week for the next issue, per what will become our standard release cadence, the next issue will drop IN TWO DAYS!
Next up, we’ll dive into the question: Why do we create comics?
With the bonus back-up: The Secret Origin of Comics!
The answers we’ll uncover for both questions are surprisingly interesting, and I think they’ll rev you up to create. What inspiring answers lie ahead??!!
A fitting cliffhanger for today’s issue of….
Until then, what are YOU working on today?
*Don’t sue me
One of my current projects (2025) is the Chicago fantasy anthology, Big Shoulders:
New here! But looking forward to reading more!