
Introduces the course, the instructor's background, the reasoning behind this whole darn thing, and provides a pithy summary of what's in store.
A bit of history, the various comic book publishing formats, comic book terms, where the words go and, for the absolute beginner, how to read a comic.
A close look at what makes comics work, why they’re different from other media, and at the same time equally valid as a form of entertainment, education and self-expression.
Where the writer fits into the mainstream comics workflow, how that influences not only the way writers are paid, but how they create, and the two most common methods that writers, artists and editors use to collaborate – the Marvel Way and the Full Script.
A brief look at story basics, followed by an in depth description of pitching stories, how to fit your content into a the short space of a pitch, and how that plays into two very different, but equal, writing methods.
A look at how words and pictures change one another, what exactly constitutes a comic book, and the Seven Types of Word/Picture Relationships as defined by Scott McCloud.
The difference between a dramatic and a physical panel description, the visible and invisible elements of comic storytelling, how to use film terms in comic scripts, and implying composition without spelling it out.
Ordering panel descriptions for maximum clarity and results, motivating reader movement between panels and pages, how much fits where, and how to choose panel size and subject.
How to write in the limited space of a panel, deal with exposition, break up dialogue for dramatic effect, the three ways dialogue defines character, and the limits of dialogue in comics
How to recognize and eliminate the biggest bane to good writing -- the three types of Redundancy, and how repetition, when properly used, can be a useful tool.
A look at script formatting, the instructor's personal experience with the comic book industry, and the three paths to readers.
A comprehensive look at creating comic books specifically for the writer. NOT a course in drawing, these two hours and forty minutes of video lectures by comic veteran Stefan Petrucha combine nuts-and-bolts tips, rules and insider info with easy-to-understand theory. They cover everything from the basics, to panel descriptions that inspire visuals, character-driven dialogue, the writer’s relationship with the artist and the industry, and much more. Not just about superheroes, the course treats the graphic novel as an open medium capable of expressing any content from genre to poetry.