comics

From Pixelfed: 2023-11-01T15:33:34.000Z

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This week in high school comics class: working on outlining and structuring our minicomic stories. The structure is there to support them when they’re stuck and for them to rebel against when they’re not.

P1: Introductions – We learn about the characters and setting

P2: Characters interact – We learn more about how the characters see themselves and each other, particularly through dialogue

P3: Conflict – Some kind of problem shows up

P4: Characters react to conflict – We learn more about the characters through their reaction to the conflict

P5: Twist – Some kind of surprise shows up–could be big, could be small

P6: Characters react to twist – We learn more about the characters through their reaction to the conflict

P7-P8: Resolution – I always think about this part as answering one of two questions: *How* is the world different, or *Why* is the world the same?

#teachingarts #comics #drawing #storytelling

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Gloom, Doom, Broom

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Some original art from 1998’s Ninja High School Annual. If I remember right, the title of this one was, Gloom, Doom, Broom! a story wherein our heroes face a mob of haunted jack-o’-lanterns with broomstick bodies on motorcycles.

The balloon spotting is a little wonky, and I was obviously aping Toriyama, but otherwise it’s not bad!

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Amazons Mingling

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A few years back Dan Mishkin and I finished the first chapter to a graphic novel about a school for Amazons. Various projects forced me to stop working on this, but we keep talking about starting it up again. And then I think of panels like this and need a nap.

But then I think about working with Dan again and I’m energized to get to the desk!

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Free Comic Book Day 2023!

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This Saturday I’ll be at Thunderfury Comics in Marion, Ohio. But I won’t be pushing my comics this Free Comic Book Day–I’ll be celebrating these young authors:

For the past nine weeks I’ve been working with the Interactive Media students at Tri-Rivers Career Center. Made possible by the Ohio Arts Council’s TeachArtsOhio grant, my residency helped the students to create characters, thumbnail stories, and eventually make their own minicomics.

Some of the students worked alone on their books, while others chose to work in teams. And you can bet there were plenty of teachable moments in both scenarios!

Because I was working with a career center, my syllabus contained some lessons on freelancing and entrepreneurship. So the students created supporting products like stickers, buttons, and bookmarks. Some of them even made custom stands to prop up their books!

My thanks to the Ohio Arts Council, and to Tri-Rivers Interactive Media instructors Josh Ebert and Jeff Davidson for inviting me to such a meaningful experience.

This was a meaningful project for me. I can’t wait to celebrate these kids this Saturday.

Interested in having me visit your classroom?
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My 5th Grade Characters

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Back in Thunder Punch Daily 196 I talked about some of the first comics characters I created. Mostly lizard people with magical or super powers. A little while back an old classmate shared an excerpt of a short story I wrote about them that got printed in a school publication:

If you’re wondering who “George” Drozd is, my understanding is that’s the translation of my first name into english. For most of my childhood I went by this nickname.

I no longer have most of the character designs from those days, so I’m left wondering who Bones, Master of Lasers is!

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