§ Dirk Wood has been appointed to the position of Director of Communications for Dark Horse.

In his new role, Wood will continue to coordinate all trade-show efforts for Dark Horse, as well as key presentations that the company makes externally. He will continue to serve as the primary contact for all direct-market retailers, as well as helping to oversee programs through Diamond, including, but not limited to, Final Order Cutoff and Free Comic Book Day. While maintaining these previous responsibilities, as well as taking on new challenges, Wood will continue to play a key role in establishing and maintaining the company’s image and message.

“In a market that keeps changing, it remains a source of pride that I work for and represent one of the constants, Dark Horse Comics,” says Wood. “I look forward to these new challenges, and to continue working to further cement and grow our status as the largest independent comic-book publisher in the world.”

§ Danny Fingeroth will head up a new educational department for MoCCA, with the title Senior Vice-President of Education. Fingeroth was the longtime group editor of Marvel’s Spider-Man line and the writer of comics including DARKHAWK and DEADLY FOES OF SPIDER-MAN. He has taught comics writing at NYU, The New School, and Media Bistro. Danny created and edited Write Now magazine, the only how-to publication dedicated to comics writing and writers. He is the author of The Rough Guide to Graphic Novels and co-author (with artist Mike Manley) of How to Create Comics from Script to Print. Danny serves on MoCCA’s board of advisors and on the board of directors of the Institute for Comics Studies.

Mocca has also announced several new adult education courses, with Fingeroth and Klaus Janson, and you can read all about them in the jump:


HOW TO WRITE COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

8 sessions, Tuesdays Oct. 13 – Dec. 8; no class Nov. 24

$495 tuition | $445 for MoCCA members

DANNY FINGEROTH will lead a hands-on workshop in writing comics and graphic novels. This is an eight-week class whose aim is to teach students, in a supportive atmosphere, how to structure and write comics and graphic novel stories of professional caliber. Combining lectures, assignments in class and at home, and roundtable critiquing, the class will cover writing for all kinds of comics, including autobiographical, historical, “indy” and superheroes. [No drawing skill is required for this class.]

DANNY FINGEROTH was the longtime group editor of Marvel’s Spider-Man line and the writer of comics including Darkhawk and Deadly Foes of Spider-Man. He has taught comics writing at NYU, The New School, and Media Bistro. Danny created and edited Write Now magazine, the only how-to publication dedicated to comics writing and writers. He is the author of The Rough Guide to Graphic Novels and co-author (with artist Mike Manley) of How to Create Comics from Script to Print. Danny serves on MoCCA’s board of advisors and on the board of directors of the Institute for Comics Studies.

STORYTELLING FOR COMICS ARTISTS

3 weekly sessions, Wednesdays, Dec. 2, 9, and 16

$150 tuition | $125 for MoCCA members

KLAUS JANSON will lead this information-packed three-session lecture and workshop class that will focus on the theory and mechanics of comics storytelling. The lectures start with the philosophy and responsibility of the storyteller, and proceed through the essential topics of page layout and design, the importance of composition, the need for clarity, the benefits of contrast, the creation of a believable environment, and end with a discussion on the merits of the various styles available to the storyteller. The classes will combine lectures, class and at-home assignments, and on-the-spot critiques. Student participation and questions are encouraged. A rare opportunity to discuss and learn from a master of the art and craft of comics.

After a short stint as assistant to Dick Giordano in the early 1970’s, KLAUS JANSON went freelance, working for several comics publishers as writer, penciler, inker and colorist. He’s worked on projects with John Romita Jr., Grant Morrison, Frank Miller, Alan Moore, Gil Kane, John Buscema and many more. Klaus’s current projects include: inking several Romita Jr. projects at Marvel; penciling a five-part Daredevil limited series written by Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack (to be inked by Bill Sienkiewicz); and penciling and inking a two-part Spider-Man story written by David Morrell. But Klaus is most proud of the course on storytelling that he teaches at The School of Visual Arts and the annual seminars that he holds at Marvel for the editorial staff and their up-and-coming artists.

If you’ve ever wanted to take your ideas for comics and learn to focus them to create actual stories, then these courses are the perfect place to explore and expand your skills! And wait’ll you see what courses and instructors we have coming up!

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