Process

In a post on her artistic techniques, Colleen Doran reveals that she's working on a graphic novel with Neil Gaiman, to be published by Dark Horse. The two previously collaborated on issues of THE SANDMAN.

By Mike Scigliano

-- I'm guessing that most of you were wondering when I would get to the marketing aspect of producing a comicon. Marketing is a very important part of the process of putting on a comicon. Much of the success you hope to have will hinge upon how you are able to reach your potential attendees.

§ This interview with former Marvel Talent Coordinator and color overseer Bon Alimagno may just be one of the smartest things I've ever read on comics coloring. Critique of color rarely goes beyond "I liked it!" since a study of advanced color theory isn't exactly on everyone's CV, and most people aren't trained to go beyond "orange and green don't go together." This this study of why and how Marvel's color schemes worked is incredibly illuminating:

As comics' fiscal year ends, and we take a collective week off to recuperate, celebrate, and gossip, it's time to note two pieces of advice that will make your Comic-Con 2013 much easier.

In which Kieron Gillen interviews Jason Aaron about writing comic books.

Would turning off the internet lead to peace of mind or the DTs?

This webcomics thing is heating up! Actually, what's heating up is that a new population of webcomics immigrants is moving to this new land and trying to learn the customs and shortcuts of the new society. And the natives—creators who came of age with the web as their native platform—are probably rolling their eyes and going on with business.

Because it's a horrible, rainy Monday, here's some motivational speaking in the form of Neil Gaiman's commencement address to the University of the Arts. And the text of Tom de Haven's Commencement Address to the Center for Cartoon Studies.

Last year Dean Haspiel kick-started the creative juices of the new year with an essay called "Dear Content Maker" that confronted some of the excitement and uncertainties of the new horizons. Since then he's launched a new website -- Trip City -- and kept juggling all the balls a creator needs to. This year, he has a similar call to arms that surveys the current landscape called "Publish or Perish", named after a tweet by Jimmy Palmiotti:

Remember when Dave Johnson started that blog devoted to cover design -- with actual criticism for covers that don't work? Well, he's still at it with both picks and pans. You'll have to go to the blog to find out of which cover Johnson wrote this:

In case you haven't noticed their fantastically stylish ads running in the sidebar. Comicraft is wrapping up their New Year's Day font sale right about now -- hurry over and pick up some serifs to keep your comics looking classy.

We were unaware that Titan Books has reprinted the highly sought after anatomy books by Andrew Loomis that have assumed a legendary status among classically minded cartoonists and illustrators. The Lines and Colors blog has a good write-up of the reissues and just why they are so prized: