Since this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, there has been a big push in asking convention goers and fans of Comic-Con what the museum should feature, ranging from topics discussed to what “superhero-inspired drinks” should be served in the café. Keegan referred to this as “Fan Curation.”
WonderCon ’18: Writers Discuss A City’s Character in “Life in the Weird City: Urban Fantasy”
In many urban fantasy books, the city in which the story takes places does more than act as a setting. Often, the city also becomes a character of its own.
SDCC ’17: Interview: Author Karin Tidbeck Uncovers the Dreamlike Storyline of “Amatka”
Karin Tidbeck is a science-fiction and fantasy author, born in Stockholm, Sweden. Her latest novel, Amatka, focuses on a colonized alien-planet where the physical use of words plays an integral part in the shaping and maintaining of the world. At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, I sat down with her at the Penguin Random House […]
SDCC ’17: A “Goosebumped” R.L. Stine is Awarded an Inkpot at His Panel
As a “shockingly-scary” first, author R.L. Stine is attending this year’s San Diego Comic-Con; The same R.L. Stine who has consistently scared children for around twenty-five-years, mostly with his highly-popularized Goosebumps book series. Even though this seventy-three-year-old writer doesn’t garner the same presence as he had in the late nineties and early 2000’s, that […]
SDCC ’17: What’s in Our Bags? A Look into a Veteran’s Walkaround Gear
We at The Beat are no strangers to conventions. Years of experience have taught us what is and is not necessary to take on our “nerd-orientated” excursions into extreme fandom. More importantly, trial and error have helped us to fine-tune our walkaround bags to suite our own convention needs, anticipating any hitch along the way. […]
Interview: First Second’s Scott Westerfeld Talks of His Graphic Novel “Spill Zone” and More
First Second, publishers of “great graphic novels for every reader”, have just released today the story of Spill Zone. Written by New York Times bestselling author Scott Westerfeld and illustrated by Alex Puvilland, this graphic novel follows that of a young woman named Addison who must provide for herself and her younger sister ever since […]
San Diego’s Little Fish Comic Studio Is Educating A New Generation of Fans, Artists, and Writers
In recent years, more teachers and librarians are finally recognizing the educational appeal of comic-books. Yes, we the fans have known of their artistry, their (mostly) great writing, and the sheer enjoyment they illicit, but for many other adults, it still seems like a “nonsense medium.” Perhaps for this reason it is why places like […]
WonderCon ’17: Industry Artists Give Insight on How to Draw for Action Scenes
Many an artist of the comic, graphic novel, and manga format will cringe when the respective writer they work with asks for the dreaded “action scene.” Perhaps more confusing than the rendering of hands, the action scene can easily confound any veteran artist; Do I go for a side-profile view, or over the shoulder? Is […]
WonderCon ’17: How to Write Great Dialogue for Cartoons and Comics
Ever wondered what the differences were for writing with a book in mind versus that of animation or comics? Are you an aspiring writer who feels they could use this sort of delineation in their writing? At the 2017 Anaheim WonderCon, writers Marv Wolfman, Craig Miller, Ernie Altbacker, and Holly Huckins all discussed the important […]
San Diego Comic-Con ’15: Perfect Pack Preparedness
By Nick Eskey Those who are watching the ticking clock of San Diego Comic-Con know that it’s less than a month away. This is one of the largest and busiest conventions in the world (sometimes just as turbulent and exciting as tornado season). A certain level of preparedness is in order for such an event. […]