Storytelling Advice from Professor Zoom

I was reading CBR's interview of the awesomely talented Tom Cavanaugh (please, someone put Ed on DVD), and came upon this gem. [blockquote sub_text="Emphasis added" blockquote_border="border_top_bottom"] "One of the most enjoyable things about doing this show is these guys, like Andrew [Kreisberg] and Greg [Berlanti] and Geoff [Johns], are not interested in just teasing stuff along. The perfect example of this, it doesn't really involve me, is the Iris/Barry storyline. That's the kind of thing that in other hands, on other television shows, you'd see that going on for years -- longing gazes. You know how it works, you've seen it a million times. We're not doing that here. Stuff that would be a season-ending cliffhanger, to us, is just another episode."  [/blockquote]

I think that's true in Arrow, too. It works well for those shows, and I think it's a great lesson to keep in mind in writing in general. Maybe you planned for something to take six issues. Maybe it should take three. Keep going. Your readers can tell when you're killing time.

It also reminds me of years ago, when I asked the late Dwayne McDuffie about his run on Fantastic Four, which I adored. I commented that every issue felt like a complete story and had none of that "trade waiting" feel. I asked him how he did it and he said "You just make more stuff up."

Freelancing: Teaching

Wednesday, I had the opportunity to go teach at Hawken School for a day. I was doing a presentation/workshop on the history of comics and how to make them. There was a decent amount of work involved, including a couple of Keynote presentations and building some worksheets. But it was totally worth it. I had about fifteen students and they all seemed really interested in the project. Ultimately, they’re going to create their own Cleveland-based superhero and do at least the cover for the issue. They’re working on back story, on secret identities and powers, the whole product.

It was just a wonderful day all around.

I also teach the occasional afterschool or summer program at Hawken, as well. I’ve done more than a few career days and library presentations and workshops all around. If you’re a freelancer, I recommend it.

First, it’s part of the greater circle. We all had that professional (or professionals) who were kind enough to give us a little time and a few words, helping us pave the path we took. There’s a point where it’s your duty to continue the chain. And, even if you don’t know it all (who does?) or aren’t where you want to be in your career (who is?) you still know more than the person asking the question, don’t you.

And second, the act of putting something into words is very clarifying. I had a teacher in art school who said “If you can’t say it, you don’t know it.” There’s something to that. Trying to explain why you do the things you do provides insight to you as well as your students.

If you ever get the chance, give it a try. Your students will definitely get something out of it, and chances are, you will, too.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, one and all! While you're enjoying your holiday, I hope you also enjoy this year's Christmas Card!

Small Business Saturday Sale

I'm running a Small Business Saturday sale, all the way through Cyber Monday. You can check it out here!

A Christmas Co-inkie-dink

Every year I do a Christmas Card. It started back when I was in art school, and it's taken off to the point where its actually a pretty daunting task to do these days. There are people who tell me they have kept all the ones I've done and look forward to the new year's. It can be a bit of pressure. So, I was in Target looking to see what cards were out there in hopes of inspiration and I found this one.

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Which obviously reminded me of this one I did in 2011.

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These kinds of parallel development happen, I know. How many volcano movies can Hollywood make in one year? I like to think this validates a good idea I had a years ago. And props to this artist for actually drawing the reindeer.

Akron Comicon 2014

This past weekend was the Akron Comicon. They were gracious enough to have me as a guest for a second year, and man I just really like that how. It's a smaller show, vaguely reminiscent of the old Mid-Ohio-Con from it's hotel days. But it manages a killer guest list (including Gerry Conway, Graham Nolan, Tom Batiuk and more) in an environment where everyone is still accessible. It's so engaging that I actually went to a panel I wasn't on, the Gerry Conway one. I can't remember the last time I actually attended a panel. Traffic was good, attendees were awesome, and the show really takes care of its guests. The Quaker Square area of Akron is a lot of fun to hang out in, too.

Among the many things that happened there this show was that I got to see someone take a commission I did of Spike playing guitar from a show last year and put it on their actual base guitar. There were an amazing number of costumed attendees for a smaller show. And I got to reconnect with old friends, like some of the crew of the U.S.S. Lagrange, as well as spend more time with greats like José Delbo, who taught at Kubert. Sadly, I never had José as a teacher, but it was so cool discussing tools and techniques with him.

And I got to spend the show next to Paul Storrie, who I don't get to see enough of. I'm glad he made it out for the show. It's something you should think about doing next year, too!

Big Damn Hero Six

I'm looking forward to checking out Big Hero Six. I hear great things about it, and it's a great way to blend Disney and Marvel. Every commercial so far has looked great. Amy pointed out a tweet from Nicole Campos reading: I'm not the only one who keeps saying "Big Damn Hero 6" by mistake, right?  Then Amy said, "You should totally make that happen." And she was right.

So, I present to you Big Damn Hero Six. One of these days I might make a print of it.

My Friend Jeremy

Jeremy Dale died on Monday night, way way too soon. He was only 34, and he had a lot more stories to tell and pages to draw. I met him and his wife Kelly at Heroescon years ago. At least I think I did. They’re those kind of people that, once they were in your life, it seemed like they were always there. We went out to dinner one night, and then kept going so many nights after.

We shared a ton of hotels over the years, and did show after show. We even split a studio for a week one time before DragonCon, when he and Kelly were kind enough to put me between shows. We both loved The Last Starfighter and 1776. 

It still doesn't seem real that he’s gone. I can’t imagine what the next MegaCon or DragonCon will feel like without him there. And I can’t imagine what it’s like for Kelly. She and Jeremy were so close that you rarely saw or mentioned one without the other.

I lettered his Skyward book and if nothing else, I’m glad that he finished his first piece of that story and that I got to be part of that. There’s still so much left untold, and it doesn’t make the loss any less, but it’s good to know that there’s a complete piece of Skyward out there for people to enjoy. I think he would have liked that.

One of my favorite moments with him was when we drove back from FanExpo. Jeremy and Kelly flew into Buffalo (because it was cheaper than flying to Toronto) and I picked them up on my drive so that we could cross the border and bring them back. He taught me that mentioning you worked on G.I. Joe sometimes makes those crossings easier, since so many people working now grew up on those books and toys. Especially helpful since Kelly famously can’t cross the border without looking suspicious.

That Sunday night after the show and back in Buffalo, we all went out to dinner even con-tired as we were. We weren’t ready for the trip to end.  We went to one of the places that takes credit for inventing Buffalo wings. Jeremy and I got some barbecue wings that were quite tasty, but barely spicier than ketchup. Kelly had one and reacted like the wing was one you had to sign a waiver before you ate. It was like something out of a sitcom, which was pretty appropriate because that seemed to be the relationship that Jeremy and Kelly had.

That’s what I’ll remember more than anything: laughing so long and so hard with my friend.

It’s tempting to try to find some meaning or lesson from these tragedies. I don’t know that there is one. Mostly it just hurts. But it does make me conscious of the fact that we don’t know how long we have to tell our stories or enjoy our friends, and we should do as much of that as we can.

That and, as my friend Eugene told me a few years ago when Dwayne McDuffie died, take more pictures with your friends. You may not like the way you look, your hair may be messy and you need to lose a few pounds, but it doesn’t matter. You won’t regret it. I went back through my photos and I don’t have enough of those.

The photo at the top of this is Jeremy photobombing me while we were at the Georgia Aquarium at DragonCon and I was trying to take a photo I could use for my next author picture. When I saw the photos, I was actually a little irritated that he did that.

Now I’m so glad he did.

Happy Halloween!

I'm down at Wizard World Columbus dressed as Rick Castle for the convention. Come on down and see me if you can. And whatever you do, have a great Halloween!

Disney Art Drop Wrap-Up

I did my last Disney art drops on Sunday. I'd had a couple days where I didn't get to place any, so I released my Jack Skellington, Up, and Frozen pieces all on Sunday. I found a particularly good hiding space for the Frozen one, behind the Nikon Picture Spot sign by the carousel in Fantasy Land. I was actually afraid no one would find it. In one of those moments of utter perfection, a young girl did right before she got to meet Anna and Elsa. Her mother emailed me about it (since I helpfully included my email and Twitter on the note inside) and it was just the sweetest thing ever. I'm so glad the art went to someone who so perfectly was the target audience.

It's the only feedback I've received, so far, but I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Doing these were so much fun and, whenever I can, I'll continue to do so. It just makes the Disney experience so much more, well, Disney.