Comics Creator Prep

by Lee Nordling, Marv Wolfman (Foreword)

Where inspiration and spontaneity prime a comic’s pump, create a vision, propel it forward, and give it life, Comics Creator Prep raises the level of comics craft to give a creator the requisite tools to consistently realize that vision. It shows creators how to use the tools in their comic toolboxes well. *** Here’s what comics industry legends and pros have to say about Comics Creator Prep! “If you’ve ever wished you had someone to walk you through the potential pinnacles and pitfalls of a career in comics, then Lee Nordling’s Comics Creator Prep is the book for you. In this guide to a plethora of perplexing situations you’re likely to find yourself in at one point or another in the world of sequential art, Nordling delivers a Master Class in the creative and business issues that confront pretty much everyone who’s ever tried to tell a story in words and pictures. Lee will help you avoid many common mistakes comics beginners—and grizzled pros, for that matter—often make. And for those times when you do find yourself in the middle of a thorny situation, his insights and advice should enable you to dig your way out faster and more gracefully than you otherwise would have.” —Danny Fingeroth, comics writer, editor and historian; author of books including Superman on the What Superheroes Really Tell Us About Ourselves and Our Society “There's no one magic way to create comics, but Lee Nordling brings a lifetime of experience in strips, periodicals and books to a discussion of how to approach the medium as a professional and do your best work.” —Paul Levitz, comic book writer, educator, past President and Publisher at DC Comics “I really wish I had been able to read Lee Nordling’s Comics Creator Prep forty years ago when I was a newbie at this comics lark. It’s stuffed full of invaluable information and useful advice about the craft of storytelling and using the medium to its full potential. I had to learn the hard way by spending years making mistakes! It covers everything from the placement of word balloons to the best way to pitch your story to potential publishers. And, what’s great about it, is that it really hammers these lessons home.” —Bryan Talbot, writer/artist Grandville, The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia, Alice In Sunderland, The Tale of One Bad Rat “As someone who directly benefited from working with Lee Nordling, I'm glad to be able to recommend this book that shares his laser precise insight into what makes a great story in comics, film, and beyond.” —Dave Roman, Astronaut Academy and Teen Boat!

Genres: Art, Writing

292 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2016

About the author

Lee Nordling is an award-winning writer, editor, and creative director who has worked on staff at Disney Publishing, DC Comics, and Nickelodeon Magazine. His book, The Bramble, won the 2013 Moonbeam Gold Medal for Picture Books (ages 4-8), and BirdCatDog was chosen by Kirkus Reviews as one of the best children's books of 2014. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, Cheri, and numerous pets that earn their kibbles by offering inspiration.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title is misleading, but if you come to this book looking for "Comic WRITER Prep", you will love it.

[Konstantinos Anatolitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an aspiring comic book writer, I can say without hesitation that Comics Creator Prep has completely changed the way I think about visual storytelling. What initially felt like intuitive choices, how to pace a scene, how to structure a page, how to move a reader’s eye, turned out to be a complex craft that Lee Nordling dissects with clarity, precision, and just the right amount of tough love.

While the book is primarily aimed at writers, artists will also find plenty of valuable insights, especially when it comes to panel flow, timing, and the often-overlooked relationship between balloon placement and reader experience. The chapters on how time flows (and stalls) in a panel, and how to structure a beat for maximum emotional impact, are particularly eye-opening.

Nordling’s direct tone is refreshingly honest, and his examples make it impossible to walk away unchanged. Whether you're writing your first script or refining your tenth, this book belongs on your desk.