MakingComics.com Gutter Talk Podcast

The Making Comics Gutter Talk podcast goes international. Again. In this episode, Adam is joined by Denmark's own, Palle Schmidt. If that name sounds familiar to you, it's at least one of two things. Either you have heard the previous Gutter Talk episodes Palle was on, as well as the Comic Con panel back in 2014 moderated by Patrick Yurick, or it's the amazing work he's done in Thomas Alsop or Comics for Beginners, a site dedicated to educating those with the dream of creating comics. In this episode, Adam and Palle discuss a wide range of topics. Whether it's the inside scoop on Palle's techniques as an artist or the various ways and differences artists are treated and respected between Denmark and the United States. They even touch on taxes. Taxes! We know, what do taxes have to do with comics? Well, directly, not much. But in the overall grand scheme of things, no one can escape them. Even underpaid artists. Make sure you give the Gutter Talk podcast a rating and review on iTunes and check out the MakingComics.com site for all your comic creating needs. Palle's Links: Palle's site (@Palle_Schmidt) Stiletto Thomas Alsop Comics For Beginners Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

For many folks, our esteemed Making Comics Gutter Talk host included, winter is a difficult time of year. Time changes, cold weather, having to constantly correct yourself on the year because it changed and it's hard to get in the new habit of writing the new year. We get it. But Spring is about to... well, spring, and it's time to wake up the sleeping beast that is this podcast. And what better way to rub the sleep out of our eyes than with one of the podcast's favorite past guests. In this first episode of 2019, which was admittedly recorded in 2018, Adam is joined by writer, artist, director, and overall swell guy, Graham Annable. If the name sounds familiar, it could be because he was a guest on the podcast a few years back. However, there's a pretty sizable chance you know the name from his wonderful work, such as the Laika production, The Boxtrolls, which he co-directed. It could also be from the hilarious and sometimes poignant sketches and comics, Grickle. Or maybe it's from his more recent graphic novels, Peter & Ernesto, in which he is both artist and writer. And as you'll see, most recently, part-time editor. Graham's Links: Graham's site (@grickle) Graham's books, including Peter & Ernesto Our Links: Intro & Outro Song “RetroFuture Clean” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals “Backed Vibes (clean)” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We have bold new experiment ready for you to enjoy this week - the very first ComicFuel Workshop podcast! Bizhan Khodabendeh’s “Panel Layout: The Golden Ratio” from 2014 is our most popular article ever posted on our website. So, for season 1 of Gutter Talk we’ve decided to revisit the article in the form of a FREE WORKSHOP. That’s right! We said FREE WORKSHOP!!! I hear you asking: “But, Patrick… This is just a podcast. How is a podcast a FREE WORKSHOP?” Great question! The idea is super simple: If you haven’t yet, read through Bizhan’s Article “Panel Layout: The Golden Ratio” Come back to this post at MakingComics.com/guttertalkpod Start playing the podcast and follow along with the tutorial below Skip ahead to the future and you will have 1 full page of comic art completed that utilizes Bizhan’s Golden Ratio theory. I told you it was simple. (I know, that last step is a doozy). This is a crazy experiment for MakingComics.com and the Gutter Talk ComicFuel series. We want to know if you liked it, if you hated it, something was confusing, or even if you just want to say hi. All of the feedback is welcome and encouraged. To give us feedback, comment below or email us at patrick@makingcomics.com. Oh, and hey, if you like this episode please let us know by signing up to be a Patreon patron, giving us a one-time donation, or giving us a tip on the RadioPublic app. For your convenience we’ve broken the podcast down into chapters:* 00:00:00 - Pre-Roll Ad 00:01:30 - *NEW* ComicFuel Theme Song 00:02:17 - Patreon Updates 00:04:10 - Show Intro 00:06:14 - Bizhan Introduction 00:10:55 - Workshop Agenda, Goals, & Deliverables 00:12:28 - Materials Overview 00:19:04 - Step 1: Thumbnailing 00:27:07 - Steps 2 & 3: Page Layout 1 00:33:54 - Steps 4 & 5: Page Layout 2 00:42:53 - Step 6: Penciling 00:52:44 - Step 7: Refining Pencils 01:01:00 - Step 8: Inking 01:14:03 - Steps 9-11: Refining Inks 01:25:25 - End of Lesson & Next Steps 01:27:31 - "Flats" Definition 01:32:31 - Closing The Loop: Golden Ratio 01:36:51 - Closing Credits *If you are versed at all with “enhanced” podcasts, we’ve also included chapter markers directly in the episode so you should be able to jump to sections fairly easily from within your podcast player. If none of that makes any sense - ignore me. Credits Lesson & Photos by Bizhan Khodabendeh (@mendedarrow). Support him and his work by visiting MendedArrow.com. All music was graciously provided by our friends “Another Dead Clown” from the instrumentals of “This May Not Work.” Support Another Dead Clown by purchasing their albums at: https://anotherdeadclown.bandcamp.com/ Music Tracks, in order of perception: Pre Roll Ad - Fuzzy Analog New Show Intro - Akashic Fields Transitions - "Space Demons" by Christopher O'Keeffe Step 1 Break - For the Aeroplane & 27 Second Kiss Step 2 - Evas Guitar Step 4 & 5 - Akashic Fields & Holy Fuck Step 6 - Penny Proposition & Eight Miles To Ludlow Step 7 - Pyramids Step 8 - Guns & Currency & Frank O Step 9-11 - Drinking Song & Spencer's Bad News The Golden Ratio Workshop Audio Walkthrough The Objective To complete a full page of comic art utilizing Bizhan’s application of the Golden Ration compositional theory. Materials If you are interested in downloading all photos used below in high resolution, the script below, comic page templates (in both 11x17 & 8.5x11 - multiple formats), and more then we got you covered! Go check out our Patreon page where a donation of $2 a month will get you a download of all the materials for the workshop: https://www.patreon.com/makingcomics Required Materials: Pencil & Eraser Pen (Specific ones outlined below, but any will do) Paper (11x17 suggested, but copy paper can be made to work)  A ruler Suggested Materials: Mechanical pencil Bristol paper

We hope your ears are ready for more comic candy, because Gutter Talk has returned! With Gutter Talk’s mid-season intermission behind us, Adam Greenfield is back at it with another incredible interview - this time with Eisner Award Nominated writer and publisher Norm Harper! This week’s episode is filled with engaging conversation surrounding Norm’s breakout comic, Rikki, and what it means to take an old, well-known tale and spin it with a fresh, comic-style twist! Adam and Norm’s conversation also finds itself exploring the ideas behind belonging to a clan and finding oneself, walking between film and comics, jumping into the world of indie comics, fighting off imposter syndrome, and starting an incredible publishing company! Also, for those of you who love listening to the sultry voice of our host and the plethora if diverse guests on the regular, please consider helping us make more episodes by donating at least $1 to the show on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/makingcomics. Hitting our goals means more episodes, which means more tips, tricks, and insight into the comic world for you! The Sequels Info Website:  www.TheSequelsComic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSequelsComic/ Twitter: @TheSequelsComic Intro & Outro Song “RetroFuture Clean” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals “Backed Vibes (clean)” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Songs Behind Ads “Elmore Heights” by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. (http://freemusicarchive.org) “Dirty Wallpaper” by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. (http://freemusicarchive.org)  

Though our Season 1 Intermission might have arrived, that doesn't mean anybody around here gets to rest - and that means you! That's right, while we scurry about, finishing up the last couple of interviews and other such surprises, we've got some homework for you. But don't worry, it's nothing too difficult. In order to make sure you're prepared for our super secret upcoming book club episode, we decided to re-release one of our most popular episodes from the past - the Graham Annable interview - just in case you missed it last time! For those about to listen in for the first time, here's a little episode information: Our hero Adam Greenfield is joined today by Graham Annable, the co-director of the Academy Award nominated movie, The Boxtrolls, as well as the amazing animator and artist behind Grickle. One of the more gracious guests we’ve had on the Gutter Talk podcast, the conversations were open windows into Graham’s thought processes as not just the great artist he is but also what it takes to be a director, even if a co-director, on a major stop-motion picture. Give it a listen, Tweet out some of your favorite moments, and let us know what you think! The Original Episode 91: Graham Annable Book Club Book Physical Book: Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths Digital Book [Nook]: Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths

How in the world could we do our first season of the MakingComics.com Gutter Talk Podcast without bringing back the #ComicFuel podcast? The #ComicFuel podcast was launched as a question/answer show by our leader Patrick Yurick for the massively popular “How To Make A Comic Book” course on Coursera. Students from around the world submit questions and the seemingly endless fountain of facts bubbling inside of the brain of Patrick does its best to link them with the answers needed. On this seventh installment of #ComicFuel we cover questions like “Am I too old to make a living off of comics?”, “How do you manage a long-form comic project?”, “How do you learn to draw?”, and more. So pop on your headphones, get out a paper and pen, and draw while listening to Patrick traverse the world answering comic-making quandaries. Jump-To Sections [00:00:00] Support MakingComics.com Ad [00:00:25] Show Theme [00:01:10] Introduction [00:04:10] Graham Annable Book Club Announcement [00:06:10] Season Intermission Announcement [00:08:00] Season Patreon Campaign Announcement [00:12:50] What happened to the ComicFuel podcast? [00:20:15] Question #1: Am I too old to make a living off of comic books? [00:25:15] Question #2: How do you start outlining a big comic idea that you have? [00:29:27] Question #3: How do you manage a long-form comic project? [00:31:34] Ad Break [00:33:35] Question #4: How do you learn how to draw? [00:43:20] Question #5: Who makes comics? Only aspiring comic creators? [00:47:35] Question #6: How do you collaborate with a team making comics together? [01:01:00] Closing Statements [01:03:00] Show Outro Show Notes [00:00:25] Show Theme [00:01:10] Introduction -- Gutter Talk Season 1 Episode 4 (115) --- ComicFuel #7 -- What is ComicFuel? --- ComicFuel was a podcast started on May 14, 2016 by MakingComics.com leader, and teacher, Patrick Yurick. The podcast is a Q&A show with questions supplied from students within the "How To Make A Comic Book" MOOC on Coursera (which has over 27,000 enrolled students from all over the world). The show sometimes includes inspirational audio clips referred to as “AudioFuel”.  As defined within the first episode of the course, Comic Fuel is defined as: Any kind of inspirational piece of wisdom that directly results in the encouragement of artistry. Aka - psychological fuel, like coffee, designed to conquer your demons and keep going. [00:04:10] Graham Annable Book Club Announcement Announcing Our First Season Book Club Book: Graham Annable’s “Peter & Ernesto - A Tale of Two Sloths” - More news to come - Graham on a future episode - Buy the book on Amazon - Keep an eye on -- the Gutter Talk newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dGp7c9 -- MakingComics.com Facebook page -- Instagram -- Twitter -- The podcast feed itself… [00:06:10] Season Intermission Announcement Apologies for the brevity of this episode - Teaching animation to some of my students who are sailing around the world in a yacht. -- Not returning until the 30th -- No internet - Mid-season break [00:08:00] Season Patreon Campaign Announcement - Patreon Readthrough -- Patrons: 32 --- 1-5 Monica Sampler -- Pledged: $46 -- Current Cost of MakingComics.com ---- Per Year: $2,100 ---- Per Month: $175 - RadioPublic -- Week 1 RP earnings: --- 13 Listens --- $3.00 - New Listener Bonus ---- Total = $3.26 -- Tips are live! -- Download The RadioPublic App and search for MakingComics.com Gutter Talk --- Listen to 3 episodes - MakingComics.com -- Paypal One Time Donation -- Go to MakingComics.com -- Scroll to the bottom of the page -- Click on the link that says “One-Time Donations” [00:12:50] What happened to the ComicFuel podcast? - Where has ComicFuel been? (aka - updates) -- Milestones in my life ---- June 2017 - Cambridge back to San Diego ---- April 2018 - Baby due (Calvin) in January 4 2019 ---- June 2018 - Podcation & Jupiter Saloon

We hope you enjoyed the show last week! This week, we’re switching gears and truly getting into the nitty-gritty world of comics. Raise your hand if you’ve ever wanted to see your comic book on the shelves at your local comic book store! Do you know what it takes to get your comics through those sacred doors and into the pulls? Besides hard work (and a healthy dose of tears), there are some fine intricacies that go into understanding what makes a comic sell. Which is why this week, Adam sat down with Glynnes Pruett, owner and operator of one of America’s (and definitely L.A.’s) finest comic shops, The Comic Hideout. Sporting her blue hair and kick-ass attitude, Glynnes dove deep with Adam into the trends that she sees comics heading. From women’s involvement in kicking down age-old gender stereotypes and embracing comics, to building offline communities around comic books and friends, Glynnes proves that sometimes it’s best to be weird and crazy and silly as she channels that energy into fun, creative projects that make her Eisner-nominated business one of the hottest spots around and a place you definitely want your comic to call home! Please consider supporting us so that more episodes of the show can be released by donating at $1+ to the show on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/makingcomics

The wait for Gutter Talk Episode 2 is finally over and things are about to get intergalactic! You see, one of the most-heard bits of feedback we get from our beloved listeners is that they love listening to Gutter Talk while doodling or sketching or inking. They love the inspiration it brings as they push onward with their often tedious work. It’s sort of a way to give the brain something to focus on while the hands do all the heavy lifting. Well, we took this feedback and we thought, “Hmm, what can we do to really up the ante in terms of entertainment and inspiration?” Suddenly the answer struck! “We’ll take our listeners to the theatre!” Adam joyously proclaimed. And thus Gutter Talk Theatre was born! Not long after, we decided to team up with Podcation, (another project from the inimitable mind of our fearless leader, Patrick Yurick), to take you, our loyal listeners, away from your studios and drawing pads and send you deep into the furthest reaches of the galaxy, on an epic adventure filled with love, loss, and a maybe a stiff drink or two. It is with great pleasure that Gutter Talk Theatre presents: Jupiter Saloon! Please consider supporting us so that more episodes of the show can be released by donating at $1+ to the show on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/makingcomics About Jupiter Saloon This sci-fi comedy audio drama centers on The Jupiter Saloon — a dive bar in space. It’s a place where weird characters from all over the galaxy come for a heavily poured drink, interesting conversation, and the possibility of adventure. Plus, patrons who are short on credits can settle their tab by telling a good story. Sort of like Cheers meets Tales from the Crypt. In space! Full credits for the Jupiter Saloon podcast are available here. To learn more about Jupiter Saloon visit JupiterSaloon.com Intro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Ad Songs: “Abracadabra” Silent Partner https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music “Elle va au Japon” Nic Bommarito Licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License http://freemusicarchive.org “Upbeat” Jon Luc Hefferman Licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License http://freemusicarchive.org Transition: “InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav”Herbert Boland www.freesound.org

It’s finally here! It’s finally happening! The oh-so official first episode of the new “Gutter Talk Season 1” has arrived and it’s got all of us here at Making Comics more excited than we honestly have any right to be. In case you haven’t heard (how that’s possible at this point, we’re not entirely sure), Gutter Talk is releasing in a new seasonal format. This season, we’re releasing 8 episodes each Friday - all filled to the brim with invaluable insights, terrific tools, and a little dash of Adam’s signature wit on the side. Okay, maybe a little more than a dash. You can even sign up here if you’re in the mood to get email updates (and possible behind-the-scenes goodies) from each episode on the day they drop. Because in this fast-paced day and age, a little reminder here and there never hurt anyone. Anyhow, moving on to Episode 1! Esteemed host Adam Greenfield sits down in an unexpectedly pleasant park with artist, writer, and director Scott Marcano. Known the world around as the writer of the inimitable 90’s hit movie “Bio-Dome” and head of the Diablo Comics publisher, Scott’s enthusiasm for all things media is unstoppably contagious. Adam and Scott’s conversation jumps naturally between topics that range from video games and film rights for comics books to censorship and profanity to even the merits of print versus digital comics. This episode is brimming with deep industry knowledge that even the most battle-hardened comic creators will find enlightening. But don’t take our word for it. Give Episode 1 a listen and tell us what you think! And while you’re at it, drop us a little love on iTunes (or wherever you find your favorite podcasts) with a quick rating and maybe a review if you’re feeling especially happy to hear us back on the air! Please consider supporting us so that more episodes of the show can be released by donating at $1+ to the show on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/makingcomics Scott's Links: Diablo Comics (@mister_diablo77) "The Void Divine" by Corey Snowden Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Songs Behind Ads: "Plant Food"  Nic Bommarito Licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License http://freemusicarchive.org "Please Listen Carefully" Jahzzar Licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License http://freemusicarchive.org Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

Just a quick message from Adam on upcoming Making Comics Gutter Talk all new Season 1. Okay, maybe also a message to become a subscriber at our Patreon page, too. Fine! Also a call for any sponsors or advertisers. But when it's all said and done, really, it's still a quick message from Adam. Ad Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

San Diego Comic Con is a great place to meet and talk to comic artists and writers from all over the world. This year, Adam had the opportunity to talk to creators from Fanbase Press for Making Comics Gutter Talk episodes. In this week's episode, two of them, David Accampo and Amanda Donahue join Adam on the back terrace of the San Diego Convention Center, out where you can hear everything from the medieval knights battling it out to the military helicopters flying by to the seagulls on the bay behind us. The conversation began with a discussion on their latest collaboration, The Margins, and what it meant to them as creators. After their history was dredged up, but in a good way, the talk turned to the comic creating process, from the David's writing to Amanda's first foray into the world of comics. If you enjoy these podcasts and want to hear more of them, please visit our Patreon page and help us make that happen. We at Making Comics would very much like to get back to our roots and put out podcast content on a regular, weekly basis. But in order to do that, we need your help. Also visit us on iTunes and give us a rating and review. This increases the podcast visibility and more listeners means more opportunity for more content. See the big, beautiful circle we're drawing? David & Amanda's Links: David's site  (@daccampo) Amanda's site (IG page) THE MARGINS Resources: Website:   www.TheMarginsComic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMarginsComic/ Twitter:    @TheMarginsComics Purchase Link:  https://fanboycomics.ecrater.com/p/30006833/the-margins Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Ad Song: "Caprese" by Blue Dot Sessions Licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License (http://freemusicarchive.org) Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

Earlier this year, while at Wondercon 2018 in Anaheim, CA, Adam met some of the fine folks at Fanbase Press and knew right away the artists and writers for the comics they put out needed to be on the Making Comics Gutter Talk podcast. Yes, needed. And it really started when Adam spotted the banner for the comic Penguins Vs Possums. We could talk about the art all day but the story and title are fantastic attention grabbers. Within the first few panels, you're hooked. Because of this, Adam was eager to have co-creator of that series, Sebastian Kadlecik, on the show. As Comic Con 2018 neared, the well-deserved hype for his latest creation, Quince, was growing so getting to record a conversation at the convention just seemed both the wise thing to do and fate. You know, if you believe in that stuff. The conversation ranged everywhere from Sebastian's background and growth in writing, comics, and even acting, to the necessary decisions when determining the artistic layout of scenes within a comic. And don't mind the group of people behind them having their own good time outside of the convention. Speaking of.... Before that chat with Sebastian, you'll hear a portion of a conversation during a Comic Con after-party about the vagueness and even capitalistic aspect of what can and can't be released in a podcast when it comes to background noise. Participants included Gutter Talk alumni Dean Haspiel and Chris Miskiewicz, as well as Glynnes Pruett, owner/operator of Comic Book Hideout in Fullerton, CA. As stated in the podcast, no one makes a claim to be any kind of legal expert on this stuff. It just seemed applicable. And some of it was just plain silliness that needed to be shared. And finally, please find us on iTunes and give us a rating and review. It really helps get the visibility and word out about this podcast, and in the end, more listeners and support means more content for you. Please also check out our Patreon page by clicking here. Sebastian's Links: QUINCE Resources: Website:  www.QuinceComic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quincecomic/ Twitter:    @QuinceComic ComiXology:  https://www.comixology.com/Quince/comics-series/86597?ref=cHVibGlzaGVyL3ZpZXcvZGVza3RvcC9saXN0L3Nlcmllc0xpc3Q TPB Purchase Link: https://fanboycomics.ecrater.com/p/25558197/quince-trade-paperback Instagram Twitter Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

We know, it's a Monday. In the history of the Making Comics Gutter Talk podcast, it has never been released on any day of the week besides Friday. However, in this instance, the timing called for it. While there may be some purists or other creatures of habit who find this to be troublesome, we first offer this advice: take a breath. Everything will be okay. We promise. Then listen to this episode. Trust us, you'll feel better. In this Gutter Talk episode, Adam sits down with Jimmy Palmiotti, whose attributes run a marathon but to list a few, he created Painkiller Jane. He's also one of the co-creators of Marvel Knights, which comes up as a discussion topic in the conversation between Adam and Jimmy. Then there's Harley Quinn, a character in which he and his wife Amanda Conner helped increase popularity levels to great heights. Oh, and Painkiller Jane... and Deadpool... and the Punisher... Also, Jimmy is the co-founder of PaperFilms, along with (again) Amanda Conner, and has some pretty amazing talent on board, like Justin Gray, Craig Weeden, Frank Tieri, and more. Pretty impressive. Make sure to also subscribe in iTunes or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. Also, please, for the love of all that is podcast holy, give us a rating and review. We won't hold it against you if you don't but you'd be our new best friend if you did. And who doesn't want more best friends? Jimmy's Links: PaperFilms (@jpalmiotti) Killing Time in America (Kickstarter) Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

It's time to dust off the microphones, plug in the earbuds, and see if the equipment still works. Yes, both Gutter Talk and Comic Fuel podcasts return, and in mashup fashion. In this episode, Adam Greenfield, host of Making Comics Gutter Talk, sits down with Patrick Yurick, host of Comic Fuel, to answer some questions that have sat around much longer than they deserved. All they wanted was a little attention. That's all. Well, now they get it. Because there are many questions to get to, not all of them will be answered in this episode. But if you are one of the ones that sent in a question and didn't hear yours in the next hour and twenty or so minutes, have no fear. Adam and Patrick are planning on sitting down and recording another episode and, if needed, will record yet another until all questions are answered. It is the least we in the podcast department here at Making Comics can do. In this episode you'll also hear Adam provide a little reasoning behind why it's almost April and this is the first episode of 2018, as well as Patrick talking about future plans with the Making Comics site. Oh, and "The Man from Kurosawa," which... well, just listen. It's better that way. Our info: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org

If you're reading this but haven't yet listened to the first half of the conversation between Adam Greenfield and Dean Haspiel, well, what you're about to listen to probably won't make sense. Therefore we highly suggest going here and listening to that first. Trust us, this episode will make more sense if you listen to the previous half first. If you're one of those weirdos that reads the last chapter or page of a book before you read everything else, well, do your thing but we don't trust you. Just sayin'. If you've listened to the first half and are ready to go, enjoy. Again, if you're a weirdo and haven't listened to the first half yet, you've been warned.

When Adam and Dean Haspiel first recorded a Gutter Talk episode, it was September of 2015. In those two years, plenty has happened for both. However, that's still not the reason why, just as with the first time they spoke, this episode is also two hours long. In fact, it's so long it had to be separated into two parts. You can find Part 2 here. As for the reasons why their talk went over two hours, well, the reasons vary widely. There's what Baltimore Comic Con does right but what New York Comic Con does wrong. There's the positives and negatives of being an artist in the digital world we find ourselves in. There's also talk of fan entitlement when it comes to comics versus perhaps having a reason for their gripes. And all that's only part of what Adam and Dean discussed. Again, this is the first half of the two hour conversation. The second half should already be in your podcast feed, or you can find it here in this separate post. No, we're not trying to confuse you. Keep you on your toes, maybe. But not confuse you. Definitely not confuse you. In this case it may just be an unfortunate side effect, and for that we apologize. However, we won't try to stop you if you want to head over to our Patreon page and help us figure out a way to make this not happen again. Dean's Links: Dean's site (@deanhaspiel) The Red Hook on Webtoons (The Red Hook) Harakiri Kane play Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

Chaos. What is it good for? Absolutely nothin'. Well, now that we successfully planted that ear worm, today's Making Comics Gutter Talk episode with Jessica Abel deals a lot with chaos and the things creative folk like us can do to not only minimize the chaos but (*GULP*) even get things accomplished, too. You know, like that comic you've been sitting on and tinkering away at here and there for the last seven years. Or one of the many short-lived attempts at something cool that you think you'll eventually get back to... even though deep down you know you won't. Okay, you get the picture. Point is, this podcast and Jessica's latest book, Growing Gills, can help. We also take a brief look back at how Jessica became the teacher and artist she is. And if you ask her, which Adam did, if she considers herself an artist or a teacher, she'll straight up tell you.... Wait, did you really think we'd just tell you what she said? Well, it was worth a shot. Take a listen to the podcast and find out. Also subscribe on iTunes or whatever podcast app you use. Be sure to rate us, give us a review, or even bake us some cookies. We wouldn't turn away cookies. But most of all, it's the rating and review we're after. Jessica's Links: Jessica's site (@jccabel) Growing Gills (book) Audience building course on 9/10/17 Other books Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

In hopes of kickstarting some energy into the Making Comics Gutter Talk podcast, it was decided that a return to old guests will help. So this is the first episode in a new Gutter Talk venture, an alumni "Where Are They Now" series. In this first episode, Adam is re-joined by the amazing Lucy Bellwood, an artist, a writer, and even a sailor, based out of Portland, OR. The last time Adam and Lucy spoke was way, way back in January of 2015, nearly two and a half years prior to this talk, and at the time, Lucy was just starting to toss around the idea of doing a Kickstarter project for a Baggywrinkles book. Well, since that time, not only did she start and fund that project, she's just finishing up yet another Kickstarter project that was also funded, and this time in about 24 hours. Yes, that sound was your jaw hitting the floor. We'll wait for you to pick it up.... Listen in as Adam and Lucy discuss her pride and joy and struggles and fears with not just her current endeavor, the 100 Demon Dialogues, but also with being an artist on an overall level. From self-care to the financial burdens and planning as a freelance and independent artist, all of it is in play. Also be sure to subscribe on iTunes and give us a rating and review if you haven't already. Lucy's links: Lucy's site (@lubellwoo) 100 Demon Dialogues Kickstarter project Crowdcast "Demons and Monsters" talk with Jessica Abel Conosaurus (not Lucy's site but discussed in the show) Light Grey Art Lab residency (discussed in the show) Emily Cheeseman's diagram (discussed in the show) Our links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

The last time you heard from us in the Making Comics Gutter Talk headquarters, it was Halloween and we were having a lively discussion with Stephen Bissette. Well, it's now Earth Day, six months later, and we're finally putting out another episode. We know, we missed you all, too. But the hope is we're now back to at least one episode per month and if more time can be unearthed, we'll bump things back up to two episodes a month. But all in due time, friends. All in due time. We promise. As for this episode, Adam sits down for a second recording with artist and creator Megan James. She is the mind and skill behind Innsmouth, a magical story that is part Lovecraft, part Book of Mormon, and has fish people. That's definitely on you if you don't find that exciting. Adam and Megan actually spoke late last year but life has a funny way of becoming an obstacle to things and the conversation was shelved. However, Adam made sure when he returned to the scene, Megan had to be the first guest and a new conversation was to be had. The topics in this episode range from figuring how to lay out a page for maximum effect, comedy or otherwise, to finding a ton of usefulness in taking a scriptwriting class. If you'd like to support us and help keep MakingComics.com going and allow us to do cool things like sending out the Daily Challenge, please go to our Patreon page (click HERE) and join our Patreon community. Support good people, people! Megan's Links: Megan's site (@meg_emmy_james) Innsmouth (Sink/Swim Press store) Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

We may have said this before and if so, we feel it is definitely worth repeating. Wow, it is so darn educational and amazing to speak with someone who has been in the comics industry for so darn long. This is why every Halloween, Adam looks forward to speaking with one of his favorite Making Comics Gutter Talk guests, Stephen Bissette. For the third year in a row, Stephen dispels humor, knowledge, and all around good times. When Stephen talks about the history of comics, he's not just talking about what has happened in the past. That side of the timeline has been well-documented and will forever be. In this episode Stephen does talk about the past but he also is sure to talk about the history of comics as both the present and the future. This also includes when he is teaching young, impressionable minds at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, VT. And yet when his students challenge him on a topic, Stephen becomes the student in order to return to being a more effective teacher. In the example he gave, a student challenged him on Native American comics and culture. This caused Stephen to do his own homework, a great example that no matter who we speak with, we can never stop learning. To open the Gutter Talk episode, just as we have done in previous Halloween episodes, we have a reading of an Edgar Allen Poe story. This year's story was "The Cask of Amontillado" and was read by a horror master in his own right, Vincent Price. Boy, Poe sure does like burying things in his stories, huh? Happy Halloween! Stephen's Links: Stephen's website (@SRBissette) Center for Cartoon Studies Our Links: "The Dracula Files" by Storyforge Productions Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

The world these days is far from easy to understand. Sometimes there's an answer and sometimes there isn't. And sometimes, it takes all we have to find a way to even try to comprehend everything. But perhaps that's where art comes into play. Maybe, just maybe, our sight becomes a little clearer when we break it down into more of an expression than trying to fit a round understanding in a square hole. In the case of The Little Red Fish by Bizhan Khodabandeh and James Moffit, a simple, yet powerful story is told and it's all inspired by the Iranian revolution in 1979. Nah, that's not complicated to explain. In this Making Comics Gutter Talk episode, Adam is joined by Bizhan and James to discuss how this story came about and what makes this story have such an impact. There's also something to be said about the use of animals as the characters, a la Animal Farm by George Orwell, which is another side of the story Adam and his guests dive into. Following this discussion, Adam and Bizhan are left to their own devices as they discuss another project Bizhan was a part of. It involves violence between civilians and police, and soon the conversation turns to a more personal experience for both Adam and Bizhan. In the end, both host and guest ensure the audience they are far from experts on the subject and only drives home the point that there simply is no easy or right answer to the burning, violent questions we face as humans today. But at least there's comics! Bizhan's Links: Bizhan's site (@MendedArrow) "The Little Black Fish" comic James's Links: Sink/Swim Press (@sinkswimrva) Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

"This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play."  - Alan Watts As we walk out into the world we are entering a story. This story defines us and the way that we interact with our beliefs, actions, society, etc. As much as we are always entering into the story that others have defined for us, we are also given the gift of writing our own story in every action we take. This month I sat down with Rachel Beck, founder of Storyforge Productions, and we discussed the nuances of story telling. We looked at our society and how we are working to rectify our long history with marginalizing females - specifically in the comic industry. We also looked at the basic construction of worlds and characters and how those construction create compelling reasons that keep us reading. Reflecting on the talk I am reminded that complications are what keep us interested in the world around us. As comic artists we create fiction where our character confront and battle those contradictions. Theoretically that gives us the inspiration to fight our own demons. That's what the #ComicFuel show is all about right? For us to join together to turn away from just consuming art and to bring us into the battle - the battle to create art. So get out your pens and papers. Sit down. Join us as Rachel and I provide the fuel you are going to need for the coming battle. Jump times to go to different parts of the podcast: (00:00:00) Alan Watts on Play & Work (00:03:20) Introduction To Show (00:13:20) Question 1 - Female Comic Creators (00:46:20) AudioFuel - Maya Angelou "And I Rise" (00:50:00) Question 2 - Tension & Resolution (01:02:00) Question 3 - Character Driven Storytelling (01:19:00) Question 3.5 - Scenarios (01:27:40) AudioFuel - Morgan Freeman recites Invictus (01:30:40) Question 4 - Drawing As A Writer (01:48:30) AudioFuel - Alan Watts on the State Of Nothing (01:59:20) Question 5 - Onomatopoeias (02:05:20) Question 6 - Short & Sweet (02:13:00) Show Outro Let me know what you think of the show by tweeting @patrickyurick Please consider supporting us so that more episodes of the show can be released by donating at $1+ to the show on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/makingcomics As always - the entire show notes catalog is on the Comic Fuel Wiki: http://comicfuel.wikidot.com/wiki:episode-5 Songs Used Patreon Info Segment:“Story To Fall Through” by Dr. Turtle, used under CC BY / Desaturated from original Intro & Outro Songs:“Unexpected Hoedown In Bagging Area” by Dr. Turtle, used under CC BY / Desaturated from original #Comic/Audio Fuel Segments “The Kid In The Bins” by Dr. Turtle, used under CC BY / Desaturated from original Audio Fuel Used Desaturated from Maya Angelou’s reading of “And I Still Rise” video on Youtube from her book of the same name, “And I Still Rise”. Desaturated from original video “Why Your Life Is Not A Journey” by David Lindberg featuring Alan Watts. Music: Sleeping at Last - Saturn Sleeping at Last - Uranus Desaturated from original interview of Morgan Freeman on the Charlie Rose show reciting Invictus poem by William Ernest Henley. Desaturated from original talk on "The State of Nothingness" by Alan Watts. Transcribed version of talk available here  

One of the great things about attending comic conventions of all sizes is meeting people from all over. Because of its sheer size and international draw, it's actually pretty hard to not meet someone new from far off places while at San Diego Comic Con. At least far off from where you are. If you want to get all Inception on the topic, you are far off to those people you find far off. But we digress. In this Making Comics Gutter Talk episode, Adam is joined by Australian artist and creator Cristian Roux, whom he met while peddling a book of poetry at easily one of the largest comic conventions in the world. Cristian was drawn to the table by the amazing work of Ted Washington and began conversations with both Ted and Adam, both of which were equally impressed with Cristian's work. By the time Cristian left the table, Ted pretty much made up his mind that he was taking Puna Press to Australia for their comic and zine conventions and Adam made up his mind to ensure Cristian was added to the long list of stellar guests on the Gutter Talk podcast. We also would be remiss in pointing out this episode is our 100th episode. From the bottom of our ink-filled hearts, we want to thank not only the talented guests we've had on the podcast and panels over the last two-plus years but we also want to thank you, the listener. Whether you've been with us since the beginning or this is your very first Gutter Talk episode, thank you for being a part of this creative endeavor. We do this for you. The website, the podcast, the Daily Challenge, all of it. A world without art and the knowledge it takes to create art is not a world any of the MakingComics.com staff wants to be a part of. This is why educating the masses is so darn important to us. Thank you for being a part of our world. Cristian's Links: Cristian's site (@woohooroo) Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

"...it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."  Rocky Balboa's inspirational speech to his son in the 2006 installment into the Rocky franchise is definitely the inspiration for this show. There're a lot of projects I work on right. Art, design, and educational experiences I am currently slaving away over. I spend a lot of time, and incur a good deal of mental anguish, trying to figure out what the "right" thing to do is as a day job. When Rocky talks about taking hits, in my context that is all about my own personal demons regarding my design process. My own shadow/devil on my shoulder telling me I'm wasting my time. Last month, I'll be honest, I almost considered #ComicFuel a waste of my time. Three episodes in and I was ready to give up. I almost didn't finish episode 3. Even during the process of doing it, I didn't want to finish it. I did finish, barely, and then I swore to myself that I wasn't going to do another episode the same way again (if I did another episode). So I called Adam and asked him to record a quick episode where we powered through a ton of questions. It turned into a longer episode. As I sat down with Adam Greenfield this week to record the fourth episode of #ComicFuel I was reminded why I do this. Sure, this episode is WAY too long ( cough-2hoursand14minutes-cough ), but who cares? I got to sit down with my friend and answer some student questions and talk about how to practice art. In my ideal retirement scenario I would spend every day doing this. I was reminded that MakingComics.com is the purely "good" thing that I have in my life. For me this is the one sacred space in this whole universe where everything we do is just good. We aren't always active, or on time with our products, and they aren't always produced with the kind of quality I'd like - but at their core they are good. We've made decision after decision to not turn this into a project that will go anywhere (i.e we are staying here for good). It isn't a startup business - it is a public service. That is what makes it "good". It hasn't been tainted by the threats of being economically unviable - because it isn't. I thought I was done after my 2 hour session with Adam. Then...   ...I said to myself - I'm not going to do Audio Fuel this month. Monday I mixed the two hour long episode and then I saw a tweet to me that I missed: @patrickyurick haven't listened yet to #ComicFuel 3 but can I just say thank you in advance? — Heavy Load Comic (@HeavyLoadStory) July 13, 2016 So I responded: @HeavyLoadStory Did you listen to it? Ep4 drops Friday :) — Patrick Yurick (@patrickyurick) August 9, 2016 @patrickyurick I did. Best so far! It was mostly useful and inspiring. I'd keep the intro a bit shorter! Looking forward to the new one — Heavy Load Comic (@HeavyLoadStory) August 9, 2016 @patrickyurick that's probably the best bit of the podcast. So many times we get lost into technicalities and forget about the why's — Heavy Load Comic (@HeavyLoadStory) August 9, 2016 So now I have a reason to get back up, despite the obstacles, fight Apollo for the champion belt, and follow through on making an awesome episode of #ComicFuel. So thanks for being my "Paulie" Marco (Adam is my "Mick"). I got back up. I did more work. I may not feel like I took the belt - but I did get a reward. I did something good. Good for myself and, hopefully, good for some others as well. This month's episode features answers to questions on creating depth, writing, visual comic vocabulary, drawing for exposure, story vs art, and what to do when art isn't fun anymore. AudioFuel this week comes from Sylvester Stallone, Martha Wainwright, and the late Joseph Campbell. As always, I encourage you to jump to the section in the show that you fancy the most (times indicated below) and be sure to check out the show notes at comicfuel.wikidot.com/wiki:episode-4.

Always remember: You are unique... just like everyone else. Ok, but seriously. There really is something to be said about originality, and Adam and his terrific guest, Gerhard Ka'aihue, have a lot to say about being original in this Making Comics Gutter Talk episode. Sure, fan art is great, and even better when its purpose is to help you, the artist, hone in on your skills and voice. Still, should that be marketed as your own? Is it your intellectual property to do what you wish with it? To Gerhard, it can be a very fine line to walk. Yet when it comes to Gerhard's work, it's all original, all the time. From his recent comic "Stella Noir" to his graphic illustrations that are eye-popping and brilliantly composed, Gerhard walks his own line between stunning art and simply being productive for productive sake. And isn't that what being an artist is about? The ABC of art? Yes, always be creating. Sure, he may have a day job and family responsibilities but Gerhard is quite satisfied with that arrangement. In fact, it's what he wants. His job as a marketing director still taps into that creative part of the brain so the juices are constantly on flow. And while you're listening to this stellar Gutter Talk episode, feel free to take a break from your own work and head over to our Patreon page and support us. But not if you're driving. Please, if you are behind the wheel at the moment, keep your eyes on the road. Heck, if you're driving, why are you even reading this?! Gerhard's Links: Gerhard's site (@kaaihue) Instagram Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

There is not a place we can turn where current events are not effecting our every day lives. I feel incredibly honored to unveil the first episode of comic fuel to feature Ulises Fariñas and Lucy Bellwood as cohosts. Ulises and I jump right into the questions and geek out on what is important to think about when inking - both digital and traditional. We then go into great depth discussing "style" and how it is actually an incidental occurrence in your art as opposed to a measured goal. Lucy hops in during question three to talk about how to think about drawing background art in your panels. Ulises and I cap the entire episode off with a very important discussion regarding how race and equity is reflected in the comic industry. In fact, in writing the show notes for that segment, I was delighted to find several amazing articles that dealt specifically with how the comic industry is connecting to these important topics. This episode also includes some amazing borrow audio clips from Jason Brubaker, Ven. Robina Courtin, and art educator John Spencer. Such an amazing third episode. Easily the hardest I've worked on yet. Hopefully I can keep it up! [Tweet "ComicFuel Episode 3 was awesome!"] Let me know what you think of the show by tweeting @patrickyurick Please consider supporting us so that more episodes of the show can be released by donating at $1+ to the show on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/makingcomics Check out our Patreon explainer video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4TBhT_m2RQ As always - the entire show notes catalog is on the Comic Fuel Wiki: http://comicfuel.wikidot.com/wiki:episode-3 Jump times to go to different parts of the podcast: (00:00) Show Opener (00:43) Introduction to Show (10:10) #ComicFuel Break #1: Not A Delicious Chocolate Cake” by Ven. Robina Courtin (12:40) Question 1: Inking (24:40) #ComicFuel Break #2: “Growing A Tree” by Jason Brubaker (28:17) Question 2 & 3 Style (51:46) Patreon Ad (52:12) Questions 4: Backgrounds (54:58) #ComicFuel Break #3: “Can’t Live Without Art” by John Spencer (1:00:00) Show Closing - Race & Equity in the Comics Industry (01:23:00) How can you, yes you, contribute to the comic fuel cause? (01:26:00) Show Outro Questions answered in this episode (jump-to specific question times listed below) Josh: What are some good resources to improve your digital inking? I feel like I know the basics, so beginner books aren't really teaching me anything new. I'm completely self taught, and would love to learn some subtly with my inks. Maya: How do comic artists deal with improvements in their style while making a comic book? Should a comic artist keep a consistent style? If so, how much should one practice style before starting to make comics? Michael, Poland: What are the elements of style of particular artists if I want to use their style in my own work? I usually think of such elements as: the coloring method used (with computer or water colors), shading, …. but what is it that distinguishes the one from the other? There are general groups of artists (e.g. European, Asian, …) who have similar style - how come they can be grouped - what is the key? Jasmine: How often would you focus on comic backgrounds? Are details like that important? Thanks to this week's cohosts! Ulises Farinas His website Buño Amazing Forest Judge Dredd Lucy Bellwood lucybellwood.com lucybellwood.tumblr.com Lucy's Patreon facebook.com/baggywrinkles @LuBellWoo (Twitter/Instagram) And people can pre-order my new book as a softcover through Amazon here or get the hardcover directly from me here. Songs Used Patreon Info Segment:“Story To Fall Through” by Dr. Turtle, used under CC BY / Desaturated from original Intro & Outro Songs:“Unexpected Hoedown In Bagging Area” by Dr. Turtle, used under CC BY / Desaturated from original #Comic/Audio Fuel Segments

Holy MOLY, what a whirlwind of amazingness it has been in the time between the release of episode 1 of Comic Fuel and Episode 2! We have had a thousand people download and listen to the episode and I have enough questions that I have to wait for another four episodes before I can put out another call for questions. Wow. In this episode, episode 2, we'll discuss project management, the comic creation process, coloring comics, penciling comics, and hosting comics online. The questions came from places like Ireland, India, Brazil, California, and Indiana. For legit #comicfuel we'll hear about why we do art from Stephen McCranie, transitioning into fame and what is at the core of what artistry is really about from "How I Met Your Mother" actor Josh Radnor, and we'll also hear about the art of really listening by famed audio producer Chris Watson. Questions answered in this episode (jump-to specific question times listed below) How many pages should a comic issue be to be printed? How long would it take to make a comic by yourself; scripting, storyboarding, art and lettering; and self publish it? How do you keep up momentum on making comics? How long does it take for a comic book artist to make a comic book? What is the step-by-step process I should go through to choose colors that will look good? What kind of colors can i use? Am I just not being patient enough with myself, or am I trying to fit too much, too zoomed out, into one panel? What websites are best for starting to post a webcomic? Another big announcement is that I spent a lot of time this month creating the Comic Fuel Podcast Wiki (http://comicfuel.wikidot.com/) which will serve as a repository for all questions, notes, and links that are mentioned in the show. Check it out. It took me FOREVER to make, but I'm really proud of it. The show notes for Episode 2 are at: http://comicfuel.wikidot.com/wiki:episode-2 Jump times to go to different parts of the podcast: (00:00) Show Opener (00:44) Show Introduction (06:43) #ComicFuel Break #1: Chris Watson on The Art of Listening (14:25) Question 1: Project Management Question 1 from Kevin in Eire: How do you keep up momentum on making comics? I make a lot of progress when i take a class or a mooc, but when it’s over I feel a bit like OK where to next? (22:55) #ComicFuel Break #2: Stephen McCranie Asking Why We Do Art (31:55) Questions 2, 3, & 4: Comic Creation Process Overview Question 2 from Anjali in Bangalore, India: How long would it take to make a comic by yourself; scripting, storyboarding, art and lettering; and self publish it? Question 3 from Nate in Brazil: As an independent artist who primarily works with digital comics, I'm interested in publishing my material, but I'm afraid the format won't translate as well, and I'll need to cut many pages from chapters so it could fit into what the market deems ideal for print. How many pages should a comic issue be to be printed? Question 5 from Andrew: How long does it take for a comic book artist to make a comic book? (40:40) #ComicFuel Break #3: Josh Radnor Talking About Transitioning as an Artist (44:30) Questions 5 & 6: Coloring Question 5 from Alan: If I have an uncolored comic page, what is the step-by-step process I should go through to choose colors that will look good? Question 6 from Anonymous: I am not professional in using coloring applications like photoshop and gimp If i 'd like to do it manually, what is your advice to me, what is kind of colors can i use? (51:13) Patreon Ad: Spotlight on Scott Bachman (53:58) Question 7: Penciling Kiana, Indiana: So, I adore sketching pretty much everything, It's what I spend the majority of my time doing! Although, when I attempted to begin penciling my comic, I found it to be tedious and frustrating? It seems that whatever I try to draw ends up too small to look nice or have any detail.

I was staring angrily at my computer screen. My final in my advanced composition class was due, and I was hours later in the process than I thought I would be at the time. My phone rang. On the other end was the excited voice of my younger sister who had just graduated from high school and was making her way slowly through her freshman year. I was starting my second year as a graphic design major and was struggling to take care of myself. "Patrick! You'll never guess what I discovered today!" I was annoyed at the sound of her voice. Mostly I was agitated at being behind on my assignment and was only thinking about how quickly I could get off of the phone with her. "Yeah, what exactly did you discover?" I grumbled into my bulky Nokia cell phone (it was 2004). "I'm an artist! I just took an elective art class and I absolutely loved it! I'm an artist like you!" I choked at the sound of this. How could she think that she was an artist after taking just one class? I had been trying to become an artist since I was ten and here was my 19 year old sister claiming that she was an artist after only one day. "Well, that's great sis. You know though, you aren't a real artist." "W-what...?" "You might be able to come to be one someday, but right now you are just thinking about becoming one. It takes years to become a real artist." There was a silence on the other end of the phone. "Well, I think that I'm a real artist..." Her voice quivered on the other end of the line. "That's insulting. I've been working to become an artist for over a decade. It is insulting to me that you feel like you could just be like me after one day..." More silence. "W-why are you so mean?!" She yelled into the phone crying. "Look, it's just insulting for me to think of you as an arti-" Before I could finish I heard a 'click' of a dead phone line as the phone went dead. For several minutes I stared, angrily, at my computer screen. I felt righteous and annoyed simultaneously. How could she think she was an artist? I sat there for another 15 minutes, then  I bowed my head in shame. By telling my sister she wasn't an artist I had become all of the people that had told me I wasn't an artist as I was forming my perception of myself. I tried to call her back but she wouldn't pick up the phone. It's ok, we get along now. Mostly :) As I became filled with shame, I equally became filled with resolve. I wasn't ever going to tell someone that they weren't an artist ever again. I had to break the cycle. I was a person that had to fight against that judgemental cruelty from other "artists" ever since I decided I wanted to become one, and now I had become one of those cruel, arrogant, artists. I vowed then and there to not only never again tell someone that they weren't an artist, I vowed to go one step further and go out of my way to encourage artistry in others. ... That happened to me about 11 years ago. In a lot of ways that story is exactly where the "How To Make A Comic Book" MOOC came from. When I received the $10k from Coursera to design the course there was a lot of suggestion that the course was to be more technical. I knew though that, especially when working with new artists, the emphasis has to be on encouragement and safety to pursue trying new things. This podcast, the #comicfuel podcast, is all about embracing the sentiment of encouraging artists to think about the important things in their practice (happiness, harmony, and balance). Each month I will be answering questions submitted to me by the students in the "How To Make A Comic Book" MOOC. This is the first #ComicFuel podcast. I'd like to dedicate it to my sister. Jump times to go to different parts of the podcast: 00:00 – Pre-Show Patreon Ad 00:39 – Show Opener 01:21 – Show Introduction 12:07 – Jared Cullum On His Return To Art 17:03 – Question 1: Scaling Work Matt, Canada: Every instructional book I read is geared towards m...

If you haven't figured it out already, we here at MakingComics.com love spreading knowledge to comic artists of all ages and levels. We enjoy it so much that recently we teamed up with Coursera and High Tech High to create a free (yes, free!) Massive Open Online Course (aka MOOC) about how to make comics. It is designed by our CEO Patrick Yurick to be a six week course to guide you through everything from scripting to thumbnailing to penciling and inking. To really push it over the top, we had discussions with amazing minds and talents in the comics industry, such as Mark Waid, Eric Shanower, and Caleb Cleveland. In this Gutter Talk episode, we are releasing the audio from the first three weeks of the How to Make a Comic Book MOOC. The course itself is video based so when you sign up to take the course, you'll be able to visually take in the knowledge. However, we thought it would be a great idea to publish the audio for you, the podcast listener, so you can also benefit from the information found in the course. We definitely urge you to take the course online because a lot can be gained from video tutorials, as well. Plus, the amount of love put in to this course by Patrick and others is inspiring to see as well as hear. However, before we play those audio clips, Adam and Patrick sit down to discuss the cool things they have going on in their lives, from audio projects to moving to working at MIT in Boston. This is followed up with some of our awesome Patreon pledgelings (totally made up word) calling in to answer questions and be in the spotlight. These are just some of the cool Patreon perks and rewards of helping us at Making Comics continue to spread the good word on comics. And fair warning, things get a little silly sometimes, as is wont to do whenever Adam and Patrick get together. Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transition Song: Prelude No. 20 by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://chriszabriskie.com/preludes/ Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/ More Links: Patreon How to Make a Comic MOOC

Once again, the Making Comics crew invades Wondercon and this year's raid was pretty epic. Ok, maybe epic is overstating things and perhaps overused but it sure as heck felt that way. Why did it feel that way? Because this year we not only had our standard Gutter Talk panel but we partnered up with high school students from the Graphic Novel Project at High Tech High in Chula Vista, CA, too. To put the proverbial cherry on top, we even had a table in a prime location on the floor. If you're not familiar with the Graphic Novel Project, it's an after school student volunteer program that is designed to teach students the ins and outs of making a comic, from conceptualization to production to even the business side of marketing and selling the product. What made it really special was that the students got to participate in this year's Gutter Talk panel. Imagine being a 15 year old student sitting up on stage at one of the more major comic conventions in the country and talking about yourself and the work you put into the project. Those opportunities don't come along all that often and as you'll hear in this episode, the students understand this. In this Gutter Talk episode, Adam narrates the way through the various topics. On the panel along with the students is the Making Comics CEO and head elf, Patrick Yurick, his wife and our education guru, Kay Flewelling, and the student mentor and Making Comics editor-in-chief Kevin Cullen. We cover a wide range of topics from an artist's diet to the transformation from a single comic into a collection of comics to how and why the group shrank from thirteen students to five. And no, it wasn't because they ate the weak ones.   Click the image below to see a photo gallery from the con: https://goo.gl/photos/FrTstWUdLV1ZX6z58   Here is the powerpoint used during the presentation: We presented student testimonials from the "How To Make A Comic Book" massive open online course during the panel presentation. Here is the final cut of the student presentations: Here are the full videos from each of the students in the MOOC: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In society, the word "expert" is bandied about way too much. Rarely do you find the person it is referencing is actually an expert, someone with a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of a particular subject or skill. And, if humility is in play, that person wouldn't call themselves an expert, either. Then there are nerds, or those that are highly focused on a particular subject or skill, and boy, do they seem to be everywhere. Most nerds would think they are experts but any expert would say they're not. In today's Making Comics Gutter Talk episode, Adam is joined by one of the leading experts- uh, nerds- no, great minds in the field of writing about and analyzing comics, Glen Weldon. He has written several books about comics already, including "Superman: The Unauthorized Biography," so we're pretty sure he knows a thing or two about a thing or two. It also helps that he's a weekly contributor to NPR's Monkey See about all things comics and pop-culture. A majority of the ground covered by Adam and Glen in this Gutter Talk episode has to do with Glen's book that was recently published by Simon and Schuster called "The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture." Topics included whether or not there actually is a singular Batman or if everyone's Batman is the right Batman, as well as how nerd-dom has simply become part of the current culture, sports included. Who knew Adam was into sports cosplay? As a side note, if you happen to be at Wondercon the weekend this episode drops, please be sure to check out the Making Comics Graphic Novel Project table at DL-56. To top it off, we have a panel on Saturday at 11am in room 515A. Don't miss it! But if you do, no worries. The panel will be released as a podcast in April. Glen's Links: NPR Bio (@ghweldon) The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of the Nerd Culture More books by Glen Pop Culture Happy Hour Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

We here at Making Comics take pride in the type of things we present to you, the artist and comic creator, from the articles to the tutorials to even our amazing Underdog community. The same goes for the guests we are lucky enough to get on the Gutter Talk podcast. Every guest we've had on the podcast and also the panels we've had at conventions has been a treat and an honor to have on the show. We really consider ourselves extremely lucky to be able to gain insight and knowledge on how they perform and perfect their craft. This Gutter Talk episode continues that rich tradition in a major way. In today's episode, Adam is joined by Graham Annable, the co-director of the Academy Award nominated movie, The Boxtrolls, as well as the amazing animator and artist behind Grickle. One of the more gracious guests we've had on the Gutter Talk podcast, the conversations were open windows into Graham's thought processes as not just the great artist he is but also what it takes to be a director, even if a co-director, on a major stop-motion picture. The topics ranged from the difficulties and processes of what it's like to be an effects artist on such an intricate movie (18 months to do a sub-two minute ballroom dance scene?!) to finding the time to create the Grickle shorts while still maintaining a happy, healthy family. It's not easy but it appears Graham has found his groove. And yet he still manages to find ways to challenge himself within the craft of creating extraordinary art. Graham's Links: Graham's site (@grickle) YouTube Grickle page Grickle books The Boxtrolls Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

The ultimate goal of MakingComics.com and our website is to provide an extensive educational resource for those that want to, simply put, make comics. These individuals range not just in age, from pre-teens to adults, but also in experience, from those who are just starting out to those that are looking to learn something new to help push their artistic process and ventures to new levels. We even have the testimonials to prove how useful and effective the articles on our site have been to artists. Still, we strive to do more for the artistic community than just post articles online. It's why we have the Underdog community and these Gutter Talk podcasts. Now we have, in conjunction with Coursera and also the High Tech High Graduate School of Education, a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) that is video based in nature. You can find that course by clicking here. In this Gutter Talk episode, Adam sits down with the MakingComics.com enigmatic, benevolent, and oft-times well-dressed leader to discuss the How To Make a Comics MOOC more in depth. In this talk Adam and Patrick give you an idea of how the course came about, the struggles and joys of putting the course together, and what we at MakingComics.com hope you get out of it. In other words, when you're big and famous for your art, remember the little people. How to Make a Comic MOOC Our Links: Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The MakingComics.com headquarters is located in beautiful San Diego. Saying the Making Comics Gutter Talk podcast took a winter break seems somewhat ridiculous, mostly because winter does not really exist in San Diego. Still, that's exactly what happened and now the podcast is back. Well, sort of. In this episode, we return to the Coffee Table Comics podcast, the new-ish podcast by artist and creator Jason Brubaker. If you're not familiar with his work, you really should be. He has put out such work as reMIND and his most current comic Sithrah. This particular episode is the second half of a fantastic conversation between Jason and his guests. On the show is Gutter Talk alumni, Daniel Warren Johnson, the creator of the stupendous comic Space Mullet, and also Royden Lepp, the creator of another amazing comic called Rust. Their Links: Jason's Patreon site (@Jason_Brubaker) Sithrah reMIND Daniel's site (@danielwarrenart) Space-Mullet Royden's site (@RoydenLepp) Rust Our Links: Twitter Facebook Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It's the final Making Comics Gutter Talk episode of the year, our second year here with MakingComics.com, and we couldn't be more excited about this episode. While it is not your standard Gutter Talk podcast you've all come to know and love, this is something equally as cool. Recently we heard from Jason Brubaker, creator of Sithrah and reMIND, and he mentioned how he's been working on new podcasts to release to the world. He was also curious if we wanted to release them in the Gutter Talk timeline alongside his own posts. Clearly this was a no-brainer. In this first episode Jason sits down with two amazing comic creators in a roundtable discussion. His guests are Royden Lepp, creator of the comic Rust, and Daniel Warren Johnson, both Gutter Talk alumni and creator of Space-Mullet.  

Over the last two years, the Making Comics Gutter Talk podcast has been fortunate enough to speak to amazing artists from international locations such as Canada, Australia, and Denmark. In today's episode, we place a checkmark next to Ireland as Adam sits down with Irish writer and filmmaker James Mulholland. It was borderline middle of the night for James at the time of the conversation but a great conversation was had. The episode begins with some political soapboxing but we promise, it soon dives into comics and the arts, and also the love James has for the city of Orlando, Florida. Another topic that comes up is the late start James got when getting into comics. It's just more proof that there is no single path an individual must take to become a comic artist. One of these days the MakingComics.com crew will travel abroad to spread the good word in person. There's a reason the word "worldwide" is in our name. But until then, our next best option is to speak to folks outside of the United States through the Gutter Talk podcast. Sure, email works, too, but that's just not nearly as much fun as speaking to someone online in person-ish. It really is the next best thing. You can take our word for it but we highly advise you listen to this episode with James Mulholland, and other podcasts, for yourself. James's Links: James's Facebook page & Twitter: @James_Mul1990 Short stories The Disease High Noon Rising & Facebook page Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

As we end Year Two for both MakingComics.com and the Gutter Talk podcast, we're pretty darn excited and grateful for how far we've come and where we're heading. We have a lot of big plans for the future but before we get too ahead of ourselves, let's deal with where we currently are. In today's Gutter Talk episode, Adam sits down with artist and creator, Ian McGinty, to discuss everything from creating music in his teens to creating comics in his twenties and beyond, and also how the two can sometimes require the same process. It's also pretty cool and inspiring to see and hear how far Ian has come since his high school days when he began to take comics seriously. While he explains how this came at the expense of something else, the moral is that sometimes the sacrifice is worth the reward. Ian's recent bouts of success are proof of that. Ian's Links: Ian's site (@ianmcginty) Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

It's not very often you meet someone that makes it difficult to distinguish if you're talking to yourself or another person all together. However, in this Making Comics Gutter Talk episode with artist and creator Joe Badon, it seems that's exactly what happened; Adam has met his soul-twin and he's a damn fine artist. And not only is he an artist in the drawing sense, but Joe is also an artist in the musical sense. Today's episode opens with a song called "Monster Zero" from Joe's band The Band That Wouldn't Die. It's a bit experimental but we dig it just the same. It's perfect to draw or write to, if not both. This episode is yet another strong example of why being around like-minded peers in a community is an important part of not just becoming an artist but being one, as well. There's always a certain comfort level during the growing process in knowing not only are you not alone but you're more alike with others than you may have originally thought. Your ideas, concerns, goals, and sometimes even the same dreams. When you meet someone with these things, you know you're in for a fantastic conversation. Download this episode and listen in as Adam is joined by Joe to discuss all things comics. And politics. And other random tangents that seem to happen in Gutter Talk podcasts on a regular basis. By this time, though, you should just be used to it, right? Joe's Links: Joe's site (@joebadon) Kickstarter for "The Man With Ten Thousand Eyes" Our Links: Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org  

It seems the Making Comics Gutter Talk podcast has its first ritual and we couldn't ask for a better one. You see, last year for Halloween we opened the show with a Vincent Price reading of a classic Edgar Allan Poe tale, which was followed by a fantastic talk with one of the masters in the horror movie and comic genre, Stephen R. Bissette. We had so much fun putting that podcast out that we decided it was imperative this become a regular thing. So we made that happen. You're welcome. Last year we opened with Vincent Price masterfully reading Poe's "The Raven." This year we have Vincent Price reading Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart." While there may be some who can read a Poe story out loud, not many can give it the respect and justice it deserves like Vincent Price. Following that Adam is joined again by Stephen Bissette to discuss what he's been up to the last year, and as it turns out, he's quite the busy guy. In the conversation they discuss what is needed to create a top-notch horror story, whether it's in the comic form or otherwise. Stephen brought up what it was like to work with the amazing Alan Moore and how he crafted scripts for artists to work with. Needless to say, mind = blown. So put your scary mask on and download this episode with Stephen Bissette. When you're done listening, the amount of tricks and treats in your arsenal will be all the candy you'll need. You know, until next Halloween when we get to do this again. Stephen's Links: SpongeBob Comic #49 Preview Twitter: @SRBissette Our Links: Vincent Price / The Tell Tale Heart, Act I: Vincent Price / The Tell Tale Heart, Act II: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org Maniacal Witches Laugh: Recorded by Mike Koenig / http://soundbible.com/1129-Maniacal-Witches-Laugh.html / License: Attribution 3.0

Oh, to be young again! Or just young, period. However, don't let the not-quite-ripe age of 21 fool you when it comes to Vincent Kings, an up and coming artist in the Los Angeles area. He may have the energy of a young buck but he speaks with the depth and wisdom of a wise, old man that has been in the game for ages. In today's Making Comics Gutter Talk episode, Vincent travels down to San Diego and over to Adam's studio (and let's be honest here, it's really just his living room) to talk about what it takes to maintain pace and structure as an artist. You'll also get to hear Vincent discuss some rules and guidelines he does his best to follow in order to aid in not just his successes now but the successes of his future. Don't get Vincent wrong, though. He fully understands he has a long way to go before he feels comfortable being the artist he seeks to be, even if that doesn't happen until his last dying breath. Still, when you hear him speak about his process in both thought and action when it comes to art, you, too, will also question the accuracy of his stated age. Most of all, though, you will find yourself inspired enough to adopt his rules and practice them yourself. Vincent's Links: Vincent's site (@VinMakesComics) Vincent's Tumblr page Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

Nearly five months ago, we released what we thought was the last of the Making Comics Gutter Talk re-issue podcasts. For those not familiar with the backstory, at one time, this great site was run by Jason Brubaker, creator of Sithrah and reMIND. However, as Jason's work and home life began to increase with success and responsibilities, both the site and podcasts became a responsibility he didn't feel comfortable not putting his all into. He subsequently handed the reigns to Patrick Yurick near the end of 2013 and, well, the journey has been interesting since then, to say the least. A new podcast and podcast host joined the ranks. Still, people clamored for Jason's old podcasts, and rightly so. The guests and conversations were a great mix of depth and joy, and every episode was a learning tool. After contacting Jason, he agreed to let us re-release the old podcasts until they ran out. Earlier this year, towards the end of May, we thought we had reached that point. However, what was previously released was only Part 1. If you have not heard Part 1 yet, click here. Jason let us know he still had the second half but it needed some edits. Towards the end of this past summer, Jason was able to find the time in his busy schedule to complete those edits. He even included a personal message at the end of the episode so make sure you listen all the way through. Their Links: Jason's site (@Jason_Brubaker) ... Sithrah & reMIND & Patreon Ethan's site (@enicolle) ... Axe Cop Doug's site (@ ... Veggietales Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org

It's not often we at the Making Comics Gutter Talk podcast get an Emmy Award winning artist on the show. Of course that's not why we were solely excited to have Dean Haspiel on but we'd be lying if we said it didn't add to that excitement. In this Gutter Talk episode, Adam picks Dean's brain to discuss all things art and comics. Well, maybe not all things. There were a few tangents but it was all art related. Sort of. Early on Adam and Dean discuss the art experience, what it's like to encounter art in a way you neither expected nor experienced in the past. Sometimes it's the challenge that makes art an emotional experience and those emotions can range from joy to confusion to sometimes anger. These feelings, however, only confirm the effectiveness of the art the viewer is visually taking in. Another important topic of discussion was what makes a story unique and universal at the same time. In Dean's soon-to-be released graphic novel, Beef With Tomato, he exuded the heart and essence of New York City. If you've been to New York City, you'll surely find something familiar in the book. If you haven't, the book will make you realize even the ugly side of the city can be beautiful. Because Dean is New York City through and through, he's able to connect the reader to the city with ease, thereby creating that unique and universal tone. We know this is a longer than usual episode but we're confident the next almost two hours with Dean Haspiel will be well spent. Dean's Links: Dean's site (@deanhaspiel) The Fox (w/ Mark Waid) Trip City Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

Some of you may be old or wise enough to remember a heavy metal band called Twisted Sister. Back when MTV used to play music, they had a video out for one their popular songs, "We're Not Gonna Take It" and in this video, the opening montage starts with an angry father berating his young teen for playing rock and roll on his guitar. At the end of his tirade, he angrily asks, "What do you want to do with your life?" The kid looks at him with a grin and that patent heavy metal glare and says, "I wanna rock." The reason for the trip down memory lane is because at the end of this Gutter Talk interview with artist and musician Jeffrey Burandt, we could picture little Jeffrey Burandt saying that classic line but following it up with, "And make comics, too." Join Adam and Jef as they turn it up to 11 and discuss not just the depths of art but the depth of life, too. As the previous 81 episodes will attest, we all encounter hurdles and mountains in our quest to fill our lives with creative endeavors, big or small. While there are better ways of coping than others, to say there is only one way to cope would be a very tough thing to sell. There are so many things we can learn from others and we hope you take from these podcasts not just the knowledge of comic creation but also some mechanisms your peers have put in place to help them as they navigate through this wacky thing called life as an artist. Jef's Links: Odd Schnozz site (@Jef_UK) Americans UK Our Links: Intro song: "Phenomena-na" by Americans UK (with permission from Jeffrey Burandt) Outro-outro song: Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad Theme (with permission from Jeffrey Burandt) Transitions: Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

We here at the Making Comics Gutter Talk podcast are not promoting anarchy. Still, as you'll hear in today's podcast with Chris Hunt, maybe those in charge don't know what they're doing. This doesn't mean start a riot but as Chris found out and explained, sometimes the adults get it wrong, like when he was told he'll never be able to read at an early age, for example. He questioned that assessment and clearly overcame that obstacle, not letting others determine his path and accomplishments in life. In the world of art and comics, this fortitude and resolve will come in handy. In fact, it already has. In this episode, Adam talks to Chris about overcoming hurdles like a champ, as well as what it's like to be old school in a new school world. The term Luddite even comes up a few times. Still, one of the more inspiring things you'll hear in today's episode is Chris's drive to pursue a career and life he wants and seemingly will get. After you listen to this episode, we're pretty sure you'll be hardpressed to disagree. And just like jury duty, make it a civic responsibility to go to our iTunes page and give the Gutter Talk podcast a rating and review. We have no authority to fine you or place you in a holding cell for a few days because you didn't rate or review the podcast. Still, we wouldn't suggest it. Chris's Links: Chris's site (@lazzyfair) Carver: A Paris Story Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

Like a story to tell, everyone has a journey to take in life. For some, that journey is quick. For others, it's a lifelong voyage. And then there are those whose journey is right on time. Never, though, is it what we expect. In today's Making Comics Gutter Talk episode, Adam sits down with artist, game developer, and journeyman, John Mueller. John is the creator of the dystopian series, OINK, and as of this episode's release will have six more days to hit stretch goals in the Kickstarter project. That's right, stretch goals. John's Kickstarter project has hit its initial goal and now comes all the fun stuff. Listen in as John and Adam talk about the journey not only his OINK project has been on but the overall journey John has been on as an artist. His path through the gaming world provides a unique insight into storytelling and world building when it comes to the gaming world versus graphic novels. Plus, there's a drive inside John that is very inspiring, as he is the type of individual that goes out and gets what he wants in life, and does so seemingly in a very laid-back manner. There's a lot to learn from in this episode. Please be sure to head over to iTunes and give the Gutter Talk podcast some love, both with stars and with words. We really do appreciate it and it goes a long way in getting not just the Gutter Talk podcast a piece of the spotlight but also Making Comics as a whole. John's Links: John's site (@johnmuellerart) OINK Kickstarter project Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

There is nothing easy about making comics, whether it's the art or the storytelling. Just flipping through the first few pages of your favorite story can be enough to intimidate even the hardiest of the artists out there. It really does take a fair amount of chutzpah to want to make comics. But fear not, for there are things out there that may not make it easy for you but can, if nothing else, make it easier. And that's why we at Making Comics were excited to have assembled this group of people ranging from artists to editors, if not both, for the live Gutter Talk panel at this year's Comic Con in San Diego, because we just had a feeling that they would be the ones to provide both inspiration and very useful knowledge. Moderated by the Gutter Talk podcast host Adam Greenfield, the panel consisted of Mark Waid, writer of Daredevil and most recently the Archie comics, Christy Blanch, an educator and also writer for The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood, Chris Miskiewicz, the writer for Thomas Alsop, Rachel Dukes, creator of Frankie Comics, and Calista Brill, a senior editor with First Second Books. See what we mean? This panel was destined to be amazing and it certainly lived up to the billing. Download or stream the show and you'll see what we're talking about. Please also be sure to head over to iTunes and give us a rating and review. What you gain from doing this is tenfold compared to what we get out of it, and this is why we are doing what we are doing. From the new site to the future plans we have in store for everyone, it all becomes more viable when we become more visible. Music: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

**tap tap tap** Is this thing on? Yeah? You can hear me? Ok, good. Hi, everyone. Adam here. Yes, your host. I know it's been a few weeks but if you couldn't tell, I've been a little busy. Also, usually this post is written in 3rd person but this is a bit of a special post so I'm going to do that thing in 1st person, if you all don't mind. Who knows? Maybe this will become a trend. Unless you've been under a rock or are new to us, I say either glad to see you're free or welcome to the site, whichever suits your situation. Either way, you probably know by now that we had a live Gutter Talk panel at this year's San Diego Comic Con and from what I remember, it was pretty great. It's weird once you get up there and get on a roll. You sort of black out and the next thing you know a Comic Con employee is holding up a STOP sign. Where the heck did that 50 minutes go?! From what I do remember, though, it was a pretty great panel. Just to be sure my memories were right, tonight I went back and listened. I stand corrected; it was an amazing panel. Everyone on there had great answers to the questions and made the panel a lot of fun. It was extremely inspirational and so far the highlight of my year. What I want to share with you here is just a quick thing I pieced together, partly to dust off the microphones because it's been a little while, but really because before I release the full panel in a couple weeks I want to give you a brief idea of some of the fun you'll get to hear soon. l. to r. Mark Waid, Adam Greenfield, Christina Blanch, Chris Miskiewicz, Rachel Dukes, Calista Brill Music: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In 1988, a wildly talented musician named Bobby McFerrin released a song titled "Don't Worry, Be Happy." For those of us who remember this song, it was certainly catchy enough to often catch yourself whistling while walking to the bus stop. And yet who knew in the end just how useful those words would be if only we had really taken them to heart? Of course, easier said than done, but it sure would've been nice to not worry. That said, we're artists. Who are we kidding? And that's what makes this Gutter Talk episode with Rachel Dukes, artist and creator of Frankie Comics, so great. It's further confirmation that worrying as a young, budding artist just trying to get their bearing in this ocean of art, let alone in the lake of comics, is actually normal. It's even proof that yes, you can outgrow the worst of it. Now if only we had time machines.... Download the podcast and listen in as Adam and Rachel discuss why see-through rulers are better than rulers you can't see through, her Kickstarter project for Frankie Comics, and some of the hurtles she encountered as a kid when opportunities presented themselves. Also, be sure you are heading over to iTunes to give us a review and a rating. It'll be the easiest thing you do all day today. We promise. Then tell your friends to give the podcast a review and a rating. Then tell them to tell their friends to- well, you see where we're going with this. Rachel's Links: Rachel's site (@MixtapeComics) Frankie Comics Kickstarter for Frankie Comics Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

Every week on the Making Comics Gutter Talk podcast we do our best to make sure we bring you guests with wide ranges of experience and knowledge. Some guests in the past only recently made their foray into comic creation and some are, well, Mark Waid and Stephen Bissette. However, one topic that doesn't come up as Adam would like sometimes is the amount of power an artist has in not just their skills but their talent. This week's Gutter Talk guest, though, Marcus Kwame Anderson, is well aware of just how much power he has with his art. As a seemingly jack of all creative trades, Marcus uses his art and comics to not just please himself and consumers but to also make a statement. As you'll hear, he has found out just how much positive change he can make. He hasn't stopped trying since. In this episode you'll also hear some big news in the intro regarding the future of Gutter Talk. Ok, that sounds a little more ominous than intended but really, it's all good. Just download, listen, and everything will be just fine. Like with every post, we again want to make a plea to ask for your ratings and reviews on iTunes. Please take a few minutes and head on over to our page to give the Gutter Talk podcast a rating and review. We really do appreciate not just the effort but the love, too. It means the world to not just the host, Adam, but to the rest of us at MakingComics.com. Marcus's Links: Marcus's site (@marcuskwame) Snow Daze EastRaven Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org

After months and months of threatening to redesign the site, we did it. We finally did it! And it was totally worth it. That's why we at MakingComics.com thought a dedicated Gutter Talk podcast to discuss the features and efforts and excitement of the staff would be a fantastic episode. We think this will be worth it to you, too. In this Gutter Talk episode you will hear from Patrick Yurick, Mark Luetke, Kevin Cullen, Marisa Brenizer, Michael Yakutis, and your loving host, Adam Greenfield. Each of them will discuss the work and dedication it took to create the site, as well as some of their favorite parts. It even ends on a warm and fuzzy note. Who doesn't like warm and fuzzy endings? Actually, don't answer that. Just download the podcast and you'll feel what we mean. While you're listening to the podcast, we promise not to be upset if you step away from the site and head over to our iTunes page to give us a rating and review. Of course, that is if you give us a positive rating and review. If you don't, we'll track you down and draw a sad comic on your forehead using a Sharpie. Don't tempt us. Just do yourself and favor and show us some love on iTunes. We promise it'll be painless and you may even feel good about yourself, yet another warm and fuzzy feeling this podcast provides to you, the listener. Links: Patrick's site & Hipster Picnic (@patrickyurick) Mark's site, Instagram, and blog (@2816monument) Adam's site (@MC_GutterTalk, @SDGreeny) Segment Music: Patrick: Elle va au Japon by Nic Bommarito is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License (http://freemusicarchive.org) Mark: Still Resting Your Eyes by Nic Bommarito is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License (http://freemusicarchive.org) Kevin: Apace (Single Edit) by Nic Bommarito is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License (http://freemusicarchive.org) Marisa: Once A Freak, Always A Freak by Nic Bommarito is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License (http://freemusicarchive.org) Michael: Braintree by Nic Bommarito is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License (http://freemusicarchive.org) Adam: Plant Food by Nic Bommarito is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License (http://freemusicarchive.org) Intro: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Would you uproot your entire family and history to move for a job, even if that job was in comics? This isn't an easy question to answer if those roots are deep underground and have been for a while. In this Gutter Talk episode, Adam asks his guest, artist and writer, Brian Shearer, this question. You'll just have to listen to the episode to get the answer but we promise it will be worth it. It usually is. But that's not all Adam and Brian talk about. We also discuss what it's like to draw professionally some of the comics you grew up with, the importance of starting and finishing projects, and also why sometimes statistics can be- well, again, no spoilers so you'll just have to download the episode and listen. While you're listening to the podcast, make sure you're checking out all the amazing things the new redesign of our site has to offer. Everything is comfortably laid out for you to navigate through in search of the article or podcast you need. Also be sure to join the Underdog community. We can't say enough what an awesome group of artists they are to be around. But before you do that, please be sure to head over to our Gutter Talk iTunes page and give us a rating and review. It really does help spread the word about us and what we're doing, and, well, it just makes us all feel fuzzy and warm inside. Brian's Links: Brian's site (@brian_shearer) William the Last Our Links: Intro & Outro Song: "RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Outro Song Behind Vocals: "Backed Vibes (clean)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Transitions: InceptionBrassHitMedium.wav: Herbert Boland / www.freesound.org Old Fashion Radio Jingle 2.wav: club sound / www.freesound.org