Courses
All of our different courses, whether held live, online, or on demand at any time of day, give you access to instruction from working industry professionals! Our instructors all have proven track records for excellence and great interest and aptitude for teaching.
Introduction to Writing Comics
Instructor: Paul Allor
Live6 Weeks
Learn how to craft a comic book story, create great characters, the ins and outs of the industry and tips for breaking in—from professional writer and editor Paul Allor.
Introduction to Comic Book Coloring
Instructor: Chris Sotomayor
Live6 Weeks
In this six-week course, pro colorist Chris Sotomayor teaches you all the necessary tools for coloring and using color as a storytelling device.
Comics Writing: Story Foundations & Development
Instructors: Andy Schmidt and Paul Allor
Your story starts here! Learn how to methodically build a story from the ground up, narrative structure, character building, and much more.
Comics Writing: Writing for a Visual Medium
Instructors: Andy Schmidt and Paul Allor
In the Foundations course, you learned how to build a story. In this course, you’ll learn how to develop any story for a visual medium. What is it about comics specifically, that’s going to effect how you tell your story? How do you script so that your artist will get the most out of your script–or just as importantly, that you don’t tie one of your artist’s drawing hands behind their back.
Comics Writing: Finishing a Script and Next Steps
Instructors: Andy Schmidt and Paul Allor
The most overlooked part of creative writing education is rewriting and what to do after your finished! Here, we’ve dedicated a course to reviewing your work, how to attack a rewrite to make sure that your work improves. Doing so without destroying the good work you’ve already done, and using a scalpel instead of a sledgehammer.
Introduction to Comic Book Writing Bundle
Instructors: Andy Schmidt and Paul Allor
If you’ve ever dreamt of writing your own comic or wanted to improve your existing skills – this class bundle is for you.
Coloring: Tools, Art Preparation and Flatting
Instructor: Chris Sotomayor
In our earliest coloring course, you’ll learn what tools are needed to color comics, how to use them for that purpose, what your art should look like and how to prep it for coloring.
Coloring: Color Theory and Application to Comics
Instructor: Chris Sotomayor
In this course, you’ll learn not just what color theory is, but how it applies to comics specifically. Comics are rarely just one illustration or image, they are comprised of multiple images on a page, that all have to have balance within themselves and with all the other images.
Coloring: Lighting & Rendering
Instructor: Chris Sotomayor
One of the most important aspects of comics coloring today is paying attention to and establishing light sources. That also means understanding how they affect the true color of objects and figures. Master color artist Chris Sotomayor has been rendering comics since the 1990s and was one of the pioneers in digital coloring. Now he’s going to teach you the best techniques in the book–a book that he wrote, by the way.
Coloring: Special Effects
Instructor: Chris Sotomayor
In this special micro-course, Chris Sotomayor teaches how to add on special effects to your colored pages. Special effects aren’t always necessary, but when you need one, or have the right place for one, they can really help a piece pop and sell the the page.
Introduction to Comic Book Coloring Bundle
Instructor: Chris Sotomayor
Learn how to color comics from a pro! This bundle contains a discounted price for the first three courses in our series to teach you how to color comics from the ground up! PLUS, you get the bonus course on Special Effects FOR FREE!
Comic Book Editing & Project Management
Instructor: Andy Schmidt
Find collaborators, manage budgets, timetables, bring the best out of your writers and artists, problem solve, and make a professional-level project!
Comics Writing: Story Arcs & Ongoing Series
Instructor: Fred Van Lente
Acclaimed comics writer Fred Van Lente takes you through the necessary steps to craft compelling story arcs and ongoing comic book narratives exactly like professional comic book writers do it.
Introduction to Young Adult and Middle Grade Storytelling
Instructor: Sarah Davidson
Young Adult and Middle Grade graphic novels are not only a booming industry, but also a great way to introduce younger readers to comics and ignite a love of reading. Creating comics for teens and tweens comes with its own set of challenges and standards, and Sarah is here to share her knowledge of the market with you.
Express Course: Starting a Freelance Comics Career
Instructor: Gamal Hennessy
Starting a freelance career is DAUNTING AS HECK! You’ve got to learn your craft, forge relationships, navigate the business aspects, and manage your time and money. These six detailed lessons cover a range of topics to help you navigate the intricacies of the comics industry!