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.
On Sale
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
On Sale
Advanced YA and MG Graphic Novels: Pitching and Publishing
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.
On Sale
Complete YA and MG Course Bundle
Instructor: Sarah Davidson
This bundle contains all classes from the Introduction to YA and MG Storytelling course and the Advanced YA and MG Graphic Novel course, covering everything from writing for teens and tweens to creating a professional pitch and getting your story idea published.
Introduction to Comic Book Art
Instructor: Jeff Johnson
Live6 Weeks
Join professional artist Jeff Johnson (Amazing Spider-Man, Way of the Rat, Green Lantern) as he teaches you everything you need to know about comic book storytelling in this dynamic six-week class.
Introduction to Lettering Comics
Instructor: Sean Rinehart
Live6 Weeks
Join pro Sean Rinehart for a six-week course on lettering and production work. There’s a lot more to lettering than digitally pasting words onto the page. Avoid the pitfalls of unprofessional lettering by training with Sean!
Professional Best Practices: The Art of Being a Working Comic Creator
Instructor: Andy Schmidt
Breaking into comics is one thing–actually creating a career in comics where publishers, collaborators, and editors want to work with you again and again is something else entirely. Instructor Andy Schmidt is a comics writer, editor and publisher. In all those roles, he’s found common traits that every creator with a career has in spades. This course shines a light on “the Intangibles” of being a working professional and gives you a head start on building a long and successful career.
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.
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.
Express Course Bundle: Comic Book Contracts Pack
Instructor: Gamal Hennessy
The concepts of intellectual property generate billions of dollars for companies like DC, Marvel, and Viz. If you want to benefit from the business and legal power of your comics, you need to understand what the publishers do. This bundle pack of our Community Pro Lessons will get you started by highlighting the basics of copyrights, trademarks, and the contracts that define them.
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!
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!
Express Course: The Business of Comics Fundamentals I
Instructor: Gamal Hennessy
If you don’t want to go back to school to get an MBA to run a comics business, then we’ve got a treat for you. For less than 1% of what you’d pay for that masters degree, you can get access to these six lessons from our COMMUNITY PRO LESSONS that will get you started with confidence! No weapon is greater than knowledge!
Express Course: Comic Book Marketing
Instructor: Gamal Hennessy
You’ve made your comic, but now comes the hard part–you’ve got to get the word out and sell it! Most creators are spending their lifetime honing their craft and creating incredible works of art and stories to blow the imagination, but very few of them are also spending their time learning the ins and outs of marketing. This starter guide will help get you on your way!
Express Course: How to Succeed with Creator-Owned Comics
Instructor: Gamal Hennessy
It’s very difficult to create and publish your own comics. But for many creators, owning their creations is essential to them. That doesn’t mean that you can’t get a publishing deal. In this Express course of COMMUNITY PRO LESSONS, you’ll get a handle on how creator-owned and creator-driven publishing works and how to make it work for you.
Express Course: How Comic Book Distribution Works I
Instructor: Gamal Hennessy
You could create the greatest comic ever known, but if you readers can’t get it, then they can’t enjoy it. The five COMMUNITY PRO LESSONS bundled here are taught by comics business consultant and attorney, Gamal Hennessy and introduce the different types of comic book distribution and how select the right one for your comic.
Express Course: How Comic Book Distribution Works II
Instructor: Gamal Hennessy
Comic book distribution goes far beyond your local comic book shop. The most successful creators leverage various distribution channels to maximize their reach. The five COMMUNITY PRO LESSONS bundled here are taught by comics business consultant and attorney, Gamal Hennessy and explain the different types of comic book distribution and how to take advantage of them for your comic.
Master Seminar with James Tynion IV: Team and Ensemble Writing
Instructor: James Tynion IV
James Tynion IV (Justice League, Detective Comics) is ready to divulge the secret tricks to writing dynamic, exciting team books!
Express Course: Understanding Comic Book Contracts I
Instructor: Gamal Hennessy
You have an amazing idea for a comic. You found the perfect team to realize your vision. You are excited to get started. But before anyone writes a script, draws a character or does anything else to bring this comic to life, you need to understand the legal realities of making comics. This starter guide will help you understand how to own and control the characters and stories you worked so hard to create.
Express Course: Understanding Comic Book Contracts II
Instructor: Gamal Hennessy
You understand copyrights. You understand trademarks. You know the basics of comic book contracts and what goes into a page rate. You are now ready for the next level. Different creative relationships require different types of contracts. This starter guide will help you understand which contract will be the best fit for your comic book project and help you understand what goes into each agreement.