On Friday April 4th two guest speakers who work in comics came to class discuss comics with us...

and they were....?

The Guest Lecture

    The lescture this past Friday turned out to be  a little more shambolic than any of us could have predicted. It started at what was it.. 3.30, 4? Well, slightly later in the day than 2. However,

when  it did finally start, it was pretty much worth it. The information departed to us by Jeremy Haun and B. Clay Moore was not just useful, but also entertaining.

Jeremy Haun is a comic book artist from Joplin, Missouri. He has illustrated a wide array of comics from Battle Hymn and Narcoleptic Sunday to Civil War: Iron Man/ Captain America and New Excalibur.  He has been drawing all his life and decided to make this his career when given an ultimatum at university to either keep up with the required work for his scholarship or continue drawing comics. He chose comics.

B. Clay Moore is a comic book author. Among his projects are the comics Hawaiian Dick, The Leading Man, and Seventy Six. He resides in Shawnee, Kansas where he occasionally decides to grace others with his presence, but unfortunately is terrible at following directions :p

Among the Main topics covered on Friday were the relationship between artist and author, the lifestyle of the typical comic book creator, and creative options for those in the business. 

The relationship between an artist and author working on the same book can range anywhere from impersonal to completely collaborative. Jeremy Haun related a few of his own experiences. Some authors were very interested in the way his art developed a story whereas others had no interest whatsoever in helping develop the art work. He spoke of some authors whom he would talk to nearly everyday in order to get their vision right. Others would reply to an email here or there and that was it.

As far as lifestyle goes, anyone focused on a career in comics should absolutely be prepared to work just as hard as at any other job. The difference is how much one would enjoy this line of work as opposed to any other job. Jeremy made sure to let us know that he draws at least 7 days a week, if not more, but he enjoys it. The bottom line is that one must develope one's work at all times in order to grow and change with the comic book world. B. Clay told us of the comic book authors who refuse to advance their style because changing the comics from the way they were 20 years ago would be leaving their comfort zone which they aren't willing to do. However, it is imperative that one is flexible in order to improve one's style.

The last bit of knowledge the two shared with us is that in order to make a name for yourself and ultimately be able to do what you really love, there with most likely be compromise involved. In order to write or illustrate the independent, original books, it is sometimes necessary to work on the more main stream books. Creative license won't be nearly as open, and it might not be as rewarding having to answer to multiple editors changing your work and ideas, but at the end of the day, you gotta do what you gotta do.