Grab your favorite horror flick and the remote and pick a particularly suspenseful scene.  Can you create the same feeling of suspense and horror in panels?  By studying carefully and imitating what great directors have already done, you’re able to see what works — and can then incorporate what you know into your own work.

Homework for Artists and Writers:
Pick a scene (we suggest the “Cage Scene” from Jaws or the “Here’s Johnny! Scene” from The Shining.  You can use any scene you want, but using the same scenes as others will make it fun to compare.)  Using only the shots and dialogue that already exist in the movie, try to recreate the scene in comic format.

Extra Credit:
Try doing two different scenes by two different directors.  Notice how the directors portray horror and suspense differently and which you think applies more directly to your own comics.

Now that you’ve pushed yourself through a 24 hour comic, why not try a 15 minute comic?

Homework for Artists and Writers: Think of it a “gesture drawing” for comics. Take two pieces of letter sized copy paper. Fold them in half and staple to make an 8-page book. Set the timer for 15 minutes and get crackin’. It’ll have to be scribbly and fast to make the deadline so think fast and draw faster! Good Luck!

Extra Credit: Do another! Or three! Or get some friends together (even the ones that don’t draw) and a 12 pack of something watery and domestic and get everyone to try their hand.

References and Examples: Young American Comics presents: BUDGE COMIX: 1 and 2

You’re most likely already familiar with the 24 Hour Comic Challenge.  If you’ve never before taken the plunge, give it a shot this year!  If you’ve done it before, do it again!

Homework for Artists and Writers:
Take the 24 Hour Comic Challenge.  This year, artists and writers around the globe are participating this Saturday, October 20.  Get all of the info here.  This really is one of the most grueling things you’ll probably ever put yourself up to — and that’s what makes it so satisfying!  Good luck!

Juxtaposition is the act of putting two different elements together, to create a reaction or feeling in the reader, be it contrast, comparison, irony or something else.  You might have worked with a Random Plot Generator before.  But you probably have a great random plot generator right in your hall closet!  Pictionary cards can give you a great list of concepts and elements to incorporate into a short comic to exercise your improv skills.  

Homework for Artists and Writers:
Pull a card from a Pictionary deck and draw a one page comic that includes all 5 items on the card. They can have as little or as much importance in the comic as you like.  As a footnote to the comic or in your blog post, list the 5 items that had to be included.  Think about Juxtaposition as you combine unlikely elements.

Extra Credit:
Rock the Improv!!  Instead of using 5 items off of one card and thinking it through beforehand, pick one item off a card to start your story and draw a panel or two. Then pick another card at random and include an element from that card into your story. Continue for 2 pages.

How much can you say without words? Silent comics can be tough. Don’t rely on word balloons to tell your story and try to avoid sound effects, too. How does silence effect different types of stories (for instance, funny, serious , action, etc.)? When silent panels appear in a comic, the reader has to “read” the elements in the panel and causes them to examine the panel longer. While doing this exercise, focus on how you can use silent panels effectively within your own work.

Homework for Artists and Writers:

Draw or script a one or two page comic with absolutely no dialogue or sound effects.

Extra Credit:

After drawing your own silent comic, flip through some of your favorite comics, and pick a page with minimal dialogue. Can you translate that page to no dialogue and still make it tell the same story?

PS: Don’t forget to turn something in for YAC’s Lost Lunches, Crash!Boom!Bang! or both! Official deadline is today but we will be accepting entries all this week. Click here for more information and submission guidelines! or Email CoreyMarie with any questions.