Writers on Comics Scriptwriting, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Mark Salisbury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2002

The biggest names in comics scriptwriting talk candidly and frankly about their profession, their approach to writing and the comics industry as a whole.

Through a series of interviews, these luminaries in the comics field reveal the mechanics of writing for comics and, in the process, a great deal about themselves. Packed with personal information, contentious views and humorous anecdotes, this is both an exploration of the writer's craft and a who's who of the hottest comics' talent around today, for fans, professionals, would-be writers and for anyone who's ever wondered exactly how the writer's mind works.

Gathers together a supergroup of the best comics writers, including Todd McFarlane (Spawn), Garth Ennis (Preacher), Frank Miller (Dark Knight Returns, Sin City), Grant Morrison (Invisibles, JLA) and Neil Gaiman (Sandman), plus Kurt Busiek, Peter David, Chuck Dixon, Warren Ellis, Devin Grayson, Dan Jurgens, Joe Kelly, Jeph Loeb and Mark Waid, with extracts from the writers' original scripts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Insightful for professionals, mouth-watering for fans and wonderfully inspirational for wannabe scribes, roll on Volume Two! --Danny Graydon -- Amazon.co.uk Review by Danny Graydon

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Titan Books (December 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 184023069X
• ISBN-13: 978-1840230697
• Product Dimensions: 4.6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #482,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent round-up of top-notch talents, December 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Writers on Comics Scriptwriting, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

If you're looking for information about how to write comic book scripts, this book should be tops on your list. Through interviews with several bright stars on the comics scene, we are treated to a fairly in-depth treatment of how they work, how they got started, some of the problems they've faced, and more. Of particular interest are the answers to the questions about the "method" used by each of these writers to actually get their scripts down on paper. The discussion isn't limited to mere "plot-style" vs. "full-script style". The writers provided a detailed view of how they sit down and begin the task of writing stories in comic-book format -- from outlining, to thumbnail sketches, to actual scripting, the discussion on these and other topics is invaluable.

I admit that I haven't heard of some of the folks interviewed here, but I read every one, and can honestly say that there's something of value in every single interview. Interesting and insightful -- you won't be sorry!

5.0 out of 5 stars A look behind the curtain, July 8, 2011

By 

woodrow locksley - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Writers on Comics Scriptwriting, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

This is not just an excellent book for aspiring writers of comics but a grast look behind the curtain for comics fans like myself who have no interst in writing their own comics or comicswriting as a cearer.As in anyanthology some entries are more compelling than others but all are worth reading at least once.I wish the book were longer with more detailed interviews because the content is so good A must read for any serious fan of superhero mainstream comics.Now do a third volume featuring men like Crumb Clowes Ware Burns the Hernandez brothers and women like Lynda Barry and the artist behind Persopolis A great book this is also my review of Volume2 of the series

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative & Insightful, March 14, 2011

By 

Weston Locher "Author of Musings on Minutiae" (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Writers on Comics Scriptwriting, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down and in a matter of three days, I was staring at the blank last page just wishing for more.

This would prove an enjoyable read for any comics fan or anyone who is interested in taking a peek behind the curtain of the industry. All of the writers interviewed here (most of which are practically house hold names) share a lot of about themselves, how they broke into the industry, their influences, and what they'd still like to accomplish somewhere down the road.

If you write in the sci-fi field, there's definitely something to be learned from these masters of the sequential storytelling craft.

I tip my hat to the author, Mark Salisbury, for asking some great, thought-provoking questions to the folks he interviewed. Everything was compiled very well and was very engaging. I thank him showing the readers another side of the comics industry.

I found the whole thing very fascinating and look forward to getting my hands on volume 2.