Customer Reviews

Writers on Comics Scriptwriting, Vol. 2

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Comic book writers are a special lot, even among creative types, fitting somewhere between performance artists and mimes in mainstream perception. Whereas Mark Salisbury's excellent first edition, published in 1999, featured many of the Modern Age's future Hall of Famers - including Warren Ellis, Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller and Grant Morrison - Tom Root and Andrew Kardon tap the current crop of writers dominating the industry, including Brian Michael Bendis, Andy Diggle, Mark Millar and Brian K. Vaughan. Unfortunately, like its predecessor, it sees fit to only include one female and not a single writer of color in the bunch.

Interspersed with script samples and highlights of specific titles they're best known for, the real meat of the book is the interviews themselves where the writers discuss craft, inspiration and the business of comics, while offering - not always purposefully, I think - glimpses into their personalities and motivations. At times these glimpses can be turnoffs, and other times they can uncover a previously unknown and interesting layer.

While many of the writers have achieved mainstream success at various levels, there's a few purely independent creators like Dave Sim and Jill Thompson represented, too. Several of them are also successful beyond the world of comic books, having written novels and screenplays - and, in Kevin Smith's case, directing well-known movies - making this a great resource for aspiring writers of all types.

The honesty of the writers is often refreshing, like Ed Brubaker admitting that "sometimes it gets tiring writing a company-owned character when you have ideas for them and the company tells you no." Or Greg Rucka admitting his Elektra series "feels like a failed experiment."

Overall, its continued lack of diversity aside, Writers on Comics Scriptwriting 2 is another strong volume from Titan Books and I only hope there's not another five year wait for the next edition. Surely there's more women and at least a few people of color on the writing side of the business, though. Right? Right? Bueller?

Unlike the first book in this series that featured interviews with Peter David, Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller, and other established comic book writers, Volume 2 features newer stars from the late 90s and present who are redefining comics for a new generation of readers.

What's surprising is how many of the newer creators started out in other mediums--Paul Dini worked in television; Geoff Johns worked in film; Greg Rucka was (and still is) a novelist. Also, many of these writers started out illustrating their own work or trying to break into the industry as artists. And most of the writers here--except Brian Vaughan--write during regular daytime hours instead of burning the midnight oil. What does it all mean? If I could figure it out, well, I'd be writing comics right now. Highly recommended for comic book fans and aspiring writers.

Both volumes are excellent and just hold a wealth of information for the budding comic book scripter from some of the best in the business. If you are interested in writing scripts for comics, start with these books.