Panel One: Comic Book Scripts by Top Writers [Paperback]

Kurt Busiek (Author), Neil Gaiman (Author), Nat Gertler (Author), Dwayne McDuffie (Author), Trina Robbins (Author), Greg Rucka (Author), Jeff Smith (Author), Kevin Smith (Author), Marv Wolfman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Anything you've ever wanted to know about comic scriptwriting is in here -- Savant #82, August 22nd, 2002

It's an attractive package put together by comics writer Nat Gertler, and it's welcome, indeed. GRADE: A -- Comics Buyer's Guide issue 1483

There aren't many books that pass for "invaluable references" in our field, but this qualifies. -- Steven Grant's Permanent Damage column, April 3rd, 2002

Product Description

For future writers, future artists, and those who just want to see how it's done, here's a collection of comic book scripts from some of comicdom's top talents. See how Neil Gaiman writes a superhero story, how Marv Wolfman provides a plot for his artist to work from, and how Jeff Smith draws a script for Rose.

Also included are a Jay & Silent Bob script by filmmaker Kevin Smith, a Whiteout script by novelist Greg Rucka, GoGirl! by Trina Robbins, Deathlok by Milestone co-founder Dwayne McDuffie, and Kurt Busiek's Astro City by Astro City's Kurt Busiek. Plus, a short script by Eisner nominee Nat Gertler, with the finished story drawn by Detective Comics's Steve Lieber – available in America for the first time!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: About Comics (March 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971633800
• ISBN-13: 978-0971633803
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #118,688 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cool, helpful, worth the read, April 3, 2002

By	Blake Petit "Novelist, Comixtreme.com columni... (Ama, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Panel One: Comic Book Scripts by Top Writers (Paperback)

One thing that's bugged me in my various efforts at writing a comic book script is that no reference I checked seemed to agree as to what format is right. As this book explains, that's because there IS no "right" or "wrong" format, just different ways to do it.

Every script in this volume shows you something. Gaiman's reads like a personal note to the artist, Wolfman shows how plot-first can work, McDuffie shows you how to work in a recap, Kevin Smith shows a more movie-script style of writing and Kurt Busiek's entry... heck, when I read the original comic book I thought it was one of the greatest comic book stories I ever read, but the script for "The Nearness of You" just made it all the more powerful.

If you want to try to write comics, you could do a lot worse than picking up this book.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why didn't some body think of this sooner?, May 6, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Panel One: Comic Book Scripts by Top Writers (Paperback)

It seems like such an obvious good idea.
It's a wonderful glimpse into the creative process.

Just received it last night, and I'm already half through it. I haven't done that since I was eleven and got Stan Lee's How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way. Not that this book has any similarity to that one. This is not a how to book. Its a more intimate, than any instructional book. Its a similar difference in experience to watching a biography to reading someones private correspondence. The presentation adds to the feeling as well.

Better than seeing pencils, better than watching a demo, or hearing someone try to explain the creative process. You actually see it and are part of it because this is what the artist sees, while he is in the process.

As a comic book fan for years and creative hopeful (which I believe is a large part of the intended audience), I hope this is first in a long line.
Great job, thanks Mr. Gertler.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really great but..., August 10, 2008

By	Aymeric Perceval "m_rik" (Brussels, Belgium) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Panel One: Comic Book Scripts by Top Writers (Paperback)

This book is amazing. It is a real pleasure to read these scripts and to admire the different styles. This is truly inspiring but... What is this ugly cover ? Why is the inside presentation so cheap ? I'm sure there are a lot of explanations, but, in case you re-edit it, would be a good idea to make this jewel shine.
Thanks a lot mister Gertler.