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  • FAQ
  • About
  • Courses
    • Exhibiting Student Work
    • How To PBL Online
    • How To Make A Comic Book
    • How To Teach Us
    • Learning Mindsets & Skills
    • New School Creation
    • Exhibiting Work Micro-Course
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    • Exhibiting Student Work
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    • Exhibiting Work Micro-Course
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How To Make A Comic Book

The How to Make a Comic Book online course is a project-centered course designed for all-age learners (ages 13+) who are brand new to the comic-making process. The course features a bevy of resources for new comic-makers including tutorials, models, comic industry guest speakers, and exercises.

The course walks participants through the full process of comic creation, starting at brainstorming and covering scripting, thumbnailing, penciling, lettering by hand, inking, and final assembly. The course culminates in the creation of a final 4-page comic.
 

Course Enrollment

By clicking enroll you are indicating that you would like to sign-up for an online course.

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Materials Needed

Throughout the course, you will need certain materials in order to properly create your comic. They are:

  • Scanner (Or use the phone app “Adobe Scan”)
  • 2HB Pencil or #2 Pencil
  • Zebra Brush Pen or Sharpie Fine point
  • Copy Paper
  • Printer
  • Eraser
  • Ruler
  • Stapler (for books longer than 4 pages)
  • A Bone Folder (You can use a common kitchen rolling pin as a substitute)

Course Stats

  • Provided by: High Tech High Graduate School of Education & MakingComics.com
  • Platform: MailChimp
  • Cost: Free
  • Availability: Self-Paced Course, Always Available
  • Language: English
  • Duration: 8-20 Hours

Deliverables

  • At least three viable comic book ideas that can serve as potential story ideas for a comic.
  • A comic script which will teach learners the professional standards of comic writing.
  • A page of comic book thumbnails (sketches), which will help them to learn about page layout and composition.
  • Four pages of comic book pencils, letters, and inked art produced using comic industry standards.
  • A hand assembled, original, four page comic book along with photographic evidence showcasing a completed course project.

Course Design By

Patrick is a former classroom art educator at High Tech High Chula Vista as well as an Instructional Designer for the Office of Graduate Education at MIT. Currently Patrick is working with the HTH Graduate School of Education to enhance user experience for all audiences both on, and off, line. 

Christopher O’Keeffe has over 15 years of professional writing experience across fields such as journalism, marketing, and music. He has also produced a steady stream of creative work, including writing and releasing five albums for three bands. In 2018 he also co-founded Podcation which is a creative podcast incubator in the form of a yearly event.

Kay Flewelling was a founding Humanities teacher at High Tech High Chula Vista. For the past 10 years, she has supported teachers around the world to learn and apply project-based learning practices. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of San Diego and an adjunct professor in their School of Leadership and Educational Sciences.

Robert is a Junior Designer at San Diego-Based design firm PYD Studio. He is a former High Tech High Chula Vista student, and has returned to the school to help run after school programs from time to time.

Additional Course Resources

These resources are mentioned in the emails you receive after enrolling into the course. 

  • Video
  • Transcript
  • Document
  • Comic &/Or Reading
  • Models
  • Rubrics
  • Worksheets
  • Tutorials
  • Link
  • Podcast
Email 1: Introduction To The Course
  • Course Email 1
  • Course Trailer & Materials Overview
  • Transcript - Course Trailer & Materials Overview
  • Glossary of Comic Terms
  • "Protest Rap" Example Project Model
  • How To Use MakingComics.com
  • Transcript - How To Use MakingComics.com
  • 5 Minute Sketch Activity Models
  • All Course Rubrics
  • All Course Worksheets
  • All Course Tutorials
  • Comic Relief Project Packet
  • The Story Behind The Course
  • Teacher's Guide
Email 2: Finding Your Great Idea
  • Course Email 2
  • Brainstorming Interview with Mark Waid
  • Transcript - Brainstorming Interview with Mark Waid
  • "Luther" by Mark Waid
  • "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" by Flannery O'Conner
  • "The Humility of The Artist" by Seth Godin
  • "The Humility of The Artist" - Comic
  • "The Humility of The Artist" - Animation
  • "10 Things Before You Start A Comic" by Jason Brubaker
  • "Where To Begin Your Story - Inspiration" by Kevin Cullen
  • Story Idea Rubric
  • Brainstorming Student Models
Email 3: Writing Your Comic Script
  • Course Email 3
  • Mark Waid Scripting Interview
  • Transcript - Mark Waid Scripting Interview
  • AV Club Mark Waid Interview
  • "Comic Script Basics" by Blambot.com
  • "Taste vs Ability" by Ira Glass
  • "Taste Vs Ability" - Animation
  • "Get Started Already" by Mark Luetke
  • "Starting A Comic With Conflict Comic" by Patrick Yurick
  • "How To Write A Script For Your Comic" by Todd Tevlin
  • "Rambling About How I Write Comics" by Jim Zub
  • Jim Zub Interview on the Gutter Talk Podcast
  • Scripting Tutorial
  • Scripting Worksheet
  • Scripting Rubric
  • Scripting Student Models
  • Scripting Workseet Student Models
Email 4: Thumbnailing
  • Course Email 4
  • Thumbnailing Interview with Caleb Cleveland
  • Transcript - Thumbnailing Interview with Caleb Cleveland
  • Thumbnailing Example Model by Caleb Cleveland
  • "How To Make Rough Layouts" by Mark Crilley
  • "Be Friends with Failure" by Stephen McCranie
  • "You vs You" by Stephen McCranie
  • Daniel Warren Johnson Interview on the Gutter Talk Podcast
  • Thumbnailing Tutorial
  • Thumbnailing Worksheet
  • Thumbnailing Rubric
  • Thumbnailing Course Provided Models
  • Thumbnailing Student Models
Email 5: Penciling & Lettering
  • Course Email 5
  • Eric Shanower Penciling & Lettering Interview
  • Transcript - Eric Shanower Penciling & Lettering Interview
  • "Where the Comic Book Font Came From" by Vox
  • "The Flow of a Page" by Max Diller Dowdle
  • "Hand Lettering Walkthrough" by Blambot.com
  • "Grammar in Comics" by Blambot.com
  • "Comic Lettering Layout" by Lora Innes
  • "A Guide to Hand Lettering Your Scripts" by Chris Flick
  • "Penciling" by Kazu Kibuishi
  • Eric Shanower Interview on Gutter Talk Podcast
  • Penciling Tutorial
  • Lettering Tutorial
  • Pencils, Letters, and Inks Worksheet
  • Penciling & Lettering Rubric
  • Penciling & Lettering Activity Models
Email 6: Inking
  • Course Email 6
  • Inking Interview with Eric Shanower
  • Transcript - Inking Interview with Eric Shanower
  • Eric Shanower Inking Models
  • "Inking Tutorial" by Stephen Silver
  • "18 Tips to Aspiring Artists" by Moebius
  • "Traditional Inking - Control" - Video
  • Palle Schmidt Interview on the Gutter Talk Podcast
  • Inking Tutorial
  • Pencils, Letters, and Inks Worksheet
  • Inking Rubric
  • Inking Student Models
Email 7: Putting Your Comic Together
  • Course Email 7
  • Publishing Interview with Mark Waid
  • Transcript - Publishing Interview with Mark Waid
  • "Mark Waid on Reinventing Comics" - Video
  • "Mark Waid Aw Yeah Comics Interview" by Brigid Alverson
  • "How It's Made - Books" by the Discovery Channel
  • "How It's Made - Traditional Bookbinding" by the Discovery Channel
  • "Self Publishing Tips pt 1+2" by Joumana Medjel
  • "Self-Publishing 101" by James Maddox
  • "The Perils of Self Publishing" by Paul Allor
  • "Digital Coloring for GIMP Tutorial" by Patrick Yurick
  • Ted Adams Interview on the Gutter Talk Podcast
  • Dan Mashburn Interview on the Gutter Talk Podcast
  • Comic Final Assembly Tutorial
  • Pencils, Letters, and Inks Worksheet
  • Comic Final Assembly Rubric
  • Final Selfie Student Models
Email 8: Conclusion
  • Course Email 8
  • Workshop & Educator Course Flow
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  • How To PBL Online
  • How To Teach Us
  • Learning Mindsets & Skills
  • New School Creation
  • How To Make A Comic Book
  • Comic Course Teacher’s Guide
  • Exhibiting Student Work
  • Exhibiting Student Work In Virtual Environments Micro-Course

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