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NEED HELP: Holiday Shopping for Comic Creators – 2021
Hey, CBS creators and friends,
I’d like to create a 2021 list of gifts for comic book creators. The idea is to compile a good list, which I can include as an article on the website. It should be a good guide for family and friends who want to buy a gift for the creator in their family.
It can be general (creatives, comic creators, etc.), specific (pencilers, inkers, writers), books (How to Draw, How to Ink, How to Color, etc.), physical tools (pens, markers, paper), digital tools, or anything else you can think of for the creator who wants to #makecomics.
Your ideas are welcome. Be as specfic as possible. Links are good.
Tagging @philipspace @jarrod-elvin @george-dawkins-ii @evan-scale @artsmermaid @comic-book-advocates-com @andresbriano @jholderarcaneink @izmoney10000 @jojabarker @indiedevil @james-mcgill @josh-dahl @krisburgos @kpei137 @lintzlettering @lylabrooke503 @maryamsmarkers @mikedoestheart @mywritinghero @Nahuel @majaopacic @redheadeded @shorterg @thesurrealari @Underscore @Vince @ashley-whitham @XanderXero @dcpyro @zach @andresbriano @beauxboudreaux @diogorccarvalho @andy-seabert @AmandaBrooks @evolver @hollandbetty @jeff-rider @john-ashton-golden @LateNiteScholar @Olga
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19 Replies
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Here’s my suggestion. My choice of writing software for scripts is Scribener. The license was very affordable (USD 45) when I purchased it a couple of years ago. It is not a gift suitable for everyone, but boy would I have been happy to get that license as a gift!
Hope this helps!
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Process books are another good suggestion. I am currently reading Blambot’s book and enjoying it a lot. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BK53RVJ/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
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Another gift I would have appreciated is a pledge on my Kickstarter. Of course it would need to be live at the time…
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Knowledge is power, and personally I love getting books.
I was going to suggest Nate Piekos book on lettering, but @andresbriano beat me to it.
I’m a sucker for How To Draw books myself, so “How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way” by John Buscema and Stan Lee would be great for any aspiring artist. There’s also a great book titled “How To Draw” by Scott Robertson and Thomas Bertling that I would recommend for more advanced artists (I certainly wished I’d found it sooner), or the “Framed Ink” books by Marcos Mateu-Mestre too. A fun one I picked up a couple months back that would make a good stocking stuffer (it’s that small) is the Charlton Comics “Comic Book Guide for the Artist-Writer-Letterer” By Nicola Cuti.
Of course Impact Books “Comic Artist Photo Reference: People and Poses” (by some guy) really transformed my art after getting a copy back around 2007 or so. My copy’s even signed by the author! I would get that for anyone looking to up their game, and/or also the Colossal Collection of Action Poses (by the same publisher). There’s a great CD series available, too.
If you get enough lead time, I would also recommend the “Real Action Pose” 01 and 02 from Japan, as well as the “New Pose Catalogue”, I think both from Tankobon books. It took a couple months for my copies to ship all the way to the States, so that might have to wait for a later holiday, like St. Patrick’s Day or something. Many of the images for these books can be found on Pinterest or elsewhere on the interwebs, but there’s really no substitute for having a book you can flip through quickly. Plus I’m a firm believer in supporting the actual publishers and authors.
On the educational side, Will Eisener’s “Comics and Sequential Art” is a mainstay, as well as Scott McCloud’s “Understanding Comics”. Chances are, though, if they’re serious about making comics they may already have these.
On the non-book side, those Body-Kun figures look pretty cool, but then again many of the Marvel Legends figures will substitute in a pinch. High-quality sculpts are more common than ever, and I don’t know many artists who will turn down having an action figure handy for figuring out poses, lighting, angles or even just simple inspiration.
A buddy of mine was very excited to get a Japanese “King Jim DM100” for writing, which I saw billed as a “distraction free writing implement”, which is to say, it’s what we would have called a word-processor back in the day. It’s strange to me that a keyboard NOT connecting to the internet is considered a feature now, but there you have it.
When all else fails, an 11″X17″ pad of Strathmore Bristol and/or a crowquill with a bottle of ink and/or a common drawing set will usually not go unappreciated, either. Copic sets are quite nice, too, as well as new sketchbooks.
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keywords=real%2Baction%2Bpose&qid=1638660392&sr=8-13&th=1
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I’m glad you put that Will Eisner book. It’s an excellent book, and really underrated.
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My personal faves:
Sketchbooks – Ring bound is the best way to go.
Pencils – 2b , f, or 4h
Brush Pens – Kuretake, Pentel, and many more out there.
Digital – iPad and Procreate.
Books – Some greats were already listed so here’s a few I like on perspective:
Perspective! for Comic Book Artists
https://www.amazon.com/Perspective-Comic-Book-Artists-Professional/dp/0823005674
Framed Perspective Vol. 1: Technical Perspective and Visual
https://www.amazon.com/Framed-Perspective-Vol-Technical-Storytelling/dp/1624650309
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Writer/Artist
Subscription to a comic book series of their choice. Comixology or physical
Graphic Novels.
Streaming subscription Disney plus HBO Max Crunchyroll
Writer
laptop/word processor/tablet
Dictionary/ Thesaurus / Grammarly
Microsoft office subscription
workshop subscription
Artist
Graphic Drawing Tablet
Drafting Table
Adobe photoshop subscription
clipstudio subscription
Ipad w Procreate app
Copic alcohol Markers
Copic inking pens
bristol boards
erasers
t-square
workshop subscription
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I think it’s important to mention in the article that the best gift you can get a creator is to buy their books AND leave a review on Amazon/Goodreads. The algorithms on those sites really value reviews, especially from verified purchasers.
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For Writers: Neil Gaiman’s Masterclass
https://www.masterclass.com/classes/neil-gaiman-teaches-the-art-of-storytelling?utm_source=Paid&utm_medium=AdWords&utm_campaign=NG&utm_content=Brand-{keyword}-US_BM&utm_term=Aq-Prospecting&gclid=CjwKCAiAwKyNBhBfEiwA_mrUMrPm9JUzJQJGZkIyDNsL_QU5ewupZCpHT5WzdluexbDFzAnTjLhgzxoCTBoQAvD_BwE
And some more books:
The Art of Fiction, by John Gardner:
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Fiction-Notes-Craft-Writers/dp/0679734031
Alan Moore’s Guide to Writing Comics:
Alan Moore’s Complete Future Shocks (Not a writing book, but it should be required reading for all comics writers:
Panel One: Scripts by top Comics Writers:
The Book of Symbols:
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Tea and Absinthe Geeky Tea:
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Oh, let’s not forget Comic Book School sponsor Marvy Uchida, for both writers and artists.
The pens @buddyscalera gives out at his panels are my go-to writing pens.
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I woke up with another thought today:
We should encourage people to patronize their local conics shop. Maybe make a short list of titles we find interesting (or co-opt) the NYPL list which was posted in another discussion) and put a link to a “Find a Comics Shop” page like this one:
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So many great suggestions, everyone, thank you! I will compile a list and include in an upcoming issue of the CBS newsletter.
If you are not yet subscribed, check out the link for the free newsletter:
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Are we still offering insight for this? If so, I had made a list but didn’t get to post.
Apologies – last week was my son’s birthday (which last a week – I’m an over-doer celebrator & foxy single mom – if you need something from me – I need a week for the most part – my heart wants to be in the moment but my lifestyle rarely allows), and my brother, sister-in-law & nieces all had covid – what a feeling or 500? They are all better now. Thank goodness!
Anyway the Supply list awaits:
Tablet (iPad Pro, Wacom One, Microsoft Surface – Go/Pro)
Graphite Pencils & Kneaded & White ErasersElectric Pencil Sharpener / Small Mechanical Pencil Sharpener
Fountain Pens & Prismcolor Markers
Blue Coloring Pencils and F Lead Pencils
Comic Book Art Boards by Canson
Blank Comic Book (Template Panels)
All in One Printer
Tracing Paper
Computer Applications: Adobe Photoshop / Adobe Illustrator / Adobe Indesign / Microsoft Publisher / Google Draw / Clip studio / Paint Tool /
Polytap Clothe or Parachute Clothe
and Your Focusing Quiet Thinking Desk & Comfy Chair -
Thank you, everyone! Here’s the article:
https://www.comicbookschool.com/6-gift-ideas-comic-book-creators/
Special Thanks:
@maryamsmarkers @thesurrealari @andresbriano @andy-seabert @philipspace @izmoney10000
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Thanks, @buddyscalera . Great post.
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