New "DC Comics Guide to Creating Comics" to be published
Friday, April 06, 2001
Official Press Release
Famed Batman writer/editor Dennis O'Neil shows how to write comics in first book of new series.
New York, NY (March 31, 2001) -- Watson-Guptill Publications is pleased to announce a new series of how-to/instructional books to be produced by and published in conjunction with DC Comics. This marks the first time that DC Comics, the oldest and most successful English language comic book publisher in the world, has tapped into its sixty-five year history and opened its 40,000-story archive to provide an inside look at the craft and art of creating comic books.
The first book in the series, The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics, to be published in June 2001, is written by renowned comics writer and editor Dennis O'Neil, who has been creating comics for over four decades. With artist Neal Adams, he brought a revolutionary, dark realism to Batman and unprecedented social relevance to comics in their run on Green Lantern/Green Arrow. As an editor at Marvel Comics, O'Neil oversaw Frank Miller's celebrated Daredevil series, and at DC O'Neil has been the guiding editor behind Batman's phenomenal success for the past 15 years. O'Neil, who has taught writing extensively at New York's School of Visual Arts and Sarah Lawrence College, is currently Consulting Editor for DC, where he also enjoys an exclusive comics-writing relationship.
With an introduction by legendary Marvel Comics writer and editor Stan Lee, The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics examines the creation of the various genres and formats of comic books, using examples by writers such as Neil Gaiman, Archie Goodwin, Mark Waid, Peter David, Scott McCloud, Chuck Dixon, and Mark Evanier, who contributes an essay on writing humor for comics. Illustrated with famous DC Comics super-heroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics features work by artists like George Pérez, Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Neal Adams, Walter Simonson, Steve Rude, John Byrne, Alex Ross, and others.
Watson-Guptill Publications Marketing Manager Ali T. Kokmen said, "It's thrilling to be involved with this project, and we're honored that DC chose to work with us on it. Being able to tap into DC's tremendous pool of talent and experience is simply wonderful. And to launch with a book by Dennis O'Neil, a true living legend?it does a grown-up fan's heart proud."
DC Comics' Executive Editor Mike Carlin said, "DC has been publishing comics for over 65 years from super-hero and high fantasy to romance and westerns... from war and horror to slice-of-life dramas and everything in between. We've worked with thousands of writers and artists, and we've never stuck to one particular 'house style.' There is no one way to do a story in words and pictures... but with the 'Creating Comics' series, we're looking to explore the numerous different methods that comics can be born."
The second volume in the DC Comics Guide to Creating Comics series will be The DC Comics Guide to Pencilling Comics by fan-favorite artist Klaus Janson, to be published in Fall 2001. Future volumes will include books on inking, coloring, and lettering for comics.
Watson-Guptill Publications, a division of BPI Communications Inc., a VNU Company, is a leading English language publisher of illustrated books on art, music, comics & cartooning and popular culture, whose recent books include the Harvey Award-nominated MAD: Cover to Cover. Watson-Guptill's Web site is located at www.watsonguptill.com.
DC Comics, a division of Warner Bros., an AOL Time Warner Company, is the largest English language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC super-heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics' Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.
Source: Watson-Guptill
