Comics in College

My guest speaker experience at Lonestar College - North Harris

My week started off with my dog biting my thumb. It’s a tiny bite, but a painful one. So, no comic book inking until the pain wears down. That’s ok. Maybe it’s a sign that I need a break? I was planning on using most of my time this week to prepare for a comics lecture that I gave to a local college this past Wednesday, so I don’t think that I lost too much time after the puppy infraction.

In Session

My session at Lonestar College – North Harris was such a delight. This was my first time speaking about comics to an academic class. I’m happy to report that it was a great experience. I’ve done various panels at comic conventions, but this setting was certainly unique.

It was a beginner comic making class, so I was asked to come by and speak about my process and how comics have impacted me over the last decade or so. The students are tasked with making a 4 to 6-page comic by the end of the semester, so I wanted to show them some of the options that they have from idea all the way to the finished page. It was a blast. Most of the students were very engaged and eager to learn. They asked great questions, and I hopefully gave them some useful answers.

After the lecture, I got to see some of the comics that the students were working on for their assignment. I saw some lovely comics. Julie, the class professor, is putting together a zine made up of all their comics. It’s so damn cool. I had a great time. I wonder if I could add being a guest speaker or lecturer of comics to my list of duties with some kind of regularity. I didn’t expect to have so much fun with it.

Houston is… cool?!

I probably should have brought this up in an earlier newsletter, but Rice University is hosting a comics conference this weekend, March 20-23.

For my local creator friends and I, this is exciting. We understand that Houston isn’t typically considered a “cool” art city, so to have a 4-day conference all revolving around the alternative comics scene and the industry in general is pretty damn amazing. Cartoonist legend Art Spiegelman is the headliner and is opening the show on Thursday night (3/20). Who needs the Houston Rodeo when you’ve got this?!

I’ll likely do a quick report of the conference next week. Check it out if you’re in Houston.

ORSON WELLES - Ready For Lift-off

Lastly, a recommendation for you comic and film connoisseurs. My friend and writer Milton Lawson has just dropped the sign-up page for his ORSON WELLES: WARRIOR OF THE WORLDS Kickstarter that is going live in less than a week!

I’ve read the first issue and I’ve seen a bunch of behind-the-scenes pages for the book. It’s freaking incredible, ESPECIALLY if you are a film/Orson Welles appreciator. Definitely sign up so that you will be notified as soon as the campaign launches. It’s a big ol’ 235-page graphic novel. EPIC!

Sign-up Link

See ya next week!

Thanks for your time,

Nico