Tom Taylor and…Bigby Wolf?

(Art by Peter Gross and Mark Buckingham with colors by Chris Chuckry.)

Coming this May.

Bill’s ramshackle schoolhouse, built precariously…

ON THE LEDGE

From time to time I’m asked to critique the work of a new comics writer, often one who entertains hopes of writing for VERTIGO, sometimes for other venues. Time and workload permitting, I’m usually happy to do so, but one does get occasionally frustrated with the same beginners’ problems cropping up time and time again.

If there were a good book about how to write comics, full of the elementary blunders one should avoid, we wouldn’t have this problem. But although there are (literally) tons of great primers on how to write prose, and many more not-so-great ones, there isn’t a single primer that I know of on how to write comics.

Maybe I should write one, what with the copious free time I don’t actually have.

In any case, until such a primer is available, here’s one of my chief bugaboos, an oft-repeated rookie mistake that should never crop up anymore. Now that this semi pseudo tutorial is in print, no one is allowed to make this mistake from here on.

(The following is taken from a recent written critique, heavily redacted so as to disguise the story in question and spare the writer some embarrassment.)

Page One is fine. On Page Two, here are questions I have from the very first panel: Where is this taking place? Is it Earth? Is it some future society on some faraway world? Is it the past? Are these even humans in this panel? You started with the infinity of space, so your story could be about anyone and anywhere. Therefore you owe your artist answers to these basic questions right away. Immediately. Don’t make the artist have to go hunting for clues in the rest of your script. Even if you’re writing a mystery, you don’t make the script a mystery for whoever draws it. Clarity! Clarity is the only god of the page and panel descriptions (and you shall have no other god before it).

Based on the dialogue in the first panel of the second page, I’m going to guess they’re Japanese, since (redacted) seems a Japanese name. Did I guess correctly? Why do I have to guess at all? You need to reveal these things to your artist. What if he decides to make these frog people, because you didn’t bother specifying, and he feels like drawing frogs today?

(Later, on another page): Panel Four: Okay, this isn’t bad. Interesting dialogue. I’m sufficiently intrigued as a reader to turn the page. As the artist, though, I still hate you for not being clear on what you want. Remember, in writing one script you have to write two stories. The first is to your editors, publishers and readers. The second story is more personal. It’s only to one person in the whole wide world. In writing panel descriptions, you are writing to the artist – no one else. The best way to make an enemy of him is to leave out vital stuff that he needs to know, in order to have the slightest chance of doing even a crappy job – much less the lovely job you expect and/or hope for. Just because you can picture what you want in your head, it doesn’t mean you’ve successfully communicated it to your artist. Clarity! Panel descriptions are technical writing and, in technical writing the only thing that matters is, did you tell the customer how to properly assemble his very expensive stereo system? If you left steps out, he will have a very expensive pile of useless junk and will hate you forever.

The critique goes on, but my point is made. On some future date, in some future venue, I’ll talk about what it takes to craft an engaging story that readers will love while reading and not feel cheated at the end. But for now, if you know nothing else as a new comics writer, know that the story you tell your artist needs to be clear and detailed enough so that he knows what you want, what you need and what you hope for. Fail him and no power on earth can save the other story, the one you and he are teaming up to tell.

Go and sin no more.

Bill Willingham

If we’ve learned anything from Fables, it’s that not every tale has a happy ending. But fortunately, yours can. Especially if you’re a Bill Willingham or Fables fan.

Today marks the release of FABLES #122, which tells the story of “The Destiny Game,” an action-packed, surprising tale written by Bill Willingham and drawn by guest artist Gene Ha. It looks into the matter of fate and how it plays out in the Fables universe, which is an interesting subject considering that one lucky Fables fan out there is about change theirs.

At San Diego Comic-Con last summer, we had Bill Willingham sign the below card. And as a little tribute to this new issue and the 121 that preceded it, we’re giving it away.

Since it’s hard to get a sense of scale from that photo, you should know that this no pocket card. It’s 11” by 14” and is made of heavy, thick card stock. It’s a great piece for framing and you’re sure to enjoy telling the story about how you won it to your friends. But until you’ve actually claimed the prize, the tale is incomplete. Here’s how to ensure that you get your happy ending:

1) If you're not already doing so, be sure to follow @Vertigo_Comics on Twitter and DC Comics on Instagram.

2) Pick up some of your favorite new DC or Vertigo comics on Wednesday and take a photograph of you reading them. (If you can’t make it to a comic shop on Wednesday, a photo of you reading any Vertigo or DC comic will do.)

3) Share your picture with us via Instagram and tag @Vertigo_Comics and #DCComicscontest.

That’s all there is to it! At 5 pm PST on Monday, October 29, 2012, one winner will be chosen at random and direct messaged for his/her mailing address. The winner will be featured on Twitter and if possible, on DCComics.com. DC Comics will tweet the winner’s photo and a fan shout out on or around Tuesday, October 30, 2012.

Giveaway Details

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A purchase of any kind will not increase your chances of winning.

This Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia who are at least 18 years old as of the date of their entry. Employees of DC Entertainment and any of DC Entertainment’s affiliates, parents, subsidiary companies, or advertising and promotion agencies and members of their immediate families are not eligible to enter or win the Sweepstakes. Void where prohibited. By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants agree to these Official Rules and DC Entertainment’s Privacy Policy. The decisions of Sponsor are final and binding on all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. Odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received.

One entry per person. All entries must comply with these Official Rules and meet the submission guidelines detailed herein. Each entrant is solely responsible for any and all uses of his/her registered Twitter account.

By submitting a picture, entrant warrants, represents and agrees that: (i) entrant is the person appearing in the picture; (ii) the reproduction, distribution and display of the picture does not violate the rights of any persons or entities; (iii) the entrant has the right to submit the picture to Sponsor; and (iv) Sponsor may reproduce and display the picture on ­­­­­­­­­­­DCComics.com and all DC Comics-operated Twitter and Facebook pages. Sponsor reserves the right to condition the award of prizes upon the execution by the winner(s) of a publicity release. Notwithstanding this reserved right, entry is conclusively deemed to be permission by the entrant for Sponsor to use the entrant's name and the picture (without compensation to the entrant) if the entrant is a winner to publicize the Contest and otherwise, as determined by Sponsor, unless prohibited by law. Sponsor reserves the right to require the winner to execute an affidavit of eligibility as a sworn document and provide other proof of eligibility as a condition of receipt of the prize or award.

The random selection will be held on 5 p.m. PST on Monday, October 29, 2012 from all eligible entries received. We will then Direct Message the winners on Twitter to get mailing address and other information. If a selected winner does not comply with these rules or respond to the request to claim their prize within 24 hours, an alternative winner will be selected from the remaining eligible entries. Total value of prize is $50.00.

Sponsor not responsible for late, lost, stolen, incomplete, misdirected, garbled, damaged, delayed or undelivered entries.

Winners’ List: For the name of the winner, available after Monday, October 29, 2012, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope, to be received by DC Entertainment to: Gerard Maté 4000 Warner Blvd. Burbank, CA  91522.

The Sponsor of the Sweepstakes is DC Entertainment, 1700 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.

For this week's installment of Preview Mondays, we're giving you exclusive first looks at BATGIRL #12, BATMAN #12, BATMAN AND ROBIN #12 and FAIREST #6, all in stores this Wednesday.

Featuring a special guest appearance by Batwoman, BATGIRL #12 is written by Gail Simone and is illustrated by Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes. Click here to see an exclusive preview of the issue.

A stand-alone issue starring the esoteric Harper Row, BATMAN #12 is written by Scott Snyder and features stunning guest art by Becky Cloonan, the first woman to ever illustrate the series. Click here to see an exclusive preview of the issue.

Concluding the “Terminus” storyline with one epic showdown, BATMAN AND ROBIN #12 is written by Peter J. Tomasi and is illustrated by Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray. Click here to see an exclusive preview of the issue.

And wrapping up the premiere story arc of this new FABLES spin-off, FAIREST #6 comes to you from the acclaimed creative team of Bill Willingham, Phil Jimenez and Andy Lanning. Click here to see an exclusive preview of the issue.