Advice For Science Fiction Comic Book Authors

By Jaclyn Hurley


Comic books and graphic novels are tremendous visual media. It allows people to create detailed worlds that would be very expensive to produce in a television series or for a film. Science fiction as a genre is particularly good for creating iconic images that readers will want to read and reread over and over again. With this advice for science fiction comic book authors you can develop your skills to produce the best stories.

When people think of science fiction they tend to think of stories set in the future. However this does not necessarily have to be the case. Alternative history can take place in the past. For example you could write a story where the Roman Empire remained in place until the twentieth century or a story where a Communist ruler took over the Earth after World War 2. A subgenre in this is what is known as steampunk. The idea behind this style of story is that modern inventions are reimagined as Victorian steam based inventions. This particular style has become very popular and has been used in movies, anime and videogames, the most recent example being the videogame Bioshock Infinity.

On a basic level it is about creating an idea. It may be about the effect of time travel or a journey to another planet. Often stories offer a reflection of our modern society. The best way to develop these ideas is to read a lot of stories, watch movies and TV shows in order to learn about how the stories work and help you consider what kind of twists you would add.

It is often said that science fiction is a great genre because it reflects the time it is based in rather than being a prediction of events that could potentially happen. A good example is films such as Robocop. On the surface Robocop appears to be a violent action film. However when watched more closely it is also a very clever satire of the corporate philosophy and media prevalent in the Eighties.

You also need to think about the artist. If you are drawing the story yourself you do not need to worry as much. However for an artist you need to take a balanced approach. If you do not provide enough description then you waste time by replying to inevitable emails asking for more information. However if the description is excessive then the artist can often feel like you are intruding on their role in the project.

This means reading stories, watching movies and TV shows. As you watch and read you should learn more about the conventions. You can then begin to think about ways you can subvert those conventions when it comes to writing your own stories. A great example was the Edgar Wright film Shaun of the Dead where a classic romantic comedy storyline was fused with the zombie subgenre.

As a writer you also need to generate ideas. You do not necessarily need to create a full issue on your first go. Often it is sensible to start with generating potential plot points. Over time you should then be able to develop plots and character arcs. Over time you should begin to be able to develop stories that will engage people.

There are numerous examples of comic scripts online. It is worth looking at numerous examples as well as scripts from genres outside science fiction to get a broad range of influences. This will help you get as much information as possible to help you write. With the right approach you will be able to produce the best comic book stories.




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