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Monday, 10 March 2014

Advice For Science Fiction Comic Book Authors

By Jaclyn Hurley


If you are looking to write a science fiction comic book then it helps to know how to write both comic books and science fiction. You have to be aware of genre conventions while at the same time looking for a new and interesting angle for your potential readers. With the right approach it is possible to learn how to join the great science fiction comic book authors with your seminal work.

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.

Some people worry about this because they fear this will result in consciously or unconsciously copying ideas. This is why it is worth reading a wide variety of stories. This will then make it easier to get a story that is well constructed and borrows from a wide variety of influences.

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 know about the genre itself. The genre encompasses a wide array of stories. 2001 A Space Odyssey is a slow and contemplative reflection on evolution and existence while District 9 is a mock documentary using alien invaders as a subtext for apartheid.

Broadly speaking an issue will tend to be around 22 to 24 pages long. You should have around four to six panels to allow for room for more detailed images. Avoid excessively long dialogue in speech bubbles. If a speech is necessary break it up and focus on images.

With a comic book there is also the issue of space. Typically a single issue will be around 22 to 24 pages. On average each page tends to be around four to six panels. Therefore you need to be careful when it comes to the amount of information you put in a panel. If you are drawing the story yourself then you do not need to worry about the description. However if you are writing for someone else you need to include enough information to guide the artist without being excessively instructive.

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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