Anthem’s Nik Mercer chats with Jimbo art-comix icon Gary Panter about the process of making comics:
How do you approach the actual making of comics—both in terms of writing and drawing—and do you think there are some “universal” rules of comic creation? Some musicians (e.g.) write the lyrics first, then find a tune; others the other way around; some jot down random ideas and then assemble them into a coherent whole later; others have one core thought that they then elaborate to the whole story… how do you do it?
There are many ways and I don’t have one way. I make a lot of notes and erase a lot. I make a lot more paintings and sculptural models and prints than comics. I comics, I am usually looking for the big moments i want to draw and finding the story that leads to those moments. Of I make characters with strong characteristics and then watch what they do. My monthly comic for RIDDIM, the Japanese reggae magazine is always four panels and reads from right to left. Things like that, that are part of a routine, help.
