Kieron Gillen masterclass announced

The Guardian Masterclasses have announced a "How to write a comic book" masterclass with comics writer Kieron Gillen. All details are here - they say..

A unique opportunity to learn from one of the world’s leading comic book writers.

Marvel is having a moment. From the minute details in the world-building to the complexity of the characters and the scale of the stories, there are few things more exciting than a really brilliant comic book.

If you have an idea or concept for your own comic, but aren’t sure how to break into a seemingly closed industry, this masterclass with Marvel’s Kieron Gillen is for you. The writer of a huge range of comics - including the critically acclaimed The Wicked + The Divine, and Marvel Comics’ Young Avengers - Kieron will give you the advice he wishes he had heard at the start of his career.

Combining anecdotes, practical takeaways and a breaking down of individual stories and pages (plus Q&A), Kieron will take you through how to construct your jump-off point into a strong story, how the industry works - and doesn’t work, how to maintain your unique voice and style in a process that might involve more opinions than you’re used to - and more.

This is a unique opportunity to hear from one of the leading comic book writers in the world. If you’re in the early stages of crafting your own comic, you’re trying to get yours to land in a difficult industry, or if you simply have a story to tell, this is an unmissable chance to have your questions answered, and - more importantly - be on your way to realising your comic writing dream.

Course content

• What a comic script is, what it isn’t and how to make yours yours without making an artist want to kill you.
• The whole Process - from the idea to the finished book to show the world.
• How do you work with artists, editors, inkers, colourists and everyone else. What works? What’s ethical? What’s both?
• Narrative structure, at every level - the panel, the page, the issue, the series.
• How to identify the things in comics that are actively magical and how to make your own…
• Q&A

This course is for…

• Aspiring comic book writers who want to learn the fundamentals before approaching their first project
• Early career writers who are looking for advice and insight into the industry landscape
• Anyone interested in exploring the artistic process of writing comic books

Tutor profile

Kieron Gillen is a British comic book writer. He is known for co-creating the acclaimed comics The Wicked + The Divine, DIE and Once & Future. He has also worked on numerous projects for Marvel Comics, including Uncanny X-Men, Darth Vader, Young Avengers, Iron Man, Star Wars and Eternals.

Course Details

• Date: Tuesday 6 June 2023
• Time: 6pm-8.30pm (BST)

A catch up recording will be shared after the class and will be available for two

£65 plus £3.56 booking fee (the cost is less if you're a patron)

Find all other Kieron Gillen mentions on the blog right here - including his first EVER comic work