How to Write a Character Backstory That Feels Real (And Avoid the Mary Sue Trap) Great characters don’t appear out of nowhere. They are shaped by their past. One of the most common problems in modern storytelling is characters who feel flat or unrealistic. They might look interesting, but something is missing. Most of the time, the issue is simple: … Read More
From Joker to Darth Vader: What Makes a Truly Iconic Villain?
We often find ourselves drawn not just to the heroes in our stories, but to the architects of their suffering: the villains. From the unsettling chaos of the Joker to the tragic complexity of Darth Vader, antagonists are more than just plot obstacles; they are the mirrors reflecting our fears, the challenging forces that shape our understanding of good and … Read More
How to Write a Comic Book or Manga for Beginners
HOW TO WRITE A COMPELLING STORY FOR COMIC BOOKS, MAGA, AND GRAPHIC NOVELS – THE HERO’S JOURNEY The core of every novel, manga, comic book, movie, and play is the story and its characters. In this post, I talk about some of the basics for writing a story and the twelve stages of the Hero’s Journey. How have characters in … Read More
Colors vs. Black & White comics|Five reasons why color comics are popular
What is better; color or black and white comics? My five reasons why color comics are popular and what to consider before taking a decision. So far, I wrote about screen tones, pen nibs, Wacom Intuos pen tablets, and other art supplies that I use to create my manga Legends of the West. Right now it’s time to decide should … Read More
What Art Supplies Do I Need to Draw Manga
What art supplies do I need to draw manga What art supplies do I need to draw manga? What art supplies should I buy? What are the best art supplies? These are the most common questions that aspirant mangaka and beginners ask. In the last three blog posts, I talked about pen tablets, screen tones, and Japanese pen nibs. In … Read More
Screen Tones for Manga- Drawing a Professional Comic Book
How to draw manga; Screen Tones Screen tones. Where to buy screen tones? How much do screen tones cost? How to use them? In the previous posts, I talked about drawing tablets and Japanese pen nibs. In this article, I am going to talk about another mangaka art tool; screen tones. If you notice a manga is mostly black and … Read More
Drawing comics with Japanese Pen Nibs; Love or Hate
Inking with pen nibs; love or hate? ARE MANGA PEN NIBS PART OF THE PAST, OR DO ARTISTS STILL LOVE THEM? A REVIEW FROM A PEN NIB LOVER There are different manga pen nibs available with a specific design for drawing different subjects. From drawing action lines to small details, Japanese pen nibs have been a part of a cartoonist’s … Read More
