Comic Strip Capers | Brave Writer

Bam! Thwap! Pow!

Sailor Moon, Charlie Brown, Calvin and Hobbes.

Comic strips, graphic novels, and cartoons have been enthralling kids (and adults!) for decades!

This generation is more image-driven than any before it! So much of what interests them is VISUAL.

That’s why comic strips and comic books are perfect vehicles for writing projects. The word-and-image combo makes it easier to tell stories and convey big ideas.

During this course, students will explore the stages of comics creation from writing a script to penciling, inking, lettering, and coloring.

Class Overview

Made With You in Mind

We explore the fabulous world of sequential art and learn how to develop colorful characters and drop them into all sorts of adventures.

Drawing and writing have a lot in common. Both are

Vehicles for communication
Ways to express thoughts or stories
Feature elements like humor or irony
Vulnerable to share

Engagement is built-in! Our eyes are drawn to the art, and without realizing it, we become absorbed in decoding complex storytelling clues, witty dialogue, and action-packed captions.

In this class, students will:

Brainstorm to explore character development and plot creation;
Build skills in story structure and pacing;
Engage in "thumbnailing" and scriptwriting processes to create a short comic strip;
Expand their thumbnails into a fully realized mini-comic; and
Learn tricks of the trade, like why comics artists don't stack panels on the left!

Comic enthusiasts will love getting the inside scoop on how comics are planned and created!

Does my student need to be good at drawing?

No!

Drawing skills are NOT required! We are mindful that some students may not be confident in their drawing ability. The most common type of student we see in this class is the avid COMIC READER, not the “perfect” illustrator.

(You can make captivating comics with stick figures and basic shapes. We encourage it!)

This class is designed for 9-14 year olds, but older comics writers are welcome!

Tap into your superpowers and join us for a fabulous journey into the world of comics!

Week by Week

Week One

Students analyze comics to encounter all their elements. They develop an original character using writing or visual description.

Week Two

Students dive into the world of sketching as they outline the bones of their story. They practice drawing by penciling their story in comic form.

Week Three

Students plan for their second comic with a longer storyline. They begin with a script and thumbnails this week, anticipating a polished, full-color comic by the end of class.

Week Four

Students spend this week in the final stages of inking, lettering, and coloring. They emerge from class with a finished comic and a readiness to make their next one!

Registration Details

Join Us!

Tuition:: $199.00 per student
Recommended Ages:: 9 - 14
Class Size:: 25 students
Class Length:: 4 weeks
Class Type:: Middle School

Upper Elementary
Class Schedule:: Asynchronous—log in when convenient to you!

Select from the available class dates below to register for that session:

May 06–May 31, 2024	Jen Jackson-Ellery	Session Full
Jul 15–Aug 09, 2024	Sarah Kerr	Registration opens May. 6th at noon ET

Word on the Street

Before this class, I thought that writing scripts for comics were boring and not worth it. Now, I think that they're super fun to write, and super helpful and useful. Writing can be fun, even when making comics.
Ellis, 13

I loved learning about how comics are made! I didn't know so much planning and writing went into comic making.
Boyd, 10

This course showed me that writing has a lot of steps before getting to your final draft. And also writing can be a lot of fun if you like what you're writing about.
Everett, 13

I've always wanted to make a comic but never really knew where to start and I'm very happy that I chose to do this class
Emeline, 14

More Information

Sample class login

Want to see how our classroom works? Test drive a sample class complete with real class readings, assignments, and instructor comments!

Follow these instructions:

Navigate to class.bravewriter.com. If you are a current student, you’ll need to log out in the upper right corner before proceeding.
Log in using these credentials:
Username: [email protected]
Password: Brave1
Next, you will land on our Family Dashboard. You'll find a Parent icon and a Student icon to represent classes where the parent or the student is the primary participant. Click on Parent to view parent participation classes. To find classes with direct student-instructor interaction, click on Student.
Click on the class name of interest and start reading posts!

How Our Classes Work Download a class summary

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