Fred Van Lente's Blog: Maximum Fred, page 2
May 3, 2020
The TOP 13 Denny O’Neil THE QUESTION Stories
Very proud of this guest column I wrote for 13TH DIMENSION delving into the awesomeness of one of my all-time favorite comics series, O'Neil and Cowan's THE QUESTION:
March 28, 2020
June 18, 2019
PSI-LORDS signing tour this week!
Hey NYC! My latest from Valiant Comics, PSI-LORDS, drops tomorrow, Wednesday June 19, and I am embarking on a ONE-STATE SIGNING TOUR! Four locations in four days, culminating in a fun afternoon event at October Country in New Paltz. Check it out:
March 8, 2019
Learn the Art of Serialized Storytelling (from me!)
Hey friends, I’ll be teaching a new course at Comics Experience starting April 10th:
"Story Arcs and the Art of Serialized Storytelling"
It covers how to create story arcs and the art of serialized storytelling! It drills down on multiple and intersecting character arcs, plotting, and pacing. And it can be applied to more than just comics!
By the time we’re done, you’ll be able to craft story arcs and in-depth outlines for your awesome series!
Click this link to know more:
http://www.comicsexperience.com/cours...
"Story Arcs and the Art of Serialized Storytelling"
It covers how to create story arcs and the art of serialized storytelling! It drills down on multiple and intersecting character arcs, plotting, and pacing. And it can be applied to more than just comics!
By the time we’re done, you’ll be able to craft story arcs and in-depth outlines for your awesome series!
Click this link to know more:
http://www.comicsexperience.com/cours...
January 17, 2019
Anatomy of a Comics Script
Stephanie Cooke at the Creators Resource blog asked me to explicate the logic behind the layout of my popular comics script format template --you can find templates here-- and I do so using as an example "The Beard", the short comics story I did circa 2015 with the super-talented Alison Sampson.
Check out the full script plus the completed comic along with my scintillating commentary at Creators Resource here.
Check out the full script plus the completed comic along with my scintillating commentary at Creators Resource here.
October 1, 2018
Your Handy-Dandy Comic Con Survival Guide
On the eve of New York Comic Con (where I will be at
Artists Alley table B23
), fine folks at ComicsVerse in celebration of my San Diego Comic Con murder mystery THE CON ARTIST, asked me to provide a how-to survival guide for the average fan.
I go into some depth about proper footwear and celebrity etiquette, and about why finding The Good Bathroom is key. Enjoy! (Illustration for THE CON ARTIST by Tom Fowler.)
I go into some depth about proper footwear and celebrity etiquette, and about why finding The Good Bathroom is key. Enjoy! (Illustration for THE CON ARTIST by Tom Fowler.)
July 17, 2018
Where I'm At: San Diego Comic Con Edition
Unshockingly I'm headed to the setting of THE CON ARTIST to promote it! Click here to see where you can find me, courtesy of Quirk Books.
Comic Book Noir: 10 Essential Mystery Graphic Novels
In honor of my novel The Con Artist coming out last week, which is a prose mystery about a famous comic book artist accused of murdering his editor at a comic con in San Diego, I asked Crime Reads if I could do a recommended reading list of the exact opposite—incredible comics that are themselves mysteries.
Crime is a huge genre in comic books, and has been ever since Crime Does Not Pay horrified anti-funnybook crusader Dr. Fredric Wertham back in the 1940s. But in order to keep this list even somewhat manageable, I had to limit it to strictly mysteries—somebody’s been killed, or kidnapped, or something’s been stolen, and the hero has to figure out the who’s, what’s and the why’s. No crime comics, no thrillers.
(Side Note #1: I always say the Crime, Mystery and Thriller genres are all part of the same three-sided coin: a Mystery is the crime from law enforcement’s point of view, the Crime story is, of course, from the criminal’s point of view, and a Thriller is from the victim’s point of view. In the cartoon animal hierarchy of who’s chasing whom, that would be: Mystery :: Dog –> Crime :: Cat –> Thriller :: Mouse. You can use that analogy whenever you like for free, Crime Reads. You’re welcome.)
Read the full article at Crime Reads!
Crime is a huge genre in comic books, and has been ever since Crime Does Not Pay horrified anti-funnybook crusader Dr. Fredric Wertham back in the 1940s. But in order to keep this list even somewhat manageable, I had to limit it to strictly mysteries—somebody’s been killed, or kidnapped, or something’s been stolen, and the hero has to figure out the who’s, what’s and the why’s. No crime comics, no thrillers.
(Side Note #1: I always say the Crime, Mystery and Thriller genres are all part of the same three-sided coin: a Mystery is the crime from law enforcement’s point of view, the Crime story is, of course, from the criminal’s point of view, and a Thriller is from the victim’s point of view. In the cartoon animal hierarchy of who’s chasing whom, that would be: Mystery :: Dog –> Crime :: Cat –> Thriller :: Mouse. You can use that analogy whenever you like for free, Crime Reads. You’re welcome.)
Read the full article at Crime Reads!
July 10, 2018
THE CON ARTIST has arrived!
Out today from Quirk/Random House is my second mystery novel, THE CON ARTIST. In this "geek noir", famous comics artist Mike M is accused of murdering his editor and romantic rival at a giant con in San Diego and has until the end of the show to find out who done it before he becomes the fall guy.
Super proud of this book, and the great illustrations by my pal and veteran comics artist Tom Fowler, which depict pages from our hero's sketchbook -- he's sketching what he sees as he goes through his adventure, and the images don't just look great -- they also provide valuable clues to help you solve the crime yourself.
If you are interested in the full thank yous and acknowledgements, I got into a Twitter thread about the behind-the-scenes stuff here.
THE CON ARTIST is available now wherever books are sold -- as well as e-book and audio formats. As always, please get it at your local indy bookstore, they're the backbone of our industry. But if you lack on of those you can order it anywhere and everywhere here.
“…Van Lente offers an insider’s look into the gloriously geeky world of cons.”—Publisher’s Weekly
"Van Lente’s skills really shine. A veteran of the world of comics himself, Van Lente is clearly no stranger to building a strong narrative. But with the satirical nature of THE CON ARTIST being so prevalent, it would be very simple for this to become a one note cozy mystery. Make no mistake: this is a very, very funny book. But Van Lente also succeeds at building his fictional world of comic book publishing that Miller inhabits.” — Crime Spree
“The Con Artist is a hilarious whodunit for comic book fans. It’s my favorite book of the year!” — Modern Gafa
“Hitchcock goes Geek” — Pop Culture Bandit
Super proud of this book, and the great illustrations by my pal and veteran comics artist Tom Fowler, which depict pages from our hero's sketchbook -- he's sketching what he sees as he goes through his adventure, and the images don't just look great -- they also provide valuable clues to help you solve the crime yourself.
If you are interested in the full thank yous and acknowledgements, I got into a Twitter thread about the behind-the-scenes stuff here.
THE CON ARTIST is available now wherever books are sold -- as well as e-book and audio formats. As always, please get it at your local indy bookstore, they're the backbone of our industry. But if you lack on of those you can order it anywhere and everywhere here.
“…Van Lente offers an insider’s look into the gloriously geeky world of cons.”—Publisher’s Weekly
"Van Lente’s skills really shine. A veteran of the world of comics himself, Van Lente is clearly no stranger to building a strong narrative. But with the satirical nature of THE CON ARTIST being so prevalent, it would be very simple for this to become a one note cozy mystery. Make no mistake: this is a very, very funny book. But Van Lente also succeeds at building his fictional world of comic book publishing that Miller inhabits.” — Crime Spree
“The Con Artist is a hilarious whodunit for comic book fans. It’s my favorite book of the year!” — Modern Gafa
“Hitchcock goes Geek” — Pop Culture Bandit
June 10, 2018
Watch Me Talk Wertham Comics Panic on CNBC
I was pleased to participate in a very good mini-documentary about the 1950s anti-comics panic in the United States that you can currently view on CNBC if you're interested about how a renegade psychiatrist named Fredric Wertham, a cheeky renegade comics publisher named William M. Gaines, and the US Senate combined to ruin one of America's most popular mass media! (And why wouldn't you be interested?)
And I didn't even wear a tie, because I'm a rebel, Dottie, a loner
And I didn't even wear a tie, because I'm a rebel, Dottie, a loner
Maximum Fred
All you wanted to know about my books, and even some stuff you didn't.
...more
- Fred Van Lente's profile
- 320 followers
