British comics commentator and creator Lew Stringer recently spotted the debut of a new title from Hachette Partworks, who are also putting out the impressive Judge Dredd Collection, although it’s not yet gained national distribution.
Draw the Marvel Way is a fortnightly partwork filled with professional drawing tips and tutorials (the work of Doctor Who comic artist and writer Mike Collins sharing his 30 plus years of experience in the business) and each issue is accompanied with various tools of the trade.
“With our expert tutorials you could be producing super-heroic illustrations that surpass your expectations,” the title’s official web site enthuses. “Starting with the basics, our step-by-step guides will move progressively through the skill-set that will make you a better artist! And each issue comes with an array of art equipment that you can use alongside your Marvel tutorials.”
Subscribers will secure not only copies of the magazine but free gifts such as a Marvel-braded sketch book and artist’s mannequin.
PartWorks are “road tested” in regions of the UK to see if they attract a good response, so it’s possible you won’t see Draw the Marvel Way on sale in your local newsagents just yet.
Like Lew, I’d agree that the choice of free gifts in an age where most comics are now created digitally is, perhaps, a little bemusing. “Issue Two will come with an art box to store a collection of water colours (given away a few at a time in future issues),” Lew observes. “Colouring in comics (especially Marvel) is done digitally now, so this seems quaintly old fashioned for the purpose of this particular partwork.
“However, it can’t do any harm to teach the old style of applying colour I suppose. Besides, bagging the mag with a Photoshop disc would push the price up a few hundred quid.”
Hachette Partworks Ltd is part of Hachette Livre, Europe’s largest publishing group and its nationally-available Part Works include the gorgeous-looking Judge Dredd Collection, Marvel’ Mightiest Heroes, Marvel: The Ultimate Graphic Novel Collection and Your Model Railway Village.
• How to Draw The Marvel Way Official site: http://marveldrawing.hachettepartworks.com
Issue 1 comes at the special price of 99p and if you subscribe (you can subscribe from Issue One on the site), Issue 2 comes at the special price of £3.49. Issue 3 onwards is priced at £4.99
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, Features, Magazines
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