Last weekend, the New York Comic Con (NYCC) kicked off this year’s convention season with a myriad of panels, screening and workshops that offered fans a plethora of information on comics and other popular culture, including film, television and video games.  Among the seemingly endless list of programs being presented over the course of the three-day show, one set of panels, geared toward education and helping aspiring creators, really stood above the rest.

Presented by the Comicbook Artists Guild and hosted/moderated by Buddy Scalera, these NYCC Classes delved into the “nuts and bolts” of being a comic professional. From instruction on Penciling, Inking, Writing and Digital Coloring to discussions on breaking into the industry and talking with Editors, the panels provided valuable, firsthand experience from some of the industries most celebrated creators.

Some of the most notable classes offered included: The Dos and Don’ts of Being a Comic Professional; Story Structure; The Business of Webcomics; Page Layout; How Not to Break into Comics; Writing Beyond Comics; Meet the Editors; Creator Connection; Breaking In and Staying In; and Computers and Comics.  Featuring in-depth instruction, candid panelists and industry-exclusive information, these classes offered aspiring creators the opportunity to learn how to improve their craft and potentially make a career out of creating comics.

One of the few show throughout the year to offer such panels, the NYCC’s list of such classes has continued to grow and evolve each year by offering new classes and updating the most popular key subjects. To learn more about these classes or about the Comicbook Artists Guild, please visit their website at www.comicartguild.org.