Comics Buyer's Guide issue 1483
It's an attractive package put together by comics writer Nat Gertler, and it's welcome, indeed.
GRADE: A
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For future writers, future artists, and those who just want to see how it's done, here's a collection of comic book scripts from some of comicdom's top talents. See how Neil Gaiman writes a superhero story, how Marv Wolfman provides a plot for his artist to work from, and how Jeff Smith draws a script for Rose.

Also included are a Jay & Silent Bob script by filmmaker Kevin Smith, a Whiteout script by novelist Greg Rucka, GoGirl! by Trina Robbins, Deathlok by Milestone co-founder Dwayne McDuffie, and Kurt Busiek's Astro City by Astro City's Kurt Busiek. Plus, a short script by Eisner nominee Nat Gertler, with the finished story drawn by Detective Comics's Steve Lieber –available in America for the first time!

About the Authors
Kurt Busiek was working in comics for many years before rocketing to the top of the field by writing Marvels. His original series Astro City has been a lightning-rod for awards.

Neil Gaiman is the New York Times best-selling author of American Gods and Sandman.

Nat Gertler, contributor to and editor of Panel One has written for dozens of publishers. He was nominated for an Eisner award due to his self-published alternative superhero miniseries The Factor.

Dwayne McDuffie co-founded Milestone Media, the most successful black-owned comic book company ever. He co-created Static and writes for the TV adaptation of that series, Static Shock.

Trina Robbins is one of comics leading historians, and her book The Great Women Cartoonists was on the top 10 list for the year 2001 at Time magazine's website.

Greg Rucka was already a respected novelist when he turned to comics, where he quickly garnered awards for his antarctic thriller Whiteout.

Jeff Smith is the cartoonist behind the popular fantasy series Bone. His work on Rose is a rare example of him writing comics for another artist to draw.

Kevin Smith set the independent film world ablaze with his black-and-white film Clerks. He is the writer, director, and star of such popular films as Chasing Amy and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back!. He has brought his own characters to comics, as well as bringing the second-string superheroes Daredevil and Green Arrow up to superstar status.

Marv Wolfman wrote Crisis on Infinite Earths, voted the second best comics story of the 20th century. His long run on Tomb of Dracula included the introduction of the character "Blade", the basis for a series of films.

From the Editor, Margaret Sobel
The Business of Comics by renowned comic professional, Lurene Haines, is devoted to the specific business practices of comic professionals. This informative guide was written to help comic artists get their stuff published and find work in the industry. It includes interviews with over 40 comic professionals as well as samples of their artwork. These interviews, as well as pithy quotes peppered throughout the book, provide first-hand advice about how to make it in the comic industry. There are extensive appendixes with lists of comic conventions, art schools, publishers and distributors as well as sample contracts, submissions guidelines, and a guide to self publishing.