C.B. Cebulski Talks Doing Covers Right

C.B. Cebulski is much smarter and more lovable than me. Let's just get that out of the way. He's also an amazing source of knowledge and insight when it comes to the finer points of making comics. Today he offered a mini lesson about covers and I felt the information merited being preserved here rather than lost in the twitter stream.

C.B. says:

After looking over certain June solicits, I feel like going on a cover rant again, but will instead offer advice on creating cover art.

A cover is the most important piece of art you'll create for your comic. It's what will sell the book. Especially in today's direct market.

This is even more true for indy/self/small press comics as you don't have recognizable characters to grab a reader's attention on the shelf.

You need a simple, bold, striking piece that should immediately standout & distinguish your book from the rest of the comics surrounding it.

Don't get overly-complicated or designy. Don't overthink your cover. Don't get too cerebral. Simply give readers a taste of what's inside.

These are simple, basic cover "rules," I know, but I'm always surprised how often they're forgotten. Especially by the bigger publishers.

Gold.

Talking Influences on CBR

Bryan Edward Hill and I discuss some of our influences over on Comic Book Resources. If you ever wanted to know what makes us tick (other than booze and hummus), now's your chance.

Hill/Levin Open "Pandora's Box" for Inspiration

Get Thee to the Comic Shoppe!

It's that day again, New Comic Day. But this day, much like Passover, different than every other. And that's because of one very special book. I've typed it before and I'll type it again, but this is the day that BROKEN TRINITY: PANDORA'S BOX #1 hits stores.

This has been a very long journey for me. I could say it begins last May/June when Filip approached me about pitching the series. Or more than two years ago when I edited the initial event helmed by the incomparable Ron Marz and friends. But as this is my first series (to actually see print, which is a longer story for a different time), it's the culmination of a dream I've had since my cousins first introduced me to comics in a Florida time share and the purchase of my first comic, Marvel Comics Presents #85 by Peter David and Sam Keith.

My short-form work (backups, one-shots) have been a fantastic experience for me, but this is the first shot I've had to tell a full story with space for characters and real moments. We're all doing our best to make sure each one delivers. I am both honored and humbled by anyone who chooses to plunk down their hard-earned cash and buy the book today (or at any point in the future).

For those in the LA area, just a reminder that I'll be signing this and anything else you'd like (preferably babies) from 2-5pm at Dream World Comics in West LA (details here). Bryan Edward Hill will be signing in St. Louis at Star Clipper (details here).

In case you need more convincing, here are a few choice tidbits for you:

Atomic Interrogation with Hill/Levin

GeekWeek Reviews Broken Trinity: Pandora's Box

Also, I'd like to give a shout-out and a hearty thanks to everyone who worked on this book: Alessandro Vitti, Sunny Gho, Troy Peteri, Tommy Lee Edwards, Phil Smith, Filip Sablik, Ron Marz, and of course, the man that needs no introduction... Bryan Edward Hill, without whom this book wouldn't sing.

ComiXology Podcast - Hill/Levin talking BT:PB

I think between the two of us Bryan and I did at least 5 podcasts last week. The Meltcast I did solo is already up, and here's the first of many joint podcasts with the fine folks at ComiXology (who have my favorite mobile comics app).

ComiXology with Hill/Levin

BT: PANDORA'S BOX #1 Preview

The first lettered preview of my much beloved mini with Bryan Hill, Alessandro Vitti, Sunny Gho and Tommy Lee Edwards (still can't believe how good the art is from cover to cover) is live. Get your fix at CBR.

EXCLUSIVE - Broken Trinity: Pandora's Box #1 Preview

Don't forget to get your purchase on next Wednesday, 2/24.

Meltcast w/Rob Levin

The fine folks at Meltdown Comics in Hollywood were nice enough to invite me down to discuss Broken Trinity: Pandora's Box and a few other things on their latest Meltcast (which you can also subscribe to via iTunes).

It was a fun show to do, great guys, and they sent me home with a cupcake, so I can't wait to return for another go. Of the four or so podcasts I'm recording this week, this is the only one I did solo, so there's that. The others are not live just yet, but they'll be getting posts here as well.

Meltcast #16 with Rob Levin

I'm there for the whole thing, but the BT segment begins around the 46:30 mark if you're pressed for time. I also talk (very quickly and with lots of "umms" and "uhhs" about my collaborative process with Bryan at about 37 minutes).

BROKEN TRINITY on Ain't It Cool News & Newsarama

The press onslaught continues! I'm sure I've missed some stuff in my haze of apartment flooding, work, and trying to make a living. But I'm back with the two latest (and perhaps greatest) press updates OF ALL TIME!

First, Bryan Hill and I talk about everything we've ever learned about anything. And one of us is more learned than the other. And Ain't It Cool News was nice enough to post it.

AICN: Comic Book Evolution with Hill/Levin

Next, Bryan and I take you behind the scenes of the players of the BT: Pandora's Box universe. We're introducing a lot of new faces, and you should know who's who. So we wrote a lil' somethin' somethin' for you.

Newsarama: Who's Who in Broken Trinity: Pandora's Box

Been behind with the updates but the twitter is going strong. Follow @roblevin for the up-to-the-minute low down on the down low. More blog soon.

Updates! Press! More!

I've been behind. There's a million reasons, but I'll be blogging better in the new year, just maybe not the way you've come to expect. More details on that over the coming weeks. For now, let's do a quick recap combined with some mild whoring. If I don't plug it here, how else will my mother know when to run to the comic shop...

I returned from the icy tundra that was Thanksgiving in Ohio to much nicer weather in LA, got a bit of work done, and then have been largely sluggish when it comes to writing ever since. Been rolling on a few things (comics and film) with the immensely talented Bryan Edward Hill, and we just secured an artist for a new project that should make it a no brainer sale. Now all I need is more time in the day to hit him back with some thoughts on this other story.

Broken Trinity: Pandora's Box has taken up the bulk of my time of late between scripts and idle thoughts, not to mention interviews. Here's the latest on that:

Opening Up Pandora's Box - Part 1

Opening Up Pandora's Box - Part 2

Top Cow Opens a Pandora's Box

Before that hits stores in February, January sees my The Darkness one-shot, Shadows and Flame with art by Jorge Lucas and colors by Felix Serrano on shelves.

CBR interview

Newsarama interview

Last week saw my first writing work published by DC Comics with a Ragman yarn in the DC Holiday Special 2009. Newsarama's Best Shots crew gave it the following review:

Wow, a Ragman story. You don't come across these much. I love how this goes back and forth between the story of the Maccabees and Ragman handing out some street justice. Rob Levin really delivered on the script and Brian Ching just nailed the art.

Look for that in shops everywhere, and special thanks to Michael Atiyeh, who has done some of the best work of his career on this short story. Mike, I owe you one...

I also cut my hair, proving I lied about my promise not to cut my hair until I finished my screenplay. I didn't finish it, but 6.5 months worth of reminding wasn't doing anything to get me going. A challenge from The Hill Administration will hopefully get me on the right track there, but that's a post for another time.

I'll be better about everything soon, it's just been crazy times and I've felt my creativity sapped at times, so I need to put it into work instead of wasting my time writing about who knows what on the blog. Money's still a little tight and there are no new checks in sight...

That's all the plugging I can stomach for right now. If you're still reading, thank you. 2010 really feels like it's shaping up to be a break-out year for me. If you're curious as to why, stay tuned to this space and the twitter.

TGIM - Sleep

Comic-Con International in San Diego is one of the best times of the year. But it's also one of the most exhausting. For the first time in 5 years of attending, I wasn't involved in the building or destruction of a booth. That meant I got to head home a little bit earlier (and hit all that fun traffic).

We got home right around midnight. I got to sleep close to 2 (don't ask) and promptly slept for 12 hours. Still feel like someone hit my awareness with a sledgehammer, but sleep is truly the greatest invention ever. Thanks, G-d.

Also, for those wondering... Drinking on an empty stomach means getting utterly blitzed/tanked/wasted/to' up. Not recommended, as my Saturday night and its missing moments can attest to.

For those that I saw, it was a great time. For anyone I missed, we'll talk soon and I'll catch you next year. I want to sleep some more, but I have dodgeball in a few hours so I'm trying to get my mind and body right to destroy. Frutti di Beppo will be missing the game, so I have to step up for him and comic pros everywhere.

"The real sin of San Diego is that when it ends... it's Monday." - Nelson Blake II

The San Diego Comic-Con Post (2009)

Hey faithful readers,

how are you? I'm headed down to San Diego for a little thing we like to call Comic-Con (or SDCC for those who don't have time for anything but acronyms). Wanted to drop you guys a quick line to let you know where I'll be at, as well as how to reach me or keep up with me during the show. If you're a creator or friend reading this and attending the show, let's definitely make sure to hook up while we're down there.

My main gig is promoting Days Missing from Archaia/Roddenberry, and we'll have the first issue on sale at both booths (#2635 and #2734 respectively), as well as creators such as Phil Hester and Frazer Irving (issue #1), David Hine and Chris Burnham (issue #2) and Ian Edginton in a rare US appearance (issue #3) on hand to sign. They're all quality people turning in damn fine work, so be sure to support them, so please come to the panel and check out the book.

My 404 mobile number is now disconnected, so anyone dialing that will find themselves SOL when trying to reach me. Don't call it. Either email or message me on twitter for the new number, or just click this handy little link. It will send you direct to voicemail, but only because I'm leery of putting my number out there for bots. Leave a message, I will get back to you. Unless I hate you.

I will be providing live updates from the show via twitter, and you can follow me @roblevin. Expect updates, pics, quotes, and drunken twittering (hopefully with pictures).

THURSDAY

12-1pm - LongBox Panel - Room 32AB - I'm not on this, but anyone not attending is foolish. And Rantz is a very forward-thinking individual.

1-2pm - Top Cow signing - Booth #2629 - with Phil Hester and Michael Broussard

2:30-3:30pm - Days Missing Panel - Room 3 (featuring all the creators, series creator Trevor Roth, Eugene Roddenberry, and the Archaia crew)

FRIDAY

Just floating around, sitting in on a couple panels. Might be an announcement about some editing I'm doing at one, but I don't want to talk out of turn.

SATURDAY

4:30-5:30pm - Top Cow Panel - Room 7AB - not on it, but I always support the Herd. Who knows, maybe they'll announce something of mine...

5:30-6:30pm - American Original Panel - Room 7AB - same as the LongBox panel, if you're not here, you're missing out. Really curious to hear more of Jeff Katz's nefarious plans to improve media.

SUNDAY

11:00am-12:00pm - Top Cow signing - Booth #2629 - with roommate extraordinaire Nelson Blake II and Michael Broussard

Obviously I won't bore you with my meetings/partying schedule, but I'll be doing that tip, as well as hanging out at the Archaia and Top Cow booths. Just don't go asking them where I am if you can't find me. A freelancer has to roam, after all.

P.S. Did everyone know there's an awesome SDCC iPhone app? It's like having a program guide with you when you forget to have a program guide with you. Only downside is there isn't a way to view the panels/booths/etc. you select as favorites, so the favorite feature is kind of useless.

American Original

On a day when nothing seems to make sense, and everyone is acting foolish, stupid, or ridiculous, Jeff Katz seems to be the only guy making any sense. Starting with the announcement of his new company, American Original, and the follow-up interview on CBR, he's got my ear.

Very curious to see what this leads to, and I wish him and his company a lot of success. It's making me feel better about life on a strange day. That's invaluable.