Shelf Life

Thu, January 21st, 2016 - Laser Canon - Does the Story Matter if it Didn't "Really" Happen?
Is the Force still with you if your stories are no longer canon? Ron Marz examines what does & doesn't "count" when it comes to Star Wars continuity.

Thu, January 7th, 2016 - Trumpeting a New Writer's First Series
Ron Marz talks to rookie writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson about his path to breaking in with his new BOOM! series "Last Sons of America."

Fri, December 18th, 2015 - Putting "The Protectors" Motion Book Into Motion
Ron Marz writes about this week's "The Protectors" from Athlitacomics, and his experience translating comic pages into Madefire's Motion Books app.

Thu, December 3rd, 2015 - I Wielded the Power Cosmic!
Ron Marz pages through the recent "Cosmic Powers" trade paperback, collecting Thanos-centric stories he wrote more than twenty years ago.

Wed, November 11th, 2015 - Telling My Father's Story on Veterans Day
In a special Veterans Day column, Ron Marz shares a very personal comic story about his father, a decorated war veteran.

Thu, October 15th, 2015 - Comics Conning Their Way Into Libraries
Comics were once were verboten in libraries, but some branches are now putting on their own comic conventions. Ron Marz talks to two librarians about the trend.

Thu, October 1st, 2015 - Signing Up for Signing Autographs for Free
Ron Marz has signed a lot of autographs over his career. This week, he wrestles with the notion of creators charging for their signatures at conventions.

Fri, September 11th, 2015 - Review 101: Tools for Reviewing Comics
This week, Ron Marz reviews the current state of comic reviews, and suggests some needed improvements to raise the level of sequential discourse.

Thu, August 27th, 2015 - Happy to be Feeling like a Dum Dum
Ron Marz touches the roots of his writing inspiration by visiting an Edgar Rice Burroughs fan gathering, and asks for your help with big cat conservation.

Thu, August 13th, 2015 - The Writer's Guide to Working at Home
Ron Marz has been working at home nearly all of his writing career. This week, he shares lessons learned about making "work at home" work for you.

Thu, July 30th, 2015 - Creating a Creative Sanctuary
Ron Marz writes about his recent tour of Pixar Animation Studios, and the huge injection of inspiration he received thanks to his visit.

Thu, July 2nd, 2015 - Co-Signing for Co-Writing
Ron Marz avoided co-writing for most of his career, but two recent project have him rethinking his views on sharing the credits box.

Thu, May 28th, 2015 - Peeking Inside My Sketchbook - Part 2
Ron Marz continues a look at his personal sketchbook, with art by comics stars including John Romita Sr., Dan Jurgens, Ron Lim, Phil Hester and Stjepan Sejic.

Thu, May 21st, 2015 - Peeking Inside My Sketchbook - Part 1
This week and next, Ron Marz opens up his personal sketchbook, exclusively showing off art that friends have created over his career.

Thu, April 30th, 2015 - Links in a Long Chain to Make a Career
Ron Marz likens a career to links in a chain, tracing a current project's connections back two decades to a football game, then gives advice on forging your own chain.

Thu, April 16th, 2015 - Fond Farewell to a Friend: Remembering Herb Trimpe
Ron Marz writes about the unexpected passing of his friend and longtime Marvel artist Herb Trimpe, and makes a plea for comics to do a better job of honoring its elders.

Thu, April 2nd, 2015 - Finally Closing on Broadway
As DC Comics winds up its time in New York City and heads west, Ron Marz recalls his time spent at the offices, and the people who made it feel like home.

Thu, March 26th, 2015 - Mistaking Researching for Writing
How much research is too much for your writing? How much is too little? Ron Marz brings his years of writing experience to bear on the question.

Thu, March 5th, 2015 - Crossing More CrossGen Stories Off My List
Ron Marz dips into his trove of CrossGen tales to spin a few more yarns of the late, lamented publisher, and show off some lost art.

Thu, February 12th, 2015 - Voyaging to Mars, with a Co-Pilot From India
Ron Marz talks with Indian artist Abhishek Malsuni, his "John Carter: Warlord of Mars" collaborator, about his career and breaking into US comics.

Thu, January 29th, 2015 - Custom Comics - Creativity for Commercial Consumption
This week, Ron Marz writes about an aspect of creating comics that's not often discussed -- custom comics, including his current project for Panasonic.

Thu, December 11th, 2014 - Reaching for the Skylanders
Ron Marz talks about the challenges of bringing the best-selling "Skylanders" franchise to comics, and writing comics aimed at kids.

Thu, November 13th, 2014 - On the Road Again, and Again, and Again
Ron talks to his friend and artist Mike McKone, who has literally been living on the road since last year, traveling from convention to convention.

Thu, October 23rd, 2014 - An Eye-Opening Passage to India
Back from an trip to Hyderabad, India for a comic convention, Ron writes about his experiences, as well as his impressions of the Indian comic scene.

Thu, October 2nd, 2014 - Calling in the Firemen on Deadline
Ron Marz talks to his friend Anthony Williams about being a "deadline-saver" artist, and the effect it had on his comics career.

Thu, September 11th, 2014 - Scratching Itches, and Making Dreams Come True
In light of his "John Carter: Warlord of Mars" gig, Ron Marz discusses pursuing what you love and exclusively reveals a new story due next year.

Thu, August 14th, 2014 - A Toast to the King
As Jack Kirby's birthday approaches, Ron writes about discovering Jack's work, missing out on meeting him, and offers a way to toast the King of Comics.

Thu, July 31st, 2014 - Casting Two Different "Shadows" Over Innsmouth
Ron Marz wrote four different comics that were released yesterday, and shows off some exclusive, alternative pages from one, "The Shadow Over Innsmouth."

Thu, July 3rd, 2014 - Finding Your Other Thing on the Golf Course
After 20 years away, Ron Marz goes back to the golf course to find his Other Thing, his respite from writing.

Thu, June 12th, 2014 - Full Praise For My Better Half
No column last week, because Ron's wife was out of town. This week, the necessity of having a partner who makes your creative life possible.

Thu, May 22nd, 2014 - Casting a Glance Back at "StormWatch"
Receiving a copy of the new "StormWatch" collection from Jim Starlin jogs Ron Marz's memories of his own stint writing the title in its Image Comics incarnation.

Fri, May 9th, 2014 - Flying With My Father
Ron reveals a very personal story he wrote about his father's life, war-time experiences and death from pancreatic cancer. Plus exclusive Rick Leonardi art.

Thu, April 17th, 2014 - Debuting "The Protectors," Chicago-Style
Ron Marz's first comics love was with superhero teams, and he's recapturing that feeling in "The Protectors," debuting at C2E2, and shares exclusive art!

Thu, April 3rd, 2014 - Writing Under the Influence
This week, Ron draws inspiration from an interview with "Community" creator Dan Harmon, and catalogs his own creative influences.

Fri, March 14th, 2014 - Learning a New Format, One Half Page at a Time
Fresh off an acclaimed "Adventures of Superman" arc, Ron Marz explores the nuances of writing for the digital-first format versus print comics.

Thu, February 13th, 2014 - Different Artists, Same Page, Different Results
Ron's offer for artists to draw a page of his creator-owned series "Shinku" resulted in an avalanche of submissions, and a wealth of interpretations. See them all!

Thu, January 30th, 2014 - Artistic Questions and Answers with Laura Braga
Ron talks to Laura Braga, his artistic collaborator on "Witchblade," about her career, breaking into the U.S. market and being a woman in a traditionally male field.

Thu, January 23rd, 2014 - Paging All Artists
Artists are not interchangeable pieces in the creative process, and Ron Marz offers up one of his script pages and invites any and all artists to submit their version of it.

Thu, January 16th, 2014 - Taking Storytelling Directions From the Boss
With this week's release of a new Bruce Springsteen album, Ron Marz explores his discovery of Springsteen's work, and the influence of the Boss on his own writing.

Thu, January 2nd, 2014 - Like Someone Drifting Away on a Black Sea
This week, in a very personal column, Ron Marz reflects on the recent death of his mother, who had suffered from Alzheimer's for the last decade.

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