Shelf Life

RECENT COLUMNS

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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."

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

Shelf Life: 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.

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