BY JASON CHOI
DC comic book author Scott Snyder who has written countless works depicting Batman, Superman, and other superheroes recently visited Jericho to talk with middle and high school students about writing, producing and working in the comic book world.
Students were very interested in what Snyder shared about the writing process and comic creation. Senior Jack G., who is a huge comics fan, said, “The world of comics is an amazingly interesting place where your greatest story can become a reality.” He learned that any kind of story could be used as the main plot for a comic. Similarly, senior Leland C. said, “Something I found interesting was the process of making a comic. It turns out it’s a lot more collaborative than I thought.” Students were able to see that the internal processes of publishing a comic are a bit complicated, yet very creative.
Students learned many new aspects of writing comics from the assembly. Senior Jordan M. said, “I learned that there is a specific language that the people who make comics use, which they embed into the comics which reflect real life situations.” Additionally, students were able to learn how they could become involved with the comic book industry. Senior Jordan M. said, “I was kind of moved by what Scott Snyder had to say about people who want to actually get involved with a comic book franchise.” Senior Jack G. said, “What I liked about Scott Snyder’s speech was that it showed that he is welcoming newcomers to the industry and helping us learn how to get there.”
English Language Arts Curriculum Associate Dr. Salzman who organized the event believes that Scott Snyder’s willingness to help educate students is truly remarkable. “Scott Snyder is an iconic voice for Batman (and many other titles) and his willingness to share his writing process with the next generation of future writers is extremely inspirational for our students,” he said. Likewise, Senior Jack G. stated, “Comics are a very big industry in the world and it’s very helpful for creative expression. This experience has furthered my view in a positive way.”
Snyder concluded his talk with some advice for future authors. “You’ve got to write that story that you would love to find in a store, one you would pick up and that would change your life,” he said.
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