the cruel tutor himself, Pai Mei

One of my favorite character types is the gruff/grizzled old mentor. Tough as nails, mean or cranky on the outside but with great knowledge or support to offer when you know them, or when they know - and trust - you.

I've talked about ...

that is the question, right?

Hey, hi – hello, I’m damehelsing and this is my first article.
I’m new to this but I have a lot of thoughts and instead of talking to myself, I can talk to you.

There’s always a spark of joy and a roller ...

Finding the perfect title for your comic is important. It is what people will use when referring to your work and is often the first thing that readers see. The name of your comic acts as an immediate snapshot of what’s to come. Getting it right is key. Although ...

We're always advising people to give their characters flaws. But why? Is it just so they'll be relatable and not perfect/boring?

That is a good reason, for sure.

Is it so you'll know how they're supposed to react in certain situations?
“I wrote in my ...

Silent types can be very alluring. They don't really engage with other people, they are content to be on their own, they have developed their own special, unique manner of wading through life independently, which makes them interesting. They are their own kind of strong, even if they are ...

It is difficult for me to focus on a drawing project if my desk is in disarray or there is a pile of unsorted objects around me.

I purchase items in multiples. If I see a good ink pen at the office supply store, I pick up multiple four-packs of ...

An outline for a story, whether it be a one-shot or a serialised epic, needs a strong foundation. The building blocks that will become your comic must be able to stand firm on the themes, concepts, story beats and character moments explored in your outline. “I need an outline?” you ...

Over the past couple weeks I watched and loved Cobra Kai. There are multiple articles that I could write about this show.

It's an ensemble cast, and I guess Johnny and Daniel could be called co-Protagonists. I actually think Johnny is the Protagonist, Daniel the Antagonist and Kreese is ...

You’ve got your amazing idea down for a story but how do you begin? You want to make your first chapter amazing! En medias res means opening in the midst of the plot. This way, exposition is bypassed, allowing you to fill it in more gradually, either through dialogue ...

I’ve been getting back into reading epic fantasy novels. Grand worlds, exotic locations and, of course, an ever increasing cast of characters. As I am one to never stop taking notes, even when I’m trying to chill, here are some things I noticed about introducing new characters that ...