The Beat is a proud sponsor of Comix Experience’s Graphic Novel of the Month Clubs, which bring comics fans a curated mix of the best of new release graphic novels and conversations with the creators who make them. Each month, the staff of Comix Experience votes on three sets of upcoming books they are most excited about—one gets presented to adults, another to middle readers, and the third is a classic. Each club provides swag like original signed custom bookplates for adults or buttons and magnets for the kids (in this case, the former, to support the featured Comics Masterpiece book, The Walking Dead).
Most excitingly, the Graphic Novel Clubs bring in the creators of selected books to talk exclusively to GNC members in interviews conducted by Comix Experience owner Brian Hibbs, who brings 30 years of experience in comics to the table. These talks are livestreamed to members all over the country and are a fun and informative mix of conversation on craft and form, as well as on the business of making comics. The Graphic Novel Clubs make a point of being inclusive, inviting creators from a wide variety of age, race, sex, and cultural perspectives to speak to members.
Membership is what propels these conversations, so if you like what you see, please support these discussions of comics, and the creators who make them, by joining the club.
Today: Brian Hibbs talks to The Walking Dead co-creator Robert Kirkman about the difficulties of starting the series – and the pleasant surprise of picking it back up. He tells Hibbs that the majority of the first arc was created under the impression that it wouldn’t go any farther, so the story was precise and lean. Although he constantly had ideas to flesh out the world, only the absolutely vital aspects of the story made it into those first six issues. That said, when Kirkman got the greenlight to keep writing, he was ready to open up the setting and slow down the narrative a bit. Hear that, as well as a chat about the power of serialized comics, in the clip above.
Make sure to check out the full interview on Comix Experience’s official YouTube page.
