Script Writing for Comics: Explore Visual Storytelling
A course by Fred Van Lente , Writer
Learn to create professional scripts for comic books and graphic novels featuring scene descriptions, characters, and dialogue
“Comics are a medium of infinite possibilities.”
Exploring those creative possibilities is what has led best-selling writer Fred Van Lente to work for brands like Marvel on titles including The Amazing Spider-Man, Iron Man Legacy, and Wolverine: First Class.
In this online course, he teaches you the two key aspects of writing a successful comic: solid visual storytelling and a professional-looking script. Learn to produce professional comic book scripts that are ready to be submitted to editors and artists. Bring stories from your imagination to life on the page.
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 14 downloads
- 99% positive reviews (142)
- 7,715 students
- 14 lessons (1h 24m)
- 14 additional resources (2 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Write a six to eight-page comic script that’s ready to be presented to an editor or artist.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone who wants to write compelling scripts that bring their story ideas to life in comic book form.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is required.
In terms of materials, you will need basic drawing materials as well as something to write with.
Reviews
Fred Van Lente
A course by Fred Van Lente
Fred Van Lente is a best-selling writer specializing in comic books and graphic novels. He fell in love with the medium as a child, teaching himself to read via comics at four years old and experimenting with drawing his own. He went on to study film at Syracuse University and join the school comics club where he met a group of illustrators and comic book artists. They later moved in together in New York City and set their sights on breaking into the comics industry.
Together, Fred and his university alumni created the crime comic The Silencers which caught the attention of Marvel Comics. He then spent the next decade working for Marvel on comics like The Amazing Spider-Man, Iron Man Legacy, and Wolverine: First Class. Fred also co-wrote The Incredible Hercules and wrote a how-to book for Random House called Make Comics Like the Pros. He has written comics that have been used for movies such as Cowboys & Aliens, and is a published novelist and playwright.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Learning the Basics
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Important Terminology
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Thinking in Pictures
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On the Same Page
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Talking in Balloons
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U3
Developing the Comic
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Story Time
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Roughing It: The Pages
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Roughing It: The Scenes
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Designing Characters
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"The Stitch Up"
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U4
The Last Steps
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The Anatomy of a Script
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Assembling the Team
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Now What?
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FP
Final project
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Script Writing for Comics: Explore Visual Storytelling
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
This course is designed for intermediate learners, but motivated beginners with a strong interest in comics can follow along. Prior knowledge of comics is helpful but not required.
You’ll need basic writing and drawing tools—either digital (like a tablet or computer) or traditional (pen, paper). No advanced software is required; the course focuses on storytelling techniques and script formatting.
You’ll learn comic book storytelling, character development, visual scripting, dialogue writing, page layout, collaboration with artists, and effective pitching and publishing strategies.
Yes, the course includes guidance on pitching comics to major publishers like Marvel and strategies for creating and publishing independent comics.
Yes, the course covers techniques for writing both fiction (superheroes, fantasy) and non-fiction comics (history, educational content).
No advanced drawing skills are required. The course emphasizes visual storytelling and scriptwriting, with tips for planning visuals even if you’re not an artist.
You’ll learn to plan panel grids, use splash pages, manage pacing with panel count, and create dramatic reveals using page turns and spreads.
The course was super great, everything explained very clear, motivating and practical, the resources enable us to really get hands on!! Now ready for the adventure of making a comic :)
Excelente curso, ahora lo difícil es sacarlo al mundo
Excelente la manera de explicar del profesor, se nota la experiencia y el amor al arte, es un curso muy bueno para tener una base solida y así crear un guion e historia buena.
This was fun and informative. I'm also using other writing courses here and mixing them in with this one to help with story structure.
EL CURSO ESTA MUY BIEN ORGANIZADO, ME AYUDO A LLENAR LAGUNAS QUE TENIA EN MI PROCESO