ColleenDoran.com

The Young Adult Library Association has published its list of Best Graphic Novels for Teens for the years 2011, and the soon-to-be-released Mangaman makes the cut!

“Fantastic—in every sense of the word! Lyga and Doran have created an eye-popping fun-ride through the comics traditions of East and West. Fans of both comics and manga will love Mangaman. Colleen Doran’s encyclopedic, rapid-fire grasp of manga conventions blows my mind!”　—Jeff Smith, author of Bone　

“This is a wonderful, funny, touching story about the ultimate outsider seeking adventure and　love within the borders that surround us all.　 There’s some seriously innovative storytelling going on here, and the artwork is sensational.　 If you’re looking for a fun read, a romp, a rollicking good time…then seriously: buy this book.” —J. Michael Straczynski, New York Times Bestselling author of Superman: Earth One

Ryoko, a manga character from a manga world, falls through the Rip into the “real” world—the western world—and tries to survive as the ultimate outsider at a typical American high school.
When Ryoko falls in love with Marissa Montaigne, the most beautiful girl in the school, his eyes turn to hearts and comic tension tightens as his way of being drawn and expressing himself clashes with this different Western world in which he is stuck in. “Panel-holed” for being different, Ryoko has to figure out how to get back to his manga world, back through the Rip . . . all while he has hearts for eyes for a girl from the wrong kind of comic book.
Barry Lyga writes a metafictive masterpiece as manga meets traditional Western comic book style, while Colleen Doran combines manga techniques and conventions with Western comic book

The panel was given a preview copy of our new graphic novel, and we are so happy they’ve chosen our book for consideration. Congratulations to all the nominees!

Ask for Mangaman at your local comic shop, or preorder it via your bookstore or online.

Sponsored by the Australian Society of Authors, Books Kinokuniya of Sydney, and the CAL Cultural Fund, this intensive course in the creation and business of comics promises to be an exciting opportunity for established and aspiring creators.

DATES: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November 2011

TIME: 9am to 5pm (Registration starts at 8am)

VENUE: Aerial UTS Function Centre, Level 7, 235 Jones St, Broadway, Sydney NSW Australia

ADMISSION: $135 (ASA members); $165 (Students and members of the ACA, AWG and various State Writers’ Centres); $195 (Non-members).

Installment payment financing available for prospective students.

Details of the event are available at ComicsMasterclass.com

But hey, we’re biased. here’s what some of Colleen’s colleagues have to say:

Every so often, you hear someone referred to as The Real Deal. Most times, they’re not. But Colleen Doran is The Real Deal. Not only has she mastered her craft as an artist, she has the rare ability to understand the business in ways that usually frighten other artists to within an inch of their lives. She understands the intersection between government, art and copyright to a degree that even I can’t fathom, and is able to communicate that information and the artistic side of the work to others in ways that can launch careers and safeguard their futures in a landscape populated with predators. She is as dedicated to serving others as she is to her art and her craft, and that, ladies and gentlemen, is The Real Deal.

J Michael Straczynski (Writer, The Amazing Spider-Man; Creator / Producer / Writer, Babylon 5 ; Screenwriter, Changeling)

Colleen Doran is one of the finest artists in the comic book field. Her mastery of style and numerous techniques are as self-evident as her enormous range and versatility. As a business person/educator she ranks second to none. Her keen, analytical mind, her attention to detail and tireless research into the laws that govern and resources available to artists is an invaluable resource for those of us who toil in this field.

Jim Valentino (President, Shadowline LLC; Vice-President, Image Comics Inc)

Colleen Doran is a a hero of mine.
She represents everything I love about the comics industry, not the least of which being that fools, cads and brigands tangle with her at their own peril. I would even say that my problem in trying to write a testimonial about Colleen Doran is that my personal admiration for her fierce dedication to the truth, and her relentless fight for the rights of other artists, threatens
to almost overshadow my appreciation of her gifts as a creator.

Almost.

Speaking strictly of her creative endeavors, she’s been even more remarkable. At an age when most teens are thinking only of trivialities, she was already at work creating her enduring masterpiece, A DISTANT SOIL, despite an industry that was not yet capable of understanding her value. While many other female creators in particular dashed themselves to pieces on the rocks trying to get to the industry’s fertile ground, Colleen found a sure-fire formula to achieve respect—the answer for her was to simply be inarguably better than everyone else…a better writer and damn sure a better artist. No one has inspired me to reach as high, and as true, as Colleen Doran.

If you are fortunate enough to hear her lecture on topics ranging from art technique to copyright law, you have my congratulations (and a healthy dose of envy).

Enjoy.

Gail Simone (Writer, Wonder Woman, Birds of Prey, Bart Simpson Comics, Teen Titans, Secret Six)

Join the Comics Masterclass Facebook page for details and updates!

The incomparable Molly Crabapple, whose sexy, smart, and fun illustrations, comics, and artful life dazzle, has posted a new interview with Colleen at ChinaShop mag.

I don’t know if it’s entirely a bad thing that I am probably a lot like Thessaly, personality-wise. Someone told me we are equal in our capacity for frightening pragmatism, but I don’t know if I’d peel anyone’s face off and hammer it to a wall. I don’t know if Neil really gave her my personality or if that’s just a scary coincidence.

There’s one panel I drew, with Thessaly just glowering, and Neil looked at me and said, “I’ve seen that look on your face.”

I’ll be speaking at this event, which is open to the public. Please check out the info below, and hope to see you there!

ARE YOU …
An aspiring comics creator who doesn’t know where to start?

A professional comics creator who wants to increase your chances of getting published locally and overseas?

A novelist or book illustrator who wants to transition to graphic novels?

A screenwriter who wants to turn your story into a graphic novel as a prelude to getting it to film?

A storyboard artist who wants to become a power-player in the comics world but doesn’t know how to write a story?

An academic specialising in pop culture, literature or cultural studies who wants further insight into graphic narrative?

A school teacher or librarian who is exploring graphic novels in the classroom?

A publisher who wants to build a graphic novels list or finesse their visual narrative editing skills?

A person who just LOVES comics and graphic novels?

Golly.

I’ll be teaching a comics art masterclass in Sydney, Australia this fall. Please do check out the website for more info!

That is a very flattering publicity photo on their site. Come see if I look that good. Should be very amusing when you find out I don’t. I love how the camera lies.

But it’s all art truth in the class, so check it out!

Join the FaceBook masterclass page for the latest info!